We recently announced the first single to be released by Welsh traditional band Allan Yn Y Fan to celebrate their 22nd year on the road and which ties in with their latest tour which kicks off on 14th September (details below). The single, released today features Ym Mhontypridd/Gorthrwm Y Gweithiwr from their NEWiD album.
We have the pleasure of premiering their video for Gorthrwm y Gweithiwr which the band believes to be the first ever recording of the song. It’s a mid-19th-century protest ballad collected in Ebbw Vale at a time when it was becoming abundantly clear that the financial and material rewards of the Industrial Revolution were not finding their way to the workers in the mines and ironworks. It’s also our Song of the Day.
In her review of their NEWiD album for Folk Radio, Helen Gregory concluded: “NEWiD captures Allan Yn Y Fan at a specific moment in time and finds this long-established and well-regarded band still at the top of their game and clearly enjoying the music they make. Combining a mix of original compositions and their arrangements of traditional music and song, NEWiD is as fine a showcase as you’ll find of their unique vision of “Celtic music for the 21st century” and is sure to become a firm favourite of long-term fans and newcomers alike.”
Judging by their continually growing fan-base that certainly seems to be the case. We encourage you to see them live on their latest tour Bridges not Walls / Pontydd nid Muriau the name for which was also inspired by the musical bridges that supporters of the band have enabled them to build over the decades, reflected by returns to Luxembourg, Spiegelberg, Ystradgynlais and Abertyleri.
The band is also mindful of the Welsh proverb “A Fo Ben Bid Bont” – which could be translated as “If you want to be a leader, be a bridge.” A possible interpretation of which is to become a leader, you must help others achieve their aims…!
Allan Yn Y Fan is especially pleased on this tour to be paying first visits to Papenburg where they will perform the first concert in the newly restored Altei Droste venue; a premiere concert in the Studio Theatre of Dresden’s Staatsschauspiel; plus first visits to Llanelli, Oswestry and Llanidloes.
“Ym Mhontypridd/Gorthrwm Y Gweithiwr” is released today.
Allan Yn Y Fan Tour Dates
14/09/18 Theatr Brycheiniog BRECON Wales
27/09/18 Chateau Bettembourg LUXEMBOURG
28/09/18 Alte Drostei PAPENBURG Germany
29/09/18 Gemeinde Halle Jux SPIEGELBERG Germany
30/09/18 Kleines Haus Staatsschauspiel DRESDEN Germany
01/10/18 West Flügel SYKE Germany
05/10/18 Ffwrnes LLANELLI Wales
13/10/18 The Function Room LLANIDLOES Wales *
14/10/18 Hermon Chapel Arts Centre OSWESTRY England
16/11/18 The Welfare YSTRADGYNLAIS Wales
17/11/18 The Met ABERTYLERI Wales
23/11/18 Village Hall REDWICK Wales *
01/12/18 Market Theatre LEDBURY England
More details here http://ayyf.co.uk/