events
IT’S not that long ago when traditional music
in Britain was widely regarded as something
that had to be preserved as it stood, and that
any tampering with it was considered sacrilege.
Thankfully, we now live in more enlightened
times. Although there are still those who believe
the tradition should be viewed as some sort of
museum exhibit to be pinned on a board and
preserved in a glass case, there’s a growing school
of thought that it’s better served if it’s allowed to
evolve – a commendably Darwinian approach that
should see it survive into the foreseeable future.
Among the current crop of British folk musicians
putting their own spin on the tradition, the
Mercury Prize nominee Sam Lee probably best
represents how the face of British folk music has
changed over the past few decades. Something of
an unstoppable force of nature, Sam is a promoter,
radio host, teacher and, most significantly, a song
collector. It was the songs he collected from the
Traveller communities of England, Scotland and
Ireland that he and his band, Sam Lee & Friends,
released as the critically acclaimed album
Ground Of Its Own in 2012. A brilliantly evocative
collection of songs rarely heard by those outside
of the travelling communities, it’s an album that’s
respectful of the tradition but at the same time
it presents the songs in new and unconventional
ways, with off kilter rhythmic structures and
off the wall instrumentation that redefines how
British folk music is perceived. Sam and his
Friends will be at Pontardawe Arts Centre on Wed
7 May; Cardiff’s St David’s Hall on Thurs 8.
Also at St David’s Hall a few days later, on Tue 13
(and various venues throughout Wales during May
– see listings for details), are two more musicians
redefining folk and roots music. Best known as
a classical musician, Welsh harpist Catrin Finch
recently teamed up with British-based Senegalese
kora player Seckou Keita. Together they released
the extraordinary Clychau Dibon, a fusion of
traditional Welsh and Senegalese music that’s
so seamlessly brilliant you wonder why no one
thought of it earlier.
Buzz also recommends
Georgia Ruth with Richard James and Gareth
Bonello. Cutting edge Welsh roots. The Gate,
Cardiff. (Fri 2)
Flook, Alaw, Vin Garbutt, Steve Turner,
Foxglove Trio, etc. Festival season kicks off in
style. Tredegar House Festival, Newport.
(Fri 9-Sun 11)
Debashish Bhattacharya. Outstanding Indian
slide guitarist. Pontardawe Arts Centre. (Sat 10)
Please send your folk and roots listings to
[email protected] or phone them in to
029 2022 7677