Fizzing Welsh band Mabon – who have won over festival audiences across Europe with their unique blend of InterCeltic music– have been selected to showcase for Wales at this autumn’s WOMEX world music trade fair in Copenhagen.
Mabon – led by 27-year-old accordionist and tunes meister Jamie Smith, from Risca, South Wales, have been chosen by the Welsh Music Foundation as a showcase act at the prestigious world music trade fair to be staged in Denmark in October (27-31).
Says Jamie: “Showcase slots at Womex are extremely difficult to secure, but with the support and financial backing of the Welsh Music Foundation we now have a fantastic opportunity to play for music industry professionals from around the world and show them what we can do.”
Things are on a roll for the popular band who will launch their first live album when they make their debut at Fairport’s renowned Cropredy Convention in Oxfordshire next week (Friday, August 13).
The all-male six piece will take to the stage at the famous Oxfordshire festival on Friday afternoon and will then be on site to sign copies of their brand new album Live at the Grand Pavilion – recorded at The Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl on last autumn’s “OK UK” tour. Included in the package is a bonus DVD featuring footage from another autumn gig at the Quay Arts Centre, Isle of Wight.
Mabon (meaning Autumn equinox), also features Young Scottish Musician of the Year finalist Calum Stewart on wooden flute and pipes and stand-out fiddler Oli Wilson-Dickson. Keeping it in the family, Jamie’s father Derek Smith,from Bridgend, who founded the original Mabon, plays acoustic guitar and the line-up is completed by Matt Downer on bass and the irrepressible Iolo Whelan from the Vale of Glamorgan on drums and percussion.
Says Jamie, who has composed most of the tunes on the album: “We had a very successful UK tour last autumn. This new CD was a result of that and we hope it captures the essence and energy of our live show.” It features new tracks such as The Tale of Nikolai, The Dancing Bear and crowd favourite The Buck Rarebit, as well as older favourites including Easy on the Reels and File Under Biddley.
Mabon, described as “frighteningly good” by the Welsh Taplas magazine, have played castles in Poland, forest parks in Italy and conjured their magic in Mexico with their insatiable meld of world music, Celtic roots and rabble rousing funk folk.
Drawing inspiration from the traditional music of the Celtic countries, Jamie’s compositions see jigs and reels jostling for space alongside other dance-related forms including Breton an dro, French mazurka and Galician muinera in a high energy, feelgood show.
Last month Jamie Smith played solo in the Welsh Proms at Cardiff’s St David’s Hall and a January 2011 appearance at Glasgow’s famous Celtic Connections Festival could be on the cards. Another new move has been to make their website available in three languages – Welsh, English and now French, for their many supporters over the Channel. See www.mabon.org
Worldwide festivals have been their domain for several years- they tour annually in Brittany and Italy and have also visited Poland, Galicia, Asturias, Ireland, Belgium, Canada and Australia. Back on home turf they have whipped up a storm at major UK festivals including Cambridge, Sidmouth, Larmer Tree, Towersey, Fylde, Warwick and Brampton Live near Carlisle and memorably headlined the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, playing to thousands of people. But this will be their first time at Cropredy. Says Jamie: “We’re really looking forward to making our first appearance at such a renowned and well-loved festival.”
