Gower Folk Festival 2006

The Gower Folk Festival 2008 kicks off tomorrow night at the Gower Heritage Centre, Parkmill. I was lucky enough to attend this event a couple of years ago and thoroughly enjoyed myself. To celebrate the opening of this year's annual weekend festival, here's my write-up (and photographs) of the 2006 show I attended - well, Day Two and Day Three of the fezzie anyway:

Presented by the Halfpenny Folk Club, the 13th Gower Folk Festival ran over the hot weekend of 9 th -11 th June 2006 at the Gower Heritage Centre. As the Gower Peninsula celebrated its 50 th anniversary as an 'A.O.N.B.', the festival promised to pull out all the stops to provide three days of solid musical entertainment. As the curtain closed on the final night of the event (and the heavens opened to a torrential rainfall which brought an end to the heatwave the peninsula had been enjoying all week), the producers of the festival could hold their heads high, having provided an outstanding show featuring top class music from across the world.

A hot, blustery gale heralded the start of the festival. This, unfortunately, took a toll on the numbers attending the first night's entertainment as many of the attendees camped at the official campsite for the event at Three Cliffs had real difficulty pitching their tents in the high winds and had to abandon the festival's opening evening altogether by the time they had finally secured their billowing tents. Indeed, at times the field appeared to be hosting a rather curious kite extravaganza as people hauled and fought to hold their canvas homes from taking to the skies.

For those able to attend the final night, a French dance workshop was held at the Gower Heritage Centre at 6.00p.m., followed by two and a half hours of dance music, courtesy of Norwich band 'Xim.' Featuring hurdy gurdy, accordion, flute, pipes and drums, their heady mix of both English and French music provided the perfect incentive to put into practice the dance moves learned earlier in the evening.

The second day of the Gower Folk Festival's programme commenced with the Irish Folk Dance Duo 'Madra Rua' who performed an excellent mix of songs ranging from the simply melodic to the occasionally crescending powerhouse vocals.





'Toreth' were next - a Welsh singing duo. The audience quickly warmed to their quaint and amusing humdrum themes (which they explained in English prior to each song). The violinist seemed joyous at the rhythms he coaxed from his violin and his enthusiasm was very infectious.


The Welsh/Estonian hybrid 'Sild' were next up - a three piece band. Sille Ilves held centre stage, playing fiddle and Bowed Harp, which she played with aplomb.



The afternoon continued with Christina Smith and Jean Hewson - excellent musicians with some fascinating historical details about their homeland Newfoundland.

Chris Moreton completed the afternoon's session with some virtuoso 'flat-picking' guitar playing and songs. A very humorous performer who held the audience in the palms of his hands.

There was an hour and a half break before the evening session began, affording the opportunity to look around the Gower Heritage Centre or take a wander along the nearby woods. Most people used the break to top up with food and drink from the centre's restaurant before settling down once more to watch Bill Caddick. His performance was traditional English folk intertwined with gentle banter.


'Trio Hodzic' were the next act to take the stage, playing Balkan music and some fascinating gypsy fiddling.


The definite highlight of the day, however, was 'Van Eyken.' This group demonstrated great warmth and a thorough love and knowledge of their craft. The peak of their performance came with their modern interpretation of the Phil Tanner classic 'Fisherman.' The drummer was amazing, playing a whole range of curious and various home-made percussion and the lead singer's enthusiasm was immense. Bringing old folk music to a modern audience with electric guitar, feedback as well as more traditional instruments, 'Van Eyken' were a great finale to a good day's line up.


The festival organisers were kind enough to put a free bus on to transport people from the Gower Heritage Centre back to either the Three Cliffs Camp Site or to Swansea - though those requiring the service did have to wait a while as the bus needed to make a few journeys to the campsite to accommodate everyone's need. But, given the short distance to the campsite, the wait was not too long and the bus dropped its grateful passengers off right outside their tents - which was appreciated by everyone.

The final day of the festival commenced at 2.00 p.m. with 'Ember,' a South Wales duo featuring Emily Williams on violin/guitar and Rebecca Sullivan (also on guitar).

Sarah Matthews and Doug Eunson follwed, returning to the festival after last year's break (when they played as members of the band 'Cross O'th Hands). Their English harmonies with melodeon and fiddle went down a real storm and provided a great contrast to the traditional American songs which followed with 'Beyou Seco.'

The last act of the afternoon session was 'Dangerous Curves' - an a-capella trio of lady singers who offered a refreshing, light-hearted hour of mischievous songs. This led to the afternoon interval during which a section of seating was removed to allow for a dance arena.

When the final evening session began, several of the audience were quick to take to their feet and try out some traditional Swedish dancing as Tuulikki Bartosik and Emma Reid played various themes from the Darlana region of that country. The gypsy-like quality of their music was intense, cascading mental images of camping around a roaring open fire in the middle of a forest and surrounded by intricately and vibrantly painted old-style gypsy caravans to closed eyes and meditative minds.


'Finest Kind' were the penultimate act of the evening - a trio singing a range of folk songs from around the world, including titles from local folk-singing legend Phil Tanner.

As though sensing that something cool was about to happen, children who had hitherto amused themselves at the Gower Heritage Centre's numerous attractions rushed to the front of the audience as 'The New Rope Band' came onto the stage. As well as playing some good songs, 'The New Rope String Band' were absolutely hilarious to watch and the audience, young and old alike, were all enthralled by their antics and performance genius.


Accordions falling apart, piranha attacks, intriguing musical disguises and a comedic lecture on the nature of music all featured in the ninety minute performance which closed the Gower Folk Festival on a real high.

As the audience left the Gower Heritage Centre and waited for the bus to the campsite or to Swansea, not even the heavy rain could dampen their spirits - raised high from a glorious Gower Folk Festival weekend.

Anyway, that was my take on the Gower Folk Festival 2006. I'm sure this year's event will be just as entertaining - I just wish that my family and I had some tickets. If anyone else has any reviews of either this years or any previous Gower Folk Festival events and would like to share their thoughts, please feel free to publish them in the comments link below.