It’s a slightly damp Saturday evening in Roath when Gwenno and her marvellous backing band take to the stage at The Gate. Just prior, Stone Club DJs were entertaining the assembled masses inside with a fantastic set that set the mood perfectly for what was a memorable evening.
Opening with An Stevel Nowydh, Gwenno instantly has the room in her hands – although she admits before a gorgeous rendition of Tir Ha Mor that the crowd is a bit shy to her surprise as she was expecting it to be a bit lairy leading to cheers around the room. Gwenno’s most recent album Tresor was, of course, nominated for the Mercury Prize (rightfully so) “before the world fell apart even more” as she reminds the crowd before the title track. She also points out that a photo of her mother at a protest against the monarchy outside Cardiff Castle a few weeks ago got more attention and headlines than her entire tour… but you can’t win them all, eh?
Gwenno takes a moment before Kan Me to dedicate the song to striking workers and apologises that she was unable to make the Welsh independence rally in the City Centre earlier that day. Of course, the brilliant N.Y.C.A.W takes on a new life in the context of the day’s events – but more on that a little later. The humorous Jynn-Amontya is prefaced by Gwenno letting the crowd know that it’s a “love hate song about technology… there’s not many songs about technology in Cornish”. Funny, that.
“So, I assume the reason you all came tonight was to learn some Cornish?” she yells like a battle cry before the cheese-themed Eus Keus? and teaches the crowd the chorus to sing along with (“I know I’m committing to singing this for the rest of my life but I don’t mind!”). Before launching into a powerful N.Y.C.A.W, she shouts “let’s demolish Westminster!” to a rapturous applause. Gwenno finishes her set this evening with a haunting cover of Richard Gendall’s Clegh which leaves the room breathless in its beauty.
Gwenno, The Gate, Cardiff, Sat 1 Oct
words JOSHUA WILLIAMS photos ANTHONY CONWAY