"In your hands, the birth of a new day... " (Limahl)

24 October 2011

Ar Daith / On Tour: 1996


1996 - GIGS

11/01/96 Capel y Gerlan, Y Borth

13/01/96 Cummings Hotel, Inverness

19/04/96 Undeb Myfyrwyr, Prifysgol Strathclyde

08/07/96 Gwesty’r Marine, Aberystwyth

09/07/96 Gwesty’r Four Seasons, Aberystwyth

13/07/96 Aberystwyth (Gwyl Stryd)

13/07/96 Wynnstay Arms, Machynlleth

15/07/96 Gwesty’r Marine, Aberystwyth

20/07/96 Wynnstay Arms, Machynlleth

25/07/96 Prifysgol Bangor (Y Gyngres Geltaidd)

10/08/96 Wynnstay Arms, Machynlleth

17/08/96 Wynnstay Arms, Machynlleth

24/08/96 Wynnstay Arms, Machynlleth

26/08/96 Celtica, Machynlleth

31/08/96 Canolfan y Celfyddydau, Aberystwyth

14/09/96 Machynlleth (Gwyl Stryd y Canol Oesoedd)

14/09/96 Y Tabernacl, Machynlleth

24/09/96 Celtica, Machynlleth

30/11/96 GWEITHDY COTC, BANGOR

24/12/96 Wynnstay Arms, Machynlleth

26/12/96 Gwesty'r Marine, Aberystwyth

Blwyddyn cofiadwy. Dyma'r tro cyntaf i mi ddechrau ysgrifennu bant i geisio cael gwaith. Erbyn hyn, roeddwn wedi dod i nabod y telynor deires, Robin Huw Bowen, yn dda iawn. Rwy'n meddwl ei ddylanwad ef oedd wedi ysgogi'r syniad o fod yn delynor mwy 'proffesiynol' fy agwedd nag oeddwn wedi bod cyn hynny. Yn ffodus iawn, ces i gynnig cyfres o nosweithiau yn y Wynnstay Arms, sef prif gwesty tref Machynlleth. Tua'r adeg hynny dechreuais cysylltiad gyda chanolfan "Celtica" yn yr un dref. Roedd dau achlysur arall o bwys. Yn gyntaf, gig trwy'r nos ym Mhrifysgol Strathclyde (gweler y poster). Rwy'n cofio canu set gyda'r gitar gan fwyaf (yn cynnwys "Bells of Rhymney", o flaen llond dwrn o gynulleidfa am tua 3.00 y bore, a chael derbyniad gwresog. Yn Nhachwedd, wnes i dal tren o Glasgow i Fangor er mwyn mynychu gweithdy cyntaf Cymdeithas Offerynnau Traddodiadol Cymru (sef CLERA erbyn hyn). Yno roedd dau o'm prif ddylanwadau wrth y lliw - Robin Huw Bowen, a Stephen Rees (cynt o grwp Ar Log). Wrth edrych yn ol, roedd yr achlysur ym Mangor yn dipyn o hwb i gario 'mlaen mewn i 1997, a dechreuadau newydd...

A memorable year. This was the first time that I actively started writing away for gigs. By now, I had got to know the triple harpist, Robin Huw Bowen, very well, and I think it was his influence at the time that sparked the idea of becoming a bit more 'professional' in my approach than I had been, hitherto. Luckily, I was offered a series of gigs in the Wynnstay Arms, the main hotel in Machynlleth. I also started an association with the "Celtica" centre in the same town. There were two other events of note. First, an all-nighter gig at Strathclyde students' union (see poster). I played a mainly guitar set in front of a handful of very enthusiastic diehards (including "Bells of Rhymney", as I recall). In November, I caught the train from Glasgow to Bangor to attend the first ever workshop of The Society of Welsh Traditional Instruments (CLERA now). Of course, two of my main influences were amongst those in charge - Robin Huw Bowen, and Stephen Rees (formerly of Ar Log). Looking back, I think that the occasion in Bangor was a significant inspiration to carry on into 1997, and new beginnings...