Shot at an ancient hill fort near ALAW’s base in Abergavenny, South Wales, “Pan O’wn y Gwanwyn” celebrates the affinity between music and landscape. “When I am playing this music” explains fiddle player Oli Wilson-Dickson “I often shut my eyes, and this is the landscape I imagine – it has been amazing to have this realised by such a talented film maker.”
Set against the backdrop of the Black Mountains the video shows Wales in all its rugged beauty. “It was a very windy day when we shot the film and I love that – it gives the film a kind of rawness that is echoed in the melody”. The film was created by George Morris with support from The Arts Council of Wales.
The music is taken from ALAW’s new album Dead Man’s Dance which has just been released and is garnering broad critical acclaim.
Dead Man’s Dance (Dawns y Gŵr Marw) is ALAW’s second studio album. Sensitivity and virtuosity combine in this bold exploration of Welsh traditional music and original song with sublime contributions from guest vocalists Georgia Ruth and Gwilym Bowen Rhys. Sometimes dark and brooding, sometimes joyful and exuberant, always imaginative and engaging, Dead Man’s Dance is a coming of age album.
“Having set out our stall with our first album Melody, we wanted to go all out with Dead Man’s Dance; featuring guest musicians and adding original songs to the mix” says Oli ‘Georgia and Gwilym are two of the most exciting singers in Wales right now and having them on the album is a real thrill.’
In ALAW, Oli, Jamie Smith and Dylan Fowler bring a wealth of experience to a shared passion – the traditional music of Wales. Whether unearthing rare gems or reimagining a well loved melody, they treat their music with a deftness and subtlety that is thoroughly absorbing. Combined with powerful song writing and original tunes, this makes for a musical experience that stays with the listener.
‘Certain Welsh melodies leap out as being incredibly moving and mysterious. Sometimes they are elaborate but sometimes really simple, which can open up all sorts of possibilities’
Oli, Jamie and Dylan have a long history of working together, sharing projects such as The Devil’s Violin, Szapora and The Ian McMillan Orchestra. Oli and Jamie are well known throughout the folk world as the frontline of Jamie Smith’s Mabon.
The video is available to view on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/alaw.band/videos/1560763694017990/
or on youtube: https://youtu.be/7IVA71GVc70
Tour dates:
29/11/17 – Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff – 7.30pm*
www.ticketsource.co.uk/ 0333 666 3366 (£1.50 fee for telephone booking)
www.ticketsource.co.uk/ 0333 666 3366 (£1.50 fee for telephone booking)
30/11/17 – Chapel Arts Centre, Abergavenny – 7.30pm*
events@artshopandchapel.co.uk 01873 736430 / 852690
events@artshopandchapel.co.uk 01873 736430 / 852690
1/12/17 – Postlip Hall, Winchcombe – 7.30pm
www.postliphall.org.uk 01242 602981
www.postliphall.org.uk 01242 602981
2/12/17 – Chapel-en-le-Frith Town Hall, 7:30pm
www.ticketsource.co.uk/chapelarts 03336 663 366
www.ticketsource.co.uk/chapelarts 03336 663 366
3/12/17 – Florence Nightingale Memorial Hall, Holloway 7.30pm
01773 856 545
01773 856 545
*with guest / gyda Gwilym Bowen Rhys