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WalesOnline* Sunny Spells with only patchy cloud* 11C - 11 kph windUpdated 8:49am 5 September 2009:Welcome bynwaltersShirley Bassey is back with new album after 20 yearsSep 5 2009 by James McCarthy, Western MailSUPERSTAR Shirley Bassey is releasing her first studio album in more than 20 years this November.Now aged 72, the queen of Tiger Bay appears to have taken a leaf out of Tom Jones reinvention manual by recording an album of songs penned by young guns from the music industry. The Manic Street Preachers, Take That frontman Gary Barlow, The Pet Shop Boys, Kaiser Chiefs and Bond theme legends John Barry and Don Black have all stepped up to pen tunes for The Performance.The album producer David Arnold scored Bond films Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace.The 47-year-old said: All these songs were just songs, until Dame Shirley Bassey sang them. Now theyre Shirley Bassey songs hopefully classic and contemporary, like that voice.Theres something about a Bassey performance that can knock the wind out of your sails, make you laugh, make you cry, let you in on the joke or be led to a more exotic place.I tried to make a record that made the most of that voice and one that could sit alongside her other classic recordings.There isnt a next Shirley Bassey, there never really was and I doubt if there ever will be. Shes as unique and wonderful today as she has ever been and I hope this record will reach an audience who may never have heard her before.Jo Mills is the widow of Gordon Mills, who wrote songs for Tom Jones, including Its Not Unusual.The 69-year-old, a huge fan of Dame Shirley, said: Mark, Toms son, did a fabulous job when he did Reload. I dont know whether Gordon, had he been alive, would have thought along those lines.It takes a young mind to think along those lines and someone has seen that and thought along the same lines [with The Performance]. Im sure they did.That was what brought him [Sir Tom] back into the young sphere and maybe she is trying to do that.HMVs Gennaro Castaldo thought the record would be huge but that stiff competition from the likes of Robbie Williams and X Factor contestants would keep her from topping the charts.She said: The timing is great with the run up to Christmas. It is the ideal gift for older members of the family and something the kids will maybe pick up, particularly with the collaborations with contemporary artists.It worked well for Tom Jones and Im sure it will work well for Shirley Bassey.None of the songs are duets but talks are underway about involving artists in promo videos.Dame Shirley impersonator Ceri Jones, who performs as Ceri Dupree, began pretending to be the star when he was in school.The 41-year-old, of Penarth, Cardiff, said: For all those artists to write all those songs, it goes to show how much of an icon she is.There are only a few singers they would do this for. One would be Streisand and another would be Tina Turner. Madonna has not reached that status.He added: Youve got the Bassey fans and youve got the fans of people whove written for her. Take That fans will buy it for Gary Barlow.Its got success written all over it.And the Manics song The Girl from Tiger Bay! I dont know what the song is like but the titles great.Dame Shirley, who has sold 135 million records and now lives in Monte Carlo, has just released new pictures of herself in a figure-hugging red dress, dripping with diamonds.The image consultant Wenda James-Rowe who runs The Style Team in Cardiff Bay, thought she looked great.The 41-year-old said: She has been around for a long time, something like 40 years, and she never lets you down in the bling and glamour stakes.The Performance is out on November 9.bynwalters wrote:40 years? She was making records in the 50's, and, I'm glad to say, my father was buying them.

Merthyr Tydfil Arts, Culture & Media Forum Fforwm y Celfyddydau, Diwylliant a'r Cyfryngau04/09/09Merthyr: A Literary Day OutCastle Hotel, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8BG.On Saturday 17 October 2009, Academi and Parthian Books will be holding a day of events in Merthyr Tydfil to celebrate two new Library of Wales titles set in the town.Glyn Jones The Valley, The City, The Village and Jack Jones Black Parade, bring alive a sense of place that is unmistakeably Merthyr Tydfil. This day of discussions, talks and tours will explore the Merthyr Tydfil of Jack Jones and Glyn Jones both born in the town - and look at the thriving literature scene in the town today.The Library of Wales collection has been created with Wales in mind and heart. The two latest additions to the collection join other Welsh classics by Raymond Williams, Gwyn Thomas and Margiad Evans amongst others. Professor Dai Smith, Series Editor, says: "The Library of Wales will keep in print the English-language literature of Wales in ways that will connect our past to our present. It will be an essential tool in the self-understanding required to build an emergent Wales. The world will note how we now sustain our common memory through literature and will share in our riches."The day will be held at the Castle Hotel, Merthyr Tydfil. Professor Dai Smith, Chair of the Arts Council of Wales will introduce a stimulating day including the Gwyn Jones Lecture delivered by Dr John Pikoulis, a walking tour of Merthyr Tydfil town led by Mario Basini and a discussion panel from a wealth of talented authors, including Rachel Trezise and Anthony Bunko.The event aims to celebrate the creative writing talents of the recognised historical literary figures in Wales including Glyn and Jack Jones, as well as highlighting the new talents of Rachel Trezise and Anthony Bunko.Prices:25.00 / 20.00 concessions including return coach trip from Cardiff, buffet lunch and all events17.50 / 15.00 concessions for all events and buffet lunchThe concessionary rates on day tickets are available for the unwaged, students plus Academi members and associates.Times:9am - 5pm - with the bus.10am - 4pm - without the bus.For more information and to book your place contact Academi on: 029 2047 2266 or email post@academi.orgAlternatively you can view the full timetable and more information on speakers on the Academi website: http://www.academi.org/Pictures:Mario Basini, Dai Smith, Rachel Trezise, John Pikoulis and Anthony Bunko.Gwesty Castell, Stryd y Castell, Merthyr Tudful, CF47 8BG.Mae Academi a Parthian yn cynnal diwrnod o weithgareddau ym Merthyr Tudful ar ddydd Sadwrn, 17 Hydref 2009, i ddathlu dau deitl newydd yng nghyfres Library of Wales a leolir yn y dref.Daw Merthyr Tudful yn fyw yn y teitlau newydd, The Valley, The City, The Village gan Glyn Jones, a Black Parade gan Jack Jones a gellir dysgu mwy am arwyddocd y dref hon ir awduron a aned yno, yn y trafodaethau, sgyrsiau a theithiau a gynhelir ar y diwrnod. Gellir hefyd gymryd golwg ar gymdeithas lenyddol y dref heddiw.Cymru yw ysbrydoliaeth a chanolbwynt cyfres Library of Wales. Maer teitlau mwyaf diweddar yma yn ymuno chlasuron Cymraeg gan Raymond Williams, Gwyn Thomas a Margiad Evans ymysg eraill. Dywedodd yr Athro Dai Smith, Golygydd y gyfres: Mi fydd Library of Wales yn cadw llenyddiaeth Saesneg o Gymru mewn print mewn modd a fydd yn cysylltur gorffennol ar dyfodol. Bydd hyn yn hanfodol yn yr hunan-ddealltwriaeth syn angenrheidiol i adeiladu Cymrur dyfodol. Nodar byd sut yr ydym nin cynnal ein cof gyffredin drwy lenyddiaeth a bydd yn rhannu ein cyfoeth.Cynhelir y diwrnod yng Ngwestyr Castell, Merthyr Tudful. Cyflwynir y diwrnod cyffrous gan yr Athro Dai Smith, Cadeirydd Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, gan gynnwys Darlith Gwyn Jones wedii draddodi gan Dr John Pikoulis, taith gerdded o amgylch tref Merthyr dan arweiniad Mario Basini, a phanel drafodaeth o awduron talentog gan gynnwys Rachel Tresize ac Anthony Bunko.Nd y diwrnod yw dathlu talentau ysgrifennu creadigol rhai o ffigurau llenyddol hanesyddol mwyaf cydnabyddedig Cymru, megis Glyn Jones a Jack Jones, tra hefyd yn tanlinellu dyfodiad talentau newydd yr ardal - Rachel Tresize ac Anthony Bunko.25.00 / 20.00 (gostyngiadau) yn cynnwys tocyn dychwelyd ar y bws o Gaerdydd, cinio a holl ddigwyddiadaur diwrnod17.50 / 15.00 (gostyngiadau) yn cynnwys holl ddigwyddiadaur diwrnod a chinio.Mae gostyngiadau ar gael ir digyflog, myfyrwyr ac aelodau llawn a chefnogwyr yr Academi.9yb - 5yh gydar bws10yb - 4yh heb bwsAm mwy o fanylion cysylltwch Academi: 029 2047 2266 neu ebost post@academi.org. Neu ymwelwch: http://www.academi.org/.Lluniau: Mario Basini, Dai Smith, Rachel Trezise, John Pikoulis and Anthony Bunko.Posted by Celfyddydau Merthyr Arts at 10:22Contact / Cysylltwcharts@merthyr.gov.uk(01685) 725382

After a critically acclaimed sell out tour in April and May 2009, Only Men Aloud are back with a very special Christmas themed tour. The show will be a selection of festive Christmas repertoire plus a mixture of songs from the first and second albums (the second being called Band of Brothers and released on the 12th October) plus a few firm favourites. Only Men Aloud was formed in 2000 by Tim Rhys-Evans and in 2008, entered what was to be the UKs biggest choir competition to date, with choirs battling to become voted the best choir in the UK on BBC Ones hit Saturday night show Last Choir Standing. After battling through the rounds, OMA gave some incredible performances and after an all Welsh Final, were crowned the winners and the nations favourite choir. After winning Last Choir Standing, Only Men Aloud signed a five album, multi-million pound record deal with Universal Classics and Jazz, and joined Merlin Elite's management roster. The choir's top-twenty debut album was recorded over five days at AIR studios in London, and achieved gold status within the first week of sales and went on to sell over a quarter million albums within the UK. Tims primary aim was to encourage younger men to get involved with one of Wales oldest and best loved traditions, male voice singing. The group are unafraid to tackle music not normally associated with male voice choirs; their repertoire ranges from the 17th Century to the present day, and has included several world premieres in this time. This tour follows on from the hugely successful sold out debut tour for which they received standing ovations at every single show. The varied collection of repertoire plus the unique choreography lends to what is an extremely enjoyable night of entertainment. The choir appears regularly on network radio and television. Notable broadcasts include the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium, Radio Three Choir of the Year from The Royal Festival Hall, and a performance on HMS Belfast for the BBC One New Years Eve broadcast. This year has seen two successful trips to the United States completed and a private performance for Prince Charles, Camilla and their guests at Buckingham Palace. Tickets are 29.50 / 26.00 / 20.00 Regional and 35.00 / 27.50 / 22.50 London Tickets go on general sale Friday 4th September @ 10:00am Available at www.gigsandtours.com 24 hr cc hotline 0871 2200 260 TOUR DATES December 1, 2009 - Glasgow December 3, 2009 - Lladudno December 5, 2009 - Cardiff December 6, 2009 - Norwich December 7, 2009 - Ipswich December 8, 2009 - Birmingham December 9, 2009 - Liverpool December 11, 2009 - Brighton December 14, 2009 - Manchester December 16, 2009 - Portsmouth December 17, 2009 - Bristol December 18, 2009 - Nottingham December 20, 2009 - London

Who was Taliesin?Two Taliesins emerge within the corpus of modern scholarship. These need to be distinguished carefully.There is the Taliesin who as a figure appears in the medieval welsh tale Chwedl Taliesin, a shapeshifter that Taliesin .But it is the poet who is a professional poet that i am referring to, he who praised his patron, Urien, so prodigiuosly.He lived in the sixthe century and is believed to have originated in Powys.His sphere of operation is quite vast but it is a moot question as to how far the poetry reflects or represents the sixth century bard or how far it suffers interpolation from later interpreters. How does a poem survive for so long without losing its original format?it is certain that cymric had lost its terminations and the system of poetic rhyming-or perhaps chiming would be better-was in place.The medieval cult of Taliesin was a big factor in blurring the two Taliesins. Yet Talisein the professional; poet is my focus and this is the subject.So then a brief, perhaps impressionistic intro.I will continue with this later.Do find it hard to write at a computer...My next blog will look at the distinction between the two Taliesins a little more closely...TaliesinI have said that two Taliesins seem to be apparent within the corpus of texts, one a supernatural being as evidenced in parts of The Myvyrian Archaeology of 1770, the other the professional poet in praise of Urien. It is the latter I refer to from now on.It is clear that Taliesin did not come from Rheged. At the opening of Arddwyre Rheged he clearly states that he is not of Uriens group. His poem to Cynan Garwyn may suggest he came from Powys since Cynan was a king of Powys who had scourged the lands of Brycheiniog.The time in which Taliesin composed his verse was one of both resurgence and British confidence. This is more clearly reflected in his poetry to Urien. Taliesin must have moved from area to area under Uriens aegis, under a marker of confidence. Urien is depicted as a great battle raiser, able to dispense gifts and also perhaps one who knew the value of his bard, as both eulogizer and propagandist. Yet in one poem Taliesin clearly stays at home while his lord fights. Even there Taliesin praises him in Bei Lleas Urien(what if Urien were dead?). The images of Urien, blood stained, are set against the glory of the battle, Uriens ability to despoil and by plunder, offer gifts. This is an important feature of Taliesins pieces.Yet it is not to examine the poems that is the purpose of this writing. It is more to delineate, insofar as I am able, the character of Taliesin. The poems require a longer treatment which may be a point to be developed later.Taliesin was committed to the cause of Rheged. Even when the men of Rheged had fought in vain he commended their bravery in other battles as a springboard to revival of victory. In essence the losses were not looked on as irrevocable but as maybe something to learn from and develop. Thus Arddwye Rheged is a poem that concerns it self with morale.Yet clearly at some point Talieson transferred his allegiance to another, other than Urien, one Gwallawg. Clearly this was not of any comfort to Urien and Taliesin knew of this and in composing Dadolwch Urien he moved to some reconciliation with him As he got older Urien may have handed over some of his lands to his sons.Taliesin sang of British confidence . His mapping of expedition is impressive ; not only are Troon and Ayr mentioned but also Edinburgh, Gowrie and Brechin and Wensleydale in the south. Taliesin knew well what was required of him as poet, extoller and moral booster but was also able to keen on the death of Owain, Uriens son.Urien himself, distanced from his sons was said to have met his end by Morgan , one jealous of Uriens valour. At this point internecine strife between allies-Urien, Morgan, Rhydderch Hen of Strathclyde and Gwallawg gainst Hussa of Northumbria ,broke down. It is interesting that Urien worked with Gwallawg, despite Taliesins defection to that other lord, if indeed it is the same Gwallawg.So then what to make of all this? No elegy for Urien exists by Taliesin so we are left with Urien as a hero shining in valour and with generosity. This still speaks. To me Taliesins poetry is about the relationship between poet and benefactor, ;his peripatetic journeys seems to point to him as one in some ways careerist but we are directed back to Urien since it is he who is the focus of most of Taliesins admirationPerhaps one should now consider the poems them selves. Well seetaliesin 3 sampling the textTo Cynan GarwynCynan, upholding battlea gift gave meWhy should i not praise himhe who gives much land?Quick and humorous without parallelhis hundred velvet robes of same measured cloth anda hundred arm bands to my collectionand fifty brooches too in his measure.A sword with stone beyond priceits hilt from Cynan I hadgenerous to a faultCadell came his army unshakento launch on the Wyespears fallingand bloody red bladetook the men of Gwentto die sorely. He was famed in Anglesey for battlewhen crossing the Menaiwith his horses clattering .At Crug Dyfed he was as Aercolwild, stealing.cattle never seen againremoved.Son of Brochfael had many kingdomsbut wanted still more possessionCornwall to be histheir loss not his concernpain he givesuntil for mercy they squeal.My hope is in Cynanhead of armieswhose flame is seen everywhereas a bonfire in Brychan's landa forming of deafening battle. You headsof kingdoms pity you who fear him Cynana shield to the fighta fiery monsterand as Cyngen before youthe wide kingdom upheld.I heard them speaking of himeveryone in his honour.The full expanse of the worldbelongs to Cynan.Adaptation Iain Williams August 25th 2009 copyrighted sept 2nd 2009

WWII prisoners' publishing featBy Carl YappBBC NewsCymroThe magazine was available in the camp for 18 monthsThey were behind barbed wire in cramped wooden huts hundreds of miles from home during World War II.But some Welsh prisoners of war overcame adversity with a remarkable series of morale-boosting magazines about their homeland called Cymro (Welshman).They stole medicine to make ink, while their meagre rations were used to stick illustrations onto pages from school exercise books.It featured snippets of news from home taken from letters sent by loved ones, and was handwritten in English and Welsh from inside Stalag IVb, near Mhlberg in Germany, between July 1943 and December 1944.Now, as the 70th anniversary of the start of the war is commemorated, the National Library of Wales in Aberysytwyth has published its collection of the magazines online.Experts at the library explained how prisoners went to extraordinary lengths to produce Cymro.One edition of the magazine mentioned the then up-and-coming Welsh actor Stanley Baker, while others featured the history of different regions of Wales, such as Pumlumon in Ceredigion and the Llyn peninsula, and Welsh mythology.Home news in the CymroAlthough they were far from Wales, by writing about Welsh news and articles to do with Wales, they felt they were much closer to homeMorfudd Bevan-Jones, National Library of WalesClick here to view the full manuscriptStories carried by the magazine were designed to boost the morale of hundreds of inmates exposed to the deteriorating conditions in the camp, said the library.It held 30,000 prisoners and more than 7,000 were British, but it is unclear how many were from Wales.The library's Morfudd Bevan-Jones said: "The magazines give us an insight into the lives of the prisoners of war at Stalag IVb."It's awe-inspiring to think that the prisoners could create such attractive and interesting magazines under such hard conditions. The magazines remind us of the pivotal role played by Welsh soldiers during the Second World War."He added that Cymro reflected the importance of Welsh identity to the prisoners.'Surviving'"Although they were far from Wales, by writing about Welsh news and articles to do with Wales, they felt they were much closer to home," said Mr Bevan-Jones."Camp life was all about surviving and in their own way these magazines are also survivors and we are very fortunate to have the original copies here at the National Library of Wales and the digital copies available to be enjoyed online."The magazine's articles came complete with impressive colour illustrations. Inks were made from stolen materials like the anti-malarial and pain-killing drug quinine.The pictures were then stuck into place with fermented millet soup, kept from the meagre camp rations.Christmas editionAs for the news, editor William John Pitt, from Treharris, near Merthyr Tydfil, urged Welsh prisoners to "comb letters for news from home".Most of the magazine was written in English, but two pages were in Welsh.There were stories about actors of the day Emlyn Williams and Stanley Baker, and the boxer Charlie Bundy.The national library's collection includes three Cymro issues, a special Christmas edition and three supplements.The Stalag IVb camp was liberated by the Red Army in April 1945.

What a difference a year makes! Only Men Aloud, the Welsh choir who won last summers BBC1 TV show Last Choir Standing, return this autumn with their second album. Band of Brothers will be released a year after the win, which gained them the title of The Nations Favourite Choir and launched them into a new realm. The choir, made up of 20 young men from South Wales, have experienced a rollercoaster ride since winning the BBC1 prime time Saturday night show. Within hours of winning and following a vicious bidding war between major record labels, Only Men Aloud signed a multi-million pound, five-album deal with Universal Music. The record deal, the largest ever for a choir by quite some margin, was signed at Wales iconic Millennium Stadium exactly a year to the week before their second album launch. Their first album achieved gold status within a week and went on to sell over a quarter of a million copies.In addition to their recording deal, Only Men Aloud signed to a world class management team who boast a roster including Denise Van Outen, Jodie Kidd, Jay Kay, Vanessa-Mae and Louise Redknapp. Their next step was to take on the US, and they were immediately snapped up by CAA (Creative Artists Agency), the agency behind David Beckham.They have now performed at several huge venues across the US on two separate tours and are scheduled to be back in the USA in early 2010 for a lengthy tour. Back in Britain, the choir completed a critically acclaimed and sold out UK tour including their hometown Cardiff Arena, and also had a personal invitation from Prince Charles to perform for Camilla, Prince Charles and their guests at a private function in Buckingham Palace.The choir have attracted a number of high-profile and varied collaborations such as Josh Groban and Russell Watson plus home-grown Welsh talents Bonnie Tyler, Rhydian Roberts, Bryn Terfel, Aled Jones and Katherine Jenkins.OMA now return with their second album Band of Brothers, in which they present interpretations of modern classics such as Somebody to Love, performed with Kerry Ellis who hails from the Queen musical We Will Rock You. The choir also go back to their Welsh roots, with traditional anthems such as Land of Our Fathers and Blaenwern. Demonstrating the choirs eclectic background and tastes, from opera through to rock songs, they are all truly great tunes despite being from varied sources.Tim Rhys-Evans, MD of OMA, said of the new album, From the beginning I wanted this to represent the wide range of repertoire. The arrangements have a filmic feel. I wanted it to be the kind of album that, if you were driving through a huge, open landscape, you would play on your car stereo. Its fab and dandy go buy a copy. Only Men Aloud Biography Only Men Aloud were formed in January 2000 by Choir Master and Music Director Tim Rhys-Evans to inject some new blood into the Male Welsh Choir tradition. The choir have had regular slots on BBC Radio 4 and also Songs of Praise and in 2003 won the male choir category in the inaugural year of S4Cs Cr Cymru. Following on from this, the choir were chosen to perform on three separate occasions during the opening of the Wales Millennium Centre. They performed in the Opening Ceremony, Royal Gala, and also sang in the pre opening banquet honouring various eminent Welsh figures including Bryn Terfel, Sian Phillips and Shirley Bassey.In 2008 Only Men Aloud entered what was to be the UKs biggest choir competition to date, with UK choirs battling to become voted the best choir in the UK on BBC1s hit Saturday night show Last Choir Standing. After battling through the rounds, OMA gave some incredible performances and after an all Welsh Final, were crowned the winners and the Nations favourite choir.The choir signed a multi-album record deal with Universal Music and their debut album was released in November 2008, which has sold over a quarter of a million records. OMA have had an extremely busy year with international releases of their debut album plus a full UK sell-out tour, including Cardiff International Arena. This year also sees the choir record and release their second album with Universal Music.Only Men Aloud have also just returned from their second trip to the USA. Earlier this year the choir were personally invited by the Welsh Assembly to perform as part of Wales Week USA. The choir were invited to perform in front of the First Minister of Wales and the British Ambassador at the British Embassy in Washington DC. The event promoted Wales as the featured Country in this years Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which has seen Only Men Aloud return to the States in June and July of this year. Their time in the States has also included performances in New York as well as several TV and Radio appearances, including major American television channel CBS. For more information visit www.onlymenaloud.com

Festival of Wales celebrates, preserves cultureBuzz up!By Deborah Deasy, TRIBUNE-REVIEWWednesday, September 2, 2009Last updated: 3:35 pm78th North American Festival of WalesWhen: Noon-midnight today, 9 a.m.-midnight Friday-SundayAdmission: $15 per day; $55 for four days; $30-$70 additional per concertWhere: Hilton Hotel, 600 Commonwealth Place, DowntownDetails: 412-391-4600 or Web siteAbout the writerDeborah Deasy can be reached via e-mail or at 412-320-7989.Sign up now!Home DeliverySubscribe to our publicationsYou might be Welsh and not know it.A last name that sounds like a first one -- Thomas, Williams, Richards, Roberts or Davis, for example -- betrays Welsh blood in many Americans' family trees."They intermarried with anyone that was around," says Nancy Gulliford of Natrona Heights, whose ancestors include people from Wales named Evans. "They came in waves."Expect a wave of their descendants to arrive today in Pittsburgh for the 78th North American Festival of Wales at the Hilton Hotel, Downtown.The annual event, hosted this year by the St. David's Society of Pittsburgh, features hymn singing -- a favorite Welsh pastime -- and a smorgasbord of culture from the rugged land of leeks, daffodils and sheep."There is a great love and history of music and poetry in the Welsh language," says Stacy Evans, executive director of the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association, based in Granville, Ohio."Gymanfa Ganu" loosely means "festival of hymn singing" in a language that uses a familiar alphabet in unfamiliar ways. "We use the Roman alphabet, but the vowels are not pronounced the same way, in most cases," Evans says.Festival organizers expect to welcome about 400 Welsh-blooded guests from as far as California, Canada and the United Kingdom."These are people who are interested in preserving their Welsh heritage, and passing along their Welsh language and culture to future generations," Evans says.However, anyone may attend the festival's seminars, concerts and hymn sings. A marketplace and tearoom will offer Welsh sweets and imported goods.Performers will include politician-minstrel Dafydd Iwan and the folk group Ar Log (at 7:30 p.m. today, $30); tenor Gwyndaf Jones (7 p.m. Friday banquet performance, $70); the Bangor Slater High School Marching Band (3 p.m. today in Point State Park, free); the 80-voice North American Welsh Choir (7:30 p.m. Saturday, $40); and contestants in an "Eisteddfod" competition for singers, dancers and elocutionists.One-hour seminars will include "Welsh Immigrants in the American Coalfields," "The Diaries of Richard Burton," "The Welsh Fiddle" and "The Welsh Harp."Welsh language and singing classes will be available, plus a seminar on the Welsh Nationality Room at the University of Pittsburgh, and screenings of Welsh films and TV shows (2 to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday).Guest artisans will include love spoon carver Chris Watkins and topographical artist Olwen Hughes.Children's entertainment will be available, along with a puppet show (2:30 p.m. Saturday) by the Pastime Puppets of Mahoning Presbyterian Church, Lawrence County.The Rev. Robert Dayton leads the puppet troupe and looks forward to participating in the festival's hymn singing sessions (2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and 7 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday). Conductor Eilir Owen Griffiths and organist Alan Thomas will lead participants in singing the songs in Welsh and English."The very important thing that held Welsh culture together over the years -- because the British were so anti-Welsh language -- was the Welsh language," Dayton says. "One of the ways the Welsh language has been kept alive is through the hymns."

You ask me to plough the ground! Shall I take a knife and tear open my mother's bosom? Then when I die she will not take me to her bosom to rest. You ask me to dig for stone! Shall I dig under her skin for her bones? Then when I die I can not enter her body to be born again. You ask me to cut grass and make hay and sell it, and be rich... but how dare I cut off my mother's hair?... Each one must learn for their self the highest wisdom. It cannot be taught in words... People who work cannot dream, and wisdom comes to us in dreams.Lammas Ecovillage, Wales gets Planning Approval (finally!)Thank you for sharing stories from Earth First! Action Reports and letting others know about this website.Today the Lammas group won planning permission for their ecovillage project.Lammas is a new settlement of 9 eco-smallholdings, a campsite and a community hub building, to start construction this autumn. It will be sited on 76 acres of mixed pasture and woodland next to the village of Glandwr, Pembrokeshire. The site is on land currently belonging to Pont-y-gafel farm, next to the village of Glandwr, North Pembrokeshire. The site is currently used as farmland.After their first application was turned down for insufficient detail, Lammas put in an amended application on March 17th 2008. The first application had filled an entire wheelbarrow (the second containuing 150 illustrations and 1200 pages of text would have requuired 2 barrows - so it was submitted electronically!) However, their second application was again turned down in September 2008. Further frustration was experienced when the Welsh Assembly refused them the right to appeal on the grounds that the application was invalid on some technicality. However, appeal they did, and the appeal into the refusal of the revised planning application was heard earlier this summer. The inspector, intrigued and unvonventionally, chose not to allow lamma's expert witnesses to present their full cases in favour, preferring to open the debate about the application to the whole floor so that all voices in favour and against the application were heard. Insptector took a few weeks to reach his decision in considering the whole application.Despite the launch of a pioneering low-impact policy by Pembrokeshire County Council in 2006 and years of meticulous groundwork, consciencious dedication and patient deliberation, the long exacting process sought for approval of the project has taken over 2 years since the initial application was first submitted. Emphasising the imbalance of the current planning system which doesn't take account of climate change, Paul Wimbush of the Lammas project even suggested that it would have been easier to have applied for planning permission to build a power station! That it has succeeded is due to a tremendous drive to succeed born of an inspirational vision of low impact/low carbon living for the 21st century.Lammas was conceived as the first large-scale low impact project that would work with the planning system, (ie: to apply for planning permission in advance of the construction and establishment of the project, or in other word, not retrospectively). The Lammas Ecovillage will be completely independent of all mains services. All water will be sourced from the site using a combination of an existing spring for drinking water and rainwater harvesting from rooftops. All electricity will be produced on site using renewables. Fortunately there is an existing water turbine system on site which Lammas plans to renovate. All organic waste will be composted on site using a combination of compost toilets, wormeries and compost heaps. Fuel, in the form of coppiced willow and elephant grass, will be grown on site.The project will be managed by Lammas Low Impact Initiatives Ltd, a cooperative registered under the Industrial and Provident Society Act. A comprehensive management plan has been compiled which sets out how the project will be established and run.The smallholdings will essentially be agricultural leaseholds which are conditionally tied to requirements as set out in the management plan. Thus the objectives of the project will be assured in the long term. The requirements will cover issues such as livelihood, transport, services and monitoring.The people selected for the first phase of the project have developed well researched plans for their livelihoods. In addition to sourcing fuel, water, electricity and food from the site, the 9 households will also run small-scale farm businesses producing a wide range of quality goods including hazelnuts, smoked ham, soft fruit, woodland crafts, vegetables and cooked foods. The produce will be marketed through a variety of outlets including local shops and a Lammas market stall.Common LandSome areas of the project will be managed in common. There is an area of existing broadleaf woodland on site which will be conserved for its wildlife value. The existing conifer woodland will be managed and harvested as a resource for building. There will also be shared grazing and fuel crop areas as well as a millpond and village green.In hindsightAs Larch Maxey has written: "Lammas softly-softly approach, seeking to work with the planning system, has led to huge delays while prospective residents living locally [have poured] savings into inadequate accomodation. Opportunities to harness people's energy have been lost. Whilst it remains invaluable to have the Low-Impact Development movement broadened by projects seeking planning permission before moving on, the planning system is ill equipped for the speed and scale of the challanges we face. Until it is equipped, people must continue to take direct action towards the sustainability transition in every way they can {including} building low impact lives".More Info:Ref: http://www.lammas.org.uk/ecovillage/news.htm

Hill fort dates back 3,000 yearsMoel FamauAn earlier dig at Moel Famau showed evidence of life 10,000 years agoArchaeologists have discovered that a hill fort in Denbighshire may be almost 3,000 years old.Experts excavated Moel y Gaer in the Clwydian Range after tests suggested the Iron Age settlement (700 BC to 34 AD) might be older than first thought.Samples of metal slag and dry stone facing taken from an entrance suggest parts may date back to the Bronze Age (2,300 BC to 700 BC).It is hoped carbon dating will identify the exact age of the samples.The venture was a joint project between Bangor University and Denbighshire's Heather and Hill forts project.Professor Raimund Karl, Head of Bangor University's School of History, Welsh History and Archaeology, said: "We have recovered some quite substantial charcoal samples so we can try to arrange carbon dating, which should hopefully narrow down our dating range for the construction of the rampart."I consider the dig to have been a great success and the results will hopefully answer the research questions we started out with, as well as having opened up a couple of new ones - which we may try to explore in further fieldwork either at Moel y Gaer or at some of the other hill forts in the area."The three-year Heather and Hill forts Project has received a 1.5m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards research and conservation