4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Montgomeryshire sisters win at National Eisteddfod
Two Montgomeryshire sisters won the Battle of the Folk Bands at the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham.
Elin and Carys were selected as the winners by judges Gwenan Gibbard and Iestyn Tyne in a competition with four participants.
Danny Sioned from Pontarddulais came second, and Paul Magee from Holyhead, third.
Folk music is a family tradition for the sisters, as their father, John Gittins, was a member of Plethyn.
They have been performing as a duo with influences from Lankum to Fairport Convention.
Their songs have a Welsh, Celtic, and international style.
The audience at Ty Gwerin enjoyed a full set by the sisters later on Tuesday evening (August 5).
The Battle of the Folk Bands is a new competition, launched two years ago at the Llŷn and Eifionydd National Eisteddfod.
The organisers aimed to replicate the success of the Battle of the Bands competition by providing a platform for folk musicians to develop and grow the folk scene.
This competition is a partnership between the National Eisteddfod and the BBC, aimed at discovering new Welsh folk music talent.
Folk music is defined as traditional Welsh songs and melodies or new songs in the folk style.
Elin and Carys won a cash prize of £600, donated by Bethan Rhiannon and Huw Williams in memory of Angharad, Bethan's mother from the band Calan.
