Welsh music legend Frank Hennessy and this year’s winners of a BBC Radio 2’s ‘Folk Awards’ prize will lead a day dedicated to the best in Celtic folk music, song and dance at this year’s Llangollen International Music Festival.
‘Folk Friday’ will take place on Friday 6 July and will include two sessions from the Cardiff-based folk band The Hennessys. Traditional Irish group IOSCAID, winners of Radio 2's 2012 'Young Folk Award' will also play. They will be joined by Scottish singer-songwriter Emily Smith another former Radio 2 Folk Award winner and BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year.
As part of ‘Folk Friday’ there will be performances throughout the day, on the main outdoor stage area and a gig at Llangollen station. These include:
- Cornish group RUM AND SHRUB SHANTYMEN performing traditional folk song and sea shanties;
- North East England musicians LAURA CONNOLLY, DAVID OLIVER and STEWART HARDY with a range of workshops and performances;
- TANGERINE PUPPET with their mix of Cornish, Welsh and Celtic music with traditional fiddle and bass;
- Performances by Welsh-language folk artists SION RUSSELL JONES from Ginge and Celloboi, folk orchestra CALAN and contemporary folk band Adran D; and
- A Gig at Llangollen Railway Station where the audience can enjoy performances on the heritage railway station which becomes a stage for the night
- An Open Mic stage where local performers will entertain throughout the day - an opportunity to showcase their individual talents in a world arena
A full list of performers and the competitions can be found on the Llangollen International Music Festival website www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk
Singer and broadcaster Frank Hennessy said: ‘It’s an honor to be Vice President at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod. Llangollen provides such a great opportunity to showcase the best of Welsh and Celtic folk music to an audience from the four corners of the globe. ‘Folk Friday’ promises the very best of emerging talent alongside more experienced performers like us playing the music that we love.’
Eilir Owen Griffiths Llangollen International Music Festival Managing Director said: ‘Folk Friday’ is an important part of the Festival and complements the other musical offerings we present here. I think that there has been a resurgence in folk music and song recently, and we’re seeing an increase in its popularity among new and younger audiences and performers in particular. I think that’s vital to ensure that folk music remains part of our heritage but also shows that it can adapt and attract new followers and performers; folk is the new rock!’
Dermot Mulholland of IOSCAID said: ‘We’re really looking forward to playing at Llangollen for the first time. It’s been quite a year for us, since winning the Young Folk Award in February. We’ve been busy in the studio preparing an album so it’s great to be performing our brand of traditional Irish folk music live and in such a renowned Festival.’
2012 Llangollen International Eisteddfod
Tuesday 3 July – Sunday 8 July
2012 concert schedule in full –
Tickets on general and online sale from Monday 5 December 2011
Tuesday 3 July 2012
Opening Ceremony: One World, One Stage, One Llangollen Welcome – Performances by some of the best and most colourful competitors of Llangollen 2012
Tickets - £15, £10
Wednesday 4 July 2012
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert
Alison Balsom, Lesley Garrett and Nicola Benedetti with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Tickets - £35, £28, £15
Thursday 5 July 2012
Alfie Boe at Llangollen featuring All Singing, All Dancing Show Choirs competition
Tickets - £30, £20, £15
Friday 6 July 2012
Karl Jenkins’ The Peacemakers and Valentina Nafornita (Winner – Cardiff Singer of the World 2011)
Tickets - £25, £20, £15
Saturday 7 July 2012
Choir of the World – The Pavarotti Trophy
Tickets - £25, £20, £15
Sunday 8 July 2012
Grand Finale – Wynne Evans, John Owen Jones, Mark Llewellyn Evans, Fflur Wyn, C么r CF1 and many more
Tickets - £25, £20, £15
The Eisteddfod:
Six days of the best music and folk dance from all over the world in one place! More than 4,000 competitors, from over 50 countries will take part, including some rare visitors from South Korea, China, Moldova, Slovakia.
Full booking info:
Reserve your tickets at http://www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk
Box Office: 01978 862001 9.30am to 4.30pm weekdays.
Email [email protected]
By post: Llangollen Eisteddfod Box Office, Royal International Pavilion, Abbey Road, Llangollen, LL20 8SW.
Season Tickets: amazing offers!
Become a Season Ticket Holder or a Friend of the Festival to have access to priority seating arrangements and great offers
Platinum Season Ticket – £185 (Days and evenings, except Tuesday day. Official Souvenir Programme included)
Gold Season Ticket - £125 (Valid Tuesday to Sunday CONCERTS only) Official Souvenir Programme included
Silver (Day) Season - £70 (Valid Wednesday to Saturday Competitive Session only)
Weekend Ticket – £80 (Friday – Sunday evening concerts including Saturday day)
