John ac Alun
Encyclopedia
John ac Alun are a Country and Western
duo from Wales
. They are sometimes accompanied by Tudur Morgan (guitar
), Gareth Williams (bass guitar
), Charlie Britton
(drummer
), Myfyr Isaac, (guitar
), Dave Rowlands (steel guitar
) and backing vocals by Lowri Mererid and Eleri Fôn.
Most of their songs are written by themselves and Charlie but some have been written by Welsh poets and novelists such as the late Eirug Wyn
.
The duo have released eight albums in Welsh
and one in English
. They released their first album Yr Wylan Wen/Chwarelwr (The Seagull/Quarryman) in 1991, and received a gold disk by their label Sain
in 1992 after selling 12,000 copies.
John and Alun also have a radio show on Radio Cymru and have starred in four series of their own television show, "John Dwi, Alun 'dio", for Welsh-language channel S4C
.
's album, Salem.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
duo from Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. They are sometimes accompanied by Tudur Morgan (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Gareth Williams (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Charlie Britton
Charlie Britton
Charlie Britton is a drummer from Wales. He was a drummer for Welsh language bands in the 1970s including Hergest, and occasionally drums for John ac Alun....
(drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
), Myfyr Isaac, (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Dave Rowlands (steel guitar
Steel guitar
Steel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
) and backing vocals by Lowri Mererid and Eleri Fôn.
Most of their songs are written by themselves and Charlie but some have been written by Welsh poets and novelists such as the late Eirug Wyn
Eirug Wyn
Eirug Wyn was a Welsh satirical novelist who wrote in the Welsh language. He was born Eirug Price Wynne, in Llanbrynmair in Mid Wales, and educated at Brynrefail School and Trinity College, Carmarthen...
.
The duo have released eight albums in Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
and one in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. They released their first album Yr Wylan Wen/Chwarelwr (The Seagull/Quarryman) in 1991, and received a gold disk by their label Sain
Sain
Sain , in full – Recordiau Sain Cyf is a Welsh record label, which was in the Welsh folk revival....
in 1992 after selling 12,000 copies.
John and Alun also have a radio show on Radio Cymru and have starred in four series of their own television show, "John Dwi, Alun 'dio", for Welsh-language channel S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
.
Upcoming Album
The duo are busy recording their upcoming album tentatively called, Yn ôl i Salem ("Back To Salem"). According to a recent update on the band's forum, the album is 75% done with only vocals and minor overdubs left to be completed. As with their prior offering, the album is a concept album, a reply to Endaf EmlynEndaf Emlyn
Endaf Emlyn is a Welsh musician, film and television director.Emlyn was born in Bangor, Wales. He began his television career as scriptwriter and presenter for HTV Wales, but had a simultaneous career as a musician...
's album, Salem.