Friday Night was Definately Music Night at The Valley Folk Club Showcase at Pontardawe Arts Centre

By Gareth Cornfield

On Friday 16th August, I had the great pleasure & privilege to be the MC for the Valley Folk Club Showcase at The Pontardawe Arts Centre.

Initially part of the Pontardawe Arts Centre Summerfest, it became a standalone event when the rest of the Summerfest was cancelled.

Undaunted, the Valley Folk Club went ahead. There were 16 acts on the bill, followed by a Ceilidh band, all for the paltry sum of £3!

The performers were all people who had played at the Valley Folk Club singers nights, held at the Ivy Bush Inn, Pontardawe on the first Friday of the month, 8pm onwards. It was a wonderful opportunity to sing on the main stage of such a beautiful venue, with the support of the staff. Special mention goes to Dan the sound technician. Usually, a sound tech gets to spend a while with a band, getting all of the levels right. Dan had to do this for all of the acts, on the go. He did a terrific job, making all of the performers sound absolutely brilliant. Thanks Dan from all of us

I started the night off with a couple of songs before introducing the performers to the audience & trying to keep things moving along nicely.

Gareth Cornfield

I was followed by Bob Thomas & Huw Pudner, who sang songs they had composed. Bob & Huw are mainstays of the folk club, regular attendees of singers & guest nights.

Bob & Huw

They were followed by Huw’s wife, Heather Pudner. She sang traditional songs, unaccompanied.

This set the template for the evening: solo, duo, instruments & unaccompanied, traditional & new. This epitomises the Valley Folk Club, unafraid to allow the boundaries of ‘Folk Music’ to be stretched. Paul Nicholas sang a Beatles song, followed by one by Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders! All were thoroughly appreciated by the audience, who filled the Arts Centre’s main auditorium, with cabaret seating.

Paul Nicholas

Aneirin

Jacques

The evening progressed with another duo, Aneirin & Jacques, fiddle & guitar. They have only recently started playing together yet gave a polished performance that would be the envy of many acts. Aneirin Jones has to be one of the most naturally gifted fiddle players I have heard. He is also very young, so will only improve with time. He is currently the one everybody wants to perform with, presumably before they can no longer keep up with, or afford, him!

Aneirin then joined with a band he plays for, Y Plebs. They did a short set of songs & tunes in Welsh.

Y Plebs

This went down very well with the audience. They then handed over to The Empty Shed Experience who closed the show with a polished performance.

Ron Savory, guitar & vocals, writes the songs for The Empty Shed Experience and he put in his usual, passionate performance. They were a lovely end to a fantastic showcase for a Folk Club that has been going for over 40 years. The performers have all been a part of singers nights at the club, some also doing floor spots on guest nights.

So, if you want to see musicians & singers of the highest calibre, you know what to do. Go to the Valley Folk Club, The Ivy Bush Hotel, Pontardawe.

Singers nights, the first Friday of the month. On the Third & fifth Fridays, there is a guest night where artists from all over the UK have performed.

Check out their website: http://www.pontardawefolkclub.co.uk/index.html

On Sunday morning, still buzzing from Friday, I was invited to Gellionen Church for their annual Folk Service. The music took priority in this celebration of fellowship & community.

Again, there were performers of many disciplines. Aneirin Jones was there, along with Dr.Jamie Nemeth & his family. Songs & Hymns were sung with gusto in an historic building. The acoustics there were superb and brought the best out of the musicians. It is a lovely event that I am honoured to have been invited to. It is still in regular use as a church. It also hosts weddings & naming ceremonies. At Christmas & New Year, it even welcomes The Mari Lwyd, celebrating ancient Welsh customs.

http://www.gellionnenchapel.org.uk/gellionnen/

All in all, a wonderful weekend of music.

PHOTOS  WITH THANKS BY PAUL NICHOLAS