Jamie Smith's MABON are Wales' finest purveyors of original InterCeltic music. As comfortable on a world music stage as in a folk setting, theirs is a music that travels beyond borders to explore the forms and styles of the Celtic traditions and work them anew.

Through songs and melodies, from thoughtful lyrics to joyful jigs, graceful mazurkas to ecstatic muñera, here is a band that can take you on an emotional journey. More than just a show, more than inspired composition and skilful arrangement, you can expect to witness the joy of creating music expressed in dynamic, virtuosic performance.

Tunesmith, accordionist and lead singer Jamie is joined at the front of the stage by fiddler Oliver Wilson-Dickson (of Ian Macmillan Orchestra and Zsapora renown) and by Adam Rhodes on bouzouki. Recordings and occasional concerts also feature special guest Calum Stewart, Scotland's leading exponent of the wooden flute.

These are musicians whose intimate relationship provides a rich and flexible soundscape, where delicate touch and driving tune are instantly interchangeable; where lush, textural harmonies can underpin lyrical song, or swift, slick rhythms can propel lightning melodies.

Behind them are two consummate accompanists, Matthew Downer on electric and upright basses and percussionist Iolo Whelan at the drum kit. Between them they create a fluid yet undeniably solid and groovy foundation, tastefully supporting the front line through gracious airs, cantering songs and dancey reels alike.

Jamie Smith's MABON is a band that draws readily on the vast range of its members' influences, but does not attempt to make 'fusion'; instead it is a constant pursuit of integrity in seeking to explore the music that gives them - and their listeners - joy.

Flossie Malavialle is a French singer who started getting involved in the British folk scene in 2000-2001 while she was on a teacher exchange in the North East of England.

After 12 years of teaching English full time in secondary schools in the South of France, she decided to apply for a job as a French teacher in England, as she felt it would boost her English to live abroad for a year. She got one in Stockton-on-Tees and was living in Darlington at the time (great part of the world to improve on your English, like). She had also been singing for years in France before that and that’s why she found it quite natural to turn up at the Darlington folk club one night to meet the locals and sing a song... She didn’t realise then that this was going to be the beginning of a new life in England for her.

Bob Fox

(sponsored by Newport Folk Club)

Tredegar House Folk Festival is in for a treat from Bob! He has toured extensively throughout the UK, Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand, working mostly solo and producing beautifully-crafted arrangements for voice and guitar, as well as collaborating with many top musicians in various projects over the years. He's always creating music and recordings of the finest quality, rewarded by accolades and awards in abundance.

In 2011, he was invited to play the role of the Songman in the award-winning National Theatre production of War Horse in London’s West End, where he has consistently turned out superb performances singing and playing the melodeon - a brand-new challenge for him, as the character appears throughout the play as a commentator and driving force. The theatre was so impressed with him that Bob's performing contract was extended for six months.

This Spring at Tredegar House Folk Festival and thanks to Newport Folk Club (based at the Fugitives Club at Rogerstone), Bob will be treating his audiences to some of the songs from War Horse, some new material from the BBC Radio Ballads and revisiting some favourites from his vast repertoire of traditional and contemporary songs - expect an eclectic mix of thought-provoking storytelling and laughter-inducing stuff with a bit of audience participation and banter thrown in for good measure.

With bags of charm, talent, and an abiding enthusiasm for traditional song, The Young’uns are making a big impact on the UK folk scene. Sean Cooney, David Eagle and Michael Hughes bring freshness and dynamism to their arrangements of close harmony songs, both with and without accompaniment. Everything from traditional sea and working songs to more recent compositions is present in their repertoire, and is delivered with originality and flair.

Sild

MARTIN LEAMON and SILLE ILVES formed their unique Welsh – Estonian collaboration shortly after the 2001 Viljandi Folkmusic Festival.

Since then they have developed a truly original fusion of two different musical cultures, rooted in tradition yet thoroughly modern, they create timeless music.

SILLE ILVES is one of the finest fiddle players in her native Estonia and her adopted home of Wales.

She is also the leading exponent of the Hiiu-kannel (bowed harp), and an astonishing singer. She has performed and recorded with many leading Welsh traditional musicians and was a member of Taran.

The Morning After

rapsquillion

BarlowCree

BarlowCree (Liam Millinship & Jonny Matthew) is a Cardiff based folk-acoustic duo performing original material and adaptations of traditional and contemporary folk songs.

BarlowCree's magnetic stage presence, coupled with craftsman-like song writing is captivating audiences on both the club and festival scenes. BC's mix of traditional and self-penned work is receiving critical acclaim in the print and online media.

Lucy Ward

Dance

Young people of the little village of Degumnieki started dancing together in 1983, led for all the past 30 years by Anita Tropa. The dancers perform folk dances from all etnographical regions of Latvia: Latgale, Vidzeme, Zemgale, Kurzeme. They perform regularly at local events in Degumnieki and other towns of Latvia.

Lovisa Folkdansare (Finland)

Lovisa Folkdansare r.f. was founded in November 1976.

During the past decades, the organisation has had a vast number of members, and today it has about 20 active dancers.

For the time being, Ann-Lis Kullström is the main instructor of the group, while Kalle Halmén and Anders Backman are its main musicians.

Mizen Set Dancers (Ireland)

Set dancing has seen a revival in the last 25 to 30 years.  At one time, the sets stayed in their own district, but with the advent of travelling dancing masters, and more people moving around the country, these sets have become universal.

All the dancers in the Mizen Set Dancers come from County Cork and they are regular and popular visitors to the festival.

“LET FOREIGNERS BRAG AND CROW

THAT DANCIN’S THEIR DEVOTION

‘TIS LITTLE THE CRAYCHYRS KNOW

OF THE POETRY OF MOTION;

THEIR POLKAS AND QUADRILLES

ARE NOTHIN’ ELSE BUT PRANCIN’

AN’ IRISH JIGS AND REELS

BRANDYWINE

CARDIFF  MORRIS (Cardiff)

Picture by Alun Roach

The Cardiff Morris are one of the earliest 1970s revival sides. Formed in early 1970 by a small enthusiastic group made up of experienced dancers who had migrated from Morris sides in other parts of the country and local recruits with a feeling for folk dance and song, they have been dancing the Morris in South Wales for over forty years.

Their dances are generally derived from the Cotswold traditions, although you may see them perform their own tradition of dance from the village of Nantgarw, just north of Cardiff. This tradition is distinguished by the fact that it is an eight-person dance rather than the Cotswold style with six dancers. The local connection is reinforced by the Welsh dragon and Cardiff Coat of Arms on their Welsh-weave "baldricks", or cross-sashes, and they are often accompanied by Idris, their own dancing dragon.

CARDIFF LADIES MORRIS

Cardiff Ladies Morris are a Morris side based in Cardiff , South Wales and were originally formed in 1973.  Their kit consists of white shirt, black waistcoat (with a dragon on the peplum) and a bright red full skirt.

CITY CLICKERS (Clog)

City Clickers are a group of dancers based in Bristol who have been dancing together as a group for about fifteen years. They perform clog and step dances from various parts of Northern England, Wales and from Scotland. They are also interested in step dances from Canada: from Quebec, the Ottawa Valley, and of Cape Breton island which is currently undergoing a major revival in Scotland.

CLOCS CANTON

COBBLER'S AWL

Cobblers Awl are based in Cardiff and perform clog steps from both Wales and England. They have tried to keep both the Welsh and English clog-step traditions alive for the past thirty-five years, since the group was first formed in Cwmbrân.

Their repertoire includes English steps with routines from Lancashire, Lakeland and the North-east of England, and over the past decade they have developed Welsh stepping, embedding traditional elements within a contemporary polyrhythmic framework. They wear wooden-soled leather clogs, all handmade by one or other of the few craftsmen still creating such traditional footwear.

Cornucopia Appalachian

Cornucopia is a group of dancers and musicians based in Wantage, Oxfordshire, UK.

Cwmni Gwerin Pontypŵl

Fox's Morrris

Foxs Morris started in the summer of 1999, when a group of friends in the village of Cookley, near Kidderminster in Worcestershire, 93 miles from Newport, got together with a mutual interest in the tradition of folk dance and music. This small group were all members of 'the Friends of Cookley School' or F O C S - hence FOCS Morris. After much confusion over our name, particularly its unfortunate occasional mispronunciation, it was changed to FOXS Morris, spelt F O X S which still causes some confusion due to the S on the end without an E.

From a launch in September 1999, we quickly grew and regularly perform at festivals and events through out the UK and Europe - being the first morris side to dance at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin following reunification. The side has appeared on television teaching David "The Hoff" Hasslehoff to morris dance!

GWERINWYR GWENT

Gwerinwyr Gwent was formed in 1976 by eight people from the Gwent area who were interested in reviving the tradition of Welsh folk dancing. The name of the team can be translated as "folk-people of Gwent".

They perform dances which vary from slow, courtly dances to the faster fair dances and also include clog dances. Since theior formation, members of the team have taken part in several eisteddfods and also in festivals, both in Wales and overseas. As a result of this they have hosted many foreign teams on their visits to Wales. Our recent trips abroad took us to Denmark in 2009, and Finland at the beginning of July 2010. They were also invited to Latvia, and some of the team went there to perform at the Lubana festival in 2011.

They dance just for pleasure, although they take part in festivals and demonstrations both in Wales and Europe. This year they will again be performing at the Tredegar House Folk Festival and some of them will be hosting dancers from overseas. This leads to invitations to dance in their countries.  Gwerinwyr Gwent are well known for organising twmpaths and Noson Lawen evenings; the charges for these depends on the time involved and the distances travelled.

Theu are always seeking new members, and either beginners or experienced dancers are very welcome. Practice night is Thursday 8-10pm at the Graig Community Hall, Bassaleg, NP10 8LG opposite the Ruperra Arms. Just come along, or ring 01495 271953 for more details. Dancing is fun; it’s exercise but you don’t have to be superfit to do it….give it a try! For more information click the Recruitment button.

ISCA MORRIS

Isca Morris were formed in 1976 by three experienced dancers taking their name from the Roman Fortress of the Second Augustan Legion which once stood on the site of the town of Caerleon in the old county of Gwent in South East Wales, UK.  They wear the national colours of Wales (red, white and green) and the kit includes a red sash on which is mounted a Roman helmet badge.

JAWAHIR

Kemysk cornish dancers

Kemysk, meaning ‘mixture’ in the Cornish language, are a group of friends from the length and breadth of Cornwall who perform Cornish music and dance. Their flair and passion for Cornish culture is reflected in their energetic style. Their costumes are black and gold; colours which can be found on the banner and coat of arms of the Duchy of Cornwall.

Originally formed for a one off to tour to Sidmouth Folk Festival and the Festival Interceltqiue in Lorient, Brittany in summer 2010, they decided they were having way too much fun to leave it there. They perform regularly at local events such as the St Ives September Festival, Lowender Peran Celtic Festival, Cornwall Folk Festival and Golowan Festival. They have also travelled further a-field to the London for the ‘Kernow in the City’ St Piran’s day event, the South Bank Centre’s ‘Festival of Britain’, and represented Cornwall at Yn Chruinnaght festival on the Isle of Man and Cwlwm Celtaidd festival in Wales.

Moonshine Appalachian dancers

Appalachian step dancing from the hills of South Somerset and North Dorset

Currently they have 8 dancers; Frances, Julia, Debs, Jed, Andy, Jayne, Francis and Nichola,

and 4 musicians; Henry, Rob, Richard and Dave.

O'Donnell School of Irish Dancing

The dancers are a group of mixed ages from the Cardiff and Newport areas. A lot of time not only goes into the learning of the steps but also their appearance and I am sure you will appreciate their beautiful costumes as well as their dancing. They are regular visitors to the festival.

Whilst Irish Dancing can be very competitive, with competitions (Feisanna) ranging from their own class Feis through to local 'Wales and the West Feis' and on to National and International Championships, the O'Donnell School of Irish Dancing believes that whatever your own personal asperations, be it the next World Champion or to just learn something new and keep fit along the way, it should be FUN.

SHOOSTRING

Strictly Clog

Strictly Clog was formed in 2010 by three well established clog dance friends who wanted to take clog dancing back to basics with minimum choreography and more emphasis on the partnership with the music.

They have since performed at Beverley, Chippenham, Bromyard and Whitby folk festivals, as well as the annual Skipton Clog Fest and other local events.

WIDDERS MORRIS (Chepstow)

Described as 'the Punk Rockers of Morris' or 'Drinkers with a dance problem' The Widders dance mainly for fun and for the pleasure of knowing they are helping to keep a great dance tradition alive in South Wales.

Juice

with caller Dave Parsons

Juice originated in the 70s as Juice of Barley when Jenny and Gil Kilbride started their Ceilidh band. At the time their boys Danny, Bernard and Gerard were playing punk music for no fee. The idea of playing for money, even folk music, seemed very attractive and slowly but surely the boys were hooked, bringing with them their electric bass player (Dean) and forcing him to play the upright bass.

Youthful beauty took over from age when the parents retired and with various additions (and subtractions!). The modern day Juice line-up is fronted by Bernard KilBride (fiddle) with melodic support from Imogan O'Rourke (flute), Daniel KilBride on guitar, Dean Ryan on bass and Dave Danford on drums and percussion.

Regular support comes from a host of guest musicians including Stacey Blythe (keyboard & accordion) and Gerard KilBride (fiddle).