Tour dates: 27 January – 1 February 2009

The rousing, sharp-suited Bellowhead were first unleashed onto an unsuspecting audience at the Oxford Festival in April 2004, brought together by the award-winning duo Spiers and Boden. Their plan was to gather a talented collective of disparate musicians into a group capable of playing many styles, idioms and textures from around the world from big band through soul, jazz and funk, to classical strings - yet retaining, at its heart, an exquisite sensitivity to the essence of English traditional music. With a variety of more eccentric influences including brass, strings, disco music, sea shanties and Tom Waits, Bellowhead take outrageous but enthralling liberties with some of folk’s hardy veterans.

Bellowhead’s second album Matachin was released in Autumn 2008, a much-praised follow-up to their extraordinary, groundbreaking album Burlesque (2006) which garnered awards and plaudits everywhere. Heralded as one of the most important folk recordings ever made, Burlesque’s flowing stream of humour, intelligence, meticulous research, and free-ranging imagination had fans and reviewers searching for ever-greater superlatives. The ultimate thrilling live performance, Bellowhead were voted ‘Best Live Band’ for an incredible third time at the 2008 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Don’t miss this chance to catch one of the UK’s most innovative live bands whose fans unite across generations and genres. Nominated for Best Group, Best Traditional Track, and Best Live Act, BBC Folk Awards 2008.

Tour venues:

ST DAVID’S HALL Cardiff / Caerdydd

TORCH THEATRE Milford Haven / Aberdaugleddau

CANOLFAN Y CELFYDDYDAU ABERYSTWYTH ARTS CENTRE

THEATR MWLDAN Cardigan / Aberteifi

PONTARDAWE ARTS CENTRE Pontardawe

THEATR BRYCHEINIOG Brecon / Aberhonddu