KT Tunstall takes Eisteddfod stage by atorm

* KT Tunstall and the Absolute Orchestra on the Pavilion stage.

Scottish singer songwriter, KT Tunstall, played a one-time-only concert at a packed Llangollen International Eisteddfod on Thursday and her delight was plain to see.

With her first album Eye to the Telescope reaching its 20th anniversary, she played it in full, not only with her band but also the Absolute Orchestra, conducted by Eisteddfod musical director, Dave Danford.

"It has been my long standing dream to see this album played with an orchestra and I lucked out being able to do it here at the Eisteddfod," she told the packed audience.

KT opened as the album does with one of its best known tracks - Other Side of the World - and the evening then followed the track list.

The orchestra blended seamlessly with the singer and her band - who included Razorlight's drummer, Andy Burrows.

It took the album to a new level.

And KT took the audience to a new level when she got them on their feet for the fabulous, Suddenly I see.

Listening to the album with the orchestra was a delight.

Silent Sea was a magical example with the woodwind section bring the sound of the sea to the track.

"What Dave has done with this song is absolutely exquisite," KT said.

Then came Universe and I which starred the brass section.

The singer herself alternated between acoustic and electric guitars and took to a grand piano for one song. Between the music KT told anecdotes many linked with Wales and even the Eisteddfod.

"This isn't the first time I have been to the Eisteddfod, I came down here in the 90s driving a white van to sell merchandise from my friend's shop," she said.

Her parents met at Bangor University. "Dad was president of the climbing club and mum decided to start climbing."

And she spoke affectionately of holidays on the Welsh coast, where she said it was always sunny.

While the evening was one of nostalgia the singer revealed that a new version of the title track will be released later this year.

"It has taken me 20 years to finally finish the song and it will be released in October," she said.

"Three days ago, I received a very special string arrangement from Nashville for the finished song and an incredible flute solo.

"We managed to get a PDF of them - and Dave Danford sorted it out this morning so we could present it to you tonight."

The hugely successful night began with support artist, Edie Bens.

The 23-year-old singer songwriter from Swansea now based in Brighton took to the stage in Welsh plaid and celebrated her home country including singing her song Mwfanwy.

Combing folk and country influences she plays her self-penned songs which stemmed from moments in her life. One told of crashing her boyfriend's car on Christmas Eve, another told of a former boyfriend, which she told the audience, brought an angry complaint from his father.

Edie was thrilled to be at the Eisteddfod.

"I was performing on one of the outdoor stages last year whilst Tom Jones was playing in the pavilion. Now I am standing on the Pavilion stage," she said.

The Eisteddfod evening concerts continue with Il Divo on July 11, Choir of the World with Lucie Jones on July 12 and Bryn Terfel and Fisherman's Friends on July 13.

Latest picture round-up from the Eisteddfod

* Ysgol Y Gwernant, Llangollen pupils enjoying the singalong.

* Nia Davies Williams, musician in residence and Emyr Gibson, creative practitioner at Pendine Park's Bryn Seiont Newydd, singing along with Ysgol Y Gwernant  pupils.

More than 600 schoolchildren from across North Wales and Cheshire - including a group from Ysgol Gwernant - joined care home residents for a sing-song at Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

The musical dementia workshops on the Maes were organised by the arts loving Pendine Park care organisation who are major sponsors of the iconic festival where Wales meets the world.

The sessions were led by creative practitioner Emyr Gibson, a popular Welsh TV soap actor and singer, and Pendine’s musician-in-residence, Nia Davies Williams.

They  were supported by Pendine’s consultant artist-in-residence, Sarah Edwards, 16 care staff and 15 residents from the group’s care homes.

The project was funded via the Pendine Arts and Community Trust which was set up by the organisation’s owners, Mario Kreft MBE and his wife, Gill, to support arts and community activities, including the eisteddfod.

Sarah Edwards said: “These dementia music workshops are inter-generational and involve our residents living with dementia in our care homes and lots of different schools.

“They are fun, interactive music sessions and our residents really get involved in them, and the children do too.

“It’s all about having fun, shaking their maracas and waving their Pendine flags – just having a good old time.

“There’s also a little incentive because there is goodie bags for the children afterwards which always go down well.

“It’s important because it allows our local community to understand what living with dementia is and, although it is a very challenging condition, that it is not necessarily the end for our residents.

“Our care is person-centred and dignified and we want to allow our residents to do the things they enjoy, and one of the things they really love is interacting with children – these workshops do exactly that.”

“Everybody throws themselves in and the team effort is amazing.”

Meinir Rees, the assistant headteacher at Ysgol Gwernant in Llangollen, said the workshop had been a highlight for the youngsters on their annual trip to the eisteddfod.

She said: “The whole school is here, there’s a 157 of us here, and 57 children took part in the workshop.

“It was lovely to take part, it was fab, we knew some of the songs, the maracas were great fun and the children really enjoyed themselves.

“It was really nice for the school to be part of a project which brought different ages together.”

It was a sentiment echoed by  Ysgol y Gwernant pupils Olivia, 11, and Florence, 10.

Olivia said: “The music workshop was good, it’s nice to spend time with older people and sing together.”

Florence added: “I thought the workshop was good fun and the eisteddfod is good too, I really like the performances inside the Pavilion.”

The care home residents who took part in the workshop said they had a great time.

Gwen Davies said: “It was lovely to see so many children, they are so nice.

“I’ve been joining in with the singing, it’s a nice way to spend a day.”

Beryl Roberts said: “It’s been lovely to spend time with the children, they’ve been very well behaved and they’ve all joined in.

“I’ve been to the eisteddfod many times, it’s very special.”

Llangollen town crier Austin Cheminais dropped by to say hello and raise three cheers for Pendine Park and the work it does in the community.

The dementia workshop was a huge success, said Emyr Gibson, who juggles his work with Pendine Park alongside his TV and music commitments.

Emyr gained fame playing Meical for more than 18 years in the hit S4C Welsh language series Rownd a Rownd.

He is also a familiar face from gritty TV dramas Hidden and Forgotten Journeys.

Emyr said: “I have performed loads of times at the eisteddfod with choirs and stuff and I always think this is an amazing place and does something the world could learn from.

Nia Davies Williams added:  “Music and the arts are the golden thread that runs through everything we do at Pendine, including  the intergenerational work and the links it builds within the community.

“The power of music is undeniable and the workshop is a bit of a showcase of what we’re doing.

“It’s a chance for people to see what we’re doing and for us once again to reach out to the community, and what better place to do that than the Llangollen Eisteddfod?” 

Eisteddfod picture action from Thursday

Pictures: Kurly Mawaha

* Two of the groups who performed at St Collen's Church included New Zealand Youth Choir and Coro de Camara from Costa Rica. Here they gather for a group 'hello' shot.

* Going through their paces in Centenary Square were the Peree Bane group from the Isle of Man.