Description
Based in South Wales – but this band will also venture across the Bristol Channel
Originally,this ceilidh band (or Twmpath band) “happened” together in January 1993 when a string of old acquaintances had each received an invitation to the same wedding party. When this fact was realised, the idea was mooted to hold a few practices and stage a short ceilidh by way of a wedding present… The dance was a huge success, the scratch musicians were told that their sound worked a treat – and so a new band was born! So the story goes………….(ANYTHING to get out of buying a present !!)
Working centre stage, Guy (melodeon) is responsible for the band’s characteristic rhythmic style with an understanding developed through a six-year apprenticeship in various South Wales bands. Selyf (fiddle) and Imogen (woodwind/flute) go on flights of fancy in and around the tune, emphasising Bob’s (guitars) critical role in pinning the whole thing down with a strong and rock steady bass beat. Veronica’s calling adds to the band – this is one of the benefits of a band with their own ‘in-house’ caller ‘cos they know each other so well !
But then you might find Bob switching guitars as Guy plays harmonica or Imogen playing whistle or bodhran (or anything else she fancies) – nobody sits still in this band!
As a barn dance band, they are, fundamentally, an all-acoustic band that gets your feet moving and the repertoire consists of music that the band enjoys playing together, whether Welsh, Irish, European or American – it’s all lined up and waiting for the ‘full treatment’ !
You might notice that ‘Welsh Ceilidh’ (Twmpath) doesn’t actually feature in our categories (well,can’t think of everything,can you ?). Rest assured – it’s definitely a category for this band !