Jamie Smith's Mabon
| Company type | Folk ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Defunct | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Wales |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
| Website | www |
Jamie Smith's Mabon was a folk ensemble from Wales, recognized for their energetic live shows and a discography comprising seven albums released between 2001 and 2018. Established in 1998, the band officially parted ways in 2020.
History
Initially formed under the name 'Mabon' in 1998, the band began by performing traditional Welsh folk music but quickly evolved to incorporate a modern style enriched by various musical influences.[1] Their debut album, Lumps of Mabon (2001), was the first of four albums issued under the 'Mabon' moniker before they transitioned to 'Jamie Smith's Mabon' in 2011.[1] Subsequently, they released two additional albums: Windblown (2012) and The Space Between (2015), which coincided with significant accolades such as winning 'Best Group' at the 2014 Spiral Earth Awards and receiving the 2015 Eiserner Eversteiner Award.[1] The band marked their 20th year together in 2019 with a live album release and an international tour.[1]
Celebrated for their vibrant live shows,[1] Jamie Smith's Mabon performed over 1,000 concerts spanning four continents by 2018. Their festival appearances included prestigious events such as Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Celtic Connections, the Rainforest World Music Festival—where they were the first Welsh group to perform—WOMAD UK, Australia, and New Zealand, Musicport Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, Sidmouth Folkweek, National Eisteddfod of Wales, Fairport's Cropredy Convention, and Cwlwm Celtaidd.[1]
Throughout their career, they collaborated with musicians including Tomas Callister, Callum Stewart, Adam Rhodes, Dylan Fowler, and Will Lang.[2]
The band announced a mutual decision to disband, planning a farewell tour for autumn 2020,[3] but the remaining tour dates were ultimately canceled due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.[4]
Musical style
Primarily an instrumental group with many compositions featuring vocals, Jamie Smith's Mabon's repertoire consisted almost entirely of original works—mostly penned by Jamie Smith—that fused traditional and modern Celtic music elements alongside influences from world music and other genres.[2][5] Their ability to blend Celtic traditions with contemporary sounds has been widely acknowledged,[1] showcasing a broad dynamic range that spans from introspective tunes to lively arrangements.[6] A standout track, "The Accordionist's Despair," has been described as "... an unholy union of Bach and Metallica."[1]
Following the release of Windblown in 2017, folk radio commended Mabon’s "untethered nature," noting their originality rooted in tradition yet drawing upon a wide array of folk influences and beyond."[2]
Band members
- Jamie Smith – accordion and vocals
- Oli Wilson-Dickson – fiddle
- Paul Rogers – guitar
- Matt Downer – bass
- Iolo Whelan – drums and percussion
Past members include Derek Smith (guitar), Gareth Whelan (fiddle), Jason Rogers (bass), David Killgallon (fiddle), Calum Stewart (flute, uilleann pipes),[2] Ruth Angell (fiddle), Tomas Callister (fiddle),[2] Adam Rhodes (bouzouki),[2] and Ronald Jappy (guitar).[7]
Discography
- Lumps of Mabon (2001)
- Ridiculous Thinkers (2004)
- OK Pewter (2007)
- Live at the Grand Pavilion (2010)
- Windblown (2012)
- The Space Between (2015)
- Twenty - Live! (2018)
Associated Acts
Artists from Jamie Smith's Mabon have also collaborated with various other ensembles, such as:
External links
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:2 - ↑ "Jamie Smith's Mabon hits the road for the last time". IOM Today. 15 February 2020.
- ↑ "Welsh band Mabon say farewell and announce their final tour". 19 September 2019.
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:1 - ↑ "Mabon / Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering". Centenary Centre. 15 March 2019.
- ↑ "About Ron". Ron Jappy. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2020.