A Night of Country, Rock and Stories
After a lovely meal at Loaf Kitchen & Bar in Ystradgynlais, Rachel and I headed over to Ystradgynlais Welfare for an evening of live music from Nashville duo Willow Hill.
We arrived just in time. The lovely Chelsea greeted us before we headed into the main hall. We had barely got through the doors when Willow Hill were taking to the stage. Thankfully, we hadn’t missed a thing!
The hall was already full of enthusiastic fans. There was a fantastic atmosphere as everyone settled in for the evening.
Nashville comes to Ystradgynlais
Willow Hill are the husband-and-wife duo Alexandra and CT Fields. Together, they bring their own energetic blend of country and rock to audiences around the world.
Their sound has a modern country feel, with plenty of rock influence and a real sense of fun. What also stood out to me was the storytelling that came between the songs.
Alexandra and CT shared stories about their songwriting, their experiences and the reasons behind some of the songs they performed. They also talked about the artists and music that have influenced them over the years.
I really enjoyed hearing those stories. It made the evening feel much more personal than simply watching a band perform one song after another.
Of course, there were plenty of songs to enjoy too!
I particularly loved their country and rock take on familiar songs, alongside their own original material. The set included a great mixture of recognisable favourites and Willow Hill’s own music. Every song was delivered with plenty of energy.
A band with a big story
Willow Hill have certainly travelled a long way from their Nashville home.
The duo have built an international following, performing across the United States, the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, South America and beyond. Their touring history includes major festivals such as Summerfest, Rocklahoma, Sturgis and Warped Tour.
They have also supported artists including Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean, Pat Benatar and Zac Brown Band.
Willow Hill’s catalogue includes hundreds of original songs. Many were written alongside established Nashville songwriters in their hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.
Their latest collection, Better Together, showcases their songwriting and the energetic sound they have become known for.
The band have also picked up some impressive accolades:
- Winner: Emerging Artist at Milwaukee’s Summerfest
- Top 3: Voted in the top three out of 20,000 acts to perform at the Grammys
- Rolling Stone: Named a “Band to Watch”
A lively night of music
The atmosphere inside Ystradgynlais Welfare was fantastic. Fans had clearly come along ready for a great night, and Willow Hill certainly delivered.
There was plenty of energy from the stage. At the same time, the stories between the songs gave us a chance to learn more about Alexandra and CT.
I particularly enjoyed hearing why they had chosen some of the cover songs. Their influences from different decades were clear, and they gave those familiar songs their own country-rock treatment.
Alongside the covers, their original material showed another side of the duo. It was great to hear their own songs performed live and to get a feel for the music they have been creating in Nashville.
For me, that mixture worked really well.
A lovely night out
For me, this was one of those evenings that came together perfectly.
It started with a lovely meal at Loaf. Then Rachel and I headed over to Ystradgynlais Welfare for the concert.
Good company, great music and a packed hall made for a memorable evening.
There was a real sense of community throughout the night. It was also exciting to see an international country act performing right here in Ystradgynlais.
I loved the combination of country, rock, original songs, familiar covers and storytelling. Alexandra and CT brought plenty of personality to the stage. Their enthusiasm was infectious.
Most importantly, we arrived just in time to see them take the stage. I was certainly glad we hadn’t missed anything!
It was a brilliant evening of music. More importantly, it was another lovely reminder that sometimes you don’t have to travel far to discover something special.
Another lovely evening, another great memory – and this time, a little taste of Nashville right here in Ystradgynlais.
A final thought
I went to Ystradgynlais Welfare expecting a fun evening of live music. What I got was even better.
There was great music, plenty of personality and some lovely stories behind the songs. Add Rachel, a good meal at Loaf and a packed hall full of enthusiastic fans, and it made for a pretty perfect Thursday evening.
Nashville met Ystradgynlais – and I think they got on rather well!
Find out more about Willow Hill
You can find out more about Willow Hill, their music and their upcoming performances through their official channels:
Official website:
Willow Hill Music
Facebook:
Willow Hill on Facebook
Instagram:
Willow Hill on Instagram
Location
Address: Brecon Rd, Ystradgynlais, Swansea SA9 1JJ