viA fAntAsticA  is J.T. and Gaia de Voxx on a DIY synth pop journey. J.T. is Justin Toland, erstwhile purveyor of loops and found sound on Recordiau Peski and self-released cassettes under the name Location Baked. Gaia de Voxx is his droid vocalist.

2 any 1 is the debut album by viA fAntAsticA. It’s about songs, tunes, accessibility, reaching out. Influences range from mass market and under-the-radar 80s synth pop ( Yazoo, Human League, Fad Gadget ) to contemporary Puerto Rican electronic indie ( Los Wálters, Buscabulla ).

2 any 1  began as an imaginary soundtrack to a 21st century kitchen sink drama set in the faded seaside resort of Porthcawl. That was the inspiration for the Italo disco stylings of  ‘Meet me at Sidoli’s',  the electronic surf rock of  ‘Never surf again’ , lover’s lament  ‘Not waving but crying’ , and the incidental noir of  ‘Fog and mirrors’ . When Covid scuppered those plans, the album began to take a different shape: less conceptual, more personal, more free-ranging.

So there are songs and tunes about Cardiff communities and community action, including  ‘Row Town’ (Roath), ‘Rebuild the Poets’,  and  ‘Agents of Change’ , which nods to Toland’s found sound roots, with its field recording from a Save Guildford Crescent demo.

There are tracks based around loops and inspirations, including  ‘Must be built’,  which searches for the essence of the Hacienda nightclub,  ‘Swim-up bar blues’, ‘Cowley’,  and lead single  ‘Onstage, right now…’.

And above all, there are things that just sound good and sound right, like  ‘Gwawr' , like  ‘Stomp stomp’ . So we’re releasing them, releasing this album – 2any1 – in '21. Are you listening?

"chuntering machine-driven backing somewhere between early 80s minimal synth and mid-80s electro...expansive array of semi-ambient keyboards and proto-techno rhythms."  Buzz Magazine

Socials: 

Bandcamp -  https://viafantastica. bandcamp.com/

Twitter: @via_fantastica  

Youtube   soundcloud.com/viafantastica  

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc49ETvVD-xfEtutqljabxg/featured 

Facebook:  https://www. facebook.com/viafantastica

“I don’t expect everyone to agree with everything in the book – it will be too radical for some, and for others it won’t be radical enough,” says author Llywelyn ap Gwilym about his new bilingual book,  Llyfr Du Cymru Fydd / The Black Book of the New Wales  (Y Lolfa), which is published this week. 

The organiser of the AUOB Cymru rallies which attracted thousands to pro-independence marches in Cardiff, Caernarfon and Merthyr pre Covid-19 has written his vision of an independent Wales. Llywelyn ap Gwilym, who is also on the Central Committee of YesCymru, said: 

“I’ve supported Welsh independence since I can remember, but without questioning why. Since the birth of my children and moving back to Wales, I’ve thought more deeply about the politics, economics and sociology behind it: I’ve thought more about the ‘why’. Whilst writing  The Black Book of the New Wales,  I started to think that perhaps I could encourage the discourse to develop.” 

The book is an exploration of what a future independent Wales could look like. It is written in the spirit of utopian thinking: its purpose is to question what is, and to envision what could be. Some of the ideas presented are a radical departure from the status quo, while others are becoming part of orthodox leftist thinking. Similarly, there are some precedents in terms of current or former organisations and institutions, others have only been trialled, while some have not yet existed. 

The book has been described as “an exciting blueprint for building a better society” by Dan Evans of Desolation Radio and Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru has said, “For the Indy curious, this is a must-read.” 

The percentage of people in Wales supporting independence has almost tripled over the last six years from 12% in 2014 to 35% in 2020. The Welsh Independence movement is gathering momentum, with membership of YesCymru growing from 2,500 to 17,000 during 2020, and now gets regular attention in the UK media as well as further afield. 

“I hope that the book will help expand further discussions so that more people start sharing ideas on what our values are, what kind of society we want to live in, and how independence for Wales is the most realistic path in order to achieve these changes. It would be tragic to lose the chance to ensure a better future for all who call Wales home and, on winning independence, just to recreate the inequality and unjustness that’s rife in the UK.  The Black Book of New Wales  is my contribution to ensuring a better future.” 

The Black Book of the New Wales by Llywelyn ap Gwilym (£4.99, Y Lolfa) will be available by 1 ^st  March.

Praise for  The Black Book of the New Wales

“Concise, challenging, doable! There are radical ideas for the kind of Wales we can be, but we need independence, and independence of mind, to unlock that potential. It can’t come from Westminster. Better a Good Wales than a ‘Great’ Britain.”

Siôn T. Jobbins, YesCymru Chair

“… a cracking piece of work. Very clear thinking. Good, sound values base. I love the references you draw on – some of my favourites – Raymond Williams, Gramsci, Bookchin, Bell Hook, Malcolm X, Maya Angelou, the Preston stuff and Mondragon. And the way you bring all the thinking together… Your book outlines why it is not tenable for people in Wales to carry on as we are and offers an inclusive vision of real independence. For the Indy curious, this is a must-read.”

Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru

“A small book with big ideas! A welcome addition to the independence debate.”

Cian Ciarán, musician (Super Furry Animals), composer and YesCymru Vice-Chair

“Llywelyn ap Gwilym’s The Black Book of the New Wales doesn’t claim to have all the answers, it weaves together an empowering series of concepts and initiatives that are ready and willing to form new institutions and structures.”

Ben Gwalchmai, Founder of Labour for an Independent Wales

“An exciting blueprint for building a better society.”

Dan Evans, Desolation Radio

“Llywelyn ap Gwilym’s  Llyfr Du  is an essential contribution to the vision that will liberate Wales from the decaying British state.”

Sam Coates, Undod

In honor of St. David's Day, the North American Festival of Wales and Undeb Cymru a'r Byd (Wales International) are co-sponsoring two NEW virtual Eisteddfod competitions for Youth Solo Voice... Ages 7-11 and Ages 12-16.  Three top prizes in each category (£100 - £50 - £25 for UK entrants, otherwise paid out in the local currency equivalent).

Please go to the link below for all details/rules/guidelines (in English and Welsh)!

The adjudicating panel includes some greats from the Welsh cultural sphere... Edward Morus Jones, Mary Jones McGuyer and Catrin "Toffoc" Jones!

Each entrant is asked to submit a video of one song in Welsh, created in 2021 and three minutes or less in length, during a strictly limited, 24-hour window (Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, between midnight and midnight Eastern Time).  Winning entries will be announced and posted at the North American Festival of Wales (NAFOW) website,  www.nafow.org , on February 27, 2021.

We look forward to seeing some great performances soon! 

LINK TO COMPETITIONS PAGE:  http://festivalofwales.org/gan-o-gymru---eisteddfod-competition.html

Reclaiming for a new generation the poetry of Dylan, the stark beauty and unhinged Rock and Roll of mid-70s John Cale, and Badfinger's melancholic timeless songcraft, this is Bandicoot. Their sound flows like post-industrial blues through Swansea's rain-soaked concrete streets.

Bandicoot have earned a ferocious reputation, thanks to their raucous, overflowing live shows that spin euphorically from post-punk and krautrock to glam stomp and art-pop sensuality at the drop of a note.

‘Dark Too Long’ is Bandicoot‘s debut single on Libertino, a song they describe as a “ frenzied cry of desperation from the depths of excess and loneliness, influenced by the driving rhythms of NEU! and Can.”

"Bandicoot are wired instinctively to the cathartic screams of John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band, the lustful danger of The Velvet Underground, and CAN's cinematic propulsion. They are the art-house provocateurs of Warhol's Factory brought to life on Swansea's rainy streets " - Libertino

Mae  Bandicoot  yn adfer cerddi Dylan Thomas, harddwch roc a rôl y 70au gan John Cale, a chrefft gerddorol melancolig Badfinger. Mae eu sŵn yn llifo fel blŵs ol-ddiwydianol drwy strydoedd concrit gwlyb Abertawe.

Mae gan Bandicoot enw da am eu perfformiadau byw sy'n chwyrlio o sŵn ôl-bync i krautrock i stomp glam a chelf pop synhwyrus o ddechrau i ddiwedd eu set.

'Dark Too Long ' yw'r sengl gyntaf i Bandicoot ryddhau drwy Libertino, cân sy'n cael ei ddisgrifio fel  "cri o anobaith o ddyfnderoedd unigrwydd a gormodedd, wedi'i ddylanwadu gan rythmau NEU! a Can"


Links:

https://www.facebook.com/whoarebandicoot/
https://twitter.com/whoarebandicoot
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3S3gHwGPL54Hn3UXDWvAFE
https://www.instagram.com/whoarebandicoot/
https://bandicoot-band.bandcamp.com

Horizons, the music project from BBC Wales and Arts Council of Wales have announced a tour of Welsh Venues for Independent Venue Week 2021. The Horizons team will be broadcasting sessions from five treasured venues in Wales, from the 25th to the 29th of January.

From the mountain top venue of Neuadd Ogwen in Bethesda to the west coast’s Queen’s Hall in Narberth, from the modern Galeri in Caernarfon, to inner city hubs of Sin City in Swansea and Le Pub in Newport, across five days this tour will take in the breadth of some of Wales's most beloved independent venues, celebrating their crucial role in fostering the next generation of grassroots talent.

Artists performing sessions include emerging Welsh artists of all different genres, those along for the trip include hip hop artist  Mace the Great,  r&b singer  Faith , rock band  Those Damn Crows , urban brother & sister  Leila McKenzie  and  K(e)nz , country singer  Jodie Marie,  alternative self produced songwriter  Rona Mac , low fi enigma  Ennio The Little Brother , a solo performance from Gwilym frontman  Ifan Pritchard , rock duo  Alffa , new female duo  Body Water , and electro pop artist  Malan .

These special sessions are set for broadcast at midday every day with special broadcasts of the sessions across BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru with sessions and mini documentaries about the venues available to view on social media.  

Bethan Elfyn, Project Manager with Horizons for BBC Wales said “ We’ve been watching helplessly as Covid-19 has kept venues and theatres from opening, keeping communities that need each other apart, keeping us from watching, supporting and growing talent in Wales, and keeping us from the benefits of wellbeing and personal growth that music brings to life."

“Independent Venue Week is a chance to celebrate everything about our map of venues around Wales, the maverick producers and promoters behind the venues, and the talent that would normally fill the empty buildings with life. The tour is a celebration of what we have, what we miss, and a nod to the future when we can get back to the community that we’ve missed.”

“ It’s not just a pub, it’s not just a music venue,”  said Sam Dabb, manager of Le Public Space in Newport, and Wales’ representative for Music Venues Trust  “ It’s important to the area, it’s where people meet, and have somewhere to be. It’s important that there’s somewhere for musicians to have a place to start out, but also just somewhere to play music, not for those who want to become huge and tour the world, just somewhere to play music!”

Rona Mac, from Pembrokeshire, said, “ I think independent venues are so important. I played at Queen’s Hall, Narberth years and years ago, when I was starting out. I’ve seen great gigs here like Ben Howard, and Lucy Rose, and at her gig I got up on stage with her to sing and had a little dance!! You wouldn’t get that at a bigger venue. It's also the opportunity to play for artists without labels - and spaces like Queens Hall are just amazing, very special!”

“ I was relying on 2020 to tour my debut album, which wasn’t possible - but there’s been other good things, and thanks to Horizons for setting this up, i’ve loved playing in a different space, with different people today!”

Jodie Marie  agreed with her “ I’ve played here since the age of six in this very hall at Queen’s Hall, and if it wasn’t for these places I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing today, performing, recording, and releasing albums!”

Horizons will also have guests performing home sessions, talking about their formative experiences watching or performing shows in treasured Music Venues across Wales, including rock bands  Holding Absence, Funeral For A Friend,  and  Junior .

Horizons are also on the lookout for your stories: what are your favourite Welsh venues? What are your  favourite experiences at music venues? These stories will be shared across Horizons social media throughout Independent Venue Week.

Sessions will be broadcast across the week on  bbc.co.uk/horizons  – at midday every evening a special programme with sessions and mini documentaries about the venues.

The tour has been supported by Creative Wales and BBC Introducing.Gerwyn Evans of Creative Wales said.

‘ At Creative Wales we all love our independent venues and music. We have continued to support our music sector through the past months and are now delighted to support this tour. It is great to see music once again filling our venues with sound even though no crowds can come through the doors yet. Every venue has a great story to tell and we look forward to the successful return of live music as we come out of the pandemic. ‘

Gorwelion: Taith Wythnos Clybiau Cerddorol Annibynnol Cymru: 25 - 29 Ionawr

Mae Gorwelion, cynllun cerddoriaeth BBC Cymru a Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru yn cyhoeddi taith o amgylch Clybiau Cerddorol Cymru ar gyfer Wythnos Clybiau Annibynnol (Independent Venue Week). Bydd tîm Gorwelion yn darlledu sesiynau o bump lleoliad eiconic i’r sin yng Nghymru, rhwng 25 - 29 Ionawr.

O Neuadd Ogwen yng nghysgod mynyddoed Bethesda i’r Queens Hall, Arberth ar arfordir y gorllewin, o'r Galeri fodern yng Nghaernarfon, i ganolbwyntiau canol dinas Sin City yn Abertawe a Le Pub yng Nghasnewydd, ar draws pum niwrnod bydd y daith hon yn cynnwys rhai o leoliadau annibynnol anwylaf Cymru, gan ddathlu eu rôl hanfodol wrth feithrin y genhedlaeth nesaf o dalent.

Ymhlith yr artistiaid sy'n perfformio sesiynau mae artistiaid Cymreig sy'n dod i'r amlwg o bob genre gwahanol. Mae'r rhai ar y daith yn cynnwys yr artist hip hop Mace the Great, y gantores r&b Faith, y band roc Those Damn Crows, y brawd a'r chwaer wrban ifanc o Abertawe, Leila McKenzie a K (e) nz, cantores canu gwlad Jodie Marie, cyfansoddwr amgen Rona Mac, enigma]  Ennio The Little Brother.Bydd hefyd perfformiadau unigol gan Ifan Pritchard, deuawd roc Alffa, deuawd benywaidd newydd Body Water, ac artist electro pop Malan.

Disgwylir i'r sesiynau arbennig hyn gael eu darlledu ganol dydd bob dydd, gyda darllediadau arbennig o'r sesiynau ar draws BBC Radio Wales a BBC Radio Cymru a 6Music gyda Tom Robinson. A sesiynau a rhaglenni dogfen bach am y lleoliadau ar gael i'w gweld ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol.

Dywedodd Bethan Elfyn, Rheolwr Prosiect Gorwelion “Rydyn ni wedi bod yn gwylio’n ddiymadferth tra fod Covid-19 wedi cadw lleoliadau a theatrau ar gau, gan gadw cymunedau sydd angen ei gilydd ar wahân, gan ein cadw rhag gwylio, cefnogi a thyfu talent yng Nghymru, a'n cadw rhag budd iechyd, lles a thwf personol y mae cerddoriaeth yn dod inni gyd.

“Mae ‘Wythnos Clybiau Annibynnol’ yn gyfle i ddathlu popeth am ein map o leoliadau o amgylch Cymru, y cynhyrchwyr a’r hyrwyddwyr y tu ôl i’r lleoliadau, a’r dalent a fyddai fel rheol yn llenwi’r adeiladau gwag â bywyd. Mae'r daith yn ddathliad o'r hyn sydd gennym, yr hyn yr ydym yn ei golli, ac yn nôd i'r dyfodol pan allwn ddod yn ôl i'r gymuned yr ydym wedi'i cholli. "

“Nid tafarn yn unig mohono, nid lleoliad cerdd yn unig mohono,” meddai Sam Dabb, rheolwr Le Public Space yng Nghasnewydd, a chynrychiolydd Cymru ar gyfer Music Venues Trust “Mae'n bwysig i'r ardal, dyma lle mae pobl yn cwrdd, ac yn cael rhywle i fod. Mae'n bwysig bod yna rywle i gerddorion gael lle i ddechrau, ond hefyd rhywle i chwarae cerddoriaeth, nid mond i'r rhai sydd eisiau bod yn boblogaidd, yn enfawr a theithio'r byd, yn syml rhywle i chwarae a clywed cerddoriaeth!”

Dywedodd Rona Mac, o Sir Benfro, “Rwy’n credu bod lleoliadau annibynnol mor bwysig. Chwaraeais yn Queen’s Hall, Arberth flynyddoedd a blynyddoedd yn ôl, pan oeddwn yn cychwyn. Rwyf wedi gweld gigs gwych yma fel Ben Howard, a Lucy Rose, ac yn ei gig codais ar y llwyfan gyda hi i ganu a downsio! Ni fyddech yn cael hynny mewn lleoliad mwy. Mae hefyd yn gyfle i chwarae - ac mae lleoedd fel Queens Hall yn anhygoel, yn arbennig iawn! ”

“Roeddwn yn dibynnu llynedd ar fynd ar daith hyrwyddo ‘da’r albwm cyntaf, ac doedd hyn ddim yn bosib - ond bu pethau da eraill, a diolch i Gorwelion am sefydlu hyn, roeddwn wrth fy modd yn chwarae mewn gofod gwahanol, gyda gwahanol bobl heddiw!”

Cytunodd Jodie Marie â hi “Rydw i wedi chwarae yma ers yn chwech oed yn yr union neuadd hon yn Queen’s Hall, ac oni bai am y lleoedd hyn ni fyddwn yn gwneud yr hyn rwy'n ei wneud heddiw, gan berfformio, recordio, a rhyddhau albym!”

Bydd gan Gorwelion westeion hefyd yn perfformio sesiynau cartref, yn siarad am eu profiadau yn gwylio neu'n perfformio sioeau mewn theatrau, clybiau a lleoliadau cerddorol ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys bandiau roc Holding Absence, Funeral For A Friend, a Junior.

Mae Gorwelion hefyd yn chwilio am eich straeon: beth yw eich hoff leoliadau cerddorol Cymreig? Beth yw eich hoff brofiadau mewn lleoliadau cerdd? Bydd y straeon hyn yn cael eu rhannu ar draws cyfryngau cymdeithasol trwy gydol ‘Wythnos Clybiau Annibynnol’.

Bydd sesiynau'n cael eu darlledu trwy gydol yr wythnos ar bbc.co.uk/horizons - am hanner dydd bob dydd rhaglen arbennig gyda sesiynau a rhaglenni dogfen byr am y lleoliadau. Fe fydd y sessiynnau hefyd yn cael eu darlledu ar BBC Radio Cymru a BBC Radio Wales, ac ar BBC 6Music efo Tom Robinson [SG4]  .

Cefnogwyd y daith gan Creative Wales a BBC Introducing.

Meddai Gerwyn Evans o Creative Wales,

“Yn Creative Wales rydyn ni i gyd yn caru ein lleoliadau a’n cerddoriaeth annibynnol. Rydym wedi parhau i gefnogi ein sector cerddoriaeth trwy'r misoedd diwethaf ac rydym bellach yn falch iawn o gefnogi'r daith hon. Mae'n wych gweld cerddoriaeth unwaith eto'n llenwi ein lleoliadau â sain er na all unrhyw dyrfaoedd ddod trwy'r drysau eto. Mae gan bob lleoliad stori wych i'w hadrodd ac edrychwn ymlaen at ddychwelyd cerddoriaeth fyw yn llwyddiannus wrth inni ddod allan o'r pandemig.”

Dear        ,

The Senedd is going to debate the petition you signed – “Legislate to prevent people from changing Welsh house names ”.

Senedd Wales Petition 200105

The debate is scheduled for 20 January 2021.

You’ll be able to watch online on Senedd TV

Once the debate has happened, we’ll email you a video and transcript.

Thanks,
The Petitions team
Senedd

You’re receiving this email because you signed this petition: “Legislate to prevent people from changing Welsh house names ”.

Annwyl         ,

Mae’r Senedd yn mynd i drafod y ddeiseb a lofnodwyd gennych – “Deddfu i atal newid enwau Cymraeg tai.”.

Deiseb Senedd Cymru 200105

Mae’r ddadl wedi’i hamserlennu ar gyfer 20 Ionawr 2021.

Gallwch chi wylio’r ddadl ar-lein ar Senedd TV

Ar ôl i’r ddadl ddigwydd, byddwn yn e-bostio fideo a thrawsgrifiad atoch.

Diolch,
Y tîm Deisebau
Senedd

Rydych chi’n derbyn yr e-bost hwn oherwydd i chi lofnodi’r ddeiseb hon: “Deddfu i atal newid enwau Cymraeg tai.”.