Bridget St John

Bridget St John is one of the most distinctive and influential voices to emerge from the British folk revival. Discovered by John Peel in the late 1960s, she was signed to Dandelion Records, the label founded by Peel, and went on to release two critically revered albums, Ask Me No Questions (1969) and Songs for the Gentle Man (1971). Her music — marked by intimate vocals, intricate guitar work and poetic lyricism — has since become cult listening, widely regarded as ahead of its time. A singer-songwriter and guitarist who credits John Martyn and Michael Chapman as two of her “musical brothers” and mentors, St John toured with other folk and pop luminaries of the time, among them Nick Drake, David Bowie, and Fairport Convention. Bridget relocated to New York in 1976 and was lost to UK audiences for some time. Reissues of her work in recent years have only enhanced her reputation and she has also started to tour Britain again in recent years. Celebrated not only as a pioneering figure of British folk, but as a timeless songwriter whose work resonates across eras, Bridget St John’s live appearances offer audiences the chance to experience an artist of remarkable subtlety and integrity. Her visit to The Pound gives us a rare chance to witness a vital artist at the height of her powers.

Plus support from The Gentle Good

The Gentle Good is the moniker of Cardiff-based musician and songwriter Gareth Bonello. Gareth is known for his enchanting melodies, intricate guitar style and beautiful acoustic arrangements. As a former winner of both the Welsh Language Album of the Year and the Welsh Music Prize, Gareth has long been a prominent musician on the Welsh music scene.

The Gentle Good’s latest album ‘Elan’ is a psychedelic portrait of the Elan Valley in Powys, Wales. It was written during a year-long residency in the Cambrian Mountains and explores the landscape, history and politics of the valley, which was flooded at the end of the Victorian era to create a series of reservoirs for drinking water. The album features a full band, synths and strings and draws on folk-rock, psych and pop influences to invoke the dramatic landscapes of Elan.

A captivating performer, Gareth has performed all over the world, from the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC to the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing. He has toured extensively in the UK, performing at prominent festivals such as Glastonbury, The Green Man, Latitude and Cambridge Folk. His recent works include the solo guitar and vocal album Galargan, a stripped-back exploration of Welsh folk song that garnered a rare 5* review in the Guardian.

In recent years Gareth has become a highly regarded musical collaborator, having worked extensively with artists from China and India. His award winning album Y Bardd Anfarwol (2013) broke new ground with its unique combination of Welsh-language storyteling and Chinese traditional music. He is a founder member of the acclaimed Khasi-Cymru Collective with artists from the indigenous Khasi communities of Northeast India. Closer to home, in 2025 Gareth worked with the Welsh National Opera and the UK fishing community to compose new classical pieces for the Sea Interludes project.