National Celtic Festival Focus: Calan

Answered by: Huw Williams

Describe your sound in four words: Infectious rhythms, explosive routines.

Give us a brief history of yourself and your music: Calan began busking in the streets of Cardiff raising money for university fees.  They play fiddles, whistles, guitar, bagpipes and harp. Also, a traditional Welsh instrument called a pibgorn made from a wooden pipe and the horns of a bull.  

Is there a Celtic background in your family history? All the band members were born and brought up in Wales, and Welsh is their first language. 

Is there one solid definition of Celtic music, or is it a broad church where lots of elements can be incorporated? Calan play the traditional music of Wales which incorporates elements which are familiar to all British Celtic countries. However, the Celtic music of Wales has its own identity.  

What album would you offer someone who knew nothing about Celtic music as an introduction and why? Dwndwr by Crasdant is a good introduction to the basic sound of Welsh traditional music.

Do you experience many Celtic Festivals? Do people hold them regularly? Calan play Celtic festivals in Europe and North America where Celtic traditions are celebrated yearly. One of the largest is held in Lorient in Brittany, France - another one of the Celtic countries of Europe.

Do you plan to hang out for the entire festival or only be there for your set? Apart from stage performances we will be holding a few workshops and spreading the word about traditional music from Wales. It's also a chance to experience other bands' music and swap tunes.

What day(s) are you playing the festival? 9-12 Jun.

Website link for more info? calan-band.com