Owain himself told me that he recommends those who want to find out where he'll be next to check out OwainPhyfe.com, which is a site about him, but not run by him. He says these fans seem to know where he'll be before he even knows!

OWAIN PHYFE, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?
by Willa, ATF Staff Writer

I enjoyed my time immensely at the Jubilee College Olde Worlde Faire in Brimfield, Illinois. We got to see all of the shows for Renaissance Sword Theatre and Shattock Schoole of Defence. The food was excellent and the grounds were beautiful.

However, I do have to say that the absolute height of my weekend was seeing Owain Phyfe. It’s truly amazing that there can be people in the world that you didn't even know existed, but once you have experienced them your life is forever changed — altered in ways you didn't know were possible. I remember hearing Owain sing a bit of A Health to the Company on RenRadio a while back. However, I had no idea it was him. I often play RR on my computer while doing my menial chores around the house so I don’t watch to see who sings what. (Note: I just realized that RR plays quite a bit of Owain Phyfe as well as Owain's other “bands”, New World Renaissance Band and Cantiga.)

It all began when my good friend, the evil Godfrey from Shattock (who idolizes Owain Phyfe), said that he just had to get to Owain's show so I tagged along because another of my friends, Bill, has said extraordinary things about Mr. Phyfe. I was oblivious at this point. Yeah...another good faire singer. The world’s full of them, right? Umm...this would be a resounding no. I just thought it had been up until now.

We walked to the bales of hay that lined the front of the stage where a beautiful lady (Judy Plester) sat with her violin, a gentleman (Rio Blue) tapped on his drum, and together with Owain they created magic. He opened his mouth and the sound that came out was unreal. I had grown up surrounded by music and yet I realized that I had taken it for granted. This man knew the words to songs in every language that ever existed (it seemed, at least). He explained the premise of the song before he sang it, and he talked to the audience. More often than not he gave us a part to sing in his songs so that we could experience this high with him...the chance to sing one of these amazingly beautiful songs that I didn’t know had been written.

Then, the end of the show came. He explained that he had had the opportunity to sing it at many renaissance faires and it was one of his favourites. Accompanied by the violin, his guitar (which isn't actually a guitar, but I cannot recall right now what it is) and the drum, he sang A Health to the Company and I got goosebumps. The members of Shattock (who had gathered around Godfrey and myself during the stunning performance) and I sang along in the chorus and I, too, idolized Owain. His voice is so clear, so distinctive and so damn beautiful. I’ve never heard anything like it before. Yes, I realize that I’m probably praising him too much, but you just have to HEAR this man and you’ll understand my awe.

However, I have seen really good performers at faire (and elsewhere) who really just crushed me after the show because they were not very personable. I was almost afraid to approach the man, but I just had to meet him. If I didn’t I would have kicked myself for the rest of my life. Apparently, Bill had introduced John-Paul to him earlier the day before and I had not been there. So, I approached Owain after the show while he was packing up his gear and asked if I could get a photo of myself with him and his band at their convenience. I told him it was for a review I planned to do for my web site as soon as I had listened to the CD I had just purchased. His eyes glowed and he said, “You’re going to write a review about me?”

Obviously, this man is unaware of his gift (or he's just a really good actor!). And the stupid English language doesn’t give me the words to express how he makes me feel without him getting a restraining order for me, so I just nodded and told him about AtTheFaire.com. He remembered the site name from meeting JP the day before (this man has quite a memory) and we talked about the fact that when I find someone or something that I like I give that person or thing as much publicity as my humble site can give. So we posed and the ice was broken when Rio said, “Someone’s ‘a touchin’ my ass,” in a deliriously perfect Spanish accent that had me biting my tongue to keep from laughing while the photo was being taken.

Okay, let’s skip to later that day. I was hanging out at the RST combat area and Owain walked by with a friend (who was dashingly handsome, I might add...and it wasn’t just the kilt! I swear!). I nodded my head with a smile, as I often do in greeting. He greeted me in return and I walked to him when he stopped and we started talking again about AtTheFaire and my review. He was gloriously flirtatious and beautifully gentleman-like. His personality was just like you would imagine it to be when you see him on stage. I could hear little ego in his talkings of himself and that just made me like him that much more.

Ophelia from Shattock and I began talking about Owain in a side conversation of some sort (it’s all a jumble at this point in time...my timeframe is completely garbled). Both of us are in our 20’s and Owain...is...not? But we both agreed rather readily that he was one of the most attractive people we’ve ever seen. He has a magnetism that is significantly increased when he sings. He’s one of those people you could easily spend your life worshiping, with posters on your walls and giddy fan clubs just spewing on and on about how great a man he is.

When I had finished talking to Owain by the RST ring I walked over to Ophelia (who had been with me for most of the conversation) and we both turned all girly, “He talked to us!” and swoony. I felt like I was back in high school. Let me just let you know right now that this NEVER happens to me. The last person(s?) who made me feel this giddy from a performance was Barenaked Ladies (I know they’re not even close to being rennies, but they’re my favourite band) and I met them after their show and they were nice so that was very cool. However, I do have to say that the magnetism I feel for Owain is right up there with Freddie Mercury, whom I idolize with every fiber of my being.

Okay, I’m completely off topic now. This is normal for me, right? Let’s get back on track, shall we? I’m trying to think of another ren faire performer that has made me feel like this. I’m drawing a blank. I mean, I have seen and heard a lot of really good groups at faire (Jolly Rogers, Orckes & Trolles, Wild Mountain Thyme, Ethan James, etc), but none have really gotten all the way down to my toes and given me goosebumps.

Oh, and none of them have ever sung “The Most Romantic Song Ever Written”, La Prima Vez, which, even though it’s in a different language (Italian?), instantly became “our song” for myself and JP. I was pulled in so many directions when trying to decide which CD of Owain’s to buy. His wife was very nice (she hawked the CD’s) and was quite cute singing along with each obscure song Owain sang on stage. I watched as she fielded quite a few people coming up and saying, “I want the CD that has the la la la la song on it” or whichever other song they had heard and loved and just had to take home with them. I didn’t feel so alone anymore. She showed me the recording that had the really good dancing tune on it, Fuggi, Fuggi, Fuggi Da Questo Cielo (Where Beauty Moves and Wit Delights), but they were out of CD’s for that one. She helped me figure out which CD had La Prima Vez on it (Odyssey). And still another that had A Health to the Company on it. I was absolutely torn! I had enough money to buy one, so it was time for some serious thinking.

I finally did decide on Poets, Bards and Singers of Song with A Health to the Company, simply because that song connects with my soul...I think it’s the epitome of a perfect faire song and it makes me want to cry to think that I get to see my wonderful faire friends only at faire. So I’ll play this CD over and over again and forever remember the bond that Owain instantly formed to strengthen my friendship with everyone who sat on the back row bales of hay for the final performance on Sunday, when I realized that I we may or might never all meet here again, but at least I had experienced this moment now and I could carry them all with me from here on out. For that and for many other things, I thank you, Owain. You have truly touched my heart and soul with your voice. Thank you for crossing my path. May we get the chance to drink a health to the company many more times in the future.

To read my review of Owain Phyfe's CD, Poets, Bards and Singers of Song, click here.

To buy any Owain Phyfe, New World Renaissance Band or Cantiga recordings, click here.

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