Blogs
Read our 2011 interview with Gwenno Dafydd HERE
AmeriCymru:- Hi Gwenno and diolch for agreeing to this interview. I have to ask you firstly, how was the St David's Day Parade this year?
Gwenno:- Really good, more organisations coming on board such as Cardiff Cycle Tours all the faithful schools and schoolchildren from previous years and this year some more giants, which I was very proud of as I suggested the idea to the Parade Partnership (NSDDP, Cardiff County Council and Welsh Assembly Government) back in 2008 and 2009 when I was actively involved in the organisation of the parade.
Ben Bore (Rhys) / Rhys Wynne License CC Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5
Gwenno:- It is an honour bestowed by Cardiff and Co , the organisation for Cardiff which acts as a portal for information regarding investment, tourism, conferences, events, shopping, education, living and working in Cardiff. As Ambassadors we actively promote the city as a great destination for all sorts of events in our professional dealings as well as being invited to networking events to develop business for Cardiff and a celebrity dinner every year. This year our guest of honour was Welsh adventurer Richard Parks and he spoke about his incredible achievement of climbing to the summits of the seven highest mountains of the seven continents, the South Pole, North Pole and Everest in less than seven months.
I was really honoured to have interviewed him last year for the radio programme I co-present every week on Radio Cardiff, ‘Mack and Welshy Woman’ (Councillor Neil McEvoy, Deputy Chair of Cardiff City Council introduces me as ‘Gwenno Dafydd – The Welshiest Woman in Wales’ !!!) and was very lucky to have sat with his production team at the Ambassadors Dinner and met him again at the year’s Ambassadors Ball.
I would also like to take this opportunity to mention how hard Councillor McEvoy (Plaid Cymru) has worked to develop a week long festival to celebrate Saint David’s Day in Cardiff and this is again growing year on year. It has come to fruition as a direct result of the spectacular growth that we had with the NSDDP in both 2008 and 2009 when we had in the region of 8,000 thousand in 2008 and around 10,000 participants in the 2009 Parade.
AmeriCymru:- You also host a regular bi-weekly slot on S4C's 'Wedi Tri' as one of the 'Gossip Girls'. What is your role on the show?
Gwenno:- I don’t actually host the programme I am on the panel. We talk about three different subjects that have turned up during the week and we talk about them on live television through the medium of Welsh. I really love the challenge.
AmeriCymru:- You will be attending NAFOW at Scranton this year along with the Cor Godre'r Garth. How did you become involved with the choir?
Gwenno:- I first started singing with the choir in around 1986 or so and was a faithful member of the choir under the baton of Wil Morus Jones for several years and then left soon after my daughter was born in around 1993. I joined another choir which was more convenient for many years but I never had any fun at all with the new choir and always knew that I really belonged to Cor Godre’r Garth, who were a bunch of really friendly warm and fun people – watch out Scranton we’re a lively bunch!!!
AmeriCymru:- What for you, will be the highlight of the event?
Gwenno:- Don’t know yet – we haven’t been told very much about it – I think it will be obviously the singing and also meeting and making new friends in Scranton. One thing I am really looking forward to on the trip is going back to Don’t Tell Mama’s Piano Bar off Broadway and taking the choir there for a sing song. I was there last March and sang a few songs with their resident pianist, Nate Buccieri www.donttellmamanyc.com won’t know what’s hit them if our choir gets up there and starts to sing!!!
AmeriCymru:- Is this your first visit to the Scranton area?
Gwenno:- Yes. However, when I was in America in 2004 filming I came across an amazing dvd for back problems and having suffered with a very painful choric back condition for many, many years I started working with the person who had developed the dvd. It really transformed my life so much so that I ended up running again, and ended up fulfilling a lifetimes’ dream of winning my Welsh vest for the 400 metres. The person who developed this amazing dvd, James Ciferni lives in the Scranton area and I’m really hoping that I can meet him when we come over so I can shake his hand and thank him properly for all he has done for me. If you are interested in finding out more go to www.backpaineliminator.com
AmeriCymru:- Any final message for our readers and attendees of NAFOW?
Gwenno:- Come along to hear us sing – you will not be disappointed. Eilir Owen Griffiths our conductor is an immensely talented young man who is also the Musical Director of the Llangollen Music Festival and we will be performing some pieces he has composed. We had a concert this last Sunday to raise money for this year’s National Eisteddfod in Barry and we sang his masterpiece ‘Gorffennwyd’ (It is finished) I have to say the hairs stood up on my skin. You are in for a treat Ladies and Gentlemen and I can’t wait to meet you all.
Check out the latest video about the Welsh Hill Farming Experience Tour below. See our previous articles and interviews about the Hill Farming Experience and Celticos/AmeriCymru Tours here:- Celticos/AmeriCymru Trail Tour
Read more here:-
New Welsh Hill Farming Experience Video! on americymru #northwales http://t.co/sZE76QfqaF
— americymru (@americymru) June 24, 2014
Wales Lacrosse Denver, Colorado 2014 - An Interview With Coach Dan Funnell
By AmeriCymru, 2015-12-02
OK... so the US is out of the World Cup and Wales didn't make it this time around BUT there is another international sporting event coming up soon in which Wales will most definitely be represented. The Welsh Lacrosse team landed in the USA on Wednesday for the 2014 World Lacrosse Championships in Denver Colorado. We sincerely hope that AmeriCymru members in or near Denver will turn out to support the team details here . If you dont live in Colorado you can watch Wales play live on ESPN. Their first televised match is against New Zealand on July 13th schedule here AmeriCymru spoke to team coach, Dan Funnell about this years competition and the squad which will fly the flag for Wales. AmeriCymru: Can you tell us something about the history of the team? How did there come to be a Welsh lacrosse team and how did you become involved with it? Dan: Lacrosse has been played in Wales since the early 1900s and has grown steadily until the last decade when development has accelerated. The first national side was selected in 1992 and our first full international was a defeat to Scotland – but the game has been played in Wales since the early 1900s.
Dan: We have picked a 23-man squad who age from 18 to 36-years-old and they are all either employed or students. Each one has had to train in their spare time and fund their own travel and accommodation in Denver while taking holiday from their jobs. The sport is totally amateur in Wales and the UK. Some of our players have played at other World and European Championships but for several this will be a totally new experience. Our co-captains are attacker Paul Simpson, Steve McDermott, a midfielder, and Jason Jones, a defender, who have all played in previous World Championships. But watch out for midfielders Rhodri Stanford, whose younger sister Non is World Triathlon Champion, and Dave Howie.
AmeriCymru: What can you tell us about the other teams in the Plum Division? Has Wales played any of them before?
AmeriCymru: What date(s) will Wales play and which team will be their first opponent?
Dan: Our first game will be against Russia at Field 3 at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park at 9.30 a.m. on Friday, July 11 . We then play Argentina on Field 8 at 11.30 on Saturday 12 and finish the Group games on Sunday, July 13, against New Zealand on Field 10 at 8 am .
Coleg Sir Gâr art students, Pont Books, debut author and Machynlleth bookshop work together
By AmeriCymru, 2015-12-01
The artwork of students from Coleg Sir Gâr will be displayed in the Penrallt Bookshop in Machynlleth to celebrate the launch of a book for readers aged 9-12, Top Dog, by first-time author Emma Rea. Pont Books gave students on the Digital Illustration B.A. course at Coleg Sir Gâr, Carmarthen a challenge – to design a cover which would capture something of the novel’s friendships and quarrels, the bikes and countryside, a young dog and a mysterious newcomer. The project was so successful that Liam Cole’s design, of a boy holding up a puppy at the end of a summer’s day, was chosen by Pont Books editor, Cathryn Gwynn, and author Emma Rea as the final cover. At the very start of the process, Liam Cole said “I’m totally excited by this work, because illustrating children’s books is what I really want to do in the future.”
Emma Rea said ‘It was wonderful to see such accomplished representations of my story. I liked several of them very much – but I thought Liam’s captured the spirit of the story.’ Emma lived near Machynlleth for five years; her two boys went to Llanidloes Primary School and her daughter was born in Dolgellau. ‘Mid-Wales is an exciting place for young children, with its rivers, hills and woodlands. I think a certain amount of freedom encourages initiative in children and I hoped to portray this in my story. Watching them make bowls from clay found in the river, and creating bike tracks around trees inspired me to write a story in which excitement is found in the real world, in what children can make and do by themselves.’
Top Dog , published by Pont Books will be launched at Penrallt Bookshop, Machynlleth at 6pm on the 28 th of May. The book tells the story of Dylan, who has high hopes of building a challenging and exciting bike track around his father’s fields. When a new boy, Floyd, arrives in the village Dylan’s plans start to go awry. As Floyd encroaches further and further into Dylan’s life, Dylan begins to notice the new boy’s strange behaviour and sets out to investigate.
Cathryn Gwynn of Pont Books said “We are very pleased to work in co-operation with Coleg Sir Gâr in offering new and talented students an opportunity to develop creative ideas and skills linked to children’s books. Pont is also delighted to welcome Emma Rea as one of its new summer authors of 2014. Read Top Dog and enjoy!”
Diane Bailey of Penrallt Bookshop said ‘With Pen'rallt Gallery Bookshop's third birthday this month, we begin a 'new year' with a focus on good writing for young readers in both Welsh and English; Emma's book, TOP DOG, published by Pont Books, an imprint of Gomer, set in the locality and packed with excitement, provides a perfect curtain raiser. If we're to enjoy quality book cover art, new artists must be supported and encouraged, so we're thrilled to have the opportunity to display the work of these accomplished student designers.'
Top Dog will be available from all good bookshops and online retailers.
For more information, please visit www.gomer.co.uk
Logic Puzzle: You are on your way across the Rhinogs to Maentwrog. You come to a crossroads in the mist. You must turn left or right.
Two members of the infamous local Davies family ( Dai & Idris ) are standing at the T junction. There are 2 brothers. One of them always tell the truth and the other always lies. You ask, "Which way is Maentwrog?"
Dai Davies spits his chawin baccy into the dirt and says "Left"
Idris, draining his can of Wrexham Lager, says "No it's not"
After a pause Idris adds "At least one of us is telling the truth"
Which way do you go and why?
( There is a correct answer and there is no trick....it is pure logic )
Puzzle adapted from King Arthur In Search of His Dog by Raymond M. Smullyan
John MOuse releases new album via Crocfingers “The death of John MOuse”14th July
By AmeriCymru, 2015-12-01
‘ The death of John Mouse’ is John MOuse ’s fourth album and first long player since 2010’s acclaimed ‘Humber Dogger Forties ,’ and it finally sees the light of day this summer, a remarkable feat of endurance and persistence: four years in the making and funded by an ingenious Kickstarter campaign. ‘ The death of John Mouse’ is John MOuse’s finest work to date, crafting his unique quirk-pop songs into a grander whole, thus the instrumentals are more muscular, the hooks catchier, the vocals more emphatically delivered. While each song is rooted in John’s brutally personal lyrics that are laced with his witty South Walian slant on life.
The album is preceded by the excellent single “I Was A Goalkeeper” #IWAGK available to download July 7th via itunes is a s parky indie-pop duet between John and Gareth David, lead singer from LOS CAMPESINOS. It’s an anthem to child-parents and childhoods past, urging Steve Lamacq to recently admit ‘Possibly our favourite new football reco rd’. It also features previous single Robbie Savage, a song that Mary Anne Hobbs recently described as ‘an extraordinary piece of poetry’ on BBC 6 Music. J ohn MOuse will perform at GreenMan 2014 Festival alongside BEIRUT , Neutral Milk Hotel and First Aid Kit .
John MOuse, real name John Davies has been described as ‘A Welsh Beck,’ and ‘A Less Funny Half Man Half Biscuit’. Under his previous incarnation JT Mouse he worked with Sweet Baboo (aka Steven Black) while in 2010 he scored as cult hit with a song about a gay romance with another duet, this time with TV presenter Steve Jones . Airplay support for John MOuse includes Frank Skinner on Absolute Radio, Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 1, Steve Lamacq on BBC 6 Music and Adam Walton & Bethan Elfyn on BBC Radio Wales.
facebook.com/johnmousemusic twitter.com/johnmousemusic bandcamp.com/johnmousemusic
The Welsh poetry competition organisers have announced the winners of their international competition. The overall winner was Kathy Miles for her poem"
‘There was a very high standard this year so it was a challenge to select the winning entries. The styles were varied but whether they were rhyming, non-rhyming, short, or long, what matters most is that these poems were written by people with heartfelt thoughts and feelings about the world around them. ‘Whether they were big names in the literary world, or new and unpublished writers, each entry was judged anonymously and the winners chosen purely on merit. This has to be the most fair and genuinely open competition in the UK. It's little wonder that its popularity is spreading and so many people from right around the world had decided to enter this year.’ said John Evans, competition judge.
The winners were as follows:
1st Prize – The Pain Game by Kathy Miles
2nd Prize – Albatross by Robert Marsland
3rd Prize – Remembrance: All Hallows by Eluned Rees
John also choose another seventeen poems for the ‘specially commended’ section with winners from all over Wales and the UK, as well as from USA and Australia, which once again highlights the fact that the Welsh Poetry Competition is a truly international event. All winning poems and judges’ comments can be viewed on the competition web site – www.welshpoetry.co.uk
‘The overall standard was once again excellent and this year more than any other we've seen a very high quality batch of entrants. We’ve also had poets enter from every corner of the globe.
To get involved with next years’ competition, buy the anthology or just keep up to date with what we are doing you just need to visit The Welsh Poetry Competition web site, join our mailing list, Facebook group or follow us on Twitter.
Competition Web site - www.welshpoetry.co.uk
Competition Judge – www.johnevans.org.uk
Organiser Web site – www.david-lewis.co.uk
Ghost Carriage Phantoms have released a cover of The Auteurs 'Bailed Out' and other assorted demos of their debut album sessions here: http://
Here's what Ghost Carriage Phantoms say about their cover version:
'Here's our cover version of The Auteurs track 'Bailed Out' from their first album "New Wave". Which you should buy, along with all their other albums and most of Luke Haines' solo stuff too. We happened to be tidying up a bit at the time and found these very old demo versions of songs that ended up on our album "the boy lives", so we thought we'd share these with you too while we were at it.
Feel free to listen and download for free, but if you like this stuff and can afford a small donation to help us keep doing it, we'd appreciate it greatly.
Enjoy!
Mark & Michael'
Ghost Carriage Phantoms also play a show in Cardiff with John MOuse and Benjamin Mason at Gwdi Hw Cafe Bar on the 15th of May.
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Ghost Carriage Phantoms are Merthyr Tydfil born songwriter Michael James Hall and fellow GCP collaborator Mark Estall, released in 2012 their first album 'the boy lives' was based around the conceit of making a record that would sound like* ‘the ghost of a robot child’.
Ghost Carriage Phantoms are currently working on the second GCP which promises a more US punk influenced sound, influenced by the likes of the Replacements and Husker DU. In the meantime they have released a cover of The Auteurs track 'Bailed Out' and a series of demos from the recording of their debut album.
Ghost Carriage Phantoms also play a show in Cardiff with John MOuse and Benjamin Mason at Gwdi Hw Cafe Bar on the 15th of May.
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"Like that an awful awful lot, that's just ace.'*
*Adam Walton BBC Radio Wales*
"A standout dreamer of an album. Think ‘Xiu Xiu’ meets ‘Grandaddy.’*
*Miniature Music Press* "Bedsit blues for our time, ‘Videotape’ has an air of fellow Welsh
compatriot Gruff Rhys – especially in his Neon Neon guise – about it." Monolith Cocktail
