Meic Stevens is a Welsh singer-songwriter from Solva, Pembrokeshire, born in 1942. He is often described as “the Welsh Dylan” and is associated with folk, folk rock, celtic and rock music, with a strong psych-folk influence.

Career

Stevens is one of the first artists to record for Wales’ first independent record company, Sain. He writes most of the lyrics and music on his albums, and is known as a guitarist who performs both solo and with a band. He is signed to Warner Brothers, although little recording appears to have taken place there.

He sings mostly in Welsh, and his only English-language album is Outlander from 1970. His early Welsh songs include Tryweryn, about the flooding of a Welsh village to supply water to Liverpool, and Merch o’r Ffatri Wlan (“Girl from the wool factory”), both of which are regarded as classic songs.

Influence and reputation

Stevens is regarded as a significant figure in Welsh music and is described as something of a national hero in Wales. His psych-folk style influences later Welsh groups including Super Furry Animals and Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci. He is respected among Welsh musicians and has Welsh-language releases available on the Sain label in Caernarfon.

Performing

He performs regularly in Wales and England at festivals, eisteddfodau, pubs and theatres, and also appears in France, especially in Brittany. His live work includes occasional late-night singing in pubs and hotels in Aberystwyth.

Associated acts

He is associated with Bara Menyn and Meic Stevens a'r Band.