Biography - Trefor and Vicki Williams

"You expect beautiful voices from the Welsh..." - Folk North-West

Duo from North Wales who have appeared at many festivals, clubs and concert venues across the UK over the last seven years - including Alcester, Banbury, Bedworth, Bridgnorth, Broadstairs, Cleckheaton, Chester, Crawley, Cornwall, Priddy, Saltburn - to name just a few.

They were chosen by the 2002 Loch Lomond Festival as the one act to go on to Celtic Connections 2003.

They perform an eclectic mix of traditional (some Welsh language songs) and contemporary folk, from medieval to self-penned, accompanied by guitars and mandocello, fiddle and concertina.

Trefor and Vicki hold songwriting, voice and natural harmony workshops, a capella harmonies being one of their specialities.

They have been featured on radio, including Frank Hennessey’s ‘Celtic Heartbeat’ on BBC Radio Wales, Stan Ambrose and Geoff Speed’s ‘Folkscene’ on BBC Radio Merseyside and Genevieve Tudor’s ‘Sunday Folk’ on BBC Radio Shropshire amongst others.

Discography:

The Bare Branch (101RECCD6) - also featuring Phil Hare (guitar), Joe Broughton (fiddle), Mike Johnson (percussion)

‘Resonant, confident and adventurous harmonies...’ ...freefolk.com

‘Attractively sung and played...time very pleasantly passed...’ ...fROOTS

‘Lovely, inspirational songwriting...’ ...Rock ‘n’ Reel

Timeless Land (101RECCD14)

‘Great Craftsmanship’ ...What’s on Folks

‘Every so often, a recording will come along that encapsulates a whole genre...dripping with zeitgeist. Two albums that spring to mind both achieved this: ‘Leige and Leaf’ by Fairport, and Nic Jones’ ‘Penguin Eggs’...this second album by Welsh duo Trefor and Vicki Williams falls into prestigious company...five ‘original songs that are as varied as they are enjoyable. I can imagine a whole field of kids singing, ‘Feel I could live forever...’ There is a version here of (Dylan’s) the almost biblical ‘Seven Curses’ which is totally alluring...perhaps the most impressive ‘folk pedigree’ here is the ‘Welshness’ that shines through...there is a lovely Welsh lullaby here, but the version of ‘All through the Night’ puts me (more) in mind of Triona or Maigh Ni Dhomhnaill singing a rural Irish ballad. The us of rising star Jon Brindley (on fiddle and guitar) and (Phil) Hare - the North’s fave folkie guitarist - is often inspired, but nothing should detract from the performances of the instigators, not least to Mike Johnson for a crisp and considered production...one hopes it will prove as timeless as the land from whence it came.’...Rickie Walker - Sticks.

Changing Light (101RECCD17)

‘Crafted vocal harmonies and well-judged guitar and mandocello work...compelling songwriting.’ ...Dave Kidman

‘Produced once again at 101 Recording Studio in Heswall by Mike Johnson, his superb engineering and production skills shine through.

When you take some nice songs, strong vocals and solid playing and enhance them with the quality of backing musicians such as Mike O’ Connor on fiddle, Phil Hare on guitar, Dave Manley on flute, recorders and pipes and Mike Johnson on mandocello (not to mention Vicki’s daughter Faye Richards on backing vocals), you are on to a winner and that is exactly what we have here.

The album opens with that well-known stock-in-trade traditional song so popular in the clubs of the 1960s and 1970s, ‘The Oak and the Ash’. However it receives far more sensitive treatment here than it ever did back then. Another well-known traditional song follows, ‘Mad Tom/Boys of Bedlam’. T and V spring another surprise here with a completely a capella version that rejoices in some great tight harmony singing whilst keeping up the pace and ‘bite’ of this song about those poor demented souls in the Bedlam Mental Infirmary.

Very aptly, Vicki’s short song about Joseph Parry, ‘Walking Apart’, is succeeded by the great man’s most famous work the wonderful, ‘Myfanwy’. This is another a capella rendition and a fine version with great harmonies from the duo.

The title track, ‘Changing Light’ is another tour de force by Vicki with some nice guitar work accompanying Vicki’s thoughtful lyrics beautifully sung. The duo return to their tradition with the Elizabethan ‘Then to the Maypole’ performed in their impeccable a capella harmony style, before finishing with Vicki’s ‘The Travelling Song, written in 2002 on the way to Tenterden Folk Festival, Kent.

This is a fitting and polished ending to another highly enjoyable CD from Vicki and Trefor. One other word of praise for the well-written and informative sleeve notes that always makes a reviewer’s job so much easier and definitely adds to the listener’s pleasure'. ...Ian Chesterman, Folk North-West

Trefor and Vicki are also festured on the following compilation albums:

Gwerin - artists from North-East Wales

Shellburst - the Shellback Chorus

Chester Folk Festival Artists Compilation CD