Meic Stevens

Meic Stevens (born 13 March 1942) is a Welsh singer-songwriter. He has been one of the most prominent figures in the Welsh music scene for over five decades, and played a key role in establishing the popular music scene in Wales. He is described by some as "the Welsh Bob Dylan" and has also been compared favorably with musicians such as Syd Barrett. Stevens's songs are mostly sung in his native Welsh language and have a mystical, faintly psychedelic flavour. His work has influenced groups such as Gorky's Zygotic Mynci and Super Furry Animals. He is largely unknown outside Wales.

Early life Louis Michael James Stevens was born on 13 March 1942 in Solva, Pembrokeshire in west Wales,

Career He was discovered by DJ Jimmy Savile, who saw him performing in a Manchester folk club in 1965. This led to Stevens recording his first single as Mike Stevens, "Did I Dream" / "I Saw a Field" for Decca Records. It was arranged by John Paul Jones but was not a success. However, in 2019 he was back living in Cardiff.

Today Stevens' psych-folk influence can be heard in contemporary Welsh groups such as Super Furry Animals and Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, and his song "Cwm y Pren Helyg" was covered by Alun Tan Lan. Several CDs of his are available from the Sain label in Caernarfon, and two volumes of his classic 1960s EPs have recently appeared on Sunbeam Records.

Stevens can be found occasionally singing in certain pubs/hotels in Aberystwyth. He can also be seen performing regularly throughout Wales and England at major festivals, eisteddfodau, pubs, theatres etc. He performs periodically in France, mainly Brittany where he is popular.

Albums Outlander (1970, Warner Bros) Gwymon (Wren, 1972) Gog (1977, Sain 1065M) Caneuon Cynnar (1979, Tic Toc TTL001) Nos Du, Nos Da (1982, Sain 82) Gitâr yn y Twll dan Stâr (Sain, 1983) Lapis Lazuli (Sain, 1985 Sain 1312M) Gwin a Mwg a Merched Drwg (Sain, 1987) Bywyd ac Angau/Life And Death (Fflach, 1989) Ware’n Noeth – Bibopalwla’r Delyn Aur (1991, Sain SCD 4088) Er Cof am Blant y Cwm (1993, Crai CD036) Y Baledi – Dim ond Cysgodion (1992, Sain SCD 2001) Voodoo Blues (1993? Bluetit Records MS1) Yn Fyw (1995, Sain) Ghost Town (1997, Tenth Planet TP028) Mihangel (1998, Crai CD059) Ysbryd Solva (2002, Sain SCD 2364) September 1965: The Tony Pike Session (2002, Tenth Planet TP056) Disgwyl Rhywbeth Gwell i Ddod (2002 Sain SCD 2345) Outlander (2003, Rhino Handmade RHM2 7839 re-release) Meic a'r Gerddorfa (2005, Sain SCD 2499) Rain In The Leaves: The EPs vol. 1 (2006, Sunbeam SBRCD5021) Sackcloth & Ashes: The EPs vol. 2 (2007, Sunbeam SBRCD5033) Icarws (2007, Sain 2516) An Evening With Meic Stevens: Recorded Live In London (2007, Sunbeam SBRCD5039) Gwymon (2008, Sunbeam SBRCD5046) Love Songs (2010)

Books Stevens has written three volumes of autobiography: Hunangofiant y Brawd Houdini, 2003, Gwasg Gwynedd, Y Crwydryn a Mi, 2009, Y Lolfa, Mâs o 'Mâ, 2011, Y Lolfa,

He has also co-authored a book of some of his songs with the journalist Lyn Ebenezer: I Adrodd yr Hanes: 51 O Ganeuon Meic Stevens Gyda Cherddoriaeth, Meic Stevens a Lyn Ebenezer, 1993, Gwasg Carreg Gwalch,