Last FM
Huw & Tony Williams were, as one of their later CDs pointed out, an unrelated folk duo from Brynmawr.
They first began playing together whilst they were at school. They began their careers in folk clubs in the UK, where many of their songs became standards of the British folk scene. The 'Beep Beep Song' gives some idea of their life on the road together (on 'Requests 91').
Prolific in writing their own songs, Huw was the main songwriter, providing a range of stringed accompaniment - guitar, banjo, melodion and lead vocals. He was also known to sport a variety of headgear for the numerous gigs - though not onstage. Tony's main instrument was the double bass, although he also provided backing vocals, drums and guitar on some of their studio recordings.
They became widely known when their songs were covered by many other artists in Europe and the USA and their close association with the likes of Ralph McTell and Fairport Convention, both of whom championed their music. They developed a very large fan base and toured theatres and festivals throughout the 1990s before performing one final tour in 2001.
Some of their well-known songs include ‘The Summer Before the War’, ’Rosemary’s Sister’ and ‘I can Jump Puddles’. Tony moved into education and is now a lecturer in performing arts whilst Huw toured with the Welsh band Crasdant, mostly in the USA, and is a broadcaster for the BBC, making programmes in Wales and for BBC Radio Four (he has walked the disused railways of Wales, for example). Huw is a well-known (in Wales) exponent of Welsh traditional clog dancing - something he occasionally worked into live sets.
The parting was much lamented, partly because of the banter that was as much part of the live performances (and only really evident on their 'Live' CD, towards the end of their time together). Many of their songs have been covered by well known acts on the folk circuit - few seem to be able to resist such gems as 'Rosemary's Sister'. It will be interesting to see whether Last.FM can put together their back catalogue - there is likely to be one recording (their first) that may prove particularly elusive!
Discography:
Such is Life
Requests '91 (cassette only) - 1991
Junction 26 (cassette & CD) - 1991
The Next Exit - 1992
Rosemary's Sister (cassette & CD) - 1994
Paradise Circus (CD) - 1994
Unplugged & Unrelated (CD) - 1996
Live (CD) - 1997
A Generous Anger (cassette) - 1997
Who are all these people (CD) - final recording - 1998
There is also an EP-CD 'Full Circle' with 4 tracks but no release date on it.
The recording 'A Generous Anger' was also billed as 'The life and times of Aneurin Bevan'
and was a joint project with Daniel Morden.
They first began playing together whilst they were at school. They began their careers in folk clubs in the UK, where many of their songs became standards of the British folk scene. The 'Beep Beep Song' gives some idea of their life on the road together (on 'Requests 91').
Prolific in writing their own songs, Huw was the main songwriter, providing a range of stringed accompaniment - guitar, banjo, melodion and lead vocals. He was also known to sport a variety of headgear for the numerous gigs - though not onstage. Tony's main instrument was the double bass, although he also provided backing vocals, drums and guitar on some of their studio recordings.
They became widely known when their songs were covered by many other artists in Europe and the USA and their close association with the likes of Ralph McTell and Fairport Convention, both of whom championed their music. They developed a very large fan base and toured theatres and festivals throughout the 1990s before performing one final tour in 2001.
Some of their well-known songs include ‘The Summer Before the War’, ’Rosemary’s Sister’ and ‘I can Jump Puddles’. Tony moved into education and is now a lecturer in performing arts whilst Huw toured with the Welsh band Crasdant, mostly in the USA, and is a broadcaster for the BBC, making programmes in Wales and for BBC Radio Four (he has walked the disused railways of Wales, for example). Huw is a well-known (in Wales) exponent of Welsh traditional clog dancing - something he occasionally worked into live sets.
The parting was much lamented, partly because of the banter that was as much part of the live performances (and only really evident on their 'Live' CD, towards the end of their time together). Many of their songs have been covered by well known acts on the folk circuit - few seem to be able to resist such gems as 'Rosemary's Sister'. It will be interesting to see whether Last.FM can put together their back catalogue - there is likely to be one recording (their first) that may prove particularly elusive!
Discography:
Such is Life
Requests '91 (cassette only) - 1991
Junction 26 (cassette & CD) - 1991
The Next Exit - 1992
Rosemary's Sister (cassette & CD) - 1994
Paradise Circus (CD) - 1994
Unplugged & Unrelated (CD) - 1996
Live (CD) - 1997
A Generous Anger (cassette) - 1997
Who are all these people (CD) - final recording - 1998
There is also an EP-CD 'Full Circle' with 4 tracks but no release date on it.
The recording 'A Generous Anger' was also billed as 'The life and times of Aneurin Bevan'
and was a joint project with Daniel Morden.