March 6th-9th, 2008, Trecco Bay, Porthcawl, South Wales
www.cwlwmceltaidd.com

For the 7th consecutive year, over 500 singers, musicians and dancers from all the Celtic countries will be descending on the South Wales seaside resort of Porthcawl for a great festival of concerts, ceilidhs, sessions and workshops, known as Cwlwm Celtaidd (transl. “Celtic Knot”). The quirky festival venue, Trecco Bay Holiday Park, is only 100yds from the beach and coastal paths on the beautiful South Wales Heritage Coast, with separate venues for dance (800 capacity) and concert(1200), with a central 300 seater bar dedicated to the session musicians and the occasional showcase.

The festival starts a day earlier this year on Thursday 6th in a special opening concert at The Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, featuring Welsh legends Dafydd Iwan & Ar Log on stage together, with a great supporting line-up from Wales’ own Sain Record stable. Friday sees annual resident favourites Mabon headlining a great night, having had a great 12 months with critical acclaim for their last cd Ok Pewter and a series of headline gigs at festivals in Italy, France and the UK, including an appearance at Cambridge Folk Festival which “kicked off the festival with a bang”…Eddie Barcan, director.

Headlining Saturday night’s events this year are the “acid-croft groovemasters” Shooglenifty from Scotland, one of the most successful Celtic bands of the last 15yrs and international festival favourites throughout Europe and North America., not less for their ability to get a crowd up on the dancefloor in droves!

Making up an impressive line-up for this year’s event are Park Bench Social Club featuring the amazing young Shetland fiddler Ross Cooper, One String Loose (2007 finalists in the BBC Young Folk Awards and a product of Newport Comhaltas in South Wales), Australia’s Beck Sian, The Midden, Calum Stewart & harpist Rachel Hair from Scotland along with the City of Newcastle Pipers, Brittany’s Mike James & Yves Leblanc (one of the finest Fest Noz teachers around) & Avant Trois, Skyhook, Troyl & Error, Scoot, and many more including Welsh band Brigyn and dance specialists Allan yn y Fan.

The festival programme also includes many visiting dance groups. Many more artists are yet to be confirmed at this family friendly festival, only 10 miles from Cardiff Airport, with full programme, ticket prices and details of the very affordable onsite self-catering accommodation on the festival website which is located at www.cwlwmceltaidd.com or contact the festival office on Telephone: 01656 766667.