THERE is a chance to hear a legendary folk artist perform live and reminisce about his illustrious career in Ystradgynlais later this week.

Martin Carthy will be bringing an evening of music and conversation to The Welfare, Ystradgynlais on Sunday, December 3.

He will be bringing along friend Jon Wilks, a talented musician and journalist at TradFolk.

Jon Wilks said: “This man isn’t just storied, he’s made of stories, whether they’re from a life lived in the service of traditional folk song, or the songs themselves.”

Martin Carthy is turning 82 and is a consummate storyteller, singer, guitarist and oral historian who is renowned for his settings of traditional songs and his authoritative interpretations of newly composed material.

He was a key player in the English folk revival and created trailblazing musical partnerships with the likes of Steeleye Span, Dave Swarbrick, his legendary and much-missed wife Norma Waterson, and his talented daughter Eliza Carthy. He has released more than 40 albums in total, although has only recorded 10 solo albums. But he has one more in the pipeline which will see him revisit previously recorded material which has evolved over the years to sit more naturally within Martin’s canon of songs.

During the evening, there will be musical performances from Martin as well as insights into all manner of subjects from Scarborough Fair to the Beastie Boys, with Jon bringing it all together as host.

There will also be a chance for the audience to ask questions.

Jon continued: “My role is to ask the questions and keep the conversation on track. After all, how do you fit 63 years of professional musicianship into just under two hours and still have room for a few songs?

“I’ve realised, too, that I’m here to try and keep these tales spry. With a glint in his eye, he’ll take you back to the winter of 62/63, where we find him tempting Bob Dylan into messing around with a samurai sword in a London flat; to the mid-60s, sat in a hotel room chatting with John and Paul (surnames not required); to the early 2000s, as Paul Simon invites Martin onstage in Hammersmith to perform Scarborough Fair and reignite an old friendship.

“In truth, the more we discuss the tour, the more we realise that the impromptu nature of the conversation, and the way in which songs from his vast repertoire keep jumping out of the woodwork, will be the fairy dust. There’s just so much to talk about.”

The evening with Martin Carthy will be at The Welfare, Ystradgynlais on Sunday, December 3. Tickets are priced in a tiered structure and can be bought in person, by visiting www.thewelfare.co.uk or by calling 01639 843163.