AVANC is Wales’ National Youth Folk Band, and represents the brightest, most dedicated and talented exponents of our musical traditions from the incoming generation. They specialise in unearthing forgotten musical gems from ancient manuscripts and dusty library vaults, and reworking them in their own energetic image. Their powerful 11-piece lineup, complete with triple harps, bagpipes and five clog dancers is a sight and sound to behold!

 

Hailing from all four corners of Wales, and having grown up playing in sessions and twmpaths before honing their craft on Trac Cymru’s ‘Gwerin Gwallgo’ total immersion courses in Bala, this elite cohort have been together for three years, charting a career pathway into the folk and traditional music business for future generations to follow.

 

2019 saw AVANC take festival stages at home and abroad overseas by storm - packing out the indoor stage at Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau before a barnstorming set on the main stage opening for Calan. They appeared at Tafwyl in Cardiff and the National Eisteddfod in Llanrwst, and performed to critical acclaim to thousands on some of the most prestigious stages at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in Brittany. Undeterred by the events of 2020, they took matters into their own hands, remotely recording and mixing several singles before setting up their own record label in order to release them.

 

In September 2021 they unleashed a barnstorming virtual performance, hailed as ‘magic’ by Flook’s Brian Finnegan and featuring a set entirely comprised of brand new music composed over Zoom, recorded live in Merthyr Tydfil’s stunning Soar Theatre. In 2022 after two years confined to their computer screens, they are ready to explode out of the blocks and bring their volcano of sound, energy and excitement to a venue near you!