Blogs
John MOuse new single - There's a hole in my heart (an area the size of Wales)
By Ceri Shaw, 2019-04-16
John MOuse returns with a breakup song in the guitar driven indie pop vein of 2014’s “I was a Goalkeeper”. Coming off the back of the experimental art Project “The Fen Sessions” where John MOuse wrote, produced, released and then deleted an album over a weekend, “There’s a hole in my heart (an area the size of Wales) is a punchy indie dance floor classic and is backed up with a remix of Gladiator / Contender by Bristol’s Greg Stoddard exclusively via the Bandcamp site. John MOuse will be promoting the single at Devaudin Festival , Chepstow on May 18th and Sugarfest Bristol May 26th.
John MOuse is a left of centre artist from Cardiff. John’s most recent album “The Fen Sessions” was written and released over a weekend and then deleted on the Monday. Collaborations with Sweet Baboo, Prince Edward Island, Los Campesinos and TV’s Steve Jones have littered his 5 studio albums all of which have receive critical praise and garnered airplay and support from Steve Lamacq, Tom Robinson, Huw Stephens, Gideon Coe and Stuart Maconie.John MOuse was born out of John’s previous band JT Mouse, which featured members of Zabrinksi, The Spencer McGarry Season and Steven Black AKA Sweet Baboo. John’s debut album released in 2006, on Crocfinger records was a collection of home tape recordings. It’s “A Universal” showed glimpses of the intriguing lyrical content that John MOuse future albums will become synonymous with.
2010 saw the release of the first and long-term songwriting partnership with Phil Pearce. Pearce, songwriter for Scottish fronted Prince Edward Island and Faye Davies creative partnership helped form “Humber Dogger Forties” which can be classed as the first proper John MOuse album. The album featured TV’s Steve Jones duet-ting with his step brother on “The Last Great Rhondda Romance”, a tale of two young boys falling in love in the South Wales Valleys.
“The Death of John MOuse” was mooted as the last John MOuse album. The deterioration of the song writing relationship reinforcing the title of what was to be MOuse’s most successful album to date. Lead single “I Was a Goalkeeper” a tale of old friends reuniting, another duet, this time featuring Gareth Paisey of Los Campesinos, was released prior to the 2014 World Cup and garnered unprecedented coverage for any previous John MOuse release.
A new era of John MOuse was born out of the album, and John hooked up with a new live band from his Rhondda home. Featuring members of MEA (a local Metal band) a revolving number of bass players and Paul Scunge Sheppard of 90’s Indie outfit Hopper, John went on to tour the UK. His live show, now with a new harder edge, but still full to the brim of performance, saw the band supporting the likes of Future of the Left, Half Man Half Biscuit, Malcolm Middleton and The Wave Pictures and at Festivals including two memorable sets at Green Man festival.
Eclectic, eccentric, genre hopping, have been both the strength and weakness to John MOuse career. A comparison of artist list the size of the doomsday book including bands such as Pulp, Roddy Frame, The Wedding Present, Art Brut, the list goes on and on. The saving grace and constant though is MOuse’s lyrics. The words are immersed in cultural artefact and personalities. Comic, bittersweet and nostalgia are recurring themes in all of John MOuse’s albums.
In 2018 John MOuse released “Replica Figures” the second album on Keep Me in Your Heart Records, and saw him return to work with JT Mouse member Stephen Black aka Sweet Baboo. The album was again Chameleonic in style and was somewhat a return to his lo-fi roots.
In early 2019. John MOuse attempted his most ambitious release to date. Writing, recording, producing, mixing, mastering and releasing an album over a weekend. Each track had a two-hour window and was uploaded for free download, until 9am on the Monday morning when “The Fen Sessions” would be deleted forever. Working again with long term songwriting partner Phil Pearce, Faye Davies and Jon Hodges, “The Fen Sessions” is a concept album never to be heard again.
28 musicians, both live and in the studio, have worked with John Mouse, reflecting the forever changing sounds and styles, and progressive nature of each John MOuse live show and release.
Week 6 of 52 - Hut Number 9, Island Farm
This week, Hut Number 9, Island Farm in Bridgend takes centre stage. Enthusiastic volunteers curate the World War Two German prisoner of war camp, organising Open Days at regular intervals. On 10th March 1945, 70 German POW’s attempted to escape digging a tunnel out of their wartime imprisonment. It became known as The Great Escape in Wales.
The Tommy Jenkins video has had some great comments. He’s had to postpone a few gigs lately through ill health but is up and running again for his summer engagements and has a new album out soon. Here’s a link to a video about Tom Paine, an American patriot. He wrote the political pamphlet Common Sense . It is credited as playing a crucial role in convincing colonists to take up arms against Britain.
“Without the pen of the author of Common Sense , the sword of Washington would have been raised in vain.”
John Adams
Click here for the video: Tom Paine's Bones,
There’s another link below to a sea song, Codi Angor (Raising The Anchor), where Tommy mixes Codi Angor in Welsh with the English, Leave Her, Johnny, Leave Her.
Click her for the video: Codi Angor,
The sun has been shining all week we did a video shoot down Oxwich on Gower. What a beautiful place, first visit to the beach this season. We had a small road trip around Gower taking in the sights and smells of the wild horses of Cefn Bryn. What a wonderful day but we should have taken a few sandwiches! Man cannot survive on ice cream alone!
The mantra is as Warren Zevon said, Enjoy Every Sandwich! Oh there’s another one, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead.
Ynys (ex Race Horses/Radio Luxembourg) delivers gorgeous sunshine kissed psych pop on debut single ‘Caneuon’ (Songs)!
By Ceri Shaw, 2019-04-12
‘Caneuon’ (Songs) is the first material recorded and released by Dylan since his days in Race Horses and it’s been worth the wait. With an open and big chorus that envelopes the listener into his world; ‘Caneuon’ is inviting and unforgettable. It’s a hymn to the power of an ‘unexpected song’ saved from the past and it overflows with longing for the pure joy that music brings. Caneuon was recorded in Tŷ Drwg with renowned Cardiff producer Frank Naughton and mixed and mastered by Iwan Morgan (Gruff Rhys, Euros Childs, H Hawkline, Cate Le Bon, Meilyr Jones) in Liverpool.
CANEUON (Songs)
Verse
Like the friend, who’s gone away,
Lost, and far away.
Another year behind your eyes,
Still waiting for something to return
Like the key under the stone, waiting for the door
Another reason to meet, and run away
Chorus
I was listening to Gegin Nos,
When it all came back.
The old lost melodies, are always here for you.
Verse
It starts to happen, one day at a time,
The voice I’ve heard a thousand times.
Sometimes when you’re lost, and no one understands.
In another dream, I’ll hear you singing once again,
Another reason to meet, and run away
Breichiau Hir release brand new punk/post hardcore anthem 'Penblwydd Hapus Iawn' (A Very Happy Birthday) this week!
By Ceri Shaw, 2019-04-10
“Welsh Language emo heroes Breichiau Hir are one of the best kept secrets I reckon, combining urgency and melody and leaving you want to cry and learn Welsh” Huw Stephens
Welsh punk band Breichiau Hir deliver an urgent call to arms with their new single, ‘Penblwydd Hapus Iawn ' (A Very Happy Birthday). An unflinching three minutes of punk aggression powered by a wall of three-pronged guitars and cathartic screams, underscored by brittle melodic interplay, reminiscent of the band’s early influences, Sunny Day Real Estate, At The Drive In and The Get Up Kids , it proves that Breichiau Hr's visceral prescient sound is primed for wider attention. Steffan Dafydd the band’s lyricist and vocalist explains: " the setting of the song is a catastrophic birthday party I attended a few years ago where I witnessed the worst in some of the best people”.
It's Breichiau Hir’s third release on West Wales imprint Libertino records, home to the most exciting emerging Welsh acts( Adwaith, Los Blancos, Silent Forum ). If ever a band was needed to soundtrack these unhinged times, where there is a lack of political and social responsibility and accountability, Breichiau Hir fill that void with passion and honesty.
Breichiau Hir are a cult Welsh language six-piece with a rich history spanning over a decade that depicts just how committed they are to their cause. They met in 2008 when they were schoolmates in Cardiff, inspired by the post-hardcore, punk and emo bands of the 1990s. They released a handful of self-produced DIY singles and played numerous shows throughout their university years. "In 2015 we recorded our EP Mae'r Angerdd Yma Yn Troi Yn Gas.” Says Dafydd “We were still experimenting and seeing what fits. This was the first time we had recorded a collection of songs all in one studio with Mei Gwynedd who also released it via his label Jigcal" The singles 'Toddi' and 'Ti A Dy Ffordd' both received airplay and critical acclaim. Ti A Dy Ffordd was picked out as 2015's song of the year in Golwg magazine.
In 2018, they signed to Libertino Records and released the dark melodic sound of double-a side, 'Halen' and 'Mewn Darnau', rounding off the year with the speak/shouty punk single, 'Portread O Ddyn Yn Bwyta Ei Hun.'
Translated Lyrics:
OK, I’d like to say that I have nothing better to say
I’ve already used these words
I don’t want to do anything
I’d say that’s worse for me than it is for you
Biting tongues and keeping things to yourselves
Someone here deserves anything better but being here
OK, she didn’t do anything
But here you are, staring, completely still.
And I have nothing more to say
So I’m getting out of here fast
A very happy birthday to you
Thank God, I have to leave now
Your face has turned white, your veins tight
You’re black magic that only works on me I hate every day
I’m an overflowing glass of juice, and everyday sips away at me
What a very happy birthday to you
Acquiring useful things has become more important
in his later years of reflection and bigger pictures
as he unpacks the black and yellow hard plastic case
that conveys and conceals a Combi drill
pulls it out fits the battery into the hand grip
poses with it briefly pressing the trigger
a short whirr of the bit making him believe
he’s in a remake of Bladerunner
that he could some damage with this power tool
whilst considering how many of the current crop
of Members of Parliament could do with
an injection of honesty good manners and humanity
stored deep in an unremarkable darkness in his house
is a tool box that contains some of his collection of arms
those knives bayonets clubs and handguns
he keeps out of sight of the few visitors he receives
but easy enough to access should civil war break out
in the supermarkets at ATMs in hospitals and schools
on slip roads country lanes and in car parks
when the whole country gets acquainted
with how weaponized it is
and how much of it has an urgent need
to separate from the misplaced exceptionalism
of London and the south east of England
taking back control as they would have it
betrayal is a word bandied about a lot
in the hot air of the moment
but he feels badly let down
by much of information technology
suffering the buffering of streaming services
when he has at last sat down to watch something
he was looking forward to after a day of what he does
nothing works anymore there's so much junk around
the promise of home entertainment winds hims up
and he wishes he was back in the 17th or even the 7th century
he wrestles too with packaging
amazed and exasperated at how robust it is
when he tries to open it with implements
perhaps the manufacturers are collectively possessed
of a black humour and conspire to make it difficult
for their customers to break into their products
he realises he may be paranoid but could also be right
he's feeling a little uncomfortable even guilty
about his sincere interest in serial killing cases
because he's now learned that he should have paid
more attention to the mostly female victims
but he can't always remember their names
which kind of proves a point he is slow to acknowledge
he prefers his poets dead in the main
it's nothing personal nothing he wishes for anyone
that's how he's interacted generally for decades
the finite information the finite nostalgia
nothing to fear any more a line drawn
he gardens industriously and ironically
now that the UN has given the soil sixty years
he could cry letting his tears water his parcel of land
at least he'll be long in the ground by then
but he feels for the kids the birds the animals the fish
the insects the trees the flowers the forests the savannah
the oxygen the wind the moon the sun the stars
the sea the streams the lakes the rivers
the lovers and the possibilities
he holds his breath when neighbours mispronounce
his name and those of his parents and his house
he tries to smother a snort of contempt
for these are good folk they’re just like him
though he can understand when others complain
about thousands of strangers settling in their home areas
nothing is as it used to be
today his web photo archive provider sent him an image
to remind him of this date one year ago
a photo of an area of dampness on a ceiling
the reminiscing of an algorithm there's no contest
even if the robots will take over as it appears they will
he chuckles and recalls the word clusterfuck
that crops up in his newspaper rather often these days
tonight he waits for a meteorite shower to arrive
an honour though he's a little impatient
fretting that he's looking at the wrong patch of sky
he need not worry for this has been done before
and is still wonderful
Week 5 of 52 - Tommy Jenkins
This week Tommy Jenkins allows us an insight into the musical life story of one of Wales’ most unique folk singers. His work in the folk scene in South Wales is unparalleled as a solo artist and in various bands including Cromlech. I have an album of theirs in my collection, Igam Ogam on the Sain record label.
A self-taught Welsh speaker, he gives us an in depth view into his career. I wanted to edit the video down to ten minutes so that more viewers in this digital age would watch. It’s well known that the short attention span of the You Tube generations want an experience that is quick and short. Tommy comes in at nearly thirty minutes, I urge you sit, relax and listen to Tommy’s story.
Tommy has released several albums over the years including Songs of Swansea and Gower. By the end of April he is hopefully releasing a new album
I’m off tonight to watch coracle fishing on the River Towy in Carmarthen, a 9.30 p.m. start. We will be filming them soon and putting together a documentary on the history and folklore of the unique fishing craft through the ages.
Next week Mother Bear are off to film in a recording studio in Gorslas, Carmarthenhshire and capture the unique sound of Ron Savory and Liz Crippin before they set out an extensive tour of post-Brexit Europe.
Here’s a link to a performance at the Laugharne Festival in 2017 -
Here’s a few we hope to bring to you soon:
- Kidwelly Castle
- Boss Brewing, Cardiff
- embrokeshire Beach Food
- Rhondda Heritage Centre
- Surfers against Sewage
- Tin Churches of Pembrokeshire
It’s a wonderful hobby travelling around Wales getting to know people from different walks of life and Americymru gives us the focus to continue.
THE SEARCH FOR 12 NEW HORIZONS ARTISTS IS ON / DATGANIAD I'R WASG - Y CHWILIO AM 12 ARTIST GORWELION NEWYDD WEDI DECHRAU
By Ceri Shaw, 2019-04-04
Celebrating its 5th year this year, Horizons has given a platform to over 48 emerging artists from Wales giving them opportunities to reach new audiences in Wales, the UK and beyond. And now they’re looking for 12 new artists.
The application process is now open. The 12 successful acts will be supported in various ways over the next 12 months – with opportunities to appear at festivals and events, on the radio including BBC Wales’ national services - BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales and on social media.
The Horizons project aims to showcase promising talent in Wales. Highlights over the past five years include recording at the world-renowned Rockfield Studios in Monmouthshire, Maida Vale Studios in London, and an exclusive collaboration with partners like the Football Association of Wales who are currently showcasing Horizons’ artist’s music as the soundtrack of Welsh football.
As the Horizons project celebrates its fifth year, there are plans to work with new partners as well as bring a host of new and former Horizons artists together to create some extra special moments across 2019.
Bethan Elfyn, Project Manager of Horizons at BBC Wales, said:
“We’re looking forward to welcoming 12 new musical talents to the project. In this fifth year we’ll be on a mission to celebrate the role the project plays; we’re proud of everything from the grassroots work we do to the larger scale collaborations, representing a wide range of diverse musical styles, talents, locations and backgrounds. Horizons is a crucial injection into an already energised, and prolific Welsh music scene.”
“By supporting a group of artists, not only do we help nurture new talent but create a window on Welsh music at home as well as further afield. Our vision continues to be to bring a new, fresh sound to represent a modern Wales – and some of the stories from the Welsh music world are having a huge cultural impact at a crucial time.”
Lisa Matthews, Portfolio Manager at Arts Council of Wales, says:
"We’re proud to support Horizons for a further year and see another 12 artists have a creative and potentially career changing year. There’s been some incredible opportunities created so far and we’re looking forward with excitement to enabling more developmental music experiences."
Applications are open from April 4 to Midnight, May 1, and announcements will follow in June. Acts who want to be considered fill in a form online via bbc.co.uk/horizons . Horizons acts will be selected by a panel of experts from within the partnership and the wider music sector.
Please follow Twitter and Facebook - @horizonscymru - for all the information.
Horizons acts have been showcased at some of the biggest festivals at home and internationally from Glastonbury, The Great Escape, Festival No.6, Focus Wales, to Eurosonic and SXSW and performed sessions at the legendary Maida Vale Studios. In the four years of the project previous Horizons alumni include Himalayas, Candelas, Swnami, Casi, Hannah Grace, Violet Skies, Adwaith, Afrocluster, Baby Queens, Kizzy Crawford, Seazoo, Reuel Elijah, Danielle Lewis and many more who have benefitted from the Horizon’s Project.
Eadyth, one of the artists from the 2018 project says:
"I was so thrilled to be selected last year for Horizons, and the year has given me the encouragement to keep on with my music. I’ve done all sorts of things including a gig in the woods at San Ffagan and streaming a show live from the Assembly building in Cardiff Bay to an event in New York for Welsh Language Music Day. Another honour was to be the first artist to be chosen to soundtrack the Horizons partnership with the Football Association of Wales’ women’s team campaign. Best of all, I’ve got great gigs lined up with Horizons for the year ahead too."
2018 Horizons band Adwaith added:
"Congratulations to Horizons on their 5th year Anniversary. We started our year with Horizons playing at the Radio One Academy in Swansea last May, and then live on BBC Radio Cymru from the fringe. One of the highlights for us this year was recording at Rockfield Studios – they’re iconic! Another highlight was a gig in London, which started at a networking lunch with Sony. We’ve enjoyed the journey with the Horizons team and met some amazing people on the way too. It's been fun!"
Ian Gwyn Hughes, Head of Public Affairs, Football Association of Wales said of the Horizons/FAW collaboration:
"We're excited to be heading into the new year with Horizons. Music and football are two very special parts of Welsh culture and we’re eager to support new talent from Wales in the music industry by being one of the platforms for bringing new music to a wider audience."
Mae BBC Cymru Wales a Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru heddiw’n cyhoeddi bod y chwilio am artistiaid Gorwelion i ymuno â phrosiect 2019 bellach wedi dechrau.
Yn dathlu ei 5ed flwyddyn eleni, mae Gorwelion wedi rhoi llwyfan i dros 48 o artistiaid newydd o Gymru gan roi cyfleoedd iddynt gyrraedd cynulleidfaoedd newydd yng Nghymru, y DU a thu hwnt. Nawr maent yn chwilio am 12 artist newydd.
Mae’r broses ymgeisio nawr yn agored. Bydd y 12 ymgeisydd llwyddiannus yn cael cymorth mewn gwahanol ffyrdd dros y 12 mis nesaf – gyda chyfleoedd i ymddangos mewn gwyliau a digwyddiadau, ar y radio gan gynnwys gwasanaethau cenedlaethol BBC Cymru Wales – BBC Radio Cymru a BBC Radio Wales ac ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol.
Nod prosiect Gorwelion yw arddangos doniau addawol yng Nghymru. Mae uchafbwyntiau'r pum mlynedd diwethaf yn cynnwys recordio yn Stiwdios Rockfield byd enwog yn Sir Fynwy, Maida Vale Studios yn Llundain a chydweithrediad unigryw gyda phartneriaid fel Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru sydd ar hyn o bryd yn arddangos cerddoriaeth un o artistiaid Gorwelion fel trac sain pêl-droed Cymru.
Wrth i brosiect Gorwelion ddathlu ei bumed pen-blwydd, mae cynlluniau i weithio gyda phartneriaid newydd yn ogystal â dod â llu o artistiaid newydd a chyn-artistiaid Gorwelion at ei gilydd i greu eiliadau hynod arbennig ar draws 2019.
Dywedodd Bethan Elfyn, Rheolwr Prosiect Gorwelion yn BBC Cymru Wales:
“Rydyn ni’n edrych ymlaen at groesawu 12 dawn gerddorol newydd i’r prosiect. Yn y bumed flwyddyn hon byddwn yn mynd ati i ddathlu’r rôl a chwaraeir gan y prosiect; rydym yn falch o bopeth, o’r gwaith ar lawr gwlad i’r gwaith a wnawn ar y cydweithrediadau mwy, gan gynrychioli ystod eang o arddulliau, doniau, lleoliadau a chefndiroedd cerddorol amrywiol. Mae Gorwelion yn gyfraniad pwysig i’r sîn gerddoriaeth Gymreig sydd eisoes yn hynod gynhyrchiol a bywiog.”
“Drwy roi cefnogaeth i grŵp o artistiaid, nid yn unig yr ydym yn helpu i feithrin doniau newydd ond hefyd yn creu ffenestr ar gerddoriaeth Gymreig yma yng Nghymru a thu hwnt. Mae ein gweledigaeth yn parhau i ddod â sain newydd, ffres i gynrychioli Cymru fodern – ac mae rhai o’r straeon o fyd cerddoriaeth Cymru’n cael effaith ddiwylliannol enfawr ar adeg hynod bwysig.”
Dywedodd Lisa Matthews, Rheolwr Portffolio yng Nghyngor Celfyddydau Cymru:
“Rydyn ni’n falch o gael cefnogi Gorwelion am flwyddyn arall a chael gweld 12 artist arall yn cael blwyddyn greadigol a allai newid eu gyrfaoedd. Mae cyfleoedd anhygoel wedi cael eu creu hyd yma ac rydyn ni’n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at alluogi mwy o gyfleoedd datblygu newydd.”
Bydd modd ymgeisio rhwng Ebrill 4 a Hanner Nos, Mai 1, a bydd cyhoeddiadau'n dilyn ym mis Mehefin. Dylai artistiaid sydd eisiau cael eu hystyried lenwi ffurflen ar-lein drwy bbc.co.uk/horizons . Bydd rhestr Gorwelion yn cael ei dewis gan banel o arbenigwyr yn y bartneriaeth ac yn y sector cerddorol ehangach.
Dilynwch ar Twitter a Facebook os gwelwch yn dda - @horizonscymru - i gael yr holl wybodaeth.
Mae artistiaid Gorwelion wedi cael cyfle i arddangos eu doniau yn rhai o’r gwyliau mwyaf yn y wlad hon ac yn rhyngwladol, o Glastonbury, The Great Escape, Gŵyl Rhif 6, Focus Wales, i Eurosonic a SXSW ac wedi perfformio sesiynau yn Maida Vale Studios chwedlonol. Yn ystod pedair blynedd flaenorol y prosiect, mae’r rhai fu’n cymryd rhan yn cynnwys Himalayas, Candelas, Swnami, Casi, Hannah Grace, Violet Skies, Adwaith, Afrocluster, Baby Queens, Kizzy Crawford, Seazoo, Reuel Elijah, Danielle Lewis a llawer mwy sydd wedi cael budd o Brosiect Gorwelion.
Meddai Eadyth, un o’r artistiaid ar brosiect 2018:
“Roeddwn i wrth fy modd o gael fy newis ar gyfer Gorwelion y llynedd, ac mae’r flwyddyn wedi rhoi anogaeth i mi ddal ati gyda fy ngherddoriaeth. Rydw i wedi gwneud pob math o bethau, gan gynnwys gig yn y coed yn Sain Ffagan, a ffrydio sioe yn fyw o adeilad y Cynulliad ym Mae Caerdydd i ddigwyddiad yn Efrog Newydd ar gyfer Dydd Miwsig Cymru. Anrhydedd arall oedd bod yr artist cyntaf i gael ei dewis i ddarparu trac sain partneriaeth Gorwelion gydag ymgyrch tîm merched Cymdeithas Pêl-droed Cymru. A’r peth gorau un, mae gen i gigs gwych wedi’u trefnu gyda Gorwelion ar gyfer y flwyddyn i ddod hefyd.”
Ychwanegodd Adwaith, grŵp Gorwelion 2018:
“Llongyfarchiadau i Gorwelion ar eu 5ed Pen-blwydd. Fe wnaethon ni ddechrau ein blwyddyn gyda Gorwelion yn chwarae yn y Radio One Academy yn Abertawe fis Mai diwethaf, ac yna’n fyw ar BBC Radio Cymru o’r ffrinj. Un o’r uchafbwyntiau i ni eleni oedd recordio yn Rockfield Studios - mae nhw’n eiconig! Uchafbwynt arall oedd gig yn Llundain, a ddechreuodd mewn cinio rhwydweithio gyda Sony. Rydyn ni wedi mwynhau’r daith gyda thîm Gorwelion ac wedi cwrdd â phobl wych ar y ffordd hefyd. Mae wedi bod yn hwyl!”
Meddai Ian Gwyn Hughes, Pennaeth Materion Cyhoeddus Cymdeithas Pêl-droed Cymru am y cydweithio rhwng Gorwelion a’r Gymdeithas:
“Rydym yn gyffrous wrth ddechrau blwyddyn newydd gyda Gorwelion. Mae cerddoriaeth a phêl-droed yn ddwy agwedd arbennig ar ddiwylliant Cymru ac rydym yn awyddus i gefnogi doniau newydd o Gymru yn y diwydiant cerdd drwy fod yn un o’r llwyfannau ar gyfer dod â cherddoriaeth at gynulleidfa ehangach.”
Mae Gorwelion / Horizons yn gynllun a redir gan BBC Cymru Wales mewn partneriaeth â Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru i ddatblygu cerddoriaeth gyfoes annibynnol, newydd yng Nghymru.
Quiet Marauder unveil new video 'What Happened to Science?' featuring the Burning Hell
By Ceri Shaw, 2019-04-03
Tour dates with The Burning Hell June 24th – Cardiff – Tiny Rebel
June 25th – Brighton – Hope and Ruin
June 26th - Nottingham - Albert's
June 27th – Manchester – The Deaf Institute
June 28th – Bristol – The Louisiana
June 30th – London – The Lexington
SULLY ISLAND (Starting point) <------------------- (65.1 miles) ----------------------> LUNDY ISLAND (Destination)
Competitors from all over Wales and the world will be descending on the small Glamorganshire village of Sully today for the annual Lundy Li-Lo (air mattress) Dash. The event which has been held in the Glan Mor Hafren ( Severn Estuary) since 1966 is a gruelling test of endurance and physical fitness which brings hundreds of athletes together in an attempt to beat the world record for butterfly stroking on an air mattress the 65.1 miles between Sully and Lundy Island.
AmeriCymru spoke to competitor (and last years runner up) David Jones as he wrestled a keg from his locker. When asked why he put to sea with a 40 pint pressure barrel strapped to his back he replied:- "You've gotta stay properly hydrated. It's a long way and it's hard work and you've got the sun on your back too."
RAF Air Sea Rescue captain Llywelyn 'Biggles' Jones said:- "We are always very busy at this time of year and we strongly advise competitors to behave responsibly and observe all necessary safety precautions. So....don't forget the sun screen."
Rescue teams are standing by on the cliffs at Lundy Island in case competitors make landfall in an awkward spot. Most of the island is ringed by cliffs and there is only one safe landing point. Spotters with binoculars and telescopes will also be watching to detect any competitors who, having missed the island altogether, are washed out into mid-Atlantic by the strong tides and currents.
If you would like to take part in next years Lundy Li-Lo Dash please follow the link below to register on the official website.
Week 4 of 52, Trudi Petersen
This week we introduce you to Trudi Petersen who is running an independent shop, Found and Seek in the county town of Carmarthen.
I first met Trudi in a Cross Hands Working Men’s Club at a Spoken Word Open Mic. As a performance poet she is a very able artist with a great stage presence and a cultured use of language. She made me smile and she made me laugh. I’ll let her tell you her story in her own inimitable way.
Last Friday Mother Bear travelled to Trawsfynydd. What a day! A 5.30 a.m. start meant we were up in Yr Ysgwrn in time for breakfast. The last productions of The Empty Chair were extremely powerful and the one-man multimedia show of Hedd Wynn’s life was performed by the national poet of Wales, Ifor Ap Glyn.
The croeso at the bwythyn was warm and welcoming. The bara brith and panedd o de very much appreciated. It wasn’t for the first time in my life that I was sorry for the lack of a fluent Welsh tongue in my repertoire. I urge you if you visit Wales you must go to the home of the poet. http://www.yrysgwrn.com/home .
We’re off this week to meet up with Anna of isea surfwear. An independent bespoke print and design business being run out of a barn in Llanteg, Amroth and if we can fit it in Columbus Campers in Swansea run by the illustrious Jimmy Page. Although not the Led Zeppelin guitarist, James does play a guitar beautifully. Coincidentally, I bought tickets for a Robert Plant show in the Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen in April. It’s not the usual show they put on in the Lyric. We’ll have to try and get an interview and ask him about Led Zep’s impromptu performance at the Silverdales Caravan Club in Pendine in the 80’s!
Well, we beat the Irish and the nation partied. They are an outstanding group of athletes dedicated to their professional sport. For me it is very gratifying to see local players coming through the system and to have coached them at a younger age, Kenneth Owens and Jonathan Davies dedicated their lives to rugby from a young age and they deserve all they get. Llongyfarchiadau.
Perhaps it’s wrong to say it at this time of celebration and optimism but Welsh Rugby isn’t in a good place. I haven’t got statistics at my fingertips but from what I observe amateur grass roots rugby is dying fast. Second team rugby, social rugby is nearly dead and Youth rugby not far behind it. We live in a different world of professional sport and the emphasis of sport for all in rugby has now switched to providing the National team with the highest quality but it is at the detriment of social rugby. Sad to say but rugby isn’t what it used to be. Rugby clubs are fighting for their survival. Could be a video on the subject?
