PEMBROKESHIRE Old Time are about to kick off the season with another amazing international act at Llangwm as Vera van Heeringen returns, joined by two USA musicians: Travis Stuart and Deb Shebish.

Last autumn Vera performed a sellout show, and this year’s event, on September 10, promises to be very lively, with lots of great tunes and songs along with some tales from Western North Carolina. Tickets are priced at £14.

“I do hope that you are able to join us for fun and frolics at St Jerome’s church, in Llangwm village,” said Jackie, Pembrokeshire Old Time.

“I have had to raise the ticket price to accommodate paying a fair wage to the artists. If this might inhibit you from a meal or bill and prevent you from attending, please do get in touch and I am sure we can find a way to help you out. The aim of these music evenings is to bring everyone together to share the music; children are also welcome - under 16s at half price.”

Originally from The Netherlands, Vera is firmly rooted in transatlantic traditions. Her emotionally astute songwriting is underpinned with an understated rich instrumental craft on guitar and mandolin. In September 2019, Vera released her third album, Won’t Be Broken, receiving rave reviews and described by the press as her best recording yet. Her songs are poignant and personal, heartbreaking and uplifting, her playing stripped back, potent, and full of groove.

Bethel native and Haywood County resident Travis Stuart is a seasoned banjo player performing old time music rooted in Western North Carolina. Playing his great-uncle Austin Stamley’s banjo, Stuart has mastered a local old time style and shares it around the United States and Europe, touring and recording alongside his twin brother, Trevor. As far as his music takes him, Stuart remembers to bring it on home, working to preserve and pass down Western North Carolina’s old time music to the next generation through teaching and mentoring. Travis Stuart is the recipient of the 2023 North Carolina Arts Council Folklife Apprenticeship as a mentor on Haywood County Old-Time music repertoire to Deb Shebish and was awarded the 2019 South Arts Folk & Traditional Arts Master Artist Fellowship.

Deb is a dynamic, nuanced, and versatile fiddler. Her playing conveys a distinctive style with an effortless mastery and infectious joy. Deb fell in love with Old-Time and Irish fiddling in Bloomington, Indiana in 1998 and was greatly influenced by the musicians she met there. In 2000, she met Joe Dawson, (1928-2012), an old-time fiddler from south-central Indiana who grew up deeply immersed in the traditional music of the area. She loves to share his unique style and repertoire that she learned at Joe’s weekly living room jams. Deb has performed internationally at venues including Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, the United States Air Force Academy, Ireland Tall Ships Festival, Bangor, Maine's Celtic Crossroads Festival, and the Leith Folk Club in Scotland.

Experience the music of Travis Stuart, Deb Shebish and Vera van Heeringen at St Jerome’s Church, The Green, Llangwm, on Wednesday, September 10. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30 start.

For more details and tickets, email [email protected] or call 07496 698724.