Brythonics

We've been playing the show Brythonics on friday 25th feb in Ploemeur (Lorient area). After a full week writing, rehearsing, working on sound and lightshow, we were completely pleased to play this sold out night. From monday to friday and from 10 am to 10 pm, we were so excited to set up this idea, we didn't felt tired : only good craic.

The purpose was our tribal influences : our horses, our wives, our tales, our sea and waves, surround by our words and langauges (Breton, welsh, cornish, irish and english).

It was a huge success and it is hoped that further concerts will be held during the year in Brittany, Wales and Ireland. It was also filmed and recorded and the fruits should be available before the end of summer. The photo was taken by Roger Durban.

And happy St David day to all my welsh pals :)

March fade out

Just coming back from Poland and I have to join friends recording in Boutou studio, west west north Brittany, by Ouessant island. i feel guilty ! they're working hard and me, travelling.



Bercy show was hudge (15 000) and good vibrations singing solo for those where there. Taking off day after for Poland. Just waiting also in Roissy airport, the only occupation I've found was busking. He He ! Nice contrast from Bercy to Roissy audiences. I will speak to you as soon as cd news will flow in.

March schedule

Hei ! starting buzzy March monday and a few twists in my diary : concerts, interviews, studio, trouble car as usual. I will join playing electric guitar to a Rimbaud tribute on fri 5th march. Great poetry told with Bruno Geneste deep voice and Youenn Manchec (samples, clarinet, flute). We will also be warring cute costums for this evening. Pics and video ASAP.
Then, will play the hudge Paris venue Bercy, for a st Patrick evening : others acts are Lunasa, Hevia, bagad Locoal Mendon, Gilles Servat, Pat O'May, etc.
I will take off day after to Poland and the first track of the new cd will be play on radios those days.
Keep update with my blog and more to come !!

From Avalon to Snowdonia

My wee Uk tour is now close; was great as usual, improving materials to the audience. I have to mention a few touring anecdotes : heater stopped heating in the car and can't fix it, brrr... 'Been locked for thirty minutes in a Glastonbury room 'cause I broke dorrknob, and a lot of traffic on welsh roads, dark, wet and narrow, but at least, we've played the gigs.
I would like to thank all fans Tim, Amber, Nathan, Catrin, Damian, Gwyn, Betham, Huw, Andy, Sarah, Chris, Derek, Rhisiart, Gill, Mattew,... and the Tor.
Huyl !

I already had the opportunity to participate in the festival Yaouank 2005. the challenge that they offered me: make the public dance 30 minutes, me, my voice, my guitar. The idea turned me on, and it is concentrated, as I ascended this swinging set. I am still amazed when some people remind me the gig.
Last Saturday, is at the invitation of Alan Stivell I'm back on the scene MuzikHall of Rennes for the 2009 Yaouank. I never really practiced kan ha diskan in public, not something that is foreign to me, (far away), but the five tracks sung together for 7 000 people present us well exploded.
I must confess that A. Stivell gave me the strenght to sing my language, but must also tell you it has been the first to make me singing in French (for his latest album Emerald), and finally, the first to give me the opportunity Kan ha Diskan. Amazing, huh?
And I would add, in response to the paper's Ouest France 21/11, I am not so "young" singer, and there was nobody "kozh, either.
Yaouank = young
Kozh = old

Son Da Zont TV show

Solo and the audience

Singing as a solo act with an 2500 audience does not happen every day. Gigs can be small and bigger , no rules.
Proving an organizer you can entertain so many listeners is like trying to light a fire with one stone. But I do ! And I like ! The only things wich could get me nervous are: "fingers crossed I'm not going to break a string", or those kind of stories.
And it happens last sunday ! I was singing for this great event and after the first verse my guitar lead break off. I was going on singing the chorus, and suddenly the sound came in again, and stopped again. so, I was in a strange situation. I stopped singing and asked for an electrician in the audience (laughs), and starting the song again a capella mode, clapping my hands. The full audience followed me clapping out loud, supporting my rythm and voice. Amazing !
Great moment !

Bagad

Teaming up with a bagad (breton pipe band) is a great experience for me : rehearsing could be playing the tunes and songs for hours, and don't have in mind first : "at what time will I be in my bed ?
You just start, when coming in rehearsing room, shaking about 50 pipers hands, trying to remember each great fellow name . That's the way it works...
Bagad planet has been far away from my own world till 2004, when DD Le Meut, bagad Locoal Mendon header, bagad south based, asked me to teach him songs and tunes from my Pagan Area, by north west breton coast. I never learned and sang my village stuff before, only driving my car or whistleling a few tunes when happy. I've always been boring my children when starting the few lines : "dad ! shut up !" But, I remembered when 12 years ago my father forgot his purse in my house and I founded a brown dog-eared shit of paper scribled with "peñsee ar C'henavo" (Kenavo' wracke) lyrics. I heard him singing the song years ago, maybe twice for wedding banquets, but I arranged my own tune and DD arranged it for his bagad. Despite of singing in C minor, I sang with the team for 2005 Breton Bagad Championship. I always said myself before this event, competition is only an athletic concept, nothing to do with music. But, I changed when I discovered competition was a "christmas gift" for those pipers.
So, they pinched me again this year to add in the show my voice and guitar e-bow licks. Amazing and hudge audiences in festivals. At least, I've found the strenght to sing this song, and you can imagine how the show gave me quite a thrill on stage, when 50 pipes are screaming in my back.
Please, laddies an gentlemen, visit their pages and samples here.

Interceltic festival Lorient 09

Starting august

Hi all ! And here's august soon !
we 're starting 2 weeks giging here in Brittany with new line up.
We've planed months ago to invite our friend Andy Jones (Swansea based guitarist) to team up for this month, but due to swine flue, Andy is at home. Sorry mate ! Hope it will be ok in a few days.
Nicola Hayes, australian fiddler player will join us; Nicola was playing with me and Dom Bott (bass) in the band Diwall. As a 4 piece band, we will play as much as you're waiting for. And fun, and good food (please organisers : no more pancakes).
It was pissing rain in the past few days, We're calling a holly dry month for those who are visiting Brittany, an for us also.
We've been our 4 sleeping since one week after the Vieilles Charrues festival were we're used to chat and laugh and etc, with friends. Thank you again mr B. Springsteen for introducing your 3 hours show with breton sentence and words. Great, Hudge.
see you all on the breton august dancefloors now !
and, yes, I've also started a Twitter account; so, feel free to join ... I don't know exactly how to use this, but will try.
and rehearsing tonight.
...and thank you Brawenn for drawing.
Kenavo !

Celebrating Diwan

I've been taking part in 30th Diwan breton schools anniversary last saturday in Carhaix. It was a great moment, joining others great breton acts (Gilles servat, YF Kemener, Nolwenn Korbell, Bernez Tangi, ...). I ordered a challenge to myself the week before : writing two brand new songs and sing both at the event. So, I've done! The two songs are Oad an aod (Beach age) and Kiger San wazeg (St Goazeg' butcher). We've recorded those new stuff too, and I supposed We're going to publish them for next cd.

Struming & stomping with KILA

Yesterday night I joined KILA gang from Dublin for a few songs during the interceltic festival in Lorient. It was a great moment, crossing our celtics words and rythms. The audience was great also.

with Bagad Locoal Mendon

Yesterday I joined the famous breton bagad Locoal Mendon (bagad = breton pipe band) for the national championship competition, in Brest for singing a breton traditional song. They asked me a few months ago this collaboration. I was surprise myself for this challenge. It was the first time for me to sing with a bagad. It was a hudge event and it's difficult for me to describe how strong, powerfull, emotional was the music played with 50 people back to me on stage !
They will also play one of my song "Straed an Amann" for an event next august during the Interceltic Festival in Lorient.

with Alan Stivell

Leading last friday, European minority countries, I've been joined with Alan Stivell for 2 songs. It was a great moment to sing this duet in Rennes. We've just improvise the happening in this great atmosphere ! And meeting people all around europe, speaking about their culture, language, was delectable as well.