Gwyl ffidil yr wyddfa

19th June Nant Peris

Youtube footage of the festival! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8gg5gcmnOY

Welcome to the seventh year of the Snowdon Fiddle Festival. The festival started as an offshoot of the local fiddle club Clwb Ffidil yr Wyddfa, with the aim of raising the profile of traditional fiddle playing in the area, giving Welsh fiddle music some well deserved exposure and providing a chance to hear and learn from the foremost exponents of fiddle playing from further afield.  Set in the picturesque village of Nant Peris at the foot of Snowdon, the festival has become known for fine music and for its warm and friendly atmosphere.

This year focusses on the beautiful music of the Norwegian hardanger fiddle, a type of violin with extra 'sympathetic' strings. Guest artist Ånon Egeland from Rauland, Norway is well known not only as a fiddler but also as a virtuoso player of jew's harp and overtone flute, specialising in Norwegian traditional music. Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear the otherwordly sound of the hardanger fiddle in the hands of one of its masters.

From Norway to Snowdonia comes inspiration from Cass Meurig and Nial Cain, two of the organisers of the festival. Cass and Nial have recently released a CD called 'Deuawd', which has already received excellent reviews and attracted the attention of programmes such as Late Junction on Radio 3. They take a fresh look at old songs and tunes from the Welsh tradition, combining them with new compositions with 'power and clarity of vision' according to one reviewer.


Fresh talent for the festival comes from two young fiddlers, Patrick Rimes from Bethesda and Angharad Jenkins from Swansea. Both are members of folk group Calan, which has been charming the audiences in Wales and abroad with their vibrant versions of Welsh traditional tunes. An exclusive performance especially created for Snowdon Fiddle Festival!


With contributions from the local fiddlers of Snowdon Fiddle Club and the traditional set from the festival organisers, the line-up this year promises to be one of the the best yet.


Festivities start on the Friday night with an open session in the cosy back room of the Vaynol Arms. During the day on Saturday there are workshops for fiddle for all abilities including a chance to try out the fiddle for the first time, a guitar workshop and for the more daring, an opportunity to try the crwth (a medieval bowed lyre), and hear the musical saw!


One of the high points of the festival is the open-mike concert in the pub at lunchtime, where musicians of all ages and abilities can be heard, followed by an all-afternoon session to which all are welcome. The more energetic can try clog dancing and for children there will be a story and song show from storyteller Cath Aran and fiddler and actor Idris Morris Jones. The evening concert takes place in Rehoboth chapel, conveniently situated nearly opposite the pub for the session afterwards!

Last year's festival featured music from Wales from Ceri Rhys Matthews and Christine Cooper, Dan Morris and Gwilym Hardy. Artists who have played here in previous years include Roots'n'Galoots, Stephen Rees, John Dipper, Maria Jonsson and Ian Carr, KilBride, Siân Phillips, Christine and Jo Cooper, SILD and the New Rope String Band, as well as numerous local fiddlers.


Come, enjoy and be inspired!