ONE of Wales’s biggest trad-folk bands will premier their new album from the one of the world’s smallest stages… The front room of a semi in Cwmbran.
With Covid-19 cutting a swathe through auditorium concerts, and the release of Calan’s hugely anticipated sixth album Kistvaen scheduled for April 3, the band needed a new plan… Fast.
Calan’s vocalist, accordionist and step dancer Bethan Rhiannon explains:
“So, on that day, we’re going to play the album end to end in a live online streamed concert from my front room.”
Guitarist Sam Humphreys adds
“It helps that we’re going to play the album unplugged. To be honest, I’m not sure a three-pin socket would take us all at full pelt!”
This is not the first time that Calan have come up against the Curse of Coronavirus. Last week they were in the middle of a nationwide American tour when concerts suddenly began to be cancelled. In a mad scramble for airline tickets, they managed to get seats on one of the last flights back to Britain and found themselves the best part of £6,000 out of pocket after paying for visas, flights, accommodation, transport and all the paraphernalia of a Stateside tour.
So, they’ve set up an online shop – with just about the only thing they have to sell…. Themselves!
Fiddle player Angharad Jenkins says
“You can commission a tune specially written by one of us. You can book any one of us for an online music lesson, and even enter our tune raffle… Send us your own tune and if you win, we’ll include it in our repertoire.”
Fiddler Patrick Rimes’ famous custom-made Bollywood jacket from the band’s Solomon album sold in one day.
Bethan concludes:
“None of us want to make light of an awful national emergency. We absolutely recognise that people are losing loved ones and livelihoods. But, even if it’s online, we’ll do our level best to bring just a small amount of joy and music into people’s lives.”
Meanwhile, Calan’s UK tour, previously reported on Entertainment South Wales to begin in early April, is being rescheduled for November/December.
Full list of rescheduled Calan UK live dates so far;
26 July Cardiff Harp Congress – Cardiff Bay Wales Millennium Centre
8 August Tregaron Eisteddfod Ceredigion (National Eisteddfod of Wales)
30 August Shrewsbury Folk Festival
13 September Bromyard Folk Festival
7 November Brecon Theatr Brycheiniog
8 November Bristol Folk House
14 November Cardiff The Gate
29 November Dorchester Arts
2 December Sheffield – The Greystones
7 December Southampton Chapel Sessions
11 December Caernarfon Galeri
12 December Glyn Ceiriog – Canolfan Ceiriog Centre
17 December South Molton George Hotel
18 December Bradford-on-Avon – Wiltshire Music Centre
20 December Alfriston Old Chapel
30 January 2021 Wolverhampton – Newhampton Arts Centre
-
To take part in Calan’s fundraiser visit. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/calan-fundraiser#/
-
Calan’s live-streamed album premiere will take place on April 3 via https://www.facebook.com/calanfolk/
-
News of any further rescheduled UK tour dates check back on http://www.calan-band.com