It’s 10 years since the masters of Welsh folk Calan released their debut album – Bling. It’s fair to say that during those ten years they’ve blasted their way through the old traditions giving a fresh and contemporary sound to traditional Welsh music. Credited for their sparkling melodies, foot-tapping tunes and spirited and energetic performances of Welsh step dancing, they’ve taken Welsh traditional music to international audiences.
Following the release of their debut album, Bling in 2008, which attracted four-star responses from the critics, the five-piece have played to big audiences and rave reviews at concerts and festivals around Britain, USA, Australia and Europe. It hasn’t always been plain sailing for the band, there have been a few hiccups along the way, the biggest crisis being Sam and Patrick’s night in a cell at Chicago O’Hare Airport and their deportation back to the UK the following day! Despite this not so nice experience, the band’s love of touring the States has continued as they’ve recently returned from a successful few weeks of gigs that included a performance for the radio programme Mountain Stage – produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting and distributed by NPR to more than 240 stations across America.
Highlights from the last 10 years include performing at the Royal Albert Hall with Bryn Terfel and Sting, singing in the rain at the Borneo Rainforest Festival and performing to 25,000 people at the coveted Cropredy Folk Festival. They’ve toured Italy, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Australia and the USA and have performed several times at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Brittany, where they’ve received the award for the best group and they will be returning this year to perform alongside other Welsh artists such as Manic Street Preachers, Alaw, Vri and Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita.
Calan have released three further studio albums – Jonah, Dinas and Solomon and the compilation album Deg |10 is a combination of their favourite tracks along with 3 brand new songs, 2 live recordings and 2 brand new remixes of previous singles Apparition and Synnwyr Solomon. Calan are heading out on tour again (dates below) and we are looking forward to seeing where the next 10 years will take them!
Deg |10 is released May 11th – Proper music distribution
Upcoming Tour Dates
27/4/2018 – George Hotel, SOUTH MOLTON
3/5/2018 – 7/5/2018 : Shetland Folk Festival, SHETLAND
12/5/2018 – London Welsh Centre, LONDON
26/5/2018 – Borough Theatre, ABERGAVENNY
27/5/2018 – David Hall, SOUTH PETHERTON
31/5/2018 – Arts Centre, DORCHESTER
1/6/2018 – Stag Theatre, SEVENOAKS
2/6/2018 – Newhampton Arts Centre, WOLVERHAMPTON
5/7/2018 – Llangollen International Eisteddfod *guest appreance*, LLANGOLLEN
6/7/2018 – Folk at the Hall, TRELAWNYD
23/7/2018 – St David’s Hall, CARDIFF
4/8/2018 – Theatre Lorient, Festival Interceltique Lorient, BRITTANY
6/8/2018 – Space Marine, Festival Interceltique Lorient, BRITTANY
17-19/8/2018 – Summer folk festival, OWEN TOWN, CANADA
8/9/2018 – Atkinson, SOUTHPORT
15/9/2018 – Worthing Theatre, WORTHING
27/10/2018 – Harlech Castle, HARLECH
8/11/2018 – Arts Centre, ABERYSTWYTH
10/11/2018 – CelticFolk, WIMBOURNE
11/11/2018 – Parish Church, KINGSKERSWELL
4/12/2018 – Lyric Theatre, CARMARTHEN (Christmas show – tickets TBA)
5/12/2018 – Arts Centre, STAMFORD (Christmas show – tickets TBA)
6/12/2018 – The Met, BURY (Christmas show – tickets TBA)
7/12/2018 – Toll Gavel Church, BEVERLEY (Christmas show – tickets TBA)
8/12/2018 – Talbot Theatre, WHITCHURCH (Christmas show – tickets TBA)
12/12/2018 – Cecil Sharpe House, LONDON (Christmas show – tickets TBA)
15/12/2018 – Huntingdon Hall, WORCESTER (Christmas show – tickets TBA)
16/12/2018 – Old Chapel, ALFRISTON (Christmas show – tickets TBA)