It seems ages since I posted about Swansea International Jazz Festival, so it’s good to see it’s back this year. Featuring local, national and international talent, the festival takes place from 13 to 16 June, now hosted by Swansea Council in partnership with the festival’s founders Swansea Jazz Club. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Wales
How Carys’s ‘Fat ‘n’ Clean’ charity song could have been much dirtier
Many performers have been keeping busy online during the coronavirus lockdown – none more so than actress, singer and writer Carys Eleri, who has released two hilarious comedy songs for charity. Downloads of Fat ‘N’ Clean and Beyond The Fence are raising money for Tarian Cymru, a campaign to make and distribute personal protective equipment … Continue reading
Swansea jazz festival triumphs again (with or without Herbie)
When James Taylor introduced his Quartet’s version of the theme from Blow-Up at Swansea International Jazz Festival last night [Sunday June 17, 2018], he told the audience it was written by Herbie Hancock. “And,” he announced, gesturing to the wings, “he’s here tonight!” For a split second, you sensed some people believed it – because … Continue reading
How drama classes turned shy Kate into a kick-ass screen star
It’s hard to imagine actress Kate Marie Davies ever being shy or being bullied. On screen she exudes a hard-edged confidence as Nicole in the superb Bristol-set scifi web series, Horizon, and doesn’t appear the type to be messed with in the forthcoming Escape From Cannibal Farm [as I write this in November 2016, I’ve … Continue reading
Esperanza – a jazz talent with Welsh roots
Wales, the land of song, has produced no shortage of famous and talented singers (fame and talent don’t always come as a set, of course), and global singing stars have claimed Welsh roots.The latest to come to my attention is one who’s big on talent, but not as famous as she should be – Esperanza … Continue reading
We Are Cardiff – a movie premiere
I’ve been asked to publish the information below about the forthcoming premiere of We Are Cardiff – a documentary from the people behind the We Are Cardiff web project. I’m happy to do so, and have already booked my ticket. Hope to see you there. Continue reading
Cardiff’s greatest star? A Hitchcock leading man and songwriting genius
My adopted home town of Cardiff, Wales has produced plenty of famous names in sport (I know – I contributed to a book about it) and the arts, but I doubt any could be considered greater than Ivor Novello. Continue reading
The Wolf Man of Wales
You’d never guess from the accents, but Universal’s 1940s werewolf classics are (at least partly) set in Wales. Is it ridiculously geeky to try to figure out where in Wales? I thought so. Continue reading