LEADING folk musician Jon Boden is appearing at Theatr Brycheiniog in Brecon next month as the first date on his 2018 UK tour.

Jon is the former lead singer and arranger of legendary 10-piece folk band Bellowhead, who decided to go their separate ways in May 2016 after playing their final gig at Oxford Town Hall.

Boden has become woven into the fabric of the British folk scene, having established his name first as one half of Spiers and and then through his role as frontman for Bellowhead, one of the English folk scene’s most successful bands. Boden, whose key instruments are the guitar and the fiddle, has been described by The Observer’s music reviewer as producing music in the style of “[Peter] Gabriel-era Genesis with a dash of [Kate] Bush and [David] Bowie”.

His critically acclaimed solo album ‘Afterglow’, released by Hudson Records in October last year, has attracted considerable media attention, including a BBC Radio 2 playlisting for the first single ‘All The Stars Are Coming Out Tonight’.

For the first dates of the tour, including his opening gig in Brecon, Jon will be performing stripped-back solo versions of songs from ‘Afterglow’ and other songs from his back catalogue.

For the second set of dates, Jon will be joined by 11-piece band The Remnant Kings. The band features some familiar names: fellow Bellowheaders Sam Sweeney and Paul Sartin along with Leveret’s Rob Harbron and Ben Nicholls and Richard Warren from Kings of The South Seas also joins the line-up. Not to forget the ‘Remnant Strings’ and the brass section.

In these shows ‘Afterglow’ is played in its entirety with the live shows accentuated by ambitious lighting and an incredible full band sound. It’s a sign that Jon is now venturing into a more mainstream sound, although the folk music roots are still very evident.

The Independent has eulogised about how his “springy fingerpicking and rolling drums convey the thrill of an anarchic street celebration”.

Jon Boden is appearing at Theatr Brycheiniog on Tuesday, April 17. To book tickets call the Theatr box office on 01874 611 622 or visit brycheiniog.co.uk.

For more information about Jon visit his website www.jonboden.com.