SESSION Leaders ~ 2026 ~ Arweinwyr SESIWNAU
Mwsog
MWSOG began as a drifting spiritual collective, orbiting the ether long before crystallizing into their current form: a clan of wayward psychedelic folk-rock sorcerers. With Mari Mathias up front the band will lead a semi acoustic session right into the Sunday night. Dechreuodd Mwsog fel grŵp ysbrydol symudol, yn cylchdroi'r ether ymhell cyn crisialu i'w ffurf bresennol: clan o swynwyr roc-gwerin seicedelig anwadal. Gyda Mari Mathias ar y blaen, bydd y band yn arwain sesiwn lled-acwstig i mewn i nos Sul.
Polly Walker-Penn & Ant Rogers
Polly's rhythmic, Donegal influenced fiddle playing drives the melody in the band. Whilst attending a Donegal fiddle school from the age of 18 for over 20 years she had master classes with the likes of Tommy Peoples, Paddy Glackin, Paul O'shaughnessy (Altan), Seamus Gibson and many more. Playing with musicians from Bristol, the West Country and Wales, Polly has made a name for herself as being a strong and talented session player with an appetite for the music that takes her regularly back to the west coast of Ireland for inspiration and musical development. Ant has played guitars since he was 11. Originally inspired by some of the great ballads, he soon discovered traditional music and has never looked back. He joined his first Ceilidh band at 18 and developed his driving rhythms with prominent bass riffs to suit the dances. He gradually expanded his instrumental portfolio to include mandolin, mandola, whistle, bodhran and banjo. He has learned his craft playing throughout Wales, Ireland, England and Brittany and has been a central figure in Pembrokeshire sessions for the last 20 years. Both play in the dance band Caper Ceilidh. Mae chwarae ffidil rhythmig Polly, dan ddylanwad Donegal, yn gyrru'r alaw yn y band. Wrth fynychu ysgol ffidil yn Donegal o 18 oed am dros 20 mlynedd, cafodd ddosbarthiadau meistr gyda phobl fel Tommy Peoples, Paddy Glackin, Paul O'shaughnessy (Altan), Seamus Gibson a llawer mwy. Gan chwarae gyda cherddorion o Fryste, Gorllewin Lloegr a Chymru, mae Polly wedi gwneud enw iddi hi ei hun fel chwaraewr sesiwn cryf a thalentog sydd â diddordeb mawr yn y gerddoriaeth sy'n ei chymryd yn ôl yn rheolaidd i arfordir gorllewinol Iwerddon am ysbrydoliaeth a datblygiad cerddorol. Mae Ant wedi chwarae gitarau ers pan oedd yn 11 oed. Wedi'i ysbrydoli'n wreiddiol gan rai o'r baledi gwych, darganfu gerddoriaeth draddodiadol yn fuan ac nid yw erioed wedi edrych yn ôl. Ymunodd â'i fand Ceilidh cyntaf yn 18 oed a datblygodd ei rhythmau gyrru gyda riffiau bas amlwg i gyd-fynd â'r dawnsfeydd. Yn raddol, ehangodd ei bortffolio offerynnol i gynnwys mandolin, mandola, chwiban, bodhran a banjo. Mae wedi dysgu ei grefft gan chwarae ledled Cymru, Iwerddon, Lloegr a Llydaw ac mae wedi bod yn ffigwr canolog mewn sesiynau yn Sir Benfro am yr 20 mlynedd diwethaf. Mae'r ddau yn chwarae yn y band dawns Caper Ceilidh.
Jordan Price Williams & Aneirin Jones
As members of the chamber-trad string-trio Vrï, Aneirin and Jordan have already enjoyed a very exciting career as traditional musicians. The band’s studio releases Islais a Genir and Ty Ein Tadau both won Best Album at the Wales Folk Awards (2019 and 2023). They’ve performed in many parts of the world, on international stages and many tours across the UK. Fel aelodau o’r triawd llinynnol siambr-draddodiadol Vrï, mae Aneirin a Jordan eisoes wedi mwynhau gyrfa gyffrous iawn fel cerddorion traddodiadol. Enillodd recordiau stiwdio’r band Islais a Genir a Ty Ein Tadau y wobr Yr Albwm Gorau yng Ngwobrau Gwerin Cymru (2019 a 2023). Maent wedi perfformio mewn sawl rhan o’r byd ar lwyfannau rhyngwladol a llawer o deithiau ledled y DU.
Julia Dain & Derek Roberts
Derek (tenor guitar, melodeon) and Julia (concertina) have been regular supporters of Folk at the Oak for over quarter of a century. Thank you to all the players we have learnt from in countless pub sessions, including the Spotted Dog in Digbeth and O'Connor's in Doolin. "We'll be good yet". Mae Derek (gitâr tenor, melodeon) a Julia (concertina) wedi bod yn gefnogwyr rheolaidd i Folk at the Oak ers dros chwarter canrif. Diolch i'r holl chwaraewyr rydyn ni wedi dysgu ganddyn nhw mewn sesiynau tafarn dirifedi, gan gynnwys y Spotted Dog yn Digbeth ac O'Connor's yn Doolin. "Byddwn ni'n dda eto".
Kenny Qua
Kenny, from County Armagh, is an established musician and teacher of traditional music. He leads weekly classes at the internationally renowned Armagh Pipers’ Club and several of the local Comhaltas. Since 2010 he has performed at festivals throughout Ireland, in the USA, Europe and China with various projects: Stone Wall Music, Qua Family Band and the Traditional Arts Partnership. As a session musician on flute, guitar and whistle, he has contributed to many recordings. Mae Kenny, o Sir Armagh, yn gerddor profiadol ac yn athro cerddoriaeth draddodiadol. Mae'n arwain dosbarthiadau wythnosol yng Nghlwb Pibyddion Armagh, sydd ag enw da yn rhyngwladol, a sawl un o'r Comhaltas lleol. Ers 2010 mae wedi perfformio mewn gwyliau ledled Iwerddon, yn UDA, Ewrop a Tsieina gyda gwahanol brosiectau: Stone Wall Music, Qua Family Band a'r Traditional Arts Partnership. Fel cerddor sesiwn ar y ffliwt, gitâr a'r chwiban, mae wedi cyfrannu at lawer o recordiadau proffesiynol.
John Tose & David Webb
Well known piper and former member of Welsh pipe and drum band Pibe Bach. Currently runs the Tafarn Sinc folk session. David Webb has 25 year’s of border pipes playing traditional music from the Uk and beyond, with particular interest in music and dance from central France. Pibydd adnabyddus a chyn-aelod o'r band pibau a drymiau Cymreig Pibe Bach. Ar hyn o bryd yn rhedeg sesiwn werin Tafarn Sinc. Mae gan David Webb 25 mlynedd o brofiad o chwarae cerddoriaeth draddodiadol o'r DU a thu hwnt, gyda diddordeb arbennig mewn cerddoriaeth a dawns o ganolbarth Ffrainc.
Mike Greenwood
Mike Greenwood has been playing D/G melodeon for over 30 years, specialising in the dance music of Wales and England. He is also a skilled exponent of the English Concertina. Welsh dance music tends to be at the heart of any session, although you can also expect a heavy blast from English, French, and Scandinavian Melodies. Mae Mike Greenwood wedi bod yn chwarae melodeon D/G ers dros 30 mlynedd, gan arbenigo mewn cerddoriaeth ddawns Cymru a Lloegr. Mae hefyd yn ddehonglwr medrus o'r Concertina Seisnig. Mae cerddoriaeth ddawns Gymreig yn tueddu i fod wrth wraidd unrhyw sesiwn, er y gallwch hefyd ddisgwyl chwyth trwm o Alawon Seisnig, Ffrangeg a Sgandinafaidd.
Eddie Duffy
Edmund Duffy is a traditional Irish ballad singer, chorister, and soloist with the Pendyrus Male Choir. A past winner and current All Britain Champion of Irish Ballads and All Britain Lilting Competition winner, he has performed at Fleadh Cheoil, the Geordie Hanna Festival, Eddie Butcher Festival, and Wexford Opera House. Edmund is a member of the Mountain Ash Rugby Singers, supports the Innishowen Song Project, and is noted for his Welsh language command, clear diction, and dedication to Gymanfa Ganu and Plygain traditions. Mae Edmund Duffy yn ganwr baledi traddodiadol Gwyddelig, yn gantor côr, ac yn unawdydd gyda Chôr Meibion Pendyrus. Yn gyn-enillydd ac yn Bencampwr Baledi Gwyddelig Prydain Gyfan ac yn enillydd Cystadleuaeth Lilting Prydain Gyfan, mae wedi perfformio yn Fleadh Cheoil, Gŵyl Geordie Hanna, Gŵyl Eddie Butcher, a Thŷ Opera Wexford. Mae Edmund yn aelod o Gantorion Rygbi Mountain Ash, yn cefnogi Prosiect Cân Innishowen, ac mae'n nodedig am ei feistrolaeth ar yr iaith Gymraeg, ei eiriadur clir, a'i ymroddiad i draddodiadau'r Gymanfa Ganu a'r Plygain.
Fergal O'Brien
Fergal O'Brien is a renowned musician from Portglenone, Co Antrim, with achievements including All Ireland titles and performances worldwide. He's an accomplished bodhrán teacher with the Traditional Arts Partnership, South Armagh and Warrenpoint CCE. Fergal has coordinated bodhrán group contributions to various projects including 'Titanic Drums', 'Anamchairde' and 'Green Space, Dark Skies'. He has authored multiple versions of the world's first graded bodhrán tutor and contributed to several music-related publications and CDs. Mae Fergal O'Brien yn gerddor enwog o Portglenone, Swydd Antrim, gyda chyflawniadau gan gynnwys teitlau Iwerddon Gyfan a pherfformiadau ledled y byd. Mae'n athro bodhrán medrus gyda Phartneriaeth y Celfyddydau Traddodiadol, De Armagh a Warrenpoint CCE. Mae Fergal wedi cydlynu cyfraniadau grŵp bodhrán i wahanol brosiectau gan gynnwys 'Titanic Drums', 'Anamchairde' a 'Green Space, Dark Skies'. Mae wedi awduro sawl fersiwn o diwtor bodhrán graddol cyntaf y byd ac wedi cyfrannu at sawl cyhoeddiad a CD sy'n gysylltiedig â cherddoriaeth.
Gus Bradley
Gus Bradley is a button accordion player from Bessbrook, Co. Armagh. He comes from a family deeply connected to Irish traditional music, dance, and language, and takes pride in promoting the rich traditions of his area. Gus has performed both locally and across Ireland at festivals including Fleadh Cheoil, Miltown Malbay, and Drumshanbo, as well as at folk festivals in Scotland and the Isle of Man. Influenced by Joe Burke, Jackie Daly, Caroline Fegan, and Philip Hickey. Mae Gus Bradley yn chwaraewr acordion botwm o Bessbrook, Swydd Armagh. Daw o deulu sydd â chysylltiadau dwfn â cherddoriaeth, dawns ac iaith draddodiadol Iwerddon, ac mae'n ymfalchïo yn hyrwyddo traddodiadau cyfoethog ei ardal. Mae Gus wedi perfformio'n lleol ac ar draws Iwerddon mewn gwyliau gan gynnwys Fleadh Cheoil, Miltown Malbay, a Drumshanbo, yn ogystal ag mewn gwyliau gwerin yn yr Alban ac Ynys Manaw. Wedi'i ddylanwadu gan Joe Burke, Jackie Daly, Caroline Fegan, a Philip Hickey.
A Special Thank You to Bluestone Brewing Company for sponsoring our Session Trail at Fishguard Folk Festival.
Diolch Arbennig i Gwmni Bragu Bluestone am noddi ein Llwybr Sesiwn yng Ngŵyl Werin Abergwaun
