Fernhill (band)

Fernhill is a Welsh folk band, formed in 1996. They have been described by music critic and journalist Colin Irwin, as "highly regarded, innovative cultural ambassadors for Wales and its folk music, having toured in over 20 countries in four continents".^[1] Their style is described as "intimate enough with the tradition, that they are unafraid to stretch its boundaries." ^[2]

Fernhill
Fernhill playing Welsh folk music in concert in Lommel, Belgium, 2009
Background information
Origin	Swansea, Wales[3]
Genres	Welsh traditional music Folk
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Beautiful Jo Records Disgyfrith
Associated acts	Whirling Pope Joan, Burum, Saith Rhyfeddod
Website	Official website
Members	Julie Murphy Ceri Rhys Matthews Tomos Williams Christine Cooper Guests Dorian Phillips aka Nobsta Nutts Tim Harris Chris O'Connor Jon Gower
Past members	Andy Cutting Jonathan Shorland Cass Meurig

Band Members

The current line-up is Julie Murphy, voice; Ceri Rhys Matthews, guitar and flute; Tomos Williams, trumpet; Christine Cooper, fiddle and voice.

The original line-up, alongside Murphy and Matthews, included Andy Cutting, accordions, 1996–2002; and Jonathan Shorland, flute and bagpipes, 1996 - 1999.^[4] Cass Meurig, crwth and fiddle, played with the band between 2000 - 2004. Cutting and Shorland appeared on the first two albums, Ca’ nôs and Llatai. The line-up on Whilia was Murphy, Matthews and Cutting. Guest musicians were Tim Harris on upright bass and Cass Meurig on fiddle, who later joined the band full-time. The line-up on hynt was Murphy, Matthews, Williams, Meurig, Tim Harris, and Dorian Phillips AKA Nobsta Nutts rapper. In 2004, Meurig was replaced by Christine Cooper on fiddle. However, the 2007 live album Na Prádle, recorded at the Na Prádle club in Prague, Czech Republic only features Murphy, Matthews and Williams.^[5] Cooper is featured on their latest album Canu Rhydd on fiddle and spoken word. In concerts, the band occasionally work with guest poet Jon Gower or rapper, Nobsta Nutts.

Touring Highlights

International appearances include Festival De Cornouaille, Quimper; Telemark, Kaustinen; Brosella jazz and folk, Brussels; Festival Interceltique de Lorient; major concerts in Athens; Rome; Brussels and Tokyo. British Council tours of Vietnam, Poland, the Czech Republic and three separate tours in southern and east Africa. The group's album, Na Prádle made the Mojo (magazine) top ten folk album list 2007. The album captures highlights of an intimate concert in Prague recorded and broadcast by Czech radio 3 during a tour of the Czech Republic in 2006.

Discography

• Ca’ nôs (Beautiful Jo Records, 1996)
• Llatai (Beautiful Jo Records, 1998)
• Whilia (Beautiful Jo Records, 2000)
• hynt (Beautiful Jo Records, 2003)
• Na Prádle (live) (Beautiful Jo Records, 2007)
• Canu Rhydd (disgyfrith, 2011)

Website

http://www.fernhill.info/

References