Nos Lowen – A sound man’s perspective

Happy Twelfth Night (Degol Stul) Celebrations to you all! Usually this celebration involves many bands playing for a night of dancing, fun and mayhem, but for now we are bound to celebrate from the comfort of our homes, on the internet.

My relationship with this whole Nos Lowen scene (Cornish Music & Dance -‘Happy Night’) started some while back in 2002 or so I am reminded, with my first ever gig with Cornish Music and Dance. I hadn’t gigged much with live sound before that, with my college training in music production, but having met Dalla at an Xmas gig in Redruth and felt really inspired to work with them, agreed to their request to mix the sound at my first Degol Stul. This was however, no simple feat. The gig involved 12 bands back to back over an extended period, with very little changeover time between bands. It is fair to say I was ‘head down’ for over 12 hours that day. I used up so much concentration and effort at that event that the next day, I only saw 5 hours or so awake before needing more sleep again! The intensity of this role for me was so much that the promoters dubbed it ‘A Baptism of Fire’.

I caught Nos Lowen at its infancy, with Dalla having just released their first album ‘A Richer Vein’ and CUMPAS (Cornish Music Projects) starting their project at the time ‘Kick up your heels’ and have been involved ever since. Gigs with Dalla and CUMPAS have taken me all throughout Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and a handful of tours outside of Cornwall. Taking in gigs at the Eden Project, Carnglaze Caverns, Scilly Folk Festival and even on the King Harry Ferry! The wonderful and inspiring promoter CUMPAS aided and supported my willingness to learn about Cornwall and it’s rich cultural heritage. This has kept me in good stead to this day, when working with music and cultures from around the world.

Nos lowen itself and those who’ve been at the forefront of its development have positively focussed their efforts on establishing the scene here in Cornwall, working hard to encourage new and young musicians to play and write music in it’s likeness. Establishing and feeding the roots of Nos Lowen in Cornwall looks to have paid off, with many bands over the years, taking up and progressing not only the music and dance, but it’s language, stories and its cultural identity. Building and supporting this root, allows a great platform for future Cornish cultural projects to reach the rest of the world.

The technical aspect of the job as sound guy has not necessarily changed, but throughout the years the gear I use has become more hi tech, allowing a much greater capacity when approaching gigs. How ever did we get by scribbling down bands settings on scraps of paper during sound check in dim light, where nowadays, bands scenes can be saved and swapped at the touch of a button.

Throughout the years, meeting and chatting to the people involved in Cornish music & dance I have made many good associates and friends, recorded and mixed some great bands and generally have been a part of something bigger than myself. So much thanks is due to those involved who have encouraged me along the way, from newbie sound guy to experienced professional. I carry this depth of gratitude and will constantly carry the flag of Cornish Music & Dance and advocate all things Cornish wherever I go.

Our current leading light and promoter Big Nos is now championing where CUMPAS left off, with the Degol Stul, Golroos and many other events and educational material springing forth. Because of groups like Big Nos, Choirs, theatre companies and the like almost always have a slice of something Cornish in, whether a familiar tune, dance or saying. All those underpinning this celebration of identity, I say ‘Proper Job!’ to you and long may it continue.

Many thanks to Big Nos for this ‘Virtual Big Nos’ event and for all the good work it has and will be putting into the Cornish Music & Dance scene. Meur Ras Big Nos!!

Brendan McGreal

Sound Engineer
Cornish Underground