Biography
Born on 24 December 1961 in Llanerfyl, Powys, Wales, Siân James first appeared before an audience at the age of four when she was placed on the stage during a local musical competition. Piano lessons began at six, and by eleven she had taken up the harp. At sixteen she joined a harp trio that toured music and Welsh societies across England and Wales. She later pursued a music degree at Bangor University in North Wales, during which time she started performing widely as both singer and harpist.
On 14 March 1981 the group Bwchadanas was assembled at the same university. Its original acoustic configuration comprised James alongside Geraint Cynan (b. 20 June 1961, Treorci, Rhondda, Mid-Glamorgan, Wales; piano), Rhys Harries (b. 6 January 1962, Newbridge, Gwent, Wales; guitar), Gareth Ioan (b. 19 September 1961, Aberynolwyn, Gwynedd, Wales; pipes), Lilio Rolant (b. 3 May 1962, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales; harp) and Rhodri Tomas (b. 15 April 1962, Llanelli, Dyfed, Wales; guitar). The last two members departed in 1986.
Constant live work brought three consecutive wins as Best Welsh Folk Band in 1983, 1984 and 1985. The Sain Records album Cariad Cywir broadened their reach, prompting a shift to an electric format that incorporated Marc Jones on bass (subsequently replaced by Ray Jones, b. 11 October 1951, London, England), Meredydd Morris on guitar and Owen Huws on drums. Additional contributors over time have included drummers Gwyn Jones, Graham Land and Charlie Britten together with Dafydd Dafis on soprano and alto saxophone.
In 1985 Bwchadanas represented Wales at the Pan-Celtic Festival in Killarney, Eire, where it claimed first place in the folk-song contest. The band also opened for Moving Hearts that year and shared a single bill with Runrig in 1987. Individual schedules have since restricted performances to a few dates annually, yet extensive television exposure has kept the group among Wales’s leading folk-rock acts.
Siân James has meanwhile maintained an independent touring schedule through Ireland, Scotland, Brittany and America. Her 1990 Sain release Cysgodion Karma drew notable attention. She has also appeared in a smaller configuration with Tich Gwilym (b. 10 September 1950, Pen y graig, Rhondda, South Wales; guitar/charango) and Geraint Cynan on keyboards, contributing harp and vocals herself. She continues to interpret both traditional and contemporary Welsh folk material while serving as Bwchadanas’s lead singer.
On 14 March 1981 the group Bwchadanas was assembled at the same university. Its original acoustic configuration comprised James alongside Geraint Cynan (b. 20 June 1961, Treorci, Rhondda, Mid-Glamorgan, Wales; piano), Rhys Harries (b. 6 January 1962, Newbridge, Gwent, Wales; guitar), Gareth Ioan (b. 19 September 1961, Aberynolwyn, Gwynedd, Wales; pipes), Lilio Rolant (b. 3 May 1962, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales; harp) and Rhodri Tomas (b. 15 April 1962, Llanelli, Dyfed, Wales; guitar). The last two members departed in 1986.
Constant live work brought three consecutive wins as Best Welsh Folk Band in 1983, 1984 and 1985. The Sain Records album Cariad Cywir broadened their reach, prompting a shift to an electric format that incorporated Marc Jones on bass (subsequently replaced by Ray Jones, b. 11 October 1951, London, England), Meredydd Morris on guitar and Owen Huws on drums. Additional contributors over time have included drummers Gwyn Jones, Graham Land and Charlie Britten together with Dafydd Dafis on soprano and alto saxophone.
In 1985 Bwchadanas represented Wales at the Pan-Celtic Festival in Killarney, Eire, where it claimed first place in the folk-song contest. The band also opened for Moving Hearts that year and shared a single bill with Runrig in 1987. Individual schedules have since restricted performances to a few dates annually, yet extensive television exposure has kept the group among Wales’s leading folk-rock acts.
Siân James has meanwhile maintained an independent touring schedule through Ireland, Scotland, Brittany and America. Her 1990 Sain release Cysgodion Karma drew notable attention. She has also appeared in a smaller configuration with Tich Gwilym (b. 10 September 1950, Pen y graig, Rhondda, South Wales; guitar/charango) and Geraint Cynan on keyboards, contributing harp and vocals herself. She continues to interpret both traditional and contemporary Welsh folk material while serving as Bwchadanas’s lead singer.
Albums