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Yesterday I visited Tullamore in Ireland, which has played host to the for the past two years.

My partner and I went along last year for the first time, and as we played in the sessions I realised how lucky we are to be part of this wide and varied culture.

We didn't know the names of our fellow musicians that weekend, and they did not know ours, but like hundreds of other folkies around the globe, we shared melodies, rhythms, stamping feet, pints and broad smiles 'til the wee small hours. Heavenly.

I recently saw a programme about and from Irish band when they visited India to explore the musical culture.

The brothers spent time with a classical Indian singer, who explained that in Indian music they believe each note is linked to one of the seven chakras in the body, and has a direct effect on it.

For instance, there would be a perfect melody for dispelling a headache.

The lady sang the "headache song" and Ronan and Rossa joined in, adding Irish-influenced music that blended seamlessly with her voice.

Cormac and I have a huge collection of traditional music from around the world, and we adore combining our own styles of folk music with something new and alien to us. We strive to do this within our band, Uiscedwr.

For years I was quite upset that I wasn't born into a folk tradition of clearer identity - I was born in Newcastle, moved to Wales when I was one and have a family from all over the world, including Russia and the Middle East. Didn't know whether to sing in Welsh or English! Play Prokofiev or polkas!

I ended up playing folk tunes from Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales - all over, and being influenced by klezmer music, classical, latin, jazz, Michael Jackson - anything and everything I could listen to ended up somewhere in my fiddle playing and singing.

We're heading out on tour in October with Uiscedwr, so I'll get to share some of my music madness with you all then - please come along, bring an open mind, a keen ear and a big smile and I promise we'll have a fabulous time!