VRï are Jordan Price Williams (cello, voice), Aneirin Jones (violin, voice), and Patrick Rimes (viola, violin, voice), three young men from deepest, darkest, chapel-going Wales who have mined the cultural upheaval of past centuries and drawn inspiration from the incredible story of a time when Wales’ traditional music and dance was suppressed by Methodist chapels, and, earlier, its language by the Act of Union. As audio archaeologists, VRï have unearthed long-lost nuggets that shed a new light on a vibrant folk tradition that harnesses the raw energy of the fiddle with the finesse of the violin, the beauty of chamber music with the joy and hedonism of a pub session. Their songs, sung with powerful vocal harmonies, tell stories of the people who struggled 200 years ago, just as many struggle today. It’s a wonderful and unique soundscape that connects across the centuries to give us a sense of belonging, of community, and a magical feeling of weightlessness and uplifting freedom.

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Tri gŵr ifanc o berfeddion Cymru, gyda’i hanes hirfaith o fynychu’r capel yw VRï , sydd wedi mynd ati i gloddio i gynnwrf diwylliannol y canrifoedd diwethaf ac wedi cael eu hysbrydoli gan stori anhygoel cyfnod pan gafodd cerddoriaeth a dawns draddodiadol Cymru eu llethu gan gapeli’r Methodistiaid, ac, yn gynharach, ei hiaith gan y Ddeddf Uno. Fel archaeolegwyr sain, mae VRï wedi darganfod perlau hirgolledig sy’n taflu goleuni newydd ar draddodiad gwerin bywiog sy’n harneisio egni amrwd y ffidil gyda cheinder y feiolin, harddwch cerddoriaeth siambr gyda llawenydd a phleserau sesiwn dafarn. Mae eu caneuon, a genir gyda harmonïau lleisiol pwerus, yn adrodd straeon am y bobl oedd yn brwydro 200 mlynedd yn ôl, yn yr un modd ag y mae llawer yn brwydro heddiw. Mae’n seinwedd hyfryd ac unigryw sy’n cysylltu ar draws y canrifoedd i roi ymdeimlad o berthyn, o gymuned i ni, a theimlad hudolus o ddiffyg pwysau a rhyddid dyrchafol.