ALBUM LAUNCH, FESTIVALS & FOREIGN JAUNTS!
Summer & Autumn 2006

What a busy summer Allan Yn Y Fan has had in 2006! In many ways it seems that we have had hardly time to draw our collective breath since the wonderful night we had in Blackwood Miner’s Institute on 14th July, when we launched “Belonging”. It was great to see so many family members, friends of the band and especially fellow musicians. Delyth Jenkins (whose album Aros is highly recommended) did us the honour of playing an exquisite opening set before we took to the stage. There are photos of the occasion elsewhere on this site (click here) – suffice it to say that we all had a real ball that night and that Robin & Mat of the Blackwood Miner’s Institute made us sound and look great!

Just a week after that we were delighted to return to the marvellous event that is the Trowbridge Village Pump Festival. It was one of the hottest nights of the year – a free sauna with every dance – but my, how you all danced. Gina Morgan was on great form that night, and despite the strong rival attractions in the concert marquee, we kept our tent full all night. When we played Pontardawe Festival on 20th August the temperature was more comfortable for dancing and, on this occasion, Carys Wynne ensured that the floor was full for every dance.

Apart from our great delight at playing for weddings, birthdays and festivals for people to dance to our music, we just love playing concerts. This summer we returned to the Wales Millennium Centre on the August Bank Holiday and played to our biggest ever crowd there – their sound man (he’s there for every gig) thought the crowd was in excess of 500!! The atmosphere was great – and thanks to all of you who bought the CDs and those of you who took the time to send us messages of how much you enjoyed that gig.

In September we embarked on the “Belonging – Taith Ewrop” – a two part adventure with Germany & Luxembourg happening in the middle of the month, with just a small breather for the day jobs!, before playing France just last weekend. It might have been hot in a tent Trowbridge in July – it seemed/was even hotter in Backnang, Germany in mid-September. Our first gig was in the most beautiful small theatre – the Traumzeit run by Michael (a fine cook and wonderful host) and his superb team. The audience took us to their hearts and although Chris & Geoff were slightly stressed by sitting in a car for two hours going only 2 kilometres earlier that day – we soon settled in to enjoying ourselves. This first night set the tone for the next couple of days. The following night we played at the Bierkellar in Steinheim (home of our host Thomas Roth) and had the great pleasure of being joined on stage by the super percussionist Jorst of The Geyers. Indeed – he did us the honour the following night in Möglingen, where we shared the bill with the Geyers and the Anne Wylie Band. A gig never to be forgotten for the quality of the rider!! Heike and her team were also fabulous hosts. It was brilliant to take the stage there and be welcomed with a banner in Welsh! The author, now a teacher of English there, had completed his teaching practice in Caerphilly some 25 years ago and had visited Islwyn Folk Club! It really is a small world.

The next day we bid a fond farewell to Thomas & Irene, who had looked after us supremely in Castell Thomas, and drove on to Luxembourg. What a city! What a state! What a welcome! It didn’t take long to realise why Luxembourg Folk Club has been going strong for in excess of 25 years. Suffice it to say that we were once again looked after – Jurgen & Thomas were the suppliers of brilliant sound and the audience – they were with us from the first set. They even laughed at Geoff’s jokes!! And the bouquets at the end of the evening to the girls...another lovely touch. Don’t ask what the boys got...

So, to last weekend and “le Calvados Fête L'Europe” :- it’s not every weekend we get invited to play at a French Château! This event celebrated twinning anniversaries between the Calvados region and Wurtzburg in Germany and Devon plus making friends with countries from the recent European enlargement such as Poland, Czech Republic and Lithuania. We played three times on both the Saturday and Sunday and Katharina and all her team looked after us. As to how we got there – just ask Kate! It’s good to have dual Welsh and Devonian citizenship!

Well, now we are back home and looking forward to seeing reviews of “Belonging” which should happen soon. Please do order your copy from this site. Later in November we are looking forward to a very special concert when we share the stage of the Newbridge Memo with the Emily Smith Band – and a few tunes together too! Tickets for this very special night on Friday 24th November are just £7/£5 concessions. The evening is promoted by Islwyn Acoustic with support of the Arts Council Wales “Night Out” scheme and Caerphilly County Borough Council. We don’t often get a chance to play in our home area so we hope as many of you as possible will call 01495 270078 to book your tickets. Check out Emily Smith by visiting www.emilysmith.org We hope to see you there!

Cofion Allan Yn Y Fan (8th October 2006)

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