After twenty years of good times, Welsh band Mabon have announced that they will be hanging up its boots next autumn. They told fans “We have so many good memories of great concerts across the years – it’s been an amazing journey for the band, and for each of us as musicians, and we’re truly grateful for your support and enthusiasm along the way. We’re happy to add that it’s a thoroughly amicable ending: it’s time for new projects for some of the band, and new chapters for others.”
Last year saw the release of ‘Twenty’, a live album that marked their twentieth anniversary having played well over 1000 gigs in four continents, including being the first-ever Welsh band to perform at the Rain Forest World Music Festival in beautiful Kuching, Borneo. The band features main man Jamie Smith on accordion and vocals, together with Iolo Whelan on percussion, Oliver Wilson-Dickson on fiddle, Matthew Downer on bass guitar and upright electric bass, with Paul Rogers on acoustic guitar. In his review of the album David Pratt concluded “TWENTY is a glorious, celebratory résumé of two decades of inspiring, original, ‘Interceltic’ world music” adding that it captured “the essence of one of the most entertaining live acts around.”
Whilst that news is sure to disappoint fans, the band are making sure that there are plenty of last chances to see them before they “swap accordion and fiddle for pipe and slippers.”
Next month, there are three gigs in Wales and one in France with a big tour planned for the spring along with a last round of festivals next summer to go out on a high.
Below you can find their upcoming dates but there are more concerts in the spring still to be confirmed, and next summer’s festivals are yet to be announced so best to keep an eye on their website and socials.
Mabon Tour Dates
10/10/19 – ABERGAVENNY – Borough Theatre
11/10/19 – LLANWRTYD WELLS – Victoria Hall
12/10/19 – TONTEG – Community Centre
18/10/19 – FRANCE – Valognes, Alee du Stade
‘Last Huzzah!’
14/02/20 – PONTYPRIDD – Hawthorn Community Centre
15/02/20 – PEMBROKESHIRE – Solva Memorial Hall
20/02/20 – CAERNARFON – Galeri Caernarfon
21/02/20 – DEVON – Teignmouth Pavilions
22/02/20 – MONMOUTHSHIRE – The Narth
06/03/20 – PEMBROKESHIRE – Penally Village Hall
07/03/20 – PORTHCAWL – Cwlwm Celtaidd festival
30/04/20 – ALDERSHOT – West End Centre
01/05/20 – NEW MILTON – Forest Arts Centre
02/05/20 – FAREHAM – Ashcroft Arts Centre
07/05/20 – CARDIGAN – Theatr Mwldan
08/05/20 – BUILTH WELLS – Wyeside Theatre
09/05/20 – GLYN CEIRIOG – Ceiriog Centre
20/05/20 – NOTTINGHAM – Lakeside Arts
21/05/20 – LONDON – Cecil Sharp House
22/05/20 – CARDIFF – Saint David’s Hall
11/06/20 – DORSET – venue to be confirmed
12/06/20 – DEVON – Plough Arts, Torrington
13/06/20 – POWYS – Llanbedr Village Hall
https://www.jamiesmithsmabon.com/
Read all our previous Mabon features here including interviews and more.