Ffynnon Band

Show - featuring Lynne Denman and Stacey Blythe



Click Here for more information and Forthcoming Tour Dates

Lynne Denman 

singer

Lynne’s repertoire includes songs deeply rooted in the traditions, rhythms, languages and landscapes of the Celtic countries. She has sung traditional and new Welsh, English and French songs for audiences on five continents. She runs workshops and short courses in traditional song as well as the visual arts.

In addition to performing with Ffynnon Lynne works regularly with the storyteller Michael Harvey and musician Stacey Blythe interpreting through song, tales from the Mabinogion and other stories. She is also currently working on two new projects: Palas - a Breton/Welsh singing partnership with Brigitte Kloareg and Telor - storytelling and music with the storyteller David Ambrose and musicians Peter Stacey and Delyth Jenkins.

Stacey Blythe

accordion, harp, whistle, vocals, piano, harpsichord

Classically trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where she works as a musical director and repertoire coach, Stacey plays a wide variety of instruments. Her professional musical life has taken her to many different styles, and new languages and she has collaborated with many artists and theatre companies. She researched traditional ballads with Frankie Armstrong,and premiered Meredith Monk's ‘Requiem’ at the Queen Elizabeth Hall London. She has worked as a composer and performer with storyteller Michael Harvey and produced original music for various productions, touring in the UK and Europe. Her original music for “Macsen” premiered in Rome. Her most recent composing commission was a six month residency with Welsh National Opera.

She provided accompaniment for the George Melly lectures on Cole Porter, and performs regularly with many different musicians.

She performed recently with Billy Bragg, on her own composition “The Chainmakers’ Song” at the Festival in the Black Country Museum

Chris O’Connor

double bass

A professional musician for the past twelve years Chris has played with some wonderful Jazz and Popular music musicians during this time; Keith Tippet, Huw Warren, and Julie Murphy to name a few.

As well as performing in jazz and folk clubs all over the country, Chris works for large institutions such as The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Welsh National Opera. He is Musical Director for the Cardiff based Brazilian dance company, Patua Dance, and runs school and community Samba projects for Caerphilly County Council. He also recently had the opportunity to compose music for the theatre, while working for Theatr Ffynnon as Musical Director on their critically acclaimed production, “Matthew’s Passion”.

Oliver Wilson-Dickson

fiddle

Oliver Wilson-Dickson plays with The Ian McMillan Orchestra, The Téa Hodzic Trio and Mabon. Recent performances include The BBC Proms, Lorient Interceltic Festival and The Barbican. He also regularly collaborates with the storyteller Daniel Morden, with whom he has toured throughout the UK. As a session musician he has contributed many recordings from Cartoons for the BBC to CDs for Warner International.

Since graduating from The University of York music department in 1999, Oliver has worked as a musician, actor, and workshop leader for the RSC (Love In A Wood) the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Live Music Now, Sherman Theatre (The Borrowers) St David’s Hall, Theatre Iolo (Are we there yet?), Artists in Schools Wales, Pide-piper, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and many county councils.

Mark O’Connor

drums/percussion

Mark is lives, performs and teaches in Cardiff, South Wales. He performs and records with some of the freshest trios, small groups and big bands around including: the Paula Gardiner Trio, The Jones O’Connor Group, The Gareth Roberts Quintet, Os Sambistas and The Wales Jazz Composers Orchestra.

Each band allows Mark free rein to play in the many different styles of his repertoire and interest - from Bop, Brazilian music, traditional Welsh through to the exciting beats & rhythms of tomorrows music!

Ffynnon Band Gallery

Click photos to enlarge

Photos thanks to: Emily May