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The Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir (VWMC) was formed in 1980 by Welsh singing enthusiasts, and is now one of Canada’s largest non-profit male choirs with close to a hundred singers of diverse ethnic backgrounds. It tours provincially each year; internationally about every three years. The choir maintains a Welsh singing tradition within a varied repertoire of folk songs, spirituals, show tunes, and Canadiana. We first started doing Remembrance concerts over 20 years ago. Several members of our choir were veterans and had close ties with the military and Legions. It has become a tradition that many of our patrons look forward to each year. This year we are doing two Remembrance concerts Nov 10th and 11th with the Band of The 15th Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery who we have performed with for several years.

Music touches the human soul the way nothing else does. It helps us keep in touch with our past and to connect to others of different cultural backgrounds. When the choir tours to other countries the music helps us transcend our differences and come together as brothers and sisters. Music has a unifying and uplifting quality.

In our upcoming Christmas series of 7 concerts, one of the songs we sing is called “Christmas In The Trenches”. It tells the story about how during WW1 in 1914 France, British and German soldiers laid down their arms on Christmas morning and refused to fight. Instead they met each other in “no man’s land” and traded pictures, cigarettes, played games and sang songs. They realized that this was not their war but brought about by politicians and others. Some of the words in the song are: “The frozen fields of France were warmed, and songs of peace were sung. For the walls they’d built between us to exact the work of war were crumbled and were gone forever more.” The song ends with the words, “For the one’s who called the shots won’t be among the dead and lame, and at each end of the rifle, we’re the same.”

These concerts are heartwarming and emotional and enjoyed by all. They are especially meaningful to veterans or anyone who has lived through conflict. In 2017 the choir toured France, Belgium and The Netherlands to honour the fallen, performing at Vimy Ridge, Menen Gate, Juneau Beach, delivering memorable charitable concerts along the route. Memories of this tour will make Remembrance 2018 with the 15th Field Artillery Band RCA an especially poignant concert for choir members.

The choir is a “not for profit” organization with a limited advertising budget. We rely on our reputation and word of mouth to help us share our joy of singing. Some of the comments we have received: “A truly heartwarming and memorable experience”. “A very professional and unforgettable concert”. “It made the hair stand up on the back of my neck”.

Consummate professionals Music Director Jonathan Quick and Accompanist/Assistant Music Director Karen Lee Morlang ensure that VWMC’s male amateur vocalists experience and deliver the joy of singing, from the heart.

The choir produces CD s of its music, available at concerts and online at vwmc.ca

The Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir, and the Band of the 15th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, join forces on Remembrance Day with music paying tribute to those who served to bring peace. The choir toured western Europe in 2017, singing at Vimy Ridge, Menin Gate, Juno Beach and other sites. With those vivid reflections, and the war’s end anniversary, this year’s remembrance concert will be especially poignant for the choristers as they perform with this superb military band.

South Delta - Saturday, November 10, 2018

• 2:30pm, South Delta Baptist Church, 1988 56 Street, Delta BC.
• Adults $30, Seniors $28, Students with ID $15.
• More information:  vwmc Nov10  
• Tickets online:  Brown Paper Tickets *, or call Brown Paper Tickets at  1‑800‑838‑3006* .
• Tickets also available from choir members.

New Westminster - Sunday, November 11, 2018

• 2:30pm, Massey Theatre, 735 8 ^th  Avenue, New Westminster.
• Adults $30, Seniors $28, Students with ID $15.
• More information:  vwmc Nov11  
• Tickets available only at Massey Theatre *, or call the theatre box office at  604‑521‑5050* .

* Ticket service charges apply. 

Visit our website at www.vwmc.ca to learn more about the choir, our CDs, and opportunities to audition for the choir. 

Christmas is coming...  

Heads-up for our seven concerts celebrating the Sounds of Christmas. Click on the links below for more information about the concert, venue, and ticket purchase. We are again delighted to share the stage on five occasions with some exceptional school choirs who will present a portion of the programme on their own, and join with us for a few combined songs. 

Welsh producer R.Seiliog aka Robin Edwards returns with his new LP 'Megadoze' a subtle shift from the sonic palette of critically acclaimed ‘In Hz'and 2016’s ’Shedhead EP’. R.Seiliog creates a gentle stir from darkness, coaxing ambisonic visions of the void with synth-driven tides. 'Megadoze'refined prologue surges through visceral tapestries of static and haze merging ambient techno, musique concrète and field recordings.

Astounding lead track 'Opal Drift' with its enveloping structures builds through ambient textures and a bricolage of half-remembered techno and synth waves, it’s like the evocative sound of flowing water softly sculpting the rocks of the Black mountains. Second track ‘DC Offset’ weaves intricate sci-fi soundtrack layers bubbles, babbles and skitters with otherworldly presence echoing homage to the finest work of Brian Eno, its followed by the incredible ‘Obsidian’ its deep-glitch woven journey unfurls into an awe-inspiring interlude of sonic revelry in its final portion. Meanwhile the ambient hauntings and glacial washes of 'Vitamin Filter' are a masterclass in the melding of field recordings and motorik electronic beats, it’s equally the soundtrack to chilling-in, or going out.

'Zemlya' resonates and chimes with harmonics that conjure echoes of the percussive music of different continents from India to Africa, underscored by contrasting hues of sub-bass driven beats, crunchy granular glitch with instrumental swathes. The ambient drops of 'Nectar Phase'with its viscous swells and fluxing breakbeat possess a timelessness. The glacial ‘Chalk Fields’ mirrors the sound of a rising sun casting cosmic beams onto your face as you lie in a dew-speckled field, samples of birds chirruping, streams flowing, a distant voice and stunning ambient textures arise into a moment of unified clarity.
Sonically daring and sewn with intricate genre-blurring levels of detail, each cut remains connected to the heart of nature in its elemental force, ‘Megadoze’ is perhaps R.Seiliog’s finest record yet.

R.Seiliog emerged from the pine coned hills of Peniel, North Wales. Releasing the warm analog psychedelia of 2012's ‘Shuffles EP’, and his debut long player 2013's ‘Doppler’ which was a wide-eyed homage to Krautrock. Manic Street Preachers were so inspired by his debut album Doppler that the band entrusted Edwards to remix Manic Street Preachers’ single ‘Futurology'.

In 2014 the release of his critically acclaimed second album ‘In Hz’ a masterful work of convoluted drone and electronics. Which led Thump to herald it as “So good it hurts” and Mojo Magazine to say “R.Seiliog presides over a subtle, imaginative record that transcends many genres.” R. Seiliog’s work has received airplay from the likes of Huw Stephens, 6 Music - Mary Anne Hobbs, Radcliffe and Maconie and Lauren Laverne.

Megadoze tracklist:

01. Opal Drift
02. DC Offset
03. Obsidian
04. Portals
05. Vitamin Filter
06. Zemlya
07. Nectar Phase
08. Waxwing
09. Chalk Fields
10. Coda

To coincide with the release of 'Megadoze' R.Seiliog has announced two shows one at Carmarthen with ACCU and a launch show at Cardiff's Gwdi Hw.

November
17th - The Parrot with ACCU
22nd - Gwdihw
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/454262

LAUNCHPAD FUND TO HELP WELSH MUSICIANS TAKE THE NEXT STEPS

Arts Council of Wales and BBC Wales are calling for talented Welsh artists and bands to apply for the Launchpad fund.

Launchpad will offer grants of up to £2,000 to help artists or bands to fulfil their potential and reach the next level. Aimed at emerging musicians that already demonstrate promise, Launchpad is part of the Horizons Gorwelion scheme to develop new and independent contemporary music in Wales.

Launchpad was started in 2014 and has supported over 135 artists, from more than 50 Welsh towns. A diverse mix of musicians will be supported in their creative work by the fund, allowing them to pay for studio time and equipment, commission photography, artwork and video, promote their work and go on tour.

One of last year’s musicians was Flintshire hip-hop artist Ennio the Little Brother whose work has been played on BBC 6 Music. He said:

"Receiving the Horizons grant was a huge surprise to me. It felt incredible to be a part of a group of Welsh musicians looking to take our craft to the next level. With the grant, I purchased a guitar amplifier and a looper pedal, which have both helped me to drastically improve my live performances. Just a year ago, I relied heavily on backing tracks to bolster my set, but now I can creatively compose layered music on the spot; completely live. As well as this, the way I write music has changed too! I now use the looper to create new compositions.”

Cardiff-based rapper and singer NonameDisciple received support for her A Millennial's Godfidence project. Tracks went on to be played by DJ Semtex in his "5 Tunes You Need To Know" and by DJ Target on BBC 1xtra.  She was also selected to play on the ‘BBC Introducing’ stage at the Reading and Leeds Festival.  She said: “Launchpad fund has been vital towards helping my music reach audiences, I feel honoured and thankful."

Singer-songwriter Beth Celyn from Caernarfon used Launchpad to promote her new EP. She said: “I’m so grateful to Horizons for their support and faith in me as an artist. Receiving the grant has been a massive encouragement. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to gig or compose new material this year as my digital piano broke a few months before the launch of my debut EP. The launch scheme enabled me to buy a new digital piano and I’ve already had some invaluable experiences - from performing at the Pan Celtic Festival over in Ireland to playing at Festival No.6 in Portmeirion."

From Wednesday 17 October applications to Launchpad will be open to Wales based artists and bands.  Entries will close at midnight on Friday 16 November 2018.

For more information about Launchpad and how to apply, as well as the Horizons initiative, go to www.bbc.co.uk/horizons

Mae Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru    a BBC Cymru'n galw am artistiaid a bandiau Cymreig dawnus i ymgeisio am gyllid o’r gronfa Lawnsio.  

Bydd Lawnsio’n cynnig grantiau o hyd at £2,000 i helpu artistiaid neu fandiau i gyflawni eu potensial a chyrraedd y lefel nesaf. Mae Lawnsio, sy'n targedu cyw-gerddorion sydd eisoes yn dangos addewid, yn rhan o'r cynllun  Horizons/Gorwelion  sy’n anelu at ddatblygu cerddoriaeth gyfoes newydd ac annibynnol yng Nghymru.

Cychwynnwyd Lawnsio yn 2014 ac mae'r cynllun eisoes wedi cynorthwyo dros 135 o artistiaid o dros 50 o wahanol drefi yng Nghymru. Caiff amrywiaeth eang o gerddorion gymorth gyda'u gwaith creadigol trwy'r gronfa, a fydd yn caniatáu iddynt dalu am offer ac amser stiwdio, comisiynu ffotograffiaeth, gwaith celf a fideo, hybu eu gwaith a mynd â’u gwaith ar daith.

Un o gerddorion llwyddiannus y llynedd oedd yr artist hip-hop o Sir y Fflint Ennio the Little Brother y mae ei waith wedi cael ei chwarae ar BBC 6 Music. Meddai:

"Roedd derbyn y grant Gorwelion yn sypreis a hanner i mi. Roedd hi'n teimlo'n anhygoel bod yn rhan o grŵp o gerddorion Cymreig sydd am fynd â'n crefft ymlaen i'r lefel nesaf. Brynais i amp i'r gitâr a phedal dolennu gyda’r grant, ac mae'r ddau wedi fy nghynorthwyo i wella fy mherfformiadau byw yn sylweddol. Cwta flwyddyn yn ôl, roeddwn i'n dibynnu'n drwm ar draciau cefndir i ategu fy set, ond nawr rwy'n gallu cyfansoddi cerddoriaeth haenog yn greadigol yn y fan a'r lle; yn hollol fyw. Mae'r ffordd rwy'n mynd ati i ysgrifennu cerddoriaeth wedi newid yn ogystal! Rwy'n defnyddio'r dolennwr i greu cyfansoddiadau newydd hefyd."

Cafodd y rapiwr a'r gantores o Gaerdydd,  NonameDisciple  gymorth ar gyfer ei phrosiect    A Millennial's Godfidence . Aeth ei thraciau ymlaen i gael eu chwarae gan  DJ Semtex  yn ei   " 5 Tunes You Need To Know "   a chan y  DJ Target  ar  BBC 1xtra.   Cafodd ei dethol hefyd i chwarae ar lwyfan 'BBC Introducing' yng Ngwyliau Reading a Leeds.  Dywedodd:  

“Mae'r gronfa Lawnsio wedi bod yn hanfodol wrth helpu fy ngherddoriaeth i gyrraedd cynulleidfaoedd, rwy'n teimlo’n freintiedig ac yn ddiolchgar."  

Defnyddiodd y gantores a'r gyfansoddwraig o Gaernarfon,  Beth Celyn  Lawnsio i hybu ei EP newydd. Dywedodd:

“Dwi mor ddiolchgar i Gorwelion am eu cefnogaeth a'u ffydd ynof fi fel artist. Mae derbyn y grant wedi rhoi anogaeth aruthrol i mi. Hebddo, fyddwn i ddim wedi gallu gigio na chyfansoddi deunydd newydd eleni am i fy mhiano digidol dorri ychydig fisoedd cyn lansio fy EP cyntaf. Diolch i'r cynllun Lawnsio bu modd i mi brynu piano digidol newydd ac rydw i wedi cael profiadau anhepgor eisoes - o berfformio yn yr Ŵyl Ban Geltaidd draw yn Iwerddon, i chwarae yng Ngŵyl Rhif 6 ym Mhortmeirion."

Bydd ceisiadau i'r gronfa Lawnsio’n agor i artistiaid a bandiau yng Nghymru ddydd Mercher, 17 Hydref.  Bydd ceisiadau'n cau am ganol nos, nos Wener 16 Tachwedd 2018.   

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am Y Gronfa Lawnsio   a sut i wneud cais, yn ogystal â'r fenter Gorwelion, ewch i  www.bbc.co.uk/horizons

Al Moses release their blistering debut single 'I Want More' through digital platforms on the 30th November. Al Moses are an incendiary new band made up of four nineteen-year-old friends from the South Wales valleys, who take on rock and roll history and stamp it with their personalities and the youthful ambition to be heard beyond their hometowns. Debut single 'I Want More' was produced by Steffan Pringle (ESTRONS, Himalayas) at Giant Wafer Studios and mastered by Charlie Francis (Pixies, REM). With its sneering vocals, sizzling riffs and stomping beat, the rollicking 'I Want More' encapsulates their burning ambition, the disillusionment of their generation and wraps it in a swaggering chorus. It’s a hungry opening statement of intent from this exciting young band.

Al Moses singer Jack Shepherd says: 'It’s a head-on, hands-up anthem for people like us, the disillusioned youth. We just want more than what's laid out for us. And this song aims to capture that spirit and determination of how we feel right now.' Jack Shepherd.

Jack and Daf, who co-front and share lead vocals in Al Moses, met at house party 2015. A few days later, after watching The Jesus and Mary Chain at the Cardiff Students Union they adopted the name Al Moses inspired by a religious connotation.

Daf is an aspiring actor, studying at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, already appearing in nationwide drama and cast in various music videos. Al Moses were chosen in January 2018 to be part of the Forte Project that provides mentoring, live opportunities and practical support for new and upcoming acts based in South Wales.

For fans of The Libertines, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Cribs, Oasis, The Blinders

Upcoming gigs:

20th October: @ Swn Festival, Cardiff

27th October @ Finsbury Pub, London

17th November: Supporting Peace & Fickle Friends at Shimmer Sounds 2018 @

Tramshed, Cardiff

29th November: Headline show @ Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff

Al Moses:

Daf Thomas - Guitar/lead vocals
Jack Shepherd - Guitar/lead vocals
Raychi Bryant - Bass

George Percival – Drums

Facebook : @almosesband
Insta: @almosesband

Bilingual digital magazine parallel.cymru reaches 100,000 page views in first year.

The bilingual digital magazine parallel.cymru is celebrating a successful first year of publication, with 100,000 page views being viewed in that period.

Said Neil Rowlands, founder and project manager: "The purpose of parallel.cymru is to make the Welsh language and culture more accessible. This is done by presenting Welsh and English side by side, using a range of language registers informal, formal and literary, and is completely free to access from any web browser anywhere in the world.

"I'm extremely happy that thousands of people have enjoyed reading the many articles and made use of the unique resources. Presenters like Huw Stephens and Eleri Siôn, and noted authors such as lexicographer D. Geraint Lewis, Welsh Valleys Humour's David Jandrell, Bethan Gwanas, Elin Meek and many more have written exclusively for the site. There's also resources such as a crowd-sourced map of shops, pubs and public places where Welsh is used, a bilingual grammar guide, interactive quizzes, plus some articles have been narrated so that people can read and hear the Welsh language at the same time.

"For the Welsh Government's goal of one million Welsh speakers by 2050 to be met, there is a need for us extend the reach of the language and present it in different ways. Parallel.cymru, as an independent not-for-profit organisation, captures this spirit and energy.

"Over 140 people have provided content for parallel.cymru, and I am grateful for them supporting a new and different way of publishing. I look forward to supporting many more people contributing and helping more people to enjoy our beautiful language in an inventive new way."

Garmon Gruffudd, Managing Director, Y Lolfa, said: "It's great to see how Parallel.cymru has developed over the last few months to become an indispensable website for learners and an important source of information and materials for people who want to keep a finger on the pulse in Wales. It has been a pleasure to work with Neil and the crew, and as a publisher we really appreciate that they offer a new, easy to reach platform to discuss our work and we very much congratulate Neil on reaching 100,000."

Mae’r cylchgrawn digidol parallel.cymru yn dathlu blwyddyn gyntaf lwyddiannus a 100,000 o ymweliadau tudalen.

Dywed sylfaenydd a rheolwr y prosiect, Neil Rowlands: “Pwrpas parallel.cymru yw gwneud yr iaith a’r diwylliant Cymraeg yn fwy cyraeddadwy. Gwneir hyn drwy gyflwyno’r Gymraeg a’r Saesneg ochr wrth ochr, gan ddefnyddio ystod o gyweiriau iaith (anffurfiol, ffurfiol a llenyddol), a hynny’n rhad ac am ddim; a gellir cael mynediad iddo o unrhyw borwr gwe mewn unrhyw fan yn y byd.

“Rwy’n hynod o hapus bod miloedd o bobl wedi mwynhau darllen yr erthyglau niferus a’r adnoddau unigryw. Mae cyflwynwyr fel Huw Stephens ac Eleri Siôn, awduron cydnabyddedig fel y geiriadurwr D. Geraint Lewis, David Jandrell a’i ‘Welsh Valleys Humour’, Bethan Gwanas, Elin Meek a llawer mwy wedi ysgrifennu ar gyfer y wefan. Yn ogystal, mae yna adnoddau fel mapiau siopau, tafarndai a mannau cyhoeddus lle y defnyddir y Gymraeg, canllaw dwyieithog i ramadeg, cwisiau rhyngweithiol, ac mae rhai erthyglau wedi eu hadrodd hefyd fel bod pobl yn gallu darllen a chlywed y Gymraeg ar yr un pryd.”

“Er mwyn cyrraedd nod Llywodraeth Cymru o sicrhau miliwn o siaradwyr y Gymraeg erbyn 2050, mae angen i ni ehangu’r defnydd o’r iaith a’i chyflwyno mewn gwahanol ffyrdd. Mae parallel.cymru, fel sefydliad annibynnol, dielw, yn ymgorfforiad o’r ysbryd a’r egni hwn.”

“Mae dros 140 o bobl wedi darparu cynnwys i parallel.cymru, ac rwy’n ddiolchgar iddynt am gefnogi dull newydd a gwahanol o argraffu. Edrychaf ymlaen at gefnogi llawer iawn mwy o gyfranwyr i’r wefan, a hefyd i helpu nifer fawr o bobl i fwynhau ein hiaith brydferth mewn ffordd newydd a dyfeisgar.”

Meddai Garmon Gruffudd, Rheolwr Gyfarwyddwr, Y Lolfa: "Mae’n wych gweld sut mae Parallel.cymru wedi datblygu dros y misoedd diwethaf i fod yn wefan anhepgor i ddysgwyr ac yn ffynhonnell bwysig o wybodaeth a deunydd i bobl sydd am gadw bys ar byls Cymru. Mae wedi bod yn bleser cydweithio gyda Neil a’r criw, ac fel gwasg rydym yn gwerthfawrogi yn fawr eu bod yn cynnig llwyfan newydd, hawdd i’w gyrraedd, i drin a thrafod ein gwaith a rydym yn eu llongyfarch yn fawr ar gyrraedd y 100,000."

‘Nawr Yr Arwr/Now The Hero is a multi-artform, site-specific project created by Swansea born interdisciplinary artist Marc Rees for 14-18-NOW. This bold and exciting commemoration of WWI will take place in and around the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea during Harvest, September 2018.’

The website introduces me to the performance. My problem was that I didn’t have the humility to research the project before hand.

‘Harvest’ why Harvest? Now I know. The connected ‘Graft - A Soil Based Syllabus’ curated by artist Owen Griffiths has been going on for months in and around the city. The plants of Sir Frank Brangwyn’s commemorative artwork have been grown and gathered in for the making of a cawl. As an audience we will ingest the panels. We are part of the process. We are part of the commemoration.

‘I’m not hungry,’ I said when my mate asked if I fancied some soup!

‘Look Eddie’s coming down the tower. Wow!’

Eddie Ladd, The Peace Protester, travels through the experiences and images presented to us with a message of peace. She commentates/narrates throughout, a ball of energy at all times.

Performed to a dystopian soundscape, she digs, traces in the sand the aerial view of trenches, spills black earth onto them God like, child-like playing in the sand. Black earth? Scarred earth? Black blood? Bad blood? Or was it just mud?

This is my problem. I see an action: a scene, a tableaux I’m asking questions. The finale has her abseiling forward down the clock tower. No mean feat! Why? Is it for effect or is there a meaning behind the statement. Is it her? It’s got to be! Is it a stunt? Perhaps it would have been more impressive the other way?

The siren wails, calls our protagonists to action. Three warriors, aboard a power boat enter the stage. The three interlinking stories through the evening are introduced: the Celtic warrior, the Great War officer the modern day soldier. The poem ‘Y Gododdin’ reverberates through the night. The seventh century battle of 300 Celtic warriors is evoked.

The promenade performance follows Eddie through the streets of the city. The Home Front, the war work of women supporting their men. Shrouds for the dead soldiers. A WW1 tank made of coal doing the rounds fund raising, only to buy more tanks.

The last time I was at Brangwyn Hall I charged the doors as a teenager to watch the glam rock band, Slade. What was I thinking? Now Modern young soldiers charge screaming at the doors as if in bayonet practice, racing to war.

I now walk reverently into the beautiful arena of blood red trenches, adorned with Brangwyn’s panels. The wonderful Polyphony choir patiently bide their time on the stage for us to find our seats. The impressive Celtic Warrior has an authentic aura. He also waits. We settle, silence, the light show begins dramatically and the music centrepiece of the performance begins. I find myself transfixed by the choir and the bellowing sound of the organ. A lengthy dance of death as the dead warrior is swallowed by the bloody earth. The introduction of young men performing a very slow macabre dance as they, likewise, are swallowed into the graves of the bloody trench mud. I just wish I could see a bit more.

I’m woken from my libretto trance by a public announcement: 30 minutes to look round the hall and then the finale will take place.

The different rooms of the Brangwyn are adorned in tableaux and scenes from the three stories. More questions bounce around. Why is the soldier crawling? Why are the women slowly walking the length of the room with a fluorescent light travelling over the soldier’s head? Does the light represent bullets? Is the soldier a tunneller? Why are there women? Did they send the soldiers to battle? And on it goes. A peace room, a wedding room, a wake room, a locker room, t.v. installations etc etc.

We are called out, the finale begins. Nearly 500 people queue for the harvest fare and the unveiling of a flag. I think it was Eddie’s peace banner but the weather had been too kind. There was no rain. There was no wind to unfurl the flag. After post performance reading I now wish perhaps it had rained.

I’m still asking questions. I’m still discovering, as a Welshman, who I am and where I’ve come from.

Marc Rees’ Nawr Yr Arwr/Now The Hero is epic but it doesn’t answer all my questions.

by Andy Edwards