Ian A. Anderson – no, not that one! – began his musical career in the mid 1960s, heavily influenced by old country blues players, before taking a left-swerve in the early ’70s into what nowadays gets called ‘psych folk’, with a trio of songwriter/ guitarist albums for Bristol’s pioneering and now highly collectable independent label Village Thing.
50 years ago he appeared at the very first Glastonbury Festival. Much later, the Guardian quoted promoter Michael Eavis as saying that “Marc Bolan was late arriving, and I was quite worried, but Ian Anderson saved the festival. He knew I couldn’t pay him, but he played a great set that got everybody in right mood.”
To mark this big anniversary year, the Fabulous Furry Folk Club features Ian A. Anderson at the Glastonbury Assembly Room on Thursday 27th February, surprisingly the first time he’s been booked back in the area since that long-ago festival triumph. To uphold the town’s honour, they’ve guaranteed him an absolute minimum of the contracted £35 fee that the festival was unable to pay him in 1970!
(a scan of Ian’s contract with the festival, 50 years ago).
Ian eventually settled into a personal – and notably English – style, drawing from traditional folk, blues, old-time and world roots musics, making some dozen albums by the end of the 1980s with groups Hot Vultures (with Maggie Holland), the English Country Blues Band and Tiger Moth. Then after a break from live performances in the 1990s he returned to stages and recording this century with the trio Blue Blokes 3 (with PiL’s Lu Edmonds and 3 Mustaphas 3’s Ben Mandelson), the duo The False Beards (again with Mandelson), and a successful re-union tour by Hot Vultures in 2016. Since early 2017, he’s been enjoying performing and recording solo again, with repertoire and anecdotes drawn from across those 50+ years of experience.
www.ianaanderson.com
ghostsfromthebasement.bandcamp.com
YouTube videos:
Black Crow Blues: https://youtu.be/OrStPf_FJjY
Lord Allenwater: https://youtu.be/vr9TJr20OD8
Everybody’s Killing Me: https://youtu.be/6qVAFePl3e8
Michael’s 70th birthday bash! … also a benefit gig for the ongoing Assembly Rooms lighting rig fund. Some great musicians will be playing..more details soon!
Fabulous Furry Folk continues with the 2020 season of singarounds in the Lords Of The Wildwood Cafe at the Assembly Rooms, and gigs in the main hall. This year we’ll be running fortnightly, starting with a singaround on 16th January, and then a gig in the main hall on 30th January with local headliner Mandy Woods plus floor spots to support, then another singaround 2 weeks later, and so on… Entry to the singaround is £2 for performers and listeners, to cover costs – all are welcome to join the circle with folk songs, tunes or listening ears. 2020 will see Fabulous Furry Folk evolving into a fully fledged Folk Club with discounted admission to members, and a monthly raffle, along with other traditional marvels!
Shreya Devnath and Praveen Sparsh
Shreya Devnath violin
Praveen Sparsh mridangam
Aavaam | we two
A violin – mridangam duet
Friday 13 March
Doors 7:30pm | Performance 8pm.
Limited premium seats
Experience a musical journey through Indian classical and folk cultures at St George’s Bristol with artistes from India, Shreya Devnath and Praveen Sparsh.
Bringing you songs of traditional Indian music – songs of freedom, love, joy and self-belief, the cultural diversity of India will be exemplified through a seamless blend of composed and improvised music. The lyrical and musical ideas of different composers from across the country will be explored.
A primarily instrumental concert, the pieces will be interpreted through the violin, vocals, multi-percussion and spoken word.
Shreya Devnath, a vocalist and well-established solo violinist, has earned much appreciation for her distinctive music. A student of the legendary Carnatic musician, Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman, Shreya strives to be a worthy representative of this prestigious school. The recipient of a number of awards and titles, her accolades include the highly acclaimed Bharat Ratna Dr. MS Subbulakshmi Fellowship and Outstanding Woman Achiever.
Praveen Sparsh, multi percussionist and music producer, is one of the most sought after mridangam exponents in the field of Carnatic music. Praveen regularly performs with acclaimed Carnatic musicians. His recent solo percussion album, UNRESERVED, received critical acclaim from the music and entertainment fraternity at large.
Both artistes have toured internationally.
Presented by Asian Arts Agency
Videos:
Details to follow.
The Desert Divas and Raheesha are delighted to return to the dance festival scene with Majma 2020, which will take place Friday to Sunday 13-15 March in Glastonbury, Somerset.
The website http://www.majmadance.co.uk/ is now open for you to enrol and book your workshops.
We have a wonderful finale festival planned with the theme: Be The Light. So don’t miss out on an “illuminating experience!”
The finest dance instructors from around the world and the UK come to teach and perform. Previous international guests include: Farida Fahmy, Morocco, Carolena Nericcio & Megha Gavin, Paulette Rees-Denis; Ava Fleming, Jill Parker and Rose Harden, Isidora Bushkovki, Meena Gorgese, Amel Tafsout, Raksan of Berlin and Hossam and Serena Ramzy.
Love and Light
Raheesha & the Desert Divas
Registration at Glastonbury Assembly Rooms: From 19.00 Friday and 9.00-9.30 Saturday (late arrivals)
| CONTACT |
|
Majma Dance Telephone: 07815 139981 (ansaphone) If you are phoning from anywhere except the UK, use +44 7815 139981 Email: Send us an email |
Opening and closing ritual ceremony, open mic for songs, stories, poems, tunes… up to 10 mins each. Please book your slot early as these nights are getting more and more popular.
To perform, contact Nathan – nathanvibration@gmail.com or Craig – mcfarlane23@gmx.co.uk
On Tuesday 24th of March, the Fabulous Furry Folk Club at Glastonbury Assembly Rooms will host a full-length concert (with no support act) from master harpist, singer and storyteller Robin Williamson, founder member of the legendary 60’s psych-folk outfit The Incredible String Band, and one of the greatest living bards. Recent visits by Robin to the Assembly Rooms have been described as “absolutely spell-binding” and he seems to get better and better in tone with every year that passes. The price of admission will be £15 or £13 concessions / FFF club members. Tickets are available in advance from the Lords Of The Wildwood Cafe at the Assembly Rooms, open 12 – 6 p.m. or online. To reclaim your £2 concession, ask at the door on the night.
DORA DARLING & FRIENDS – “The Quest” – ALBUM LAUNCH
‘Dora’s rich deep voice draws you into the stories of the songs she’s written… the audience were clearly appreciative.’ – Nancy Kerr & James Fagan
A self-taught musician, Somerset based Dora sings and plays the guitar, she also plays the fiddle and the tin whistle, both of which she learnt to play when she lived in Ireland in the 1990’s. She will launch her new album “The Quest”, which contains many of her best original songs as well as some traditional folk songs, accompanied by Glastonbury musicians Jenny Bliss and Nathan Lewis Williams.
Dora has written many songs and tunes, influenced by her magical nature, a love for the Earth and the traditional music of the British Isles and Eastern Europe. She has the unusual ability to write songs that sound and feel magical, ancient and traditional.
Jenny Bliss (voice, violin, viola da gamba, flute) is a multi- instrumentalist, singer, composer, improviser and virtuoso baroque violinist. She has had an eclectic musical career playing with the Academy of Ancient Music and the Medieaval Baebes, performing at the O.B.E awards in Buckingham Palace and live on BBC Radio 3 In Tune. Her musical journey began at 6 when she taught herself to read and write music and to play the recorder, which later led to studying violin at prestigious music conservatoires both in the UK and abroad.
Nathan Lewis Williams (voice, bouzouki, guitar) is a bilingual (Welsh and English) folk musician, known in Glastonbury for running the Fabulous Furry Folk Nights and for musical appearances with various groups including Dragonsfly and Circulus, as well as playing regularly at the Chalice Well Gardens at summer full moon concerts and Beltane celebrations, and on both St David’s and St George’s Days with his trove of traditional songs and tunes.
—–
Fabulous Furry Folk continues with the 2020 season of singarounds in the Lords Of The Wildwood Cafe at the Assembly Rooms, and gigs in the main hall. This year we’ll be running fortnightly, starting with a singaround on 16th January , and then a gig in the main hall on 30th January with local headliner Mandy Woods plus floor spots to support, then another singaround two weeks later etc.
Entry to the singaround is £2 for performers and listeners, to cover costs – all are welcome to join the circle with folk songs, tunes or listening ears. 2020 will see Fabulous Furry Folk evolving into a fully fledged Folk Club with discounted admission to members, and a monthly raffle, along with other traditional marvels!
Something has shifted in me when it comes to ‘teaching’ my workshops. It doesn’t feel interesting any more to be ‘teaching egos to act more like souls’ which is what I sense is going on in a lot of ‘spiritual practices’. Now the offering is more – facilitating all of us dropping straight back into the place where we don’t need to do something clever or insightful to be more soul-like or spend forever adhering to someone else’s dogmatic lineage.
We step (or more accurately ’empty’) into the Loving Awareness and lightened-up…..un-busy…..going nowhere,……here-ness, (NB Keep the ‘Loving’ part front and centre or don’t bother with any of this stuff), and then all the creativity we wanted, all the intimacy we came here for, all the sense of ease and peace and, yes I’ll f**king say it, JOY and INSPIRATION arises naturally.
I wish I could somehow make you all know this and live this right now just by snapping my fingers.
… did it work?
“Ultimately, we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it toward others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will also be in our troubled world.”
― Etty Hillesum
On this workshop, with simple games and tools, we harness this peace within ourselves, so that we can reflect it out into the world, it is sometimes necessary to navigate through the murky shadows of tangled fear and steer a course into the sunshine of calm. We already have the ability to do this but the simple skills have been lying dormant within us.
At the end of the day, you will leave having switched them on.
There will gentle games for us to learn techniques to allay our overworking imaginations, a light playfulness to retain the aura of quietude. We will learn how to quiet the mind when it starts to revolve with dark imaginings.
We will learn how to acquiesce to the waves of life. We will learn how to forge our paths through the forest of worry and anxiety, out into the vista of peace, And we will learn to conciliate our misguided egos in order to embody peace for the world.
What people have said:
“I’ve just realised I attended a presentation today at work. I usually shy to the back, but this time I was at the front, of where the attention was, absorbing directly at the place of focus. Present, no niggling thoughts. Jeesh, wow.” John
“Going to Jamie Catto’s workshop was the best decision of the year so far! I’m already experiencing amazing benefits from it! I can’t recommend it highly enough!” Ben
“I attended one of Jamie’s workshops… He’s good. A foul-mouthed, passionate, present, witty, musical wizard.” Chloe
“The work of Jamie Catto is magnificent. If you’re in London, get along to his workshops. xx” Erica
“If you need a soul repair, go to this, peace, cleanse, laughter, really brilliant people (the good ones) make space, reflect, thrive. Seriously, if I’m not oop North recording I will drop in…..creative, empaths, evolved. It’s fully inclusive because people, including me, donate extra, as bursaries for those who can’t afford it. Sliding scale so no excuses….. Jamie Catto go see him!” Vanessa
FAQs
Ticket Prices
It is my highest vision to ensure that all my workshops and events are 100% inclusive. This idea of anyone missing one of my events for money reasons really bothers me. So although I set a price on the workshops I also offer the option of paying less if the price is out of your range.
I am trusting that folks will meet me in the spirit in which it is offered. I write this now to ask you not to abuse the system in the vein of getting a cheap deal.
Is my registration/ticket transferrable?
Yes, but let us know as soon as possible.
Where is it?
The Assembly Rooms of Glastonbury, High Street, Glastonbury, BA6 9DU
When does it start and end?
Sunday, the 12th of April 2020 from 10h00 until 18h00
What should I bring?
Please bring water, two pens (one felt-tipped or marker), a notebook/pad and if you want to be extra comfy, a cushion and/or a small rug.
What will we eat?
We suggest you bring a packed lunch and/or some bits to share with the other workshoppers.
Housekeeping
If you have any issues with the registration process or you don’t hear back from us, please email or contact Jamie at jamie@jamiecatto.com for extra support.
Disclaimer
These workshops can potentially be emotionally intense and may bring things to the fore that are sensitive/difficult to deal with. You accept that whatever issues or emotions that arise for you on a weekend or online workshop are your own, that you take responsibility for your choice to attend a workshop which may include such experiences and that Jamie Catto and Jamie Catto Productions are held harmless for any and all responsibility for your responses to the workshop.
By signing up to the workshops, you agree to the Terms and Conditions
In the Mysterium of the Lady of Avalon
A Ceremonial Experience of the Presence of the Lady of Avalon, the Nine Morgens and the Oracle of Avalon
17th – 19th April 2020
Glastonbury Assembly Rooms
with
Kathy Jones, Sally Pullinger, Sue Quatermass, Sophie Pullinger, Saucco de Trivia, Mike Jones, Jerome O’Connell, Elsa Field and many Priestesses and Priests of Avalon
In 2019 we held the first Mysterium in Glastonbury Assembly Rooms – a three day deeply devotional journey of ceremony with the Lady of Avalon, the Oracle of Avalon and the Nine Morgens.
The Mysterium of the Lady of Avalon has become one of the highlights of the Goddess Temple calendar. It is a chance to dive deep into the Mysteries of Avalon, held with love by many dedicated Priestesses and Priests of Avalon, who have devoted their lives to serving the Lady of Avalon.
Sacred ceremony, prayer, chant, journeying, music, movement, dance and transformational healing are all components of the Mysterium, as we journey to Avalon and experience the presence of the Lady of Avalon and Oracle of Avalon as embodied by Her Priestesses.
The Mysterium takes place in Glastonbury’s Assembly Rooms, and we will also hold sacred ceremony outside on the landscape of Avalon.
We would love you to join us for the next Mysterium in 2020 – tickets now on sale through Goddess Temple Teachings!
In this Ceremonial Practice in the Mysterium of Avalon we offer you the opportunity to immerse yourself in three days of deep devotion, sacred ceremony, prayer, chant, journeying, music, movement, dance and transformational healing, in the embodied presence of the Lady of Avalon, the Nine Morgens and the Oracle of Avalon.
We will create a Sacred Mysterium for the Lady of Avalon in Glastonbury’s Assembly Rooms for three days and two evenings.
We will ceremonially invite the Lady of Avalon into Her Mysterium so that we can experience Her Mysteries.
The three days begin at 9:30am on Friday 17th April with:
- Participant registration
- Cleansing and Preparation ceremonies using the natural elements of the Glastonbury Avalon Landscape – Air of Avalon, Flame of Avalon, Holy Waters of Avalon, Sacred Earth of Avalon, Space of Avalon
- Welcome to the Mysterium
Followed over three days by:
- Invocation of the Sacred Wheel of the Lady of Avalon and the Nine Morgens
- Sacred Sounding and Chanting for everyone to join in with.
- Preparation for the three day Journey to the Sacred Isle of Avalon
- Journey across the Lake of Avalon to the Sacred Isle
- Exploration of the Sacred Inner Landscape of the Isle of Avalon with its rising hills, deep valleys, forests of memory, flowing waters, reflective pools, high mountain sanctuary and the sacred gardens that lie at the heart of the Isle.
- Transmission from the Lady of Avalon
- Transmission from the Oracle of Avalon
- Sacred Labrynth Walk
- Creation of the Feasting Table of the Nine Morgens
- Transformational Healing Ceremony at the Feasting Table of the Nine Morgens
- Evening Ceremony in the Sacred Landscape of the Isle of Avalon
- Sacred Song performances
- Sacred Dance performances
There will be a Concert on Friday evening.
The Mysterium event runs:
Friday 17th April at 9.30am – 9.00pm with breaks for lunch and supper
Saturday 18th April 9.30am – 9.30pm with breaks for lunch and supper and with outdoor evening ceremony
Sunday 19th April 9.30am – 4.00pm
Fees include all ceremonies, performances and participatory booklets. Meals are not included in the fee.
- Earlybird Ticket for the three day event 17th-19th April paid before 21st December 2019 : £210 (no longer available)
- Nolava Ticket paid before 21st March 2020 : £250
- Avalon Ticket paid between 21st March & 17th April 2020: £270
- Melissa Priestess Tickets for those helping with parts of the event : £95
Priestesses/Priests of Goddess and Avalon can apply to Kathy if you would like to Melissa this event.
Please bring with you to the Mysterium a small biodegradable offering of seeds, dried flowers, etc, to place on the central altar. On Saturday bring an offering of delicious vegetarian food to offer to the Morgens and outdoor clothing for Saturday evening. Bring personal refreshments throughout the three days if you need them.
“One of the most rewarding and accomplished albums we’ve heard this year” – fRoots
“Uncluttered, great singing that reminds me of the very best English roots singers… this is the real deal” – Mike Harding
Nick Hart is a folk singer deeply rooted in the English tradition. Raised in a family of morris dancers, Nick played instrumental music for many years before discovering his passion for traditional song. Whilst studying for an ethnomusicology degree, he began to explore the large body of recordings of traditional singers from the second half ofthe 20th century, and this led to several years of fevered study and many nights spent at folk clubs and festivals, honing his skills as an unaccompanied singer.
Nick’s initially hardline attitude to the accompaniment of folk songs has softened over the years, but his love of the nuances of traditional singing informs his minimal guitar accompaniment, and his songs are delivered with a great emphasis on storytelling. His repertoire of songs, drawn largely from his native East Anglia, reflect his understanding of both the depth and breadth of material within the English tradition and he is fast acquiring a reputation as an engaging and entertaining performer.
2017 saw the release of his first solo album, Nick Hart Sings Eight English Folk Songs. Recorded by long-time collaborator Tom Moore, the album has been well received, and the latest offering, 2019’s Nine English Folk Songs, was also had praise – see the Guardian review in the photo below.
http://www.nickhartmusic.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QRr8SlT4MI
Tickets are £10 in advance, but concessions (a reduction to £8) can be claimed as a refund of £2 at the door – just ask!
Celebrating the coming of the May – one of the Assembly Rooms’ annual Cross Quarter seasonal community events. Entry by Magic Hat donations, to help keep the Assembly Rooms going for all.
Opening ceremony c.8.20 p.m. – followed by open mic floor spots of up to 10 mins each. Songs, stories, poems, tunes etc welcome, especially on a May theme, up to 10 mins each. Contact Craig – mcfarlane23@gmx.co.uk or Nathan – nathanvibration@gmail.com in advance to book a slot. First come, first served!
Fabulous Furry Folk continues the 2020 season of singarounds in the Lords Of The Wildwood Cafe at the Assembly Rooms, and gigs in the main hall. Entry to the singaround is £2 for performers and listeners, to cover costs – all are welcome to join the circle with folk songs, tunes or listening ears. A May theme for this singaround is encouraged as this will be astrological Beltane! 2020 will see Fabulous Furry Folk evolving into a fully fledged Folk Club with discounted admission to members, and a monthly raffle, along with other traditional marvels!
XYZ are back at The Assembly Rooms in Glastonbury on Friday 8th May bringing you a Top selection of DJ’s, expect great sound, lighting and vibes as always giving you the perfect excuse to party on the V.E Day Bank Holiday.
Lineup:
BISH – https://www.facebook.com/DJBishDNB
Bish has been blessing the Bristol rave scene for the last 8 years, being heavily influence by rave music and its culture, tearing out the Drum & Bass, supporting acts such as Chase & Status, Fatboy Slim, AMC, Turno and Nicky Black Market. Bish always likes to keep it fresh, but is well known for his eclectic collection of hard hitting crowd pleasers and nostalgic anthems, and often enjoys throwing in the odd classic, while consistently styling it out with the hottest dubplates !!!
RIDDLE – https://www.facebook.com/TheRiddler88
Riddle has been tearing up around the country for a few years now, playing huge events left, right and centre alongside some of the greatest in the game with support from MC Bellyman and supplying some iconic mixes for the Car Bar Videos. Guaranteed to be tearing it up hard for all you Bank Holiday Warriors.
SKANKY GENERAL – https://www.facebook.com/5kankygeneral
Will be switching it up for this event and warming the XYZ Sound System up with some Tech House Bangers to get the vibes building and the heads bouncing, get on down from doors open and soak up the sounds 🔥💯
XYZ CREW
XYZ crew will be bringing the heat as always with a great combination of styles mashed together to keep the crowd bubbling and off guard for what may be coming through on every mix!
Competition Launching Soon !!!
Unfortunately Prospa can no longer make it to this event due to a date clash, so we are going to be running a competition very soon to WIN his 1 Hour slot…Keep your eyes peeled 👀
(Supplied equipment at the event will be 3 – 4 Pioneer CDJ2000 mk1’s and a DJM900Nexus)
Limited Advance tickets available soon, get yourself attending on the Event to keep yourself notified when they drop.
8PM – 1AM
18+
Glastonbury’s Bardic College
About
Gorsedh Ynys Witrin is a Bardic College based in Glastonbury. Our primary focus is to support, promote and honour Pan-Celtic culture, spirituality and creativity within the local community. To this end, we hold a yearly competition to decide the next Bard of Glastonbury and an annual Open Gorsedh ceremony at which the new Bards are publicly invested. We also facilitate irregular Bardic Circle meetings and poetry / music / storytelling evenings where members and guests can share their creativity and offer workshops and performances at various local festivals and events.
In the Celtic Tradition, the term Bard describes a wordsmith or linguist with particular skill in poetry, songwriting or storytelling. The original bards were Iron Age poet-mystics who kept the lore and history of their tribes, held high status and fulfilled an important cultural role. Glastonbury is one of a number of towns in England, which, according to tradition, can elect their own Bard to represent the local arts scene. The use of the word has continued through to modern times, Robert Burns, for example, is referred to as The Bard of Scotland
, William Shakespeare, who dramatised the lives of King Lear and Cymbeline is known as The Bard of Avon
, Robin Williamson has been honoured as the Chief Bard of OBOD and Billy Bragg is sometimes called The Bard of Barking
. More on the history of Bardism …
The Bardic Chair of Ynys Witrin
Every year we hold a competition to choose the next Bard of Glastonbury and hold an Open Gorsedh ceremony to celebrate creativity and bring new Bards into the College.
Each chaired Bard holds the post for one year and a day, before setting up a competition to elect a successor. The Chair refers to the position but, in some cases, as in Glastonbury and Bath, there is a physical ceremonial chair which is passed down from bard to bard. We also have a blue ceremonial robe and the ceremonial Silver Branch of Ynys Witrin, which are passed on with the title. Each Bardic Chair has its own Celticised name and is frequently associated with a specific location which is often, but not always, a natural or man-made mound or stone circle. Of course in Glastonbury the natural focus is the Tor.
The contest is open to Poets, Storytellers and Songwriters who compose on a given theme each year. We meet up over the third week in May to celebrate local arts & culture and share in creativity, performances & ceremony. The new Bard is Chaired at the Finals, which are held on St Dunstan’s Day (May 19th) every year.
The Institution of the Bardic Chair of Glastonbury is independent and belongs first and foremost to the people of Glastonbury, regardless of faith, background or politics. The position of Bard of Glastonbury is open to anyone who lives within walking distance of the Tor. We trust that anyone wishing to join us will be sympathetic to the Celtic Tradition from which it claims its heritage. See Rules of the Bardic Trials
Some previous years’ entries can be read in our Poetry archive.
Performers who wish to enter the contest for the Bardic Chair of Ynys Witrin this year must fill in an Official Entry Form, which is usually available from the Library of Avalon, Glastonbury High Street, Somerset. This year’s Open Gorsedh is being organised by the Gorsedh Committee of the Bardic Council of Ynys Witrin. Contact us here for further information.
| Previous Winners | ||||
| Year | Theme | Chair | Crown | TSMT |
| 2006 | Gwyn ap Nudd: King of the Faeries | Tim Hall | ||
| 2007 | The Nine Maidens | Dearbhaile Bradley | Merlin of the Woods | Steve Potier |
| 2008 | The Spirit of Trees | Ash | David Reakes | Theo Simon |
| 2009 | All that Glisters is not Gold | David Reakes | Tony Atkinson | Jo Waterworth |
| 2010 | Flight | Tony Atkinson | Phil Stretch | Kat Brown |
| 2011 | Twelve Giants: The Glastonbury Zodiac | Kali Roberts | Tim Hall | Oshia Drury |
| 2012 | The Initiation | Gerry Barnett | Harmony Davies | |
| 2013 | The legend of Prometheus | Lisa Goodwin | Hugh le Provost and Harmony Davies | Graham Coles |
| 2014 | The Waters of Avalon | Therèse Liddy | Stephen Cole | Tim Hall |
| 2015 | The Twilight of the Gods | Wes White | Lisa Ceneri | Steve Leighton |
| 2016 | Tarot theme (The Magician) | Sarah Mooney | Bruce Garrard | |
| 2017 | Silence | Billy the Celt | Silver Pen | Michelle Diaz |
| 2018 | The Virtues of Humility | Becki Nagle | Michelle Diaz | Jon Cousins |
The Bardic Crown was retired in 2016 as the function of Deputy could satisfactorily be covered by other Elders or prizewinners. A prize for written contributions, The Silver Pen, was subsequently proposed by Tony Atkinson and first awarded to Michelle Diaz at the 2018 Open Gorsedh.
Glastonbury’s Bardic College
About
Gorsedh Ynys Witrin is a Bardic College based in Glastonbury. Our primary focus is to support, promote and honour Pan-Celtic culture, spirituality and creativity within the local community. To this end, we hold a yearly competition to decide the next Bard of Glastonbury and an annual Open Gorsedh ceremony at which the new Bards are publicly invested. We also facilitate irregular Bardic Circle meetings and poetry / music / storytelling evenings where members and guests can share their creativity and offer workshops and performances at various local festivals and events.
In the Celtic Tradition, the term Bard describes a wordsmith or linguist with particular skill in poetry, songwriting or storytelling. The original bards were Iron Age poet-mystics who kept the lore and history of their tribes, held high status and fulfilled an important cultural role. Glastonbury is one of a number of towns in England, which, according to tradition, can elect their own Bard to represent the local arts scene. The use of the word has continued through to modern times, Robert Burns, for example, is referred to as The Bard of Scotland
, William Shakespeare, who dramatised the lives of King Lear and Cymbeline is known as The Bard of Avon
, Robin Williamson has been honoured as the Chief Bard of OBOD and Billy Bragg is sometimes called The Bard of Barking
. More on the history of Bardism …
The Bardic Chair of Ynys Witrin
Every year we hold a competition to choose the next Bard of Glastonbury and hold an Open Gorsedh ceremony to celebrate creativity and bring new Bards into the College.
Each chaired Bard holds the post for one year and a day, before setting up a competition to elect a successor. The Chair refers to the position but, in some cases, as in Glastonbury and Bath, there is a physical ceremonial chair which is passed down from bard to bard. We also have a blue ceremonial robe and the ceremonial Silver Branch of Ynys Witrin, which are passed on with the title. Each Bardic Chair has its own Celticised name and is frequently associated with a specific location which is often, but not always, a natural or man-made mound or stone circle. Of course in Glastonbury the natural focus is the Tor.
The contest is open to Poets, Storytellers and Songwriters who compose on a given theme each year. We meet up over the third week in May to celebrate local arts & culture and share in creativity, performances & ceremony. The new Bard is Chaired at the Finals, which are held on St Dunstan’s Day (May 19th) every year.
The Institution of the Bardic Chair of Glastonbury is independent and belongs first and foremost to the people of Glastonbury, regardless of faith, background or politics. The position of Bard of Glastonbury is open to anyone who lives within walking distance of the Tor. We trust that anyone wishing to join us will be sympathetic to the Celtic Tradition from which it claims its heritage. See Rules of the Bardic Trials
Some previous years’ entries can be read in our Poetry archive.
Performers who wish to enter the contest for the Bardic Chair of Ynys Witrin this year must fill in an Official Entry Form, which is usually available from the Library of Avalon, Glastonbury High Street, Somerset. This year’s Open Gorsedh is being organised by the Gorsedh Committee of the Bardic Council of Ynys Witrin. Contact us here for further information.
| Previous Winners | ||||
| Year | Theme | Chair | Crown | TSMT |
| 2006 | Gwyn ap Nudd: King of the Faeries | Tim Hall | ||
| 2007 | The Nine Maidens | Dearbhaile Bradley | Merlin of the Woods | Steve Potier |
| 2008 | The Spirit of Trees | Ash | David Reakes | Theo Simon |
| 2009 | All that Glisters is not Gold | David Reakes | Tony Atkinson | Jo Waterworth |
| 2010 | Flight | Tony Atkinson | Phil Stretch | Kat Brown |
| 2011 | Twelve Giants: The Glastonbury Zodiac | Kali Roberts | Tim Hall | Oshia Drury |
| 2012 | The Initiation | Gerry Barnett | Harmony Davies | |
| 2013 | The legend of Prometheus | Lisa Goodwin | Hugh le Provost and Harmony Davies | Graham Coles |
| 2014 | The Waters of Avalon | Therèse Liddy | Stephen Cole | Tim Hall |
| 2015 | The Twilight of the Gods | Wes White | Lisa Ceneri | Steve Leighton |
| 2016 | Tarot theme (The Magician) | Sarah Mooney | Bruce Garrard | |
| 2017 | Silence | Billy the Celt | Silver Pen | Michelle Diaz |
| 2018 | The Virtues of Humility | Becki Nagle | Michelle Diaz | Jon Cousins |
The Bardic Crown was retired in 2016 as the function of Deputy could satisfactorily be covered by other Elders or prizewinners. A prize for written contributions, The Silver Pen, was subsequently proposed by Tony Atkinson and first awarded to Michelle Diaz at the 2018 Open Gorsedh.
After a very successful first show during the 2018 Solstice celebrations in Glastonbury, and a brilliant reception at 2019 Glastonbury Fringe, Glastonbury Assembly Rooms will play host to our play of lovers, faeries and players once again!
Join us on June 13th 2020 at the Assembly Rooms for an evening of laughter, entertainment and food for thought. Doors open at 6:30 for a 7pm start.
Ticket information coming soon.
Tickets will likely be sold from The Lords of the Wildwood Community Tea Rooms, Labyrinth Books and The Mystic Garden Gallery on Glastonbury High Street.