IF there’s one thing that gets me through the grey days of February, it’s knowing that at the end of the month the Narberth A Capella Festival will bring a weekend of metaphorical musical sunshine.

Now in its ninth year, Wales’ only a capella festival attracts world-class talent from all over the UK as well as providing a platform for Pembrokeshire’s finest home grown singers.

From the outset the atmosphere was warm, welcoming and inclusive thanks to Span Arts volunteers and staff.

Headlining on Friday night was the enchanting, ethereal yet earthy Helen Chadwick Song Theatre, performing a world premiere of House of Light; an uplifting and inspirational celebration of language, poetry and music.

Ably supported by Borth-based swashbuckling shanty singers Mor Ladron and an on-point performance from local lasses Bella Voce, Friday night’s concert got the festival off to a diverse and dazzling start.

The following morning saw workshops by Mor Ladron and Joanna Foster, from Song Theatre, both of which taught a range of songs in an accessible and enjoyable setting.

I spent Saturday afternoon in the company of Fistful of Spookies getting in touch with my inner he-man and learning a bit of Bowie, Cohen and participating in a Georgian singing battle.

Saturday’s other workshop was with the Oxford Gargoyles where participants learnt Jazz standards and experimented in the art of improvisation.

Both groups performed that evening; the Gargoyles pitch perfect and the Spookies tough yet tender with a huge dollop of self-deprecating humour and an unforgettable encore that got the whole hall up and waltzing.

Getting Saturday evening started was Molara’s Cor Pawb Bach, a multi-generational choir giving local youngsters a chance to shine in a truly heart-warming performance.

The bigger version of Cor Pawb closed the festival in Sunday’s Sing for your Sarnies event, an intimate and cosy concert where the audience was entertained by a choir of more than a hundred local singers, aged from six to seventy-something, performing pieces from around the globe.

Cor Pawb was followed by tea, cake and sandwiches and a delightful set from local dynamo Molara and Colombian singer Camilo Menjura, who also ran a wonderful workshop that morning.

I left the festival with February blues firmly banished full of songs, spiritually replenished and already looking forward to the next one.