ARTIST INFO

MORFA

3 of Wales' most exciting and talented young musicians. They play traditional songs and tunes from Wales and beyond and also showcase Welsh step dancing.

Rhys Morris

Rhys has studied classical guitar since he was 6 years old.  He discovered traditional Welsh folk music through his involvement with the successful performing group, Bro Taf who are based in Pontypridd.  With Bro Taf he has performed in all the major eisteddfod festivals in Wales – singing, drama, clog dancing and folk dancing.  He travelled with them to Majorca to take part in the World Folk Dance Festival and danced with the group that won the competition to become Junior World Folk Dance Champions.
He plays with Band Nantgarw who have performed at a variety of venues. The band won the folk group competition in the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 2015 and has recorded sessions for BBC Radio Cymru.  They also accompany the world renowned Nantgarw Dancers.  He likes to compose new arrangements for traditional tunes and is always eager to learn new tunes that he hasn’t heard before.

Osian Gruffydd

Osian's interest in traditional folk music developed at a very early age as he competed in solo, duo and group dance competitions with the well known Bro Tâf and Nantgarw groups throughout his childhood. He won the main solo clogging dance prize in the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 2013 and is currently the Welsh Clog dancing champion of Wales for his age.
As a member of the young folk band "Nantgarw", he plays regularly in venues throughout South Wales. He has represented Wales with the Nantgarw Dancers world wide.

Meg Eliza Cox

Meg plays Tim Phillips Asymmetric Violins, Tony Dixon Whistles, and Cas Davey Tenor Guitar / Tenor Banjo. Meg has been playing and performing since the tender age of four. She first started playing Bodhran then quickly moved on to playing Mandolin, Guitar, Tenor Guitar, Banjo and Fiddle.
Meg plays with a host of musicians of all ages and musical genres, including:Band Nantgarw.

a young band of Welsh Musicans, The Hay Band and Celtic Sessions all over S.Wales.
Meg has already played at venues such as Twickenham stadium, Royal Albert Hall,
Senedd-Cardiff, Newport Centre, Tredegar House-Newport, TJs-Newport and countless other pubs/clubs. She has also supported some of the best Welsh bands including Calan, Jamie Smith's Mabon and Rusty Shackle.

OLD STRAFFORD

So called as one is named Strafford and all three consider themselves to be getting on a bit - are friends who got together to play whatever music came to mind from the genres they love. After much coffee and cake a repertoire of Blues, Folk, Gospel and Americana came together. The three are Phil Andrew ( The Philanderers and The Mardi Jug Band), Robert Strafford (The Grass Snakes and The Mardi Jug Band) and Dave Jones, hitherto un-bandable but known to many as the promoter of Llandeilo Acoustic’s fine gigs. Collectively they provide an evening of great songs presented with warmth and humour.

PETE KIDDLE  

Pete is well known in Pontardawe and Swansea as an ex-member of most of the influential local groups at one time or another - Cromlech, Swansea Jack, Pig Ears/Cwmdonkin, Strumpet, and he was playing in a duo with Ian Stevenson before moving to Wells in Somerset. Since then he has played with Bath group Sulis, accompanied the local Irish Set Dance community, and built up a reputation around the folk clubs. Pete has an eclectic repertoire of songs and tunes from the tradition, and is known for his sensitive and original accompaniments on bouzouki and concertina. Welcome back Pete.

BAGGY-CRINGLE

We welcome the winter incarnation of Swansea shanty men Baggyrinkle together with the ladies. In Victorian costume, they bring us a warm hearted, Christmas themed evening.

As usual there will be food, a generous raffle, Quality Street missiles.... duck! All this and our wonderful regular floor singers and poets doing their own Christmas party pieces. Pay on the door and please bring some finger food for the feast.