You might hunt high and low for British folk acts with any sort of profile who make similar music to The Rheingans Sisters. Rowan and Anna Rheingans’ grounding, and fanbase, very much skews to quote-unquote traditional folk rather than curious fans of rock or experimental music. Listening to their fourth and latest album Reciever, though, there’s an aesthetic at play that betrays their schooling in various European styles, especially the trad fiddlers of Norway and Sweden. About half its songs are instrumental and those with vocals transmit inert melancholy over the pluck and buzz of stringed instruments built, at least in part, by their violin-maker dad.
Raised in the Peak District, the duo established themselves in Yorkshire (Rowan’s other musical projects include groups with countywomen, Eliza Carthy and O’Hooley & Tidow) and are now based between there and, in Anna’s case, Toulouse. Reciever was released last autumn by the Bendigedig label, which is linked to Theatr Mwldan in Cardigan, and reasonably enough that venue is one of four in Wales The Rheingans Sisters are visiting in October. If you’re prepared to wait until next summer – a bold gambit – they’re also playing the Gower Folk Festival in June 2022, but I’d recommend grabbing the nettle now.
Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff, Fri 8 Oct. Tickets: £14/£12. Info: here
Galeri, Caernarfon, Wed 13 Oct. Tickets: £12/£10. Info: here
Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan, Thurs 14 Oct. Tickets: £14/£12. Info: here
Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells, Fri 15 Oct. Tickets: £14/£12. Info: here
words NOEL GARDNER
