BBC radio presenter Huw Stephens is the new boy on the Other Voices presenting team. He talks to Alan Corr about joining the team down in Dingle.
The last time Huw Stephens was in Dingle he was ten years old and he was on his way to the Blasket Islands. However, disaster stuck when he and his travelling companions ran out of money and couldn’t afford the ferry.
”I had spent all our money on ice cream,” says the personable BBC Radio presenter. “But I’m extremely lucky to be making my return visit to Dingle for Other Voices because it’s a world renowned festival that everybody talks about.”
Starting tonight, 33-year-old Huw who hails from Cardiff will be joining established host Aiden Gillen to present the music weekender which is now in its 13th year and has grown into an event which doesn’t just cross musical borders but geographical ones as well with shows in Derry and London.
Huw outside St James Church in Dingle
Stephens is the right man to help guard the OV flame. He became the youngest ever BBC Radio 1 presenter in 1999 when he joined as the station's new regional output team and went on to become one of the replacements for the late John Peel as part of Radio 1's One Music strand.
He currently presents the 10.00pm to 1.00am slot on the station and his appetite for music is wide-ranging and with a line-up that includes Damien Rice, Wild Beasts, local heroes Delorentos, Young Fathers, and King Creosote.
We grabbed a few minutes with Huw before the show gets underway tonight in St James Church in Dingle.
So Huw, What’s Other Voices in Welsh?
“Lleisiau Arall. Will I be using any Welsh on Other Voices? Possibly - it is my first language.”
What is your job down in Dingle for Other Voices?
“Well I’m going to be enjoying the music. It’s my first time at Other Voices and I’ll be interviewing some of the artists who will be playing including Damien Rice, which I’m very excited about. I’ll be interviewing and presenting.”
Were you familiar with Other Voices before you became involved?
“Yes I was. I’ve heard about Other Voices so much over the years from the artists, from Annie Mac and various sources. I’ve seen the Amy Winehouse Comes to Dingle programme and I first came to Dingle when I was ten years old on a visit. We were trying to travel to the Blasket Islands but we didn’t make it that far because, apparently, I had spent all our money on ice cream. I’m extremely lucky to be making my return visit to Dingle for Other Voices because it’s a world renowned festival that everybody talks about.”
How would you describe the overall atmosphere and vibe of the show?
“From what I understand, it’s a very chilled community-based experience, everybody’s there to hear musicians from all over the world and to hear their stories. I’m so excited to experience it because I know Dingle is small but I also know the music down there is world class and that’s just a brilliant combination and I’ve heard that everybody in Dingle is super-friendly. I’m really looking forward to experiencing it.”
Is there a Welsh equivalent to Other Voices?
“I don’t know really. We have the Brecon Jazz Festival, Brecon is a small place but not as small as Dingle. Wales does have a lot of small community based festivals but they’re not, I think, on the same scale as Other Voices. It attracts musicians from all over the world and they make the journey to Dingle because of its reputation. It really is a unique festival and there’s not many of those left now.”
Do you think you will be canvassing to have more Welsh artists on the show in future years?
“Of course! Hahaha. The campaign begins here! There are a lot of great Welsh artists at the moment Georgia Ruth? She plays the harp and she won the Welsh Music Prize last year and there’s Euros Childs who has a new album out and he’s fantastic. There’s a lot of new Welsh folk music coming through. There’s a band called 9 Bach and they have beautiful voices as well. I’m excited about seeing Young Fathers in Dingle. They are so blistering live. The Manic Street Preachers in Dingle would be great and I’m sure they’d be up for it.”
Other Voices will be broadcast on RTÉ 2 early in 2015.
