Uiscedwr

Uiscedwr is a folk group from the United Kingdom, active since 2002. The name is pronounced “ish-ka-dooer” and means “water” in Irish and Welsh. The group begins as a trio and is originally based in Manchester. Its music draws on British folk, with influences from world music, Celtic music, jazz and European folk music.

Formation and early work

The group forms after Welsh fiddle player and singer Anna Esslemont and Irish bodhrán player Cormac Byrne meet in Manchester in 2002. Byrne invites a friend from Ireland to play guitar, and Esslemont’s younger sister completes the line-up for their entry into the BBC Young Folk Awards, which they win in 2002. Even after that success, the guitarist leaves and Esslemont brings in Ben Hellings, with whom the trio records Everywhere in 2003.

Awards and recordings

Everywhere leads to a nomination for the Horizon Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2005. Shortly before those awards, Hellings leaves and guitarist Kevin Dempsey joins the group, also contributing vocals. In May 2009, the band releases its third album, Fish Cat Door, an 11-track CD whose title acts as a pronunciation aid for the band’s name.

Line-up changes and later activity

In 2005, Esslemont is diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, which forces the band to reduce touring and delay work on a second album. After a successful bone marrow transplant in December 2006, Uiscedwr resumes touring in June 2007. Esslemont and the group also become active in fundraising for the Aplastic Anaemia Trust. Dempsey leaves in December 2007 and is replaced by Shropshire guitarist James Hickman in January 2008. At the start of 2008, the band joins the roster of the folk and acoustic agency Iconic Music. Accordionist Karen Tweed guests with the group during 2008 and early 2009, and in early 2010 Nick Waldock joins the trio, alternating on guitar with Hickman.