The GUITAR FEAST Friday 12th Sept and a Harvest Hoe Down on Saturday 13th September will see out the summer season at the beautiful Green Valley arts site in Upper Cwmtwrch in Wales this year.

Featuring:

Rodney Branigan & Afternoon in Paris - Friday Guitar Feast

The Outcast Band, Sicknote Steve & Freds' House - Saturday Harvest Hoe Down

Friday 7pm Start

Texan Guitar star Rodney Branigan plays at Friday evenings' Guitar Feast. His flamboyant and outrageous style of playing is to be seen as a “ spectacular stage show “... according to Gordon Giltrap and a “ must not miss show when he’s in UK “ said Chris Woods who played as his supports last year.

As Rodney has toured Asia, Japan and the USA again this year, he stops off at the Green Valley en-route from Ireland.

He is supported by the Gypsy Jazz quartet ‘ Afternoon In Paris, in the intimate tipi and marquee setting along the former mountain rail line, now within the sustainable arts valley, which will come alive during the evening as the 600 metres of woods and riverside are powered by solar lighting.

Saturday 2pm Start

Saturday is the Harvest Hoe Down, with several acts including the blues man Sicknote Steve and Acoustic magazine award winners and the Cardiff Big Day out headliners, a four piece from Cambridge Freds House.

But the return to the valley after 17 years for Celtic Rockers The Outcast Band, is set to capture the local interest, as it was they who packed the live music venues around south and west Wales in the mid 90’s with their infectious rhythms and fiddle driven music. They have re-united after a seventeen year break and are looking to the ‘ Hoe-Down ’ at Cwmtwrch to reunite with many of the local South Wales fanbase.

They recall to be the only band to play in the railway pub where a ticket was required to get in, such was there popularity here in 1996!

Rodney Branigan - American guilt edged guitarist Rodney Branigans' live performances never fail to impress the audiences with his percussive guitar beats and the two guitars at a time !! He is in constant demand around the world as a flamboyant festival artist as well as the guitar master.

Artists are often described as having “a unique talent”; few epitomise this more than virtuosic guitarist Rodney Branigan. In fact, Texan-born Rodney’s talents as a musician are as plentiful as the many instruments he expertly plays side by side.

The London based singer/songwriter masterfully plays two guitars at once or both guitar and piano simultaneously. However, it is his ability to mix this extraordinary skill with his own heartfelt lyrics and rich, soulful voice that have led to Rodney Branigan becoming one of the most followed global performers of the moment.

Rodney Branigan the songwriter is a truly gifted man. Rodney Branigan the performer has to be seen to be believed. The headline act at The Isle of Bute International Guitar Festival in 2011, Rodney has featured on the same line-up as Jethro Tull and Billy Bragg; as well as electrifying the crowds at that most iconic of all festivals, Glastonbury.

The Outcast Band are a high energy roots-rock 5-piece from Stroud, blending rock with folk and punk influences. Rock guitars collide with mandolins, violins and accordians to produce a sound coming from the same ball park as The Levellers, The Waterboys and The Saw Doctors.

The band produce a huge sound firmly based in rock and complemented by violin, mandolin and accordion. With songs such as Hurricane Day (“epic”- Classic Rock Society) and The Garden Song (“a wall of sound” – Get Ready To Rock) the band hold nothing back, giving the audience a performance packed full of raw emotion.

The lyrical narrative of the songs, both stark and compelling, tells stories of struggles with the extremes of emotion and, although characterised by a distinct lack of optimism, there are “glimpses of stars from the gutter” – R2 Magazine.

Afternoon in Paris are four highly skilled musicians who convey their love of music with joyful mastery.

Between them Afternoon in Paris clock up years of professional experience at a high level in many different fields: rock and folk to pop and classical. Individually, they have worked with artists such as Terry Hall, Cerys Matthews, Shakin’ Stevens and Simon Rattle, and have made numerous recordings, live television appearances and radio broadcasts in a plethora of venues and circumstances all over the world. Together they've performed extensively at festivals, functions, exhibitions, parties, restaurants, schools (giving classes as well as performances), pubs and jazz clubs, town halls, temples and tents!

The music of Afternoon in Paris is feel-good and accessible, gypsy swing jazz and latin, based on the style of Hot Club of France. Strongly influenced by great artists Django Reinhardt, and Benny Goodman among others, a myriad of other influences flavour the mix, including Latin, original material and plenty of cheeky references to their own diverse musical backgrounds. Virtuosic guitar licks, eloquent clarinet, bouncing bass lines and vocals in several languages combine to create the unique, sophisticated and widely appealing sound of Afternoon in Paris, and are all delivered with a heartfelt and irresistible joie de vivre.

Fred’s House are an award winning band based in Cambridge. Mixing elements of Folk, Blues, Country, Classic Rock and West Coast with a definite vintage feel to their music, echoing the 70’s but creating a fresh new sound that is very much part of now. Their songs feature the vocals of real-life couple and song-writing duo Griff Jameson and Vikki Gavin, who voices blend to create a beautiful and powerful sound. Enriched with a third part harmony from bassist Gafyn Jameson (Griff's brother), virtuosic lead guitar playing from Lachlan Golder, who is also one of the band's song-writers, and completing the line-up is Paul Richards, aka 'The Happiest Drummer', a fantastic percussionist playing full drum kit or conga and cajon.

Among their many influences are bands such as Fleetwood Mac, The Civil Wars, The Swell Season, The Eagles, Simon and Garfunkel, C.S.N.Y., and Fairport Convention.

Fred's House have become a regular fixture on the UK festival scene including appearances at Cambridge Folk Festival, Secret Garden Party, Standon Calling, Acoustic Festival of Britain, Ely Folk Festival, LodeStar, Folk East and Bestival.

Sicknote Steve recreates the authentic sound of the original hobo bluesman. No technical trickery here -the authentic guitar paying skills and vocals of Sicknote Steve invoke the atmosphere of the Mississippi Delta as he slides and stomps his way through the Seasick songbook.

To audiences in the South West and Wales, the familiar bearded figure of hobo bluesman Sicknote Steve has become synonomous with a a great session of the blues. bringing with him the music of Grammy Award winning Seasick Steve.

The former rail line runs from The Berrington hill Cwmtwrch to Cwmllynfell & the transformation over 5 years is amazing. All powered by solar power, and the real ale barn is made from the wood of the felled trees.

An outdoor earth stage, huge big lodge tipi and Chinese marquees make this a delightful riverside walk as well as a camping site. Well worth a day out.

Local taxis firms in Ammanford and Pontardawe have special festival return rates & are willing to do 8 seater deals to the site..

A + M Pontardawe 01792 860222

EMS Cabs Ammanford 01269 595050

More Details & Tickets:

Wild Boar Guitar Fest 2014

Upper Cwmtwrch, West Glamorgan, SA9 2XH

Dates: 12th Sep 2014 - 13th Sep 2014

Price: Tickets for adults (with camping) from £20.00