MWSOG Lead a Psychedelic Rebirth of Welsh Folk with “Chwyldro”
The wild Welsh wanderers MWSOG unveil their much-anticipated debut single “Chwyldro”, released 31st October on BWGiBWGAN - a celebration that binds ancient Cymru to its modern heartbeat, reimagining Welsh folk storytelling for a new generation.
Sonic pilgrims at the altar of ’70s acid folk and mystical trad, MWSOG channel those ancient spirits through a darker, heavier prism. “Chwyldro” (“Revolution”) opens like a galloping spell - drums and harmonium lock into a primal rhythm as harmonised voices rise like smoke over standing stones. The result is acid-folk meets ritualistic rock, where the spectral beauty of Bert Jansch collides with the storm-laden power of Black Sabbath, fronted by the elemental voice of Mari Mathias, whose vocals summon something raw, ancient, and otherworldly.
Mari reflects, “MWSOG allows me to embody the teachings of the Mabinogi, ancient voices so old we can no longer trace their source. Perhaps they walk among us still, or linger in the ivy and moss that find life in impossible places, pressing through concrete and stone. Much of what we write follows these quiet threads - the weaving of nature and metal, the pulse between the industrial and the soil.”
The nine-piece collective conjure a sound both fearless and timeless - carrying the defiance of a people who’ve never stopped singing their rebellion. “There is a darkness in what we do, which reflects deeply in the folkloric history and myths of our country,” Mari continues. “Yet, there is also a light that is ever so playful. I sometimes feel as though I am dancing in my own time capsule - luring travellers and like-minded spirits to join us in this sacred space.”
Chwyldro burns with the enduring flame of Welsh resistance - a fire lit centuries ago and passed through generations. From the roar of the Welsh Princes to the thunder of striking miners and the chants of 1960s language protests, Wales has never been silenced. The song draws on the Rebecca Riots, a 19th-century uprising where farmers disguised as women rose against injustice under the banner of Rebecca and her Daughters. It was theatre. It was fury. It was music - the heartbeat of a nation that has turned struggle into poetry and revolution into rhythm.
Drummer Luke Huw Llewellyn explains, “We wanted to retell the struggles of our ancestors through modern musical language. You can almost hear the ghosts of hooves and battle cries between the instruments - a charge toward something timeless.” Guitarist Grant Jones adds, “It’s funny - I picked up my guitar thinking, ‘What does a folk riff sound like?’ and the first thing that came out was Chwyldro. It felt ancient, like it had been waiting to be found.”
Recorded deep within a woodland valley where three rivers meet - beneath the ancient standing stones of the Preseli Hills, home to the fabled Bluestones of Stonehenge - Chwyldro was brought to life by maverick Welsh producer Steffan Pringle, who forged the track into a spellbinding collision of past and present.
Born as a drifting spiritual collective, MWSOG have crystallised into a clan of wayward psychedelic folk-rock sorcerers, emerging from the misted mountains of Cymru. Their live shows unfold as immersive, ritualistic ceremonies - wild, communal, and fiercely alive. “MWSOG is indeed a fellowship, as strong as oak and enduring as stone,” Mari says a sentiment that perfectly captures the unity and shared purpose of this band of modern mystics.
Already performing to sold-out crowds across Wales, and turning heads at major festivals, MWSOG’s rise feels less like a debut and more like an awakening. With “Chwyldro” as their opening salvo - and more to come - the band stand ready to carry the flame of Welsh culture, storytelling, and song into a new era.
MWSOG are:
Mari Mathias - Vocals, Harmonium, Guitar
Luke Huw Llewellyn - Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Grant Jones - Guitar
Angharad Iris - Flute, Vocals
Joe Tobin - Mandolin, Guitar, Effects
Katie Blackmore - Percussion, Sound Effects, Vocals
Marcell Davies - Bass, Vocals
Additional collaborators:
Elis Penri - Guitar, Vocals
Korina Tsioni - Percussion, Vocals
Pronounciation Guide: Welsh to English
MWSOG - Moo-sogg
Chwildro = Quil-draw
Bwgibwgan = Boogie-boo-Gun
Single 'Chwildro' out 31st Oct via BWGIBWGAN
(BWGIBWGAN means Ghost Disco in Welsh) x
