about

and these are the humble makers of small nations

last update:11/03/2008

Aled Evans

Aled joined us in 2006 and despite being thrown in at the deep end during the following festival he ran with all he had and did a fantastic job (and sat through all the crazy comedians). He has since taken over the role of Trader Manager for 2008 and will be responsible for bringing us all the tasty treats and wholesome delights to keep our batteries topped up and purring this summer.

Allison Scott

Once a light hearted festival goer, Allison was pulled into the Small Nations family after offering some advice on organising better children's activities. Her offer was duly accepted and she was appointed the Children's Activities Manager (we're not quite sure if that's what she expected). From there she graduated to Board member and now paid administrator. She is more fondly known as the bing-bong woman and is the one responsible for waking you at 8am to tell you the first mini-bus of the day is leaving. So hi-de-hi campers and ho-de-ho Allison.

“...only seen three live bands in three festivals and always the first up on sunday morning!”

Deniz Somer

We need to start with this website - the tool that you are using to explore the world of Small Nations, which is all down to Deniz and his late evenings, weekends and every spare minute in between. After stewarding for a few years, he joined the Committee, helped build our green spaces of 2007 (which become brown after the little patter of rain) and is this year graduating as the Fire Master for all your fire circle needs.

Dick Turner

This is how he sums it up..."Booking agency runs out of money so starts a festival instead". This is what we say... Dick is the founder of this festival - without his determination (and initial funding) we wouldn't exist. He came up with the idea of bringing world music to rural Wales, found the site in Cilycwm and carved the 'S' in Small Nations history (not forgetting Thelma's help from the start). He then opened the doors to willing hands and inspired minds who are continuing to nurture the rest of the festival into what it is today and what it may become in the future.

“This baby of mine struggled to survive its first 2 years, but with a fantastic nursing team it's now strong and healthy. Sometimes - like when it rains all day - I hate it, but I'm so proud of the joy we are able to bring to our regulars, and when the sun comes out and everyone is happy - it's the best!”

Gaynor Jones

Gaynor joined the team several years ago after being inspired/bewitched as a festival goer. With a background in media, she has proved vital in getting the name and fame of Small Nations known, especially amongst the Welsh speaking crowds (through her endless hours of translation, including the welsh half of this site). She also has a great ear for good music and can be thanked for bringing many fantastic acts to the stage and many more..

Helen Adam

Helen is one of our most recent recruits but certainly not a slow starter. In less than 10 months, Helen has been a main player in organising the Alternative St David's Day event which is a collaboration between Small Nations and Lampeter Student Union. She is also organising all the workshops at the the 2008 festival, from laughter workshops to drum circles, and will is taking to the stage during the weekend being a talented musician and composer as well.

“I am a working Welsh musician, who loves this festival for its exciting mix of local and international acts.I bring the ability to keep on fiddling and smiling in either sunshine or mud!”

Huw Garan

For many years we all thought that Dick had an amazing ability to translate anything into Welsh and at the drop of a hat. Turns out, there was a man called Huw doing it all along! Since coming out from behind his computer, Huw has joined the committee with full force. Last year, he proved his ability to stay up all night and work all day as a right hand man to everyone.

Jason Haynes

The true original Welsh man of Small Nations who started as a steward, sitting on the car park fence, directing all the cars into the first festival (there were approximately 60 of them all weekend). Since then he has taken on many roles and set many standards that helped the festival become what it is today. His claim to fame is being the ingenious writer of the toilet-time poems and never again will we mix our rubbish with our recycling!

Julia Deli

This is the lady responsible for making the festival look beautiful. And from a cow shed, that is knee deep in muck in Jan she has a pretty hard job. But with a team of dedicated artists, clever with their hands and a tight budget, they do a fantastic job. With an amazing range of hand-made flags, banners, drapes and sculptures, Julia and the Decorating Team make the site the inspiring place it is (PS keep your eye out for the chalk boards, never mind the header and footer of this page).

Karen & Andy

They are the team that has put Small Nations on the big screen (well it is a big screen if you have a plasma, flat screen telly). Last year they recorded the festival, highlighting several of our big bands, with the best spot but unable to dance, now that's a hard job. More than this, they have offered us their wealth of experience in training (and their beautiful guest home in Cilycwm available for rent) to become a tighter, more cohesive group for everyone's benefit. This year they are putting down the cameras to help run the site and the stewards over the weekend.

Kari Alice Lucas

Stuck for something to do, Kari heard about Small Nations in the cold, dark, boring winter of 2002 and set about registering as a Steward. The reply was 'Oh I forgot we need them, of course you can' and that was that. Since then she has taken on almost any job that is going including lighting the porta-loos with beautiful candles (accidentally burning a hole in the back of each one). Forever on the go and always with a smile, she is an example of how you can graduate from steward to Festival Chair, so if you are out there and interested, it could be you next...

Kirsty, Sam & David Stirrup

Part of the site decoration team, Kirsty and David worked like trojans last year to brighten up the site with outdoor constructions and fine art drapes, as well as bringing positivity and humour

“ (small nations) is a great family friendly festival with wonderful music. The whole festival atmosphere is great. We really enjoyed working as part of the site decoration crew and being involved. ”

K & D

“Some of the music was a bit loud but I enjoyed helping the stewards and I'm looking forward to this year.”

Mair and Tegwyn

These two are unbelievable. Every year, they let 2000 weird and wonderful people stay on their, usually idyllic and peaceful farm for an entire weekend. Despite both being retired they both have more energy and enthusiasm for the festival than many of the weekend party goers. In true farming style, they are up with the lark each morning and quite often you will still see Tegwyn locking up at 4am before retiring to his bed. What is most unusual about them is that up until the weekend of the festival, they know nothing about what is going to happen, who is going to play and how many people are going to descend on their farm. Any other person in their position would go on holiday for the weekend and leave us to it, but they take it all in their stride and help out as much as possible. Thanks you from everyone!

Maya Bryden

Maya joined the Small Nations community last year, and her main stage dragons wowed the site! Spending years honing her creative talents in and out of festivals, she always brings a sparkle, and you should catch her eclectic DJ set on saturday! hazymaizy

“ It is a pleasure to be involved with such a melting pot of cultures! ”

Rhys and tribe (Dan, Beth, Bran and Taliesin)

Rhys has never made a committee meeting, which is due to his love of the Green Goddesses which wouldn't get him from home in back in a week, never mind in time for dinner. Alas, what he misses in the year, he makes up for in the first five minutes at the Festival. Stalwart has to be the best single word to sum him up. As for the kids (the ones running round in the fluorescent jackets), they could run the festival with their eyes shut, but don't, to make us feel like we have purpose. They are the future - and my goodness, knowing their eternal energy it will be one non-stop party.

Ruth Exell Stevenson

As one of the founders and Artistic Director of Pontardawe festival, Ruth was one of the original committee members, and has been an invaluable source of expertise from the beginning. From day one on the Cilycwm site, Ruth has powered the main stage with her energy, enthusiasm and not forgetting the fun and frolics in backstage.

“(small nations) means being part of a festival family, we work, we enjoy, we laugh, we cry; but, hey, it's great!”

Thelma Stenning

Let's start with the fact that she hates festivals (unless it was a footballing one) but we all have to agree that without Thelma there wouldn't be a Small Nations, or certainly not a legal one. She has done the majority of the paper work, contracting, finances, spreadsheets and anything else that needs to be filled out, filed or organised.

And we are grateful to...

our stewards...

We have many faces that pass through each year, making their mark and leaving us in fits of giggles. There are also many that have stayed with us for year after year and prove to be indispensable. Rob F, Boyd, Rob, Nicola, Scott, Emma, Tofty, Chris, Laura, Rach, Adam, John, Imogen and of course the beautiful bar girls. All the people that work on and behind the stages.

our neighbours...

We are especially lucky in our neighbours Will Theophilus, Dafydd Tomos and Aled Edwards. They all run large farms but find time to do lots of other things too. Aled is a semi-professional opera singer AND an internationally known breeder of Limousin cattle. In 2006 he took a group of festival goers round the farm to give them a close up view of some of his collosal bulls. Dafydd is chairman of the local community council and with his wife Meryl is very active in local events. Will is our official photographer. We owe Will and Dafydd a huge debt for the help they gave us last year in towing vehicles through the mud.

our comperes...

Our main compere, John (Gog) Williams had the distinction in our early years of attracting more complaints than any other aspect of the festival - outrageous remarks, excentric behaviour, you name it. Since then we've managed to tame him just a little, and his Welsh kilt, strident Welsh nationalism, great sense of fun, and great love of music have helped give the festival an edge. Behind the scenes he has been a constant encouragement, and always lends us his big caravan "Y Ponderosa" for our dressing room, and his patio set for those back-stage parties. Chris (Warwick) made a poignant start as our Oak Tree stage compere last year, expect more from him in the years to come..

and...

Emrys, Paul and Tom for their photos, Andreas Viklund for his website template, Andrew Mabbutt for his web wisdom and advice, and Websites Network for the space they have provided for testing this site.

Without you all we would be at a loss. Thank you all so much!!!