September is just around the corner and that can only mean one thing around these parts, it is time for another weekend of folk and live music in North Wales. The week's advance notice concentrates on a Welsh festival well within travelling distance for local fans. In the normally sleepy village of Llanwddyn, situated close by the breathtaking Lake Vyrnwy, Powys, something is about to stir next Friday (August 30) when they host the Llanwyddin Weekend of Folk and Acoustic Music (August 30-September 1)), now celebrating its seventh anniversary.

However, before I jump the gun with that one, this coming weekend deserves a brief reprise about the last 'local' festival of 2019 on the other side of the border. It is the Shrewsbury Folk Festival taking place over the August Bank Holiday weekend (23-26). Little acorns have become mighty oak trees over the years since its inception and it boasts a mighty guest list that includes Oysterband, Urban Folk Quartet, Granny's Attic, Merry Hell, Steve Knightly (solo), Blair Dunlop, Boxwood Chessmen, Charlie Dore, Eddi Reader, Martyn Joseph, Paul Downes, Phil Beer Band, While & Matthews Big Band, Kate Rusby, Winter Wilson, Capercaille, Jim Moray, Skerryvore, Reg Meuross, Daphne's Flight, Exmouth Shanty Men and many others.

I will not even touch on the dance and ceilidh groups but suffice it to say that it is a very different event now to the one that I first visited so many years ago. The festival runs through from Friday to Monday. If you need a more comprehensive breakdown of the programme and ticket details, please go to the website at

www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk

Now, back to that smaller but no less entertaining festival taking place in the beautiful setting of Lake Vyrnwy that, long ago, would have been part of what the 19th century author, George Borrow, called 'Wild Wales', in his famous 1862 book of the same name.

The brainchild of Ruth and Ken Powell this is a tribute to the whole community of this tiny hamlet of just 36 houses and one shop. They have all pulled together to create and promote this event following their initial success with the first Day of Folk in 2013 and it really shows what you can do with community spirit.

The programme starts on the Friday with a ceilidh/twmpath with music from Twmpathology from Caernarfon and the ticket includes a welcoming supper too. It continues Saturday with both afternoon and evening concerts and there will no doubt be sessions in between and food and craft stalls will be open from 11.30am as will the all-important real ale bar.

The guest line-up is also an attractive one with Midnight Skyracer, topping the bill. This sensational young bluegrass band comprise of five very talented female singers and musicians. In just two years since their inception they have made a tremendous impact in their own musical field and clocked up an impressive number of major festival slots, including Cambridge Folk Festival and Fairport's Cropredy Convention, also touring Germany and Switzerland along the way and releasing a much acclaimed debut album, Fire in 2018.

Singer and songwriter, Steve Tilston, who, coincidentally, has had his songs covered by many top artistes, including Fairport Convention, is also on the bill together with The House Devils, a superb four-piece Irish traditional band who are really at the top of their game, the Wirral band, Risky Business (more affectionately known as The Riskies (aka Ken & Ruth Powell and Dave Walmsley), the highly-rated duo of Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith and the well-respected South East singer, Liz Simcock, who has appeared, in the past, with such folk luminaries as Eliza Carthy, Billy Bragg, Eddi Reader and Kathryn Williams. Liz has also toured with Clive Gregson and her well-crafted songs have drawn many favourable comments from her contemporaries on the folk scene. Finally, last on our list here but, I suspect, first on both mine and many other fans locally and around the UK, are those Wrexham wonders, the band who have rocketed to fame quicker than a space shuttle, The Trials of Cato.

Of course, organisers Ken & Ruth Powell will also be putting in a good stint, either as members of The Riskies or as a duo. Ken is a much-respected luthier (guitar maker to you and me) and Ruth is still one of the finest female vocalists on the folk scene today. If you cannot make the opening night's ceilidh, there is still a full day on Saturday and, for those overnighting, you can enjoy a calm and reflective interlude, courtesy of a 'folk service' held at the lovely St Wyddyn's Chapel on the Sunday morning, a peaceful way to start September. With sing-a-rounds, sessions, a real ale bar, craft stalls, a pop-up café and BBQ it should be a great weekend. Tickets are sure to sell fast, so I recommend you pick up your phone now to book on 01691 870501.

As a footnote to the artistes listed above, those who cannot get to Llanwyddyn for the weekend can take comfort in the fact that headliners, Midnight Skyracer, will also be in concert at the nearby Hermon Chapel Arts Centre, Oswestry the first Sunday (September 1) at 7pm to 9.30pm. Tickets are £12 (early bird) and £15 (on the door) and can be booked via the web or by phoning 01691 662 196.

As usual there is the usual plethora of singers and open mic nights on both sides of the border so, no excuse for not venturing abroad and keeping those tonsils in trim. However, always follow the golden rule and, whatever you do and wherever you go, enjoy your music.

By D.C.M.