Manx Groups Head for Annual Welsh Festival

In true Celtic spirit two Manx groups will be heading across the Irish Sea to Wales to represent the Isle of Man at Cwlwm Celtaidd, the Celtic Festival of Wales.

Known widely for its focus as a family festival of music, song and dance, it attracts representative groups from each of the Celtic nations for a fun-filled weekend in the southern Welsh coastal resort of Porthcawl; which this year was well oversubscribed.

Proceedings kicked off with a free opening concert at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff at the end of last year, as a taster of what’s to come this month at the Grand Pavilion, situated on Porthcawl’s Victorian esplanade.

This will be the start of a busy year for the mighty Mollag Band who will be entertaining audiences at the festival with innovative songs and original tunes. Performing an eclectic mix of self-penned works and traditional material in both Manx and English, look out for their new CD, due out soon.

Manx dancers Perree Bane, who are based in the south of the Island, always attract attention with their colourful costume and dramatic presentation, and like the Mollag Band are no strangers to this annual festival. Founded in 1982, Perree Bane’s aim is to keep alive the extensive repertoire of Manx traditional dances, with some innovations here and there, both at home and abroad.

Meanwhile the Manx links continue in the company of Welsh band Jamie Smith’s Mabon, who will be headlining at Cwlwm Celtaidd, with Adam Rhodes (Barrule) playing bouzouki and two other members of the group married to Manx girls.

www.cwlwmceltaidd.org

Valerie Caine
© March 2014 (inc photos)

(Courtesy of Manx Tails)