Brigyn
Encyclopedia
Brigyn are a music act from north Wales
consisting of the brothers Eurig and Ynyr Roberts.
The brothers formed Brigyn in 2004 after the break-up of their previous group Epitaff. After signing to the Gwynedd label Gwynfryn Cymunedol, their eponymous debut album was released in late 2004. A Welsh-language release, the album received considerable airplay on Radio Cymru; one of the tracks, 'Sonar' was selected by BBC Radio 1
DJ Huw Stephens
for inclusion on the Dan Y Cownter showcase CD released by the Welsh Music Foundation in 2005. Later that year, a second album, Brigyn2, was released on Gwynfryn Cymunedol.
In 2006, Brigyn toured Wales, playing the Sesiwn Fawr
festival in Dolgellau
in July and the Green Man Festival
later in the summer. A tour of Ireland soon followed. Also in 2006, the remix CD Ailgylchu (Recycle) was released, containing remixes by Welsh underground artists of Brigyn songs.
Brigyn achieved prominence in the media through successfully obtaining the permission of Leonard Cohen
to release a Welsh-language version of his 1984 song 'Hallejujah'.
Brigyn won the Pan Celtic Song Contest
in 2011.
Their sound is a mixture of modern folk music
, rhythm loops and orchestral samples. The brothers cite various artists as influences, including Bjork, Simon & Garfunkel, and 20th century classical composers. The band have shared a stage with artists ranging from world famous tenor José Carreras
to The Incredible String Band. To date they have performed at The Green Man Festival, Llangollen International Eisteddfod, Small Nations Festival, Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau
, and also at popular Welsh
language festivals such as Maes B and Gwyl y Faenol (Brynfest).
Following the success of their eponymously titled debut album in 2004, Brigyn released their second album Brigyn2 in Autumn 2005. Successful tours of San Francisco and Ireland
followed in late 2005 and April 2006 respectively. A collection of rare songs were released exclusively on ITunes
and limited edition vinyl late in 2006 and a re-mix concept album, Ailgylchu, was released in August 2007. In late 2007, Brigyn embarked on an epic 10-date tour of venues around Wales, that included an appearance at the Swn Festival. They also became the first ever group to perform at the new Milkwood Jam venue in Swansea
.
Their third studio album Brigyn3 was released in May 2008, and the promotional campaign for the album began with an exclusive live session in 'The Hub', London
for Tom Robinson's show on BBC 6 Music
.
Following an touring schedule in 2008 that included a return to playing at the Green Man Festival, Brigyn released the single 'Haleliwia' in November - a Welsh-language adaption of Leonard Cohen
's global hit song, Hallelujah. A Welsh-language single ('Yr Arth a'r Lloer' - The Bear and the Moon) was released at the end of 2009, and was given away as a free CD from Brigyn's website.
Brigyn released their first ever English
-language material in 2010; the single 'One Way Streets' was made available on March 1 as a download from the ITunes Music Store.
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...
consisting of the brothers Eurig and Ynyr Roberts.
The brothers formed Brigyn in 2004 after the break-up of their previous group Epitaff. After signing to the Gwynedd label Gwynfryn Cymunedol, their eponymous debut album was released in late 2004. A Welsh-language release, the album received considerable airplay on Radio Cymru; one of the tracks, 'Sonar' was selected by BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ Huw Stephens
Huw Stephens
Huw Stephens is a radio presenter currently broadcasting shows on BBC Radio 1.-Early life and career:Stephens was born in Cardiff, Wales, the son of the author and literary journalist Meic Stephens...
for inclusion on the Dan Y Cownter showcase CD released by the Welsh Music Foundation in 2005. Later that year, a second album, Brigyn2, was released on Gwynfryn Cymunedol.
In 2006, Brigyn toured Wales, playing the Sesiwn Fawr
Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau
Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau is a world music event held in the town of Dolgellau in Wales. The event was established in 1992, and was held in the town's streets. Since 2002, Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau has been held on the Marian, a large grassy area next to Afon Wnion. There is a campsite provided for visitors...
festival in Dolgellau
Dolgellau
Dolgellau is a market town in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, lying on the River Wnion, a tributary of the River Mawddach. It was the county town of the former county of Merionethshire .-History and economy:...
in July and the Green Man Festival
Green Man Festival
The Green Man Festival is an independent music festival held annually in the Brecon Beacons, Wales. It has evolved from a one-day, 300 capacity event in 2003, to a three-day festival with live music including psych, folk, indie, dance and Americana across five stages, as well as DJs playing...
later in the summer. A tour of Ireland soon followed. Also in 2006, the remix CD Ailgylchu (Recycle) was released, containing remixes by Welsh underground artists of Brigyn songs.
Brigyn achieved prominence in the media through successfully obtaining the permission of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
to release a Welsh-language version of his 1984 song 'Hallejujah'.
Brigyn won the Pan Celtic Song Contest
Pan Celtic Festival
The Féile Pan Cheilteach or Pan Celtic Festival is held in the Republic of Ireland and was first held in 1971 in Killarney, Ireland. It has been held annually in the week following Easter annually since then....
in 2011.
Biography
Since their formation, Brigyn have received plentiful airplay and TV appearances in Wales and the UK.Their sound is a mixture of modern folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, rhythm loops and orchestral samples. The brothers cite various artists as influences, including Bjork, Simon & Garfunkel, and 20th century classical composers. The band have shared a stage with artists ranging from world famous tenor José Carreras
José Carreras
Josep Maria Carreras i Coll , better known as José Carreras , is a Spanish Catalan tenor particularly known for his performances in the operas of Verdi and Puccini...
to The Incredible String Band. To date they have performed at The Green Man Festival, Llangollen International Eisteddfod, Small Nations Festival, Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau
Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau
Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau is a world music event held in the town of Dolgellau in Wales. The event was established in 1992, and was held in the town's streets. Since 2002, Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau has been held on the Marian, a large grassy area next to Afon Wnion. There is a campsite provided for visitors...
, and also at popular 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...
language festivals such as Maes B and Gwyl y Faenol (Brynfest).
Following the success of their eponymously titled debut album in 2004, Brigyn released their second album Brigyn2 in Autumn 2005. Successful tours of San Francisco and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
followed in late 2005 and April 2006 respectively. A collection of rare songs were released exclusively on ITunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and limited edition vinyl late in 2006 and a re-mix concept album, Ailgylchu, was released in August 2007. In late 2007, Brigyn embarked on an epic 10-date tour of venues around Wales, that included an appearance at the Swn Festival. They also became the first ever group to perform at the new Milkwood Jam venue in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
.
Their third studio album Brigyn3 was released in May 2008, and the promotional campaign for the album began with an exclusive live session in 'The Hub', London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for Tom Robinson's show on BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music is one of the BBC's digital radio stations, was launched on 11 March 2002 and originally codenamed Network Y. It was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years....
.
Following an touring schedule in 2008 that included a return to playing at the Green Man Festival, Brigyn released the single 'Haleliwia' in November - a Welsh-language adaption of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
's global hit song, Hallelujah. A Welsh-language single ('Yr Arth a'r Lloer' - The Bear and the Moon) was released at the end of 2009, and was given away as a free CD from Brigyn's website.
Brigyn released their first ever 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...
-language material in 2010; the single 'One Way Streets' was made available on March 1 as a download from the ITunes Music Store.