On song
WELSH language music and entertainment is taking centre stage in Llanelli over the coming weeks.
There’s an amazing weekend of entertainment at Llaneli Leisure Centre this weekend.
It’s all in aid of the Llanelli and District Cerdd Dant Festival 2019 and it’s being organised by the Welsh language support group Menter Cwm Gwendraeth Elli.
The weekend sees three Noson Lawen-style events being staged back to back, April 12 to 14.
The Noson Lawen on Friday will feature Côr Meibion Pontarddulais and Côr Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw.
Also on the bill will be Rhys ap William, Huw Chiswell, Phylip Harries, Angharad Brinn, Sian Richards and Pwdin Reis.
Côr Meibion Pontarddulais need no introduction as they are the record-breaking winners of the top choir competition at the Royal National Eisteddfod.
Côr Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw are from West Cross in Swansea.
Saturday sees Côr Ysgol Gymraeg Llangennech take to the stage alongside Côr y Sgarlets.
Mezzo soprano Eirly Myfanwy Davies will be a star attraction and the bill also includes the legendary Dafydd Iwan, Owain Williams, Lewis Richards and Gareth Jones – and Rhodri Thomas.
Sunday will feature a performance by Theatr Ieuenctid Menter Cwm Gwendraeth Elli theatre group.
Also on the bill are Marc Griffiths, Gwenda a Geinor, Y Brodyr Gregory, Elin Wyn Murphy, Baldande, Harmoni, Epsie Thompson and Osian Clarke.
Tickets are £5 and are available by ringing Elin Davies at Menter Cwm, Gwendraeth Elli on 01269 871600.
On May 8, at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, the spotlight again falls on all things Welsh.
Following the success of her most recent album Gwn Glan Beibl Budr, Lleuwen will be playing Ffwrnes as part of a four-date theatre tour of Wales.
Performing live with the band, this is an unmissable opportunity to witness a performance of this powerful and moving album.
It is an album of raw, rooted and radiant music.
Twisting ancient hymns to her own compositions, Gwn Glân Beibl Budr (Clean Gun Dirty Bible) takes the Welsh hymn book and throws it into the Age of Misinformation.
Live, raw and often improvised, Lleuwen brought an extremely varied mix of musicians together to create her most rooted and experimental album to date.
Musically and lyrically, Gwn Glân Beibl Budr explores polar opposites: addiction and spirituality; violent guitar strumming with angelic vocals; disconnection in the era of connectivity; historical amnesia.
Crashing drums play the role of a beast of prey with the harp playing the role of a young seedling.
There are songs about urbanism and shrinking rural areas; road traffic, phone traffic, mind traffic.
The album is out now on Recordiau Sain.
Later in May we see Athena, Steffan Rhys Hughes and the choir from Ysgol y Strade in Llanelli perform at Ffwrnes (May 24).
Following the success of their recent new recordings, Steffan and Athena will take to theatre stage to perform songs featured on their brand new releases – ranging from popular classical pieces to contemporary melodies and popular Welsh favourites.
Athena, Wales’s first female classical crossover trio, features three sought-after Welsh artists, Gwawr Edwards, Sioned Terry and Ellen Williams.
Athena has performed in harmonious union all over the UK at events ranging from a prestigious awards dinner for the Wales Football Association at Hensol Castle, to performances at concert venues in London and most recently at The William Aston Hall in Wrexham alongside the renowned Fron male voice choir.
Their debut album, ‘Encore’, was released at the end of 2018, marking their first year together as Athena. TV appearances on S4C include Noson Lawen and Heno.
Steffan released his debut album, Cana o dy Galon, at the age of 12, featured on the Christmas Spirit album with the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, and duetted with Katherine Jenkins for her sixth studio album Sacred Arias which reached no. 5 in the UK album charts.
Steffan is one of the eight members of Classical Brit Award-winning vocal group Only Men Aloud who were crowned the BBC’s Last Choir Standing.
As well as touring the UK, his highlights include performing in Mumbai, India, a summer tour with the British Proms and entertaining the crowds at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff during the Six Nations series.
Steffan released his eagerly awaited second album in November 2018 – a self-titled eclectic mix of Welsh and English songs, including an original track by himself and a new song written by Caryl Parry Jones.
Styles include folk, musical theatre, classical-crossover and gospel. Following the successful release of their recent album ‘Seren ein bore’ on the Sain label, Athena and Steffan are happy to share the stage with the choir.
Next week, a Gorseinon choir will take to the stage for a special performance of Stainer’s Crucifixion. St Catherine’s Community Choir will be appearing at St Catherine’s Church on Monday, alongside soloists Richard Allen and Gwyn Morris, with musical director Martin Bell on the organ. The performance starts at 7.30pm.
Llanelli’s Samuel Wyn Morris will be the guest singer at the 78th annual concert for Morriston Ladies Choir at Tabernacle Chapel, Morriston, on Saturday, 7pm. The concert also features the Swansea Salvation Army Citadel Band. Tickets are £10 and available from 01792 428440.
Further west, in Whitland, the ‘boys’ of the town’s male choir are getting ready for a concert at Ysgol Dyffryn Taf on Friday, April 26 (7.30pm). The Whitland and District Male Choir will take the stage with special guests Goodwick Brass Band and Parti Harmoni.
The compere will be Huw George and the president for the evening will be Arthur Bates. Tickets are £10 and available from choir members.
Finally, congratulations to Burry Port Tenor Osian Wyn Bowen. He has won a place in the final of the Ian Stoutzker Prize at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. The final is in June.
If you have news about the choral scene in Llanelli, email robert.lloyd01@ walesonline. co.uk or rlloydpr@ btinternet.com