Nestled adjacent to one of Tregaron's four noteworthy wells, Riverbank Cafe provides the perfect relaxed and informal environment for this unique opportunity to hear cult acid folk from Australia's Trappist Afterland (Adam Geoffrey Coles)-on tour with this being their only Welsh concert; Trappist Afterland will be playing songs from their new album, Evergreen Walk to Paradise Garden- a set of heartbreaking, strange and beautiful folk songs that defy time and trends . Listen up close to the leading edge experimentation of Pefkin (compared to Nico and This Mortal Coil), immerse in Eliane Radigue mesmerism in the form of remixed church organ collage from Pembrokeshire's Sara Evelyn, Euterpe Sequence's "fabulous delirium of competeing frequencies" (Biba Kopf, The Wire) and the elegant fretboard work, woodsy sound portals and field-recording remanence of Haress' front-woman Elizabeth Still.
Saturday features talks including with leading expert on Wales' holy wells-Phil Cope. While some of our wellspring sites are still visible, and (though much less-commonly) in daily use, the title of a recent publication of Phil's, The Living Wells of Wales, is more of an aspiration than a description, an entreaty, a call to action, even … as many of these ‘living' wells are, in fact, dead. Phil's illustrated presentation will explore the ways in which groups throughout Wales and beyond have responded to this neglect by creating important new landmarks for community engagement and pride, structures and activities which are as alive as the waters they contain.
Ros Briagha will present on aspects of dowsing, landscape and sacred waters. Rowan O'Neill is an artist, writer and performance maker from Felinwynt, Ceredigion. Her research and creative practice represents a continuing investigation of language, identity, place and belonging, inspired by a rural agricultural upbringing and an academic background in theological and religious studies. Her recent work has explored wells in Ireland & Wales.
Where are the four noteworthy wells of Tregaron? Will a psychogeographic approach help uncover their location? Amy Grandvoinet is currently undertaking a PhD in literary psychogeographies between Aberystwyth and Cardiff universities, funded by the AHRC. She spends many hours reading psychogeographical musings of writers variably tied up with post-Surrealist avant-garde collectives the Lettrist and Situationist Internationals.
Wells are often attributed as agents of or locations for medicinal and spagyric virtue. Judith Tulfer is a PhD student in the Department of History and Welsh History at Aberystwyth University. Her research focuses on written charms from Mid Wales. Having previously studied for Masters degrees in Medieval Studies and Theology, Judith has wider research interests in the connections between magical practices, society, and religious belief, especially in Wales and East Anglia during the modern period.
Friday Night: Trappist Afterland & Sara Evelyn 7.30pm
Saturday 10.30-4pm Talks
Saturday Night 7.30pm: Euterpe Sequence, Elizabeth Stills, Pefkin
Riverbank Cafe can provide limited camping space for those who want to stay over, there's a good sized carpark, the licensed cafe provides a stock of (local) refreshments, snacks, non and alcoholic bevarages and sit down meals! For camping please contact Sue at Riverbank Cafe directly (ie camping is not part of the ticket price).
