Blogs
| Americymru interview with Amy Wadge here:- "Ten Questions With Amy Wadge" Monday 12th October sees the release of 'Hold Me', the sublimely sweet and simply beautiful single from Welsh songbird Amy Wadge. A love song in the most classic sense, it is an unapologetically direct appeal to a lover, delivered with uncomplicated, but heartfelt lyrics in Amy's trademark vocal. Produced by Stan Kybert (Oasis, Massive Attack, Paul Weller), the track builds from sparse beginnings, through myriad melodies and gorgeous harmonies in the chorus, into a huge, layered sound that makes 'Hold Me' an irresistible teaser of what's to come on her forthcoming album. Amy, who has previously won the much coveted 'Best Female Solo Artist' at the Welsh Music Awards, has taken time off in the last year as she recently became a mum, but is now back with a renewed sense of vigour and a whole new bank of stories to tell and songs to sing. 'Hold Me' is the first single from Amy's new album (due for release in Spring 2010), that is sure to please her ever-growing and dedicated fanbase (especially in her native Wales), as well as win over brand new support from lovers of beautifully crafted songs and a wonderful voice. With years of touring experience under her belt (she has supported Van Morrison, Jeff Beck, Damien Rice and Eric Bibb amongst others), Amy has developed and nurtured an absolutely captivating and quite magical live experience, which she will once more take to the road with over the coming months. Please keep an eye on: www.amywadge.com/ www.myspace.com/amywadge for further announcements. 'Hold Me' will be available digitally from 12th October at: www.amywadgeholdme.com , and will be available to pre-order from 17th August. Upcoming gigs: (see full listings - www.amywadge.com ) October 2009 Thursday 8th Cowbridge Fashion Week - The Hair Business, Cowbridge Saturday 10th House Gig, Private Function Thursday 29th Acapela, Pentyrch (nr. Cardiff) Saturday 31st The Chattery, Swansea 'Pint sized poetess with valley quaking voice. Her songs have a raw vibrancy that suit her earthy voice and emotionally mature lyrics' - Q magazine.  |
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should see it.
** Peak renamed after Welsh princess **
A ceremony takes place to mark a mountain being renamed after the daughter of the last native Welsh prince.
< http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_west/8275729.stm >
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As some of the bloodiest fighting of World War 1 took place in the Flanders and Picardy regions of Northern France .The poppy was the only thing which grew in the aftermath of the complete devastation. Colonel John McCrea had served as a gunner in the Boer War, but went to France in World War One as a medical Officer with the first Canadian Contingent deeply inspired and moved by what he saw, wrote these verses:
In Flanders ' Fields
John McCrea 1915
In Flanders ' fields the poppies blow between the crosses, row on row,
that mark our place: and in the sky
the larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders ' fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe;
to you from failing hands we throw
the torch; be yours to hold it high,
if ye break faith with us who die
we shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders' Fields.
The inspiration for the verses had been the death of a fellow officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, 1st Brigade Canadian Field Artillery. McCrae's verses, which he had scribbled in pencil on a page torn from his dispatch book, were sent anonymously by a fellow officer to the English magazine, Punch, and published under the title In Flanders Fields on 8 December 1915. Among the many people moved by McCrae's poem a YMCA canteen worker in New York , iss Moina Michael (1869-1944), who, two days before the Armistice was signed on 11 November 1918, wrote a reply entitled We Shall Keep the Faith. Moina Michael hereafter tirelessly campaigned to get the poppy adopted as a national symbol of remembrance in the United States . In September 1920 the American Legion adopted the Poppy at its annual Convention. Attending that Convention was a French woman who was about to promote the poppy as a symbol of remembrance throughout the world.
Madame E. Gurin, conceived the idea of widows manufacturing artificial poppies in the devastated areas of Northern France which then could be sold by veterans' organizations worldwide for their own veterans and dependants as well as the benefit of destitute French children. Throughout 1920-21, Gurin and her representatives approached veteran organizations' in the United States , Britain , Canada , Australia and New Zealand and urged them to adopt the poppy as a symbol of remembrance. It was as a result of the efforts of Michael and Gurin both of whom became known endearingly as the "Poppy Lady" that the poppy became an international symbol of remembrance.
Veteran organizations in the United Kingdom , Canada and Australia , hold their inaugural Poppy Appeal in association with Armistice Day 1921 (11 November 1921). After over 80 years, few appeals can claim the history and public recognition as that of the Poppy Day Appeal. The Poppy is not only visible on Poppy Day and other commemorative occasions, but at funerals of returned servicemen and women. It is also taken on pilgrimages to be laid at war memorials and war graves around the world. So the tradition began. We call it Armistice Day or Rememberance day in Britain , here in the USA we call it Memorial Day. The main point of this Day is the promotion of peace, not blind patriotism or nationalism. The Royal British Legion safeguards the welfare, interests and memory of those who are serving or who have served in the Armed Forces. Each year the demand for our support continues as Service men and women, young and old, call on us for assistance.
There are many ways you can help including making a donation, volunteering your time, participating in a fundraising event and supporting the Poppy Appeal. It is one of the best known and supported campaigns in the calendar and each year the nation shows its support for the Legion's work by giving generously to the Poppy Appeal If you can spare some time to help us,we need volunteers all year to help as Poppy Collectors at the various social gatherings.Britain's oldest poppy-seller who survived Auschwitz says he will never retire
| G K Chesterton once wrote that the test of a good religion is how much it can laugh at itself. So after two successful plays and a one-man show, Vicar Joe returns with this hilarious compendium of religious jokes, including faux pas from the pulpit and notice boards; jokes about baptisms, marriages and funerals; epitaphs on grave stones; religious chat-up lines; childrens take on religion; Bible facts that may have escaped you and much much more Co-author Peter Read says, For some people, religion and humour go together as easily as root canal work at the dentists and a plateful of chocolate clairs. Too often the church is linked with boredom and seriousness. Compiling this book, we have come to realise that lots of funny things happen in places of worship. There are so many ceremonies where something can go wrong. Total immersion is asking for trouble and this book is also brimming with stories of mayhem in christenings, weddings, Sunday services and even funerals. Vicar Joe is the football-mad alter ego of Swanseas all-round entertainer, Kevin Johns. The character was created in 2006 when Peter Read was asked to write a play about football for Swansea Grand Theatre. The comedy, which was called Toshack or Me! featured a vicar (Joe) who was so keen on watching Swansea City that he cancelled weddings if they clashed with matches. He also refused to marry one couple where the groom-to-be supported Swansea and she followed Cardiff City. In 2008 Vicar Joe reappeared in the play To Hull and Back , whilst in February 2009 the one-man shoe Vicar Joe was premiered at Swansea Grand Theatre Arts Wing. Vicar Joes Religious Joke Book will be launched by Kevin Johns and Peter Read at 7.30pm on Thursday 1 October at the Dylan Thomas Centre, Somerset Place, Swansea. INTRODUCTION
Peter Read and Kevin Johns |
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English / Cymraeg
WERE YOUNG, SEXY AND WE CLOG DANCE
Hi there,
Were Calan a Welsh band playing folk music with a whole lot of bling!
Come and join us on our Welsh tour. We had a great time playing at festivals this summer and now were looking forward to gigging around our home towns.
Between us we play the harp, fiddles, guitar and accordion and we even throw in a bit of clog dancing. We can promise you a fab night filled with lots of noise and lively tunes.
Wed LOVE you to come along to one of our gigs:
See you there!
Angharad, Bethan, Chris, Llinos and PatricP.S. Sometimes during the tour Brigyn are joining us sometimes Gwyneth Glyn sometimes both !!What the press says about us ..... "This multi-instrumental five-piece brings grace, daring and sheer joy to a winning selection of reels, jigs and hornpipes." (Gavin Martin - The Mirror)
"The dynamic quintet's debut album, Bling, has everything you could want from a record - stunning use of instrumentation, gorgeously crafted songs, sprightly foot-tappers, verve and raw excitement." (Nigel Gould - Belfast Daily Telegraph)
View Calan on YouTube ... click here
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Photo Comp Judges decision.
I was delighted to be asked to judge this competition and have to apologise for the delay in making my final decisions. In my defence not only have I been abroad but I have also been very busy with the gallery and commercial work in the last few weeks, sorry! After an awkward access to the images (needs to be much simpler to access and view next time guys!) I was quite surprised. Firstly that there were so few entries, just 11 in total, but then secondly by the one or two very high quality examples amongst them. This of course has made my job extremely easy as I have not had to create sets and subsets of short-listed finalists.It would be extremely unfair to judge the composite and heavily computer enhanced images alongside the straight shots, so I have made the decision to keep them as separate categories, regardless of how few the entries.In the straight photo category I am very happy with my decision to award Skull Shadow the first place, with a VERY close second being Snow Stream. Both showed an acute observation and an eye for the unusual. The Skull shadow had beautiful tonal range, colour and composition. This probably pipped Snow Stream to the post as I was desperate to see just a hint more contrast or tonal separation, though I loved the monochromatic choice of treatment.With regard to the manipulated images, there was a very clear winner (although heavily David Hockney inspired!!) with George Washington Bridge , whereby the use of multiple images allows the artist to shift emphasis from one element of the composition to another, picking up and highlighting details or observations that might otherwise be missed. Again I wish the original images had a little more clarity and tonal range but it was still a successful attempt. In second place I would go for Kilt and Bagpipes for its humour and composition. As an artist for whom the beauty of photography lies within its own phenomenal ability to reproduce tone and texture, I have always been highly critical of attempts to be painters through using computer buttons! I still stand by my view on this and painting should be left to skilled painters, but considering the category of this composition, I still feel the image deserved mention. As a tip, if I am ever asked to judge further competitions, never enter images which have used the art buttons in software packages 
A special mention should go to the Unicorn shot, which whilst lacking in technique, was nevertheless a rather beautiful image and innocently observed, quite haunting and was considered for second place.I should also say that were no bad shots amongst the entries, which is a good sign for AmeriCymru members Glyn Davies 2009
