Olion Byw

Olion Byw
  • country:United Kingdom
  • region:Wales
  • style(s):Traditional, Acoustic
  • label:not signed
  • type:Duo
  • instrumentation:instrumental, vocal, unplugged
  • artist contact:Trac Cymru

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Olion Byw are Lucy Rivers and Dan Lawrence and combine fiddle, guitar, mandolin and voice. Their fresh and exciting arrangements of traditional Welsh tunes and songs are interspersed with original compositions, all drawing on their love of roots, folk and world music. Tracks form their debut album Hen Bethau Newydd can be heard regularly on Radio Cymru and Radio Wales. Since forming in 2010 they have played at numerous festivals and folk nights including; Gower folk festival, Gwyl Tegeingl, Pontardawe Folk festival, Fishguard folk festival, Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, Halfpenny folk club, Chapter Arts Centre and Cwpwrdd Nansi.

“Imaginative, constructive and fresh as the morning dew…all well-known songs and tunes, but transformed into new culture by sparkling arrangements…lock the door, shut the curtains, because I want to listen!”
Review of Hen Bethau Newydd by Mick Tems, Folkwales Online Magazine, March 2012

Olion Byw’s strength lies in their arrangements and musicality. They manage to capture the essence of traditional Welsh music and song and represent it in a way that is fresh and enlivening. Taking influences from World music, Roots and Nu folk, whilst remaining authentic to the genre, they create an intoxicating atmosphere – intricate yet simple, contemporary yet traditional. Olion Byw means Living Traces – rediscovering, reinventing.