CALAN
Pontypool, Wales, United Kingdom | Established. Jan 01, 2008 | INDIE
Music
Press
"I think they (Calan) are one of the most exciting young bands on the UK folk circuit" Mike Harding, Radio 2
- BBC Radio 2
That Welsh traditional folk music is very much alive and turning heads both here and throughout Europe is in large part thanks to pioneering youngsters Calan.
Following up their acclaimed debut – Bling- comes Jonah, a spirited collection comprising traditional material and a clutch of original tunes from guest guitarist and songwriter Huw Williams, including ‘Cân y Dyn Doeth’ (The Wise Man’s Song), a co-write with Calan accordionist Bethan Rhiannon which excitingly reflects the band’s growing confidence and continued musical development.
Blending seamlessly into the traditional medleys are several original tunes, including pieces from Bethan and the band’s fiddle player Angharad Sian. Brilliant, vibrant ensemble playing and arrangements are the order of the day while careful sequencing ensues a welcome contrast in both pace and mood throughout the album.
The original songs add further to the diverse palette from which Calan draw as does the sensitive addition of bass, drum and a vocoder on a couple of tracks. Thus Jonah carries a contemporary edge befitting such a young band. For those for whom Bling was a welcome introduction to this marvellous new outfit, Jonah will confirm Calan as a mighty talented quintet whose future looks very bright indeed.
Colin Hall, R2
- R2
Calan are bursting out, taking chances, making left-field swerves, doing just what you’d expect them not to, making a whole new fist of Welsh folk and clearly having a ball doing it.
Simon Jones, fRoots
- fRoots
these three lasses and two lads demonstrate virtuso playing throughout their lightning fast tunes, eastern influenced jazzy improvised numbers, and glorious harmony laden female Welsh folk songs.” Taplas - Taplas
Their debut album is as energetic as you might expect , but it also has subtlety and, in places, a mournfulness that is impressive in such a young band…creating a beautiful sound….A group of musicians with a bright future ahead of them.” Songlines - Songlines
Calan have it all – energy, attitude, freshness, a sense of fun and above all, real talent.” Frank Hennessy, BBC Wales. - BBC Wales
There’s nowt as dear as folk – especially when played with the grace, daring and sheer joy this multi-instrumental five piece bring to a winning selection of reels, jigs and hornpipes.” The Daily Mirror - The Daily Mirror
“Folk just got a kick up of the Noughties…. The dynamic quintet’s debut album has everything you could want from a record - stunning use of instrumentation, gorgeously crafted songs, sprightly foot-tappers, verve and raw excitement.” The Belfast Telegraph - The Belfast Telegraph
Discography
Bling - Calan - SAINSCD 2577
Jonah - Calan - SAINSCD2657
Our music has been played on BBC Radio 2 Folk Show (Mike Harding and Mark Radcliffe), both English and Welsh national radio stations BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru have featured Calan's music as record of the week.
Photos
Bio
With 'verve and raw excitment' Calan play fiddles, whistles and bagpipes and a traditional reed instrument from Wales called a pibgorn made from a wooden pipe and the horns of a bull. There is also a dazzling performance of Welsh step dancing.
Calan have been building up a big following since 2010s release of their first album, Bling, which has already introduced a new generation of music fans to Welsh traditional music in Wales and well beyond. Audiences in Belgium,Italy and The Neherlands as well as all over the UK have given them a terrific reception.
Main-stage appearances at festivals have seen audiences voting them to the top of many exit polls. After their triumphant return from the Womex festival in Denmark they have had many offers from top agents in Europe who want to include them on their roster.
2012 saw them play more European dates, and they starred at Fairport Conventions Cropredy festival in front of 25,000 and already have television and radio gigs lined up.
Much of the bands success began after the success of Bling which attracted great reviews from the music press and from an unlikely source. The Daily Mirror summed it up by saying that the music on Bling was played with the grace, daring and sheer joy. The Belfast Telegraph got the idea, too, saying "folk just got a kick up of the Noughties.
For Jonah, Calan have again sought the production of Maartin Allcock, the multi-instrumental wizzard now living near Harlech in Gwynedd, Wales.
And he has given the album a more contemporary edge, building on a couple of tracks on Bling by using bass and drums, and even a vocoder.
Controversial? says vocalist and accordion player Bethan Rhiannon. Some may say so, I suppose. But Welsh music has always been inclusive and ready to develop. Were just taking it into the second decade of the 21st century with a mixture of traditional tunes and a set of originals. There is a huge canon of traditional Welsh music but theres no reason not to add to it, to develop it, to refresh it.
Thats what we do, says Patrick Rimes in between remembering whether to play his fiddle, bagpipes, pibgorn, whistle or trombone. Were not missionaries; were musicians and entertainers and if we can be musical and entertain ourselves, then we can take audiences with us. Its worked so far.
Band Members
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