Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog
Encyclopedia
Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog are a three piece band consisting of brothers from Rhos Botwnnog, between the villages of Botwnnog
and Llaniestyn in the Llyn Peninsula
, North Wales
. They experiment with country
, folk
and rock
music. The three brothers, Iwan Hughes, Aled Hughes and Dafydd Hughes formed the band in 2006 and got a fair amount of attention from the Welsh language
music scene through an early appearance on S4C's music programme 'Bandit'. BBC Radio Cymru's C2 programme also regularly aired demo’s that the band had recorded. By the time they had released their debut album; ‘Dawns Y Trychfilod’ on the Sbrigyn Ymborth label in 2007, they had already developed a good following and were regularly appearing on stage with some of Wales’s most well known acts. The album was produced by Dyl Mei and recorded at the producer's 'Blaen y Cae' studio, which is now closed. The band launched it with a headlining tour throughout Wales. The album reached the number 1 slot for numerous weeks on the C2 chart.
In 2008, the band worked to create a different sound, deciding to concentrate more on the country
aspect of their music. They co-worked with singer-songwriter Gwyneth Glyn
and pedal steel player Euron "Jos" Jones and released the single 'Paid a Deud', also on the Sbrigyn Ymborth label. The title track is a re-working of a traditional Welsh folk song.
Summer 2009 saw Llyr Pari of labelmates Jen Jeniro join the band as an additional live guitarist, and played at their biggest summer appearances at the Wakestock
festival and Maes B at the Eisteddfod.
2010 was a quieter year for the band in terms of live performances as they concentrated on writing new material. Over the summer a version of Neil Young
's Cortez The Killer
creeped into the set. The band played the opening Sunday of the Royal Welsh's Young People's Village and the final saturday of the National Eisteddfod's Maes B.
The band were subject to a profile in North Wales and Liverpool's Daily Post newspaper in September 2010, in which Ian Hughes described the band as producing " a sound so independent and divorced from music lazily being made by a lot of other new groups."
The band entered Bryn Derwen studio with producer and engineer Dave Wrench in September 2010. Once again, Branwen "Sbrings" Williams, who had provided backing vocals on 'Dawns y Trychfilod' and Euron "Jos" Jones were in tow, as well as Llyr "Tonto" Pari, who had regularly been playing live with the brothers. It was announced on October 15 that a new album will be released on December 11.
Botwnnog
Botwnnog is a village and community in Gwynedd in Wales, located on the Llŷn Peninsula. It has a population of 955.It lies between Mynytho and Sarn Meyllteyrn, and is the home to two schools, a primary Pont Y Gof Primary School, and secondary . It also has the main branch of general practician ...
and Llaniestyn in the Llyn Peninsula
Llyn Peninsula
The Llŷn Peninsula extends into the Irish Sea from north west Wales, south west of the Isle of Anglesey. It is part of the modern county and historic region of Gwynedd. The name is thought to be of Irish origin, and to have the same root Laigin in Irish as the word Leinster...
, North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
. They experiment with country
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...
, folk
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....
and rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
music. The three brothers, Iwan Hughes, Aled Hughes and Dafydd Hughes formed the band in 2006 and got a fair amount of attention from the Welsh language
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...
music scene through an early appearance on S4C's music programme 'Bandit'. BBC Radio Cymru's C2 programme also regularly aired demo’s that the band had recorded. By the time they had released their debut album; ‘Dawns Y Trychfilod’ on the Sbrigyn Ymborth label in 2007, they had already developed a good following and were regularly appearing on stage with some of Wales’s most well known acts. The album was produced by Dyl Mei and recorded at the producer's 'Blaen y Cae' studio, which is now closed. The band launched it with a headlining tour throughout Wales. The album reached the number 1 slot for numerous weeks on the C2 chart.
In 2008, the band worked to create a different sound, deciding to concentrate more on the country
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...
aspect of their music. They co-worked with singer-songwriter Gwyneth Glyn
Gwyneth Glyn
Gwyneth Glyn is a Welsh language poet and musician.-Biography:Glyn was born in St David's Hospital in Bangor, and grew up at her family home in Llanarmon...
and pedal steel player Euron "Jos" Jones and released the single 'Paid a Deud', also on the Sbrigyn Ymborth label. The title track is a re-working of a traditional Welsh folk song.
Summer 2009 saw Llyr Pari of labelmates Jen Jeniro join the band as an additional live guitarist, and played at their biggest summer appearances at the Wakestock
Wakestock
The Wakestock Action Sports and Music Festival is a wakeboarding contest and Canada’s largest action sports and music festival. It is held in Ontario, Canada on the Toronto Islands, Toronto, Ontario. The name Wakestock refers to the famous outdoor music festival Woodstock.-History:In 2005, the...
festival and Maes B at the Eisteddfod.
2010 was a quieter year for the band in terms of live performances as they concentrated on writing new material. Over the summer a version of Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
's Cortez The Killer
Cortez the Killer
"Cortez the Killer" is a song by Neil Young from his 1975 album, Zuma. It was recorded with Young's band Crazy Horse and ranked #39 on Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitar Solos and #321 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time....
creeped into the set. The band played the opening Sunday of the Royal Welsh's Young People's Village and the final saturday of the National Eisteddfod's Maes B.
The band were subject to a profile in North Wales and Liverpool's Daily Post newspaper in September 2010, in which Ian Hughes described the band as producing " a sound so independent and divorced from music lazily being made by a lot of other new groups."
The band entered Bryn Derwen studio with producer and engineer Dave Wrench in September 2010. Once again, Branwen "Sbrings" Williams, who had provided backing vocals on 'Dawns y Trychfilod' and Euron "Jos" Jones were in tow, as well as Llyr "Tonto" Pari, who had regularly been playing live with the brothers. It was announced on October 15 that a new album will be released on December 11.
Members
- Iwan Glyn Hughes - Vocals, electric & acoustic guitar, keyboards, harmonica, banjo, bass guitar
- Dafydd Rhys Hughes - Vocals, drums & percussion
- Aled Wyn Hughes - Vocals, bass guitar, electric & acoustic guitar, vocoder, cosmic banjo
Collaborators & Additional members
- Gwyneth GlynGwyneth GlynGwyneth Glyn is a Welsh language poet and musician.-Biography:Glyn was born in St David's Hospital in Bangor, and grew up at her family home in Llanarmon...
- Vocals, electric & acoustic guitar (studio & live) - Llyr "Tonto" Pari - Electric guitar, bass guitar (studio & live)
- Euron "Jos" Jones - Pedal steel guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar (studio & live)
- Branwen "Sbrings" Williams - Vocals, Rhodes, organ (studio & live)
- Fflur Scott - Vocals (studio)
- Delyth Badder - Hammond Organ (live)
- Sion Glyn - Bass guitar (live)
- Osian Huw - Trumpet, bass guitar, acoustic guitar (studio)
- Karen Owen - Lyrics (studio)
Albums
- Dawns y Trychfilod (Sbrigyn YmborthSbrigyn YmborthSbrigyn Ymborth is a North Wales based record label, formed in 2006. The company was founded by three partners, Hefin Jones, Aled Hughes and Sion Owen, who continue to run the label....
) - 2007 - Dyddiau Du, Dyddiau Gwyn (Sbrigyn YmborthSbrigyn YmborthSbrigyn Ymborth is a North Wales based record label, formed in 2006. The company was founded by three partners, Hefin Jones, Aled Hughes and Sion Owen, who continue to run the label....
) - 2010 (Wales) / 2011 (UK)
EPs
- Y Cledrau with Karen Owen (BBC Sesiwn Unnos) - 2011
- Y Record Goch (10" vinyl & download) - compilation vinyl EP with Y Bwgan, Sen Segur and Dau Cefn. (Recordiau Lliwgar) - 2011
Radio Sessions
- BBC Radio Cymru C2 Acoustic Session - 2006
- BBC Radio Cymru C2 Studio Session - 2006
- BBC Radio Cymru C2 Acoustic Session - Ystafell Werdd - 2007
- BBC Radio Cymru Acoustic Session - Sesiwn Fach - 2009
- BBC Radio Cymru C2 Studio Session - 2009