On the 3rd August, ALAW will feature in a Prom that celebrates the history and evolution of the folk music scene in Britain and Ireland.

Taking place in the Royal Albert Hall and recorded for radio and television, the BBC Concert Orchestra collaborates with some of the folk world’s leading musicians who are pushing the boundaries of traditional music, and bringing with them a new breed of folk fan.

With performers from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, this Prom reflects the diversity of a genre of music that, while steeped in tradition, is constantly evolving and reinventing itself through the generations.

The other artists are Julie Fowlis, Jarlath Henderson, The Unthanks and Sam Lee.

More details here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/exrbc8

ALAW’s full list of summer tour dates are:

21/6/2018 7.30pm Pontardawe Arts Centre
22/6/2018 Geddington Village Hall
23/6/2018 8.00pm The Plough @ The George, South Molton
01/07/2018 Tafwyl, Cardiff Castle
07/07/2018 Brosella Festival, Brussels
28/07/2018 The Electric Palace, Bridport Folk Festival
29/07/2018 Warwick Folk Festival
30/07/2018 Fishguard International Music Festival
03/08/2018 Royal Albert Hall, BBC Proms, London
04/08/2018 Théâtre De Lorient, Festival Interceltique de Lorient
06/08/2018 Espace Marine, Festival Interceltique de Lorient

The Devil’s Violin storytelling trio are currently on the road performing their epic adventure STOLEN.

A young prince falls endlessly down through the darkness. In a field of giant poppies, a beautiful old woman is trapped in a cottage nestled in the claw of a giant cockerel. Saddled horses stand frozen in a dripping grey landscape, their missing riders lost to The Land of No Return.

Let master storyteller Daniel Morden create a world inside your mind – a twisting, hallucinatory allegory for our times.

His fantastic tale is accompanied by the hauntingly beautiful strings of Sarah Moody and Oliver Wilson Dickson, the ‘lungs and breath of this living fairytale’.

‘A scintillating combination of music, sound and story’ THE TIMES

‘To experience Daniel Morden in full flight is an amazing thing’ IAN MCMILLAN

Latest dates at www.thedevilsviolin.co.uk

16th May ’18
Abertridwr Village Hall
www.wegottickets.com for tickets

17th May ’18
Salisbury Arts Centre, Wiltshire
www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk

18th May ’18
Theatre Shop, Clevedon
www.theatreshop.org.uk for tickets

24th June ’18
Willow Globe, Powys (3pm Show)
www.shakespearelink.co.uk for tickets

25th June ’18
St Peter’s Church, Swansea
Tickets on the door

12th July ’18
Wells Theatre Festival, Somerset
www.wellstheatrefestival.org for tickets

Its been a great year of performances at arts centres, rural touring venues and festivals. Summer festivals have been a particular highlight with some great promotor feedback (below). Coming up next we have rural touring dates across the UK (Autumn 16 to Spring 17). Get the latest details from www.alaw-band.com

“Many of the audience had heard Alaw before and were keen to see them again whilst for others, the band was a new delight. Everyone had a fantastic time – one of the highlights of the festival. Great energy and talented musicianship, definitely an experience not to be missed.”

Judy Whitehouse, Fishguard Folk Festival 2016

“Alaw treat Welsh traditional melodies with a sensitivity and energy that is unique. Visitors to the Wales Pavilion in Lorient were treated to performances by these three virtuoso musicians weaving a Welsh blanket of delicately coloured but robust threads, that enveloped the audience. From gentle airs to energy laden dance tunes, Alaw performed a rich and varied set, a real taste of Wales!”

Antwn Owen-Hicks, Festival Interceltique de Lorient 2016

To celebrate Christmas Jacob and James have recorded another song (with a little help from me). The song is an original by Jacob.

It come with love from us all.

You can download the mp3 FROM THIS LINK (You’ll need to click it then right click and save as on the file)

It is free but if you like you can donate to our Just Giving page for MacMillan Cancer Care – an illness that has touched some dear friends recently. HERE IS THE LINK TO THE JUST GIVING PAGE

Here is the video –

Jacob and James have been working hard this Christmas and have written a song. Jacob wrote the verses and James wrote the chorus.

Click on the link below to for the mp3 download

I Love Christmas

Its free, of course, but we have set up a just giving page for donations to goto Jacob’s choice of Save the Children:

https://www.justgiving.com/O-Wilson-Dickson

Thanks and merry Christmas!

Here is the video:

Following on from the success of last year – Jamie Smith’s Mabon are once again collaborating with Forage Fine Foods to present an evening of wild food and free range music. The event will take place at Longtown Village Hall on the 19th December.

“It will be a night of the wildest folk provided by Jamie Smiths MABON” says Liz Knight of Forage “and a wild bar serving cocktails you’ll swoon over (and a few of the best local brews around for people who want pints..) and then there is the food. ..a night of non stop wild treats, we’ve been squirrelling away the best of this years bounty, plant and game- wild boar, wild garlic wood pigeon, sumac, rosehips, venison, primroses, wild mustard, damsons, sloes, elderberries, wood sorrel….you get the picture. All these finds are being magically whizzed into canapes you’ll want to relive over & over – oh, and there will be wild trifle..lots of wild trifle..” There will also be a charity bar including local Ales and Cidres and of course a performance by the internationally renowned Celtic band Jamie Smith’s Mabon”

Last years event sold out quickly so get your tickets soon.

Tickets £30 more details at: www.facebook.com/foragefinefoods  or email wildfeasts@gmail.com for tickets