Lleuwen Steffan
Lleuwen Steffan is a welsh singer with a wide range of activities as composing for drama, theatre, film, tv and radio as well as writing songs rooted in the Celtic languages of her homelands. In her new project she works on ancient Welsh hymns and sermons which she found in the St Fagans’s Museum in Cardiff.
In the Bolero she presented, together with Nolwenn Korbell and Gethin Elis the results of this project in a remarkable concert. The old hymns and sermons were played from the conserve and Lleuwen began to accompany these tunes carefully first and finally transformed the old tunes into their modern shape. She says “Musically, I’m not interested in recreating something from the past. That’s missing the point. Yes, the words are old but the message is always new.” (Nation.Cymru, 21. January 2024)
It was interesting and lovely in perfect harmony, my favourite concert at this year’s festival.
The pictures of the concert can be found here …
A short impression of what Lleuwen does is here:
Oysters Farewell
Over three decades the Oysterband has been a true companion to theTønder Festival. I have the pleasure to know this band since over 15 years. Thousands of fans have joined the numerius concerts at the festival, I have a very personal memory to another concert in the Alte Kirche Altenesssen.
They Oysterband had chosen to give their last concert at the Tønder Festival, a goog choice. On the Open Air Stage John Jones and his band performed a fine and emotianal concert. Farewell Oysters and hope to meet you again somewhere.
The pictures of the farewell concert of the Oysterband can be found here:
Lyle Lovett - The Grandseigneur from Texas
Hearing a concert of Lyle Lovett will change your life, that said the conferencier for this concert. Even if this my be a bit overturned, a truth is within it. Lovett has the rare ability to transprt his message in beatiful songs as well as in his talks in between, totally relaxed, full of humor and with great inspiration. the great respect he is awarded showed up in Tønder when several artists as Hans Thessink and John Jones followed the concert from the side wing of the stage.
The pictures of the wonderful concert can be found here:
Lyle Lovett and his Acustic Group on the Tønder Open Air Stage ...
Folk Spot
The Scandinavian folk is rich of ideas so as in every year the Folk Spot was an excellent source for good music, good impressions and of nice talks especially in the Folk spot Tent in the evening. The Bands of this years Folk Spot were:
Elias Rønnenfelt (DK) ...
Alain Apoldo ...
Sunbörn (DK) ...
Stemmer i Voks ...
Uld (NO) ...
THORBJØRN RISAGER & THE BLACK TORNADO (DK) ...
Trinelise Væring (DK) ...
VííK (NO/DK) ...
Beside the Festival Program
The Camping Jam Tent
The camping Jam Tent I had described last year and this year it was nice to step in and be welcomend with a hello form severals musicians.
The Camping Team Party
Coming out the Jam Tent I heard a singalong a few houses further. I went there and a man told me that this was the party of the camping site team and it would be closed. After I have told him that I was a fstival photographer and was looking at the camping area as well, he smiled and said "Come in, take some pictures". so my festival began on Tuesday evening. There was a band of four ladies with a piano player, probably all volunteers ot the camping team. And they provided a fine performance for their audience.
Jam in the Musicians Bar
In the musicians bar traditinally many fine jam sessions take place.
The Final Party
On our way home from the Volunteers Party Lotte and I heard more music from one of the houses at the boulevard. The team which provides the service to the musicians had invited to another party ans so we had another jamsession as the final impression of the Tønder Festival 2025.
Photos of the final party are here ...
Bands
The opening was introduced by the Major of Tonder Jørgen Popp Petersen, the Canadian Ambassador Caroly Bennet and the brillant Jesper Henning Pedersen.
All the bands galleries you can find here:
Hans Theessink Band (NL, ZWA, A)
Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy (CAN)
Take Me To The River All-Stars (USA)