FOLK band Calan invite you to celebrate the yuletide season with bagpipes, fiddles, harp and step dancing (and a Mari Lwyd) on Thursday, December 5, when they’ll be performing live at Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan (7.30pm).

Calan are winners of the coveted Best Band title at the 2019 BBC Wales Folk Awards and their show ‘A Calan Christmas in Wales’ aims to bring the festive season to life.

It not only features music, dance, traditional Welsh bagpipes, harp and accordion, but also the glorious Welsh tradition of the Mari Lwyd!

The Mari Lwyd was a hobby horse that groups of revellers would march from house to house with, singing songs at the top of their voices. At each house there would be a knock on the door from the Mari Lwyd party and a poetry battle would ensue.

What we might think of today as a rap battle between the revellers outside and the people inside. Quite often they would insult each other through verse. The householders would ceremoniously deny them entry until someone relented and invited them all in for a festive drink.

“We call our version a Veggie Lwyd, because it’s made of cardboard and papier-mâché,” says Calan’s accordionist, clog-dancer and vocalist Bethan Rhiannon.

"...there’s nowt as dear as folk – especially when played with the grace, daring and sheer joy this multi-instrumental five-piece bring to a winning selection of reels, jigs and hornpipes,” writes The Daily Mirror

"Folk just got a kick up of the Noughties... stunning use of instrumentation, gorgeously crafted songs, sprightly foot-tappers, verve and raw excitement,” says the Belfast Telegaph

An unmissable party.

Tickets for Calan are priced at £16 full price (£15 concessions) and are available now from Theatr Mwldan’s box office on 01239 621200, on-line at mwldan.co.uk or via the Mwldan app.