The Gentle Good: PPL Momentum Music Fund
Elan
The Gentle Good is the stage name of Cardiff-based musician Gareth Bonello. Known for his enchanting melodies, intricate guitar style and striking acoustic arrangements, Gareth is one of the foremost songwriters in Wales today. Writing in both Welsh and English, he has released a string of highly acclaimed records, including ‘Y Bardd Anfarwol’ and ‘Ruins/Adfeilion’, which won the Welsh Music Prize in 2017. The latest album ‘Galargan’ is a stripped-back exploration of traditional Welsh folk song that has received rave reviews, including a rare 5 stars from The Guardian, where it was listed in the top 5 folk albums of 2023.
In October 2021 Gareth was awarded a year-long residency with the Elan Valley Trust in Cwm Elan, an area flooded at the start of the 20th century by a series of dams to provide water for the city of Birmingham. Whilst staying at a remote cottage above Penygarreg Dam, Gareth was inspired to write his latest album ‘Elan’, an exploration of modern Welsh identity through the landscape, history and potent symbolism of the valley. Experimenting with a larger band and a bigger sound, ‘Elan’ will bring a dose of psychedelic rock to The Gentle Goods’ signature folk sound. This award will support the completion of that album by bringing a range of great musicians and top string-arranger Seb Goldfinch to Frank Naughton’s studio. It’ll pay for a marketing campaign and the development of a new live show to help bring The Gentle Good to bigger stages and larger audiences.