Awen!
It’s the mystical power sought by the Bards and Druids, a Welsh word meaning ‘flowing inspiration’. And those who find it are said to have the ability to inspire others…
Awen inspiration is exactly what AWEN The Bardic Band brings to a stage! Using fiery sets of Festival Folk and Mystic Acoustic, through musical storytelling and elements of folklore and myth, we create live Bardic shows, perform at festivals, gigs, gatherings and events and hold regular nature rites with music to celebrate and respect the natural world and mark the passing of the seasons.
Musical Storytellers
We take our inspiration from the medieval Bards, and from what is known of their practices. One of their roles was telling poetic stories which were easy for audiences to understand and remember.
We reboot this skill as catchy folk pop, with narrative lyrics, strong hooks and references from literature, folklore, history, culture, animism and the natural world.
Bards of a Feather
Meet our growing troupe of metaphysically-minded artistes...
MICHAEL SEBASTIEN
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
A wordsmith, presenter, storycrafter, designer, composer, musician and lyricist, Michael makes esoteric concepts easy to grasp through music, humour and metaphor. His experience in deep brand helps him harmonise hundreds of creative elements (and creative people!) into one coherent story.
PETE BROWNBRIDGE
BASS
Pete hails from the North East of England and plays double bass and electric bass, anchoring the band with a percussive solid beat.
His background is in swing and jazz, and also plays acoustic guitar, regularly performing with vocalists in his hometown, Bristol.​
ELIZABETH JARDINE
BARDIC SINGER
Elizabeth is a vocal musician and songwriter who brings melodies and harmonies to The Bardic Band. Drawn to the spirituality and culture of Wales she has lived there for four decades, in that time exploring many esoteric paths and traditions, including over twenty years’ meditation practice.
GINA GRIFFIN
FIDDLE / VOCALS
Gina has been playing the violin since age seven, performing her first rock gig at eleven! Turning pro at eighteen, her career has gifted her with opportunities all around the world, working with a diverse list of bands and brands, from XTC and the Discovery Channel to Nigel Kennedy and Nofit State Circus.
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STEVE E NORTROP
MUSIC MANAGER & PERCUSSION
Steve is trained in theatre and stage management, with extensive experience touring with and managing a professional rock band over the course of a decade. He brings character to an AWEN stage, and comes fully equipped with an ever-expanding collection of percussion...
LUCY SPENCER
FOLKLORE FORAGER
A seeker of strange tales, an explorer of unusual places, Lucy delves into myths, legends, historic buildings and pagan sites! A senior interior designer, she’s keenly aware of the ‘feel’ of a physical space, and runs Feng Shui workshops, teaching about the energetic aspects of built and natural environments.
Our fabulous VIDEO CREW is based in the Midlands and is run by PAUL WITHERS who has worked on many commercial and advertising shoots including projects with Ant & Dec and Channel 4. PAUL ANGIER is Director of Photography and JACK BRICUSSE is our Shoot Technical Manager.
