Alffa

{{Distinguish|text=Alpha, a post-trip hop group from Bristol, England}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Alffa

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| origin = Llanrug

| years_active = {{start date|2015}}–present

| genre = Rock, Punk blues

| label = Recordiau Côsh Records

| website = {{URL|https://www.alffaband.com}}

| current_members = Dion Wyn Jones
Sion Eifion Land

| past_members =

}}

Alffa ({{Translation|Alpha}}) are a Welsh language blues rock duo from Llanrug in North Wales, formed in 2015. The group currently consists of Dion Wyn Jones (vocals, guitar) and Sion Eifion Land (drums).

In 2019, streaming platform Spotify stated that the band had become the "most streamed Welsh language act ever" with three million streams for their two singles alone.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-49472723|title=The rise and rise of Welsh pop music|last=Stephens|first=Huw|date=2019-08-27|access-date=2019-08-28|language=en-GB}}

History

The band were founded in 2015 by Welsh teenagers Jones and Land, who grew up together in Llanrug,{{Cite web|url=https://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/17280716.former-bangor-students-welsh-language-song-is-first-to-hit-one-million-plays-on-spotify/|title=Former Bangor students' Welsh language song is first to hit one million plays on Spotify|website=North Wales Chronicle|date=6 December 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-08-28}} a village ten minutes from the nearby town of Caernarfon. They formed the band while they studied at Coleg Menai.{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2018-12-06/welsh-language-song-first-to-hit-one-million-plays-on-spotify/|title=Welsh language song first to hit one million plays on Spotify|website=ITV News|language=en|access-date=2019-08-28}} They graduated from sixth form at Ysgol Brynrefail in 2018.

The band received mainstream attention in May 2018 when they were named by BBC Cymru Wales and the Arts Council of Wales in the lineup for the Horizons Gorwelion annual festival,{{Cite web|url=http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2018/05/21/news-adwaith-chroma-i-see-rivers-eadyth-amongst-twelve-new-acts-for-horizons-2018/|title=NEWS: Adwaith, CHROMA, Campfire Social, I See Rivers & Eadyth amongst twelve new acts for Horizons 2018|date=2018-05-21|website=God Is In The TV|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-28}} which introduced them as "an exciting teenage two piece rock n roll band from Llanrug who are inspired by the blues."

The Horizons Gorwelion festival was first established by BBC broadcaster Bethan Elfyn. The lineup was selected by figures from PRS for Music, Moshi Moshi Records, and Drowned in Sound.{{Cite web|url=https://www.m-magazine.co.uk/news/horizons-announces-2018-acts/|title=Horizons announces 2018 acts - M Magazine|date=2018-05-22|website=M magazine: PRS for Music online magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-28}}

In August 2018 the band performed at Festival N°6 in Portmeirion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/festival-no-6-reveals-amazing-14984242|title=Festival No 6 reveals amazing list of acts for 2018|last=Williams|first=Kelly|date=2018-08-02|website=northwales|access-date=2019-08-28}}

The band cite their influences as The Black Keys, The White Stripes, The Arcs, Black Pistol Fire, Jimi Hendrix, Tymbal, and Jack White.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/how-north-wales-teenagers-music-15455914|title=How this North Wales band are wowing South America from other side of the world|last=Whelan|first=Zara|date=2018-11-24|website=northwales|access-date=2019-08-28}}

In November 2018 the band received unexpected media coverage after they were included by Spotify's playlist curators in South America, leading to their single Gwenwyn (English: poison) receiving over 850,000 streams and an international listenership. The attention was a result of the band joining international distributors PYST (funded by the Welsh Government) who provide Welsh musicians with label services, digital distribution, playlist inclusion, physical distribution internationally, as well as bookings for shows and tours with promoters and venues globally.

Gwenwyn went on to become the first Welsh language single to receive over one million streams, in December 2018. They were reported in The Guardian{{Cite book|last=Cosslett|first=Tess|editor-first1=Tess |editor-last1=Cosslett |date=2017-07-05|title=Victorian Women Poets|doi=10.4324/9781315293738|isbn=9781315293738|s2cid=162829486 }} and the national front page of BBC News Online.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-46420187|title=First Welsh song to hit one million plays|date=2018-12-03|access-date=2019-08-28|language=en-GB}}

In 2019 the band were featured on BBC Radio 4's "Art of Now: Cymru Rising" programme which highlighted the growth of Welsh language artists, dubbed Cool Cymru 2.0.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2019/35/art-of-now-cymru-rising|title=BBC - Art Of Now: Cymru Rising - Media Centre|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=2019-08-28}}

The band are recording their first album following the success of their digital releases, and are also planning international performances. They are to perform at Sŵn festival in October 2019 alongside Gruff Rhys, The Comet Is Coming, and Nilüfer Yanya.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gtfm.co.uk/swn-festival-announces-first-wave-of-artists-for-2019/|title=Sŵn Festival announces first wave of artists for 2019 – GTFM 107.9 FM|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-08-28}}