Buzz Magazine - February 2019

WHAT’S ON BR FE UARY 2019

JOHN

GRANT

“You think modern life seems bleak through my eyes?”

MICHAEL MOSLEY | DAN SNOW | WARD THOMAS | THEATRE IN WALES ART | CULTURE | MUSIC | FILM | FOOD+DRINK | S P O R T | L I F E S T Y L E | L I S T I N G S

HHHH ‘Bold and utterly brilliant.’

Manchester Evening News

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gan/by William Shakespeare Macbeth ar dalth mewn partneriaeth gyda Lloyds Bank Private Banking

Macbeth on tour in partnership with Lloyds Bank Private Banking

MAWRTH 19 – 23 MARCH 2019

feb 2019 34previews

Have you ever noticed how the four sections of Buzz’s preview pages correspond to the four elements of hiphop? Art (graffiti), stage (b-boying), clubs (DJing) and live music (rapping). No, of course you haven’t

42reviews

buzz...

Keep seeing the name Penn Badgley around lately, in this case for his role in Netflix drama You which is reviewed on p.43, and can’t get past someone once saying that it sounds like a fake name you’d give to a copper if they pulled you over and had their notebook out

publisher EMMA CLARK editor FEDOR TOT listings/music editor NOEL GARDNER advertising EMMA CLARK Buzz TV JAYDON MARTIN accounts TERESA CLARK sales/social media CHARLIE COTTRELL design LEMONDOGCREATIVE.UK contributors CONTRIBUTORS: KEIRON SELF (FILMS), CHRIS ANDREWS, LLOYD BEST, KARLA BRADING ELERI CROSSLAND, JOHN-PAUL DAVIES, SAM EASTERBROOK, CHLOE EDWARDS, GARETH ELLIS, RHYS FISHER, DAFYDD HAINE, YASMIN GRANT, MARED GRUFFYDD, CHRIS HAMILTON-PEACH, ELOUISE HOBBS, RHIANON HOLLEY, OLIVER R. MOORE HOWELL, BETTI HUNTER, THEO HUNG, PAUL JENKINS, JASON MACHLAB, CARL MARSH, LYNDA NASH, DAVID NOBAKHT, BEN PARKER, ALEX PAYNE, CHARLIE PIERCEY, ALISON POWELL, RHONDA LEE REALI, JOSHUA REES, KATRINA REES, FFION RIORDANJONES, CHRIS SEAL, RUTH SEAVERS, LEWIS SMITH, JONATHAN SUTTON, MEGAN THOMAS, AMY TIFFIN, MARK TIMLIN, BEN WOOLHEAD, DAVID WYN, SZOFI ZEKOV phone number 029 2022 6767 general enquiries info@buzzmag.co.uk editorial editorial@buzzmag.co.uk listings listings@buzzmag.co.uk accounts accounts@buzzmag.co.uk BUZZ MAGAZINE 220C Cowbridge Road East, Canton, Cardiff CF5 1GY published EAC PUBLISHING contents DIFFUSION FESTIVAL - STANZA cover JOHN GRANT

buzzmagwales

47lifestyle

04roundup

“Most of us probably aren’t capable of these kinds of feats but we can at least dream of them”

10upfront

Cult pop figures such as – to name two at random – John Grant and Peter Hook quite literally ‘out of’ New Order love to chat. That, and their February gigs in the region, are why they’re in this issue. I lied about their mention being random. Theatre people don’t seem to love to chat quite so much but we’ve dedicated a bunch o’pages to projected 2019 goings-on in that department anyway

32film

There’s a simply delicious one-star shoeing by Keiron Self in this month’s crop of reviews, and I won’t give away what film it is or its premise... but here’s an impression of its writer. Doubleseat doubleseat gottagetadoubleseat!

FARTIE! DUTCH CAP! ‘Ow about that FATCHER, whose ideology I have drifted closer and closer towards over the years despite my one-time firebrand image?

@Buzz_Magazine

Listen up! ‘Lifestyle’, in the context of contents, is now a top-of-the-range umbrella covering topics including but not limited to food and drink, sport, travel, consumer guides and ecological issues. So in this one you’ll find chat about veganism with Matt Pritchard, dieting (the politics of), the Six Nations, places to go for Valentine’s Day and retro video game arcades

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Worst band names in this issue: eh, there aren’t any really but there is a gig promoted by someone or something called Custard’s Punk so let’s give that its due

78competitions

A hard-boiled journey through Edinburgh with the play Rebus. A poached visit to Russia in the form of The Cherry Orchard. A fried holiday in Flintshire soundtracked by The Joy Formidable. Rod Woodward throwing eggs at pedestrians from a moving car

@buzzmagwales

buzzmagtv

www.buzzmag.co.uk BUZZ 3

What’s on our radar this month BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL

This international film festival is one of the most prestigious when it comes to short films and documentaries about sports and mountain culture. Touring annually, it’s a celebration of adventure and the environment, showcasing of the world’s most exciting natural thrill-rides. Among the entries are How To Run 100 Miles and For The Love Of Mary, both of which will make you want to get out of your comfort zone and rup a mountain.

St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Tue 12 Feb + Thurs 28 Mar; Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, Wed 13 Mar; Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, Thurs 14 Mar; Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli, Fri 15 Mar. Tickets: £13.50-£15.

Info: www.banff-uk.com

ANWELEDIG

Anweledig follows the story of Welshwoman Glenda, played by Ffion Dafis, who is battling to live with severe depression. A raw and sometimes chilling exploration of mental illness, the play was inspired by medical records from the old Denbigh mental health hospital in North Wales. This is the final instalment of the Anweledig series, Welsh language productions by Caernarfon-born Aled Jones Williams. Additionally, Welsh learners are invited to an informal pre-show discussion on Wed 6 Mar. Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Tue 5-Fri 8 Mar. Tickets: £10-£12.

Info: www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk

YEAR OF DISCOVERY

Every year, VisitWales themes push to increase visitors to this grand country around a specific word. Two years ago we celebrated the Year Of Legends, taking in Wales’ rich history. Last year we saw the Year Of The Sea, gazing across our beautiful coastlines. This year it will be a Year Of Discovery, where visitors will be encouraged to track down all the hidden nooks and crannies of Wales.

Keep an eye out for various events and festivals tying in with this year’s theme.

Info: www.visitwales.com

BUZZ 4

THE HORNE SECTION

The Horne Section takes their BBC Radio 4 show on tour as they combine stand-up comedy and live music. Led

by Taskmaster’s Alex Horne, the group promises a night full of spontaneous shenanigans and well-rehearsed musical numbers. The frequent 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown guests have already enjoyed sell-out shows in Edinburgh and London’s West End. This time they’re ready to shake Swansea’s Grand Theatre up.

Grand Theatre, Swansea, Tue 26 Feb. Tickets: £22. Info: 020 7598 8000 / thehornesection.com

FATBOY SLIM

BEN FOGLE

Adventurer-man Ben Fogle kicks off a UKwide tour this February, with Swansea his only Welsh date. Entitled Tales From The Wilderness, he’ll be chatting to audiences about his various escapades, such as climbing Mount Everest and rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. These kind of An Audience With… type shows have proven to be immensely popular of late; most of us probably aren’t capable of these kinds of feats but we can at least dream of them, hence the allure.

Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena will be transformed into one of the UK’s biggest dancefloors when Fatboy Slim brings his In The Round tour to the city. Last year, the British artist announced the reissue of his 1998 smash album You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby. No doubt its hits, including Right Here, Right Now, Praise You and The Rockafeller Skank, will blast through the Motorpoint on the night. Support comes from much-loved London DJ collective Horse Meat Disco.

Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Saturday 23 Feb. Tickets: £40.

Info: 029 2022 4488 / www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk

Swansea Grand Theatre, Thurs 28 Feb. Tickets: £27. Info: www.benfogle.com

THE OTHER ROOM SPRING SEASON

The Other Room’s spring season, usually comprised of a number of original Other Room productions, is mixing things up by giving touring productions the chance to perform during their Spring season in February and March. Eight shows in eight weeks, the season will feature performances that have previously been presented at the likes of Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Cardiff Fringe and other festivals. The programme kicks off with Laurie Black’s musical space adventure Space Cadette and closes with Willy Hudson’s intimate and honest queer exploration, Bottom.

The Other Room at Porters, Cardiff, Tue 5 Feb-Sat 30 Mar. Tickets: £10.50.

Info: 0333 6663366 / www.otherroomtheatre.com

IAN MCKELLEN ON TOUR

Living legend Sir Ian McKellen is looking back at his long and successful career from his role in Shakespeare plays to his fantasy roles such as Gandalf in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, in a series of dates across Wales. The profits from ticket prices are going to benefit the given venues and so the tour is a celebration of theatre as much as of Mr McKellen himself.

Grand Theatre, Swansea, Wed 13 Mar; Arts Centre, Aberystwyth, Thurs 14 + Fri 15 Mar; Theatr Hafren, Newtown, Sat 16 Mar; New Theatre, Cardiff, Thurs 27 + Fri 28 June.

Tickets: £18-£28 (sold out – check box offices for returns).

Info: www.ianonstage.co.uk

BUZZ 5

VERNON HOPKINS The music industry has never been the easiest of places to make a living, as Vernon Hopkins tells Szofi Zekov ahead of the publication of Just Help Yourself, detailing his time in the ‘Squires’with one Mr Tom Jones in the 60s.

How would you describe the book?

The book is a recording of history: the story of what happened in the 60s, the rise to stardom and what happened to the band. And what happened is that we got betrayed, so to speak. It’s a 400-page moralistic story of how the music industry worked in the 60s, when it was a cut-throat business. It still is, but even more so back then.

The book is about the lack of loyalty as far as Tom Jones and his manager were concerned. When It’s Not Unusual came out, things changed. It’s about Tom Jones but not who he is, what he is. It’s different, what the fans see and what person he is behind the curtain. I got behind the curtain and I know exactly what happened. What celebrities put forward is an image so of course the fans like them. But behind that they’re people and we’re all characters. Some are nice characters and some are nasty characters.

And then there’s the title, which has a double meaning. One is the title of the 1968 song, called Help Yourself. But also, all he ever did after It’s Not Unusual was just help himself. Not only when it came to the band, with other people as well. The reader can decide what title they prefer – Just Help Yourself as the title of the song or as a description of what happened.

If you could, would you change anything about things went down with the band and Tom? The way we finished. I read it in a newspaper! I was going down for breakfast one day and there it was on the front pages of a national newspaper: “Tom Jones and The Squires in amicable split”. I had to read that in the newspaper. They didn’t even tell us, Tom didn’t say anything to us. Finished without anything, just out like that, written in the newspaper, which is a terrible way to end it all. It was mean, unnecessary, and brutal. That feeling stuck with us for a long time after that.

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How is it looking back on your more positive experiences, like meeting Elvis and other stars?

We went everywhere, all around the world and we met everyone, all the stars, and we took it – not for granted, but like it was normal. Meeting Elvis Presley was a big thing even then, of course, but looking back at it now, my God, it takes your breath away. Back then, people heard it and it was: “Oh, how lucky, you met Elvis?” But now it seems like a chance in millions. I was really lucky, it was good, and I met other people as well.

Looking back, I’m glad I stayed with the band instead of going because, as I said, I saw the world – but there was a shadow over it, because we were skint. We saw the world but we were living in motels. It was an awful time but a great time as well.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in the music industry?

Look at the small print on the contracts, definitely. The first thing to do, whether you’re in a band or solo, is go on the road a little bit, discover it for yourself.

Get a great demo for yourself, which is easy these days: go to a small studio and get some really good songs recorded. Try and be seen and get as much stage experience as you can. The advice I would give is what we weren’t told with the band: you’ve got to find your own way. There’s also the opportunity to learn based on our mistakes, it’s all there in the book. It’s a manual of sorts, with all the advice in the all world.

Just Help Yourself by Vernon Hopkins, published by Seren Books.

Price: £9.99. Info: 01656 663018 / www.serenbooks.com

Buzz - February 19_Layout 1 23/01/2019 17:31 Page 1

No Such Thing as a Fish In No Particular Order 13.03.19

London Sinfonietta & Synergy Vocals 14.02.19

Vampires Rock with / gyda Sam Bailey 13.02.19

John Grant Love is Magic 11.02.19

Rod Woodward I’m Not Being Funny, But...

02.03.19

Dr Michael Mosley Trust Fast Health 27.02.19

Trixie Mattel Skinny Legend!

20.02.19

Banff Mountain Film Festival Gŵyl Ffilmiau Mynydd Banff 12.02.19 & 28.03.19

Ólafur Arnalds re:member 19.03.19

Pic: Ben Salter

BOOK NOW ST DAVID’S DAY CONCERT

St David’s Hall, Cardiff Fri 1 Mar Tickets: £15-£41 Info: 029 2087 8444 www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

SECRET SPACES: TIME FLIES

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY: ROMEO AND JULIET

One of the UK’s longest-standing club nights, Time Flies celebrates 25 years in the game this month. Fedor Tot chats to head honcho Henry Blunt about the milestone.

So it’s Time Flies’ 25th birthday. How has it managed to survive so long?

lasting until 4 or 6 are commonplace.

It’s down to a very loyal crowd of clubbers in Wales and parts of west England who have religiously followed us. It’s also about making sure that events evolve and are special and memorable. Those are probably the key factors to the longevity... but a lot of blood, sweat and tears as well.

Are there any particular highlights of the history of Time Flies that you look back on?

Twenty-five years ago was before the internet became a commodity. How has clubbing and club promotion changed since then?

Obviously with the internet these days, I will spend my advertising budget on e-flyers and Facebook advertisements; you’re able to target your audience from the comfort of your armchair or your desk. With the big events in the early 90s, you’d be printing off tens of thousands of flyers and paying people to stand outside venues at 6am to hand them out. We still do posters around shops where we can, but there are not as many independently-owned shops in major cities that allow you to put posters up – a lot of high street brands are taking over. Of course, if you go to some of the small valley towns, there are many shops that will welcome you in.

I guess another big change is licensing. When we first started in Cardiff, 1am was the latest finish, and then it became 2am – now club nights

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We used to partner up with BBC Radio 1 quite a bit, back in the late 90s and into the 00s, and we did a live broadcast from what was the original Cardiff ice rink, on Radio 1’s Essential Mix – which was obviously broadcast across the UK and by then, through the internet, across the globe. So that was a pretty big moment for Time Flies.

If you could recommend one place in Wales to a first-time visitor that’s not on the tourist maps, where would it be and why?

If it’s somewhere I particularly enjoy going, I’m not going to tell you. It probably is on the tourist trail, but I would take them up to the Rhigos mountain or viewpoint in the Rhondda Valley. That’s pretty special. I do go to a lot of quiet places with the children and my girlfriend, but I want to keep them secret or else they’ll get overrun!

Time Flies 25th Birthday Party feat.

Judge Jules, Seb Fontaine, John Kelly and more, Tramshed, Cardiff, Fri 8 Feb. Tickets: £25.

Info: www.timefliesuk.com

New Theatre, Cardiff Tue 5-Sat 9 Mar Tickets: £14-£23 Info: 029 2087 8889 www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

GEORGE EZRA

Motorpoint Arena Cardiff Wed 13 Mar Tickets: £35 Info: 029 2022 4488 motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR Tramshed, Cardiff Tue 19 Mar Tickets: £26 Info: 029 2023 5555 tramshedcardiff.com

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay Tue 26 Mar-Sat 6 Apr Tickets: £15-£77 Info: 029 2063 6464 www.wmc.org.uk

THE MIRROR CRACK’D New Theatre, Cardiff Tue 26 Mar-Sat 6 Apr Tickets: £13-£33 Info: 029 2087 8889 www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

On Sale Now · Ar Werth Nawr ...Bring me sunshine it does, bring me laughter most definitely!

English Youth Ballet 15 May • Mai

Swan Lake

17 — 28 September • Medi

16 — 17 August • Awst

29 Aug • Awst — 1 Sept • Medi

1 — 5 October • Hydref

I never thought I would see Morecambe and Wise live. I think I just have!

BEN ELTON

You have the giddy out-of-time illusion that you are watching the legendary double-act live THE INDEPENDENT

6 — 7 July • Gorfennaff

HHHH ‘MORE ENJOYABLE THAN

Illustration © Tony Ross. Lettering of author’s name © Quentin Blake 2010

ANY OTHER WALLIAMS SHOW’ The Times

THE PERFEC HALF TE T R T REAT ! M

26 Feb • Chwe — 2 Mar • Maw newtheatrecardiff.co.uk 029 2087 8889 Mae’r New Theatre yn eiddo i ac, yn cael ei rheoli a’i harinannu Gyngor Caerdydd · The New Theatre is owned, managed and funded by Cardiff Council

JOHN GRANT Odes to Atari arcade games, Chelsea Manning and the art of seducing newly-divorced dads – American singer-songwriter John Grant is set to electrify Cardiff. He and Eleri Crossland discuss modern technology, the meaning of intimacy and which yoghurt flavour is the best.

Pic: Shawn Brackbill

“Life is short and all these little tantrums we have are so arbitrary”

On the title track of your latest album Love Is Magic, you argue that “love is not so tragic/It’s a lie that you bought”. What makes you think this?

I think the idea that love has to be dramatic is a lie.

We make such a big deal out of it when people come into our lives and when they go out of it. Everybody freaks out when they think they’re in love, and when it goes wrong, everybody freaks out too.

As you get older, I think you’re able to reach a place where, if people want to go out of your life, you can just let them go and it doesn’t have to be so tragic.

But the way we’re conditioned, we believe it has to be super dramatic. True intimacy isn’t necessarily that dramatic, it’s a deep thing that can really handle stormy seas, even when the boat’s rocking around and everybody starts freaking out, because you know that’s part of the deal.

Despite the title, many songs on the album ironically revisit failed relationships and explore difficult topics, such as depression, death and Donald Trump – do you believe modern love is doomed?

I think a lot of us really don’t want to work at it. I think everyone thinks it’s supposed to be non-stop, hot fucking and being able to do whatever the hell you want. These days, especially in the States, you hear about people ‘throwing shade’, ‘reading’ other people, and saying “I’m just an honest person”. If you say everything that comes into your head, you’re not being honest, you’re just being an asshole. I really don’t see anything positive about that.

You see all these dating shows where it’s funny to watch people just rip each other apart, but I think it’s pretty disgusting. There’s such a thing as being tactful and being kind to other people, and not necessarily saying “that shirt looks like shit on you, I wouldn’t put that on my dog”. That’s not being honest, that’s your subjective opinion.

Would you say that you use songwriting as a way of tactfully venting anger? Or do you let rip in real life anyway?

I definitely freak out in real life! I think it’s good to express anger, as long as you don’t hurt anybody. It’s hard not to hurt people, especially emotionally, because people are sensitive and human beings can be real assholes, including me, so I try to be respectful of people.

I find that the hardest place to be kind to people is when you’re driving on the road. I go to see a psychologist every once in a while when I feel I need some extra support and she tells me when you’re on the road and someone is driving like a total fuckwit, it really helps to put your

favourite person in place of the person that you’re judging in that moment. If you put your mother or your partner whom you love dearly in that car, it can totally transform the moment for you, because you can’t see the other person as Satan anymore. I try tactics like that, because life is short and all these little tantrums that we have are so arbitrary.

These days there’s always going to be somebody filming you anyway, so you’re just going to end up on YouTube with two billion people judging you. If you want to throw your toys out of the pram by yourself when you get home, then that’s a better way to do it.

Talking about freaking out, in Diet Gum you deliver a hilarious, angry monologue directed at an ex-lover – has anyone ever actually attempted to seduce you in a 70s-style leisure suit?

No they haven’t, but I wish they would though! If you were to wear a polyester suit and a tie with a weird psychedelic print, I’d be really into that!

Whilst this same nostalgia for the past shines through on tracks such as Tempest and Preppy Boy, your view of the present seems much more bleak in comparison. Would you agree with this interpretation?

You think modern life seems bleak through my eyes?

I guess you’re right. I do have a lot of nostalgia for the past, and while I do love modern technology, I think it’s been a really crazy learning curve. Kids have grown up with modern technology, so it probably doesn’t effect them as much as it has affected those of us who didn’t grow up with it, because it’s been such a shock to the system. It totally changes the way you interact with the world. But I think we’re still individuals and we all react to these things differently and, for me, the internet is such an incredible place where you can look at anything in any language.

But it has given a lot of people a platform to just have

Get Schooled! – here’s five of John Grant’s most savage musical moments Sigourney Weaver (Queen Of Denmark, 2010) I feel just like Winona Ryder / In that movie about vampires / And she couldn’t get that accent right / Neither could that other guy Grant is a cineaste and his lyrics frequently namecheck actors. Naturally, you have to have some sympathy for the poor soul being simply referred to as that other guy who couldn’t pull off an accent (Keanu Reeves). That being said, anyone who’s seen “that movie about vampires” (Bram Stoker’s Dracula) will agree that Grant kinda has a point.

You And Him (Grey Tickles, Black Pressure, 2017) You and Hitler oughta tie the knot / You could do it at Taco Bell to spice up the plot What’s worse than being compared to Hitler? Surely being told that the pair of you should hook up, invest in some matching knitwear, get married in a fast food chain restaurant and invite Pol Pot over to play Twister afterwards has got to be up there, right?

verbal diarrhoea all the time, and that’s pretty gross. I’m not a big Facebook fan, even though I used it for years, because I just don’t like that sticky-sweet, saccharine version of life that’s displayed on there. It just doesn’t seem real to me. I do think it’s quite difficult thing to figure out and I still haven’t figured it out.

You’re coming to Cardiff to play St. David’s Hall, and in the past you’ve played with Welsh artists such as James Dean Bradfield. Are there any other Welsh artists you enjoy?

Oh yeah, there’s tons! I like all the old school stuff, like Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones, but I also think Gruff Rhys is a real genius, and Cate Le Bon is one of my favourite artists of all time. I think Marina Diamandis [of Marina And The Diamonds] has a really killer voice and a really great pop sensibility, and I really love the fact that her accent comes through in the music. I love the Welsh accent, it’s really beautiful. There was a show called Nighty Night with Julia Davis with a Welsh character called Linda, who will make you laugh your ass off.

On opening track Metamorphosis, you ask “67 yoghurt flavours / Which one do you want? ” But which flavour would you choose?

I lived in Germany for quite a while – I was in Heidelberg for a year and a smaller town for five years- and my all-time favourite yoghurt is made in Germany by a company called Almighurt. They have a Russischer Zupfkuchen – chocolate cheesecake – flavour and it comes in a glass jar. It tastes exactly like chocolate cake batter and it’s off the fucking hook!

John Grant, St. David’s Hall, Cardiff, Mon 11 Feb. Tickets: £27. Info: 029 2087 8444 / www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

Black Belt (Pale Green Ghosts, 2013) You got really good taste, you know how to cut and paste Whilst this track is dripping in barbs directed at a despised black-belt bullshitter, it’s the simple ones that stand out. In one line, Grant teases the aforementioned foe with what appears to be a nice compliment, before calling them out for the total poser they are.

Diet Gum (Love Is Magic, 2018) Hey, I’ve got some Gaines-Burgers you can have if you want ‘em / You might as well, you’ve clearly hit rock bottom In a cornucopia of elaborately-worded insults, this one is the real treasure. This line sees Grant at his most patronising, suggesting his ex has sunk so low, he may as well be chewing on some charitablyoffered dog food. Ouch.

The Czars – Trash (Goodbye, 2004) Why don’t you try sticking your dick into all the things that you bought / With your hard-earned cash Sharped-tonged even before he went solo; in this track taken from his former band The Czars’ final album, the GMF bids farewell to a former lover – but not without firing shots at the finale.

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W E L S H T H E AT R E 2019 looks set to be an exciting and brave new year for Welsh theatre. Fedor Tot checks the health of Welsh theatre today and looks back over the years to see how it’s evolved.

Welsh theatre is certainly in an interesting place at the moment. Last year had more than a few controversies. An open letter criticising National Theatre Wales, signed first by 40 playwrights and then 200 actors, that appeared in September 2018 generated a wide-ranging debate as to what Welsh theatre is and what it means. The letter called for NTW to do more to promote Welsh or Welsh-based talent, highlighting a dearth of such in many of the productions it ran in 2018, and for there to be more theatrical productions period.

In this case, NTW seemed to be willing to listen to the criticism and opened up a dialogue with the writers – a case that can’t necessarily be said of the controversy around the Wales Theatre Awards in 2018 when The Golden Dragon, an opera which featured white actors in Asian roles and was accused of ‘yellowface’, was nominated at the awards. The resurfacing of that controversy led to their cancellation this year. In a relatively small theatre scene, two big arguments in a year is pretty hefty.

But moving beyond that, there’s a lot to be hopeful for in Welsh theatre. Twenty years ago, neither National Theatre Wales nor its Welsh-language counterpart Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru existed, and funding for Welsh theatre was, well, not much.

There has long been a historic energy around Welsh theatre, from the pioneering site-specific work of Cardiff Laboratory Theatre and Brith Gof (whose practices have influenced NTW’s own; the co-director of the aforementioned companies, Mike Pearson, has gone on to direct and contribute to

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several of NTW’s most acclaimed pieces such as The Persians and The Storm Cycle to the work of Ed Thomas and contemporaries in the late 1980s and 90s, who brought Welsh stories out of Wales and to a wider arena.

If all the various countries and regions of the UK – not just Wales, but also Scotland and arguably even northern England – are constantly having to deal with London vacuuming up talent, this is as fine a time as any to push that centre of gravity away from the capital and towards other points of the UK. It’s ridiculous the amount of talent in this country that gets routinely ignored by mainstream media simply because its base isn’t within the M25, although there are a few journalists in the major papers who make that effort – Lyn Gardner at The Guardian was a prime case-in-point, until her contract was cancelled.

The Sherman Theatre’s audiences have bumped up 35% in the last few years with a slew of awards in its wake, including an Olivier Award for Killology.

We have smaller fare such as The Other Room, and further afield a network of regional theatres; and in between all of that a multitude of exciting theatre companies.

In these pretty rum times for the creative industries, with less money year-on-year after nearly a decade of austerity (and who knows, after a no-deal Brexit, there may not even be a functioning civilisation to produce theatre for), it’s actually pretty heartening to see how much blood and guts and hard work is still taking place in Welsh theatre.

There seems to be a desire amongst Welsh theatre

makers to tell specifically ‘Welsh’ stories, the kind that could only exist in Wales – recent productions that come to mind include Exodus and Iphigenia In Splott, in a way that doesn’t seem to occur for film, despite the frequent use of Wales as a centre for film and TV production.

A recent case-in-point would be Sex Education, the recent Netflix series which was mostly filmed in Caerleon and Monmouthshire, but where all vestiges of Welshness (or even British-ness) were ignored in favour of a generic American-ness designed to appeal to all-comers. But specificity is what gives stories their universal kick, and this is something Welsh theatre has in spades.

These are stories that taste Welsh and could only have come out of the minds of people who have set up home here and live day-to-day. I wonder how much mayhem some Welsh writers could wreak on the film and TV landscape, were they given carte blanche to shoot from the hip.

Sometimes, the more you talk about a ‘national’ identity, the less you can actually define what it is – you just know something is Welsh when you see it. You can look at the Welsh theatre scene, and you can definitely say it is Welsh. For all the many problems the Welsh creative industries face, that’s something worthwhile holding onto.

pic: Graeme Braidwood

BUZZ RECOMMENDS Buzz looks ahead to some of the most interesting and unique theatre productions coming to Welsh stages in 2019.

ON BEAR RIDGE

Sherman Theatre, Cardiff, September/October A new play by Ed Thomas after a long absence from the stage is an exciting prospect. The playwright burst onto the scene way back in the late ‘80s with House of America and a steady stream of work eventually turned into his helming the acclaimed S4C show Y Gwyll/Hinterland. On Bear Ridge, set to premiere in September looks exceptionally exciting, even if the info available on it is currently thin on the ground, except for the hint that it will form a trilogy of deeply personal work. We can’t wait.

FREEDOM

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Fri 7-Sun 23 June Outside of its regular marquee productions of big-name operas every spring and autumn, Welsh National Opera usually takes a moment in the summer to push towards new ideas in opera. This summer comes a season of works all based around the ideas of human rights and political persecution, aplty titled Freedom. The series includes Dead Man Walking, the debut opera by composer Jake Heggie, about a nun counselling a man on death row, as well Gian Carlo Menotti’s 1950 work The Consul, about the everanxious wait for a visa in an unnamed authoritarian state. Opera is sometimes criticised by detractors for being out-of-touch with modern audiences, but material like this shows it can just as readily confront our modern day issues as any other artform.

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A BRAVE FACE

Various venues, March This award-winning production by Vamos Theatre is one of the most startling and powerful plays to have been performed in the UK in the last few years. Using Vamos’ trademark masks, A Brave Face aims to explore PTSD in former soldiers. With the masks giving performers an eerie, almost haunted visage, it’s sure to be powerful and thus far reviews have been very positive.

THE CHERRY ORCHARD

Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, Tue 5-Sat 9 Mar Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard is to be performed by Cardiff’s Everyman Theatre in early March. The play, Chekhov’s last and often referred to as his greatest, deals with the hope, despair and change that gripped Russia during the years preceding the country’s revolution. Set in 1904, The Cherry Orchard follows the tale of three characters whose lives are intertwined: businessman Lopakhin, who wants to sell the cherry orchard and develop the land for holiday cottages, orchard owner Madame Ranevsky, who doesn’t want anything to change, and revolutionary student Trofimov, who wants wholesale upheaval. Everyman will present Trevor Griffiths’ 1977 version of the play, renowned for having replaced the ‘drawing room drama’ approach of the original with something more modern and powerful.

STORM 3: TOGETHER AND ALONE

Newport (venue TBC), March The third part of the Storm cycle looks set to continue the tradition of the first two parts in breaking down the barriers as to what we might expect when we go to the ‘theatre’. The first two parts, both performed last year, were praised for their imagination but not always for their execution: Storm 1 was performed almost entirely in darkness with the audience listening on their headphones to the dialogue, whilst Storm 2 was a verbatim-reading of newspaper accounts of the race riots that cut through Cardiff a century ago. This part looks ahead to the future, with the piece being performed mere weeks before the UK is scheduled to leave the EU, glancing inwards at who ‘we’ are. Whatever happens, under the vision of the cycle’s creator, Mike Brookes, this is bound to be a unique experience.

THE ISLE OF BRIMSKER

Touring the UK until Sat 8 June This is the latest production from Frozen Light, who were founded 13 years ago in Kent and specialise in creating theatre for the benefit of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).

This incorporates interactive elements and sections which are multi-sensory by design. The Isle Of Brimsker is set in a remote lighthouse, with its protagonist the lighthouse keeper; attuned to solitude, this changes one day when a stranger comes ashore.

An epic UK tour, which started in January, visits three Welsh venues: Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli (Mon 18 and Tue 19 Feb), Blackwood Miners Institute (Wed 20) and Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff (Thurs 21 and Fri 22).

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K U L LY T H I A R A I After the contentious end to 2018 in the Welsh theatre scene, Fedor Tot chats to National Theatre Wales’ Artistic Director Kully Thiarai about the year ahead.

What were the primary considerations behind the programme for National Theatre Wales this year?

Our ambition is to think of the whole of Wales as a nation, so we’re always mindful of the nature of our stories and where we tell them. What I’m really excited about, in terms of 2019, is that we are doing some really diverse work across Wales. Some brand new works like Ed Thomas’ On Bear Ridge – a coproduction with the Royal Court – right through to restaging some of our monologues from last year’s NHS70 Festival, in order for them to be seen by a wider audience across Wales, and hopefully beyond.

We are also collaborating on an amazing new international project with Sean Edwards as part of Wales in Venice. The notion of the world in Wales, and Wales in the world, is really important and it’s particularly timely given our political dialogue in terms of our relationship with Europe.

The debate that happened last year [when a group of playwrights and actors published an open letter criticising the NTW] – did that play on the decisions that were made?

It’s always good to respond to feedback and hear any criticisms and look at what you can do about those things. But we work on an 18-month programming cycle – so some years we do more, some years we do less, depending both on the scale of the work and the development phases of the work that are necessary.

In that sense, this is a busy year. But not any more busy than last year.

We had a major festival for the whole of July last year, as well as one of our biggest productions with Tide Whisperer. So in some respects, it’s hard to say “oh, this is responsive” because every programmed season has lots of variables at play about how those things come into the mix.

It’s there in the title – the NTW is a national theatre. How do you define a Welsh national theatre, or even a Welsh national culture?

That’s a very good question, and I think you have to respond to and explore that in all its diversity through the various works you create. Remember that we are the English language Welsh national theatre, and there is the Theatr Genedlaethol, the Welsh language national theatre. We play a role in exploring all those ideas in different ways, collaboratively with that company as well as separately.

I think the notion of nationhood is also really interesting in the context of ‘what do we mean by culture?’ Culture is an organic thing, and it changes and grows and shifts, and you need to feed it for it to be nurtured. Our role as a national company is to make sure that we do that for everyone in Wales, as opposed to just in one location with one principal approach in terms of theatre-making.

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Outside of NTW, what do you think about the current state of Welsh theatre as a whole?

These are very interesting times for the arts. We’re going through a long period of austerity. There’s less money around and more need. In that sense, it’s not surprising that people are feeling frustrated and finding it difficult to think about how you can continue to make a sustainable living in the arts when there is so much pressure.

On a broader level, I think that since NTW has been in existence, there has been a real growth in artists working within companies and delivering projects. It feels very lively and healthy.

But I think we have to be mindful about what models we can put in place to make sure that we can make that more sustainable in the long term.

Looking ahead of this year in Welsh theatre, is there anything that you’re particularly excited for?

A brand new work by Ed Thomas, who is returning to the stage after many years, is a significant moment for us all in terms of him making an original piece of work after a significant absence. It will be exciting to see who takes on the Sherman job [as creative director], and there are lots of exciting plans by various companies.

Info: www.nationaltheatrewales.org

everyman theatre presents

THE CHERRY ORCHARD

by ANTON CHEKHOV An English version by Trevor Griffiths based on a translation by Helen Rappaport.

5 – 9th MARCH 7.30pm Saturday Matinee 2.30pm CHAPTER Box Office: 029 20304400 Ticket Prices: £12/10

Book online at: www.chapter.org Concession prices for all shows.

Facebook @EverymanTheatre Twitter @everymancdf The Cherry Orchard Advert v1 (275mm x 93mm) 3mm Bleed CMYK

Aberystwyth CANOLFAN CELFYDDYDAU 05.03.19 - 08.03.19 CAerDyDD THEATR SHERmAN 12.03.19 - 13.03.19 LLAneLLi FFwRNES 18.03.19 - 21.03.19

Pic: Roberto Ricciuti

PE TE R H O O K & T H E L I G H T One of the most influential bassists of all time, Peter Hook is now keeping the flame of Joy Division and New Order alive with his new band The Light. He speaks to Yasmin Grant.

With their latest tour focusing on New Order’s 1989 and 1993 albums, Technique and Republic, Peter Hook is excited about he and his band The Light’s visit to the Tramshed this month. Hooky considers Cardiff familiar ground, having played here many times – often using the city as a base for warmups due to radically changing sets. The famed bassist says he always enjoys being here and has a connection with the place – what with his wife and most ex-girlfriends being Welsh, there definitely seems to be a lure. “One of those lovely venues with a great crowd,” he says of the Tramshed, where The Light last visited in 2017.

The Light, his current project after departing New Order in 2007, came into being as a celebration of music. Hooky didn’t want to pretend to be Joy Division, so he found a way to play the LPs in full without posing as the group. “Call it Joke Division if you like!”

There doesn’t seem to be a sense of slowing down for Hooky as he digs through tracks that were overlooked in the past. New Order, as a group, would ditch a track from their setlist if it proved difficult. But The Light play LPs in full, tricky bits and all. He admits, at the ripe old age of 62, it’s been quite educational and inspiring. In comparison with New Order, The Light have a more thorough approach – rehearsing a total of 120 tracks, where New Order would stick to a strict 17.

“It’s like getting out one of your old projects that you haven’t finished because you’ve been out all weekend and finishing it off and being, like, ‘Wow!’ Republic was a very troubled LP – a very difficult album to make, our heart and soul wasn’t in it. So it’s been nice to listen to where we went wrong and put that right. My least popular New Order LP has now become a favourite. We all have a great time and surely that’s what life’s about.”

Hooky’s hard work seems to be paying off as after 40 years of faithful service, Yamaha have now made a Peter Hook Signature Model Guitar. It mimics the very

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first guitar that he began with – a BD 1200 S, the original of which is “hammered, scratched and battered”.

Additionally, the Peter Hook’s Signature Collection auction is to launch on Sat 2 Mar, and its content was difficult for a sentimental Hooky to part with – the memorabilia being something that Hooky has held onto as compensation for Joy Division’s short life.

“The band lost it just before it became good… it’s such a frustration that every time I saw something that reminded me of the band, I wanted to keep it close to my heart. But the collection is really something to be proud of. It’s bit odd to have it all kind of locked up.”

Following the wise words of the late Tony Wilson, who founded the Factory label and released both Joy Division’s and New Order’s classic work, Hooky tries to “give something back” as he’s taking. He’s still involved in the Masters Programme in Music Industry Management that he launched in 2012 at the University Of Central Lancashire. He mentors the students that take part in the course and describes the nature of the experience as very hands-on.

“A lot of kids came into my recording studio and they have certificates but no practical experience. I thought, this is daft.” He works with them, trying to perpetuate the idea that this wonderful musical world isn’t about money but about unusual and unique experiences you get from sharing something creative. He sure is keeping it going.

Peter Hook & The Light, Tramshed, Cardiff, Sat 23 Feb. Tickets: £23.50.

Info 029 2023 5555 / www.tramshedcardiff.com

WARD THOMAS A new generation of Brits have taken up country music with gusto, breathing life into a genre often maligned on this side of the pond. Amongst the biggest is Ward Thomas – ahead of their Cardiff gig, Carl Marsh talks to the twin-sister duo.

Working with my brother or sister would be an absolute nightmare. How do you both avoid such dramas that often can go on with having a sibling working close?

It’s been one of those processes that as we started when we were very young, it has become quite normal; we haven’t got a clue as to what else is out there.

We are so used to working together, and we do get on very well, but we do have very different personalities. I guess if we were quite similar we would be at each other’s throats – so, we’re fortunate!

Which of you had the idea of forming the duo? Was it when you were growing up a farm in rural Hampshire?

It was a very organic decision between the pair of us – we didn’t even really think about it. Having a very outdoorsy childhood definitely encouraged our creativity as we had a lot of time to be imaginative. We used to go on long dog walks or horse rides and sing. It was just very musical growing up in the countryside.

You’ve both been singing since a young age, but how did you get your first music contract?

We’ve sung since we were little; we sang at local pubs, family dos. Our family are very musical, so we have always been surrounded by music and creative personalities. We started writing songs at our college together, and we had a teacher who used to be a session singer in Nashville. We had written a song called Footnote, which was one of the first songs on our first album – she got excited about the song, sent it over to one of her Nashville contacts and the next thing we knew, we were being flown over there to record. Our whole Nashville career started from there. Four years later, after releasing the album From Where We Stand and writing Cartwheels, we signed with Sony.

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How much freedom have you been given with your latest album Restless Minds, especially as Cartwheels was written before your contract with Sony?

Sony was pretty uninvolved with the A&R and creative process of Cartwheels, but we are at that age where we have been very much willing to try things and experiment a bit with our sound. Sony has always been very encouraging with that, and we have been very lucky with the team we’ve got there because they’ve been encouraging of everything that we’ve wanted to do and take our music.

With Restless Minds specifically, we’ve had enough room to do what we have wanted with the album: there are some very country songs in there and some pop songs that are completely not-country at all.

Your second album went to number one in the UK album charts.

No other UK country band has ever achieved that before!

It still surprises us now – we were kind of hoping for top 40 and then when we found out that we were number one in the album charts, it was a real ‘pinch me’ moment! It definitely has brought higher expectations to this new record. We always try to have high hopes and low expectations as you can never know how well things connect with the buying public.

The music industry has changed so much that we don’t really understand it anymore! It is a weird time in the industry and it is hard to really know, so we have just tried to make the best album that we can, and hope for the best.

Ward Thomas, St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Mon 4 Mar. Tickets: £20.50-£29.50.

Info: 029 2087 8444 / www.stdavidshall.co.uk

BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales Cerddorfa a Chorws Cenedlaethol Cymreig y BBC

St David’s Day Concert Cyngerdd Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Friday Nos Wener 1/3/19, 7.30pm Programme to include music by: Cyngerdd i gynnwys cerddoriaeth gan: Arwel Hughes, Hoddinott, Mathias, Mansel Thomas – Grant Llewellyn Conductor Arweinydd

Catrin Finch For information and tickets Am wybodaeth a thocynnau

bbc.co.uk/now 0800 052 1812

Gwyn Hughes Jones

Pic: Tim Alban

YES IS MORE! Ahead of a tasty gig, featuring Gruff Rhys, Gwenno and Boy Azooga aiming to instigate debate about the possibility of Welsh independence, Mared Gruffydd talks to one of its instigatiors, Super Furry Animals’ Cian Ciarán.

Remaining laidback throughout our discussion, Cian Ciarán, best known as supplying keys and electronics in Super Furry Animals, tells Buzz that when he communicates with the press, he prefers a conversation, as opposed to a formal interview. Yet he answers each question at length, demonstrating that he is evidently enthusiastic and passionate about our chosen topic: Wales’ proindependence movement.

Ciarán will be joining a monumental lineup of Welsh musicians – including his bandmate Gruff Rhys, Charlotte Church, grime-punk band Astroid Boys and synthpop soloist Gwenno – at the Yes Is More! concert, held in Cardiff this month. According to Ciarán, “this event was born from the ideas of a mixture of creative people who wanted to galvanise and explore the discussion of Welsh independence.”

Everyone on the bill, he says, has similar opinions about that topic as himself.

“I think the commonality between all of us is that we feel that life can be better in Wales, and that we’ve been let down by our politicians.” However, the evening isn’t about being patriotic; people are not going to be singing the anthem, or even waving Welsh flags.

“It’s not going to be like a rugby or football match. There will be no anti-English sentiment, we want everyone to come along, we want to be inclusive.”

Making it clear that the concert is aimed at individuals who are against, or uncertain about, the independence movement, as well as those already in favour, Ciarán explains that the whole point of the event is to instigate debate. “Hopefully we can have a proper discussion. There are so many unanswered questions about the process of independence. There are some complex issues and nobody’s under the illusion that it is going to happen overnight.”

Ciarán believes that the attitude towards independence in Wales has changed in recent years, particularly due to the Scottish and Catalan independence referendums, and more recently because of Brexit. “I’m not saying that if Wales

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were to be independent, all our issues would be solved and everything would be alright. But at the same time, I can’t see how things would be worse than the shitshow that’s going on at the minute with Brexit. There was a recent poll by Sky, asking people from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland if they think it would be more likely for their countries to become independent now after Brexit, and about 36% of the Welsh voted ‘Yes’.”

This is a distinctly high percentage, especially since recent studies have shown that less than 20% of Welsh people support independence. However, Ciarán again emphasizes that there is an appetite for change among the Welsh population.

“Equality is the founding principle of the UN, and I don’t think we have it in Wales,” he says simply. “In 1941, Churchill and Roosevelt signed the Atlantic Charter stating that after the war all nations will have the right to self-governance.

Wales and Scotland are still waiting for this.”

We finish our conversation by discussing the Welsh language, and exploring how aspects of Welsh identity and culture are all pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that is the independence movement. “The Welsh language is something that deserves respect, but you don’t have to speak Welsh to be a ‘real’ Welshman.

We’re all equal.”

Ciarán adds that the most important thing is to focus on improving people’s lives in Wales; in essence, this is what the pro-independence movement is driven by. “We’re aiming to have a debate about what kind of Wales people want.

Wales could do so much better. Day by day, I think the case for independence is getting stronger.”

Yes Is More!, Tramshed, Cardiff, Fri 15 Feb. Tickets: £16.50.

Info: 029 2023 5555 / www.tramshedcardiff.com

A CO-PRODUCTION WITH MERCURY THEATRE COLCHESTER AND A CO-COMMISSION WITH LONDON INTERNATIONAL MIME FESTIVAL

A B R AV E FA C E W O R D L E S S , F U L L M A S K T H E AT R E

‘‘... A five-handed masterclass of this rare and beautiful art.’’

WHAT’S ON LIVE

02.02

Friday 15 March 7.30pm Tickets | Tocynnau 029 2039 1391

Cathays Park, Cardiff www.rwcmd.ac.uk

taliesinartscentre.co.uk 01792 60 20 60

National Dance Company Wales presents / Cwmni Dawns Cenedlaethol Cymru yn cyflwyno

Three Unique dances to amuse and amaze.

1 March / Mawrth 7.30pm The Riverfront Theatre | Glan yr Afon, Newport | Casnewydd newportlive.co.uk/riverfront 01633 656757

ndcwales.co.uk

Tair dawns unigryw i ddiddanu a syfrdanu.

4 April / Ebrill 7.30pm Taliesin Arts Centre | Canolfan y Celfyddydau Taliesin Swansea | Abertawe taliesinartscentre.co.uk 01792 602060

1-2 May / Mai 7.30pm Sherman Theatre | Theatr y Sherman, Cardiff | Caerdydd shermantheatre.co.uk 029 2064 6900

D AV I D C O U LT H A R D – W H I S P E R F I L M S Former F1 driver David Coulthard is now a director at film and TV production company Whisper, who have opened up an office in Cardiff. Szofi Zekov caught up with the speed demon.

What is a typical day like at Whisper Films?

What I like most is there really isn’t such a thing as a typical day. When I visit Whisper I just love the buzz around the place. It’s a very creative atmosphere and a lot of new staff have joined over the last two years constantly refreshing the place.

What is the most important quality to have in the creative industries?

It’s very competitive, so you have to be incredibly good to be the best in the business, which is what we aspire to. To achieve that, I would highlight two things – one, to surround yourself with experts and experience. You have to have people who know what they are talking about. And two, to understand the concept of a calculated risk. Ideas are everything, but they can take time to make work and they can turn out to be costly.

You have to have the highest targets, and look to deliver the most exciting ideas, but you also have to be very realistic about what is going to work. But when it works it’s great. We did an ambitious documentary about the relationship between Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson which was the kind of thing that could have gone wrong, but it didn’t, and proved to be a big hit.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?

I just love seeing Whisper grow. It was an idea that three of us had a few years ago, then Channel 4 wanted to be part of it, and now we’ve branched out to Wales.

I confess when I stopped driving I wondered how I would find life. I have business interests in a few things, but Whisper is something special.

How did you end up going from F1 to Whisper?

It came from three people just sitting down and having a chat – Sunil Patel, now our CEO, Jake Humphrey the TV presenter, and myself. I’ve been especially lucky that Whisper were chosen to produce C4’s Formula One coverage and I’ve been a big part of that. So I’ve managed to maintain friendships and connections with a BUZZ 22

sport which I loved for many years.

Anyone who wants to see that only needs to watch me doing the grid walk before a Grand Prix. I’m like a child on the first day of the summer holidays. It’s not always easy trying to get to talk to the people you want to, 10 minutes before the lights go out, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Is there anything you learned from your time as an F1 driver that’s applicable to your role now?

Everything. I don’t think I can give the insight or have the knowledge I have if I hadn’t spent virtually all my life in motorsport.

How is it viewing races from a media perspective now?

When the rain and the mist comes down at Suzuka, I don’t miss driving a bit. But like any sportsman will tell you, talking about the sport is just not the same as doing it. But I had my time, I had amazing memories, worked with some wonderful people, made some very special friends. Nothing can go on forever.

However, doing what I do now for Whisper and C4 is not far behind it. I’m at every race, still feeling I am part of the Formula One world and loving every minute.

Yes, there are times when I see a car taking on Eau Rouge at Spa or Parabolica at Monza and think “I’d love to be doing that”.

What inspired you to expand Whisper Films and establish a Cardiff office?

We have always planned to expand our London base as there is just so much creative talent in Wales and around the UK. So when Channel 4 announced their decision to spend more in nations and regional commissioning, this focused our mind even more.

The days when everything had to be produced in London are long gone.

Info: www.whisperfilms.co.uk

FFOTOGALLERY EXHIBITIONS This month, Ffotogallery champions two female photographic artists in a doubleheaded exhibition at Turner House Gallery and their newer city centre space on Cardiff’s Castle Street. Iranian artist Amak Mahmoodian’s Where Time Stood Still will be shown at the former, whilst Lua Ribeira, from the north of Spain, will exhibit Noises In The Blood in Castle Street.

Both artists return to Wales having already established academic ties here: Mahmoodian completed a doctorate in photography at the University Of South Wales, whilst Ribeira enrolled on the university’s Documentary Photography course in 2012 after moving to the UK. Amak Mahmoodian, born in the Iranian city of Shiraz, is now based in Bristol. Her work navigates perceptions of female identity in the Western world and Iran.

Mahmoodian’s work illuminates the wider social issues faced by women in her homeland, having experienced them first-hand as she reached adulthood. She has spoken of how her experiences as an ‘insider’ show her how women are at the margins of Iranian society, in a revealing interview with the Financial Times.

Having earned various awards and critical acclaim, Where Time Stood Still is a nostalgic retelling of her own past, representing the personal tragedy of being separated from one’s homeland. Through images of close relatives undergoing everyday, menial tasks, and the wider Iranian landscape, Mahmoodian conceals her melancholia behind historical masks and intimate portraits.

Spaniard Lua Ribeira’s colourful and personal work seeks to challenge the socially acceptable morals on which she was raised in the Spanish city of Galicia: sexism, patriarchy, modesty. Ribeira brings Noises In The Blood to Cardiff after publishing it in book form in 2017. The project, surrounding ideas of femininity in social spaces, specifically explores Jamaican dancehall culture in the UK. Dancehall has been seen as an area of “collective celebration and social debate”, and is marked by Jamaican patois and sexually flamboyant performances. Ribeira recreates images from the UK dancehall scene in participants’ homes, merging the extravagant with the intimate. CHARLIE COTTRELL Turner House, Penarth / Castle Street, Cardiff, until Sat 23 Feb. Admission: free. Info: www.ffotogallery.org

SIN CITY Situated amongst the myriad of bars, pubs and clubs in Swansea’s city centre is Sin City, a favourite go-to for residents young and old. Swansea isn’t usually high on the list on most bands’ touring schedule, but when it is, it tends to be Sin City.

Hosting a range of gigs and club nights throughout the week to appease the insatiable student populi, there’s a charm attached to this place that few other venues can boast in South Wales. Though it’s the city’s largest independent venue, there’s a communal feel to the space, which is equipped with two rooms that can successfully accommodate both raves and gigs.

There are often some big name DJs shuffling through the doors at Sin City. After a sold-out show for Glasgow’s most notorious party-boy Denis Sulta on Fri 1 Feb, young London producer Skepsis steps up to the Sin City plates to brings a night of hectic bassline and gun fingers aplenty on Sat 9. Drum’n’bass don DJ Guv also brings his own helping of Hackney hardcore to Swansea towards the end of the month (Fri 22) as underground events company Dazed return to the venue on the back of two sell-out shows in 2018.

Not satisfied with marquee DJ bookings, Sin City also welcomes a host of impressive bands to Swansea this February. Former frontman of Gallows and Pure Love, Frank Carter’s latest project Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes is a return to his punk and hardcore roots; they play at Sin City on Wed 13 Feb. Meanwhile, north Walian indie rockers The Joy Formidable are set to play on Wed 20 as they tour their latest album Aaarth, released in autumn 2018.

Speaking to Buzz about the release, lead singer Ritzy Bryan said, “This whole album is about getting back up and continuing to fight this chaos” – a sentiment that will no doubt carry into their Swansea show. Finally, perhaps the biggest name billed is Pete Doherty And The Puta Madres (Tue 19), who brings a night of hearty singalongs for Libertines and Babyshambles fans to lap up.

CHARLIE COTTRELL Info: www.sincityclub.co.uk

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Q MNOP

HJIKL

15-18 AUGUST. BRECON BEACANS, WALES

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GREENMAN.NET

THE INDEPENDENT

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Pic: Steve Ullathorne

THE HIDDEN HEROINES PROJECT Two years ago, Welsh journalist Carolyn Hitt discovered there is not one single statue of a historical Welsh woman in Wales – only Boudicca and Queen Victoria.

Statues of Welsh male heroes abound on the streets of Cardiff, but there is no trace of the distinguished women who have helped to shape the present state of Wales. Helen Molyneux, the chair of the Institute Of Welsh Affairs, decided that it was high time that we acclaim the heritage of Welsh female heroes.

With the assistance of the Welsh Women’s Equality Network, Helen drew up an initial long-list of historical Welsh women. The Hidden Heroines project created an opportunity for lesser-known women’s voices to be heard throughout Wales, as well as Britain. A panel whittled this lineup down to a shortlist of five Welsh women: Labour organiser Elizabeth Andrews, headteacher Betty Campbell, poet Sarah Jane Rees (aka Cranogwen), evolutionary anthropologist Elaine Morgan, and suffragette Lady Rhondda. The public cast their vote and the winner was announced as Betty Campbell.

Born and bred in Butetown, Campbell was the daughter of a Jamaican father and a Welsh Barbadian mother. Although proving to be an intelligent pupil, Campbell was told that the chances of her realising her dream of becoming a teacher were “insurmountable” because she was black and working class. However, she defied these prejudices and went on to become Wales’ first black headteacher at Mount Stuart Primary School in Butetown. She advocated the multicultural heritage of her nation and made it her mission to highlight the significance of teaching pupils about black British history – history that was, and still is, seldom taught in British schools. As well as helping to create Black History Month, she encouraged BAME young people to be proud of their identity and culture.

Up until her death in October 2017, Campbell continued to focus on the importance of diversity and multiculturalism in Wales. Her statue will be unveiled in 2020 outside Cardiff Central station, hopefully leading the way for more Welsh revolutionary heroines to be celebrated in the near future.

MARED GRUFFYDD Info: www.iwa.wales

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Usually, you expect stand-up comedians to talk. Not so with Lee Ridley, better known as Lost Voice Guy. Starting in comedy in 2012, Lost Voice Guy, who has a form of cerebral palsy that renders him unable to speak, uses an iPad synthesizer with voice communication to deploy his punchlines. A winning run on Britain’s Got Talent in 2018 gave him a mainstream audience, but he’s been a popular standup on the circuits for a while.

His current tour I’m Only In It For The Parking is a ‘best of’ all of his material since his start, he says, to give the audiences unfamiliar with him before his TVshow success a chance to catch up on what they missed. But where did Lee start from and when did he realise he could ‘do’ standup?

“I don’t think there ever was a moment when I realised I could ‘do’ standup,” he says, writing via email. “It came about because my mate thought it would work well. Of course, I thought he was mental but the idea stuck in the back of my head. Eventually, a few months later, I decided to give it a try because I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t. It’s just grown from there.”

His voice communication module is set to a monotonously dry Received Pronounciation style of English, giving Lee’s punchlines a deadpan edge.

“Sounding like a posh version of Robocop does add an extra dimension... it’s just funnier if a posh bloke swears, isn’t it?”

Most comics have some horror stories about some notoriously bad gigs. For Lee though, this has not been a regular occurrence. “I think the uniqueness of my act gets people on my side very early on. You just have to use the bad gigs as a learning curve and try to be better next time.

“Most of my bizarre moments happen afterwards. You would be surprised at how many people come up to me after gigs and ask if I really can’t speak. Because of course, it would totally be acceptable to pretend to be disabled for a laugh. I have lived in Newcastle all my life, but I still haven’t picked up the accent. If you are trying to place my accent, it’s from PC World.” FEDOR TOT Lost Voice Guy, Glee Club, Cardiff Bay, Wed 20 Feb; Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli, Thurs 21; Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Fri 22.

Tickets: £14-£16.50. Info: www.lostvoiceguy.com

Un ballo in maschera Verdi The Magic Flute Mozart Roberto Devereux Donizetti Chwefror 9 February – Mawrth 2 March 16 – 29 oed? Tocynnau ar gael am £10* Aged 16 – 29? Tickets available for £10* yganolfan.org.uk | wmc.org.uk 029 2063 6464 Mae croeso cynnes i chi gysylltu â mi yn Gymraeg

wno.org.uk/spring19 Rhif Elusen Gofrestredig | Registered Charity No 221538

Pic: Robert Workman

WNO The Welsh National Opera will be continuing its Verdi trilogy this spring season with the centrepiece of the trio and another explosive production. This time out, matters concern the true story of the assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden, Un Ballo In Maschera (Sat 9 Feb). With Artistic Director David Pountney back at the helm before leaving the WNO this summer, he once again teams up with Conductor Laureate Carlo Rizzi.

Heading up the cast as the rousing, romantic Riccardo is Anglesey man Gwyn Hughes Jones, whose illustrious career has seen him represent Wales in BBC Cardiff Singer Of The World and perform at many of the world’s grandest opera houses, from New York to Paris, before returning to Anglesey to oversee the musical direction of the gala concert for the National Eisteddfod.

But perhaps even more intense this spring will be the WNO’s retelling of Gaetano Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux (Thurs 28 Feb and Sat 2 Mar), a treasonous tale of love and redemption, during the era of Queen Elizabeth I. The Italian composer’s opera, written in 1837, features spinetingling melodies and a heartbreaking ending. This production will boast exquisite design, with costumes inspired by Vivienne Westwood. Expect plentiful drama.

Those looking for a more fantastical experience this spring, however, can opt instead for Mozart’s The Magic Flute (Fri 15, Sun 17, Sun 24 and Wed 27 Feb plus Fri 1 Mar). An explosion of colour and sound, Mozart’s penultimate opera is rarely performed in its full original vision with all of the composer’s stage directions, even though most performances hew quite closely to the music.

Ben Johnson takes the lead role as the eponymous flautist, Tamino, as he sets off on an adventure to rescue the beautiful Pamina (Anita Watson) from the evil Sarastro (James Platt), accompanied by bird-catcher Papageno (Mark Stone and Gareth Brynmor John) having been coaxed by the music world’s original Queen Of The Night, played by Anna Siminska. JONATHAN SUTTON

AWAKENING Nothing says spring is here like a new National Dance Company Wales tour.

Awakening, which opens at Newport’s Riverfront on St. David’s Day before embarking on an expressive and expansive tour of a further 10 locations across the UK, including stops in Newtown, Swansea, Aberystwyth and Cardiff. It marks a new phase for NDCWales under newly-appointed Artistic Director Fearghus Ó Conchúir.

Comprising four dance pieces, the tour also involves interactive bonuses such a family-friendly workshop for 7-12-year-olds. Three of the four pieces will be performed at each venue, offering a rich variety of themes, ideas and interpretations. Brazilian choreographer Fernando Melo’s Afterimage uses mirrors to reflect its themes of appearance and disappearance, whilst Tundra, a mainstay in NDC’s repertoire, puts a contemporary spin on Russian folk dance, revolution and the USSR in a piece that won Best Dance Production in 2017’s Wales Theatre Awards. Revellers’ Mass draws on iconic paintings and events in history to stage a dinner party for an unlikely group of guests, and is choreographed by NDCWales’s Resident Choreographer Caroline Finn.

In addition to its interactive workshops, other participation opportunities along the tour include chances to learn more about the backstage side of dance performance and watch how the dancers prepare, in addition to post-show talks with the company and the prospect of engaging with what it means to be a dancer.

Following a year which involved a UK tour and performances in Austria and Germany, ahead of the spring dates, Ó Conchúir has said the tour’s variety “shows the versatility of the company and its ability to offer audiences diverse perspectives on the world.” Certainly, then, Awakening embodies the company’s aim to provide engaging productions for a variety of audiences. With this concept for 2019, it proves their commitment to the cause and should add up to a run of special performances. They’ll be hitting up Newport’s Riverfront (Fri 1 Mar), Theatr Hafren in Newtown (Thurs 21 Mar), Taliesin Arts Centre in Swansea (Thurs 4 Apr), Aberystwyth Arts Centre (Wed 24 Apr), and Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre (Wed 1 May). CHLOË EDWARDS Various locations across Wales and England, Fri 1 Mar-Wed 1 May. Tickets: £10-£30. Info: www.ndcwales.co.uk BUZZ 28

Pic: Nicole Guarino

Welsh National Opera Spring Season, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Sat 9 Feb-Sat 2 Mar. Tickets: £12.50-£49.50.

Info: 029 2063 6464 / www.wmc.org.uk

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DAN SNOW “The world doesn’t need any more gangly posh blokes walking around telling everybody how they are going to fix their problems!” The History Guy, or Dan Snow as he’s more commonly known, talks to Carl Marsh.

You’ve just had a book that has come out called On This Day In History. How daunting was it for you to do such a project, finding things that happened on every day of the year throughout history?

Believe me, it was a bloody nightmare! Some days were very busy, like the Battle Of Agincourt was fought on the same day as the Charge Of The Light Brigade, whereas on other days there was absolutely nothing that happened – it was a right pain in the neck!

Did you have to spend a lot of time on this book, or get to do it as a bit of a side project?

I do a lot of anniversary-related stuff on social media, and it’s always popular, and has always been popular with TV – I’ve worked on The One Show on BBC1 doing all the anniversary stuff. I have this huge giant folder in my computer of all these anniversaries, while a lot of it was stuff I had done in the past, so all I had to do was write it all up. It was quite hard having to write an engaging story on every single day of the year.

There is also a tour – will it all be linked to the book, or will it be completely separate?

I’ll be flogging the book, but the tour is a more ambitious project where I will be telling people about my love for history, why it still matters,

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why it has shaped the world and continues to do still. We are living in historical times with Brexit, Trump, the rise of the far right and climate change. The tour is a celebration of history; it’s a celebration of remarkable people I’ve met, such as historians or people that have played their part in history – politicians, rock stars, genocide survivors, WWI and WWII veterans. It’s a more significant evening for sure.

Does it have a political theme to it then?

A lot of people will tell you that the world is going to hell in a handcart, and actually history tells us that we have never been luckier than to be alive today. During the 17th century, a third of human beings died during a period of global cooling – we have no idea how lucky we are to be alive today.

That is one of my bigger ideas of the talk which is, as we go through and look at history, it should actually make us quite happy and glad to be alive.

It can also predict answers as to why there are areas where we are not happy such as, why we are more obese? Why are we spending less time with our families? Why are we more sedentary? History can be quite crucial in an everyday guise.

Are you ever tempted to go into politics – a lot of people will often say that most politicians don’t know anything about history, while you

apparently do. Your great-great-grandfather was the Prime Minister David Lloyd George, are you tempted?

No, I don’t think. The world doesn’t need any more gangly posh blokes walking around telling everybody how they are going to fix their problems!

I don’t think I’ve got the skill set for it. And I’ve not got the appetite and the thick skin either.

We need people going into politics who are passionate and care about institutions like the NHS, about rural affairs or education. I’m an amateur. It’s true I have studied politics in the past but just because people know that I know a lot about the Duke Of Wellington, Pitt The Younger and David Lloyd George doesn’t mean I’d make a great politician. I know the politicians are not doing a brilliant job at the moment, but when you go back to history, at least we are resolving our disputes through argument and the ballot box and the law courts – that’s a good thing.

Dan Snow: An Evening with The History Guy, Grand Theatre, Swansea, Sat 9 Feb; St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Tue 26 Mar. Tickets: £27.50/£29.70.

Info: 01792 475715 / www.swansea.gov. uk (Swansea); 029 2087 8444 / www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk (Cardiff)

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WHAT’S ON/AR FYND February/Chwefror 2019 – April/Ebrill 2019

JIM MORAY 19.02.19 – 8pm

NIGHTMUSIC / HWYRGERDD DUO BAYANELLO & TRIO ANIMA 26.02.19 – 8pm

THEATRE THAT MEANS SOMETHING THEATR SY’N GOLYGU RHYWBETH

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

JUAN MARTÍN 05.03.19 – 8pm

28 Feb / Chwe – 16 Mar / Maw By / Gan Jo Clifford

LOSE YOURSELF 10 – 25 May / Mai

By / Gan Katherine Chandler

T Ŷ CERDD @ NIGHTMUSIC / HWYRGERDD: BERKELEY ENSEMBLE 09.04.19 – 8pm

SHERMANTHEATRE.CO.UK 029 2064 6900

FLOOK 30.04.19 – 8pm

Sherman Cymru Productions Ltd | Registered Charity Number / Rhif Elusen Cofrestredig 1118364

by Keiron Self

A PRIVATE WAR ****

Dir: Matthew Heinemann (15, 110 mins) Marie Colvin was an award-winning journalist who plunged herself headlong into warzones with a burning need to tell the real stories behind conflicts.

Documentary-maker Heinemann (Cartel Land, City Of Ghosts) makes his narrative debut with an unflinching account of Colvin’s wartorn life. Rosamund Pike in the lead role humanises a driven woman haunted by what she’s seen. We see her in Sri Lanka amidst the Tamil Tigers where she lost an eye; in Kuwait discovering a mass grave; tours of Afghanistan, Libya and finally Syria. Working with photographer Paul Conroy (Jamie Dornan), they live on the edge in bombed-out cities. Away from the warzone, Colvin is lost, uncomfortable with accolades, just wanting to illuminate injustices. Pike is fantastic: chewing her nails, edgy, at times unlikeable, not kowtowing to what’s expected her. Her experiences are etched into her soul, but her stubborn principles remain. The war scenes are tense – a trip through Homs at night under sniper fire and border checks harrowing in their haphazard banality. It’s a gripping portrait of a woman who wanted the stories she heard to be shared with the world, to make a difference amidst the madness. Heinemann’s film certainly honours that. Opens Feb 15

ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL ***

Dir: Robert Rodriguez (12A, 125 mins) Long in gestation, this manga adaptation was first earmarked by James Cameron as his return to sci-fi after the mass success of Titanic. Twenty years later, Sin City director Robert Rodriguez takes the helm in a familiar tale of a cyborg woman warrior discovering who she is. Rosa Salazar is the heavily CGI-augmented Alita, a huge-eyed weapon of mass destruction found in a junkyard by kindly Dr Ido (Christoph Waltz) and reassembled in a dystopian future world. He realises that she is a relic of an earlier time and can re-establish a sense of order in a world plagued with death and destruction. To do this, she has to fight lots of people and cyborgs, most notably in a Rollerball-esque sequence, as baddies Mahershala Ali and Jennifer Connolly close in. Rodriguez has always been good on spectacle and eye candy, if not drama and humanity – this could capture both with James Cameron’s involvement. Opens Feb 6

BOY ERASED ****

ALL IS TRUE *

Dir: Kenneth Branagh (12A, 101 mins) This hilariously inept retelling of the last days of Shakespeare is full of overwritten luvvieness, writer Ben Elton seemingly saving up bits of research left over from his BBC sitcom Upstart Crow. Director Kenneth Branagh also plays Shakespeare himself, via some nose prosthetics and a pointier chin. After the Globe theatre burnt down in 1613 during a performance of Shakespeare’s final play Henry VIII, the bard never put pen to paper again. Taking many liberties with the facts, scriptwriter Elton has Shakespeare retiring to Stratford, where he confronts the ghosts of his past – most notably grieving for his son Hamnet, who died aged 11 while Shakespeare was writing The Merry Wives Of Windsor. His long-suffering older wife Anne Hathaway (a woefully miscast Judi Dench) and daughters Judith and Susanna create some social disquiet for Shakespeare as he mopes about in his garden. A cameo from Sir Ian McKellen as the Earl Of Southampton, to whom some of Shakespeare’s love sonnets may have been addressed, livens things up momentarily; there’s an iambic pentameter-off as both Branagh and McKellen recite Sonnet 29. This is not the film the Bard deserves, but a by-the-numbers sixth-form project. All is not true in this hammy escapade. Opens Feb 8

Dir: Joel Edgerton (15, 115 mins) A gay conversion camp is the destination for a young man growing up in a Baptist household where homosexuality is seen as sinful. This drama directed by actor Joel Edgerton stars Lucas Hedges as Jared, based on the memoir Boy Erased by Garrard Conley.

Brought up in the faith by parents Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman, Hedges is forcibly outed after being raped by a fellow college student played by Joe Alwyn. Unsure of what his own sexuality actually is, he is a given a stark choice by his parents. Does he want to change? He answers yes and is sent to a gay conversion camp, run by Joel Edgerton’s apparently principled Sykes. What follows is a restrained but still ultimately enraging glimpse of an institution trying to drum out something innate in the name of a ‘higher power’. Hedges is excellent as he realises who he is, while Crowe and Kidman are three-dimensional parents, not cardboard baddies. Opens Feb 8

COLD PURSUIT ****

Dir: Hans Petter Moland (15, 118 mins) A remake of a classy Scandinavian noir, Cold Pursuit pits family man and snowplough driver Liam Neeson against some drug dealers after the death of his son.

A Fargo-esque comedic tone prevails throughout as Neeson plays an apparent gentle giant and town Citizen Of The Year, pursuing Tom Bateman’s unhinged Viking and his drug cartel. Neeson’s revenge inadvertently starts off a turf war between Viking and his rivals in his hometown in the Rocky Mountains. Aided by his ‘Wingman’, played by William Forsythe, Neeson discovers a flair for killing, tempered by beginner’s luck. Norwegian director Molland remakes his own film, previously titled In Order Of Disappearance, and this retains the original’s black comedy, with some icky and innovative moments of violence. It’s good to see Neeson provide some comedy quips amidst his natural gravitas in a thoroughly enjoyable snowbound thriller. Opens Feb 22

ALSO RELEASED FEBRUARY 2019: BURNING (15) Stephen Yuen (Glenn from The Walking Dead) stars in this slow ‘burning’ gripping, creepy Korean drama, about a stranger manipulating others for his own ends. ESCAPE ROOM (15) The Crystal Maze meets Saw in this disposable horror. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON : THE HIDDEN WORLD (PG) Another sequel for this dragon-based kiddie pleaser.

THE LEGO MOVIE 2 (PG) Everything Is Awesome, again! Well hopefully the brick building product placement film will have the same mix of deft fun as the original. Chris Pratt, Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks and more star cameo voices appear. HAPPY DEATH DAY 2U (15) Remember Happy Death Day? No? Oh. Well, they made a sequel anyway. INSTANT FAMILY (12A) Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne do sickly BUZZ 32

CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? ****

Dir: Marielle Heller (15, 106 mins) Struggling author Lee Israel specialized in biographies in the 1970s and 80s.

Over time, her work dropped out of vogue and Israel was plagued by debt and alcoholism, so she turned to fraud to make a living. Played by Melissa McCarthy, Israel is a spiky, reserved and angry presence, living on her own after a failed relationship, with a cat she treasures more than any human. Israel starts selling off her possessions, including a letter she received from Katherine Hepburn, which makes a tidy sum. She finds that there is a massive market for these celebrity letters, so she begins crafting her own, pretending to be Dorothy Parker, Noel Coward and other literary figures she admires. Enlisting the help of fellow flamboyant drinker Jack Hock (a gloriously-hammy Richard E. Grant), for a while she makes a decent living. Then it all falls apart – Israel becomes desperate as the FBI closes in on her little scam. Well played by McCarthy and Grant, this is an intriguing tale of authorship, principles and a snapshot of the greed of pretend aesthetes. Dolly Wells also pops up as a kindly bookshop owner who takes an interest in Israel only to be rebuffed. An involving character piece with something to say about literary matters. Opens Feb 1

IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK ***

Dir: Barry Jenkins (15, 119 mins) Writer/director Barry Jenkins follows up the Oscarwinning Moonlight with this adaptation of James Baldwin’s novel about a couple falling in love, starting a family and facing injustice. Kiki Layne is excellent as the young girl Tish, who falls for Stephan James’ Fonny. They get pregnant and struggle to find a place of their own; Layne’s family are supportive, Fonny’s mother certainly not. Then Fonny is accused of a rape he did not commit and the family try and prove his innocence as the baby’s birth draws nearer.

Nuanced and rich with an emphasis on performance rather than spectacle, this is a rich portrait of black America. There are subtleties within the families: characters are well-drawn and complex and Layne, in particular, is excellent as the struggling Tish. Like Moonlight, it has a languid, observational pace, allowing us to spend time with the characters, but lacks its dramatic impact. Opens Feb 8

GREEN BOOK ****

Dir: Peter Farrelly (12A, 130 mins) The Green Book was a small publication that showed where black people were welcome to stay in during Jim Crow law-era America. Peter Farrelly’s entertaining, based-on-fact story follows an unlikely duo as they head across the Deep South in 1962. Viggo Mortensen plays Tony Lip, an Italian wiseguy with a racist streak who needs work after the club he bounces for is closed. He applies to work as a driver for black pianist Donald Shirley – a fantastic Mahershala Ali – and he embarks on a tour across America that may require Lip’s certain set of skills. A sophisticated man, Shirley is nevertheless aware that the well-heeled groups he will be playing for live in deeply racist and segregated states. As their journey continues Mortensen is forced to reassess his opinion of his passenger and Ali of his driver as they encounter racist cops, blinkered institutions and their own prejudices.

It’s Driving Miss Daisy with the roles reversed but the central coupling elevate the material effortlessly. Ali exudes stubborn dignity, Mortenson proves adept at comedy playing a rounded character a million miles away from Lord Of The Rings quests. Unashamedly feelgood, it still highlights a dark time in America’s hypocritical past. Opens Feb 1

ON THE BASIS OF SEX ***

Dir: Mimi Leder (12A, 120 mins) Ruth Bader Ginsburg has long been a crusader for women’s rights, becoming a member of the US Supreme Court against overwhelming male bias.

Already the subject of a documentary, RBG, On The Basis… tells this superhero’s origin story. Played by Felicity Jones, Ginsburg has a home life with husband Marty (Armie Hammer). The script, co-written by Ginsburg’s nephew Daniel Stiepleman, focuses on her early struggles. In 1956 she enrols in Harvard Law School amidst a climate of sexism. Having finished her degree at Columbia, she faces an uphill battle to be taken seriously in the legal workplace – until she and her husband take on the case of a male caregiver who has lost his benefits as he was male rather than female, thus allowing Ginsburg to put gender equality under the microscope. The film is solid if procedural, but Ginsburg’s story particularly needs telling in the present political climate. Opens Feb 8

THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING ***

Dir: Joe Cornish (PG, 120 mins) Eight years after the excellent Attack The Block, a lo-fi sci-fi horror that made a star of John Boyega, writer/ director Joe Cornish unleashes his second feature, a kidfriendly take on Arthurian legend. Louis Ashborne Serkis (yes, Andy’s son) plays Alex, a bullied London kid who pulls a sword – which just happens to be Excalibur – out of a concrete block. He is an Arthurian nut and with the help of friend Bedders (Dean Chaumoo), sets out exploring why he has been chosen to have this scared weapon. Along the way they meet Merlin, who takes several forms: a slapstick Angus Imrie, a world-weary Led Zep t-shirt-wearing Patrick Stewart and an owl, who informs them that evil witch Morgana (a fun Rebecca Ferguson) has awoken and must be defeated before the upcoming solar eclipse. They are trained in the ways of chivalry and have several CGI-action sequences before facing off in a final battle. Good-hearted 80s throwback fun with a Brexit subtext. Opens Feb 16

adoption comedy based on fact! CAPERNAUM (15) Devastating drama as a 12-year-old Lebanese boy takes his parents to court for the crime of giving him life. Awards-worthy. PIERCING (18) Nasty horror as a family man plans the murder of a prostitute. Eerie and nightmarish. SOMETIMES ALWAYS NEVER (15) Bill Nighy stars in this touching drama about a father searching for his missing son and struggling to reconnect with the rest of his family. OLD BOYS (12A) A reworking of Cyrano De Bergerac sees the excellent Alex Lawther as a schoolboy trying to win the affection of a fiery French student. JELLY FISH (15) A young carer discovers she is a talented standup comedian in this uplifting British film. ISN’T IT ROMANTIC (15) Rebel Wilson finds herself trapped within a romantic comedy in this romantic comedy. Meta!

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art

SIX ARTISTS

BayArt, Cardiff Bay Sat 2 Feb-Fri 1 Mar The six artists of the title, all of whom have disabilities, come together in Cardiff’s BayArt to present their views and styles, through paintings, ceramic work, sculptures and visual art. Among the six is Finnish visual artist Vivi-Mari Carpelan, whose symbolic drawings were well received, until her fine motor skills put an end to her continuing along that road. Now residing in Wales, the artist’s recent works have been in the pursuit of emotive effect, emphasising isolation and the strength that can come from it.

Also on this creative lineup is Rachel Wellbeing, who found her passion using ceramics, often combining audio and video to bring these clay stories to life.

Through her work, Rachel wants to represent the process of transformation – creating fragility, balance and movement.

In collaboration with Disability Arts Cymru, the exhibition will showcase the six artists’ voices. Some represent their struggles with disability, others displaying humour through their art, amidst the challenges they set themselves to further their artistic practises.

Admission: free. Info: 029 2065 0016 / www.bayart.org.uk (BP)

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LEONARDO DA VINCI: A LIFE IN DRAWING

National Museum Cardiff Until Mon 6 May This spring marks 500 years since the death of Leonardo Da Vinci, and to commemorate the passing of the inimitable Italian polymath and artist, the Royal Collection – in association with 12 partner venues across the United Kingdom – will be exhibiting a range of his unique illustrations and sketches throughout the country, as part of the international #Leonardo500 celebrations.

The Royal Collection possesses one of the largest groupings of Da Vinci’s sketches in the world, having acquired them during the reign of King Charles II in the late 17th century; they were originally collected and bound by the Milanese sculptor Pompeo Leoni sometime around 1590, approximately a century after Da Vinci spent much of his early working years in the northern Italian city-state. As one of the selected venues, National Museum Cardiff will be displaying 12 drawings by the artist, picked on the basis of showing his extensive and varied interests – from anatomy to engineering, sculpture to cartography, architecture to botany and beyond. This includes pieces such as The Skeleton, Standing Male Nude (c. 1504), and A Deluge (c. 1517-18), each one an emphasising his particular ability to – in the words of lead curator Martin Clayton – “make knowledge visible”.

Once the nationwide shows have come to an end in May, the Royal Collection will be staging a centralised exhibition at The Queen’s Gallery London in summer 2019, before a section of them travel north to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh in the autumn.

National Museum Cardiff will also be offering the opportunity to participate in an accompanying life drawing class, which will take place over three weekend dates from late March to early May. These will be facilitated by Gareth Coles, the Director of Voluntary Arts Wales, and are priced at £75 for all three sessions (over-18s only). DAFYDD HAINE Admission: £5/£4/free under-16s. Info: 0300 1112333 / museum.wales

SURVEY

g39, Cardiff Sat 2 Feb-Sat 30 Mar Survey is a collection of works from 15 emerging artists from all over the UK. The exhibition brings together these different artists to speak of both individual and collective as the various issues facing the self and society are explored. The inherent yet harmonic paradox of Survey is clear even in its title: a survey is usually a retrospective look at one’s career and yet this exhibition is full of fresh faces at the beginning of their career. Somehow, this subversion makes perfect sense for g39’s new installation as the artists look at the contemporary to take a step towards the future.

The 15 artists featured explore a diverse range of issues. The focus can go from the intimately personal, like Flo Brooks’ No Body Feels Right, So Why Am I Any Different? to drawing attention to collective responsibility, like Chris Alton’s A Hollywood Film In Which Climate Change Is Averted does. At the heart of it, many of these works hope to connect and survey how the self and the outer world are intertwined.

The duality of Survey promises to be its strength, with so many fresh faces being able to express various sentiments and still come together in the form of this exhibition.

Admission: free. Info: 029 2047 3633 / www.g39.org (SZ)

ANDREAS RÜTHI: PAPER PLATES & POISONED PORCELAIN Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea Sat 9 Feb-Sun 31 Mar Swiss artist Andreas Rüthi has made his home here in Wales, with a number of well-received exhibitions in the past few years. His most recent was at Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw in Pwllheli last year – a compilation of works titled A Place On The Table, inspired by the Nantgarw and Swansea porcelain collection at the gallery.

This month, he returns to the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, having also displayed his work there last year, to showcase an assortment of paintings which this time is based around Glynn Vivian’s collection of porcelain. Rüthi demonstrates his unique painting skills and techniques through incredibly colourful works, thus revealing the hallucinogenic power of colour, as well as exploring innovative ways of creating still-life artworks.

Born in Zurich, Rüthi went on to study Fine Art in London and Amsterdam, before settling in the UK and in France. Since 1996, his avant-garde art collections have been exhibited in the UK and internationally. He was a Senior Lecturer in Fine Art at the University Of South Wales from 2008 to 2017, and his solo and joint exhibitions continue to pop up at various Welsh art galleries.

Admission: free. Info: 029 20516900 / www.glynnviviangallery.org (MG)

INGRID MURPHY: SEEN AND UNSEEN

Mission Gallery, Swansea Sat 2 Feb-Sat 23 Mar Ceramic artist Ingrid Murphy is known for not conforming to convention. In 2011 she was awarded a Creative Wales award to investigate how new technologies could enhance the presentation of ceramics. Rarely are exhibition visitors invited to make physical contact with the art on show, which more often results in you getting escorted from the building. However, Seen And Unseen will encourage us to ‘gently’ touch and interact with the ceramic works, providing an immersive experience that goes beyond the traditional stand-and-chin-scratch approach to appreciating art.

Audio will also play an important role, with Murphy’s own voice mingling with various other sound effects and technical hocus pocus. Despite the hightech effects, the show will concentrate on the domestic, on everyday items which we otherwise wouldn’t give a second thought to, in the hope that we may look at them anew.

A chance to see striking new art, Seen And Unseen is also set to appear at the Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre in Cwmbran from Sat 30 Mar and Aberystwyth Arts Centre from Sat 25 May. Admission: free. Info: 01792 652016 / www.missiongallery.co.uk (JR)

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Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Caerdydd National Museum Cardiff

LEonarDO DA v in ci

Arddangosfa Newydd!

New Exhibition!

1.2.2019–6.5.2019 Parc Cathays, Caerdydd CF10 3NP amgueddfa.cymru/caerdydd

Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NP museum.wales/cardiff

www.glunkhouse.com

Ymddiriedolaeth y Casgliad Brenhinol / © Ei Mawrhydi y Frenhines Elisabeth II 2019 Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019

Dyn y darluniau A life in drawing

stage

INTO THE LIGHT

BLUE

Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff Tue 5-Sat 16 Feb Chippy Lane Productions has been all about promoting Welsh stories and talent ever since its conception and they’re once again proving that with their new Chapter co-production, Blue. An old acquaintance arrives in Carmarthenshire and complicates the life of a mother who already has difficulty keeping her family together.

The play forces its audience to face hard realities, like the state of healthcare in the countryside as well as more personal issues. The idea of family is central but so is everything else that comes with it – what it means to be at home, whether with someone or at some place, and how you grieve someone who is not completely gone but lost all the same.

Blue is the debut play of writer Rhys Warrington and is directed by PowderHouse’s Chelsey Gillard. The cast is showing great potential and is led by Nia Roberts (Hidden, Keeping Faith) and Sophie Melville (Canaries, The Missing), featuring Jordan Bernarde (Da Vinci’s Demons, The Sea Plays) and Gwydion Rhys (The Village Social, Hinterland). It’s all brought together by Chippy Lane’s founder, Rebecca Jade Hammond.

Tickets: £10-£14. Info: 029 2030 4400 / www.chapter.org (SZ) BUZZ 36

CRACKED

Various venues Tue 5-Sat 16 Feb In a society that’s always portrayed unrealistic images of masculinity, of men who don’t cry, flinch, or whose cheese has never slid from their cracker, it’s of little surprise that more don’t reach out and admit to poor mental health. Fortunately, shows like Cracked are continuing to pave the way.

Set in Wales, this new play from Emily Henshelwood tells the story of one man’s battle with poor mental health stemming from incidents from both his past and his present life.

Employing various techniques of creative storytelling, the play follows the life of Mick (Tom Mumford), a geology teacher, whose search for love leads to him to form an inappropriate friendship with a pupil. Tormented by an inner voice that takes the shape of a crow-like figure whilst his younger self is portrayed by a puppet during flashback sequences, the show explores how easily one can take a wrong turn without even knowing it.

Cracked may well be the antidote for those desperately trying to hold it all together, visiting Treorchy on Tue 5 Feb, Llanelli on Wed 6, Blackwood on Tue 12, Haverfordwest on Wed 13, Pontardawe on Fri 15 and Cardiff on Sat 16.

Tickets: £8-£12.50.

Info: www.crackedtheplay.co.uk (OH)

Pic: Tristram Kenton

Pic: Kirsten McTernan

Pic: Kirsten McTernan

Various venues Thurs 14 Feb-Sat 9 Mar The feeling of recognition, connection and validation is deeply rooted into our very being. Hijinx Theatre and Teatro La Ribalta’s new piece Into The Light explores this concept. Featuring nine cast members from Spain, Italy and Wales with and without autism and learning disabilities, the piece is, according to co-director and repeat Hijinx collaborator Krista Vuori, “highly physical and visual, which means most of the stories/emotions expressed and told are through movement.”

Normally a group of international performers speaking different languages would make communication in the rehearsal room quite challenging. However, this won’t be the case here. “Movement is its own language,” says Vuori. “Of course there are moments when language barriers can be an obstacle. Then we need to be able to problem-solve – finding other ways to communicate if the physical and visual demonstrations are not successful in getting our thoughts across to the performers. Body language, eye contact, visual demonstrations, repetition and clarity of movement have all been effective methods in our work.”

Hijinx and Teatro La Ribalta are known for collaboration with and representation of learning disabled and autistic performers, and Into The Light is no different.

The theatre scene for disabled performers is getting better but still needs improvement, as Vuori acknowledges. “It seems to me that there is greater visibility and more opportunities for neurodivergent actors nowadays, but I believe there is still work to do to open more doors, particularly in casting.”

Ahead of dates in Cardiff (Thurs 14-Sat 16 Feb), Newport (Fri 1 Mar), Brecon (Sat 2), Llanelli (Mon 4), Blackwood (Thurs 7) and Aberystwyth (Sat 9), Vuori concludes: “I hope that people will reflect on how important it is that we are emotionally connected to each other, that we are all capable of more than we think and what we think others are capable of. I want people to be surprised and uplifted when they leave.” THEO HUNG Tickets: £8-£22. Info: 029 2030 0331 / www.hijinx.org.uk

REBUS

New Theatre, Cardiff Tue 5-Sat 9 Feb World-weary, ex-SAS-slash-detective John Rebus is retired. However, like many shady coppers, it’s not long before the past comes back to bite him. Confronted by a murder victim’s daughter outside his Edinburgh home, Ian Rankin’s detective returns to what he does best: catching killers.

Despite being intended as ‘a one-novel wonder’, 20-plus novels later, Rebus is still going strong, this time appearing on stage in Cardiff’s New Theatre.

Rebus: Long Shadows will likely do little to shake off the image it’s built of a dirty booze-and-drugs-soaked Edinburgh, with the stage production of this burnt-out detective picking up where he we usually leave him in the novels. Turning to his ex-colleagues for help, it seems they won’t so much as touch him with a bargepole for fear of his past actions tainting their own investigation. Rebus then turns to an unlikely accomplice – a man whom he’d spent his career trying to arrest.

For fans of the novels and television series alike, this latest stage adaption –

by Rankin and playwright Rona Munro, and starring Ron Donachie, Cathy Tyson and John Stahl – seems unlikely to disappoint. Perhaps it’ll even convert them into Raith Rovers supporters.

Tickets: £11-£32. Info: (029) 2087 8889 www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk (OH)

THE UNRETURNING

Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea Thu 21-Sat 23 Feb The phrase ‘history repeats itself’ serves as both a warning and a prime reason to see Frantic Assembly’s drama The Unreturning this month.

Performed by Jared Garfield, Joe Layton, Jonnie Riordan and Kieton Saunders-Browne, this play by Anna Jordan explores the themes of returning from war and the devastation it wreaks, as three young men return to a small northern coastal town in three very different eras.

The play’s trailer features each man adjusting to life back at home. They all want much the same things upon returning – tea, a trip to the pub and the comfort of family – but they’re also looking for ways to deal with the traumas of their experience.

In 1918, George is home from the Western Front. Fast forward to 2013, and Frankie is back, having completed his final tour of Afghanistan. A little into the future, in 2026, Nat returns from a refugee camp to what was his hometown. Once back, The Unreturning follows the adjustment of each young life, and whether home is really the place they remembered it to be, and whether it can help them overcome the horrors they experienced at war.

Tickets: £5-£14. Info: 01792 602060 / www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk (CE)

clubs

CANOPY

The Vaults, Cardiff Bay Sat 9 Feb As Dry January closes its doors, this event is ideal to wave off the month of sobriety. This Canopy instalment at The Vaults include big-hitters that tear up the dance across multiple genres in the bass world. With the old bank vault quickly becoming a frontrunner for Cardiff drum and bass events, this night holds great promise with a stellar roster.

The lead headliner is Hospital Records’ S.P.Y [pictured], whose mixes of luscious liquid and harder stompers has made him an international favourite. Similar can be said for jungle pioneer Ed Solo, where his originals and remixes alike are staples in whipping up a frenzy. The b2b of the evening features Dub Phizix and Strategy. The two champion tribal rhythms which are truly distinctive to them in a somewhat saturated market, and possess material that flips the predictable on its head.

To round off the lineup, the recently announceed special guest is no other than DJ Hazard, so expect the Mr Happy master himself to provide a jump-up injection into proceedings. This seven-hour rave is an amalgamation of bass greats who still relish the underground scene.

Tickets: £20/£17.50.

Info: www.vaultspresents.com (FRJ) BUZZ 38

MALL GRAB

Y Plas, Cardiff University Students Union Fri 1 Mar Dance music’s wonderkid Mall Grab graces Cardiff’s Y Plas on this year’s St David’s Day. The 25-year-old Australian producer has risen to swift success since his debut Boiler Room in Paris in 2016, which saw him audaciously mix his own tracks amongst the likes of Kylie Minogue and Snoop Dogg. Fast forward to 2019, and Mall Grab’s Australian record label Steel City Dance Discs is flourishing, whilst he has emerged as the hottest DJ property on the house circuit.

Citing influence from such obscure musical alcoves as his father’s Talking Heads records and the Grand Theft Auto soundtrack, the eclecticism of any given Mall Grab set demonstrates a DJ that’s in love with his day job. Initially arriving from the southern hemisphere by YouTube and SoundCloud, Mall Grab’s boyish charm and wry grin behind the decks have now won over a whole new generation of partygoers.

Whilst he’s often pinned as the poster boy for the new trendy sub-genre ‘lo-fi house’, he’s certainly gone at lengths to unshackle himself from being pigeonholed. Some of his earlier productions certainly wield a crackly, sample-heavy feel, and big hi-hat hits like Pool Party Music and Catching Feelings were the head-turners that put him on his pedestal. Yet his more recent releases – none more so than several tracks on his latest EP Why The Dogs Chill Vol. 1 – are far more techno and garage oriented, and his sets now take on a far heavier tone. Fans watch his growth parents, often proud and occasionally concerned he’s being led astray.

Joined by two other Aussie rising stars in Loods and Nite Fleit, plus Swedish disco-house specialist Salary Boy, this Looking For Trouble tour sees the four DJs line up as old friends. There’s a palpable chemistry and genuine enjoyment in each party they play, and it’s infectious; they could just as easily be stood in one of their living rooms, cajoling and playing their favourite records together. Luckily, we’re all invited to the party. CHARLIE COTTRELL Tickets: £18/£15. Info: 029 2078 1458 / facebook.com/thencamecure

JODY BARR

Concur @ Laser Station, Carmarthen Sat 9 Feb This evening is the second of three parties thrown in the Laser Station

by Concur in the opening months of 2019. Having started with a residents bash in January, the west Wales techno likers will press on in March with a Sat 23 headline set from big room specialists Spektre. In between, we have February’s offering, whose guest of honour is Jody Barr, a London DJ whose approach to sets is progressive without being windy, crowdpleasing but never pandering.

After the obligatory early years homeschooling himself in the arts of DJing and production with imperfect gear, Barr started to build a rep in both disciplines circa 2015, releasing his debut 12” Room 108 on the eponymous label of house duo Krankbrother.

Subsequent product has emerged on James Zabiela’s Born Electric Records and, most recently, Sasha’s Last Night On Earth.

In the flesh, Barr has notched up DJ slots at Fabric, Ministry and Space Ibiza; he was also a resident at Cardiff night Mi Casa for a while back in 2014, and played the Welsh capital as recently as November. Techy sorts further west would be advised to give him a whirl this month.

Tickets: £5-£8. Info: 01267 235648 / www. laserstationwales.com (NG)

PARADOX LAUNCH NIGHT

The Big Top, Cardiff Sat 9 Feb Paradox will be the newest tech brand born out of Cardiff come the start of February. Pitching a residency at The Big Top (upstairs of 10 Feet Tall), the Paradox gang appearing at the launch are all familiar faces from around the south Wales scene. Scottish-born manager and DJ Ryan Ross [pictured] has hosted The Techno Takeover on identifyradio.com for the past two years after his talents had him drafted in to play local events; acid-tinged “90s kid” DJ Matthew Hart, of the Detached and Rebirth brands, hails from Maesteg, and dark underground b2b duo State Of Minds from Swansea are all present to set the Paradox machine in motion for the first time.

Headlining the launch is special guest DJ So Sash, another name familiar with anyone who’s bopped around at a Cellar Door event anytime lately, as well as being a frequenter of The Vaults and Undertone.

At least four other Paradox events are confirmed for 2019 in or around the greater 10 Feet Tall area, featuring a plethora of other DJs and potential special guests as the brand runs alongside a monthly FNOOB radio residency set to begin later this year.

Tickets: £5. Info: 029 2022 8883 / facebook.com/paradoxtechnomusicuk (JM)

TITAN WAREHOUSE OPENING WEEKEND

Titan Warehouse, Splott, Cardiff Fri 8 + Sat 9 Mar Warehouse events in Cardiff are few and far between, where the scene has been crying out for a venue which can provide ‘go-to’ nights regularly. When the news broke that the UK’s largest warehouse venue of its kind would be opening in Cardiff, it came with a huge sense of anticipation. With thoughts veering straight to Motion and Warehouse Project for comparison, Titan Warehouse’s opening lineup needed to make a statement.

Surprisingly, this is actually a 16+ event, where Titan will open its doors at 4pm and run until 11 on both days. Kicking off the weekend is the Godfather of British drum’n’bass: Andy C’s infamous sets have seen him sell out Wembley Arena and become an international sensation while waving the flag for the genre. Bringing the bassline antics are My Nu Leng and Holy Goof, where dubstep invigorator Jauz and collective SASASAS will also provide a monumental show.

The following night takes a more house-focused role, with MK [pictured] heading the bill. Accompanied by Jax Jones, Eli Brown and Icarus, Ibiza flavours will be welcomed with an equally shelling impact.

Tickets: £29 each night.

Info: titanwarehouse.co.uk (FRJ)

F R I D AY 5 T H J U LY

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

CAERPHILLY CASTLE

S U N 2 8 T H J U LY 2 0 1 9

SINGLETON PARK, SWANSEA TICKETS: TICKETMASTER.CO.UK

live

GRACE PETRIE

The Wyeside, Builth Wells, Mon 15 Feb; Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan, Tue 16 Feb Grace Petrie is fast becoming a postergirl for things that could have once been described as fringe, or niche, or alternative. Protest, folk and LGBT+ concerns – the Leicester-born Petrie is a writer with something to say.

She writes the sort of songs you want to pin the lyrics of on your bedroom wall, or on the office door, to remind you and everyone else who might read them what is important and what is true. Hers is a singular voice that cuts through the crap with a clarity that doesn’t skirt around issues in pretty epithets but exposes the words in broad, strident phrases that leave their mark.

Make America Hate Again, You Build A Wall, God Save The Hungry, Farewell To Welfare: these songs have been setting the festival circuit alight for the past few years and you can find them all on her two official releases with the Robot Needs Home label. But if you want the choice tracks from her earlier, self-produced albums then getting along to one of these gigs is the best place to buy them. And if she performs a capella anthem A Young Woman’s Tale that will be worth the trip alone.

Tickets: £14/£12 (Mon 15); £3-£14 (Tue 16). Info: 01982 552555 / www. wyeside.co.uk (Mon 15); 01239 621200 / www.mwldan.co.uk (Tue 16) (JPD) BUZZ 40

Pic: Clelia Carbonari

LONDON SINFONIETTA SYNERGY VOCALS

St David’s Hall, Cardiff Thurs 14 Feb American composer Steve Reich has consistently teased the boundaries of normal, constantly striving to develop experimental techniques that have moulded modern minimal classical music. With the selection of work being performed by the London Sinfonietta, and led by acclaimed composer Andrew Gourlay, there’s no doubt the night is in for a note-perfect experience.

No piece showcases Reich’s experimental tendencies better than Clapping Music, an experimental percussion piece released in 1972, performed entirely through the medium of applause, and will serve as a fitting introduction to the rest of the night. Next on the bill is Mallet Quartet in three movements: a warm score of varying pace, performed in its original configuration of two marimbas and two vibraphones. Finally, a short performance of Nagoya Marimbas – similar in timbre to the former piece, but with more emphasis on phasing, an innovative technique developed by Reich in the 70s – will bring the opening pieces to a close.

The climax of the performance will come in the form of Music For 18 Musicians, albeit a rather serene one. Truly one of the great minimalist masterpieces, with a rich balance between the piano, marimba, xylophone and clarinets, which is then to be ultimately complemented with the velvety tones of Synergy Vocals. A natural choice, for the group have had a strong relationship with Reich since their first performance; his Tehillim, which they performed for his 60th birthday in 1996.

Since then, they’ve continued to bring other distinguished composers works to life, including Louis Andriessen, Luciano Berio and Steven Mackey.

Reich has always demonstrated his expertise in being able to balance and blend his creative ideas with his classically trained technical prowess. The performance at St Davids Hall this month promises to be a gorgeous amalgamation of Reich’s work, and a beautiful tour of his groundbreaking discography. ALEX PAYNE Tickets: £5-£25/free under-16s with an adult.

Info: 029 2087 8444 / www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

LAURA JURD & DINOSAUR

Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff Fri 8 Mar Admission and respect for women musicians in classical and jazz have been hard fought and a long time coming. In the past, orchestras were often entirely male; women were usually cast as jazz singers. Dynamic trumpeter Laura Jurd is the curator for what promises to be a very forward-looking jam entitled Stepping Back, Jumping In, with a whole lotta improvising going down featuring her Mercurynominated group Dinosaur. The ladies are stepping up because The Mavron Quartet will be in the spotlight, along with Norwegian jazz musicians Heida Mobeck, keyboardist Anja Lauvdal and other world-renowned artists.

Child prodigy Jurd was improvising on the piano even before beginning lessons at age five. Studying jazz alongside classical music, it was just by chance that she was given the trumpet at primary school. The composer burst onto the professional scene in 2010, and it’s been nothing but straight to the top, garnering an armful of awards along the way. The 28-year-old cool cat isn’t just a bebopper, blending electronica, pop, folk, world and classical, including ballads and waltzes – so expect a whole shebang of influences on the night.

Tickets: £7.50-£15. Info: 029 2039 1391 / www.rwcmd.ac.uk (RLR)

REGGAE IN MOTION

Portland House, Cardiff Bay Sun 10 Feb Reggae music was awarded the status of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018. This month, you can celebrate this evergreen genre in Cardiff via the lineup of Reggae In Motion. Held at former banking hall Portland House, the night will feature both well-established artists and relative newcomers, with Asante Ite’s live band and DJs like Love & Harmony Sounds, Ecko Vybz and other local artists.

Headlining the night is jungle icon General Levy, perhaps best known for his 1994 hit collaboration with M-Beat, Incredible. The ragga deejay has also recently worked with the likes of Chase & Status (Heater), Fedde Le Grand (Flex) and Spragga Benz (Are You Ready).

Tippa Irie [pictured], of Hello Darling and Black Eyed Peas track Hey Mama fame, is also part of the lineup, as well as his 1991 The New Decade collaborator Peter Hunnigale, who’s sure to bring some lovers rock into the mix. With these three leading Reggae In Motion, it’s looking to be a nostalgic yet energetic night.

Also performing are Sista T and Mace, bringing it all together to make Reggae In Motion a true celebration of reggae itself and a party to remember.

Tickets: £25. Info: 07468 452335 (SZ)

SOLASTA

Glais Rugby Club, Clydach, Sun 17 Feb; The Rolling Mill, Cwmafan, Mon 18; Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club, Wed 20 If you count yourself a folk enthusiast with an ear for idiosyncrasies, then you may want to pay attention to up-andcoming London-based folk trio Solasta.

They craft an imaginative world of traditional instrumental folk coloured with jazz, classical, pop and countless other genres. Each member has a wealth of experience playing contrasting musical styles, producing a sound that is expressly unique and exciting.

Last year proved a rewarding one for Solasta: following their first commercial release, 2016’s self-titled EP, they delivered their debut album A Cure For The Curious to widespread critical acclaim. It attracted the attention of the Guardian, who awarded it ‘folk album of the month’ in September, while Iggy Pop also sang its praises on his 6 Music radio show.

Solasta begin their 2019 programme with a mini-tour in Wales, whose musical heritage has had a prominent influence on their work. It also happens to be the homeland of cellist Hannah Thomas.

Their southern dates take them to three folk clubs: Valley Folk on Sun 17, Cwmafan on Mon 18 and Llantrisant on Wed 20.

Admission: £5-£8.

Info: solastaband.com (CPI)

ALEXIS

JOHN

ANOTHER SKY

NIGHT FLIGHT

05 FEBRUARY 2019 ROYAL WELSH COLLEGE, CARDIFF

20 FEBRUARY 2019 NORWEGIAN CHURCH, CARDIFF

21 FEBRUARY 2019 CLWB IFOR BACH, CARDIFF

08 MARCH 2019 TINY REBEL, CARDIFF

FFRENCH

OWEN-JONES

+ LAUNDRETTE

+ RALPH TAYLOR

BLOXX

BENJAMIN

GET THE BLESSING

CATFISH

05 APRIL 2019 TINY REBEL, CARDIFF

08 APRIL 2019 THE GLOBE, CARDIFF

19 APRIL 2019 CLWB IFOR BACH, CARDIFF

05 MAY 2019 MOTORPOINT ARENA, CARDIFF

+ SPECIAL GUESTS

MEN I TRUST

+ SPECIAL GUESTS 13 MAY 2019 CLWB IFOR BACH, CARDIFF

FRANCIS-LEFTWICH

+ SPECIAL GUESTS

AND THE BOTTLEMEN

VIAGRA BOYS

NICK LOWE

THE ALARM

21 MAY 2019 CLWB IFOR BACH, CARDIFF

05 JUNE 2019 TRAMSHED CARDIFF

29 JUNE 2019 Y PLAS, CARDIFF UNIVERSITY

+ SPECIAL GUESTS

+ LOS STRAITJACKETS

A MIDSUMMER GATHERING

WWW.ORCHARDLIVE.COM

reviews albums BASSEKOU KOUYATE **** Miri (Outhere) Malian ngoni music might not be everyone’s jam – for those not sure what a ngoni is, it’s kind of like a lute – but in the hands of virtuoso Bassekou Kouyate, it’s hard not to be swayed. This fifth album, from a true icon of West African contemporary music, builds the traditional, technical and experimental into a fascinating layer cake of choruses and intricate string work. There’s a new element to pinpoint with every repeated listen – see if you don’t get sucked in. BH

BILGE PUMP *** We Love You (Gringo) Given that their previous release, back in 2010, was an EP called The Fucking Cunts Still Treat Us Like Pricks, the title of Bilge Pump’s new album suggests that they’re now more interested in conciliation than in confrontation. Yet the Leeds mavericks’ elasticated, discordant post-punk remains as much an acquired taste as ever. Fantastically frazzled opener Wheel Of Yew rather oversells what follows, though The Passion Of The Kid profitably ditches the idiosyncrasies in favour of Shellac-style rhythmic precision. BW

THE CLAYPOOL LENNON DELIRIUM **** South Of Reality (ATO) Whilst I am familiar with Primus, I never checked out the previous collaboration between their frontman and the Lennon/Ono offspring. Expecting an unlistenable musical experiment, South Of Reality turn out to be a very pleasant psychedelic rock trip. Fuelled by Claypool’s unmistakable bass work, the duo share vocals and while the lyrical content is barking mad in parts, musically it’s a real treat. Imagine if The Byrds were part of the early 90s alternative scene and you’re in the right ballpark. CA

COSEY FANNI TUTTI **** TUTTI (Conspiracy International) Author, performance artist, porn star, founder member of infamous industrial pioneers Throbbing Gristle, “wrecker of civilisation”: Cosey Fanni Tutti has a long and colourful resumé.

Despite claiming to loathe acceptance, she’s been embraced as a huge influence by scores of electronic musicians – and her second solo LP, consisting of tracks originally composed for an autobiographical film, demonstrates why. While many people her age are travelling to bingo with their free bus pass, she’s busy transporting listeners to the depths of a nuclear winter on Sophic Ripple. BW

BUZZ 42

DAN AMOR ****

NUBIYAN TWIST ****

SALIF KEITA ****

Afonydd A Drysau (Cae Gwyn)

Jungle Run (Strut)

Un Autre Blanc (Naïve/Believe)

Dan Amor’s sound has been likened to The Beatles, but that doesn’t do it justice. Tracks such as Blwyddyn are more Beautiful South, and there’s a glimpse of 90s Britpop in here too.

Afonydd A Drysau is a relaxing yet toe-tapping affair and though I couldn’t understand a word I still got the message. Songs are original, Dan plays (almost) everything and, as a bonus, the first 50 copies of the CD come with freebies. LN

Of the heat of the Afro-jazz explosion happening up in Leeds, Nubiyan Twist are 12 of the most successful faces. With a full, clean sound and strong hiphop/neo-soul edges throughout, Jungle Run is of a similar cut as its peers; funky, virtuoso, progressive performances that beg for more rap collaborations or long improvisational sections.

As it is, the album is an impressive collection of rich rhythm bars that can step on each other at times but are lovely really. JM

The Golden Voice Of Africa bows out of the biz with this solid swansong to Keita’s half a century in African music, instigated by being ostracised from his village as an albino. The baton is relayed to the new generation from the synth twisting around the kora of Were Were, autotune on Ngamale and the unintrusive rap of trap artist MHD on the jubilant afropop Itarafo. Keita’s voice soars on the sublime Syrie and the liquid Diawara Fa, featuring afrobeats star Yemi Alade. CS

PANDA BEAR ****

SOUNDWIRE ***

Buoys (Domino)

Soundwire (Mine Mine Mine)

Buoys is the sixth album from Panda Bear, aka Noah Lennox, aka him from Animal Collective.

Instead of the chillwave sampledelia of his best known album, 2007’s Person Pitch, Buoys is much closer to the acoustic and melodic output of his main band. And, as with Animal Collective, the songs here straddle the line between earworm and irritating. Mainly manipulated vocals and heavily processed acoustic guitars floating over skittish percussion, for the most part it works, creating a short, sweet, summery album. SE

The debut album by south Wales psychedelic rockers Soundwire is more indie-synth than trippy 60s psychedelia, yet its repetitive riffs are almost hypnotic. There are some solid beats here, but most tracks are similar in tone (of the eight songs, We Rise and A Hiding To Nothing are the more musically dynamic) and fail to take off like I so wished they would – though when you’re swaying in a dark and hazy backroom, this is probably a good thing. LN

DRENGE **** Strange Creatures (Infectious) Derbyshire trio Drenge’s third studio release is equal parts anti-establishment poetry, gothic imagery and love-tinged ballads, occupying an unusual sonic space somewhere between Type O Negative and Royal Blood with a healthy splash of Muse thrown in for good measure. Beneath the thick grey smog of depression and reverb, the instrumentation feels colourful and sharp, dabbling with jazz and electronic influence to start to mould the distinctly British deadpan punk sound they’ve adopted into something a little more unique. AP

LADYTRON **** Ladytron (!K7) Little in the way of fresh output has been seen from Ladytron in the last eight years. The quartet’s reputation for sleek synth precision nevertheless remains intact on a self-titled sixth album that bleeds between the melancholic Paper Highways, Deadzone’s dystopic overtones and the bubbling electropop of Figurine. Polished production values lend a steely sheen that reaffirms the minimalist sound that has come to define the band’s work. Despite a creative pause, this formula remains as potent as ever. CHP

MERCURY REV **** Bobbie Gentry’s The Delta Sweete Revisited (Bella Union) Ramshackle psychedelic mavericks turned melancholy keepers of the Americana flame, Mercury Rev lend their Disneyfied grandiosity to a cover of Bobbie Gentry’s 1968 concept album. Featuring a different guest vocalist on each track, Norah Jones is the biggest name on show here, but the surprise stand out is Laetitia Sadler’s take on Mornin’ Glory. Reverent without being a mere facsimile, the album contains enough surprises to keep fans of both the band and Bobbie Gentry satisfied. PJ

MONO **** Nowhere Now Here (Pelagic) As the name implies, Mono’s 10th LP seems born to soundtrack the chaotic, nearapocalyptic times in which we find ourselves.

The Japanese post-rock titans are most definitely not masters of understatement: on the contrary, everything they do is on an epic scale. New drummer Dahm Majuri Cipolla makes his presence felt early on, ensuring that After You Comes The Flood sounds like a thrash metal band making the sky fall in. After that, Breathe is more an imperative or reminder than a song title. BW

PUPPY **** The Goat (Spinefarm) One of the most talked about bands in the underground scene in recent years, the genre-defying Puppy from London are ready to unleash their debut album on the world. The Goat takes influences from all over the world of rock. You’ll find Iron Maiden style melodies following luscious Weezer-style pop-rock, as well as Deftones groove laden with doom overtones. Sounds bizarre, but the trio have brought it all together and created a debut album to remember. CA

RUSTIN MAN ****

SWERVEDRIVER *** Future Ruins (Rock Action) In the early 90s, when their Thames Valley contemporaries Ride and Slowdive were preoccupied gazing at their shoes, Swervedriver were looking out across the Atlantic for inspiration.

Nearly 30 years later, the latter still bear the imprint of American influence but time has largely robbed them of their alt-rock bite. Mary Winter and Theeascending do at least break the mid-paced mould and up the volume, but the best tracks – Drone Lover and immersive closer Radio-Silent – actually slow things down, luxuriating in stoned, sun-kissed melody. BW

Drift Code (Domino)

SPELLLING ****

If he had neighbours they’d be wondering what Rustin Man’s Paul Webb has been building in his barn for 17 years. On this urbane yet bucolic LP he’s commandeered the mic from Beth Gibbons, with a fragile but defiant voice, like an octagenian Bowie. Our Tomorrows is as fleet-footed as Elbow; the meandering piano on Vanishing Heart rivals former band Talk Talk.

Pattering drums, woodwind and guitar licks propel Judgement Train and zither and piano embue All Summer with a golden haze. CS

Mazy Fly (Sacred Bones)

RUSTY SHACKLE **** The Raven, The Thief & The Hangman (Get Folked) The South Wales quintet show what wizards they are at changing up traditional music.

They researched old songs, words and stories and set them to original music and melodies.

Combining bluegrass, Celtic, rock, roots and of course folk, they breathe new life into tunes telling us about thieving chimney sweeps, escaped convicts, ladies of the night and uprising Chartists.

Good harmonizing, especially on Hanging Johnny. Rock, not jazz awaits at St. James Infirmary and Morricone signals the guitar-driven Time Of Death. RLR

Alternative r’n’b is a bit of a dicey concept, invoking similar suspicions of misplaced snobbery as alternative comedy (to name but one example). More so when it’s delivered by a New York label best known for far noisier fare. Chrystia Cabral, aka Oakland solo artist Spellling (geddit?), packs a whack of Sacred Bones-y nighttime creep into second album Mazy Fly, though. Gloopy cloudrappy beats mesh with lachrymose torchsong vibes and bursts of climactic rock distortion, and marks Spellling as a rad new talllent. NG

THEON CROSS *** Fyah (Gearbox) Theon Cross is a tuba-playing jazz musician, a niche containing frankly few iconic figures.

He’s also a member of London group Sons Of Kemet, a pretty high-profile position as British jazzers go, and on his second album Fyah is joined by sax player Nubya Garcia and drummer Moses Boyd. The nature of Cross’ chosen instrument means he rarely presents as a bandleader per se, rather purring away with bassy depth, with echoes of mid-00s dubstep and soundsystem culture in general. NG

VARIOUS ****

GUIDE DOG ****

I’m A Freak 2 Baby (Grapefruit/Cherry Red)

Dead Beat (Hi Vis)

Either the reserves of vintage UK underground hard rock and protometal are slightly more finite than it can sometimes feel, or Cherry Red don’t have unlimited licensing power. I say this because a few of the 53 bands featured on this three-CD compilation of valve amps, gristle and soapbar hash also featured on I’m A Freak, Baby, its 2016 predecessor. So you get to listen to Stray, Stack Waddy, the Edgar Broughton Band and Lemmy’s pre-Hawkwind group Sam Gopal again: hardly a hardship. In- and exclusive of this, this comp is boss for most of its nigh-on four-hour duration. A few bands are better known than the four already mentioned – there’s a UK number one, Arthur Brown’s Fire, albeit in gnarlier demo form – and many are more obscure. Regionally-minded readers may be interested to know there are four south Wales outfits included here, from the well known Budgie to Rhondda’s demo-only Eugene Carnan and Love Sculpture, represented here with absurd surf-shredder Sabre Dance. NG

A slightly unconventional pairing of grunge and electronica is surprisingly kind to the ear and an infectious energy permeates this latest offering from the Welsh three-piece. Readying the follow up to 2017’s Lovely Domestic Bliss, the group continue to reinvigorate hard rock with meaty refrains and comically abstract lyrics – it’s bloody addictive. CPI

KINGSON *** Tripping The Light (self-released) This Cardiff four-piece – who busted out in 2016 – could have come off the Car Wash soundtrack! On this, their debut EP, they’re 70s Chic-funky. Can you dig it? Musicianship is slick and professional and fine lead singer Leighton John channels the Average White Band. Lyrically… hopefully they’ll grow in time. RLR

Five (PIAS) With a sizeable international following built up over the last decade, White Lies could quite easily rest on their laurels with album number five – which does not seem to be the case here at all.

With legendary producer Flood contributing, along with Nine Inch Nails mixer Alan Moulder, the band sound re-energised: a bit like Giorgio Moroder re-imagining Breakfast In America via New Gold Dream. On the strength of Five, White Lies have no intention of stepping off the gas. DN

singles CHARLOTTE ADIGÉRY Zandoli EP (Deewee) Belgian vocalist, previously found warbling on a few Soulwax numbers and released on their label here too, delivers five songs which, in part, mine her Caribbean ancestry via their rhythms and linguistics. High Lights, additionally, is a paean to the artificial weave’s role in black womanhood, although the song itself is springy electropop. NG

FAT WHITE FAMILY **** Feet (Domino) Fat White Family return with the triumphant, insane and endlessly cool Feet. Beginning with a smooth psychedelic vibe the track quickly transforms into a chaotic swarm of guitars, synths, drums and autotuned vocals. It’s unmistakably the sound of the FWF but with fresh and unique elements that elevate it to being some of their finest work. LB

YOU

Netflix

This gripping 10-part series, based on the Caroline Kepnes novel of the same name, stars Penn Badgley as Joe, a charming and intelligent bookstore manager who becomes fascinated with the beautiful Guinevere (Elizabeth Lail).

This fascination quickly turns to obsession. We’ve seen this story before, though what makes this one particularly fascinating is that we see it from the stalker’s perspective, giving us a human perspective on a character that’s normally portrayed as the villain, even forcing us to question our own mentality in the search for love. With the stunning New York backdrop, You is a creepily intense thriller that will have viewers hooked from start to finish. ****LS

THE A.B.C MURDERS

BBC (available on BBC iPlayer) REV MAGNETIC ** Gloaming / Firmament Gear (Rock Action)

WHITE LIES ****

WE'VE BEEN WATCHING...

Luke Sutherland, who’s collaborated and played with a bunch of people, has a new Scottish band. Gloaming, half of a double A-side, is more listenable than Firmament Gear – electronic noise that left me cold – but the title and video are more interesting than the song, which is mostly fuzz and acoustic guitar. RLR

demos GREENMAILER facebook.com/greenmailer One of those names I recognise from Swansea gig lineups of the last few years, but I’m fairly sure these nine songs are my first encounter with Greenmailer. II (it’s their second album) is unreconstructed 90s grunge with soupçons of stoner and hard rock: Queen Alice Of The Chains Age, y’get me? Considering the sorta thing they’re gunning for, the vocals really drag this down, both brooding and melodic but more notably flat. NG

SKELETON HOUSE paintinginthedark.bandcamp.com Conversely, I’ve neither heard or heard of this project until now, but I am passingly familiar with the blog Harish Jariwala runs, the selfexplanatorily titled Electronic Music Wales.

Formerly known as Painting In The Dark, hence the Bandcamp URL, Skeleton House proffers two new tracks here: Emulator, leftfield techno that shuffles and snuffles like, say, Shed, and Karnivel, an appropriately skeletal rhythmic workout which I assume is derived from dancehall production. NG

PAUL D.E. MITCHELL pdemitchell@yahoo.com Self-described, specifically in the bio section of the Amazon page where he self-publishes many curious-looking books, as “a local politician, programmer, builder and single father,” Paul D.E. Mitchell certainly has the air of a DIY dilettante. His music, as presented here on a 13-song CD, is also extremely odd: lo-fi, likely home-recorded psych-pop where Mitchell croons over drum machine and keyboard. I really have no idea what he was striving for here, but it ends up in the realm of Cleaners From Venus or R Stevie Moore. NG

This latest Agatha Christie adaptation on the BBC introduces John Malkovich as an aging Hercule Poirot, now a shadow of his former self, but with a trick or two up his immaculate sleeves. Poirot is brought back into the world of crime when sent a series of taunting letters detailing a series of increasingly brutal murders. Malkovich is passable as Poirot, but pales in comparison to his predecessors, David Suchet and Peter Ustinov – a glaring feature being his inconsistent accent which detracts from his overall performance. With an excellent supporting cast and a slowburning plot that keeps the viewer constantly guessing, The A.B.C Murders follows in the footsteps of many an excellent Christie adaptation. ****GE

THE BOYS IN THE BAND

Second Sight (Blu-ray/DVD)

Directed by William Friedkin (who would follow this up with The French Connection and The Exorcist), The Boys In The Band remains one of the first US films to openly depict gay men onscreen. An adaptation of the 1968 play of the same name, with all the same cast members, it retains a certain searing power, even though its stage origins do box the film in at times. There is a vein of self-hatred running through the film that would earn it criticism today, but as a time capsule of gay life in the immediate aftermath of Stonewall (the play was performed a year beforehand), it’s utterly fascinating. ***FT

SHIRKERS Netflix

Forget Roma. Forget Bird Box. This is the Netflix film everybody ought to see. In 1992, a group of Singaporean teenage girls put together a film called Shirkers, with the aid of their film school teacher, the mysterious Georges Cardona.

Afterwards, he disappears with all of the film, leaving everybody else crestfallen. 20 years later, the film resurfaces (albeit without audio), and director Sandi Tan pieces together the story of Cardona, a strange, almost obsessive figure at the margins of the film industry. Absolutely riveting in its depiction of all-encompassing creative endeavour can be, and how heartbreaking it is when all that effort is ripped out from under you. *****FT

WIM WENDERS: JOURNEYS OF NO RETURN Mubi

Mubi, a streaming service for fans of more arthouse-y or unique cinematic offerings, is currently running a threemonth retrospective of the German master Wim Wenders, focusing on his road movies. At their best, they are gloriously elegiac, ambling works, delving deep into an alienated, postWWII psyche. Films like Alice In The Cities, The American Friend, and the all-time great Paris, Texas remain as evocative as ever, but there are also lesser-seen gems such as Tokyo-Ga soon to come. Catch-up whilst you still can! *****FT

BUZZ 43

music news EXTRA

The period between mid-December and early January proved an especially trying one for south Wales music venues. In addition to Carmarthen’s Parrot bowing out on New Year’s Eve, announced some weeks previously, Cardiff bar Gwdihw was informed that, as of 31 Jan, its lease would not be renewed – with the building’s owners intending to demolish it and two adjacent restaurants for the purpose of unspecified redevelopment. A petition with some 20,000 signees and an intervention by Cardiff Council’s Huw Thomas has delayed any demolition until late April; at the time of writing, it’s unconfirmed if Gwdihw will retain their lease for this period, with contingency plans made to relocate and open as a community-owned business Following this, the Muni in Pontypridd shut up shop just before Christmas. Having been closed by Rhondda council in 2014, before reopening as a community hub, it has started to reestablish itself on the local gig circuit – especially for shows of a hard rock/blues-rock variety – but, accounts suggest, was run in chaotic fashion, and reached a point where the council was unwilling to provide further financial assistance. Meanwhile, a few days into 2019 Cardiff also lost Buffalo, which opened in 2005 and had itself changed ownership in 2013. The two-floor bar, more often used for club nights than gigs in recent years, was attempting to weather both a sharp increase in business rates some two years prior and a downturn in trade

Pembrokeshire musician and artist William Hughes died shortly before Christmas, with multiple band members, associates and fans paying tribute in the wake of this announcement. Hughes released four albums as vocalist and chief songwriter in Little Arrow [pictured], a folk-rock group with a leftfield approach to instrumentation, and before this was in the similarly tuneful-but-experimental Cardiff band Fredrick Stanley Star, whose sole LP Heaviside Layer was issued by Shape Records in 2008.

The surviving members of Little Arrow described Hughes as “our good friend, leader and all-round amazing human” in a Facebook post Meanwhile, the barnstorming drumming of Motörhead’s Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor, who died in 2015, will be showcased on an album recorded some 12 years ago. Little Villains were a trio featuring Taylor, vocalist James Childs of stoner rockers Avon and bassist Owen Street, who gives the band their south Wales connection via his membership of Swansea power duo Vails. Philthy Lies, Little Villains’ 10-song album, was laid down in 2007 – Taylor had left Motörhead in 1992 and pursued various shortlived projects since then – but its punky stylings had remained unreleased until now, with the Heavy Psych Sounds label announcing it for Fri 29 Mar

ONES TO WATCH...

WOVEN MAN

Located in and between Swansea and Carmarthenshire, Woven Man are given to amp worship, riffs at the groovier end of doom metal and spacerock flourishes. Formed in 2015, of the five-piece’s previous bands one member has a notably storied history – guitarist Lee Roy Davies, a founder member of cult Welsh stoner rockers Acrimony in the early 90s.

He’s been in various groups since, including hardcore belligerents Black Eye Riot and the Corrosion Of Conformity-ish Lifer, but Revelry (In Our Arms), Woven Man’s debut album (or maybe mini-album; five songs in 36 minutes, decide for yourself), recaptures a bit of Acrimony’s bottom-heavy astral chug.

Calling Down The Leaves, the opening song on Revelry, is described by Davies as a callback to an old Acrimony number – also the opener on their debut album, as it happens – and, amidst the thrashy stoner whooping-up and shoeing of the wah pedal, it also borrows a chunk of Hawkwind’s hit single Silver Machine. Calling Down The Leaves has a Soundgarden-y bombast; Maker’s Mark a soulful twang and the feel of something Tee Pee Records might have released 20 years ago. Of Sky And Land ups yer heartrate with some frantic kickpedal action and With Willow closes the album out by fitting the best bits of the previous half hour into its duration. Strong stuff, and hopefully the existence of a proper release will see Woven Man upping their currently sparse gig rate. facebook.com/wovenisms

BUZZ 44

one louder

SINCE last February, the date of my most recent CASSETTE REVIEW COLUMN – until now – Aonghus Reidy aka Ocean Floor has released three albumlength tapes. Dream Of The Sleeping Stones is the latest: issued on a label named ZamZam, which began in Reidy’s current home of Bristol but is now based in France, it’s a moving and considered collection of droning ambient synth pieces, kinda Charlemagne Palestine and kinda Berlin School.

Prosegur, on London label Slip, is also the third tape in a year by Freya Edmondes – although the previous two were by Yeah You, a remarkable lo-fi rant duo with her dad (!), and this is under the name Bad@Maths.

It’s a hair-greying half hour of cutup’n’spedup vocals, no-fixed-tempo beats and silly titles which alternate lolrandomly between upper case, lower case and punctuation. If that doesn’t sound horrendous to you, this is pretty good! Although I wish I could hear more of Edmondes’ stream-of-consciousness lyrics.

The Cool Greenhouse is a geezer called Tom who follows up a 2018 debut single which took the piss out of London with a three-song tape, Crap Cardboard Pet (Hidden Bay). Over a clunky riff akin to The Fall played on a Casio organ, its lead song Cardboard Man paints a picture of an oily, vapid fraud who shares myriad tendencies with various political party leaders past and present. Tracks two and three, Pets and Crap Art, are self-explanatory in their titles and an equally fine convergence of wonky/groovy/sarky.

SVB is short for Sarah Van Buren and Sarah Van Buren is a cool artist and general legend who lives in New York state and recently self-released Disco Is Long Life, a solo tape of hypnotic electronic pop. Sometimes it’s propulsive and danceable (the title track), elsewhere dark, droning and meditative. There’s even a JJ Cale cover, which shouldn’t make sense but is a minimal, pulsing stunner.

Maybe I shouldn’t put so much stock in physical releases – nearly everything in this column is streamable online if you think tapes suck – but it’s a great shame that the ripper 7” by Leeds hardcore band Hex never came out.

They’ve split now, leaving only this demo they made to sell on a tour last summer: three songs of gnarly, frantic HC creepy crawl, plus a live set of the same on the other side. Great hand-stencilled artwork too. Hope post-Hex bands emerge soon!

A year ago I booked a gig for London herbert punx Italia 90 off the back of a fine, angry debut tape, and the back end of 2018 saw their second one released. They’re still gunning for that Crisis/Institute yobstomp vibe, and very well too, although opener New Factory either bites a well-known Gang Of Four riff in flagrant fashion or is the victim of unfortunate coincidence.

Finally, a limited collector scum trinket which isn’t available digitally (er, except unlawfully on YouTube) and probably confirms multiple prejudices about ‘cassette culture’. It’s a four-tape, four-hour box of mixes by spooky Manchester producers Demdike Stare, titled Stitch By Stitch and way sold out. Rad listen, though!

Cycling through garage/grime/post-techno pumpers on tape one, sludgily slow 5am droner paranoia on tape two, untraceable ethnopop and jazzyfolky detritus on tape three and all kinda weird snippets from their own productions on tape four.

Highlights of February’s gig landscape include SAM LEWIS (Sin City, Swansea, Tue 5 Feb; West End Club, Barry, Sun 10); WORKIN’ MAN NOISE UNIT, OBEY COBRA and SLOW MURDER (The Moon, Cardiff, Fri 8); DEEP HUM (Dragonffli, Pontypool, Fri 15); DIE! CHIHUAHUA DIE!, ZINC BUKOWSKI, MADE OF TEETH and EXCELLENT SKELETON (Clwb Y Bont, Pontypridd, Sat 16); OUZO BAZOOKA (The Moon, Tue 19) and SENDELICA, TWINK and more psych types (Cellar Bar, Cardigan, Sat 23). NOEL GARDNER

GLEE BUZZ JUL 2018

4 SUPERB COMEDIANS EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHT GREAT FOOD & DRINK DEALS

SUN 17TH FEB

CARL HUTCHINSON WED 20TH FEB LOST VOICE GUY SUN 24TH FEB LUNCHTIME FAMILY COMEDY SHOW TUE 05TH MAR TOM STADE WED 06TH MAR HAL CRUTTENDEN SUN 10TH MAR LADIES OF LAUGHTER SUN 17TH MAR WAHALA COMEDY CLASH WED 20TH MAR PAUL MCCAFFREY SOLD OUT!

MON 25TH MAR

SOLD OUT!

LIMMY SUN 07TH APR SHAPPI KHORSANDI SUN 14TH APR LEE NELSON THU 18TH APR ANGELA BARNES SUN 28TH APR WAHALA COMEDY CLASH THU 02ND MAY GARY DELANEY SUN 05TH MAY MICKY P. KERR THU 09TH MAY IVO GRAHAM

MERMAID QUAY • CARDIFF BAY • CF10 5BZ BUZZ 45

books

BOOK OF THE MONTH

THE BEAT OF THE PENDULUM Catherine Chidgey (Lightning)

A book, New Zealand author Catherine Chidgey’s fifth, in an apparent genre of one.

The Beat Of The Pendulum is dubbed a “found novel” on the cover, having been assembled daily throughout 2016 (although the wider world only ever invades this hermetic one when a celebrity dies or wins an election) using spam emails, Facebook posts and, primarily, taped dialogue between the writer and her friends and family.

The rear of The Beat...’s jacket (in addition to a quote from Nick Hornby – “a wonderful new talent” – which is actually from over 20 years ago) includes an excerpt from early in the year which seems to hint at either Burroughsian cut-up techniques or Joycean streams of consciousness. Ultimately, this proves misleading; Chidgey is a lucid and witty conversationalist, although no doubt we all would be given the chance to star in our own novel, and her artist husband and genial publisher are capable foils.

A good couple of months slip by before anything emerges that could be described as a plot. Chidgey’s days are by no means idle or without incident, but by most people’s expected standards of fiction her peaks and troughs are not especially towering or cavernous. An infant daughter is raised, a mother’s declining health is managed and – less relatably, with an heroic dose of meta navelgazing – this novel is written. Or assembled. You’ve likely not read anything like The Beat… before, which should not preclude your right to wonder, while reading, what about this year in a life was supposed to be so worthy of literary conversion.

NOEL GARDNER Price: £12.99. Info: www.lightning-books.com

ALPINE BALLAD Vasil Bykau, trans. Mikalai Khilo (Glagoslav) What a pure introduction to Belarusian author Vasil Bykau. The lyrically evocative, soul-searing Alpine Ballad is much more intimate than his other works but no less unsparing and wrenching.

A new translation into English, it’s his love letter to humanity. Set during the latter part of World War II, it follows two POW camp escapees, Belarusian Ivan and Italian Giulia who are brought together fleeing across the Austrian Alps. We follow these determined, brave young adults from different worlds while they grow close and fight and claw to survive their perilous journey.

Much more than just an adventure/romance, Bykau brings to life two protagonists who will linger on long after you close the book. If you want to have no inkling of their fate beforehand, skip the back cover blurb. RLR Price: £17. Info: www.glagoslav.com FADE TO GREY John Lincoln (No Exit) Been stitched up by the law in south Wales? Who ya gonna call?

The Last Resort legal team, that’s who. Led by reformed gambling addict Gethin Grey and his motley team of ex-cons and genius investigators, Fade To Grey opens up a new facet of Celtic noir. Gethin has money troubles and is tired of doing dirty deeds on the cheap when a plum case falls into his lap.

A young black man, Tyrell Hanson, is in jail for the brutal murder of a young white woman. He was the last to be seen with her after consensual sex. In prison, Hanson converts to Islam and writes a bestseller. Outside, fading film star Amelia Laverne wants to bankroll his appeal.

Gethin and his team trawl the mean streets of Cardiff in search of the truth, but will they like what they discover?

The journey there is fascinating. MTi Price: £11.99. Info: www.noexit.co.uk BUZZ 46

BLOOD Maggie Gee (Fentum Press) A deeply affecting tale of family and consequences provide the basis for this black comedy. The premise of the book appears to be a straightforward tale of intricate family dynamics; however, delving into the story, the complex lives of the Ludd family are unearthed. It’s told from the point of view of protagonist Monica Ludd, who evaluates the emotional turmoil of the relationship between her parents and siblings following an attack on her father. Dealing with their own troubles, the unique characters are well drawn, with outlandish qualities that makes it difficult not to get caught up and swept along with their antics. The timely observations concerning Brexit and Trump provided a contemporary context and the surprising outcome to the end of the novel created a thoroughly entertaining and satisfying read. RH Price: £9.99. Info: box2059.temp.domains/~fentumbo MOTHLIGHT Adam Scovell (Influx Press) Thomas is a young boy when he first encounters Phyllis Ewans, a prominent lepidopterist, or person who studies moths. After the death of Phyllis’ sister, Thomas and his family remove themselves from her life, but the boy is left with an adopted fascination with moths and the landscape of north Wales.

Years later, the two are reunited and Thomas becomes not only an almost-friend to Phyllis, but also her carer towards the end of her life. Thomas finds himself obsessed with Phyllis and her relationship with moths, using photographs from throughout her life to learn as much about her as he can, hoping to ultimately rid himself of the feeling that the two of them are the same person. A well-crafted, complex and moving piece that tackles love, loss, forgiveness and the line between inspiration and obsession. MT Price: £9.99. Info: www.influxpress.com

DEAR MONA: LETTERS FROM A CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR Jonah Jones, ed. Peter Jones (Seren) Dear Mona is a collection of letters sent, circa World War II, to Jonah Jones’ boss and on-mostly-off lover, Mona.

These are letters from the heart and the mind, as Jonah (born Leonard) battles his demons with the backdrop of war in Europe ever-present. He’s good company: it’s an inspiring read with the bathos, humour and shared experiences. Here’s Len on language: “All Esperanto etc might start with swear words, because they appear to be the easiest to learn and most popular words.” He became familiar with other languages as a medic for some of the first soldiers to meet their Russian counterparts approaching from the East. Not so much a coming of age novel as a coming of age through real life letters. DW Price: £19.99. Info: www.serenbooks.com

WOLF COUNTRY Tunde Farrand (Lightning-Eye) Imagine a world where your existence and its ‘right to reside’ is dictated by how much money you spend. Working all day to indulge, pamper and shop to the extreme is an obligatory contribution, or else you’re forced to give up: retire and be euthanised at a Dignitorium. Alice’s comfortable middle-spender ways are shattered when her husband Philip disappears; leaving her adrift in uselessness, facing potential termination, spinning in the injustice of it all. Will she find out the truth about her husband? Survive the despairing ways of low-spender life? Or just give in to death? Wolf Country will chill your heart and make you sick at the possibility of such a cruel and politically unsound world. Tunde Farrande absolutely nails dystopia and its unsettling predictions, with incredible writing. KB Price: £8.99. Info: www.eye-books.com

SUSTAINABLE LOVING Valentine’s Day: the scourge of the single and for those who struggle with imaginative gifts. Instead of rushing out to get chocolates and flowers at the last minute why not get something that will last a little longer than a Tinder date? Buzz has a few suggestions.

Recycled Jewellery

Allot of Choc

Adorn your special lady’s ears with these beautifully sea eroded glass drop earrings.

Sea Glass Earrings – £46 beachcomberjewellery.co.uk

Welsh, family-run business using only organic fair trade chocolate that’s free from palm oil. You can also catch them at the Riverside Farmers Market in Cardiff – check their website for dates.

The All Bar None One – £35 thelittlewelshchocolatecompany.co.uk

Romantic Break

Sensual Soak

Arrange some time out, book a retreat, turn your phones off and focus on each other. This amazing treehouse in PenY Bryn looks like an ideal place.

Pen Y Bryn, Powys - price on request quirkyaccom.com

Brecon Beacons-based company producing sustainable soaps and mineral bath soaks. Each of these jars contains enough for at least 10 baths .

Rose Mineral Soak - £10 sugarloafsoaps.co.uk

Soothing Massage

Helmut Newton Sumo

The gift that’s not just for Valentine’s Day! You can’t put a price on human touch, but do spend some cash on a decent bottle of massage oil like Neal’s Yards classic range.

Soothing Massage Oil – £14 nealsyardremedies.com

Helmut Newton’s photographs are timeless and this book will last forever, giving your coffee table some erotic glamour.

Sumo Hardcover – £67.50 amazon.co.uk

Caring washes

Welsh lovespoon

Cardiff based lifestyle brand Goodwash donates to relevant causes: shampoo helps tackle homelessness, woof wash helps rescue dogs and a sports wash helps get people more physically active.

Their products are also Vegan Society approved.

Gift box – £32.50 goodwash.co.uk

It wouldn’t be a Valentine’s list in Wales without a lovespoon.

Go one better and personalise your gift. They’ll be yours forever.

From £33.99 lovespooncentre.co.uk

Pic: Anthony Cromin

BUZZ 47

BRAINS SHACK LAUNCH

The Skills Hub And Creative Kitchen (SHACK) is a new initiative launched by Brains Brewery to develop the hospitality and cooking skills of existing chefs at Brains pubs, as well as giving chefs-in-training the opportunity to build on their expertise. Brains’ Kitchen Skills and Safety team have also created programmes to help individuals work their way up from being pot washers to roles within the kitchen management team. Moreover, SHACK will play a part in improving the menu at Brains pubs, ensuring that the food, as well as the customer service and dining experience, are of the highest quality in each pub.

SHACK, The Yard, Cardiff City Centre.

Info: www.sabrain.com

M AT T P R I T C H A R D – D I R T Y V E G A N The former wildman of Dirty Sanchez is now a vegan endurance athlete with a BBC cookery show. Ruth Seavers and Josh Rees find out about the drastic changes in the life of Matt Pritchard.

Your new BBC One show, Dirty Vegan, is the BBC’s first ever vegan cookery programme. Do you hope that the show will encourage others to consider becoming vegan?

If my show encourages more to be vegan then I’m happy with that. I’m so honoured to be able to have that title – the first vegan show. The show is full of comedy, it’s educational and very lighthearted to make for easy enjoyable viewing. The series isn’t preachy.

You are becoming increasingly well-known as an endurance athlete, recently completing a triathlon around the coastline and border of Wales. What extreme physical challenges do you have planned for this year?

I really enjoy my endurance events and I really enjoy my training. It’s what keeps me mentally-focused and healthy. This year I’m going for the continuous Deca, which is 10 Ironman triathlons in 10 days, so it’s a massive challenge.

You have released a vegan cookbook to accompany the TV series, which is also called Dirty Vegan.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering becoming vegan but is concerned that a vegan diet may lack variety?

There are some great, easy-to-make recipes in my book and I purposely did that to make it easier for others to follow. Also, the internet is awash with information so you can’t go wrong really.

Have you managed to convince any of the other Dirty Sanchez guys to join in with your physical challenges? Obviously these are different challenges to the ones you used to put yourselves through...

None of the other lads really work out but Dainton is a big lover of eating well and he just did Veganuary which is great. He once lived on just drinking water for 30 days!

Did you jump feet first into veganism or was it a gradual change?

I went pescatarian first and then after watching [Netflix documentary] Cowspiracy I went vegan the following day and I haven’t looked back.

Looking back as a reformed party animal, what advice would you give a young Matt Pritchard?

“You’re about to go on one mental fairground ride.

Buckle up baby and enjoy it... you’re gonna have some fun!”

Do you think you’re challenging the image of what it means to be a vegan? It seems a lot of people seem to be tuning in because they like you and not necessarily veganism, but stay when they learn more...

I’m really glad that others like me and if my approach to veganism helps others look into it a bit more then that’s a good thing. I have had a little bit of negativity coming my way but I refuse to fight it with hate and send them a nice message in return.

Do you have any regrets from the Dirty Sanchez years?

Nope, never. Those years were fun.

BUZZ 48

What are your top places for affordable vegetarian or vegan food in Wales?

Anna Loka, Greazy Vegan and Milgi.

HEANEYS TO OPEN A WINE BAR

In light of his first restaurant’s success, Heaneys, which opened in Pontcanna last autumn, chef Tommy Heaney has announced the launch of a coffee and wine bar, whose name is still to be confirmed but which will be located next door to Heaneys. Expect full, hearty breakfasts with homemade sausages and distinctive Irish black pudding in the morning, bagels with an array of fillings at midday, and charcuterie accompanied by a wide selection of wines in the evening. Heaney also has monthly wine tastings planned, with talks from winemakers and specialists, as well as live music from local artists.

Heaneys, Romilly Crescent, Cardiff.

Info: 029 2034 1264 / www.heaneyscardiff.co.uk

Pic: Kevin West

OF THE BEST PLACES TO EAT IN CARMARTHEN TOWN Whether you’re looking for traditional Welsh cuisine, classic pub grub or fancy something different, Carmarthen town has a lot to offer when it comes to food. Katrina Rees highlights five of its must-try gems.

PANTRI BLAKEMAN

Hidden above A Dean Carpets opposite the bus station, Pantri Blakeman is a delightful restaurant with great homemade food, a friendly atmosphere, and plenty of Welsh heritage. From cawl to cockles, it specialises in traditional Welsh dishes which are so tasty, that the restaurant is often packed out. With its wallet-friendly menu and unbeatable Welsh ambience, this restaurant offers a true taste of Wales for visitors and locals alike.

31A Blue St, Carmarthen. Info: 07977 901367

FLORENTINO’S

Bringing a taste of Italy to west Wales, Florentino’s offers mouth-watering and authentic meat/fish dishes, pasta, and pizza cooked in a traditional wood-burning oven. For dessert, you can try some of their freshly made offerings such as gelato and torta della Nonna. (Grandma’s cake). The restaurant has a cosy atmosphere indoors, whilst in the summer you can enjoy a meal al fresco in the terrace area (Welsh weather permitting, of course).

11 Jackson’s Lane, Carmarthen. Info: 01267 232828 / www.florentinos-italian.com

THE ROSE AND CROWN HOTEL

Offering an extensive range of traditional pub meals, The Rose And Crown is the place to go if you want to fill your boots (and your belly). The menu includes reasonably priced pub classics such as cod, curry, scampi and lasagne, alongside a wide range of burgers, grills and more. It’s also the perfect pit stop for breakfast, light bites or a Sunday roast.

114 Lammas St, Carmarthen.

Info: 01267 232050 / www.roseandcrowncarmarthen.co.uk

THE NEW CURIOSITY

The New Curiosity’s exquisite lunch and evening menus are full of flavoursome options to satisfy all tastebuds, and the dessert menu is impossible to resist.

The modern yet homely feel of the restaurant offers a relaxed environment, perfect for any special occasion. Whilst the food is slightly on the pricey side, it’s more than worth it for the fine dining experience you’ll receive.

20a King St, Carmarthen. Info: 01267 232384 / www.thenewcuriosity.co.uk

THE WARREN

Specialising in ethically and locally sourced produce, The Warren is known for its wholesome and tasty meals. It’s vegan and gluten-free friendly, providing a lovely selection of dishes which cater for every dietary need. Not only is the food delicious, but the restaurant has a rustic charm in addition to staff who offer exceptional service and go above and beyond to deliver a memorable dining experience.

11 Mansel St, Carmarthen. Info: 01267 236079 / www.warrenmanselst.co.uk

SPICY SPINACH WITH CHICKPEAS AND PANEER Words Alison Powell This is a spicy, comforting bowl of food: earthy chickpeas, spinach with a rich mineral tang and creamy chunks of paneer. Serve with rice or naan and a dollop of mango chutney to cut a sweet slice through the savoury sizzle on your tongue.

INGREDIENTS (Serves 2) For the paste: • 3 small onions, peeled and sliced • 3 garlic cloves, peeled • Chilli – to taste, I used a heaped teaspoon of lazy chilli, but use fresh if you prefer – and remember, keeping the seeds in makes it spicier • Heaped teaspoon ground cumin • Heaped teaspoon ground ginger • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric • 200ml water For the rest of the dish: • Tablespoon of oil (olive, sunflower or vegetable) • 400g tin of chickpeas, drained • 200g block of paneer, cut into bite-size chunks • 250g spinach • 4 tablespoons natural yogurt • Good pinch of salt • 200ml water

HOW TO 1. Put all paste ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend to a thick paste. If you don’t have either of these, you could use a pestle and mortar to grind the ingredients to a paste, but don’t try to grind the onions, you’ll need to gently fry them before you fry the paste at step 2.

2. Add oil to a deep frying pan or wok and fry the paste for 5-6 minutes – don’t let it burn, but don’t worry if it bubbles a bit.

3. Add the yogurt and salt and stir then simmer for 2-3 minutes.

4. Add the paneer and chickpeas and stir and simmer for another 2-3 minutes.

5. It’s worth checking that it is spicy enough for you; you can add more chilli at this point if you want, then pour the spinach on top and drizzle over the cold water.

Once it starts to wilt, gently stir it in to the sauce.

When all the spinach has softened and become part of the sauce, it is ready to serve. @ASPwriter

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Pic: Edsel Little

MARCO PIERRE WHITE LAUNCHES VEGAN MENU

FEBRUARY FOODIE FOCUS Learn about, prepare or merely consume food in various parts of south Wales this month, with Elouise Hobbs as your 2019 spirit guide.

Fermented Food workshop, Ceridwen Centre, Carmarthenshire, Sat 2 Feb Fermenting is a thousand-year-old process known in science as zymology. In this exciting workshop, you will discover how microorganisms work to make everything from yoghurt to sourdough taste amazing and, how adding these foods to your diet may help improve your immune system and gut health. At this event, you will learn about the process which causes food to ferment, have a taste of a variety of fermented foods and even ferment cabbage to make a batch of organic sauerkraut. All the ingredients, including an airtight container to take the sauerkraut home, is provided, but bring your own sharp knife to prepare the dish.

Cookery School: Welsh Fusion, Bridges & Drybridge House, Monmouth, Sat 23 Feb Franco Taruschio and Lindy Wildsmith are returning this year to host their season lunch party which teaches attendees how to cook nibbles, an aperitif, and a tasty three-course lunch, which can be enjoyed once finished. This is all served with a glass of wine and biscuits to take home. New for 2019, the cookery school have also added a Supper Club on Thursday evenings. Lead by Franco, you will learn how to cook a simple two-course dinner to enjoy together – and recreate at home.

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Supper Club, Oasis, Cardiff, Thurs 28 Feb Oasis is a non-profit charity that aims to help refugees and asylum seekers in Cardiff. Over the past year, they have been holding supper clubs which celebrate Cardiff’s vibrant community, serving dishes from all over the world. Each month, the menu changes to focus on a specific cuisine and culture, offering authentic homecooked food and the chance to learn a bit about different customs and traditions. In the relaxed eating experience, everyone is invited to meet the people behind the menus and speak to them about how they created the dishes.

Dough!, Bodlon Café, Whitchurch, Cardiff, Thurs 14 Feb Valentine’s Day has become synonymous with overcrowded restaurants and mediocre food; this year, One Mile Bakery and the Tidy Kitchen Co are looking to change that perception. One Mile Bakery has its roots in personalised service; founded seven years ago in Elisabeth Mahoney’s kitchen, they grew from delivering artisan bread by bike to a thriving business. Tidy Kitchen’s head chef Laura has a background in cooking for the stars and now creates homecooked culinary experiences with a difference. Together, they have devised a menu including celeriac and truffle velouté, honey-baked feta with confit tomatoes, and cod roasted with champagne sauce.

Marco Pierre White, the seemingly terrifying but usually quite genial chef who once made Gordon Ramsay cry, has launched a new series of vegan dishes at his Cardiff restaurant. He probably doesn’t fit the stereotype image of a vegan, but that just goes to show how much the diet is increasing in popularity. Indeed, Marco isn’t a vegan himself, but claims to have tried veganism for a while and found it beneficial, and the vegan dishes he’s created are anything but animal-free versions of meat dishes.

Arcade Dominion House, Queen St, Cardiff.

Info: www.mpwrestaurants.co.uk

VIVA! VEGAN FOOD FESTIVAL

This touring vegan festival, helmed by animal charity Viva!, returns to Cardiff City Hall in February. With the city’s vegan population, and their culinary and consumer options, ever-expanding, this is a great opportunity to try out some new foods or learn new recipes, with stalls such as Mr Nice Pie and Got No Beef Burgers expected to take part. It’s becoming less of a challenge than ever to go completely animal-free in your food intake and this is set to help folks interested in veganism continue that trend.

City Hall, Cardiff, Sat 16 Feb. Admission: £3/ kids free. Info: www.viva.org.uk

Sunday 7 July 2019 2pm till late

FEB 2019 just fill out this form and post it, along with a cheque to:

Buzz Publishers Ltd, 220c Cowbridge Road East, Canton, Cardiff CF5 1GY

Tickets on sale Friday 1 February

Tel: 01978 862001 • www.llangollen.net Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod

@llangollen_Eist

llangollen_eisteddfod

Y BWRDD SUPPER CLUB

Venue TBC on booking. facebook.com/ybwrdd / ybwrdd.eventbrite.co.uk Food ***** Atmosphere ***** Y Bwrdd (The Board) is a supper club dining concept put together by Gwen Ellis and Annes Elwy. Neither are professional chefs or cooks – Gwen works in marketing, Annes is an actress – yet they both cook and devise the menu, generally from whatever takes their fancy.

Sourcing locally and in season, always using Welsh produce Y Bwrdd champions small independent producers such as Ty Tanglwyst Dairy, Penarth butchers David Lush and Thompsons, and fruit and veg from another Penarth outlet, Windsor Fruit.

So far, it’s been a monthly event: two in Pontcanna, before December’s more intimate gatherings were held in Annes’ home over two evenings. I attended one of these, joining a party of around 12 people: some in couples, many unknown to each other, but all of whom were treated to fabulous food. Apart from the beautiful and intimate surroundings, the décor and table decorations were delightful.

Middle Eastern flavours seem to be influencing them at the current time, Annes having worked with an Israeli chef in London. Starters were a choice of saltbaked salmon with lemon and herb labneh, courgette salad with pickled fennel, or mushroom and walnut parcels with coconut and cucumber salad; main courses offered vegetarian hazelnut lasagne with winter greens and gruyere, or long-cooked beef shin lasagne with focaccia and salad. Desserts: chai tea and petit fours, followed by chocolate, tahini and fig tiffin, Kadaif nests with raspberry, rose and pistachio or miniature mince pies.

Each dish was created beautifully, with divine finishing touches; the setting, background music, company and evident passion for food makes the £35 a head price (bring your own wine) a bargain. To find out when the next supper club is, go to instagram.com/y_bwrdd.

ANTONIA LEVAY

TY MADEIRA

32 St Mary St, Cardiff. www.tymadeira.co.uk Food ***** Atmosphere **** It’s not clear what exactly will become of Guildford Crescent as I write this, so consider this review both a celebration of new beginnings and an elegy for things lost, as Madeira, the popular Portuguese restaurant on the Crescent, recently opened up a new restaurant on St Mary St – well before the news broke about the planned demolition. The two restaurants are almost identical menu-wise, and the quality has not dropped a smidgen.

Our (sizeable) party on the night in question ordered a variety of meals – from steaks to stuffed peppers. Madeira’s trademark espetadas (long skewers of meat fixed to hooks from the ceiling) have remained intact, and as superb as ever.

This writer had a mix of lamb, chicken and pork on the espetada, and each cut was rich, succulent and perfectly cooked. The house wine too was an excellent compliment to the meal, a Portuguese red with the fruitiness and complex aftertaste that you want with strong red meats. Finally, the décor hasn’t changed much either – they’ve gone for the same bare wooden beams that makes the original Madeira feel like a tucked-away inn in some backstreet.

Price-wise, Ty Madeira is a little bit dear at times – most mains come in at £15 or more, so you are talking about easily spending £20 a head here, but it is worth every penny. One only hopes that we somehow get to live in a Cardiff where both Madeiras can remain in existence, with Guildford Crescent still a thriving centre.

What will change by the time you read this? FEDOR TOT

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BWYDIFUL

589 Cowbridge Road East, Canton, Cardiff. 029 2056 8332 / facebook.com/bwydiful Food: **** Atmosphere: **** Central to the “Preston Model”, a political and economic strategy for resuscitating ailing towns, is the concept of community wealth building – pumping as much money as possible into local businesses. Canton is hardly ailing, but it does seem that Bwydiful, a new burger joint near Victoria Park, is operating on the same principles. Their beer is brewed by Crafty Devil, just across the train tracks, while their buns are baked at Pettigrew next door.

The street-food supremos took their time readying the premises, with the opening delayed until December – but it was worth the wait. A criss-cross tower of crispy halloumi fries with a deep green chimichurri dip and chilli jam, and hash brown bites with a fruity dunking sauce, get us off to a flyer. The Hawaiian burger boasts a wheel of lightly singed pineapple atop a slice of bacon so thick it’s practically a gammon steak. That’s trumped by the Caws Caws, whose patty is crowned with a generous, oozing dollop of Welsh rarebit – its mustardy kick nicely offset by Bwydiful’s own rich, gloopy barbecue sauce. To call it a cheeseburger would be a gross insult – it’s far superior to that. Aside from a bit of pinkness to the patties and slaw that wasn’t quite so aggressively peppery, there’s little else that we would ask for.

Attempting to establish a permanent home can be precarious for pop-ups – see Got Beef’s short-lived presence at the other end of Cowbridge Road. But for Bwydiful, this feels like right time, right place. Together with Pettigrew, the Dough Thrower, La Creperie, Bloc and a soon-to-open Italian, it’s at the heart of an emerging foodie hub to rival anything in Pontcanna. BEN WOOLHEAD

BUZZ FESTIVAL GUIDE OUT APRIL 2019

Green Man, Hay on Wye, Lakefest to Fire in the Mountain to Tafwyl, the best in live music, family friendly, food & culture Buzz picks the best for you to enjoy in our essential guide to who what, when and where!

Welsh, national and international festivals Previews and interviews Festival fashion Camping essentials Exclusive reader offers 25,000 copies delivered across Wales Available online + to download To ensure your festival is part of this essential guide which covers April - October and hits the audience it rightfully deserves, place your advert in Wales’ number one entertainment magazine.

To secure your advertising space contact: Emma - 029 2022 6767 or emma@buzzmag.co.uk Advertising deadline March 8th Editorial deadline March 4th

OUT APRIL 2019

Pic: Buenosia Carol Pexels

health

NEW-TRITION This month, Buzz launches a series of articles which will delve into the major dieting developments over the last few decades. Jonathan Sutton addresses the diet industry, food trends, evolution and revolution.

From the low-fat 1980s to the Atkins 00s and onwards into today’s modern times of endless online options, we will present what the experts say – both for and against – the world’s most popular diets. But rather than simply singing the praises (or lack thereof) of each fad diet, we will group them according to the thought processes and theories, the science and the studies, that first brought each one into fruition.

With the emergence of veganism as a worldwide movement, a diet choice which was once based on ethical reasoning alone has now found its place in the evergrowing healthy eating market. How it compares against other recent food trends, in terms of weight-loss and health improvement, is yet to be unequivocally proved.

There is an insidious part of diet research; take the case in the 1960s, when study into the negative effects of fat, funded by the sugar industry, incorrectly suggested that fat was the cause of heart disease. The New York Times recently revealed that in fact sugar is the greater culprit, and that the science had been manipulated to sweeten the study’s corporate funders.

In the case of veganism, studies have been carried out; many are done so by advocates of veganism without testing the data against other lifestyle choices.

The same may be said of veganism’s opposite number, the meateater diet. Time will tell if these biases can be stripped out from the research.

Over the last few decades, the world has seen no end of conflicting dietary advice, most of which has been shown to be outdated as new studies have emerged in its wake. But one thing that most experts do agree on is that we eat too much.

Our hunter-gatherer ancestors, surviving for millions of years with no access to storage and refrigeration facilities, ate as and when food became available. But the agricultural revolution provided the human race with the ability (and the cravings) to overindulge in masses of farmed and stored food products.

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This revolution saw us become almost entirely reliant on wheat – a foodstuff known to be very hard to digest when compared to the diet of a hunter-gatherer.

Moreover, in recent times we have managed to find a way to make our diets yet more damaging by removing the natural nutrition from our food – the parts which are more likely to rot in storage – and replacing them with longer-lasting sugar, salt and bad fat to even out the taste. Many experts suggest that the world has never eaten so poorly. The food industry’s profit margins have increased as quickly as our waistlines – and the queues at the doctor’s office have followed in that growth.

Today, we never stop consuming. Breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, brunch, lunch, dinner, supper; gallons of sugary beers, wines and soft drinks and of course, regular ‘treats’. Even the health-conscious gym-goer will make sure to consume a pre-workout snack and a post-workout shake.

And although it could be argued that the diets laid out below are tainted, since they have all come from the multi-million-pound diet industry with its myriad contradictions, it’s worth considering that it was the multi-billion-pound food industry that created all of those unnecessary mealtimes, all those sugary snacks and the over-indulgent mindset that goes hand-in-hand with our rapidly declining health.

Even whilst having drastically differing viewpoints on other issues, real food experts all generally agree that we eat too much. And that fact is contradicted only by the food industry giants who are profiting from our overconsumption. So, whether we put our faith in veganism, meat-only or anything in between, it seems that the data is in. Now, more than ever before in history, we need to address our dietary intake. Simply put: less is more.

DR MICHAEL MOSLEY New years so often bring with it new changes, and for many of us diets are frequently first of the list, even if our ability to maintain them is inconsistent. Few are better with diets than Dr Michael Mosley, as Carl Marsh finds out.

I know you didn’t initially train at a university to become a doctor, and after leaving worked in banking for a couple of years; what made you have a change of heart to give it all up and study medicine?

I originally studied politics, philosophy and economics as I was really interested in economics, and then I went into the City [of London] and then decided that frankly, making money was not what I was most interested in. I was more interested in what makes people tick psychologically and what makes the body tick, so that’s why I switched over and trained as a doctor instead. What has been a part of my professional life ever since has been in understanding what the human body does, how it does it and the interactions between the body and the brain. It was very unusual in those days, although much more common now, to go from doing one degree to then studying medicine.

The Royal Free Hospital [Medical School] where I trained was very relaxed at the time and took quite a lot of people who had more unconventional backgrounds, so that’s how I ended up being a doctor. If I had continued on in medicine, I probably would have ended up becoming a psychiatrist, but I got a bit disillusioned with psychiatry. That’s why I applied on the spur of the moment to the BBC, who then offered me a thing I thought I would do for a couple of years. That was 30 years ago, so I am not going back into medicine any time soon!

How do you stay in touch with all things medicine if you are not actually practising in it?

My wife is a GP now, and she puts into practice a lot of the things that I talk and write about, so I get a lot of feedback like that. I also get a lot of people that stop me in the street to say how well they have done on the 5/2 Diet [where you fast for two days out of five in a week], or whatever it might be, or how they have reversed their diabetes by doing the Blood Sugar Diet. I talk to a lot of doctors as I get invited to a lot of medical conferences, and they treat me as one of their own.

I was about to ask you about the 5/2 Diet as I got on that for a time because of yourself, and for me, it was very worthwhile.

Oh good, good, I am pleased to hear it. It has really taken off in the last six years. The reason I got into it in the first place was discovering I was a Type 2 diabetic; I was looking for something else, and that’s why I made the BBC2 Horizon documentary Eat, Fast And Live Longer. And in the course of that, I kind of invented the 5/2 Diet – I wrote the book after I did that documentary. As a result of that book and television programme, there have been many more scientific studies being done on the 5/2 Diet.

What else will you be talking about on tour?

What have we learnt in the last six years and that sort of stuff; I’ve been trying to make it easier for people with a new version of it. I’ll also be talking a bit more about other forms of intermittent fasting because there is a new kid on the block called Time-Restricted Eating which has become the number one trend in the US, mostly for the under-30s.

How does that differ from the 5/2 Diet?

It has some of the same principles. The idea is that you have more extended periods without food fasting but in this particular version, what you do is extend the overnight fast where you finish eating at 8 or 9pm at night, then don’t eat again until say midday the next day. I’ve been involved with the scientists who developed that, and I have done one of the very few human trials on that.

Dr Michael Mosley, St. David’s Hall, Wed 27 Feb. Tickets: £25.50/£21.50 wheelchair users.

Info: 029 2087 8444 / www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk BUZZ 55

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T H E A R C A D E VA U LT S The joy that sticks? Oliver R. Moore Howells takes a trip down memory lane at Cardiff’s new hotspot for fans of all things gaming.

It’s the weekend, and with Friday having been overcome like an-end-of-level boss, I’m looking forward to my visit to Cardiff’s Arcade Vaults. After all, I was a bit of a gaming geek when younger, even though today’s aficionados would likely consider me a ‘noob’ (newcomer), failing to realise that I was actually there from the beginning – well, almost.

Born in 1980, memories of the pixelated past still evoke in me a sense of reverence, of wonder entangled with a wisp of melancholy. Life was simpler then – the graphics especially so. Sitting under the stairs in my best friend’s house, we would spend hours playing on his Amiga 64: Speedball, Chuck Rock, Lemmings.

Naturally then, this visit is exciting.

Entering The Arcade Vaults, memories of my gaming days suddenly come rushing towards me like a fiery Hadouken, but before meeting with its founder Chris Munasinha, it’s essential I spend some time reliving my misspent youth. Seeing old-school, box-sized television screens connected to ancient consoles and computers such as Acorn’s BBC Microcomputer, the Commodore Amiga 1200 and even a 1979 Prinztronic Tournament 2 Deluxe, it’s like taking a geek-drenched stroll down memory lane. If pure vintage isn’t your thing, you can go further up the ladder; an Atari Jaguar, a SNES, a Sega Megadrive, an Xbox One, until bang!

You’re up to date with the PS4 VR. “It has a broad appeal. Parents bring their kids in too,” says Chris. Does the idea have legs or is it just a digital wet dream for middle-aged men who remember the 80s? Taking a look round, it appears not. “You get to see a bit of history,” says Sam, a 17-year-old, playing the almost primordial game of Pong with his mates.

“I started with a Nintendo Wii. It’s interesting to see where some of my favourite games began.”

Given the groups of young people here, this makes a nice change from the stereotype of today’s youngsters bunkered down in front of screens in their bedrooms. “It offers us an alternative rather than always going bowling or to BUZZ 56

the cinema,” says another, the ratio of males to females appearing pretty much equal. “It brings people together. Dads and their kids bond over trying to beat one another’s scores,” adds Chris, grasping the wider social significance. With the potentially isolating effects of the internet, it’s interesting to see how The Arcade Vaults is actually bringing people together instead.

So are The Arcade Vaults a passion project or just a shrewd business venture?

Chris doesn’t hesitate. “Both. It’s a form of escapism. It’s universal and easy to pick up,” he says, claiming to have been a gamer since the age of eight where he enjoyed playing racing games on his Toshiba MX80. R-Type, the space craft shootem-up, he says, is a particular favourite too. “I went into web design and studied Computer Science at university. [But I prefer] to watch people enjoy this stuff.”

Asked how he came up with the idea, he says he cottoned on to the street food pop-up phenomenon and decided to try it out with retro consoles instead. At first he rented a space in one of Cardiff’s shopping arcades and ran various events throughout the country. Later on, however, an opportunity arose for him to have a permanent place here on the corner of High Street Arcade and Duke Street Arcade just opposite Cardiff Castle.

With plenty on offer, such as game developers getting to showcase their creations to PVP showdowns and gaming tournaments, Chris says, “It’s more than an arcade. It’s a community!” Furthermore, he believes gaming nostalgia is a “trend with no sign of slowing down”. As to the future, Chris says he’s hoping to add more nightly events, expand and strengthen the gaming community through closer-working relationships and do more pop-ups, gaming conferences and even wedding further afield.

High Street Arcade, Cardiff.

Info: 029 2034 5136 / www.thearcadevaults.org.uk

Pic: Visit Wales

travel

W H E R E T O G O T H I S VA L E N T I N E ’ S D AY Szofi Zekov takes a look at the best ways to spend 14 Feb, or thereabouts. And hey, even if you’re not a romantic, these are great places to go any time of year!

AFTERNOON TEA AT DYFFRYN GARDENS

CAERNARFON CASTLE

Info: 0344 2491895 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dyffryn-gardens

Info: 01286 677617 / cadw.gov.wales

TŴR MAWR LIGHTHOUSE

DOLPHIN-SPOTTING

Dyffryn Gardens, Vale Of Glamorgan Maybe you fancy a calm and quiet afternoon with your partner, perhaps surrounded by a vast Edwardian garden. Dyffryn Gardens is offering just this kind of escape with their Valentine’s Day afternoon tea, which includes entrance to the gardens, homemade cakes and optional prosecco. Explore all 55 acres of the botanical gardens or admire the view from inside the Victorian mansion. Either way you’re set for an idyllic way to spend the day. Do book in advance though!

Llanddwyn, Anglesey Llanddwyn Island is the perfect Valentine’s Day date spot not just for its atmosphere but its connection to Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers.

Although Tŵr Mawr Lighthouse itself is not open to the public, the view from the tip of the island is still magnificent, especially at sunset. Also on Llanddwyn are the ruins of St Dwynwen’s Church and the Pilots’ Cottages.

Info: 01248 352276 / www.holidaysanglesey.co.uk

WEEKEND AT PORTMEIRION

Portmeirion, Gwynedd If you’re craving a piece of the romantic Mediterranean as winter is slowly ending, look no further than Gwynedd. Portmeirion’s village feels like a mini-Italy within Wales, which was the intention of its architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. You can spend a whole weekend at the village or perhaps just one day; either way you’ll feel like you’re in southern Europe. No promises about the weather though.

Info: 01766 770000 / portmeirion.wales

Caernarfon, Gwynedd Out of the hundreds of castles in Wales, Caernarfon is one of the most impressive and has its fair share of romantic stories. From {The Dream Of Macsen Wledig} to the famous partnership of Edward I and Eleanor Of Castile, Caernarfon has been the place of grandiose affairs and legendary marriages. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the ideal place to learn more about history and spend time together at a truly remarkable Welsh castle.

Cardigan Bay Dolphins are said to be the messengers of love and were considered sacred symbols of Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love and beauty. For this reason, or just because they’re cute animals to look at, you could spend your Valentine’s Day at one of the many dolphin-spotting locations around the Cardigan Bay area. There might not be as many dolphins as there would be in the summer, but the coast itself is just as breathtaking in February and well-worth a visit.

Info: 0333 0063001 / www.visitwales.com

FOUR WATERFALLS WALK

Ystradfellte, Brecon Beacons Sometimes, you just want to get away from the noise and hustle on a day like Valentine’s. The Brecon Beacons offer plenty of walking trails and hidden gems for those preferring nature to the city, and one of them is the Four Falls Trail, just south of Ystradfellte. The walk is about 5.5 miles and gives you plenty of time for you to be alone with the other half as you discover the beautiful waterfalls of the Brecons.

Info: www.breconbeacons.org

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NORTHERN LIGHTS FLIGHTS For most mortals, the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights requires a trip up to somewhere in the far north of the globe – Iceland, Scandinavia, even Canada. Whilst the likes of Reykjavik, Oslo and Stockholm are regular cheapflight destinations, the cost of being there for a few days and a trip to the emptier northern edges of those countries will quickly empty all but the deepest wallets.

The lights themselves are formed when solar winds hit the magnetosphere, high up in the atmosphere. As charged particles from the sun collide with particles in the Earth’s atmosphere, the crashes produce the stunning celestial colours we see in the skies. Green, the most common colour, is a result of oxygen particles, whilst the rarer red auroras are from high-altitude oxygen and blue/purple lights are nitrogen-based.

But if you dream of seeing the lights but can’t make it to a holiday in the far north of the Earth, there is an alternative operating out of Cardiff Airport. On Fri 8 Mar, Omega Breaks are running a special one-off flight that soars high above the Earth’s surface, well above any pesky rain clouds, allowing you to gaze unperturbed at the Northern Lights, with an 80% chance of seeing the lights – pretty good as far as seeing Aurora Borealis gets – before landing back down at Cardiff Airport. It will be about as close as you can get to having Aurora Borealis localised entirely in your room, at this time of year, at this time of day, in this part of the country. At £240 it might seem quite dear, but it certainly seems like a worthwhile late Valentine’s gift.

Northern Lights Flights, from Cardiff Airport, Fri 8 Mar. Tickets: £240.

Info: www.omegabreaks.com

sport SWIMMING STRUGGLES Cardiff Swim Club have been a crucial part of this city’s sporting history for many years, originating from a number of smaller swim clubs in 1974. Over their four and a half decades of existence, they’ve produced a valuable Olympic legacy for the city – sending swimmers to all but one Olympic games since 1976, with the most recent competitors being Chloe Tutton in the 200m Breastroke and Ieuan Lloyd in the 200m Freestyle in Rio 2016. They have put more swimmers onto the GB teams than any other swim club.

Their swimmers have also won medals too: in Athens 2004, David Davies managed bronze in 1500m Freestyle, and in Beijing 2008 he managed a silver medal in the 10k Open Water. Unfortunately, there may not be any more history to record.In a statement released on Facebook, the club announced that the fees for their annual pool hire has rocketed up, without warning, to an eyewatering £50,000 in the last two years, while their pool time has also been reduced.

As a member-funded institution, it’s hard to see those costs being covered without serious support from elsewhere. With the future of Guildford Crescent also still in the air, this is as important a time as any to remind ourselves that our grassroots cultural and sporting institutions need support. Without Cardiff Swim Club, there would be fewer sporting successes for Wales, and without Gwdihw there would be fewer great bands, musicians and comedians out there.

With landowners seemingly more interested in seeing how many pennies they can squeeze out of the city’s brightest and best, it remains to be seen exactly where this story will go next. More details about the future of Cardiff Swim Club are unavailable at press time, though a BBC Wales report will have been broadcast by the time you read this. Keep an eye out for more information as it comes.

Info: cardiffswimming.co.uk BUZZ 59

Pic: Welsh Rugby Union

sport

2 0 1 9 S I X N AT I O N S P R E V I E W It’s time once again to gird our loins for the return of everyone’s favourite European union, the annual Six Nations rugby round robin. Rhys Fisher mulls the possibilities.

The Rugby World Cup is set to be the biggest event of the Welsh sporting calendar in 2019, so with the Webb Ellis trophy hovering in the distance, this year’s Six Nations tournament is given added drama and intrigue. Expect, then, a sizeable increase in the number of daffodil hats, faded jerseys, and flag-painted faces staggering around Queen Street throughout February and March.

With all roads leading to Tokyo come September, the Six Nations is sure to provide Warren Gatland and co with a dilemma or two. On the one hand, there will be a desire to give promising yet inexperienced squad members a taste of international rugby, in hopes it will result in Jonah Lomu-esque World Cup debuts. On the other, it is an invaluable opportunity to assess the form of seasoned internationals. Will the coaches see the Six Nations as a chance to build and develop – aiming to peak for the World Cup? Or will they set more stock in gaining momentum through victory, whilst bloodying the noses of a few of their rivals along the way?

After a highly successful, undefeated Autumn International series, which included finally managing to get the Australian koala off their backs at the eighth time of asking, there was a quiet confidence that Gatland had built a squad that could deliver him one more championship before he left. However, with an injury list as long as Alun Wyn Jones is tall – a recent arm fracture to Taulupe Faletau, as well as up to seven players named in the current squad being unavailable for the opening fixture in Paris – that confidence has faltered somewhat. Then again, with favourable home fixtures against Ireland and England, an opening day victory against France would have fans dreaming of a first Welsh title since the back-toback heroics of 2012 and 2013.

Having won three of the last five tournaments, picking up a couple of victories against the hitherto invincible All Blacks along the way, Ireland enter the tournament as rightful favourites. The final-day fixture against Wales in the Principality certainly seems to be an early call for the championship decider.

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Despite finishing fifth last year, England bounced back in ominously impressive fashion during the autumn – recording victories over South Africa and Australia, and coming within a couple of points of beating New Zealand. However, with a daunting trip to Dublin first up, any hopes of replicating the 2003 heroics of a Grand Slam/World Cup double may be extinguished early on.

The old cliché about which France will turn up is not only one of the most overused in all of sport, it is also no longer accurate. In truth, it has been a long time since the French rugby team have made any headlines for their on-field accomplishments, and it would be a big surprise to see them seriously compete for this year’s championship.

Having included seven debutants in their squad, Scotland have displayed the most outward intention that this year’s tournament may be more of a development exercise for them. Yet with three home fixtures and a mesmeric victory over England last year still fresh in the memory, Scotland could be this year’s dark horse.

Having retained the wooden spoon for the third successive year in 2018, there is nothing to suggest that Italy won’t be making it four from four here. Perhaps the greatest intrigue surrounding the Italians this year will be the future of their talismanic captain, Sergio Parisse. At 35 years of age, this could well be the last chance to see one of the greatest Six Nations performers of all time.

Wales play France (Stade De France, Paris, Fri 1 Feb); Italy (Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Sat 9 Feb); England (Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Sat 23 Feb); Scotland (Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Sat 9 Mar) and Ireland (Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Sat 16 Mar).

Info: www.wru.co.uk

listings

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DIFFUSION 2019 LAUNCH Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff Thurs 14 Feb. Info: 029 2030 4400 / www.chapter.org / diffusionfestival.org Diffusion, a month-long, multi-venue photography festival taking place in Cardiff every two years, will return in April for its fourth edition. The overarching concept of Diffusion 2019 – each one has tied itself to a different theme – is ‘Sound+Vision’, which allows for a wide range of subjects and approaches.

A few photographers offer relatively direct portrayals of musicians, or the attendant culture. Brian David Stevens’ 2004 photographs of soundsystems from the Notting Hill Carnival [pictured] – imposing walls of speakers, shot before the crowds turn up and bug out to their mighty wattage – will be on show (all venues are TBC at the time of going to press), as is Zara Mader’s i-D, a tribute to the visual and musical legacy of punk trailblazer Poly Styrene. There’s also an installation, X Ray Audio, showcasing the Cold War-era Russian practise of pressing Western pop bootlegs onto X-ray plates.

Elsewhere, ‘sound’ manifests itself as birdsong in Timothy Gwyn John’s Intimate Distance, a rather cleversounding interactive construction of wooden birdhouses, Raspberry Pis and sensor-controlled volume. John Rea’s Atgyfodi, which debuted in St Fagans’ National Museum Of History last year and draws on its sound archives, returns for 2019. And Kurt Laurenz Theinert’s Visual Piano is perhaps the most literal iteration of Diffusion’s latest theme: a MIDI keyboard with pedals which creates psychedelic graphics, digitally projected onto large screens.

This is only a taste of what Diffusion 2019 promises: more will be revealed this month, launching in earnest on Thurs 14 for an alternative Valentine’s gift.

CONTENTS pg 62 pg 63 pg 66 pg 70 pg 75

art clubs events live stage BUZZ 61

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art ABERYSTWYTH ARTS CENTRE University Of Wales, Aberystwyth. Free. Mon-Sat 10am-8pm. 01970 621903 / www.aber.ac.uk/artscentre Andrew Logan ‘The Wonderful World Of Reflections’ Esteemed British sculptural artist.

(Until Sat 9 Feb) Justine Allison ‘The Language Of Clay’ Ceramic work, part of a series of national touring exhibitions organised by Mission Gallery in collaboration with Ruthin Craft Centre.

(From Sat 2 Feb until Sun 31 Mar) Rivers Of Gold International exhibition and exchange curated by Judy Macklin and looking at the human and environmental cost associated with the prospecting, extraction and processing of gold. (From Sat 2 Feb until Sun 7 Apr) In My Shoes Arts Council touring show examinng how British artists – notable names featured including Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas and Rachel McLean – have presented their own image in their work. (From Sat 16 Feb until Sun 12 May) Can I Gymru Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Welsh TV show of this name, featuring portraits of past winners and audio of their songs. (From Sat 23 Feb until Sun 29 Apr) ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ART GALLERY Buarth Mawr, Aberystwyth.

Free. Mon-Fri 10am-5pm.

01970 622467 / www.aber. ac.uk Travelling Through:

Landscapes/Landmarks/ Legacies Mixed works from the School Of Art collection.

(Until Fri 8 Feb) Holden Holcombe ‘This Is How It Feels’ PhD exhibition exploring the intimate stories of 18 transgender men and their journeys of transition from female to male. (Until Sat 9 Feb) ALBANY GALLERY 74b Albany Road, Cardiff.

Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm. Free.

029 2048 7158 / www.albanygallery.com Drawings Exhibition Main gallery: Original drawings in various styles from gallery artists here. Top gallery: Paintings and drawings

by Theo Crutchley-Mack from a recent residency at abandoned sub-Antarctic whaling stations on the coast of South Georgia. (Until Sat 9 Feb) Karl Davies, Peter Kettle FRSA RCA, Euan McGregor PAI New work by three popular gallery artists each with their own definitive styles. (From Thurs 14 Feb until Sat 9 Mar) ANDREW LAMONT GALLERY (THEATR BRYCHEINIOG) Canal Wharf, Brecon. Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. Free.

01874 611622 / enquiries@ brycheiniog.co.uk / www. brycheiniog.co.uk Rob Baldwin ‘Portrait Of A Farming Community’ Photography by Baldwin from his time as a vet in the Brecon area from 2004-10.

(Until Sun 17 Mar) ARCADECARDIFF / CAMPFA GALLERY Queens Arcade, off Queen Street, Cardiff. Usually open Wed-Sat 12.30-5.30pm. arca-

decardiffcic@gmail.com / www.arcadecardiff.co.uk Emma Edmondson Sculptural and wall-based practice from Essex artist who uses texture, pattern and form to question our relationship to society and each other. (From Wed 6 Feb until Sat 16 Mar)

ART CENTRAL Barry Town Hall, King Square, Barry. Tue-Sat 11am-4pm. Free.

01446 709805.

Torn From Home Two exhibitions running concurrently to commemorate (as this gallery does each year) Holocaust Memorial Day: Alison Lochhead’s Layered Memories Of Conflict And Abandonment and Nerea Martinez de Lecea’s Child A. (Until Sat 2 Mar) ATTIC GALLERY 37 Pocketts Wharf, Maritime Quarter, Swansea. Tue-Fri 10am-5.30pm, Sat 10am4.30pm. Free. 01792 653387 / www.atticgallery.co.uk Winter Exhibition Mixed group show featuring over 40 artists, five of which are new to the gallery. (Until Sat 9 Feb) The Old & The New / Talks In The Attic Twin concurrent shows, respectively a retrospective for three Welsh artists George Little, Jack Jones and Will Roberts; and work by two younger Welsh artists, Sara Louise Davies and James Iles. (From Sat 16 Feb until Sat 2 Mar) BAYART 54 B/C Bute Street, Cardiff Bay. Free. 029 2065 0016 / www.bayart.org.uk 6 Artists Work from members of Disability Arts Cymru: ViviMari Carpelan, Jo Shapland, Lou Lockwood, Gemma Jayne

IN MY SHOES: ART AND THE SELF SINCE THE 1990S Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Sat 16 Feb-Sun 12 May Admission: free. Info: 01970 621903 / www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk A touring exhibition from the Arts Council Collection, In My Shoes focuses on interpretations of the relationship between art and the self since the early 90s. In My Shoes will display the works of talented artists from two different generations: that of the so-called Young British Artists era, to which the likes of Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas [pictured] and Gavin Turk belong, and a younger generation of creatives, such as Rachel Maclean and Bedwyr Williams.

The latter two are famed for using innovative mediums, such as film, photography, installation and even standup comedy (in Williams’ case) to delve into themes that they are passionate about, including politics and identity.

Paine, Rachel Wellbeing and Jan Williams. See Art. (From Sat 2 Feb until Fri 1 Mar) CARDIFF STORY The Old Library, The Hayes, Cardiff. Daily 10am-4pm.

Free. 029 2034 6214 / cardiffstory@cardiff.gov.uk Cardiff Universities Social Services: The Untold Story The history of CUSS, a radical charity set up 50 years ago by student volunteers to support people with learning disabilities. (Until Sun 3 Mar) CHAPTER GALLERY Chapter Arts Centre, Market Road, Canton, Cardiff. Tue, Wed, Sat + Sun 12-6pm; Thurs + Fri 12-8pm. Free. 029 2030 4400 / www.chapter.org Cornelia Baltes Art In The Bar exhibition for a German-born, London-based artist whose brightly coloured paintings combine simplicity with humour and playfulness.

(Until Sat 24 Mar) Paul Eastwood ‘Dyfodiaith – Singing To An Unknown Future’ An audiovisual work

by Wrexham-based Eastwood that interrogates the cultural context of the Welsh language in relation to minority languages spoken worldwide, as well as bilingualism and common tongues. (From Sat 9 Feb until Sun 10 Mar) CRAFT IN THE BAY The Flourish, Lloyd George Avenue, Cardiff. Mon-Sun 10.30am-5.30pm. Free. 029 2048 4611 / www. makersguildinwales.org.uk With Other Eyes Ruthin Craft Centre touring exhibition curated by Beate Gegenwart and featuring Stephen Bottomley, Melissa Cameron, Helen Carnac, David Gates, Beate Gegenwart, Kiko Gianocca, Margit Hart, Rebecca Hannon, Kirsten Haydon, Mari Ishikawa, Kaori Juzu, Fritz Maierhofer, Ruudt Peters, Ramon Puig Cuyas, Isabell Schaupp, Bettina Speckner, Gabi Veit, Silvia Walz, Gudrun Wiesmann and Tamar De Vries Winter. In Mission Gallery in Swansea before this starts. (Until Sun 10 Mar) CWTSH COMMUNITY AND ARTS CENTRE 226 Stow Hill, Newport.

Thurs + Sat 12-3pm, Sun 1-4pm. Free. 01633 664498 / www.cwtsh.org Newport Rising: Chartism Redrawn A large graphic comic installation of the 1839 Chartist March on Newport.

(Until Sun 10 Feb) CYFARTHFA CASTLE MUSEUM Cyfarthfa Park, Brecon Rd, Merthyr Tydfil. 01685 727371 / museum@ merthyr.gov.uk Neil & Yvonne Carroll ‘Trouvaille’ Vivid landscape paintings from Neil; new prints from Yvonne. (Until Sun 24 Mar) DYLAN THOMAS CENTRE Somerset Place, Swansea.

Free. 01792 463980 /

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dylanthomas.lit@swansea. gov.uk / www.dylanthomas. com Starlight Order: From Y Gododdin To In Parenthesis Exhibition taking medieval Welsh poem Y Gododdin as its starting point and, through written and illustrated manuscripts, noting how it influenced David Jones’ own epic, In Parenthesis. (Until Sun 31 Mar) FFOTOGALLERY 29 Castle Street, Cardiff.

Tue-Sat 11am-5pm. Free.

029 2070 8870 / www. ffotogallery.org *Lua Ribeira ‘Noises In The Blood’ Photo-based documentation of Jamaican dancehall culture in the UK and the role of women within it. (Until Sat 23 Feb) FFOTOGALLERY Turner House, Plymouth Road, Penarth. Tue-Sat 11am-5pm. Free. 029 2070 8870 / turnerhouse@ ffotogallery.org Amak Mahmoodian ‘Where Time Stood Still’ Photographic work created in Tehran, sparked by a visit to the Golestan museum archives there and seeing some early examples of Iranian photography. (Until Sat 23 Feb) FOUNTAIN FINE ART Rhosmaen Street, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire. Mon-Sat 10.30am-5pm. Free. www. fountainfineart.com Henri Matisse You might have heard of this geezer and what we have here are original lithographs from The Last Works suite (1954), based on Matisse’s large paper cut-outs. (Until Sat 9 Feb) Winter Group Exhibition Changing show of new work from gallery artists. (Until Sun 31 Mar) G39 Oxford Street, Roath, Cardiff. Saturdays 11am5.30pm. Free. 029 2047 3633 / post@g39.org Survey Group exhibition presenting new works by 15 early-career artists from across Britain: Chris Alton, Simeon Barclay, Hazel Brill, Flo Brooks, Emma Cousin, Joe Fletcher Orr, Thomas Goddard, Ashley Holmes, Lindsey Mendick, Nicole Morris, Milly Peck, Anna Raczynski, Will Sheridan Jr, Rae-Yen Song and Frank Wasser. (From Sat 2 Feb until Sat 30 Mar) Y GALERI, CAERFFILI Lower Ground Floor, The Visit Caerphilly Centre, The Twyn, Caerphilly. Tue-Sat 10am-5pm. Free. 029 2132 2570 / www.ygalericaerffili. co.uk Open Art Show Eclectic mix of about 130 affordable artworks selected from open submission. (Until Sat 9 Feb) Kevin String New and unseen work from an artist who learned to paint with his left hand following a major industrial injury. Also on display: artworks from regular

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gallery artists plus newcomers including architectural illustrator Katherine Jones.

(From Tue 12 Feb until Sat 16 Mar) THE GATE Keppoch Street, Roath, Cardiff. Mon-Sat 10am9pm. Free. 029 2048 3344 / www.thegate.org.uk Roath Open Exhibition Exhibition that celebrates Roath as a creative and culturally thriving area.

Submission deadline for work is midnight Thurs 5 Feb so you might catch this in time!

(From Fri 15 Feb until sat 23 Mar) GLYNN VIVIAN ART GALLERY Alexandra Rd, Swansea.

Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Free.

01792 516900 / www. swansea.gov.uk/glynnvivian Dylan Thomas: Music Of Colour Work from the collections of this gallery and the Dylan Thomas Centre, aiming to illuminate the relationships and dialogues between poetry and art.

(Until Sun 10 Feb) Yinka Shonibare ‘End Of Empire’ Sculptural work explores how alliances forged in World War I changed British society forever, and continue to affect us today. (Until Sun 24 Feb) Then & Now: 80 Years Of CASW Since 1938, the Contemporary Art Society For Wales has acquired around 900 works by 500 artists, now held in public collections across Wales. This exhibition will include works including David Jones and Glenys Cour.

Curated by Dr Peter Wakelin.

(From Fri 8 Feb until Sun 12 May) Andreas Rüthi ‘Paper Plates & Poisoned Porcelain’ Paintings from a UK-based Swiss artist inspired by Glynn Vivian’s collection of Welsh porcelain.

(From Fri 8 Feb until Sun 31 Mar) Phytopia film, photography, sculpture and painting based on the concept of the ‘tree of life’. Includes pieces

by Derek Jarman, Paul De Monchaux and Rasheed Araeen alongside 19th century nature orints (From Fri 15 Feb until Sun 26 May) GS ARTISTS (FORMERLY GALERIE SIMPSON) 217 High Street, Swansea.

Wed-Sat 12-4pm. Free.

07714 327523 / galeriesimpsonswansea. com Tim Davies ‘Survival Is Not A Crime’ Latest in a series of ‘artist at work’ exhibitions/residencies; Davies, a Welsh conceptual artist, aims here to comment on the “gap between the haves and the have-nots, truth and untruths”. This will be an open studio on these dates: (From Wed 27 Feb until Sat 9 Mar) KING STREET GALLERY 33 King Street, Carmarthen. Free. 01267 220121 / gallery@kingstreetgallery. co.uk Nicholas Kinver & Andrea

Kelland Kinver presents individual pieces of furniture made using local hardwoods; Kelland paints mostly in oils or watercolour, with rich variations of colour and tone. (From Fri 8 until Wed 20 Feb) BA2 Photography Exhibition (Carmarthen School Of Art) Showcasing a variety of photographs including monochrome, documentary and portraiture.

The launch evening will also feature photographer Krish Nagar as the opening speaker.

(From Fri 22 until Thurs 28 Feb) LLANTARNAM GRANGE ARTS CENTRE St. David’s Rd, Cwmbran, Torfaen. Mon-Sat 10am5pm. Free. 01633 483321 / www.lgac.org.uk Venus Paintings, prints and bronze sculpture by William Brown, Roger Moss and Keith Bayliss – the latter two responding to Brown’s proposal for a mixed exhibition on the subject of Venus.

(From Sat 2 Feb until Sat 15 Mar) Francesca Kay Craft showcase featuring poetry presented in various handmade ways such as seed packets, glass flasks and cardboard tunnels. (From Sat 2 Feb until Sat 15 Mar) Laura Creer Jewellery showcase incorporating silver, porcelain and gold.

(From Sat 2 Feb until Sat 15 Mar) Living Landscapes A selection of paintings recently donated to the Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre permanent collection, by Margaret Genge, George Godsell, Janet Hamer and Lilian Rathmell.

(From Sat 2 Feb until Sat 15 Mar) M.A.D.E. GALLERY 41 Lochaber St, Cardiff.

Wed-Sat 10am-6pm. Free.

029 2047 3373.

Eleanor Whiteman ‘Draw West’ Prints and original new paintings exploring the pull to the west Wales landscape.

(From Thurs 7 Feb until Sun 10 Mar) MARTIN TINNEY GALLERY 18 St Andrew’s Crescent, Cardiff. Mon-Fri 10am6pm, Sat 10am-5pm. Free.

029 2064 1411 / mtg@ artwales.com Richard Barrett New paintings from Cardiff-born, Yorkshire-based and Welsh coastline-inspired artist who specialises in textural landscapes and seascapes. (From Thurs 7 until Thurs 28 Feb) MISSION GALLERY Gloucester Place, Swansea.

Tue-Sun 11am-5pm. Free.

01792 652016 / www. missiongallery.co.uk Lisa Krigel Maker In Focus exhibition. (From Sat 2 Feb until Sat 2 Mar) Mez Kerr Jones Work showing in the [...] space. (From Sat 2 Feb until Sar 2 Mar) Ingrid Murphy ‘Seen And Unseen’ Ceramic sculptor presents works as part of the ongoing Language Of Clay exhibition here. (From Sat 2 Feb until Sat 23 Mar)

NATIONAL MUSEUM CARDIFF Cathays Park, Cardiff. TueSun 10am-5pm. Free except where noted. 029 2057 3500 / museum.wales/cardiff Tim Peake’s Spacecraft As in, the actual pokey lil’ vessel Peake flew into space inside in 2015/16, plus some more related paraphernalia. (Until Sun 10 Feb) Artes Mundi 8 Biannual international art prize, and the five artists showcased as part of it this year: Anna Boghiguian, Bouchra Khalili, Otobong Nkanga, Trevor Paglen and Apichatpong Weerasethakul.

(Until Sun 24 Feb) Kyffin Williams: The Artist And Amgueddfa Cymru Arguably Wales’ most popular landscape painter of the 20th century, Williams had a long history with Amgueddfa Cymru and was a member of its art committee for many years. This display explores that relationship through artwork and archival material.

(Until Wed 1 May) Leonardo Da Vinci: A Life In Drawing £5/£4/free under16s. Twelve drawings from the Royal Collection’s... collection of Da Vinci works, also part of a year-long commemoration of 500 years since his death.

See Art. (Until Mon 6 May) NATIONAL WATERFRONT MUSEUM Oystermouth Road, Maritime Quarter, Swansea. Daily 10am-5pm.

Free. 01792 638950 / museum.wales/swansea For Freedom & Empire An exhibition exploring the responses within the slate quarrying communities to the First World War recruitment campaign preceding conscription. (Until Sun 24 Feb) Digital Streams Photographic exhibition showing what voluntary groups have been doing to improve the waterways around the Swansea area.

Presented in conjunction with Swansea Environment Centre. (Until Sun 17 Feb) UWTSD Glass Exhibition Artwork from the glass department of University Of Wales Trinity St Davids. (Until Sun 24 Feb) NEWPORT MUSEUM & ART GALLERY John Frost Square, Newport.Tue-Fri 9.30am5.30pm, Sat 9.30am-4pm.

Free. 01633 656656 / museum@newport.gov.uk James Milne ‘II’ Project responding to Newport’s George Street Bridge and other infrastructure in South Wales with the same designation.. (Until Sun 13 Apr) NORWEGIAN CHURCH ARTS CENTRE Harbour Drive, Cardiff Bay. Daily 11am-4pm. Free. 029 2087 7959 / www. norwegianchurchcardiff. com The Gallery Gift Shop A collaboration of artists, artisans, crafters and photographers from around South Wales offering their products

at this exhibition-cum-popup. (Until Sun 10 Mar) OFF THE WALL The Old Probate Registry, Cardiff Road, Llandaff, Cardiff. Tue-Fri 9.30am5.30pm, Sat 10am-4pm.

Free. 029 2055 4469 / art@ galleryoffthewall.com Mixed Artist Show Including a sale with 30% off selected paintings.

(Throughout February) ORIEL CRIC Beaufort Street, Crickhowell. Mon-Sat 10am5pm, Sun 10am-1pm. Free.

01873 813669.

New Year Show Work by three painters: Tim Rossiter, Louise Collis and Martin Truefitt-Baker. (Until Sat 9 Mar) ORIEL DAVIES The Park, Newtown, Powys.

Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm.

Free. 01686 625041 / enquiries@orieldavies.org

Sat 23 Feb) ORIEL Y PARC The Grove, St Davids, Pembrokeshire. Free. 01437 720392 / info@orielyparc. co.uk Pembrokeshire Coast Artists And Makers Discovery Room windows showcase exhibition. (Until Sat 2 Mar) Raul Speek Artists Interface exhibition, with Speek here on a residency studying art in the community, and forging artistic links between Wales and Cuba; he’ll also be hosting painting and drawing classes (email for more info if interested).

(Throughout February) ORIEL YR ARDD National Botanic Garden Of Wales, Middleton Hall, Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire. Daily 10am-6pm. £10.50/£8.75 concessions/£4.95 under17s/free under-5s. 01558 667149 / botanicgarden.

The Volcano Theatre in Swansea is also an art gallery, and this month its exhibition takes the form of a pop-up Valentine’s-themed shop full of work by Welsh artist Bourbon Brindille. It runs from Wed 6-Sat 16 Feb. Cartographic Imaginaries: Interpreting The Literary Atlas Of Wales Commissioned artwork in response to 12 English-language novels set in Wales and forming part of the Literary Atlas Of Wales project. Participating artists: John Abell, Iwan Bala, Valerie Coffin Price, Liz Lake, Richard Monahan, George Sfougaras, Joni Smith, Amy Sterly, Locus, Rhian Thomas and Seán Vicary. (From Sun 9 Feb until Thurs 18 Mar) ORIEL MYRDDIN Church Lane, Carmarthen.

01267 222775 / www. orielmyrddingallery.co.uk The Building Project See Art for more on this exhibition, which is based around miniature houses which increase in number, akin to a real-life settrement. (Until Sat 23 Mar) ORIEL Q The Queens Hall, High Street, Narberth. Wed-Sat 10am-5pm. Free. 01834 869454 / www. orielqnarberth.com Bernard Mitchell ‘Pieces Of A Jigsaw’ Portraits of artist who have previously exhibited in this gallery, including Iwan Bala, Kathryn Dodd, William Brown and Christine Kinsey. (Until Sat 23 Feb) Oriel Fach 2 has Oriel Q: Memories In Posters – quite simply a collection of posters advertising past shows here – and David Street has an exhibition on the stairs. (Until

wales Mike Danford ‘Daffodils’ Photographs of the eponymous flower, commissioned by the National Botanic Garden to raise both interest in, and knowledge of, daffodil varieties. (From Sat 2 Feb until Sun 7 Apr) QUEEN STREET GALLERY Queen Street, Neath. WedSat 10am-4pm. Free. 01639 631081/ www. queenstgallery.co.uk Female Expressions Exhibition “celebrating the female form” which purports to “reveal the strength and fragility within the female psyche”. (From Sat 2 until Sat 23 Feb) Open Art Competition Debut show of this nature at this gallery.

(From Sun 10 Feb until Sat 9 Mar) REDHOUSE Old Town Hall, High Street, Merthyr Tydfil. Free. 01685 384111 / info@ redhousecymru.com Ernest Zobole Works from the Zobole family collection curated by the Kooywood Gallery and spanning 50 years of this important Rhondda-region artist’s work.

(Until Sat 23 Feb) ROYAL WELSH COLLEGE OF MUSIC & DRAMA Castle Grounds, Cathays Park, Cardiff. Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat + Sun 10am-4pm. Free. 029 2039 1391 / www.rwcmd.ac.uk Designs For Opera Work

produced by students on the College’s Design For Performance course and located in the Linbury Gallery. (From Sat 16 until Thurs 28 Feb)

Valentine’s shop which will contain paintings, woodcarvings, drawings, concrete sculptures and prints inspired by notions of love.

(From Wed 6 until Sat 16 Feb)

SHIFT Basement unit NSU7, Capitol Centre, Queen Street, Cardiff. Free. shiftcardiff@gmail.com / www.shiftcardiff.org Jorge Lizalde ‘15’ Debut solo exhibition in Cardiff for Lizalde, an overview of his ;ast 15 years of work ranging from photography to moving image, mapping-projection and installation. (Until Sat 9 Feb)

THE WELFARE Brecon Road, Ystradgynlais.

Free. 01639 843163 / thewelfare.co.uk Sarah Lees ‘A Light Sleeper’ Says Rees of her paintings: “The work in this show, produced over the last year, is the product of a light sleep; troubled by factors like too little freedom, too much, the pointless distraction of grief, the drive of deadlines, the necessity of making a living” (From Sat 9 Feb until Thurs 14 Mar)

SWANSEA COLLEGE OF ART / THE FORUM University Of Wales Trinity Saint David, Heol Ynys Kings Road, Swansea. Free. www.uwtsd.ac.uk/events/ swansea-college-of-art/ World Illustration Awards 2018 Exhibition All the awards’ category winning projects alongside a selection from the 200 strong shortlist, drawn from a record 3,300 entries from 75 countries.

(Until Thurs 21 Feb) SWANSEA MUSEUM Victoria Road, Swansea.

Tue-Sun 10am-4.30pm.

Free. 01792 653763 / www. swanseamuseum.co.uk Cefn Coed Remembered Subtitled An Exhibition Exploring The Working Life And Patient Care At Cefn Coed Hospital From 1932 To Present Day, which should cover it for this listing’s purpose. (Until Sun 9 June) TENBY MUSEUM & ART GALLERY Castle Hill, Tenby. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, £4/£3/£2 kids.

01834 842809 / www. tenbymuseum.org.uk Pamela Burns & David Field Drawings and paintings. (From Sat 2 Feb until Sat 2 Mar) THEATR HAFREN Llanidloes Road, Newtown, Powys. Mon-Sat 10am5.30pm. Free. 01686 625007 / thehafren.co.uk Sara Philpott Mid-Walesbased artist whose pieces use thin layers of translucent oil paint; this show This exhibition also includes recent drawings and printmaking experiments. (Until Sat 30 Mar) TOWER GALLERY 49 High Street, Crickhowell.

Wed-Sat 10am-5pm. Free.

01873 812495 / www. towergallery.co.uk Julian Meredith & Helga Prosser Shared exhibition, further details TBC curtently.

Also showing work by all members of the Usk Valley Artists’ Co-operative. (Until Sat 16 Mar) VOLCANO THEATRE 27-29 High Street, Swansea.

Mon-Fri 10am-4pm. Free.

01792 464790 / www. volcanotheatre.co.uk Bourbon Brindille Welsh artist opens a pop-up

WEST WHARF GALLERY Jacobs Market, Cardiff.

Thurs-Sat 10am-5pm. Free. westwharfgallery@gmail. com Convergence Emerging and established artists based in Wales, curated by David Gould. (Throughout February) THE WORKERS 99 Ynyshir Road, Ynyshir, nr Porth. 11am-4.30pm Thurs-Sat and by appointment. Free. 01443 682024 / wood4tt@gmail.com Gayle Rogers ‘Windswept’ Plein air drawings of wind energy sites, here as part of an artist residency programme. (From Thurs 7 Feb until Sat 30 Mar) Artist Spring Showcase Featuring selected artists including Glyn Brimacombe, Chris WIlliams, Luz Erika Chick and Melanie Honebone.

(From Thurs 7 Feb until Sat 30 Mar) WYESIDE ARTS CENTRE Castle Street, Builth Wells.

Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm. Free.

01982 552555.

Winter Medley Paintings by the local Knighton Painting & Sketching Group, which meets to paint on Mondays during autumn and spring.

(Until Thurs 7 Mar)

clubs LOS AMIGOS 33a Stow Hill, Newport..

07850 546751 / www. losamigosnewport.co.uk Sat 16 Ecko Vybz Valentine Red, Black & White Party 10pm-4am, £5.

Hip-hop, soul, reggae, r’n’b, Motown, dancehall and bashment from the full Ecko Vybz crew plus Glamma Lexus and T-Breezy, in the unlikely setting of a Tex-Mex restaurant.

THE ANGEL INN 57- 59 Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth. 01970 617878 / facebook.com/ theangelinnaber Sat 2 Mar Ymuno 9pm-4am, £5/free before 10. Deep house and techno with El Choop, Reg, Amy Amor, Dan & Jay and Bryn.

THE ARCH 11 Commercial Street, BUZZ 63

* – recommended Neath. 07791 923214 / jack. thearchneath@gmail.com Sat 9 Delusion 10pm, £5.

Trance from Delusion residents Johnny Griffiths and Callan Christie, b2b all night.

THE ATTIC 5-6 Castle Bailey St, Swansea. facebook.com/ theatticswansea Sat 2 Heft 10pm-3am, £10 adv. Drum’n’bass from Mr Traumatik, Benji, Diskrete, Ransom, Grown, Teaze, Wozzi, Dayo, Dezza, Llew and One-Z. Mon 4 Concrete Junglists: Return To The Jungle 10pm-3am, £5/£3 adv. Cardiff drum’n’bass/ jungle brand branch into Swansea for a monthly session highlighting fresh local DJs etc. Sat 9 Con7rol & Groove 10pm-4am, £22.50 adv. Nu-skool tech-house DJ Michael Bibi headlines a night also featuring Lucas Alexander and Lloyd Haines, and which sold out several weeks in advance. Bibi is also playing Kongs in Cardiff tonight and that is sold out too.

BAR COCOA Broad Street, Barry. facebook.com/cocoabarry Fridays + Saturdays 10pm-3.30am, £3. With DJ Lou Ross (Glastonbarry) playing various chart/cheese/ etc in room 1; James Bourne with dance and r’n’b in room 2. Sat 2 features a live PA from Devilman plus a set from hometown MC Joe Blow.

BASKERVILLE HALL Clyro Court, Hay-On-Wye. info@baskervillehall.co.uk / www.baskervillehall.co.uk Sat 23 High-Fi: We Are One 7.30pm-2.30am, £20 adv.

Techno out in a big mansion what’s technically in England but y’know, Hay. Tiger Stripes, Oliver Immer, Argy UK, Hidden Identity, Tekno Tom, Alter:Ego (change your name), M-13 and a 16 An’Half Men Showcase featuring Ross Davies, Joel Jones and Elliot Barlow.

THE BIG TOP / 10 FEET TALL 11a + 12 Church Street, Cardiff. 029 2022 8883 / thisis10feettall@yahoo. co.uk Mondays Junction :: Liquid Mondays 9pm1am, free. New weekly night of liquid drum’n’bass, the genre with a strange idea of how colons work. Thurs 14 Illusion 10.30pm-3am, £4 adv. House and techno from Atraxia, Lucky 47 and Jordan Marshall. Thursdays Rock hits from DJ Andy Rhys Lewis. Fridays + Saturdays Resident DJs playing soul and funk. Fri 1 The Mixtape 9pm-3am, £4. House, disco, techno and boogie. Residents night. Fri 15 Killing Moon 10pm-3am.

Long(ish)-running 80s alternative rock/new wave type night. Saturdays Under A Groove 9pm-3am, £3 after 10. Funk and neo-soul. Sat 9 Paradox 10pm-4am, £7/£5 adv. Techno night makes its debut with DJs Ryan Ross, BUZZ 64

So Sash, State Of Minds and Matthew Hart. See Clubs. Sat 16 Des Was A Bowie Fan 10pm, £6/£4 cheaplist. Indie/ postpunk/soul club night, London-based albeit here increasingly regularly. If you want to be on the cheaplist email deswasabowiefan@ gmail.com or mark yourself as attending on the Facebook event page.

BLIND TIGER 49 Cambrian Road, Newport. 01633 243500.

Wednesdays Wild Wednesdays Cocktails, drink deals and tunes as part of a cross-city midweek session. Fridays Beekay & Friends 11pm, £3-£5.

House, techno and bass music with guest DJs, breaking producers and residents from Wales’ freshest nights.

Saturdays Re:work 11pm, £5. Underground and cutting edge club music promised.

Sat 2 Mar Fixate 10pm5am, £5 adv. House and techno from Lisa Lashes, Adrianna, Undercover DJs, Madame Twisted, Dan Waite and J-Tech.

CARDIFF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS UNION Park Place, Cardiff. All listings apply to term time only. 029 2078 1458 / www. cardiffstudents.com Wednesdays YOLO 9pm2am, £4/£3 adv/free before 11. Midweek club night promising both your favourite tunes and great offers. Good name, really on trend. *Fri 1 Denis Sulta 10pm-5am, £20 adv. Wonky house fave visits Cardiff (he is also playing Swansea tonight!) with his great mates Mella Dee, Big Miz and Josey Rebelle. Fine lineup in fact. *Fri 1 Mar Mall Grab 10pm-5am, £tbc adv. Continuing this practise of cult-but-going-overground DJs arriving here on package tours, Australia’s Mall Grab follows up a sold-out Clwb Ifor Bach show a few months ago with a night also featuring Loods, the terrific Nite Fleit and Salary Boy. Saturdays Juice 10pm3am, £5/£4 NUS. Chart, dance and pop.

CLUB ICE Broadway, Pontypridd.

07771 920726 / www. clubiceponty.com Fridays Flashback 10pm3am. Retro hits from the 80s, 90s and 00s. Saturdays Gravity 10.30pm-3am, £7/£5 before 11. House, techno and dance every week on the club’s Void soundsystem. Sat 2 Focus 9pm-4am, from £5 adv. A night which launched in January but which I couldn’t tell what type of music it was when I listed it.

It of course turned out to be tidy beard tech-house, and this month it’s back with a headline set by George Privatti. ADR, Antwon & NTM and Lewis John support.

CLUB OXYGEN 1 Northampton Lane, Swansea. 0844 8849171 / www.globaloxygen.co.uk Fridays Dance Anthems

11pm-6am, free. House and commercial music all night from Big Al, Nicky G, 3 Bird, Jordan Steins, LJ Isaac and Tom Chizzy. Saturdays 11.30pm-5am, £5/free before 1. Upstairs: deep house, commercial house and techhouse. Downstairs: urban, chart, classics, r’n’b, hip-hop and UK garage.

showcase.

CLWB IFOR BACH Womanby St, Cardiff. 029 2023 2199 / www.clwb.net Tue 5 Carnival 2019 Opening Party 11pm, from £4. Dancehall, bashment etc aimed at students. Tue 12 Dazed Disco: The Dance Off 11pm-3am, from £3. Thurs 7 Gucci Gang: Trap Night 11pm-3am, £5. Thurs 21 Vice City’s Queen Special 11pm-3am, £3-£7. DJs playing songs by Queen and other classic pop/ rock artists. This is already sold out. Fridays (bottom) Yum! 11pm-3am, £3-£5. Indie and pop. New, or at least refocused, night. Fri 1 Dazed 11pm-4am, £10. Drum’n’bass from Sub Zero b2b Annix with Harry Shotta. Fri 8 Bassline Presents Time Is Now 11pm-4am, £10. Touring night headlined by drum’n’bass DJ Turno. Fri 1 Mar Dazed 11pm-4am, £10. Drum’n’bass from Lenzman, Clique with MC XL, Beesman and Incurzion Audio. Saturdays Dirty Pop 10pm-4am, £5.

Three floors of fun: Grltlk and Andrew Rhys Lewis’ top floor resident indie shindig; Dirty Pop; and Mr Potter’s proper disco.

FICTION & VINYL The City Gates, Little Wind Street, Swansea. 01792 828777 / www.fictionclub. co.uk/swansea Mondays Quids In 10.45pm-2.30am, £3.50/£2 before 11. Chart, cheese, r’n’b, dance and house.

Wednesdays Underground 11pm-3.30am, £3.50/£2 before 1. House, chart, r’n’b and cheese across two rooms.

Fridays 11pm-3am, £5/£3 adv. Drinks offers and, uh, music I guess. Fri 1 has a guest appearance by poprapper Example; tickets start at £5 and I think it’s just gonna be a live PA rather than a proper set. Saturdays Agenda 10.30pm-3am, £3.50/£2 before 1. Fiction: house, r’n’b, EDM. Vinyl: pop and party.

CLWB Y BONT 85a Taff Street, Pontypridd.

01443 491424 / clwbybont. cymru Sat 2 Curfew 7pm-1am, £5.

House and techno from Clare James, Agenda, Otski and Matthew Hughes.

THE GLOBE 125 Albany Road, Cardiff.

07590 471888 / www. globecardiffmusic.com Fri 1 Black Parade 10pm2am, £5 adv. Emo anthems from the previous decade.

Sat 9 Club Tropicana 9pm2am, £6 adv. Eighties night.

COURTYARD 48 Cambrian Road, Newport. 01633 213161.

Wednesdays Wild Wednesdays Upfront dance anthems and “Urban Vibes”.

Fridays Spotlight Sessions / The Kickstart 5pm, £3/ free before 9. Urban and club anthems and drinks deals.

Part of the NPCLUBHOP price deal which also includes entry to Blind Tiger, Meze Lounge and Lambaba.

Saturdays Mischief Beatdriven anthems is the ambiguous description for tonight’s music policy. Sundays Good Time Social Club 8pm, free.

DJs til late and the weekend’s sports highlights.

CREATURE SOUND Ken Bu Kan, 1 Bethesda Street, Swansea. 01792 301178 / www. creaturesound.com Sat 2 Tribe Of Swan 10pm-4am, £10/£5 before 12.

Psytrance, Goa trance, psy breaks, “fire pit, food stall, cheap drinks, good vibes.”

THE DUKE Old Market Street, Neath.

01639 643892.

Sat 16 Hedone 8pm-2am.

House and techno, residents

EDDIES 4 Quay Street, Haverfordwest. 01437 779595 / www.eddies.co Fri 22 Housewerk x Focus 10pm-4am, £4 adv. House and tech-house from Antwon & NTM, Lewis John, ADR and Lashout.

FUEL 5 Womanby Street, Cardiff.

07970 063107 / facebook. com/fuelcardiff Thursdays FUBAR 10pm2am. Rock, metal and alternative clubnight. Fridays + Saturdays Rock and metal anthems each weekend, plus special guests when such types are in town.

THE GRIFFIN Market Square, Brynmawr.

07771 920726.

Fri 1 16’An Half Men 8pm-3am, £10. House night headlined by Elliot Adamson.

Two rooms for this one, the second hosted by Motus.

INKSPOT The Old Church, Newport Road, Cardiff. 029 2049 0254 / www. inkspotartsandcrafts.com Fri 15 Rave In The Church 9.30pm-3am, £7 adv. Two rooms featuring live hip-hop, dub and jungle (lineup TBC) in room 1, plus an “immersive festival environment” in room 2.

INTRIM Queen Victoria Street, Tredegar. 01495 725510.

Sat 9 Guise 7pm-3am. A Resonance Records showcase with Max Chapman and George Smeddles. That means Beatport tech-house and lots of it.

JACOB’S MARKET West Canal Wharf, Cardiff.

029 2039 0939. *Fri 8 Haws 10pm-5am,

£7-£12. Featuring a headline set from UK electro ledge DMX Krew, plus Jayson Winters and Zobol. Sat 23 Delete 10pm-5am, £15 adv.

House and techno from Omar, Marc Parsons, Matt Owen and Lee Graves.

LASER STATION Bridge Wharf, Carmarthen.

01267 235648 / www. laserstationwales.com Sat 9 Concur Series 2 9pm-3am, £5-£8. Techno and minimal from London’s Jody Barr plus Concur residents.

See Clubs. Sat 23 Dubplate Dojo 10pm-3am, £8 adv.

Drum’n’bass and hip-hop from Devilman & Llew, Mackay, Wonkcrafts Takeover, Suspect, Cell and MCs LRB, Syphr, Matenj, MCM, Kraftee and Aksrevenge.

THE LAST RESORT 207 High Street, Swansea. www.lastresortswansea.com

u – repeated

Wednesdays Wednesday Club 8pm-2am. Dance and chart toppers with DJ Chris.

Thursdays Mixxet 8pm2am. Fun, games, and cabaret with Amber Dextrous and Alphaa Heart. Fridays Non Stop Party 8pm-2am. DJ Lee plays tunes from the 90s onwards. Saturdays 8pm2am. Dance, pop and chart with DJ Billy Joe. Sundays Service 5pm-2am, free. Bingo with Aunty Ade and Aunty Betty from 5pm, with cash prizes; DJ Mary Golds until 9pm; guest cabaret at 9pm and DJ Billy Joe on the tapes (this is an odd turn of phrase but I like it) until 1am.

METRO’S Baker’s Row, Cardiff. 029 2039 9942 / www. metroscardiff.com Wednesdays Meltdown 10.30pm-4am, free before 11. Punk and rock anthems.

Fridays Havoc 10.30pm-

Wockney is a techno DJ whose name derives from his being Welsh, but having moved to London. On Fri 1 Mar, he returns to the motherland to headline a night at Cardiff’s Philharmonic, relocated from Buffalo and promoted by Spectrum.

Wednesdays Mission 9pm2am, £3. New night promising hip-hop, grime, drum’n’bass, jungle, techno, house, bassline, psytrance, dub and 140. Sat 2 Feb + Sat 2 Mar Dead Of Night 10pm-3am, £3. Goth/alternative club night, on the first Saturday of every month.

LEVEL 2 @ KONGS 114-116 St Mary Street, Cardiff. info@kongsbars. com / www.kongsbars.com Fri 1 The Spin Doctors 10pm-3am, £8-£12.

Drum’n’bass with DC Breaks, Bassfox, Calamity, Kingdom, Chompa, Lowgli and host MC XL. Sat 2 Submerge x Paranoize 10pm-3am, £5-£12.50. Drum’n’bass and dubstep with J:Kenzo, Aries, OCG & ManGo, Onslaught & Lucas Rowe and Shay B & Lurid. Sat 9 Groove 10pm3am, £22.50 adv. Nu-skool tech-house DJ Michael Bibi headlines a night also featuring Lucas Alexander and Josh Green, and which sold out several weeks in advance. Bibi is also playing the Attic in Swansea tonight and that is sold out too. Fri 15 CYNT x Soul City Dance Collective 10pm-4am, from £6 adv. Headlined by longstanding UK house fave Felix Dickinson, possibly his Cardiff debut?

MARY’S 89 St Mary Street, Cardiff.

Mon-Thurs 4pm-2am, Fri 4pm-3am, Sat 12pm-3am, Sun 12pm-1am. 029 2066 8647 / www.maryscardiff. co.uk

4am, free before 11.

Mismatched alternative tunes from Hywel. Saturdays Lose Yourself 10.30pm-4am, free before 11. Stereo Brain playing indie, beats, treats and pop-punk.

MINSKYS SHOW BAR Cathedral Walk, St David’s Centre, Cardiff. 029 2023 3128 / www.minskysshowbar.com Fridays & Saturdays 8pm1am. Dancing and cabaret with regular drag acts including Tina Sparkle, Miss Babs and Jolene Dover.

MOCKA LOUNGE Mill Lane, Cardiff. Mon-Sat 11am-late. 029 2022 1295 / www.mockalounge.com Thursdays Iqos Social Club / Intuition 7-9pm: Iqos Social Club; 9pm-late: Intuition with DJs Monique B and Dan Willow. Fridays Feeling Soul, funk, disco, rare groove and r’n’b with resident DJs and happy hour from 5-8pm. Saturdays House Of Play House and r’n’b from resident DJs. Sundays Secret Resident DJs play 90s music.

THE MOON Womanby Street, Cardiff.

029 2037 3022 / info@ themooncardiff.com Tue 19 Delirium 10pm3am, £5/£4 adv. Hip-hop and grime night with Chris Allison, Fez, Kooley, Stel, Lubi J b2b Shanny Shan and host MC Missy G. Wed 27 Womanby’s Clubbing 5.30-8pm. Monthly clubbing events for adults with

learning disabilities, physical disabilities and mental health conditions. Run in partnership with Student Volunteering. Thursdays One More Time 10.30pm3am, free. Music from the 90s and 00s. Fridays Gigantic Until 4am, free. Funk, punk, rock’n’roll, hip-hop, indie, reggae and soul after bands finish playing. Fri 1 The Shutdown Show 8.30pm, free. Live hip-hop and grime from Luke RV, Dom James, Shawgz, Lloydylew, Levi, Kali, Beatriz and Loaf with hosts Prendy, Don, and DJ Prem.

Saturdays Five Dollar Shake Until 4am, free.

Bebop, funk, soul, Motown, hip-hop, reggae, ska and everything in between, after bands finish playing.

MUSIQUE BAR & LOUNGE Market Street, Newport.

01633 533666 / theneon. co.uk/neon-bar-lounge Fridays + Saturdays 9pm-2am, free. Soul, funk, old skool hip-hop, reggae, house, UK garage, lovers rock etc.

THE NEON Clarence Place, Newport.

01633 533666 / www. theneon.co.uk Sun 24 Breakin Science & Bassdrop 16+ Half Term Party 6.30-11pm, £10-£20.

National drum’n’bass promoters with a night aimed at teens, I think.

NO.3 The Old Warehouse, Bridge Street, Haverfordwest. no.3entertainment@ outlook.com / facebook.com/ no.3nightclubhaverfordwest Sat 16 Unfound Chapter 2 10pm-6am, £7 adv. House and techno from DJs TBC. Fri 1 Mar Back To Bassix 10pm-5am. Drum’n’bass/ jungle night headlined by Benny Page.

NO.6 BASEMENT 6 Princess Way, Swansea.

01792 480791 / facebook. com/no6barswansea

Sat 9 Dogruff 11pm-5am, £15/£10. First party in a while from these Swansea techno/ minimal saviours. Harry McCanna, Shaun Edwards, Mikki James and Aled Wynne feature. There’s also a preparty in the Box Bar featuring DJs Amy Amor, Alex Taylor & Knoll Beach, Dan Knight and Luke Tainton & Gareth Richards.

THE PHILHARMOINC 76-77 St Mary Street, Cardiff. 029 2132 0740 / www.thephilharmoniccardiff. co.uk Fri 1 Mar Spectrum 10pm-4am, £5/£4 before 11.

Techno from London-based Welshman Wockney plus Iolo, J-Tech and JaMo. Relocated from its original setting of Buffalo.

PLATFORM 11 High Street, Pontypridd.

Fri-Sun 7.30pm-2am. www. platform11.co.uk Sat 8 023 7pm-4am, £12/£9.

Headlined by Weiss, a UK DJ on an old-skool-but-updated jackin’ house tip.

PONTARDAWE ARTS CENTRE Herbert Street, Pontardawe.

01792 863722 / www. pontardaweartscentre.com Sat 16 Soul Circle 7pm12am, £8/£7 adv. Soul, mod classics, Latin, northern soul etc from DJs MACE, Rachelle Piper, Clive Morgan and Mark Taylor.

POPWORLD 96 St Mary Street, Cardiff.

Mon, Tue + Thurs 9pm3am; Wed 8pm-3am; Fri 5pm-3am; Sat 1pm-3am.

029 2023 5825.

Mondays Pop Rocks 9pm. A night of what they call alternative pop but their examples (Green Day, Blink, Linkin Park) seem to suggest will be pop-punk and nu-metal. Ah, it’s all just names at the end of the day. Thursdays Top Of The Pops 10pm-3am.

Discounted drinks, free entry and a chance to party the night away, all advertised using the logo from defunct TV show Top Of The Pops which, as a national brand of venues, I assume Popworld are using with the full permission of the BBC. Fridays Reflex 7pm-3am. Drinks deals until 11pm. Saturdays Popworld Party 1pm-3am.

Drinks deals from 3-6pm.

POPWORLD 2-5 Wind Street, Swansea.

Mon-Fri + Sun 8pm-3am; Sat 3pm-3am. 01792 470676.

Mondays Pop Is A Drag 9pm-3am. With Drag host Opal Fruits and DJ Chris Toole. Wednesdays Quids In 8pm-3am. Student night where drinks are £1.

Thursdays Neon Disco 9pm-3am. Dance r’n’b, pop, chart and punk. Fridays #WTF 9pm-3am, £2-£4.

Tunes, games etc. Saturdays Pop Party 8pm-3am, £2-£4.

PRYZM Greyfriars Road, Cardiff.

029 2023 3854 / www. pryzm.co.uk/cardiff Mondays Quids In 10pm3am, £1 adv/£6 VIP. Student night featuring various special guests. Fridays Smack.

9pm-3am, £4 adv. Weekly student event described by one enthusiast as “lit Friday nights with chilled fam bams and regular bants”. Fri 1 features DJ sets from Shapes b2b Barely Royal. Saturdays Agenda 10pm-3am, £5.

Three music arenas, VIP booths, other stuff.

PULSE 3 Churchill Way, Cardiff.

029 2064 1010 / www. pulsecardiff.com. Gay venue.

Wednesdays Kapow! 10pm4am. Student night with Jolene Dover and DJ Warren.

Fridays Full On 10pm-5am, £4/£3. DJ Craig downstairs, Opal upstairs. Saturdays

HARRY MCCANNA Dogruff @ No.6 Basement, Swansea, Sat 9 Feb. Tickets: £15/£10. Info: se_dr@outlook.com The first party since October for Swansea’s leftfield house collective Dogruff finds them in a new venue – two new venues, actually, as in addition to the main event until 5am in this bar on Princess Way, there’s a pre-party from 5-11pm at the Box Bar on the Strand. Gird yer loins, then, for up to 12 hours of Dogruffery, and get especially familiar with February’s headliner Harry McCanna if you’re not already. A London DJ who also produces under the name Henry Hyde and founded a label, NorthSouth, in 2017, McCanna has just finished a brief Australian tour having also visited early last year, and zigzagged over Europe and the UK for 2018’s remainder. Mikki James, Shaun Edwards and Aled Wynne will perform Dogruff residential duties tonight.

The Sound Of Saturday 10pm-5am, £5/£4 b4 11. The very best chart remixes and classic hits all night long.

THE RAINBOW ROOMS 12 High Street, Gorseinon, Swansea. 07763 000382 / www.the-rainbowrooms. com Fridays 10pm-4am. With resident DJs Trixta, Jay P and Dip E every week. Saturdays 9pm-4am. With residents plus guest DJs each week: Sat 9 has Rob Rees, Sat 16 has Jay Pand Sat 23 has John Hughes. Sat 2 Logic Xtra Hard 6pm-6am, £20/£15 adv.

Really quite large hardstyle night featuring Audiofreq, Francesco Zeta, Freestyle Maniacs, Re-1st, Ed ET & DTR, Faze2, D-Grove, Mike Ahmet, Kujin Fu, Jason P & Rob Rees, Onyx, Icey, Odd-S-E and hosts MC The Russian, K-ner and Twisted.

Sat 2 Mar Clubland Classix Swansea 9pm-4am, £10 adv. Return of this hit pop-rave night, this time featuring Flip N Fill, N-Trance and his extremely Tory tweets, MC Wotsee, Rob Rees, Jay P and Rob EJ. REVOLUTION Castle Street, Cardiff. Open from 11am. 029 2023 6689 / www.revolution-bars.co.uk Tuesdays Mode 9pm-3am, £4 adv. Popular student night.

Fridays + Saturdays 9pm3am. DJs, drinks offers, free area hire.

RUM & FIZZ Coffee Barker, Castle Arcade, Cardiff. 029 2022 4575 / facebook.com/ rumandfizz Fri 1 + Fri 1 Mar The Shakedown 8.30pm12.30am, free. Funk, jazz, R&B, boogaloo etc from DJs Lee, Matt and Andy, in this venue on the first Friday of every month.

SIN CITY Dilwyn Street, Swansea.

01792 468892 / www. sincityclub.co.uk Fri 1 Denis Sulta 10pm4am, from £13. Wonky house DJ, also playing in Cardiff University tomight, headlines here too with residents also on the bill. Sold out though.

Sat 2 Aniball 10pm-4am, £5 adv. Student night which celebrates the end of exams and encourages you to dress up as an animal for some reason. Two rooms of chart/dance and rave/ bassline, respectively. Sat 9 Bassline 10pm-4am, £17.50 adv. Headlined by Skepsis.

Fri 22 Dazed 10pm-4am, £15/£12. Drum’n’bass with DJ Guv with MC Skibadee, Kanine with MC XL, Clique, Friends On Benefits and more TBC. Tuesdays Hustle 10pm-3am, £3/£2 before 12.

Motown, r’n’b and hip-hop.

Thursdays Sin Savers 10pm-3am, £3. Student night. Fridays Monsters Of Rock 10pm-3.30am, £4/£2 before 12.30. Indie in room 1, metal in room 2. Saturdays Sink 10pm-3am. Hip-hop, drum’n’bass, dubstep etc, with special guests plus resi-

dent DJs Dubman, Swiss Elf and South.

SODA St Mary Street, Cardiff. 029 2037 3363 / www. sodacardiff.com Wednesdays Replay 9pm4am, £4. Chart, cheese and r’n’b for students. Fridays Guilty Sounds 10pm-4am, £4/£6 VIP. R’n’b and house from the 90s and 00s. Fri 8 features a guest DJ set from Charlie Sloth. Saturdays Soiree 9pm-4am. Three rooms including the Attic which is “the social playground for the high flyers and social elite, the only place to be seen.” Imagine catching your reflection in the mirror just after writing that.

Sundays Soda Sundays 9pm-3am, £4/£8 VIP. Three floors of music for students and industry workers.

TIGER TIGER Friary House, Greyfriars Rd, Cardiff. Open Mon-Fri 12pm-2am, Sat 12pm-3am, Sun 12pm-12.30am. 029 2039 1944 / www.tigertigercardiff.co.uk Every Day Lucky Voice Karaoke From £2.50 per session. The UK’s leading private karaoke experience each day of the week.

Mondays Dolla Dolla 10pm-3am, £5/£2. Student night with special guests.

Tuesdays Sync 10pm-3am, £3. R’n’b and hip-hop from DJ Sole and Alex Davies; disco, house and bass from Lewis Disson, Kyle Thom and Jordan Witts. Wednesdays Shotgun Rules 10pm-3am, £5/£3.50. Exclusive midweek student party. You don’t need NUS to get in though.

Fridays Tic Toc 10pm-3am, £4. “Forget the DJs who play the stuff you’ve never heard of, ours will be playing your favourite tracks all night long.” Saturdays Kanaloa Polynesian style area with cocktails, VIP booths, dancers etc.

TRAMSHED Clare Road, Grangetown, Cardiff. 029 2023 5555 / www.tramshedcardiff.com Fri 1 Gilles Peterson 8pm12am, £18/£16. Now here’s a radio DJ with too much selfrespect to just play obvious Friday night fodder for easy money. Right Gilles? Fri 8 Time Flies 25th Birthday Party 7.30pm-3am, £25 adv.

With sets from all the faithful hounds of this veteran Cardiff clubbing brand: Judge Jules, Seb Fontaine, John Kelly, Allister Whitehead, Brandon Block, Alex P, Craig Bartlett, Dave Jones, Richard Hitchell, Paul Lyons, James Merritt, Shane Morris, Jason King, Dave Eaves, Gareth Hopkins, Tyrone Rose, Rick Latham, Gary Pugh, Puff Richards and more. See Roundup. Sat 16 Hybrid Minds 11pm-3am, £18 adv. Anglo-Canadian drum’n’bass trio are joined

by Charlotte Haining and Tempza for their set.

UNDERTONE (BASEMENT OF 10 FEET TALL) 11a + 12 Church Street,

Cardiff. 029 2022 8883 / www.undertonecardiff.com Fri 1 Eminent & Rotary Club 10pm-4am. House and techno from a collective normally found in Bristol, with a headline set from Sheffield’s 96 Back. Tue 5 Wile Out 10pm, £5/£3 adv.

Bassline and drum’n’bass.

Thurs 7 Nxtgen 10pm3am, £3-£8. Bassline and drum’n’bass from Ky with MC Bengee, Jack Webb, Skegz with MC JordyG, Antix b2b Suv b2b Trix and Hi-Vis. Fri 8 XL Invites 11pm-4am, £3-£7. Drum’n’bass from Traumatize, Erb, Indo, Raudi TT, JE3 and Lowgli, plus MCs Pablow and XL. Sat 9 Paranoize 10pm4am. Drum’n’bass, dub and bassline. Tue 12 Luna 10pm, £2 adv. House, techno and acid. Fri 15 10243 10pm, £3 adv. European-style techno. Sat 16 Junction 11pm. Drum’n’bass. Tue 19 Skank Ground 11pm.

Drum’n’bass. Thurs 21 Night Tube: Diff Way 11pm-3am, £4-£8. Garage, grime, house and disco from Dali and Jordan West.

Debut here for a night which launched in Edinburgh.

Seems a long way to travel just for something like this, no offence. Fri 22 Switch Up 10pm. Garage, grime, bassline and drum’n’bass.

Sat 23 Ascend 10pm. House and techno from Easily Led, Aza, Jomah and Anonymo.

Wed 27 Pressure 10pm.

Drum’n’bass.

THE VAULTS / PORTLAND HOUSE The Old Natwest Bank, 113-116 Bute Street, Cardiff Bay. www.vaultspresents. com Fri 8 Good Life Cardiff: Mad Hatter’s Mansion 10pm-4am, from £8. Touring club brand thing, with an Alice In Wonderland theme on this occasion and DJs including O’Flynn.

Sat 9 Canopy 10pm-5am, £20/£17.50. Drum’n’bass from S.P.Y, DJ Hazard, Dub Phizix & Strategy, Ed Solo plus hosts Comma-Dee & MC XL. WAREHOUSE 54 54 Cambrian Road, Newport. 01633 213161.

Wednesdays Hump!

7pm. Cocktails, drink deals and tunes over two floors.

Fridays Sunset Havana 9pm, £2-£4. Rock, indie, alt and pop from Aaron Lillie and Jaivinder. Fri 15 is an “antiValentine” night titled Thank U, Next. Saturdays Raise The Roof 10pm. Funk, disco, r’n’b and classics.

WOW BAR 4 Churchill Way, Cardiff.

Gay venue. Free all day Sun-Thurs; before 11pm Fri + Sat. 029 2066 6247 / www.wowbarcardiff.com Thursdays Throwback Free. DJ Lee soundtrack non-stop fun and games, hosted by Gina Grigio.

Fridays Kitty’s Ditties Free before 11. With WOW Showgirl Miss Kitty, plus special guests every week.

Saturdays Devilishly BUZZ 65

Divine Free before 10. Pop and party upstairs, chart and dance downstairs. Sundays Fundays 12pm-1.30am, free.

DJ Krys and Chris Army play the tunes until late.

events EVERY MONDAY Bharatanatyam Dance Classes For Adult Beginners Bayview House, Cardiff Bay. 8.15-9.15pm. Info 029 2075 1158.

Book Club Evergreen Hall, Bridgend. 2-3.30pm, £3/£1 members. Info 01656 815757.

A group for reading and discussing literature.

Brecon Town Band Rehearsals Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. Info 01874 623650. Hosted by Dave Jones – contact him on the above number.

Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon.

10.30am. Info 01874 625992.

With Katy Sinnadurai. Also on Wednesday evenings.

Pilates-Based Body Conditioning Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon.

11.45am. Info 01874 625992.

With Katy Sinnadurai. Also on Wednesday evenings.

Qigong Class The Sunhouse, Gwaelod-y-Garth, Cardiff. 6-7.15pm, £5. Info 07779 151916. More at www. bringingbalance.co.uk.

Ruff Folk Dance Club St Andrew’s Methodist Church Hall, Birchgrove, Cardiff.

8pm. Info 029 2051 3440.

With Ian Lewis.

Salsa Classes Horse & Groom, Cowbridge. 8-10pm, £5/£4 NUS. Info 07800 565651. Beginners for the first hour, then improvers/ intermediate.

St Donats Atlantic Chorale St Donats Arts

Anatomy Lab Live: The Surgery, in the Village Hotels of Cardiff and Swansea on Fri 22 and Sun 24 respectively, is a science theatre show noted for being both lavish and grisly: attendees eat a two-course meal, then dissect a human body.

Ceroc The Gate, Cardiff.

7.45-10.45pm, £8/£6 NUS. Info 029 2048 3344. A fusion of salsa, ballroom, tango, hiphop and jive. Classes are easy and relaxed.

Children’s Ballroom Dancing Classes Memorial Hall, Newbridge. 7-9pm. Info 01495 243252.

Community Choir Rehearsals Clwb Y Bont, Pontypridd. 7-9pm, free. Info 01443 491424.

Drop-in Meditation And Mindfulness Classes The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 7-8.30pm, £5/£3 unwaged. Info 01792 458245.

New weekly class led by Mike Garside, Resident Teacher of Dharmavajra Kadampa Buddhist Centre in Swansea.

Health Qigong Glyndwr Community Hall, Penarth.

10.30-11.30am. Info 07772 657692.

Musical Theatre The Riverfront, Newport. 5.458pm, £6/£5. Info 01633 656757. 7-11 years old: 5.456.45pm; 12 and up: 6.45-8pm.

Newport Badminton Club Bettws Active Centre, Newport. 7-8.30pm. Info 07789 965285. One of the largest badminton clubs in south-east Wales. Also on Thursdays.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Four Elms Road, Adamsdown, Cardiff. £4-£12 per class. Info 029 2022 1330 / www.nofitstate. org. Today’s schedule looks like this. 4.30-6pm: Youth: Padawans (9-11 years).

6-8pm: Aerial Hoop Level 3, Static Trapeze Level 3. 7.459.45pm: Aerial Hoop Levels 2 and 4, Static Trapeze Level 4.

Pilates-Based Back Care BUZZ 66

Centre, Vale Of Glamorgan.

7.30pm. Info 01446 799100.

Choir rehearsals.

Tango Dancing Argentine Barocco, Cardiff. 8-10.45pm, £3/£1. Info 029 2023 7332.

Tang Soo Do Chapter Arts Centre, Canton, Cardiff.

7-9pm. Info 07734 557767.

Learn traditional Korean karate; beginners welcome.

Up Side Down Circus Classes Cave Venture Workshops, Tremorfa Industrial Estate, Cardiff.

Info 029 2048 8854 / info@ upsidedowncircus.co.uk.

Today’s schedule:6-8pm Intermediate Aerial Hoop and Beginners Flying Trapeze; 8-10pm Beginners Aerial Hoop and Flying Trapeze.

Yoga Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 12.301.15pm +5.50-6.50. Info 029 2087 7959.

Yoga (Open Level) St Luke’s Church Hall, Canton, Cardiff. 7.15-8.15pm, £7.50/£35 for five classes. Info sarasclasses4@gmail.com.

Yoga With Valerie Price St Mary’s Church Hall, Canton, Cardiff. 6.30-9.30pm. Info admin@yoga-works.co.uk.

6.30-8pm: intermediate; 8.109.30pm: beginners.

EVERY TUESDAY A Ballroom Dance Memorial Hall, Newbridge.

7-11pm. Info 01495 243252.

Adult Give It A Go Climbing Session Boulders, St Catherine’s Park, Cardiff.

6.30-7.50pm, £15. Info 029 2048 4880. Every Tuesday to Thursday.

Aikido Village Hall, Heol Syr Lewis, Morganstown. 8-10pm.

Info 07790 167560. Every Tuesday and Friday.

Art Club Carnegie House, Bridgend. 6.30-8.30pm, £5.

Info 01656 815757.

Beginners Ballet Dance House, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 6.157.30pm, £6. Info 029 2063 5614. Covering key ballet principles including developing core strength, improving posture, basic steps, flexibility and coordination. Hosted by National Dance Company Wales.

Beginners Contemporary Dance Dance House, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30-8.45pm, £6. Info 029 2063 5614. Exploring the basic principles of contemporary dance through a set of exercises. Hosted by National Dance Company Wales.

Beijing 24 Step Tai Chi St Mary’s Church Hall, Canton, Cardiff. 6.30-8pm. Info 07772 657692.

English Conversation Group For Beginners M.A.D.E. Gallery & Shop, Cardiff. 11am, free. Info 029 2047 3373. Led by a qualified English language teacher.

Finding Your Ancestors Carnegie House, Bridgend.

12.30-2.30pm, free. Info 01656 815757. With professional genealogist Cheryl Hart.

Gitananda Yoga St David’s Uniting Church, Pontypridd.

7-8.30pm, free. Info 01443 408065.

Glam Dram St Donats Arts Centre, Vale Of Glamorgan.

7pm. Info 01446 799100.

Amateur theatre company for adults.

Jazz Workshops For Beginners Atradius Offices (4th floor), Cardiff Bay. 6.208pm, £10. Info 07806 625717.

All instruments and ages welcome.

Karate Classes Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.15-8.15pm. Info 029 2087 7959. With Emma Robins.

Knap Art Group All Saints Church Hall, The Knap, Barry. 2-4pm. Info glyn@ glynpooley.com. Hosted by Glyn Pooley. Get in touch if you are interested in developing your creativity through learning to draw or paint.

Laughter Yoga Llandaff North Community Centre, Cardiff. 7.15-8.15pm, £5 (suggested donation). Info www.sparklylaughter.co.uk.

“No experience required, no stretching and no mats needed,” promise the organisers.

Learn To Rock’n’Roll 50s Style Kenfig Hill Rugby Club, Bridgend. 8-10.30pm, £5.

Info 07400 080101. Hosted

by Frank. Lessons are from 8.15-9pm; there’s a disco from 9-10.30. First dance lesson free.

Life Drawing Little Man Coffee Co, Cardiff. 6-8pm, £7.50. Info 07830 381930.

Hosted by Cardiff Life Model.

Lindy Hop Dance Classes & Social Swing Dancing The Garage, Swansea.

6-10pm. Info 01792 475147.

Mid Wales Dance Academy Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. Info 01874 623219. With Lesley Walker. Also on Thursdays, Fridays aand Saturdays.

Morning Yoga Dance House, Wales Millennium

Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8-9am, £6. Info 029 2063 5614. A Vinyasa flow class, aimed to develop functional, athletic abilities and maximise strength. Hosted by National Dance Company Wales.

Music Tots The Riverfront, Newport. 9.45am-1.45pm, £3 per session. Info 01633 656757. Music and movement class for babies aged eight weeks to five years.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Four Elms Road, Adamsdown, Cardiff. £4-£12 per class. Info 029 2022 1330 / www.nofitstate. org. Today’s schedule: 4.30-6pm: Youth: Wookies (7-9 years). 5-6pm: Youth: Ewoks (5-7 years). 6-8pm: Supervised Training. 7.459.45pm: Beginners’ Mixed Aerial.

Open Mic Night Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

Pregnancy Yoga Om Studio, Partridge Lane, Cardiff.

6-7.15pm, £35/£30 (five-week blocks). Info kalavathi@ omstudio.co.uk.

Qigong Class Bute Park, Cardiff. 6-7pm, pay by donation. Info 07779 151916. More at www.bringingbalance. co.uk.

Salsa Classes Kapu, Cardiff. 7.30-10.30pm, £5/£4 NUS. Info 07800 565651.

Beginners’ class starts 7.30pm; improvers 8.30; bachata 9.30.

Student Night Cardiff City Table Tennis Club, Dominion Way, Cardiff. 7-9pm, £2. Info 01446 412352. Featuring 16 table tennis tables; players of all ages and abilities are welcome. Check in advance on the sessions as the hall is occasionally booked by someone else.

Up Side Down Circus Classes Cave Venture Workshops, Tremorfa Industrial Estate, Cardiff.

Info 029 2048 8854 / info@ upsidedowncircus.co.uk.

Today’s schedule: 6-8pm Beginners Introduction To Aerial Silks, Acrobalance, Beginners Trapeze and Flying Trapeze; 8-10pm Chinese Pole and Open Training.

Yoga Classes Om Studio, Partridge Lane, Cardiff.

7-8.30pm, £9. Info 07727 139379 / www.omstudio.co.uk.

With Kalavathi Devi.

Yoga With Tori Boulders, St Catherine’s Park, Cardiff.

6-7pm, £6. Info 029 2048 4880. Every Tuesday and Wednesday.

Yoga With Valerie Price Llandough Institute, Penarth.

8.30-9.30pm. Info admin@ yoga-works.co.uk. Mixed level class.

Zhan Zhuang Qigong Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 12.301.30pm, £12/£10 adv. Info 029 2087 7959. ZZQ is an ancient Chinese health system based on a series of static postures.

Zumba: Dance Exercise Classes Fairwater Social & Athletic Club, Cardiff. 6-7pm.

Info 07891 712344. Led by Irene Davies, as is...

Zumba: Dance Exercise Classes St Faith Church Hall, Llanishen, Cardiff.

8-9pm. Info 07891 712344.

EVERY WEDNESDAY Adult Drama Carnegie House, Bridgend. 7.30-9pm, £6. Info 01656 815757.

Develop performance skills using impro, drama games and scripts.

Adult Give It A Go Climbing Session Boulders, St Catherine’s Park, Cardiff.

6.30-7.50pm, £15. Info 029 2048 4880.

A Tea Dance Memorial Hall, Newbridge. 2-4pm. Info 01495 243252.

Ceramics For Adults The Riverfront, Newport. 6-8pm.

Info 01633 656757.

Ceroc Dance Class Dockers Club, Swansea. 7.45pm-12am, £6/£8 freestyles. Info cerocsouthwales@gmail.com.

Cheer Tots The Riverfront, Newport. 9.30-10.15am, £3.

Info 01633 656757. Movement session for babies.

Circus Club Carnegie House, Bridgend. 5.30-7pm, £1. Info 01656 815757. Come and learn a range of simple circus skills with Organised Kaos.

City Of Cardiff Rotaract Meeting Refectory Cafe, Windsor Place, Cardiff.

6.30pm. Info 07768 108394.

An 18-30s community group that integrates young professionals, students and refugees through community projects and social events.

Creative Wednesdays Evergreen Hall, Bridgend.

2-4pm, £3/£1 members. Info 01656 815757. Workshops in drawing, painting, ceramics, textiles etc.

Djembe Drumming Workshops Ocean Arts Cardiff, Splott, Cardiff. 6.309.30pm, £5/£3. Info oceanartscardiff@gmx. co.uk. 6.30-8pm: beginners (£3); 8.15-9.30pm: intermediate/ advanced (£5). Drop-in classes.

Drop-In Exploring Drawing Workshop Workers Gallery, Ynyshir, Rhondda.

7-9pm, £10. Info 01443 682034. With tutor Chris Williams.

Inclusive Stay & Play Group Ocean Arts Cardiff, Splott, Cardiff. 12.45-2.45pm.

Info oceanartscardiff@gmx. co.uk. Hosted by KeyCreate – specialists in play, education, disabilities and creative arts – and aimed at children with additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions.

Jazz Workshops For Beginners Zion Chapel, Ponthir, Newport. 6.308.30pm, £10. Info 07806 625717. All instruments and ages welcome.

Newport Youth Dance The Riverfront, Newport. 4.156.15pm, £3 per session. Info 01633 656757. 7-10 years old: 4.15-5.15pm; 14-18: 5.156.15pm.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Four Elms Road, Adamsdown, Cardiff. £4-£12 per class. Info 029 2022 1330 / www.nofitstate. org. Today’s schedule: 4.156pm: Youth: Jedi Acrobatics (11-18 years); 6-8pm: Adult Acrobatics; 8-9.30pm: Handstands.

Pilates Conway Road Methodist Church Hall, Cardiff. 6.30-7.30pm, £7.50/£35 for five classes. Info sarasclasses4@gmail.com.

Pilates-Based Back Care Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon.

5.45pm. Info 01874 625992.

With Katy Sinnadurai.

Pilates-Based Body Conditioning Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 7pm.

Info 01874 625992. With Katy Sinnadurai.

Pub Quiz The Pilot, Penarth.

8pm. Info 029 2071 0615.

With Hayley.

Qigong Class The Hub Community Centre, Llandaff North, Cardiff. 2-3pm. Info 07772 657692.

Salsa Classes Rhiwbina Recreation Club, Cardiff.

8-10pm, £5/£4 NUS. Info 07800 565651.

Toddler Time Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil. 10-11am. Info 01685 384111. Pre-school stories, rhymes and crafts for toddlers.

Up Side Down Circus Classes Cave Venture Workshops, Tremorfa Industrial Estate, Cardiff.

Info 029 2048 8854 / info@ upsidedowncircus.co.uk.

Today’s schedule: 6-8pm Flying Trapeze, Beginners Aerial Hoop; 8-10pm Advanced Aerial Silks.

Welsh Conversation For Learners M.A.D.E. Gallery & Shop, Cardiff. 10am, free.

Info 029 2047 3373. Led by a qualified Welsh language teacher.

Yoga Classes Om Studio, Partridge Lane, Cardiff. 9.3011am, 11.30-am-12.45pm, 1-2.15pm + 7-9pm, £9/£8.

Info 07727 139379 / www. omstudio.co.uk. The evening class needs to be booked in advance. 11.30am-12.45pm is pregnancy yoga (previously on Thursdays).

Yoga Trwy Gyfrwng Y Gymraeg Insole Court, Llandaff, Cardiff. 7-8.30pm.

Info admin@yoga-works. co.uk.

Yoga With Tori Boulders, St Catherine’s Park, Cardiff.

6-7pm, £6. Info 029 2048 4880.

Yu-Gi-Oh Tournaments The Freaks Geeks and Autographs Store, Swansea. 5.30pm, £3.50. Info 07914 683534.

EVERY THURSDAY Adult Give It A Go Climbing Session Boulders, St Catherine’s Park, Cardiff.

6.30-7.50pm, £10. Info 029 2048 4880.

Alexander Technique & Yoga M.A.D.E. Gallery & Shop, Cardiff. 11.30am-1pm, £16/£80 for six sessions. Info 029 2047 3373.

Art Club Penarth Pier Pavilion. 4.15-5.15pm, £5. Info 0844 8700887. Creative fun for 5-11-year-olds with tutor Becky.

Ballet Academy Wales Classes – Children 6-11 Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

4-5pm, £4.95. Info 07837 937351.

Beijing 24 Step Tai Chi Albert Rd Church & Community Centre, Penarth.

6.30-7.30pm. Info 07772 657692.

Bingo Market Street Club, Barry. 8.30pm. Info 01446 733863.

Breakdance The Riverfront, Newport. 6.30-7.30pm, £3.50 per session. Info 01633 656757. Learn break dancing

styles, uprock, freezes and power moves. For ages 8-18.

Ceroc Dance Class Lysaght Institute, Newport. 7.3010.45pm, £8/£6 NUS. Info cerocsouthwales@gmail.com.

Children’s Latin/Ballroom Classes Memorial Hall, Newbridge. 4.30-8pm. Info 01495 243252.

Create Insole Court, Llandaff, Cardiff. 7-8pm. Info 029 2116 7920. Adult drama group, aimed at all abilities.

Hand Drumming Group Canton Uniting Church, Cardiff. 6-7pm, £25 (five weeks). Info 07980 742328.

Hosted by Ronald Macauley.

Hatch Youth Theatre The Riverfront, Newport. 4.306.30pm. Info 01633 656757.

Hosted by Tin Shed Theatre.

Learn To Roller Skate Cardiff Central Youth Club, Cardiff. 6-7.30pm, £4/£40 for eight weeks at two sessions per week. Info www. brawlers.co.uk. With Cardiff roller derby team Tiger Bay Brawlers; fully coached and with veteran skater lead. Also on every Sunday.

Mid Wales Dance Academy Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. Info 01874 623219.

Newport Badminton Club Pill Millennium Centre, Newport. 8-10pm. Info 07789 965285. Coached by Rhys Pritchard who represented Wales at the Junior Commonwealth Games.

Newport Junior Badminton Club Pill Millennium Centre, Newport.

7-8.30pm. Info 07789 965285.

Coached by Rhys Pritchard.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Four Elms Road, Adamsdown, Cardiff. £4-£12 per class. Info 029 2022 1330 / www.nofitstate. org. Today’s schedule: 6-8pm: Ropes & Silks Level 2, Static Trapeze Level 2. 7.45-9.45pm: Static Trapeze Level 2, Ropes & Silks Level 3, Ropes & Silks Level 4.

Pilates Tramshed Studio, Cardiff. 5.45-6.45pm, £10. Info www.tramshedstudio.com.

Qigong Albert Rd Church & Community Centre, Penarth.

6.30-7.30pm. Info 07772 657692.

Salsa & Bachata Classes Kapu, Cardiff. 7pm-2am, £4-£7. Info 07800 565651.

Beginners 7.30pm; improvers/intermediates 8.30.

Free bachata dancing from 9.45pm.

Salsa Dancing Classes Revolucion De Cuba, Cardiff.

8-10pm, £6/£5 NUS. Info 029 2023 6689. Salsa, bachata, zouk and kizomba.

Samba Band Carnegie House, Bridgend. 6.30-8pm, £1. Info 01656 815757.

Re-create the sound of Brazilian Carnaval with Sallie MacLennan. No experience necessary, instruments provided.

Singing For Lung Health Bridges Centre, Drybridge House, Monmouth. 11am12pm, £3. Info 03000 555555.

New singing group set up by the British Lung Foundation and open to anyone living with a lung condition.

The Alexander Technique M.A.D.E. Gallery & Shop, Cardiff. 11am-12pm, £16. Info

info@yogaskies.co.uk. Small group class hosted by Mike Young.

University Of The 3rd Age Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon.

Info richard-walker@live. co.uk. Hosted by Richard Walker – contact him on the above email.

Up Side Down Circus Classes Cave Venture Workshops, Tremorfa Industrial Estate, Cardiff.

Info 029 2048 8854 / info@ upsidedowncircus.co.uk.

Today’s schedule: 6-8pm Introduction To Aerial; 8-10pm Adult Circus Jam and Open Training.

Yarny Army Evergreen Hall, Bridgend. 10am-12pm, £2/£1 members. Info 01656 815757.

Knitting and crocheting; beginners welcome.

Yoga And Alexander Technique M.A.D.E. Gallery & Shop, Cardiff. 11am. Info 029 2047 3373. Hosted by Mike Young.

Yoga Classes Cardiff Steiner School, Llandaff North, Cardiff. 6-7 + 7-8pm, £8/£6.50. Info info@yogaskies.co.uk. Hosted by Mike Young.

Yoga Classes Om Studio, Partridge Lane, Cardiff.

7-8am + 1-2.30, 6-7.15 + 7.30-8.45pm, £9/£8. Info 07727 139379 / www.omstudio.co.uk. 7.30pm: Pregnancy yoga.

Newport Photographic Club Skip Jennings Hall, Maindee, Newport. 7.30pm.

Info 01633 400685.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Four Elms Road, Adamsdown, Cardiff. £4-£12 per class. Info 029 2022 1330 / www.nofitstate. org. Today’s schedule: 4.156pm: Youth: Jedi Aerial Skills (11-18 years); 6.30-7.30pm: Hula Disco!

Older Adult Dance/ Exercise The Riverfront, Newport. 11am-12pm, £3. Info 01633 656757. Low impact dance and exercise class aimed at the over 50s.

Rhiwbina Farmers Market The Butchers Arms, Rhiwbina. 10am-1pm, free.

Info 029 2022 7982.

Tango Argentine Chapter Arts Centre, Canton, Cardiff.

7.30-8.45pm, £7/£4. Info 029 2023 7332. No experience or partner required.

Up Side Down Circus Classes Cave Venture Workshops, Tremorfa Industrial Estate, Cardiff.

Info 029 2048 8854 / info@ upsidedowncircus.co.uk.

Today’s schedule: 6-8pm Circus Fit and Flying Trapeze Taster Sessions.

Zumba: Dance Exercise Classes Sbectrwm Community Centre, Fairwater, Cardiff. 1-2pm. Info 07891 712344. With Irene Davies.

EVERY FRIDAY Aikido Village Hall, Heol Syr Lewis, Morganstown. 8-10pm.

Info 07790 167560.

Cardiff Aikikai The Dojo, Roath, Cardiff. 6.30-10pm.

Info mcaluan@cardiffaikikai. co.uk.

Cardiff Table Tennis Community Club Upper Hall, Sport Wales, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. 7-9pm. Info 01446 412352. Featuring 16 table tennis tables; players of all ages and abilities are welcome. Check in advance on the sessions as the hall is occasionally booked by someone else.

Children’s Tap/Ballet Classes Memorial Hall, Newbridge. 10.30-11.30am.

Info 01495 243252.

Community Choir Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 9.4511.45am, £72/£48 (12 weeks).

Info 01446 401209.

Dance Tots The Riverfront, Newport. 9.30-10.05am + 10.15-10.50am, £3 per session. Info 01633 656757.

Parent/toddler dance and exercise session.

English Conversation Group For Advanced Adult Learners M.A.D.E. Gallery & Shop, Cardiff. 11am, free.

Info 029 2047 3373. Led by a qualified English language teacher.

Mid Wales Dance Academy Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. Info 01874 623219.

Movement And Music For A Fuller Life Bishop Of Llandaff High School, Cardiff.

7.45-9.30pm, £5. Info 07726 360584. Biodanza session, on most weeks (ring ahead to check) aiming to help you “discover the joy of living, feel better and happier, benefit from more energy, and be more flexible”.

EVERY SATURDAY African Drumming Sessions Glyndwr Community Centre, Penarth.

10-11.30am, £7. Info 07974 635502 / dan@phelpsmusic. com.

Ballroom Dancing Class Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil.

10am kids / 11am adults, £4 per class. Info 01685 384111.

10am: kids; 11am: adults; 12pm: private tuition.

Family Saturdays Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. Free. Info 029 2063 6464. Craft workshops for kids and parents.

Knit And Natter Group M.A.D.E. Cafe, Cardiff3pm, free. Info 029 2047 3373.

Sharing, talking and informal tutoring of knitting skills – all levels welcome.

Mid Wales Dance Academy Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. Info 01874 623219.

Movement For Children Volcano, Swansea. 10am12pm, £4. Info www. volcanotheatre.co.uk.

Energetic classes with a focus on creativity, supporting physical development and building confidence. Ages 4-7: 10am; 8-12: 11am.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Four Elms Road, Adamsdown, Cardiff. £4-£12 per class. Info 029 2022 1330 / www.nofitstate. org. Today’s schedule: 10-11.30am: Youth: Wookies (7-9 years); 11.30am12.30pm: Youth: Ewoks (5-7 years); Youth: Padawans (9-11 years); 2-4pm: Youth: Jedi Performance Skills (11+); 4-6pm: Youth: Jedi General Skills (11-18 years).

Performance Academy Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil.

10am-1pm, £10. Info 01685 384111. Offering professional

FEELS LIKE SUMMER *BOOK NOW Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Sat 20 July Tickets: £49.50/£24.75 kids. Info: www.feelslikesummer.co.uk A brand new music, food and drink festival will launch in Cardiff this summer, adding to the city’s already thriving seasonal lineup. Feels Like Summer is billed as a day-long, fun summer party with various genres of music at its core. Acts confirmed thus far include recently reunited 80s pop wonderwomen Bananarama, Welsh legend Bonnie Tyler, TV fitness instructor and lycra enthusiast Mr. Motivator and Cardiff-based DJs GRL TLK. A number of local food and drink companies, such as Ffwrnes Pizza, Got Beef and Hard Lines Coffee, will also feature at the festival’s street food village, without forgetting the multiple bars that will be on hand to quench festivalgoers’ thirsts. theatre and performance coaching in dance, acting, musical theatre and singing.

Roath Real Food Market Mackintosh Sports Club Car Park, Roath, Cardiff. 9.30am1pm, free. Info 029 2022 7982.

Yoga Classes Om Studio, Partridge Lane, Cardiff.

8-9.30am, £8. Info 07727 139379 / www.omstudio.co.uk.

With Kalavathi Devi.

EVERY SUNDAY Ballet Academy Wales Classes – Adults Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 12-1pm, £6.50. Info 07837 937351.

Bridgend Undercover Car Boot Sale Multistorey Car Park, Bridgend Town Centre.

7am-12pm, free (selling cars £6; selling cars with trailers £10). Info 01656 661338.

Cooper’s Quiz Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm, £1 to play. Info info@porterscardiff.com.

Hosted by Ben Cooper.

Draw Somebody’s Sunday Body Little Man Coffee Co, Cardiff. 1.30-3.30pm, £7.50.

Info 07830 381930. Hosted by Cardiff Life Model.

Hold Up Sunday Social Cardiff Speaker Hire, Cardiff.

2pm, free. Info 029 2009 5590. Pool, table tennis and access to The Hold Up’s jam/ rehearsal space.

Learn To Roller Skate Cardiff Central Youth Club, Cardiff. 12-1pm, £3/£40 for eight weeks at two sessions per week. Info www.brawlers. co.uk. Uncoached session hosted by Tiger Bay Brawlers.

Lindy Hop Dance Classes & Social Swing Dancing Pontardawe Arts Centre.

6-10pm. Info 01792 863722.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Four Elms Road, Adamsdown, Cardiff. £4-£12 per class. Info 029 2022 1330 / www.nofitstate.

org. Today’s schedule: 1-3pm + 3-5pm: Flying Trapeze Beginners & Improvers; 5-6.30pm: Acrobalance; 5-7pm: Flying Trapeze Intermediate & Advanced.

Open Breaking/ Breakdance Training Session Cardiff Speaker Hire, Cardiff. 5-8pm, £3. Info 029 2009 5590. Hosted by Cardiff City Breakers, The Hold Up and Elemental Force. *Riverside Farmers’ Market Fitzhammon Embankment, Cardiff. 10am2pm, free. Info 029 2022 7982.

Always worth a trip.

Sunday Board Games Cardiff Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 3pm, free. Info 029 2030 4400. Weekly session featuring a mixture of competitive and co-operative games.

FRIDAY 1 FEBRUARY Arts & Craft Table Top Sales Ebenezer Chapel, Tonypandy. 10am-1pm, £5 to set up a table. Info ebenezercraftsfair@gmx. co.uk. First Friday of every month.

Cardiff Inter Varsity Club Meeting Park Plaza Hotel, Cardiff. 8.30pm, £5 (threemonth trial membership).

Info 07526 141392 / www. cardiffivc.org.uk. Meeting here on the first Friday of each month.

Farmers Market High Street, Merthyr Tydfil. Free.

Info 01685 725106. Quality produce from no more than 50 miles away, on the first Friday of each month.

Knicker Making The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff.

6.30-8pm, £30. Info twinmadethings@gmail.com.

Twin Made craft workshop.

Upper Crust Angela Gray’s Cookery School At Llanerch

Vineyard, Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan. 9.30am-3.30pm, £175. Info 01443 222716 / www.angelagray.co.uk.

Seasonal pies both sweet and savoury. uWorkshop Bike Sale Cardiff Cycle Workshop, Gabalfa, Cardiff. 10.30am12.30pm. Info www.cycletrainingwales.org.uk. Adult bikes on sale from £60; kids’ bikes from £10. On every other Friday this month plus Sat 2 Jan (10.30am-12.30pm).

SATURDAY 2 FEBRUARY Art Punk Flea Market The Old Church, Splott, Cardiff.

5pm-12am. Info info@ punkcircus.net. Also features a party, titled The Monster Club, until 4am.

Bearing Witness To Truth National Museum Cardiff.

3pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. Talk by by writers Durre Shahwar and Hanan Issa, considering “the role of the advocate in contemporary art for someone else’s experience”.

Beginners Knitting The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 2-4pm, £25. Info twinmadethings@gmail.com.

Twin Made craft workshop. uBingo Lingo The Depot, Cardiff. 6pm, £5. Info www. depotcardiff.co.uk. Features street food, a wheel of fortune and “rubbish prizes”. Also on Fri 8, Fri 15 and Fri 22 this month.

Chinese New Year Celebrations Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay. 12-4pm, free. Info 029 2087 7900. Free workshops including lantern making, paper cutting and calligraphy, hosted by the Cardiff Confucius Institute to mark the Year Of The Pig. Chinese New Year Cookery Demonstration Celtic BUZZ 67

ROOTS UNEARTHED FEBRUARY 2019 There are plenty of contenders for the most influential folk albums of the past 50 years and everyone has their own opinion of what those should be. It’s probably safe to say that Fairport’s Liege & Lief, The Watersons’ Bright Phoebus, Martin Simpson’s Golden Vanity and Maddy Prior & June Tabor’s Silly Sisters would feature in many lists, but one album that often gets overlooked is Jim Moray’s debut 2003 release Sweet England.

Until that album came along, British folk music was – with a few notable exceptions – pretty moribund, seemingly stuck in the 1970s with the same artists performing the same music in the same way to the same audiences. Recorded in his bedroom while completing his final year studying classical composition at the Birmingham Conservatoire, Sweet England breathed new life into a handful of well-known folk songs which was hardly surprising given that Jim was a Blur and Bowie fan and that those influences informed his work as much as traditional music.

Initial reaction to Sweet England was varied, but among those who realised that for folk music to thrive it had to continually adapt while reflecting and expressing the times, it was welcomed with open arms. Moray’s subsequent records brought other influences to the fore: everything from electronica and jangly guitar rock to symphonic pop and even grime; but at their heart has always been Jim’s unmistakeable soulful voice and a respect for and understanding of traditional music.

Going from strength to strength, Moray recently teamed up with songwriter and guitarist Sam Carter to form the band False Lights, a glorious folk-rock outfit with the emphasis on ‘rock’.

More recently, he’s collaborated with such folk music luminaries as Andy Cutting, Patsy Reid, Martin Simpson and Nancy Kerr on the hugely successful and acclaimed Cecil Sharp Project and Elizabethan Project.

Jim Moray will be playing a few dates through February and March to promote a new, as yet untitled album, including an appearance at Cardiff’s St David’s Hall on Tue 19 Feb – accompanied by fiddle and viola player Tom Moore (Moore, Moss & Rutter) and double bassist Matt Downer (Jamie Smith’s Mabon).

BUZZ ALSO RECOMMENDS: Grace Petrie. Protest singer, LGBTQ+ activist, folk singer, socialist and social commentator.

Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells (Fri 15); Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan (Sat 16) Ray Cooper. The artist formerly known as ‘Chopper’ (ex Oysterband). The Lost ARC, Rhayader (Fri 15) Solasta. Virtuoso folk music from superb trio of fiddle, guitar and cello. Valley Folk Club, Clydach (Sun 17); The Rolling Mill, Cwmafan (Mon 18); Llantrisant Folk Club, Pontyclun (Wed 20) Please send your folk and roots listings to listings@buzzmag.co.uk or phone them in to 029 2022 6767 BUZZ 68

Manor, nr Newport. 12pm, £345. Info 01633 413000.

Culinary demonstration followed by a three-course lunch with wine.

Craft Fair Coffee Cove Cafe Bar, Barry Island. 10am3.30pm, free/£10 to set up a stall. Info 07948 399111.

Every first Saturday of the month. uCraft Market Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am-4pm, £3 adv.

Info 029 2087 7959. On tomorrow also.

Dewch i Ganu National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 11am, free. Info 029 2057 3600. Join musician Delyth Jenkins and learn Welsh through song.

Eclectic Crafters Centenary Hall, Maryport Street, Usk. Info eclectic.crafters@gmail. com. Craft fair held on the first Saturday of each month.

Enfys Craft Fair St. Francis Millennium Centre, Barry. 10am-4pm. Info 01446 792149. Every first Saturday of the month. uFire v Ice Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. £1.50 after admission.

Learn about the dangers of fire and the chilling truth about liquid nitrogen. (Every Saturday and Sunday until Sun 10) Football: Premier League – Cardiff City v AFC Bournemouth Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff. 5.30pm.

Info 0845 3451400. uGiants Of The Solar System Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. £1.50 after admission.

Info 029 2047 5475. Learn about Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. (Every Saturday and Sunday until Sun 10) Good Morning Family Yoga National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10am, £4/£1.50 kids. Info 029 2057 3600.

In Conversation BayArt, Cardiff Bay. 2-3pm, free. Info 029 2065 0016. Participants in the 6 Artists exhibition that opens here today (see Art) talk about their work.

Knit, Sew And Crochet National History Museum, St Fagans. 2-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. Held in Gweithdy gallery on the first Saturday of each month until July.

Machen Rural Market Machen Church Hall. 10am2pm. Info 07737 630657. On the first Saturday of every month.

Meet The Objects: Court Mantua National History Museum, St Fagans. 11.30am, 1pm + 2.30pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. Learn more about an early 1700s court dress supposedly worn by Lady Rachel Morgan of Tredegar House. In English first, then Welsh, then English again.

Monthly Market The Bone Yard, Canton, Cardiff. 12-4pm, free. Info 029 2022 0349. First Saturday of every month.

Open Haus The Printhaus / The Bone Yard, Canton, Cardiff. 10am-2pm, free. Info 029 2022 0349. Monthly open studios here, an opportunity to meet the artists and makers in this creative community. On the first Saturday of every month.

Paper Sculpture Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am-4.30pm, £80. Info 029 2048 4611. With Danielle Sullivan. uPremium Ghost Tour Cardiff Castle. 7.30pm, £15.50. Info 07538 878609.

Presented by Cardiff History & Hauntings. Also on Sat 9, Say 16, Fri 22 and Thurs 28.

Rucksack Making The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 10am-1pm, £25. Info twinmadethings@gmail.com.

Twin Made craft workshop. uSaturday Workshop Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea. 10.30am-1pm, free (suggested donation £3).

Info 01792 516900. Family workshop, every Saturday this month.

Sing-A-Long-A The Greatest Showman St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 2 + 7pm, £18/£14 under-16s. Info 029 2087 8444.

Slab Building And Surface Pattern In Clay Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am-4.30pm, £80. Info 029 2048 4611. With Paul Taylor.

Songs & Rhythms From Cuba Workshop Le Public Space, Newport. 2-4pm, £10.

Info heathermurray125@ gmail.com. uThe Starman And His Dog Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. £1.50 after admission.

Info 029 2047 5475. Find pictures in the night sky by joining the stars together using imaginary lines. (Every Saturday and Sunday until Sun 10) Vintage Kilo Sale Cathays Community Centre, Cardiff.

10am-6pm, free. Info 029 2037 3144. Designer labels at £15 a kilo. uWalk A Tiny Pony Venue TBC, Swansea Valley. £35/£25 under-16s. Info 01874 749092.

Take a small Shetland pony for a walk on a hill farm. May also feature a guest appearance from a goat called Carol.

Also on Sun 9, Thurs 14 (Valentine’s special), Sat 16 and Sat 23.

Weave A Willow Heart Humble By Nature, Penalt, nr Monmouth. 10am-12.30pm, £45. Info 01600 714595.

SUNDAY 3 FEBRUARY Chinese New Year Party National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 11am-4pm, free.

Info 029 2057 3600.

Cwmbran Craft Fayre Our Lady’s School Hall, Cwmbran.

1-4pm. Info cwmbran_ crafts@hotmail.co.uk. Every first Sunday of the month.

Friars Walk Market Friars Walk, Newport. 11am-4pm, £24 to set up a table. Info 07954 654220. On the first Sunday of every month, on John Frost Square (in good weather) or inside the Mall (in normal weather). uDark Castle Ghost Tour Cardiff Castle. 7.30pm, £12.50/£10 kids. Info 07538 878609. Presented by Cardiff History & Hauntings. Also on Sun 10 and Sun 24.

Ice Hockey: League – Cardiff Devils v Sheffield Steelers Viola Arena, Cardiff Bay. 6pm. Info 029 2038 2001.

Lou Lou’s Cardiff Vintage Fair Civic Centre, Cardiff.

10am-4pm, £2.50/free under12s. Info info@thevintagefair. com. Regular event here returns for 2019 with a February sale special.

Swing Dance Sunday Bootlegger, Cardiff. 7pm, £4.

Info 07495 657407. Taster classes, every first Sunday of the month, with Anna Rogers from Lindy Hop Cardiff.

The Art Of Walking Slowly BayArt, Cardiff Bay (starting point). 11am-3pm, £15 adv.

Info 029 2065 0016. Walking workshop with Jo Shapland.

T-Shirt / Baby Grow Memory Quilt The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff.

2-5pm, £50. Info twinmadethings@gmail.com.

Twin Made craft workshop.

To Empower Oneself Swansea Wellbeing Centre. £42. Info beci.aspland@ gmail.com. Described as “a yoga workshop for courage, power and compassion,” hosted by Beci Aspland and Diana O’Reilly.

MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY uAdvanced Choreography/Burlesque Conway Road Methodist Church Hall, Cardiff. 7.459.15pm, £8/£50 for eightweek course.Info info@ burlesquecardiff.co.uk. With Stephanie; working towards a show on Fri 22 Feb and suitable for dancers who have performed in three or more previous Cardiff Cabaret Club shows. Every Monday until 18 Feb. uBasket Making Peak, The Old School, Crickhowell.

10am-2.30pm, £120 (four weeks). Info 01873 811579.

Course hosted by artisan basket maker and willow craftswoman Mary Zammit.

Every Monday until 18 Feb, then from Mon 4-Mon 25 Mar. uBeginners Burlesque/ Showgirl Course Conway Road Methodist Church Hall, Cardiff. 6.30-7.45pm, £8/£50 for eight-week course.Info info@burlesquecardiff.co.uk. With Stephanie; working towards a show on Fri 22. Every Monday until 18 Feb. uChildren’s Ballet The Gate, Cardiff. 4pm. Info mail@miriamriseboroughschoolofballet.co.uk. 4pm: ages 4-6; 4.45pm: ages 6-8; 5.45pm: Grade 1. With Miriam Riseborough. Also on Mon 11 and Mon 18 this month. uDrums For All Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 12.301.30pm, £5/£4. Info 07875 090946. Dementia-friendly music making sessions.

Every other Monday (also on Mon 18 in February). uHave Fun / Meet New People Grangetown Community Choir Cornwall Street Baptist Church Hall. Grangetown, Cardiff. 7.30-9.30pm, £10 per session/£80 for 12 sessions. Info paulinedown7@gmail.com.

With Pauline Down, every Monday until 8 Apr. uPilates: Gentle / General The Gate, Cardiff.

10.30am-1.30pm. Info info@ harnisch-lacey.com. Gentle fitness for the first hour,

general for the second two.

Also on Mon 11 and Mon 18 this month. uWrite On Writers Morganstown Village Hall.

6.30-8.30pm. Info 07512 235758. An open group of writers who encourage others to write and also critique work. Also on Mon 18; it takes place here every first and third Monday of the month.

TUESDAY 5 FEBRUARY uAmerican Line Dancing The Gate, Cardiff. 2-4pm, £4.50. Info 029 2048 3344.

With John Moore. Also on Tue 12 this month. uBelly Dance Talent Shack, Cardiff. 6.45-8.50pm, £8/£35 for six-week course.

Info info@burlesquecardiff. co.uk. With Stephanie. Every Tuesday until 26 Feb. Board Games The Gate, Cardiff. 6.30-11pm, £3.50.

Info 029 2048 3344. Hosted

by Rules Of Play on the first Tuesday of every month.

Crime & Cream Tea All Saints Church, Penarth.

2.30pm, £15. Info 029 2070 6455. Author Laura Shepherd-Robinson discusses her latest novel Blood & Snow. Price includes a signed hardback copy of it plus the cream tea of the title. Presented by Griffin Books. uExplore Books National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10.30am, free. Info 029 2057 3600. Book club, also on Tue 12 and Tue 19, with no obligation to have read the book(s) beforehand.

This month books with a travel-related theme will be discussed. uExtend The Gate, Cardiff.

10am, £4. Info 029 2048 3344. With Mabel GomezCehic. Every Tuesday. uIrish Dancing The Gate, Cardiff. 7.45-9.15pm. Info reelfitnesscardiff@gmail. com. Beginners 7.45-830pm; intermediate 8.30-9.15pm.

With Yvonne McNelis. Every Tuesday this month. uPiggy Walking With A ‘Pig-Nic’ Senni Valley, Brecon Beacons. £25/£10 under-16s. Info 01874 749092. Take a pair of friendly Kune Kune pigs (from New Zealand, look a bit like Ewoks) for a walk, then return to the smallholding for refreshments. Also on Sun 17 and Sun 24 this month. uPilates: Beginners The Gate, Cardiff. 6.30pm. Info info@harnisch-lacey.com.

Also on Tue 12 and Tue 19 this month. uPrintmaking Peak, The Old School, Crickhowell.

10am-1pm, £55 (four weeks).

Info 01873 811579. Course hosted by Rachel Cadman.

Every Tuesday until 19 Feb. uUplift Singing Sessions Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon.

12.30-1.30pm, £5/£4. Info 01874 611622. With Tanya Walker. Also on Tue 12 and Tue 18 this month.

WEDNESDAY 6 FEBRUARY uAdult Workshops Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea.

1-3pm, free. Info 01792 516900. A class for people of

all abilities to create art in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Every Wednesday this month.

Beginner Wednesday: Cushion Cover The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff.

6.30-8.30pm, £20. Info twinmadethings@gmail.com.

Twin Made craft workshop.

Drink & Draw The Gate, Cardiff. 8pm, £3.50. Info 029 2048 3344. Learn drawing skills with artist Rachel Rasmussen, every first Wednesday of the month. uMuseum Yoga National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 6.30pm, £7.50.

Info 029 2057 3600. Every Wednesday this month. uPilates: Beginners / General / Advanced The Gate, Cardiff. 6pm. Info info@harnisch-lacey.com.

6pm: general; 7pm: advanced; 8pm: beginners. Also on Wed 13 and Wed 20 this month.

Reminiscence Monthly Cardiff Story, The Hayes, Cardiff. 11am-1pm, free.

Info 029 2034 6214. Come to the museum and share your memories of Cardiff, on the first Wednesday of every month. uScriveners Writers’ Group The Badminton Club, Ebbw Vale. 8pm. Info 01495 309863 / burningcanary@ aol.com. Also on Wed 20 this month.

THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY After Hours: Under The Sea Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. 6.30-10pm, £12/£10.70 adv.

Info 029 2047 5475. Adult events with a bar as well as talks and a chance to have a go on all the exhibits.

Bridgend Writers’ Circle Carnegie House, Bridgend.

7pm, free. Info 01656 815757.

Meeting here on the first Thursday of every month.

Greening Swansea: An Introduction Swansea Museum. 1pm, free. Info 01792 653763. Royal Institution Of South Wales event, hosted by Philip McDonnell; the first of four here every Thursday this month about different aspects of protecting and improving Swansea’s natural environment. uJive And Rock’n’Roll The Gate, Cardiff. 7-8.30pm, £8/£6 NUS. Info 029 2048 3344. Social dancing, also on Thurs 14 this month.

Kemi’s Storytelling Suppers Kemi’s, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 7pm, £14. Info 029 2037 2055. Monthly gathering starting up again after summer, this edition featuring guest storyteller Dominic Kelly. Price includes food.

Quiz For A Cause The Gate, Cardiff. 8pm, £5. Info 029 2048 3344. In aid of Vision 21. uTuneless Choir Cardiff Aspire Fitness, Canton, Cardiff. 7.30-9.30pm, £10 first session/£7 drop-in/£40 for eight weeks. Info 07745 683723. Choir, led by Mei Gwynedd, for people who want to sing but can’t carry a tune. Also on Thurs 21 this month.

Words Art Music Workers Gallery, Ynyshir, Rhondda.

7-9pm, free. Info 01443 682034. Featuring Welsh poet

Mike Jenkins plus an art showcase from painter Alan Perry and live music from an act TBC. FRIDAY 8 FEBRUARY An Evening with Tyson Fury Vale Sports Arena, Cardiff. 6.30-10pm, £25£100. Info 029 2240 4901.

Heavyweight boxer and homophobe visits Cardiff to do the meet’n’greet thing with various tiers of privilege on offer in the ticket price.

Cicio’r Bar Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.45pm, £7. Info 01970 623232. Live poetry and music hosted by Eurig Salisbury and Hywel Griffiths. uPhilosophy In A Cafe Steen’s Cafe, Windsor Place, Cardiff. 2-4pm, pay by donation. Info 029 2023 1723.

Every second and fourth Friday of the month (also on Fri 28 Dec, Fri 22 this month). uPremium Ghost Walk National History Museum, St Fagans. 7.30pm, £15.50. Info 029 2057 3500. Presented by Cardiff History & Hauntings.

Also on Sat 9, Fri 15, Fri 22 and Sat 23. uSeren Cornerstone

01792 475715. AKA ‘The History Guy’, popular among Sensible Labour types it seems. He’ll be doing a talk tailored to the history of each town/city he visits on tour.

See Upfront. uDinky Donkey Walking Venue TBC, Brecon Beacons. £35/£25 under-16s. Info 01874 749092. Spend a couple of hours with a pair of Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys. Also on Thurs 14 (a Valentine’s special costing £130 for two adults), Sat 16, Sat 23 and Sun 24.

Football: EFL Championship – Swansea City v Millwall Liberty Stadium, Swansea. 3pm. Info 0870 400004.

Football: EFL League Two – Newport Country v Mansfield Town Rodney Parade, Newport. 3pm. Info 01633 481896.

Farmers’ Market Twyn Community Centre, Caerphilly. 9.30am, free. Info 01656 658963. Every second Saturday of the month.

Funky Craft Fayre Ostreme Centre, Mumbles, Swansea. 10am-4pm. Info nigel.mason@ntlworld.com.

The second Seren Cornerstone Poetry Festival is on from Fri 8-Sun 10 at Cornerstone in Cardiff. Expect multiple readings, talks, debates etc over the three days, with art and music also represented.

Poetry Festival 2019 Cornerstone, Cardiff. 9pm, £90 adv weekend pass/ individual tickets also available. Info www.serenbooks. com. Three-day event which debuted last year and is back with a range of poetry, art, music and film from new and established voices. See the website for a full lineup.

(Until Sun 10) Succulent Terrarium & Macrame Hanger The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff.

6.30-8.30pm, £50. Info twinmadethings@gmail.com.

Twin Made craft workshop.

The Spirit Sisters Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 7.30pm, £15. Info 01633 868239. Spirit mediums. Three of them. All susters, or so they insist.

Toddler Days Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. £5.50/free under-4s. Info 029 2047 5475.

Monthly term-time events for toddlers and their parents.

SATURDAY 9 FEBRUARY Caerwent Craft Fayre Caerwent Village Hall, Monmouthshire. 2.30-4.30pm.

Info cwmbran_crafts@ hotmail.co.uk. Every second Saturday of the month.

Chepstow Farmers’ Market Cormeilles Square, Chepstow. 8.30am-1pm, free.

Info 01291 626370. Every second and fourth Saturday of the month (also on Sat 23 in February).

Dan Snow Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £27. Info

Second Saturday of every month.

Ice Hockey: League – Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze Viola Arena, Cardiff Bay. 7pm. Info 029 2038 2001.

Level 1 Bike Maintenance Cardiff Cycle Workshop, Gabalfa, Cardiff. 9.30am-4pm, £75. Info www. cycletrainingwales.org.uk.

Limewash Workshop BayArt, Cardiff Bay. 11am3pm, £15 adv. Info 029 2065 0016. With Jan Williams.

Mumbles Produce Market Seafront Car Park, Mumbles.

9am-1pm, free. Info 01792 361012. Every second Saturday of the month.

Newport Craft Fayre The Gallery, Newport Indoor Market. 9am-4.30pm, free.

Info 01633 656656. Every second Saturday of the month.

Nimble Fingers Craft Fayre Victoria Hall, Mumbles, Swansea. 10am4pm, free. Info 07790 298913.

On the second Saturday of every month.

Pre-Loved Kilo Vintage Fair National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10am5pm, free. Info 029 2057 3600.

Selling clothes at £15 per kilo.

SA4 Market Canolfan Centre, Gorseinon, Swansea.

Free. Info andwoo29@ gmail.com. Craft and local produce market, every second Saturday of the month. uSaturday Art Club Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre, Cwmbran. 10am-

12pm + 1-3pm, £6 per session. Info 01633 483321.

Monthly sessions aimed at ages 7-11, on every second Saturday of the month until June and offering the opportunity to explore disciplines such as collage, construction, printmaking, ceramics, painting and drawing.

Spoken Word Saturday Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 3pm, £3.

Info 0845 2263510.

Talk: Tim Shaw Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea.

2.30-3.30pm, £5/£3. Info 01792 516900. Belfast-born sculptor and contemporary visual artist.

Tribe Peak, The Old School, Crickhowell. 2-4.30pm, £3.

Info 01873 811579. Monthly workshop for young artists (age 7-11) and their families.

Ynyswen Craft Show Ynyswen Welfare Hall, Treorchy. 10am-4pm, £5 to set up a table. Info 01443 520299.

Young Makers Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea. 2-4pm, free. Info 01792 516900. Turn your drawings into professional quality animation puppets and three-dimensional theatre sets. Book in advance please.

SUNDAY 10 FEBRUARY Arts & Craft Market Maes Yr Haf Community Centre, Trealaw. 11am-5pm, £10 to set up a table. Info 01443 520299.

Barry Island Handmade Market Barry Island train station. 11am-3pm, free. Info facebook.com/ barryislandhandmademarket.

Every second Sunday of the month.

Casebound Sketch Books Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am-4.30pm, £85. Info 029 2048 4611. With Carole King.

Marina Market National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10am-3pm, free.

Info 029 2057 3600. Monthly event selling handcrafted goods and fresh food.

Swansea Vintage And Artisan Fair National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10am-4pm, free.

Info 029 2057 3600.

MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY uJoy Of Living Mindfulness Group Meeting Gaia Yoga Studio, Roath, Cardiff. 7.30-9pm, free (donations welcome). Info 07412 346054. On the second and fourth Monday of every month; also on Mon 25 in February. uVelotech GoldCardiff Cycle Workshop, Gabalfa, Cardiff. 9.30am-4pm, £495 (four days). Info www. cycletrainingwales.org.uk.

(Until Thurs 14) TUESDAY 12 FEBRUARY uArt Babas Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea. 10.3011.30am, free. Info 01792 516900. Relaxed sensory craft session for parents/carers and children from six months to three years. Also on Tue 26 this month. Book in advance please.

Banff Mountain Film Festival St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7pm, £13.50/£10.50.

Info 029 2087 8444. Showcase

of adventure films which comes here annually. A second selection of films in this series is here on Thurs 28 Mar. Contemporary Conversations Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea. 1-3pm, free. Info 01792 516900.

Session to provide a supportive environment for people with an interest in creating art work and discussing contemporary issues. Book in advance please.

Dungarees The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 1-5pm, £60. Info twinmadethings@ gmail.com. Twin Made craft workshop.

Fiona Sampson Art Shop & Chapel, Abergavenny. 8pm, £10 adv. Info 01873 852960.

Talk by poet and writer.

Football: EFL League Two – Newport Country v Milton Keynes Dons Rodney Parade, Newport.

7.45pm. Info 01633 481896.

Music Networking The Moon, Cardiff. 7pm, free.

Info info@themooncardiff. com. Book in advance (via Eventbrite) please.

Sunday Brunch Craft Club: Pet Bow Ties The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 11am-12pm, £15. Info twinmadethings@gmail.com.

Twin Made craft workshop.

The Origins Of The Tudor Rose Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 2.30pm, £8. Info 01874 611622. Arts Society Brecknock lecture by Jonathan Foyle.

The Psychology of Fetishes & Kink The Vaults, Portland House, Cardiff Bay. 6.45pm, £12 adv. Info 029 2048 7602. Funzing talk by Colin Richards, a “nationally acclaimed Sex Engineer & Relationship Therapist”. In the blurb for this event Colin switches between the first and third person.

Vintage Clothing Sale Y Plas, Cardiff University Students Union. 10am-5pm, free. Info 029 2078 1458.

Hosted by Headlock Vintage.

WEDNESDAY 13 FEBRUARY Beginner Wednesday Simple Skirt The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 6.308.30pm, £25. Info twinmadethings@gmail.com.

Twin Made craft workshop.

THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY uCraft Night: Festive Decorations & Accessories Little Man Coffee Co, Cardiff.

6-9pm, free. Info larkdesignmake@gmail. com. Drop-in event hosted by Lark Design Make. Also on Thurs 28, which will have a St David’s Day theme.

Crafty Beer Evening NosDa, Cardiff. 6.30pm, £15.

Info 029 2037 8866. Do crafts and drink some drinks, with your hosts Twin Made. Price includes one drink and crafting materials/equipment. uLGBTQ+ History Month Takeover National History Museum, St Fagans. Free.

Info 029 2057 3500. Events here largely TBC but will include a pop-up art show by young people who identify as LGBTQ+, and an activity day for families and workshops and activities run by

young people at the Oakdale Workmen’s Institute. (Until Thurs 28) Sustainability Swansea Museum. 1pm, free. Info 01792 653763. Royal Institution Of South Wales event, hosted by Hamish Osborn and part of this month’s Greening Swansea series.

FRIDAY 15 FEBRUARY Llandovery Folk Dancing Rhys Pritchard Hall, Llandovery. 7.30pm. Info www.llandoveryfolkdancing. co.uk. With caller Kelvin Lee. Lunch Club Angela Gray’s Cookery School At Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan. 10.30am-2.30pm, £42. Info 01443 222716 / www.angelagray.co.uk.

Neon Light The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 6.308.30pm, £35. Info twinmadethings@gmail.com.

Twin Made craft workshop.

So You Think You’re Smart? Memorial Hall, Newbridge. 7pm, free. Info 01495 243252. Quiz night, every third Friday of the month, SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY Cardiff Viva! Vegan Festival City Hall, Cardiff.

10.30am-5pm, £3/£13 VIP/ free under-16s. Info www.viva. org.uk. Third Cardiff-based event for this national vegan organisation, promising over 100 stalls plus demos, talks, a kids’ area etc Craftactular Saturday The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 10am-4pm, £60 (three workshops). Info twinmadethings@gmail.com.

Twin Made craft workshops, namely: Cushion Cover (10-11.30am, £20); Clock (121pm, £25) and Lampshade (2-4pm, £25).

Football: EFL Championship – Swansea City v Brentford Liberty Stadium, Swansea. 3pm. Info 0870 400004.

Football: EFL League Two – Newport Country v Swindon Town Rodney Parade, Newport. 3pm. Info 01633 481896.

Ice Hockey: League – Cardiff Devils v MK Lightning Viola Arena, Cardiff Bay. 7pm. Info 029 2038 2001.

Journey Book Workshop BayArt, Cardiff Bay. 11am3pm, £15 adv. Info 029 2065 0016. Create a collage book looking at your life, with Gemma Jayne Paine. uLark Design Make Craft Workshops M.A.D.E. Gallery & Shop, Cardiff. Info 029 2047 3373. Pop-up studio upstairs in this venue, featuring workshops including resin jewellery, leather crafting and crocheting for charity. (Until Sun 24) Margam Premium Ghost Walk Margam Country Park, nr Port Talbot. 6, 8.30 + 11pm, £15.50-£18. Info 029 2057 3500. Presented by Cardiff History & Hauntings.

The 8.30 slot is fully booked and the 6pm one might also be by the time you read this.

Painting With Egg Tempera Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am-4.30pm, BUZZ 69

£105. Info 029 2048 4611.

With Amanda Blake. uPrintmaking Masterclass Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea. 11am4pm, £80 (two days). Info 01792 516900. Hosted by Rose Davies. On tomorrow also.

Scientific Research And The Establishment Of Swansea University College in 1920 National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 11am, free. Info 029 2057 3600. Talk by Karmen Thomas. uSpace Hunters Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. £1.50 after admission. Go into space to meet an astronaut, ride on a comet’s tail, look for an exploding star and more.

Suitable for under-7s (Until Sun 3 Mar) uStar Tours Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. £1.50 after admission fee. Info 029 2047 5475. Find out more about some familiar constellations, the planets, how stars are born and how they die. (Until Sun 3 Mar) St Fagans Real Food Market National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500.

Symposium: Phytopia Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea. 1.30-4pm, £5/£3.

Info 01792 516900. Looking at the themes of an exhibition which just opened here (see Artl listings).

Try Gamelan Workshop St David’s Hall, Cardiff.

1pm, £8/£5 kids. Info 029 2087 8444. Performing som of Steve Reich’s most iconic works. See Music.

Upper Killay Market Upper Killay Recreational Hall, Swansea. Free. Info andwoo29@gmail.com. Every third Saturday of the month.

Vintage Kilo Sale YMCA, Swansea. 10am-4pm, £3/£1.50 after 12. Info 01792 652032.

Designer labels at, again, £15 a kilo.

Watercolour Workshop Carnegie House, Bridgend.

10am-4pm, £12. Info 01656 815757. With tutor Bryan Shambler.

Winter Wildlife Walk Roath Park, Cardiff. 10am12.30pm, £11/free kids. Info hannah@greencityevents. co.uk. Hosted by Pip Gray from Wildly Pip. Young, Gifted – Now What? National Museum Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2039 7951. Elvira Dyangani, Artes Mundi 7 judge, discusses how she became one of the UK’s foremost curators as a black diaspora woman. uYucky You Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. £1.50 after admission.

Long-running show based on various bodily emissions and why they happen. (Until Sun 3 Mar) SUNDAY 17 FEBRUARY Brecon Craft Fair Market Hall, Brecon. 9am-4.30pm.

Info 01495 753782. Every third Saturday of the month.

Felt Spring Wreath The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 10am-12pm, £20. Info twinmadethings@gmail.com.

Twin Made craft workshop.

BUZZ 70

Jumpsuit The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 1-5pm, £60. Info twinmadethings@ gmail.com. Twin Made craft workshop.

Kidsmarkets Family Sale Paget Rooms, Penarth. 11am12.30pm, £1.50/kids free. Info 07760 802088. Featuring up to 30 stalls of great quality new and pre-loved baby and childrens items.

NoFit State Circus: Flying Trapeze Taster Four Elms Road, Adamsdown, Cardiff.

11am-1pm. Info 029 2022 1330 / www.nofitstate.org.

Protect Your Crust – European Bread Classics Angela Gray’s Cookery School At Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan. 9.30am3.30pm, £175. Info 01443 222716 / www.angelagray. co.uk. With Nick Macleod.

Zodiac Run Margam Park,

Wasteless Kitchen Little Man Coffee Co, Cardiff.

6.30-9pm, £11. Info hannah@greencityevents.co.uk.

Hosted by Green City but fully booked.

THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY Biodiversity Swansea Museum. 1pm, free. Info 01792 653763. Royal Institution Of South Wales event, hosted by Deb Hill and part of this month’s Greening Swansea series.

Booklaunch: Laura Kemp Washington Buildings, Penarth. 7pm, £5. Info 029 2070 6455. Author Kemp with her latest novel A Year Of Surprising Acts Of Kindness, which will be available to buy cheaper than the RRP. Presented by Griffin Books.

Open Space: Mike Collins Central Library Hub, Cardiff.

The Andrew Buchan, a pub in Roath, Cardiff that manages to be both traditional and arty, has its first PAN-musicale discussion on Sun 24. It’ll be looking at the music and culture of the Balkans, with food from the region also on offer. nr Port Talbot. 9.30am, £22-£33 to enter. Info 01639 881635. Run laps round the park, a distance of 3.3 miles, to the distance of anything between a 5k and a marathon.

TUESDAY 19 FEBRUARY Book Club The Gate, Cardiff.

8pm, free. Info 029 2048 3344. Third Tuesday of every month. uLife Drawing Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea.

2-4pm, £5. Info 01792 516900.

Also on Sat 23.

RNIB Art Group Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea.

1-3pm, free. Info 01792 516900. Tutor-led class for people with visual impairments. Book in advance please.

WEDNESDAY 20 FEBRUARY Beginners Sewing Dress Making The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 6.308.30pm, £20. Info twinmadethings@gmail.com.

Twin Made craft workshop.

LBT+ Speed Dating Night Beelzebubs, Cardiff. 7pm, £5 adv. Info events@ craftydevilbrewing.co.uk.

Charity night in aid of Cardiff-based LGBT+ domestic violence service Rainbow Bridge. This one is aimed at women and people identifying as such, in case you wondered where the G was in the event name.

Mums Matter The Muse, Brecon. 7pm, £5/£2 members.

Info 01874 611529. Deborah Wilkie from Brecon and District Mind talks about Mums Matter, a programme that supports mothers in managing their everyday lives as well as in nurturing themselves.

5.45pm, free. Info 029 2038 2116. Comic book artist and writer discusses his 30-year career. Book in advance please.

FRIDAY 22 FEBRUARY Anatomy Lab Live: The Surgery Village Hotel, Cardiff. 5.30-10.30pm, £79 adv/£70 NHS employees. Info 029 2167 1120. This is a touring event which comprises a two-course meal in a dining room-cum-operating theatre, so you get to eat food and then dissect a replica human body. In Swansea on Sun 24.

Exposure Wrestling Vale Sports Arena, Cardiff. 6.3010pm, £10. Info 029 2240 4901. Newish local wrestling promoters with a lineup headed by current champion Lucky Bowden. In Merthyr on Sun 24.

Flavours – Smoke, Marinade, Rub & SlowCook Angela Gray’s Cookery School At Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan.

9.30am-3.30pm, £175. Info 01443 222716 / www. angelagray.co.uk.

Football: Premier League – Cardiff City v Watford Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff.

7.45pm. Info 0845 3451400.

Glynn Vivian At Night Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea. 5-8pm, free. Info 01792 516900. After-hours drop-in session, celebrating LGBT history month with film, workshops and more.

Macrame Plant Hanger The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 6.30-8.30pm, £25. Info twinmadethings@gmail.com.

Twin Made craft workshop.

The Valleys Music Awards 2019 Merthyr Tydfil Labour Club. 6-11pm, £10 adv. Info

info@goredstone.co.uk. “Set up to recognise and celebrate the talented artists, acts and music industry in the South Wales Valleys,” say the organisers, the awards feature 10 categories and nominations close(d) on Fri 1 Feb. SATURDAY 23 FEBRUARY Architectural Glass Design ALEX Building, University Of Wales Trinity Saint David, Swansea. £25.

Info 01792 652016. Adult workshop led by Cath Brown.

Culottes The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 10am1pm, £40. Info twinmadethings@gmail.com.

Twin Made craft workshop.

Dungarees The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 2-6pm, £60. Info twinmadethings@ gmail.com. Twin Made craft workshop. uDylan’s Animals Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea.

10am-4pm, £3 (suggested donation). Info 01792 463980.

Family-friendly activities including creative writing, make a mini comic, puppets, games, reading corner, crafts and costumes. Mon 25 is a 3D animal mask sculpture workshop only (1-4pm); Wed 27 is a creative writing workshop for ages 6-10 with Eloise Williams (1-3pm). (Until Sun 3 Mar) uPirate Week Gower Heritage Centre, Swansea.

10am-5.30pm. Info 01792 371206. Pirate-themed events for kids including craft, stories, cartoons, gold panning etc. (Until Sun 3 Mar) Rugby Union: Six Nations – Wales v England Principality Stadium, Cardiff.

4.45pm, £40-£110. Info 08442 777888. Wales’ first home match of this year’s tournament, long sold out though of course. See Sport.

Smallholding For Beginners Humble By Nature, Penalt, nr Monmouth.

10am-4pm, £130. Info 01600 714595. With Liz Shankland.

Swingin’ At The Pavilion Penarth Pier Pavilion. 7-11pm, £10/£15 with taster dance.

Info 0844 8700887. Lindy hop dance class from 7pm, social dance with live music from Belleville at 8.30pm.

Vintage Kilo Sale St Catherine’s Church Hall, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 10am5pm, free. Info 07923 142285.

Designer labels at £15 a kilo, on monthly here.

Vintage Kilo Sale Treforest Community Centre. 10am4pm, free. Info 07923 142285.

Selling vintage gear at £15 per kilo.

Weekend Adult Workshop: Palette-Knife Painting Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea. 10am-1pm, £5. Info 01792 516900. A class for people of all abilities to create art in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

SUNDAY 24 FEBRUARY Anatomy Lab Live: The Surgery Village Hotel, Swansea. 5.30-10.30pm, £79 adv/£70 NHS employees. Info 01792 341270.

Castle Tours, Hillfort Walk And Model Boats Margam Park, nr Port Talbot. 10am, free. Info 01639 881635.

Mixed family activities during half-term, variations of which are on until Sun 3 Mar. Dungarees Dress Making The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 10am-1pm, £45. Info twinmadethings@gmail.com.

Twin Made craft workshop.

Exposure Wrestling The Willows Centre, Merthyr Tydfil. 6.30-10pm, £8 adv/£5 kids. Info www.exposurewrestling.com. Featuring Lucky Bowden; part of the Coyote Nitro weekender.

Gourmet Barbecue Sunday Lunch Angela Gray’s Cookery School At Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan. 9.30am3.30pm, £175. Info 01443 222716 / www.angelagray. co.uk.

PAN-musicale 1.0 / An Evening Of Balkan Musical Culture The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff.

5pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

First in a planned series of events in which attendees will “focus upon the music of a particular territory or genre, share authentic food together and engage in open cultural conversation.”

Sparkly Bum Bag The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff.

2-4pm, £25. Info twinmadethings@gmail.com.

Twin Made craft workshop.

MONDAY 25 FEBRUARY Slime Factory, Castle Tours, Margam Friend Margam Park, nr Port Talbot.

10am, free. Info 01639 881635.

TUESDAY 26 FEBRUARY Ekphrastic Writing Group The Gate, Cardiff. 7-459.30pm, free. Info 029 2048 3344. Readings and discussions. On the fourth Tuesday of every month.

Football: Premier League – Cardiff City v Everton Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff.

7.45pm. Info 0845 3451400.

Funky Foam Flowers And Vase, Archery, Model Boat Margam Park, nr Port Talbot.

10am, free (foam flowers £3).

Info 01639 881635.

Half Term Young Cooks Academy Angela Gray’s Cookery School At Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan. 10am-12.30pm, £55. Info 01443 222716 / www.angelagray.co.uk. For ages 10+. uSelf-Led Activities Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea.

11am-4pm, £5. Info 01792 516900. Drop-in family sessions. Also on Thurs 28 and Fri 1 Mar. WEDNESDAY 27 FEBRUARY uAll-Wales Final Of FameLab 2019 National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 7.30pm, free. Info 029 2057 3600. Showcase/ competition of “the nation’s best science communicators” it says here.

Art Festival Day Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea.

11am-3pm, free. Info 01792 516900. Free drop-in workshops, activities, films and more.

Beginners Knitting – Scarf The Bone Yard, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 6.30-8.30pm, £25. Info twinmadethings@gmail.com.

Twin Made craft workshop.

Dr Michael Mosley St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £25.50/£21.50 wheelchairs.

Info 029 2087 8444. Doctor who specialises in diets and is on telly sometimes.

Ice Hockey: League – Cardiff Devils v Glasgow Clan Viola Arena, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm. Info 029 2038 2001.

Quiz For A Cause The Gate, Cardiff. 8pm, £5. Info 029 2048 3344. In aid of City Hospice.

Rachel Cusk Art Shop & Chapel, Abergavenny. 8pm, £10 adv. Info 01873 852960.

Talk by respected UK novelist. uThe Wearable Art Show Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £11/£9. Info 029 2039 1391.

Annual event described as an avant-garde catwalk show and featuring costumes created by the College’s theatre designers. On at 1pm, 4pm and 7.15pm tomorrow and Fri 1 Mar. (Until Fri 1 Mar) Wasteless Bathroom Little Man Coffee Co, Cardiff.

6.30-9pm, £11. Info hannah@greencityevents.co.uk.

Hosted by Green City but fully booked.

Winter Wildlife, Archery, Model Boat And RSPB Margam Park, nr Port Talbot.

10am, free. Info 01639 881635.

THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY Ben Fogle Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £27. Info 01792 475715. Ruggedly ruddy explorer who I daresay spends more of his time exploring the backstage corridors of municipal theatres like this one.

Book Event: David Nott Glamorganshire Golf Club, Penarth. 7pm, £10. Info 029 2070 6455. NHS surgeon Nott discusses his memoir War Doctor. Price includes a drink.

Presented by Griffin Books.

Greening Swansea: Two Case Studies Swansea Museum. 1pm, free. Info 01792 653763. Royal Institution Of South Wales event, hosted

by Ant Flanagan and Sally Hyman; part of this month’s Greening Swansea series.

Jazzy Jam Jars, Castle Tours Margam Park, nr Port Talbot. 10am, free. Info 01639 881635.

Lyrical Miracles NosDa, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free. Info 029 2037 8866. Spoken word and poetry jam.

Tony Stockwell Queens Hall, Narberth. 7pm, £22 adv.

Info 01834 869323. Psychic medium.

Welsh Wrestling Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 6.30pm, £12.50/£9.50.

Info 0845 2263510.

live FRIDAY 1 FEBRUARY Arrival – The Hits Of Abba Theatr Hafren, Newtown.

8pm, £22.50. Info 01686 614555. Tribute show.

Bridges Le Public Space, Newport. 7pm, £7. Info sam@ lepub.co.uk.

Chupa Cabra Creature Sound, Swansea. 7pm, £5.

Info 01792 301178. Indiepunk band from Deeside.

Force Fed Lies + Sore Teeth + Drunken

The tour is named Please Remain Seated, which for arcane reasons is extremely funny to me and would be to exactly one other person who is sadly no longer with us.

Welsh Musical Theatre Orchestra Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 6pm, £13.50£23.50. Info 01633 868239.

Songs from the musicals.

SATURDAY 2 FEBRUARY Cantaloop + Sean Gaffney The Lost Arc, Rhayader. 8pm, £5 adv. Info 01743 860246.

Children Of The Gravy Rhondda Hotel, Porth. 7pm, £5 adv. Info 01443 682388.

Black Sabbath tribute band.

Chris Stone The Mariners, Laugharne. 8.30pm, free. Info 01994 427688. In sister venue Browns tomorrow.

Dusk Brothers + Mike Dennis The Moon, Cardiff.

8pm, free. Info info@ themooncardiff.com.

Fleetingwood Mac Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 8pm, £16 adv. Info 029 2089 0862.

Fleetwood Mac tribute band.

FlowCase 6 Beatbox Battles Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 12-9pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464. Human beatbox battle session with an exhaustive list of categories and T&Cs. Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls + Jimmy Eat World + Grace Petrie Motorpoint Arena Cardiff.

6.30pm, £35. Info 029 2022 4488. Libertarian troubadour – troubatarian, if you will – headlines.

Glas Cwmbran RFC, Pontnewydd, Cwmbran.

7.30pm, £7. Info 01633 483238. Borough Blues Club gig.

Guilty Pleasure Cockett Inn, Swansea. 9pm, free. Info 01792 588748. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Jeff Ballard Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7.50-£15.

Info 029 2039 1391. Jazz drummer tours his latest album Fairgrounds.

Juice Llanbedr Village Hall, Crickhowell. 7pm. Info 01873 812385. Ceilidh night.

King King Tramshed, Cardiff. 7pm, £21 adv. Info 029 2023 5555. Popular Scottish blues-rockers.

New Disorder + The Martyrials Jac’s, Aberdare.

7.30pm, £7/£5 adv. Info 01685 879491. Dual tribute to Joy Division and New Order.

One Night Of Elvis Gwyn Hall, Neath. 7.30pm, £25. Info 0300 3656677. Tribute show starring Lee Memphis King Scarlet Rebels + Cease To See The Sun + Fforest Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7pm, £6 adv. Info 0845 2263510. Local bands presented by Cadno Music.

Simon Trigg The Red Dragon, Bridgend. 8.30pm, free. Info 01656 654753.

Presented by Nailed It Events.

Smiling Tigers + Beyond Oblivion + Icantdie + Fall From Ruin The Dragonffli, Pontypool. 7pm,

£3. Info gigs@thedragonffli. com.

The Bon Jovi Experience The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £14 adv. Info 07590 471888.

The Darling Buds + The Immediate + Freya Beer Le Public Space, Newport.

7.30pm, £7 adv. Info sam@ lepub.co.uk. Reformed indiepop locals headline. Sold out.

The Duppybusters Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

The Emperials The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, £8 adv. Info 01497 821762. Ska. The Manatees + Isembard’s Wheel + Molly-Anne NosDa, Cardiff.

8pm, free. Info 029 2037 8866.

Presented by Pi & Hash.

The Masterplan The Dolls House, Abertillery. 6pm, £6/£5 adv. Info 01495 213300. Oasis tribute band.

The Tony Breen Band The Roath Park, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free. Info 029 2047 1961.

Country/rock/Americana.

The Wave Pictures + Quiet Marauder Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7pm, £12. Info 029 2023 2199.

Tracy Island + Sienna UK + Chopsy Tiny Rebel, Cardiff. 8pm, £4. Info 029 2039 9557. Presented by Kings Road Studio.

Wrong Jovi Hangar 18, Swansea. 7.30pm, £5 adv. Info enquiries@ hangar18musicvenue.co.uk.

Bon Jovi tribute.

SUNDAY 3 FEBRUARY Chris Stone Browns, Laugharne. 3pm, free. Info 01994 427688. uFrankie Weeson Hen & Chickens, Abergavenny.

8pm, free. Info 01873 853613.

Presented by Nailed It Events.

Every Sunday this month.

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly + Sweet Billy Pilgrim Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7pm, £12.50 adv. Info 029 2023 2199.

John Smith The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15 adv. Info 07590 471888. Folk-rocker.

Joshua Burnell Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 8pm, £12 adv. Info 029 2089 0862.

Folk-rock.

Living In Colour: An Evening In Memory Of Scott Hutchison The Big Top, Cardiff. 7pm, from £6.

Info 029 2022 8883. Tribute night to the frontman of Scottish band Frightened Rabbit, who died last year.

One Day Scratch Orchestral And Choral Event St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 4.30pm, free. Info 029 2087 8444. Anyone (who books in advance) can turn up and play, be they orchestral musicians or singers.

Alternatively you can just come along and watch.

Open Mic with Dave Kenwrick The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8pm, free.

Info 029 2021 2509.

Portraits + Dammit I’m Mad + Tun + Casual Overload Jac’s, Aberdare.

5.30-8.30pm, £3. Info 01685 879491.

Royal Scam Earl Haig

Pic: Rita-Zimmermann

Marksman + System Reset + Positive Reaction The Dolls House, Abertillery.

7pm, £4. Info 01495 213300.

Punk and hardcore.

Heavy Lungs + The Murder Capital + Private World + Laundrette Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5.

Info 029 2023 2199.

Henry Marten’s Ghost City Arms, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2064 1913. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Jack J Hutchison + Square One The Patriot, Crumlin. 8pm, £8/£6 adv. Info 01495 247178. Blues-rock.

James Alexander Jac’s, Aberdare. 10pm. Info 01685 879491. Playing after the Six Nations game.

Kenneth Hamilton Cardiff University Concert Hall.

1.05pm, £5/free NUS. Info 029 2087 4816. Piano recital.

Laura Power + Bryony Sier + Stacey Darie The Dragonffli, Pontypool. 7pm, £3. Info gigs@thedragonffli. com.

Open Night Glais Rugby Football Club, nr Clydach, Swansea. 8pm, £3. Info 01792 425231. A Valley Folk Club night.

Parkway Drive + Killswitch Engage + Thy Art Is Murder Motorpoint Arena Cardiff. 6.30pm, £33.50.

Info 029 2022 4488. Slick popmetalcore.

Punchline The Vivian Arms, Swansea. 9pm, free. Info 01792 516194. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Rachel B The Duke Of Wellington, Cowbridge.

9.30pm, free. Info 01446 773592. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Ravi Sawney & Anna Pack St Fagans Village Hall.

7.30pm, £8/£6/£4 kids/free under-12s. Info 029 2023 2970. Playing the Pentreffest Noz folk night.

Stanley Strong The Plough, Whitchurch, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2062 3017.

Presented by Nailed It Events. uStudents Of Atlantic College St Donats Arts Centre, Vale Of Glamorgan.

3pm, £5. Info 01446 799100.

Afternoon cafe concert; price includes tea/coffee and cake.

On every Friday this month.

The Bon Jovi Experience Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

8pm, £23. Info 01970 623232.

Tribute band.

The Fugitives Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £4/£3. Info 029 2038 7026. Blues.

The Last Ten Seconds Of Life + Lotus Eater + Sentry The Bunkhouse, Swansea. 7pm, £10 adv. Info info@bunkhousebar.co.uk.

The Vaccines + Jesse Jo Stark Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union.

7pm, £22.50 adv. Info 029 2078 1458. Kicking off a month replete with indie acts on a downward trajectory. In this case one who we interviewed in our Christmas issue.

Thunder St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7pm, £30.50-£40.50.

Info 029 2087 8444. UK rock veterans play a sold-out gig.

DEPOT IN THE CASTLE *BOOK NOW Cardiff Castle, Sat 13 July Tickets: £34.50/£21.50 under-18s/free under-12s Info: www.depotinthecastle.com Depot is the leading alternative events space in Cardiff and launched its first music and street food festival, Depot In The Park, in 2017. After a successful launch, the festival changed its name and location the following year, presenting legendary American vocal group Sister Sledge and Scottish rockers The Fratellis in Cardiff Castle’s grounds last year. For 2019, Depot In The Castle returns in July with the promise of even bigger headliners: Cambridge dancepoppers Clean Bandit [pictured] and tousle-haired piano man Tom Odell.

More acts are to be announced soon.

Memorial Club, Cardiff.

6-8pm. Info 029 2062 6015.

Steely Dan tribute.

Sounds Of Harlowe + Codewalkers + King”s Alias The Moon, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £6/£5 adv. Info info@themooncardiff.com. uSteve Tarner Jazz Hen & Chickens, Abergavenny.

2pm, free. Info 01873 853613.

Presented by Nailed It Events Every Sunday this month.

Tears For Fears + Alison Moyet Motorpoint Arena Cardiff. 6.30pm, £35. Info 029 2022 4488. Comeback gig, rescheduled from the best part of a year ago, for 80s pop smoothies. It was sold out then and still is now.

The Great Unknown The Windsor, Penarth. 9pm, free.

Info 029 2070 8675. Presented

by Nailed It Events.

MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY uAcoustica54 Warehouse54, Newport. 8pm, free. Info 01633 213161.

Every Monday.

Boyzone Motorpoint Arena Cardiff. 7.30pm, from £42.50.

Info 029 2022 4488. On their their farewell tour, the second of two dates here (although the first to be announced), both sold out however.

Dominic Norcross Quartet Noah’s Yard, Swansea. 8pm.

Info 01792 447360. Playing

the jazz night on here every Monday.

Scrubs The Moon, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £4/£3 adv. Info info@themooncardiff.com.

The Howlers + Carolines + Vanilla The Moon, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £4/£3 adv.

Info info@themooncardiff. com. uUkulele Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff.

8.30pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509. Every Monday, with The Plucking Fourstrings.

TUESDAY 5 FEBRUARY Acoustic Tuesday South Riverside Community Development Centre, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £5. Info 029 2030 4400. Regular event led by pioneering local musicians and singers.

Aeddan Williams’ Wind Septet Flute & Tankard, Cardiff. 9-11.30pm, £7/£5 NUS. Info www.thefluteandtankard.com. Jazz.

Alexis Ffrench Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.45pm, £20. Info 029 2039 1391. Youngish classical pianist with some evident crossover appeal.

Chepstow Singing Club Dolman Theatre, Newport.

2pm, £7. Info 01633 263670.

Presented by T42. uCommunity Samba Band – Practise Dates

Llanfrynach Village Hall, Brecon. 7-9pm, £4/£2 under16s. Info sambabrecon@ yahoo.co.uk. Every Tuesday.

Don Broco + Neck Deep + Issues Motorpoint Arena Cardiff. 6.30pm, £28.50. Info 029 2022 4488. Trio of UK rock upstarts. uOpen Jam Session NosDa, Cardiff. 8pm, free.

Info 029 2037 8866. Every Tuesday this month. uOpen Mic The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, free.

Info 01497 821762. Every Tuesday. uOpen Mic Night Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com. Every Tuesday.

Orchestradventure! St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 1pm, £3-£7. Info 029 2087 8444.

The Royal Welsh College Symphony Orchestra and presenter Tom Redmond introduce the instruments and inner workings of an orchestra in accessible fashion. In Builth Wells on Thurs 7.

Phil Wall’s Jazz Band Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £4.50/£4 members/£2 NUS. Info 029 2038 7026.

Sam Lewis Sin City, Swansea. 7pm, £12 adv. Info 01792 468892. Soulful acoustic country fella based in Nashville. In Barry on Sun 10.

Seren Winds Grand

JUST ANNOUNCED FOR MARCH: REEF (Sin City, Swansea, Sat 9) THE CORAL (Tramshed, Cardiff, Thurs 14) EXAMPLE (Pryzm, Cardiff, Fri 15) ALFIE BOE (St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Mon 18) THE WAILERS (Tramshed, Thurs 21) SLOW READERS CLUB (Sin City, Mon 25) KRISTIN HERSH (The Globe, Cardiff, Tue 26) GERRY BUZZ 71

* – recommended Pavilion, Porthcawl. 1pm, £6.50 adv. Info 01656 815995.

Lunchtime performance from Cardiff-based wind quintet.

Tony McManus & Julia Toaspern Burnett’s Hill Chapel, Martletwy, Pembrokeshire. 7.30pm, £10.

Info 01646 651725. Folk/jazz duo. In Llandeilo tomorrow.

WEDNESDAY 6 FEBRUARY Adrian Cox Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 8pm, £9.50 adv.

Info 01656 815995. Jazz quartet, with Cox paying tribute to clarinettist Edmond Hall. In Swansea on Wed 20. uBandaoke Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com. “Sing with a fully rehearsed band and become the Popstar you always dreamed of being.”

Also on Fri 15.

Barnardo’s Cymru Young Supporters’ Concert St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 6.30pm, £6-£14. Info 029 2087 8444.

Barry Folk Club Showcase Night Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club. 7.30pm, £3. Info 01443 226892. A Llantrisant Folk Club night. uBattle Of The Bands 2019 Preliminaries The Bunkhouse, Swansea. 7pm.

Info info@bunkhousebar. co.uk. Lineups TBC but there’s a £1000 prize plus other stuff; this is heat 7.

Heat 8 is on Thurs 7, heat

9 on Wed 13 and heat 10 on Thurs 14. uBella & Gareth Blues Duo Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm.

Info 029 2038 7026. Also on Wed 20.

Bridgend Big Band Rogerstone & Bassaleg Social Club, Bassaleg, Newport.

8pm, £10. Info malc@ dancebands.plus.com. A South Wales Big Band Society gig, on every Wednesday.

Open Mic Night NosDa, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free. Info 029 2037 8866. With a different guest host every week this month; tonight’s is Christian Punter.

Dilys, Morfydd & Grace Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 1.15pm, £8/£6 adv. Info 029 2039 1391.

Songs and solo harp works

by Welsh composers Dilys Elwyn-Edwards, Morfydd Owen and Grace Williams.

Donnie Joe’s American Swing Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Penarth. 7.30pm, £5/£4.40 adv.

Info feelgoodmusicorg@gmail. com. Also featuring swing DJ The Medicine Man. Gabriel Bianco Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.45pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2039 1391. French classical guitarist.

John Close Trio + Olivia Madaffaari Quartet Flute & Tankard, Cardiff.

9-11.30pm, £7/£5 NUS. Info

www.thefluteandtankard.com.

Jazz from two Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama ensembles.

Julian Tucker with Dave Cottle Trio The Garage, Swansea. 8.30pm, £12.50. Info 01792 475147. A Swansea Jazzland night.

Kris Barras Band The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £14 adv. Info 07590 471888.

Blues-rocker who wears vests which show off his tribal tattoos.

Live Acoustic Night The Pilot, Penarth. Free. Info 029 2071 0615. On the first Friday of each month. uOpen Jam Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff.

9pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

Every Wednesday. uOpen Mic Market Street Club, Barry. 8pm. Info 01446 733863. Every Wednesday.

Open Mic Night Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil. 7pm, free.

Info 01685 384111. First Wednesday of every month.

Ronnie Scott’s Allstars Pontardawe Arts Centre.

7.30pm, £22. Info 01792 863722.

Sinfonia Cymru The Riverfront, Newport. 1pm, £5.

Info 01633 656757.

Tony McManus & Julia Toaspern The Angel, Llandeilo. 7.30pm, £10. Info info@llandeiloacoustic.com. A Llandeilo Acoustic Club night.

THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY BBC NOW St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5-£41. Info 029 2087 8444. Jun Märkl conducts a programme of Ravel and Debussy. In Swansea tomorrow.

Christopher Howe The Pear Tree, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2025 2042. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Estevenz + Gertz + Local Enemy + Pastel The Moon, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7.£6 adv.

Info info@themooncardiff. com. Presented by This Feeling. uHackensack Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, from £5. Info 029 2038 7026. Monthly showcase featuring two sets from musicians TBC. Haze + Red Telephone Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7pm, £4. Info 029 2023 2199.

Jane’s Calamity Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com. Monthly singalong around the piano.

John Adams + Rosey Cale Cellar Bar, Cardigan.

8pm, £12. Info 07818 056599.

Cardiff-based singer-songwriter who made his name busking and has the most insipid collection of influences imaginable. Stating here that if this guy is ever featured in Buzz it was against my will.

In Cardiff tomorrow and Sun 10; Swansea on Sat 9 and Fri 15. All those dates are sold

u – repeated

out though.

Open Mic 10 The Dolls House, Abertillery. 6pm. Info 01495 213300.

Orchestradventure! Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells. 11am, £3-£7. Info 029 2039 1391.

Slift + Sans Le Public Space, Newport. 8pm, £7/£6 adv. Info sam@lepub.co.uk.

Psych bands from France and Bristol respectively.

Special Consensus Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea.

7.30pm, £14/£12. Info 01792 602060. Bluegrass.

The Estevans + Gertz + Local Enemy The Moon, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7/£6 adv.

Info info@themooncardiff. com. Presented by This Feeling.

The Rob Lear Band + The Paul Nicholas Band + Greg Rowlands + Ronnie 3 Chords + Tanglewood Newport Fugitives Athletic Club, Rogerstone, Newport.

8pm. Info 07837 288096.

Newport Folk Club night, also the annual Tredegar House Folk Festival fundraiser gig.

Rescheduled from December.

The Temperance Seven Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7.30pm, £15/£13. Info 01873 850805.

British jazz group who have been going since the 1950s.

FRIDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2019 Valentines Thank You Gig 7 The Garage, Swansea. £15/£12.50 adv.

Info 01792 475147. Benefit gig for the prostate cancer section of Morrison Hospital, featuring sets by The Squirts, Scandalisers, Plastic Sam’s Stargazer, Balsamo Collins & Hamill, Aber Taiko Drummers and Tree Creeper.

BBC NOW Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. 7.30pm, £15-£22.

Info 01792 475715.

Black Peaks + Phoxjaw + Calling Apollo Hobo’s, Bridgend. 7pm, £10 adv. Info www.hobosmusicvenue.com.

Brigyn + Sera St John The Evangelist Church, Canton, Cardiff. 7pm, £12/£10 adv.

Info 07960 820645. Welsh altfolkish group headline..

Cath Jones The Duke Of Wellington, Cowbridge.

9.30pm, free. Info 01446 773592. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Chris Kelly Ty Newydd, Barry. 9pm, free. Info 01446 407767. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Conjurer Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff. 7pm, £9 adv. Info 07970 063107.

Côr Tadau Trisant Gartholwg Lifelong Learning Centre, Pontypridd. 7.30pm, £5. Info 01443 570075.

Local choir, presented here

by Cymdeithas Gymraeg

live review THE 1975

Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Mon 14 Jan With an increasing international profile in recent years, The 1975 have fostered a reputation for coupling casually philosophical lyrics with polished pop prowess.

Embarking on a UK tour in promotion of the rather ambitiously-titled A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, the Mancunian headliners arrive in Cardiff, with the Motorpoint Arena’s ample scale accommodating the quartet’s stadium-pleasing renown and mass of devotees.

Manila-based one-man outfit No Rome provided initial support, delivering a string of smooth chillwave tracks – poolside melodies that invited a degree of sun-drenched warmth to proceedings, despite garnering an icier reaction from the half-empty arena.

Pale Waves’ strain of synth-soaked heartland rock brought feelgood luminosity to a venue that seems intended for the four-piece’s brand of nostalgia-bathed gravitas.

Heather Baron-Gracie’s yearning vocals weave through shimmering keys and tight guitar-driven material, recalling a late-80s sound indebted to the output of Belinda Carlisle, Heart and Stevie Nicks. Glistening renditions of One More Time and There’s A Honey were effusively received from concertgoers, with the band’s up-and-coming status evident in the propulsive charm of their work.

The 1975 enter to roars of reverberating adoration, a response befitting a band currently riding the crest of a wave. Opening with the confessional refrains of Give Yourself A Try, Matt Healy’s buoyant stage presence fizzes with charm and zeal, candidly engaging with a fanbase familiar with his every syllable. A series of rousing anthems such as She’s American command the abundant attention of a predominantly teen and twenty-something audience, inducing an almost dazed reverence, with the loudest cheers reserved for Love It If We Made It and the technicolour vivacity of Girls.

Glowing pastel-hued visuals frame the band in buoyant moments, while a treadmill often transferred Healy, and his mercurial energy, across the stage. A sea of smartphones greet the power balladry of Be My Mistake, a slow-burning acoustic number that served to temper an overwhelmingly high-octane set. Sex and its strobeimmersed climax closed the five-song encore with a raucous crescendo, a suitable finale to a relentlessly high-spirited performance. words CHRIS HAMILTON-PEACH photos JORDAN CURTIS HUGHES

CINNAMON (Tramshed, Thurs 28) PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS (Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Sat 30) JUST ANNOUNCED FOR APRIL: THE MEKONS (Le Public Space, Newport, Tue 2) DR JOHN COOPER CLARKE (Paget Rooms, Penarth, Thurs 4) SLEAFORD MODS (Cardiff University Students Union, Fri 5) SLEEPER (The BUZZ 72

Llantrisant.

Dydd Miwsig Cymru Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 4pm, free.

Info 029 2023 2199. Welsh language music from Gwilym, Chroma, Ani Glass and more TBCX, plus DJ sets from Garmon and Dilys ELO Again St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £25.50. Info 029 2087 8444. ELO tribute band.

Fortunate Sons Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £4/£3. Info 029 2038 7026.

Gimme Some Lovin’ The Hyst, Swansea. 6pm, £8 adv.

Info 01792 654366. Soul.

Glas City Arms, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2064 1913.

Presented by Nailed It Events.

Islands In The Stream Savoy Theatre, Monmouth.

7.30pm, £22. Info 01600 772467. Dolly Parton/Kenny Rogers twin tribute. uJohn Adams Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 8pm, £12 adv. Info 029 2089 0862. Sold out, as is the second date here on Sun 10.

Los Blancos + Y Sybs + Hyll The Bunkhouse, Swansea. 7pm, free. Info info@bunkhousebar.co.uk.

Welsh Language Music Day gig.

Martin Simpson Narberth Rugby Club. 8pm, £12/£10.

Info 01834 869323.

Longstanding UK folk guitarist.

NOLA Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm.

Info info@porterscardiff. com. New Orleans music, presumably of the jazzy ilk.

Opera Boys Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen. 7.30pm, £22.50/£20.50. Info 0845 2263510. Boys, by which I mean youngish men, who sing opera and also have banter.

Paige Kenzie The Plough, Whitchurch, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2062 3017.

Presented by Nailed It Events.

Riding Giants + Lead By Lies + Sound Of Salvation The Dragonffli, Pontypool.

7pm, £3. Info gigs@ thedragonffli.com.

Rusty Shackle Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7pm, £12.50.

Info 029 2023 2199. South Wales folk-rockers.

Showaddywaddy Park & Dare, Treorchy. 7.30pm, £25/£23. Info 0300 0040444.

Stipe The Globe, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £10 adv. Info 07590 471888. REM tribute band who somehow have my work email and use it to send newsletters about their activities.

Sylvain Blassel Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 1.15pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2039 1391.

French harpist.

The Jive Aces Savoy Theatre, Porth. 7.30pm, £15 adv. Info 01443 670250. UK swing/jive revivalists The Lonesome Ace Stringband Art Shop & Chapel, Abergavenny. 8pm, £13 adv. Info 01873 852960.

Canadian band in the Appalachian folk style.

The Searchers Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 7.30pm, £24.50 adv. Info 01656

815995.

The Tenovus Choir Congress Theatre, Cwmbran.

2pm, £6. Info 01633 868239.

White Riot + The Furns + The Rivers Creature Sound, Swansea. 7.30pm, £3 adv. Info 01792 301178.

Willis Soul Band + Spencer Segelov Pontardawe Arts Centre.

7.30pm, £5. Info 01792 863722. Friends Of Pontardawe Arts Centre fundraiser gig. *Workin’ Man Noise Unit + Rat The Magnificent + Obey Cobra + Slow Murder The Moon, Cardiff.

7.30pm, free. Info info@ themooncardiff.com. Cosmic Carnage and Lesson No.1 present some noiserock, psych and noise acts for nowt. WMNU are great.

SATURDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2 Tickets 2 The Gunshow The Albion, Penarth. 9pm, free. Info 029 2033 0743.

Barokksolistene: The Alehouse Sessions Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.45pm, £7.50-£15. Info 029 2039 1391. An evening of Purcell overtures, English sea shanties and Scandinavian folk songs, apparently aiming to evoke an English tavern in the 17th century.

Beth Rowley Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 8pm, £14 adv. Info 029 2089 0862.

Bruce Juice Ebbw Vale Institute. 7pm, £10 adv. Info 01495 708022. Distressinglynamed Bruce Springsteen tribute band.

Call Me Malcolm + Hell Death Fury + Kings Alias The Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free.

Info info@themooncardiff. com. Presented by the very badly named Custard’s Punk.

Cath Jones Three Horse Shoes, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2069 4630. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Chroma + Carolines + The Rivers Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil. 7.30-10.30pm, £7/£6 adv. Info 01685 384111.

Counterfeit + Down With The System Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5. Info 07970 063107. Limp Bizkit and System Of A Down tribute bands.

Cry Of A Cynic + And The Sky Darkened + Excursia + State Of Deceit + Internal Diadem The Dragonffli, Pontypool. 7pm, £5. Info gigs@thedragonffli.com. Metal bands play a Meddwlfest gig for charity.

Ella Rundle & John Paul Ekins Borough Theatre, Abergavenny.

7.30pm, £15. Info 01873 850805. Performing works

by Schumann, Mendelssohn, Chopin and Brahms.

Huw Warren Piano Trio Cardiff University Concert Hall. 7.15pm, £10/£8/free NUS. Info 029 2087 4816. UK jazz fave.

Jo Harman The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm. Info 01497 821762. Soul. uJohn Adams Cinema &

Co, Swansea. 7.30pm, £15.

Info 07982 624959. Sold out, as is the second date here on Fri 15.

King Cerulean The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free.

Info 029 2021 2509.

Morriston Orpheus Choir Gwyn Hall, Neath. 7.30pm, £12.50. Info 0300 3656677.

Paul Campbell The Red Dragon, Bridgend. 8.30pm, free. Info 01656 654753.

Presented by Nailed It Events.

Roosevelt Earl Haig Memorial Club, Cardiff. 9pm.

Info 029 2062 6015.

Sorted Ska Cellar Bar, Cardigan. 8pm, £8. Info 07818 056599. Ska and 2-tone covers.

The Killaz UK The Patriot, Crumlin. 9pm. Info 01495 247178. Killers tribute band.

The Navarones + Upbeat Sneakers Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 7pm, £14 adv.

Info 01656 815995. Local ska combos.

uLive Music Society Battle Of The Bands The Moon, Cardiff. Info info@ themooncardiff.com. Also on Thurs 28 this month.

Paul Carrack Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. 7.30pm, £36.50-£41.50. Info 01792 475715. AOR survivor.

Prognosis Earl Haig Memorial Club, Cardiff.

6-8pm. Info 029 2062 6015.

Prog rock tribute band.

Reggae In Motion Portland House, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £25 adv. Info 029 2048 7602.

Live performances from General Levy, Tippa Irie, Peter Hunnigale, Sista T, Mace and Asante Ite’s Band.

Sam Lewis Hang Fire Southern Kitchen, Barry.

6pm, £10 adv. Info 07561 143114. Roots N All gig.

MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY Holispark The Bunkhouse, Swansea. 7pm, £4. Info info@bunkhousebar.co.uk.

Welsh folk maverick Lleuwen, who released an album a few months ago, will air it in three churches in our region this month. Catch her in Williams Pantycelyn Church, Llandovery (Thurs 14), Salem Chapel, Cardiff (Sat 16) and Capel y Morfa, Aberystwyth (Sun 17).

The Reflex Jac’s, Aberdare.

7.30pm, £3. Info 01685 879491. Eighties pop and rock covers.

The Searchers Miners Institute, Blackwood. 7.30pm, £23.50 adv. Info 01495 227206. This is apparently their farewell tour, which is going to leave a big hole in these listings I can tell you.

Twthpaste + Frakard + Hippodrone + That Which Ate The Moon Le Public Space, Newport. 7.30pm, £3.

Info sam@lepub.co.uk.

French rockers.

Jango Haze Noah’s Yard, Swansea. 8pm. Info 01792 447360. *John Grant + E.B. The Younger St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7pm, £27. Info 029 2087 8444. Gravel-voiced altpop champ plays his biggest Welsh gig to date, presented

by Clwb Ifor Bach.

Revolve + Greed Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£6 adv. Info 07970 063107.

Metalcore bands, presented

by Grayscale.

SUNDAY 10 FEBRUARY Adrian Sleeman Browns, Laugharne. 3pm, free. Info 01994 427688. uFolk Music & Song Session Arvon Ale House, Llandrindod Wells. 4pm.

Info 07477 627267. Every second and fourth Sunday of the month (also on Sun 24 in February), with an extra acoustic session on the third Sunday (Sun 17) too.

Guilty Rascals + Shovel Face + The Tribeless Jac’s, Aberdare. 5.30-8.30pm, £3. Info 01685 879491.

Hot Club Swing Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm. Info 029 2038 7026. Regular gypsy jazz jam and performance club.

Karl Jenkins 75th Birthday Concert St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 3pm, £16.50-£42.50. Info 029 2087 8444. Conducted by Jenkins himself and featuring many of his best known works.

TUESDAY 12 FEBRUARY Banshee Flute & Tankard, Cardiff. 9-11.30pm, £7/£5 NUS. Info www.thefluteandtankard.com. Jazz.

Crumb, Kurtág, Sierra & Ligeti Cardiff University Concert Hall. 7-9pm, £10/£8/ free NUS. Info 029 2087 4816.

Violin/cello/piano/horn quartet performs works by those composers.

Huw Warren Trio The Muse, Brecon. 8pm, £12/£10 members. Info info@ breconjazzclub.org. A Brecon Jazz Club event.

Professor Green The Globe, Cardiff. 7pm, £15 adv. Info 07590 471888. Pop-rap fella, gig long sold out.

The Dead South + The Hooten Hallers Tramshed, Cardiff. 7pm, £12 adv. Info 029 2023 5555. Sold out.

The Old Malt House Jazz Band Café Jazz, Cardiff.

8pm, £4.50/£4 members/£2

NUS. Info 029 2038 7026.

WEDNESDAY 13 FEBRUARY Amigos Gypsy Orchestra The Garage, Swansea.

8.30pm, £10. Info 01792 475147. A Swansea Jazzland night.

Constellation Big Band Rogerstone & Bassaleg Social Club, Bassaleg, Newport.

8pm, £10. Info malc@dancebands.plus.com. A South Wales Big Band Society gig.

Folk Night Clwb Y Bont, Pontypridd. 7.30pm. Info 01443 491424.

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes Sin City, Swansea. 7pm, £20 adv. Info 01792 468892. Ex-Gallows frontman plus his serpentine backing band tour their latest album.

Jamie Davies Quartet Flute & Tankard, Cardiff.

9-11.30pm, £7/£5 NUS. Info www.thefluteandtankard. com. Jazz.

Kamchatka + Aaronson + Blue Amber + The Average People The Moon, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5. Info info@themooncardiff.com.

Lyceum Folk Club Showcase Night Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club.

7.30pm, £3. Info 01443 226892. A Llantrisant Folk Club night.

Olivia Gomez & Ben Pinnow Memorial Hall Theatre, Barry. 1.30pm, £5/£1 dementia friendly. Info 01446 738622. Concerts & Cakes lunchtime performance.

Open Mic Night NosDa, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free. Info 029 2037 8866. With a different guest host every week this month; tonight’s is Charlie Says. uThe Bay Rum Hounds Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm.

Info 029 2038 7026. Also on Wed 27.

THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY Blackweir Brass Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 7.30pm, £14/£12. Info 01874 611622.

South Walian brass band.

Chris Kelly The Pear Tree, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2025 2042. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Golden Melodies with Craig & Jason The Met, Abertillery. 2pm, £6.50. Info 01495 355945.

Hot 8 Brass Band Tramshed, Cardiff. 7pm, £18 adv. Info 029 2023 5555.

Presented by Clwb Ifor Bach.

Lleuwen Williams Pantycelyn Church, Llandovery. 7pm, £9 adv. Info 01591 610083.

First of four Welsh dates in churches for folk-rock maverick Lleuwen. She’ll be joined by dancer Eddie Ladd for this show too. In Cardiff on Sat 16, Aberystwyth on Sun 17 and Penygroes on Mon 18, although that last one’s off our manor.. *London Sinfonietta Synergy Vocals St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5-£25/ free under-16s with an adult. Info 029 2087 8444.

Performing som of Steve Reich’s most iconic works.

See Music.

Rebecca Hurn Rose & Crown, Porthcawl. 8pm, free.

Info 01656 784850. Presented

by Nailed It Events.

Seán McGowan Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7pm, £10. Info 029 2023 2199. uSteve Edmunds The Lime Tree, Chepstow. 8pm, free.

Info 01291 620959. Presented

by Nailed It Events. Also here on Thurs 28 this month.

FRIDAY 15 FEBRUARY Addiction + Coyote Creed + Frankie Wesson Jac’s, Aberdare. 7.30pm, £3 adv.

Info 01685 879491. A very mixed bill of 70s Valleys punks, country rockers and an acoustic folkie.

And The Sky Darkened + King Kraken + Stay Voiceless + Windshake The Moon, Cardiff. 7pm, pay by donation. Info info@ themooncardiff.com. Rock and metal bands play under the banner Meddwlfest.

Anthony Moulton Ty Newydd, Barry. 9pm, free.

Info 01446 407767. Presented

by Nailed It Events.

Ari Hoenig Trio Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7.50-£15. Info 029 2039 1391. Respected jazz drummer.

BBC National Chorus Of Wales Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £15-£20. Info 029 2063 6464.

Sir Andrew Davis conducts Berlioz’s L’Enfance Du Christ. Sold out.

Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses South Wales Heat 1 Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff.

7pm, £5. Info 07970 063107.

Featuring sets from Urfe, Blind Divide, Sepulchre and King Kraken. Heat 2 is on Fri 22.

Cath Jones City Arms, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2064 1913. Presented by Nailed It Events.

CHUMS The Garage, Swansea. 8.30pm, £10. Info 01792 475147. Covers group specialising in Chicago and Steely Dan, I believe. A Swansea Jazzland night.

Dansette Café Jazz, Cardiff.

8pm, £4/£3. Info 029 2038 7026. Soul.

Deep Hum + Dead Mans Pick + Finn The Dragonffli, Pontypool. 7pm, £3. Info gigs@thedragonffli.com.

DnA Miners Theatre, Ammanford. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 0845 2263510. Welsh folk duo.

Free Beer And Bacon The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff.

8.30pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

Glas The Duke Of Wellington, Cowbridge. 9.30pm, free. Info 01446 773592. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Grace Petrie Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells. 7.30pm, £14/£12. Info 01982 552555.

See Music. In Cardigan tomorrow.

Green Haze + One Eighty Two The Globe, Cardiff. 7pm, £10 adv. Info 07590 471888.

Tributes to Green Day and

Globe, Fri 5) SUZI QUATRO + DAVID ESSEX + BAY CITY ROLLERS (Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Sat 6) BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH (The Globe, Mon 8) LUCY ROSE (The Gate, Cardiff, Thurs 11) ART GARFUNKEL (St David’s Hall, Fri 12) THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE QUEEN (Cardiff University, Sat 13) STEFFLON DON BUZZ 73

* – recommended Blink 182.

Jacob & Drinkwater The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, £5. Info 01497 821762.

Alt-folk duo.

Madassa Soul Band Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff.

8pm, £14 adv. Info 029 2089 0862.

News From Nowhere + Vanilla + Cactus Haus Hangar 18, Swansea. 8pm, £3.50. Info enquiries@ hangar18musicvenue.co.uk.

Nikki Pope The Plough, Whitchurch, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2062 3017.

Presented by Nailed It Events.

Open Mic Night Clwb Y Bont, Pontypridd. 8pm, free.

Info 01443 491424. Monthly event hosted by GTFM. Ray Cooper The Lost Arc, Rhayader. 8pm, £12 adv. Info 01743 860246. Member of UK folk group Oysterband who also goes by the nickname Chopper.

Rumney Folk Club St Augustine’s Church, Rumney, Cardiff. 7.45pm. Info derek@ rumneyfolkclub.co.uk.

Monthly night, usually on the third Friday.

The Love Machine Show Savoy Theatre, Monmouth.

7.30pm, £20. Info 01600 772467. Five vocalists perform what are deemed the greatest love songs of all time.

The Magic Of Motown Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare.

7.30pm, £26. Info 0300 0040444.

The Skids Sin City, Swansea.

7pm, £25 adv. Info 01792 468892.

World Vs World + Swamp Thief The Duke, Neath.

7.30pm. Info 01639 643892.

Yes Is More Tramshed, Cardiff. 6pm, £16.50 adv. Info 029 2023 5555. Welsh independence awareness gig with sets by Charlotte Church’s Late Night Pop Dungeon, Astroid Boys, Boy Azooga, Los Blancos and DJs sets by Gwenno x Gruff Rhys plus Cian Ciarán.

SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY Andy Quick Snails Deli, Cardiff. 7pm, £21 adv. Info 029 2062 0415. Devonian singer-songwriter. Price includes a buffet.

Arrival Hangar 18, Swansea.

7.30pm, £15 adv. Info enquiries@ hangar18musicvenue.co.uk.

Abba tribute.

Connah Evans + Christian Punter + Luke Ashley The Moon, Cardiff.

8pm, free. Info info@ themooncardiff.com. Also featuring DJing from Roughion.

Contrasaurus CMC Sports & Leisure Club, University Hospital Of Wales, Cardiff.

7pm, £10/£8 adv/£5 kids.

Info ruffceilidhs.org. A RUFF Ceilidhs night, also with caller Dave Parsons.

Dance With The Dead Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7pm, £16.50. Info 029 2023 2199.

Metal meets synthpop Desecration + Sodomized Cadaver + Ablated + Cerebral Atrophy Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff. 7pm, £8. Info

07970 063107. Death metal. *Die! Chihuahua Die! + Zinc Bukowski + Made Of Teeth + Excellent Skeleton Clwb Y Bont, Pontypridd. 7.30pm, £5. Info 01443 491424. Very agreeable quartet of south Wales rock bands.

Explosive Light Orchestra Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen.

7pm, £17.50/£16.50. Info 0845 2263510. ELO tribute band.

Gin Annie + Statement The Patriot, Crumlin. 7pm, £8/£6 adv. Info 01495 247178.

Some sort of hard rock band I guess.

Grace Petrie Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan. 7.30pm, £3-£14. Info 01239 621200.

Guns 2 Roses The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £11 adv. Info 07590 471888. Tribute band.

Hangleton Youth Brass Band National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 3pm, free.

Info 029 2057 3600. Brighton ensemble.

H_angm_n + Bare Dreams + Brightr + Solstice Undertone, Cardiff.

6.30pm, £5/£4 adv. Info 029 2022 8883. Emo and poppunk presented by Open Head.

Hue & Cry Jac’s, Aberdare.

7.30pm, £15 adv. Info 01685 879491. If you liked the Welsh independence gig in Cardiff last night, why not follow it up by going to see Hue & Cry featuring Scottish indyref zealot uber alles Pat Kane?

John Paul The Red Dragon, Bridgend. 8.30pm, free. Info 01656 654753. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Laurence Crow + Paul Divers NosDa, Cardiff.

7.30pm, free. Info 029 2037 8866.

Lleuwen Salem Chapel, Canton, Cardiff. 7pm, £9 adv.

Info capelsalem.org.

Mark Morriss Cardiff Bus Transport Club. 8pm, £10 adv.

Info 029 2023 3658. Bluetones frontman plays solo show.

Sold out.

Mud On The Tyres + Candy Mountain The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, £5.

Info 01497 821762. Blues and country.

Pearler + Suns Of Thunder + Fallen Temples The Bunkhouse, Swansea. 7pm. Info info@ bunkhousebar.co.uk. Album launch for the headliners, local fellows who aim to evoke the superlative moments of one’s life in their music, which I think is sort of glam metal.

Penny Arcade Cockett Inn, Swansea. 9pm, free. Info 01792 588748. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Pure Purple The New Crown Inn, Merthyr Tydfil. 9pm, £8/£6adv. Info 01685 387925.

Deep Purple tribute.

Ross Gurney Birchgrove, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2031 1319. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Sara Dowling Quartet Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff.

8pm, £15 adv. Info 029 2089 0862. Jazz vocalist with a tribute to Judy Garland.

Slipped Disco Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

Soul Stripper The Dragonffli, Pontypool. 7pm, £5. Info gigs@thedragonffli. com. Bon Scott-era AC/DC tribute band.

Southern Blood The Perch, Swansea. 9pm,. Info 01792 462002.

The Beach Boys® Tribute Show Memorial Hall Theatre, Barry. 7.30pm, £20. Info 01446 738622. Big big fan of that registered trademark being incorporated in the name. Running scared of a writ from Mike Love I’d wager.

The Navarones Rhondda Hotel, Porth. 7pm, £6 adv. Info 01443 682388. Ska/2-tone tribute band.

The Special Brew West End Club, Barry. 8pm, £3 adv. Info 01446 735739. Ska/2-tone tribute act.

Welsh Open Brass Bands Entertainment Championship Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 12pm, £7.50-£9.50. Info 01656 815995.

Whitney: Queen Of The

Lleuwen Capel y Morfa, Aberystwyth. 7pm, £9 adv.

Info 01970 612163.

No Mean Biscuit Browns, Laugharne. 3pm, free. Info 01994 427688.

Solasta Glais Rugby Football Club, nr Clydach, Swansea.

8pm, £7. Info 01792 425231.

A Valley Folk Club night. See Music for more on Solasta, who are also in Cwmafan on Mon 18 and Pontyclun on Wed 20.

The Marc Davies Band Earl Haig Memorial Club, Cardiff. 6-8pm. Info 029 2062 6015.

MONDAY 18 FEBRUARY Afternoon In Paris Noah’s Yard, Swansea. 8pm. Info 01792 447360. uComposition: Wales Culmination Concert Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464. B Tommy Andersson conducts a programme of work by new/rising Welsh composers. On tomorrow also, at 2.30pm and 7pm.

Easy Street Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8.30pm. Info 029

Group Listening are an alluring duo featuring Stephen Black – best known as Sweet Baboo – and local jazz mainstay Paul Jones. Together they make lush ambient sounds, including at Cardiff pub the Flute & Tankard on Tue 19, as part of their jazz programme.

Night Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli.

7pm, £24.50/£22.50. Info 0845 2263510. W. Houston tribute show.

Z3 Top The Dolls House, Abertillery. 6pm. Info 01495 213300. ZZ Top tribute.

SUNDAY 17 FEBRUARY Acoustic Session Arvon Ale House, Llandrindod Wells.

4pm. Info 07477 627267.

Art Brut The Globe, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £15 adv. Info 07590 471888. Sarky indie combo of about 15 years’ standing.

Described as coming from Berlin in the venue’s blurb, which doesn’t seem to have any basis in fact although there is a song about said city on their latest album.

Barb Jungr Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 8pm, £16.50 adv. Info 029 2089 0862.

Doing her Bob Dylan/Leonard Cohen tribute show, which she’s brought to this region two or so times before I think.

Chapter Four Jazz Quartet Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2030 4400. Jazz in the bar.

DunkelNacht + Sepulchre + Vouluntas + Ylem Darkul Creature Sound, Swansea. 6pm, free. Info 01792 301178. Blackened death metal band from France headline.

2038 7026.

Razorlight Tramshed, Cardiff. 7pm, £22.50 adv.

Info 029 2023 5555. Daft indie band of yesteryear back in biz.

Solasta The Rolling Mill, Cwmafan, nr Port Talbot.

7pm. Info 01639 896347. A Cwmafan Folk Club night.

TUESDAY 19 FEBRUARY Battalion Concert 2019 The Riverfront, Newport.

6.30pm, £5/£3. Info 01633 656757. An evening of music and drama reflecting on WWI. Group Listening Flute & Tankard, Cardiff. 9-11.30pm, £7/£5 NUS. Info www. thefluteandtankard.com.

James Gough St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 1pm, £5-£7.

Info 029 2087 8444. Also on Mon 18.

Jim Moray St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 8pm, £5-£15. Info 029 2087 8444. UK folkie, presented here by Roots Unearthed.

John Davies Quartet Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £4.50/£4 members/£2 NUS. Info 029 2038 7026. *Ouzo Bazooka + Hippodrone + Nigel + Dactyl Terra The Moon, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £6. Info info@themooncardiff.com.

Tel Aviv psych band headline.

u – repeated

Listings digs ’em!

Peter Doherty & The Puta Madres Sin City, Swansea.

7.30pm, £20 adv. Info 01792 468892.

WEDNESDAY 20 FEBRUARY Adrian Cox The Garage, Swansea. 8.30pm, £12.50. Info 01792 475147. A Swansea Jazzland night.

Andy Collins Open Mic Night Cockett Inn, Swansea.

8pm, free. Info 01792 588748.

Presented by Nailed It Events.

Concerts And Cakes Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare.

1pm, £4.50. Info 0300 0040444. Presented by Live Music Now, as I assume is the one below.

Concerts And Cakes Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 12.30pm, £5. Info 0845 2263510.

Duski One Shot Flute & Tankard, Cardiff. 9-11.30pm, £7/£5 NUS. Info www. thefluteandtankard.com.

Jazz.

Gilbert & Sullivan Singalong The Hyst, Swansea. 6pm, £5. Info 01792 654366.

Jackie Oates Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 8pm, £12/£10.

Info 01970 623232. British folk violinist. uJohn Owen-Jones Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £25 adv. Info 029 2087 7959.

Album launch gig of sorts for Welsh West End fave. On tomorrow also, which is sold out; today’s date was added afterwards.

Matt Forde with The Capital City Jazz Orchestra Rogerstone & Bassaleg Social Club, Bassaleg, Newport. 8pm, £10.

Info malc@dancebands.plus. com. A South Wales Big Band Society gig.

Open Mic Night NosDa, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free. Info 029 2037 8866. With a different guest host every week this month; tonight’s is Brad Dickenson.

Reverend James & The Swingtown Cowboys Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Penarth. 7.30pm, £5/£4.40 adv. Info feelgoodmusicorg@ gmail.com. Also featuring swing DJ The Medicine Man. Royal Welsh College Wind Orchestra Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 1.15pm, £8/£6 adv. Info 029 2039 1391.

Performing works from 20th century American composers.

Solasta Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club. 7.30pm, £8/£5. Info 01443 226892. A Llantrisant Folk Club night.

The Joy Formidable Sin City, Swansea. 7.30pm, £20 adv. Info 01792 468892.

THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY Afternoon In Paris Plas Hyfryd Hotel, Narberth. 8pm, £11/£10. Info 01834 869323.

Spanjazz night.

Another Sky + Laundrette Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7pm, £7. Info 029 2023 2199.

Coltrane Dedication Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £6/£5. Info 029 2038 7026.

Idge Logan The Pear Tree, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2025 2042. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Luke Philbrick & Damon T The Moon, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free. Info info@ themooncardiff.com. A Pi & Hash night.

Oh! What A Feeling Torch Theatre, Milford Haven.

7.30pm, £21/£20. Info 01646 695267. Commodores/Lionel Richie tribute show. In Cardiff tomorrow.

Symphony Orchestra Of India St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5-£49.50.

Info 029 2087 8444. Martyn Brabbins conducts a programme of Weber, Saint-Saëns and Rimsky-Korsakov.

The Ultimate Classic Rock Show The Hyst, Swansea.

8pm, £10 adv. Info 01792 654366.

FRIDAY 22 FEBRUARY Andante Workmen’s Hall, Caerphilly. 8pm, £8 adv. Info 07512 237983. Tribute to 60s/ early 70s folk-rock.

A Viennese Strauss Gala Miners Institute, Blackwood.

7.30pm, £18.50/£17.50. Info 01495 227206. Highlights from Strauss operettas, performed by The European Orchestral Ensemble.

Bat Boy + Honey Joy + Human Heat + Kneeon The Moon, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free. Info info@ themooncardiff.com.

Bity Booker The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, £5.

Info 01497 821762. Hippy folkie from London.

Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses South Wales Heat 2 Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff.

7pm, £5. Info 07970 063107.

Featuring sets from Black Pyre, Stitched Up, State Of Deceit and Prophecy.

Christopher Howe Beaufort Arms, Swansea. 8pm, free.

Info 01792 234447. Presented

by Nailed It Events.

Crystalline The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8pm, free.

Info 029 2021 2509.

Dabbla Queens Hall, Narberth. 8pm, £12/£10. Info 01834 869323. UK hip-hop guy, presented here by Span Arts.

Dead At 27 + The 501s Crowleys Rock Bar, Swansea.

8pm, free. Info crowleysrockbar@hotmail. com.

Dodgy + Babybird + Tony Wright Tramshed, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £21 adv. Info 029 2023 5555. Three acts who were not really grouped together in their 90s heyday but for whatever reason have decided to tour together. Tony, of the band Terrorvision, was once apt to complain that his group suffered critical short shrift compared to indie combos like, presumably, Dodgy and Babybird.

Ghost Train Ty Newydd, Barry. 9pm, free. Info 01446 407767. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Glas The Twelve Knights, Port Talbot. 9pm, free. Info 01639 882381. Presented by

(Cardiff University, Thurs 18) THE SPECIALS (Cardiff University, Sun 21) SUEDE (Cardiff University, Fri 26) KID INK (Tramshed, Sun 28) JUST ANNOUNCED FOR MAY: THE WEDDING PRESENT (Tramshed, Thurs 2) HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD (Cardiff University, Sat 4) CATFISH & THE BOTTLEMEN (Motorpoint Arena, Sun 5) BUZZ 74

Nailed It Events.

Grooveline The Duke Of Wellington, Cowbridge.

9.30pm, free. Info 01446 773592. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Honey Joy + Bat Boy The Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info info@themooncardiff.com.

Katy Woolley & Peter Adcock Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

1.15pm, £8/£6 adv. Info 029 2039 1391. Horn and piano duo.

Lau Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £8.50-£17. Info 029 2039 1391. Scottish folkrockers.

Luke Philbrick + Damon T NosDa, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free. Info 029 2037 8866.

Oh! What A Feeling Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff.

8pm, £22 adv. Info 029 2089 0862.

Oques Grasses + Holiday In The Mind Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 8pm, £15.

Info 029 2030 4400. Catalan pop-reggae band who played here in 2016 and went down a treat, one is informed.

Punchline The Plough, Whitchurch, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2062 3017.

Presented by Nailed It Events.

Science Bastard + Fader + World Vs World The Dragonffli, Pontypool. 7pm, £3. Info gigs@thedragonffli. com.

Surreal Panther Hangar 18, Swansea. 7.30pm, £4 adv. Info enquiries@ hangar18musicvenue.co.uk.

Steel Panther tribute.

The Bella Collins Band Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £4/£3. Info 029 2038 7026.

Soul.

The Heist Rhondda Hotel, Porth. 7pm, £4 adv. Info 01443 682388. Rock covers.

The Johnny Cash Roadshow The Riverfront, Newport. 7.30pm, £23.50/£22.

Info 01633 656757. Tribute act.

The Rotanas The Big Top, Cardiff. 7pm. Info 029 2022 8883.

The Spitfires + Nick Corbin The Globe, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £14 adv. Info 07590 471888. Watford rock band headline.

The X Factor Live Motorpoint Arena Cardiff.

6.30pm, from £27. Info 029 2022 4488. Featuring Scarlett Lee, Dalton Harris, Anthony Russell, Danny Tetley, Acacia & Aaliyah, Brendan Murray, Shan Ako, Bella Penfold and Becca Dudley.

Virginmarys + Florence Black Hobo’s, Bridgend.

7pm, £13 adv. Info www. hobosmusicvenue.com.

Headliners come from Macclesfield and their record label is called Masochismo.

Young Garbo Tarion + Lunar Bird + Bedface Jac’s, Aberdare. 7.30pm, £3.

Info 01685 879491. Rock covers.

SATURDAY 23 FEBRUARY 22nd Annual Rorke’s Drift Concert Theatr Brycheiniog,

Brecon. 7.30pm, £10/£9. Info 01874 611622.

Altered Bridge Hangar 18, Swansea. 7.30pm, £4 adv. Info enquiries@ hangar18musicvenue.co.uk.

Alter Bridge tribute.

Anonymous Iconoclasts The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff.

8.30pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

Champions Of Rock Town Hall, Maesteg. 7.30pm, £21.50.

Info 01656 815995. Queen tribute band.

Dr. Sardonicus’s Midwinter Nights Dream Psychedelic Festival #2 Cellar Bar, Cardigan. 4pm1am, £17.50/£15 adv. Info 07818 056599. Live sets by Sendelica, Twink, The Lost Tuesday Society, Paradise 9 and Broken Lines. The smaller sibling of the annual Sendelica-organised psych festival on here each August.

Dunraven Wales Young Singer Of The Year 2019 Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 6.30pm, £12.50/£10. Info 029 2039 1391.

Fatboy Slim + Horse Meat Disco + Cousn Motorpoint Arena Cardiff.

6.30pm, £40. Info 029 2022 4488. Big beat ain’t dead baby!

Henry Marten’s Ghost Birchgrove, Cardiff. 9pm, free.

Info 029 2031 1319. Presented

by Nailed It Events.

Jacob & Drinkwater West End Club, Barry. 7.3010.30pm. Info 01446 735739.

Folk duo from Devon presented by Roots N All. Joan Baez St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £32-£67. Info 029 2087 8444. Final ever tour for coffeehouse folk-rocker.

Louise Halliday The Red Dragon, Bridgend. 8.30pm, free. Info 01656 654753.

Presented by Nailed It Events.

Our Hollow, Our Home Hobo’s, Bridgend. 7pm. Info www.hobosmusicvenue.com.

Peter Hook & The Light Tramshed, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £23.50 adv. Info 029 2023 5555. Featuring two sets, the first concentrating on Joy Division and the other on New Order LPs Technique and Republic.

Ravenbreed + Surrge + King Kraken Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff. 7pm, £3. Info 07970 063107.

Rocket Joe Joe & The Old Time Bangers Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

Rock N Soul The Seagull Inn, Porthcawl. 7.30pm, free.

Info 01656 785420. Presented

by Nailed It Events.

Sam’s Birthday Bash Inkspot, Cardiff. 7pm-4am, £3. Info 029 2049 0254.

Featuring Reality Attack, Sporadics, The Biggest Thing Since Powdered Milk and The Blunders, plus DJs Alchemicz, 2cBenJi, Jago Lyne, Dan Jones and the Wounded Healers.

Simon Trigg Three Horse Shoes, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2069 4630. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Steve Knightley Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £18 adv. Info 029 2087 7959. UK folkie, known for his membership of Show Of Hands.

The Hold Up: Inner City Cypher Oner Signs, Cardiff.

1-5pm, free. Info 029 2037 1231. Monthly hip-hop session inviting MCs, beatboxers, DJs etc down to jam.

The Rhythm Method Blinkin Owl, Cwmbran. 9pm, free. Info 01633 484749.

Presented by Nailed It Events.

The Rosie Walters Band Earl Haig Memorial Club, Cardiff. 9pm. Info 029 2062 6015.

The Ultimate Classic Rock Show The Globe, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £12 adv. Info 07590 471888.

Wildside Jac’s, Aberdare.

7.30pm, £13/£10 adv. Info 01685 879491.

Windshake + Taxi Rank + The Stray Pursuit + Wine Morals Sin City, Swansea. 7pm, £4/£3 adv. Info 01792 468892.

SUNDAY 24 FEBRUARY Adam Glasser Quartet Melville Theatre, Abergavenny.

7.30pm, £10/£8/£3 NUS. Info 01873 853167. Black Mountain Jazz gig.

From Inside + Calling Apollo + LifeLust + I Am Gravity Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff. 7pm, £6. Info 07970 063107.

Henry Dent Browns, Laugharne. 3pm, free. Info 01994 427688.

Rapture + Windshake + The Unknown Jac’s, Aberdare. 5.30-8.30pm, £3.

Info 01685 879491.

Rodney Branigan Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 8pm, £14 adv. Info 029 2089 0862.

Singer-songwriter compared to, get ready for this, Jeff Buckley Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox Tramshed, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £28.50 adv. Info 029 2023 5555. Pop covers in a jazzy swing style.

Stone Broken + Those Damn Crows + Everyday Heroes The Globe, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £14 adv. Info 07590 471888. Hard rock triple bill.

Sold out.

Whitchurch Jam Session #115 Earl Haig Memorial Club, Cardiff. 5.30pm, free.

Info 029 2062 6015.

MONDAY 25 FEBRUARY Bill Kirchen Earl Haig Memorial Club, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £12/£10 adv. Info 029 2062 6015. American rock’n’roll/bluegrass/Western swing guitarist. Played here last year as well I think.

Bryan Fallon + Craig Finn Tramshed, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £26 adv. Info 029 2023 5555. Bloke from The Gaslight anthem supported by bloke from The Hold Steady (which I have a suspicion has flown under the radar).

Ian Poole Quartet Noah’s Yard, Swansea. 8pm. Info 01792 447360.

TUESDAY 26 FEBRUARY Blazin’ Fiddles Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

7.30pm, £14/£12. Info 01970 623232. Fiddle ensemble drawn from various remote parts of Scotland.

Campfire Social + Ennio The Little Brother + Dusty Cut + Minas The Moon, Cardiff. 7pm, £5. Info info@themooncardiff.com.

Duo Bayanello + Trio Anima St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 8pm, £3-£16. Info 029 2087 8444. Accordion and cello duo plus harp, viola and flute trio.

Gould Piano Trio & Robert Plane Cardiff University Concert Hall. 7-9pm, £10/£8/ free NUS. Info 029 2087 4816.

Performing works by Watkins, Fokkens and Messiaen.

Jessica Radcliffe Flute & Tankard, Cardiff. 9-11.30pm, £7/£5 NUS. Info www. thefluteandtankard.com.

Jazz.

The Preservation Rhythm Kings Café Jazz, Cardiff.

8pm, £4.50/£4 members/£2 NUS. Info 029 2038 7026.

WEDNESDAY 27 FEBRUARY Bute Clarinet Quartet Memorial Hall Theatre, Barry.

1.30pm, £5/£1 dementia friendly. Info 01446 738622.

Concerts & Cakes lunchtime performance.

Lance Ellington with Dave Cottle Trio The Garage, Swansea. 8.30pm, £13. Info 01792 475147. A Swansea Jazzland night.

Mike Johnson Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club.

7.30pm, £3. Info 01443 226892. A Llantrisant Folk Club night.

Nick Malcolm Quartet Flute & Tankard, Cardiff.

9-11.30pm, £7/£5 NUS. Info www.thefluteandtankard. com. Jazz.

Open Mic Night NosDa, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free. Info 029 2037 8866. With a different guest host every week this month; tonight’s is The Freeway.

Rob Lear + 3MPH + The Bakestones The New Crown Inn, Merthyr Tydfil. 9-11pm, £3. Info 01685 387925. A U&I Radio night.

Royal Welsh College Chamber Orchestra Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 1.15pm, £8/£6 adv. Info 029 2039 1391.

Performing Jasper Dommet’s Something In The Mist.

Sirens Of The Strand The Hyst, Swansea. 6.30pm, £2 adv. Info 01792 654366.

The Steve Price Big Band Rogerstone & Bassaleg Social Club, Bassaleg, Newport.

8pm, £10. Info malc@dancebands.plus.com. A South Wales Big Band Society gig.

Think Floyd Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £25. Info 01792 475715. Pink Floyd tribute THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY Area 11 The Globe, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £11 adv. Info 07590 471888. UK rockers.

Berkeley Ensemble Royal

Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £14/£12. Info 029 2039 1391.

A performance of The Mare’s Tale, by Mark Bowden and inspired by a series of drawings by Clive Hicks-Jenkins.

Capital City Jazz Orchestra Porter’s, Cardiff.

8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

Dave Jones Quartet Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £6/£5. Info 029 2038 7026.

Harp Recital National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre.

11am-3pm, free. Info 029 2057 3600. Featuring the Welsh branch of the Clarsach Society.

Hims And Arias Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 6pm, £4 adv. Info 029 2089 0862. Pizza night with a choir performing ahead of St David’s Day. Ian Poole Quartet The Pear Tree, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2025 2042. Presented by Nailed It Events.

Megan Davies Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7pm, £20. Info 029 2023 2199. Nashville singer-songwriter who got popular via YouTube.

The Roselleys Crindau Constitutional Club, Newport.

8pm, £8/£5. Info 01633 858636. A Lyceum Folk Club night.

stage FRIDAY 1 FEBRUARY uAmerican Idiot New Theatre, Cardiff. 5.30 + 8.30pm, £13-£39. Info 029 2087 8889. Green Day musical. On tomorrow also Comedy Club Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7.30pm, £12. Info 0845 2263510. With comics TBC. uGwent YFC Ents Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7pm, £12.

Info 01633 263670. Variety show. On tomorrow also. uHard Knock Life The Riverfront, Newport. 7pm, £8.

Info 01633 656757. An adaption of the musical Annie, with the protagonist now called Marcus for whatever reason. On tomorrow also. uKate Lucas + Craig Murray + Rob Deering + Nigel Ng Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £16.50/£8.50 NUS/£24.95 with food and a drink. Info 0871 4720400. On tomorrow also (£19/£10 NUS) Manpower Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 01970 623232. Theatre show featuring a British man and Eastern European woman talking about political developments. Also includes a post-show talk. uMary Stuart Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7pm, £9.50/£8.50. Info 01873 850805. Abergavenny Theatre Group with a production of a drama which pits Mary Queen of Scots against Elizabeth I, Celebrity Deathmatch style.

On tomorrow also. uOnly Fools: The (Cushty) Dining Experience Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

Bay. 7.30pm, £56. Info 029 2063 6464. The latest in the series of theatre shows based on an old sitcom, in which you eat a three-course meal in the pub they went to in the show. The whole premise sounds massively tenuous to me, yet all but two performances (Sunday afternoon and Tuesday) are sold out at the time of writing. On at 12.30pm and 7.30pm tomorrow and Sun 3; 7.30pm only on Tue 5-Thurs 7 (tickets £46 for those dates). No performance on Mon 4. (Until Thurs 7) uResident Magicians The Small Space, Barry.

7.30pm, £20. Info info@ thesmallspace.co.uk. Notably small (only 20 seats!) magiccentred Vale venue. Also on tomorrow (sold out), Sat 9 (sold out), Fri 22 and Sat 23.

‘Stute Comedy Nights Miners Institute, Blackwood.

8pm, £12.50/£11.50 adv. Info 01495 227206. uThe Band Grand Theatre, Swansea. 5 + 8.30pm, £20.50-£47.50. Info 01792 475715. Take That musical.

On tomorrow also, at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

Tony Law Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 8pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2030 4400. Comedian with a new set, titled The Lost Show, that was a hit at the Eninburgh Fringe last year. uWoof Sherman Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £9-£18. Info 029 2064 6900. A new play

by Elgan Rhys, an alumnus of this theatre‘s development scheme, concerning two men and their burgeoning relationship. On at 7pm on Mon 4, although it’s sold out.

No performance on Sun 3.

(Until Sat 9) SATURDAY 2 FEBRUARY Alfie Moore Savoy Theatre, Monmouth. 8pm, £14. Info 01600 772467. Standup comedian who used to be a policeman and appears to use this for much of his material. “Offbeat, revealing and very funny” – Daily Mail; “genuinely hilarious“ – David Mitchell. Both of those publicity quotes presented without further comment from me.

Legacy – Fantasy Feet Dance Academy Park & Dare, Treorchy. 5pm, £15/£10.

Info 0300 0040444. Dance/ drama/singing showcase.

Luke Jermay Pontardawe Arts Centre. 7.30pm. Info 01792 863722. Mind reader type. Sold out.

Max Boyce Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7.30pm, £27.50.

Info 01686 614555. In Blackwood on Thurs 7, Milford Haven on Fri 15 and Sat 16, and Aberdare on Fri 22. All those are sold out but this doesn’t look to be.

Shylock Grand Theatre Arts Wing, Swansea. 7.15pm, £12.50/£6 schools. Info 01792 475715. One-man show based around Shakespeare’s Jewish moneylender character, and the devisive aspects of his legacy. In Aberystwyth on Tue 12.

THE WILDHEARTS (Tramshed, Mon 6) WET WET WET (Tramshed, Fri 17) THE WONDER STUFF (Tramshed, Wed 22) OH SEES (Tramshed, Thurs 23) CARDIFF PSYCH & NOISE FEST (Womanby Street, Fri 24-Sun 26) HOWARD JONES (St David’s Hall, Sun 26) MINISTRY OF SOUND CLASSICAL (St David’s Hall, Fri 31) BUZZ 75

SUNDAY 3 FEBRUARY uLive Cabaret Market Street Club, Barry. 8.30pm.

Info 01446 733863. Every Sunday.

Spontaneous Potter Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £10. Info 0871 4720400. “An entirely improvised Harry Potter comedy play, based on an audience suggestion of a fanfiction title. With live musical accompaniment!” OK. MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY uBrecknock Federation Of Young Farmers Entertainment & One Plus Festival Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 7pm, £10/£9. Info 01874 611622. Clubs from across the county will compete for various accolades; the ultimate winners will perform their pieces on Sat 9’s Gala Evening, tickets for which are £13. uRubicon Dance’s Schools Showcase St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 6pm, £7 adv. Info 029 2087 8444. Also on Mon 18.

Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic Night NosDa, Cardiff.

8pm, free. Info 029 2037 8866.

Presented by Pi & Hash.

The Small Space In The City Cornerstone, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £20. Info info@ thesmallspace.co.uk.

Magicians from petite Barry theatre come to Cardiff and show off their sleight.

TUESDAY 5 FEBRUARY uBlue Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2030 4400. Chippy Lane present a play set in Carmarthenshire about a mother enduring a fractious family situation. See Stage.

Also on at 2.30pm on Thurs 7, Sat 9, Thurs 14 and Sat 16. £10-£14 after Thurs 7. (Until Sat 16) Cracked Park & Dare, Treorchy. 7.30pm, £8. Info 0300 0040444. Pontardawe Arts Centre present a play about a vulnerable adult with an imaginary friend returned from his childhood. In Llanelli tomorrow; Blackwood on Tue 12; Haverfordwest on Wed 13; Pontardawe on Fri 15; Cardiff Sat 16.

Gadael Tir Miners Theatre, Ammanford. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 0845 2263510. Welshlanguage show telling the story of land rights and protest in Wales. In Carmarthen tomorrow. uMachinal Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £6-£13.

Info 029 2039 1391. Sophie Treadwell’s 1920s play, presented by the Richard Burton Company. Also on at 2.30pm on Thurs 7. No performances on Sun 10. (Until Tue 12) uRebus: Long Shadows New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12-£29. Info 029 2087 8889.

Stage version of an Ian Rankin novel, adapted by Rona Munro. On at 2.30pm and 7.30pm tomorrow, Thurs 7 (£11-£22 on both these dates) and Sat 9. £13-£32 on the evenings of Fri 8 and Sat 9. (Until Sat 9) uSister Act Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 7.30pm, £15/£13. Info 01646 695267.

BUZZ 76

Musical, presented by the Artistic Licence Theatre Company. On at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Sat 9. (Until Sat 9) uSpace Cadette The Other Room at Porter’s, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £10 adv. Info info@ otherroomtheatre.com.

Cabaret show from Laurie Black.. On at 4pm and 7.30pm on Fri 8. (Until Fri 8) uThérèse Raquin Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £6-£13. Info 029 2039 1391.

Emile Zola’s 1868 play about lust, murder and madness, presented by the Richard Burton Company. Also on at 2.30pm on Fri 8. No performances on Sun 10. (Until Tue 12) uWhat We Know Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 8pm, £6-£13.

Info 029 2039 1391. Pamela Carter’s 2010 play about sudden loss and, conversely, dinner party mores. No performances on Sun 10. (Until Tue 12) uWho’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 7pm, £7. Info 01633 868239. Presented by Theatre Ad Hoc. On tomorrow also.

WEDNESDAY 6 FEBRUARY uBen & Holly’s Little Kingdom Grand Theatre, Swansea. 10am, 1pm + 4.30pm, £9-£17. Info 01792 475715. Kids’ theatre based on a TV show. On tomorrow also, at 10am and 1pm.

Cabaret At The College Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 6-7pm, free.

Info 029 2039 1391. Songs from the musicals, hosted in the foyer.

Cracked Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli.

7pm, £12/£10. Info 0845 2263510.

Drew Taylor + Col Howarth + Rebekah Louise + Steffan Evans The Albion, Penarth. 8pm, free. Info 029 2033 0743.

Comedy night.

Gadael Tir Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen. 7pm, £12/£10.

Info 0845 2263510.

THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY uAladdin Mike Barlow Theatre, YMCA, Cardiff.

6.45pm, £10/£5 kids. Info cardiffplayerstheatre.co.uk.

Presented by Cardiff Players. uDane Baptiste + Catherine Bohart + Sean Collins Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £10/£17 with a pie/£6 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. Tonight is Pie Face Comedy and features both comedians and food offers.

On tomorrow also, with Andy Robinson headlining (£16.50/£8.50 NUS/£24.95 with food and a drink) and Sat 9, again with Robinson headlining (£19/£10 NUS).

Desk Job Town Hall, Maesteg. 1pm, £6.50. Info 01656 815995. Lunchtime theatre written by Mike Witchell.

Max Boyce Miners Institute, Blackwood. 7.30pm, £27.50 adv. Info 01495 227206. Sold out.

FRIDAY 8 FEBRUARY Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience Bedwellty House & Park, Tredegar. 7pm, £42.50 adv. Info 01495 353397.

Mandy Muden Grand Theatre Arts Wing, Swansea.

8pm, £19.50. Info 01792 475715. Magician who was on TV and whose show is called Cunning Stunts, a title so overused it has its own Wikipedia disambiguation page.

Tangomotion Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7.45pm, £18/£15. Info 01686 614555.

Argentinian dancing and music.

The Circus Of Horrors Grand Theatre, Swansea.

7.30pm, £20-£28. Info 01792 475715. In Aberdare tomorrow. uWuthering Heights Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 01970 623232. Stage adaption presented by Castaway Community Theatre. On tomorrow also.

Verdi’s opera. Also on Sat 16 and Sat 23.

TUESDAY 12 FEBRUARY Cracked Miners Institute, Blackwood. 7.30pm, £12.50/£10.50. Info 01495 227206. uGrav Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 7.30pm, £8.50£13.50. Info 01646 695267.

Welsh rugby star Ray Gravell is theatrically immortalised.

On at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Thurs 14. In Brecon on Wed 20; Pontardawe Thurs 21; Cardiff Thurs 28 and Fri 1 Mar. (Until Thurs 14) Rough As Comedy The White Swan, Swansea. 8pm, £8 adv. Info whiteswanswansea@gmail.com. Hosted by Tom Evans, more acts TBC. Shylock Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.30pm, £10/£8. Info 01970 623232. uTable 5 Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £12/£8.50.

Info 01633 263670. Written by Kevin Myers and presented

by Newport Playgoers Society.

Also on at 2.30pm on Sat 16

The University Of South Wales Drama Society present a double bill of plays in Merthyr’s Redhouse on Wed 20. Endgame is one of Samuel Beckett’s best known works, and will be followed by Mamgu, a new work by the Society itself.

SATURDAY 9 FEBRUARY uDansation XIV St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7pm, £13/£12.

Info 029 2087 8444. Showcase performance by the Debbie Chapman Dancers. Also here on Sat 16.

Hidden Worlds Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.45pm, £10/£8.

Info 01970 623232. Oneperson performances from Karen Fisher, Clive HicksJenkins and Jane Traies, celebrating LGBT History Month UK. Juliet & Romeo Small World Theatre, Cardigan. 8-9pm, £10. Info 01239 615952. Lost Dog present a reimagining of Romeo & Juliet in which, rather than dying, they have achieved middle age and are seeing a therapist. My heavy-handed satire sense is tingling!

Mother Said I Never Should Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7.45pm, £11. Info 01686 614555. A play set in Manchester, Oldham and London and detailing the lives of four women.

The Bear St Edward’s Church, Penylan, Cardiff.

6-7pm, £12/£10 NUS. Info 01994 427688. An “alternative Valentine’s opera” by William Walton with Rebecca Chellappah as mezzosoprano.

The Circus Of Horrors Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare.

7.30pm, £19-£25. Info 0300 0040444. uUn Ballo In Maschera Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £12.50£49.50. Info 029 2063 6464.

Welsh National Opera present

(tickets £11). (Until Sat 16) uThe Addams Family Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare.

7pm, £8/£5. Info 0300 0040444. Presented by Aberdare Community School.

(Until Thurs 14) WEDNESDAY 13 FEBRUARY uCatch A Rising Star Congress Theatre, Cwmbran.

7pm, £9.50/£8.50. Info 01633 868239. Dance showcase from the Gemini School Of Dance.

(Until Sat 16) Cracked The Merlin Theatre, Haverfordwest. 8pm, £10/£8.

Info 01834 869323. Presented

by Span Arts. uJust A Few Words The Other Room at Porter’s, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10 adv. Info info@otherroomtheatre. com. One-man play by one Stammer Mouth, who does indeed have a stammer and here tackles the impact of it on his mode of expression. On at 3pm and 7.30pm on Sat 16.

(Until Sat 16) Mike Doyle The Welfare, Ystradgynlais. 7.30pm, £15. Info 01639 843163. In Cardigan on Fri 15.

Morgan & West Miners Institute, Blackwood. 7pm, £7.50-£12.50. Info 01495 227206. Time-travelling magicians, is the conceit of this duo’s show.

Steve Steinman’s Vampires Rock St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £31.50/£29.50. Info 029 2087 8444. Rock musical starring Sam Bailey, who has taken over that role from Toyah.

Studio Comedy Club

Sherman Theatre, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £11/£9 adv. Info 029 2064 6900. With comedians TBC. THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY Glen Wool Pontardawe Arts Centre. 8pm, £14 adv. Info 01792 863722. Comedian. uInto The Light Sherman Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £11-£22. Info 029 2064 6900.

Hijinx and Teatro La Ribalta present a piece of intense physical theatre about the right to be seen and heard.

(Until Sat 16) Medusa Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.30pm, £10-£14.

Info 01970 623232. Dance production from the Jasmin Vardimon Company. uOur House Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7pm, £11.50-£15.50.

Info 01792 475715. Madness (as in the band) musical, presented by the Sir Harry Secombe Trust. (Until Sat 16) Paul ‘Silky’ White + Sean Percival + Kevin Dewsbury Narberth Rugby Club. 8pm, £12/£10. Info 01834 869323. Comedy Club night hosted by Span Arts. uRoger Monkhouse + Eleanor Tiernan + Gary Little Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £10/£17 with a pie/£6 NUS. Info 0871 4720400.

Tonight is Pie Face Comedy and features both comedians and food offers. On tomorrow also, with John Lynn headlining (£16.50/£8.50 NUS/£24.95 with food and a drink) and Sat 16, again with Lynn headlining (£19/£10 NUS).

FRIDAY 15 FEBRUARY Cracked Pontardawe Arts Centre. 1 + 7.30pm, £11. Info 01792 863722.

Larks And Magic Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7pm, £10.

Info 0845 2263510. Onewoman play about the life of Railway Children author E. Nesbit. uLegally Blonde – The Musical Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 01792 602060. Presented

by Swansea University’s Performing Arts Societies. On tomorrow also, at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. uMax Boyce Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 7.30pm, £27.50. Info 01646 695267. On tomorrow also, both shows sold out.

Mike Doyle Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan. 7.30pm, £18/£16.50.

Info 01239 621200.

Noson Cabaret The Welfare, Ystradgynlais. 6pm, £15.

Info 01639 843163. Welshlanguage show featuring Toni Caroll, Caryl Parry Jones, Elin Fflur, Dylan Cernyw and Ieuan Jones. uThe Magic Flute Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £12.50-£49.50.

Info 029 2063 6464. Welsh National Opera present Mozart’s opera. Also on Sun 17 (4pm), Sun 24 (4pm), Wed 27 (7.15pm) and Fri 1 Mar (7.15pm).

The Shroud Maker Volcano, Swansea. 7.30pm, £10. Info www.volcanotheatre.co.uk.

One-woman show whose protasgonist is an 80-year-old Palestinian; performed by Julia Tarnoky, written and directed by Ahmed Masoud

and presented by West Wales Friends Of Palestine. uTick, Tick... Boom!

Memorial Hall, Newbridge.

7.30pm, £12. Info 01495 243252. Autobiographical one-act rock musical by the composer of Rent, Jonathan Larson. On tomorrow also, at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY Cracked Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

7.15pm, £6-£12. Info 029 2039 1391.

Mary Golds Look Out Cafe & Bar, Cardiff Bay. 8pm, £15 adv. Info 07812 186164.

Cabaret with local drag artist.

We reviewed Mary’s previous show here back in October, very warmly too.

SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY Comedy Club 4 Kids The Riverfront, Newport. 2pm, £8.

Info 01633 656757. Aimed at ages 6+ and featuring supposed adult comedians tailoring their sets accordingly.

Musicals Gala The Welfare, Ystradgynlais. 6pm, £15. Info 01639 843163. Songs from the musicals featuring With Shân Cothi, Côrdydd, Sean Lewis, Betsan Powys and more.

Sindhu Vee Grand Theatre Arts Wing, Swansea. 7.30pm, £16. Info 01792 475715.

Comedian.

SUNDAY 17 FEBRUARY Anton & Erin Dance Those Magical Musicals St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 3pm, £29.50-£49.50. Info 029 2087 8444.

Carl Hutchinson Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 6pm, £12. Info 0871 4720400. Newcastle comedian with a show about his “adolescent approach to grown-up issues” titled I Know I Shouldn’t Behave Like This.

MONDAY 18 FEBRUARY uBenidorm Live! New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £30-£43. Info 029 2087 8889.

Stage debut for “smash hit” ITV comedy I’ve never heard of. On at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Thurs 21 (£25-£32) and Sat 23. £30-£47 on the evenings of Fri 22 and Sat 23.

(Until Sat 23) uThe Isle Of Brimsker Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 11am + 1.15pm, £8.50. Info 0845 2263510. Multi-sensory story from Frozen Light, specialists in making theatre for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

On tomorrow also at these times (morning performance sold out). In Cardiff on Thurs 21 and Fri 22.

TUESDAY 19 FEBRUARY uDirty Dancing Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £34-£64.50. Info 01792 475715. Musical boasting no less than 35 songs, which really does sound like a lot!

NB I have never been to see a musical and have no plans to.

On at 5pm and 8.30pm on Fri 22; 3pm and 7.30pm on Sat 23 (Until Sat 23) uThe Disquiet The Other Room at Porter’s, Cardiff. 2 + 7.30pm, £10/£8. Info info@ otherroomtheatre.com. New writing performed by the Gap

Year Actors and written by emerging Cardiff playwright Rhiannon Boyle. On tomorrow also. uThe Wind In The Willows Gwyn Hall, Neath.

7pm, £15. Info 0300 3656677.

Stage adaption of famous book by MAOS. On at 1pm and 5pm on Sat 23. (Until Sat 23) uTreorchy Comprehensive School Senior Musical Production Park & Dare, Treorchy. 7pm, £7-£9. Info 0300 0040444.

(Until Thurs 21) WEDNESDAY 20 FEBRUARY Endgame + Mamgu Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil.

7.30-8.30pm, £7. Info 01685 384111. Two plays, the first

by Samuel Beckett and the second by the University Of South Wales’ Drama Society, who are also hosting this evening.

Grav Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 7.30pm, £13/£11. Info 01874 611622.

Lost Voice Guy Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 6.45pm, £16/£14 NUS. Info 0871 4720400.

Comedian, formally known as Lee Ridley and a hit on Britain’s Got Talent, with a sold-out show. In Llanelli tomorrow; Aberystwyth Fri 22.

Trixie Mattel St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 8pm, £32/£77 VIP. Info 029 2087 8444. Drag Race fave with a show titled Skinny Legend. uWoman In Mind Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea.

7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 01792 473238. Alan Ayckbourn play, presented by Swansea Little Theatre. (Until Sat 23) THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY uAdam Bloom + Elliot Steel + Tom Wrigglesworth Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £10/£17 with a pie/£6 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. Tonight is Pie Face Comedy and features both comedians and food offers.

On tomorrow also, with Marlon Davis headlining (£16.50/£8.50 NUS/£24.95 with food and a drink) and Sat 23, again with Davis headlining (£19/£10 NUS).

Dolly Chicken Comedy: Fun At The Flute Flute & Tankard, Cardiff. 7.3010.30pm, £6.50/£5 adv. Info dollychickencomedy@gmail. com. Featuring The Death Hilarious, Mike Reed, Charlie Webster, Jeff Japers and Eleri Morgan plus MC Anita Shaw and house band Molly Katz.

Grav Pontardawe Arts Centre. 7.30pm, £12. Info 01792 863722.

Lost Voice Guy + Jonny Awsum Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli.

7pm, £16.50/£14.50. Info 0845 2263510. uPippin The Gate, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £10/£5. Info 029 2048 3344. Musical, presented here by BA Perfformio and BA Musical Theatre. On at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Sat 23. (Until Sat 23) uSee-Through The Other Room at Porter’s, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £10 adv. Info info@ otherroomtheatre.com. Onewoman play by Claire Gaydon about her experiences trying to be a YouTuber. On at 4pm

and 7.30pm tomorrow; 3pm on Sat 23; 5.30pm on Sun 24.

(Until Sun 24) uThe Isle Of Brimsker Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

11am + 1.30pm. Info 029 2030 4400. On tomorrow also. uThe Unreturning Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea.

7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 01792 602060. Frantic Assembly & Theatre Royal Plymouth present a new play by Anna Jordan, about soldiers adjusting to non-combat life in the aftermath of WWI and 2010s Afghanistan respectively. uThe Vagina Monologues Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

7.45pm, £8/£6. Info 01970 623232. Presented by AberSU. On tomorrow also.

Y Gadair Wag Gartholwg Lifelong Learning Centre, Pontypridd. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 01443 570075. New show

by Welsh poet Ifor ap Glyn, looking at the life of WWI-era Welsh poet Hedd Wyn as well as other poets of the era.

FRIDAY 22 FEBRUARY Cardiff Cabaret Club: Burlesque & James Bond Whitchurch Rugby and Sports Club, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15 adv. Info www.cardiffcabaretclub.com. Burlesque from Velma Von BonBon (as Natalia Kalashnikov), FooFooLaBelle, Kitty LaPurr and boylesque troupe Hot Shots.

Catherine Bohart + Ray Badran + Edd Hedges Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon.

8pm, £10/£20 with food. Info 01874 611622. Comedy Club night.

Comedy Shed The Riverfront, Newport. 7.45pm, £13. Info 01633 656757. With standups TBC. Lost Voice Guy Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 8pm, £16/£14.

Info 01970 623232.

Lovestruck Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £12/£8.50.

Info 01633 263670. The Magor Amateur Dramatic Theatre Company present three short plays taking a look at relationships over the last century.

Max Boyce Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare. 7.30pm, £27.50. Info 0300 0040444.

Sold out.

Murder, She Didn’t Write Town Hall, Maesteg. 7.30pm, £13. Info 01656 815995. A murder mystery created on the spot by Bristol Improv Theatre. uPeter Pan Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 7pm, £16/£12. Info 01633 868239.

Panto, presented by Rainbow Valley. At 2pm from tomorrow until Thurs 28, plus Fri 1 and Sun 3 Mar; 2pm and 7pm on Sat 2 Mar. (Until Sun 3 Mar) The Miracle Men Miners Theatre, Ammanford. 7pm, £7.50. Info 0845 2263510.

New one-man show, featuring 12 short monologues performed by Ammanford-based Dave Jenkins.

SATURDAY 23 FEBRUARY Cafficadabra Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 8-10pm, free. Info 029 2030 4400.

Magic from Joseff Badman in the bar.

Tosca Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7.30pm, £20/£10.

Info 01686 614555. Puccini’s opera, presented by Mid Wales Opera. In Llanelli on Wed 27.

SUNDAY 24 FEBRUARY Glee Family Comedy Show Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 1pm, £10/£7/£16.50 with food.

Info 0871 4720400. Plus a DJ after the comedians and the midnight countdown.

Noreen Khan + Esther Manito + Shazia Mirza + Annette Fagon Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 6pm, £15.

Info 0871 4720400. A night of female standups hosted by Khan and titled LOL (Ladies Of Laughter).

Tomfoolery’s Beans On Toast Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 11am, £6.50. Info 01656 815995. Kids’ show.

MONDAY 25 FEBRUARY A Dragon’s Tale Gartholwg Lifelong Learning Centre, Pontypridd. 2pm, £5. Info 01443 570075. Kids‘ show, presented by Theatrix Arts.

Jack & The Beanstalk Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

2pm, £8/£6. Info 01970 623232. Show aimed at ages 3+. uPen-Blwydd Poenus Pete Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 3pm, £8. Info 029 2030 4400. Family comedy by Gary Owen. On at 11am and 3pm tomorrow and Wed 27.

(Until Wed 27) The Selfish Giant Miners Institute, Blackwood. 2.30pm, £5/£4. Info 01495 227206.

Kids’ show based on Oscar Wilde’s short story. uTreasure Island Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7pm, £5.50/£5. Info 01873 850805.

Panto, presented by the Abergavenny Pantomime Company. On at 2.30pm and 7pm on Fri 1 Mar; 1.30pm and 6pm on Sat 2 Mar. (Until sat 2 Mar) TUESDAY 26 FEBRUARY uBillionaire Boy The Musical New Theatre, Cardiff. 7pm, £13-£17. Info 029 2087 8889. Stage version of David Walliams’ kids’ novel about a boy abandoned by his newly wealthy father. On at 2.30pm tomorrow; 2.30pm and 7pm on Thurs 28 and Fri 1 Mar; 11am and 3pm on Sat 2 Mar. £13.50-£23 from Wed 27-Fri 1 Mar; £14-£25.50 on Sat 2 Mar (Until Sat 2 Mar) uChitty Chitty Bang Bang Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen.

7pm, £17/£14. Info 0845 2263510. Musical presented

by Carmarthen Youth Opera.

On at 2pm and 7pm tomorrow and Sat 2 Mar; 7pm only on Thurs 28 and Fri 1 Mar. (Until Sat 2 Mar) Jack And The Beanstalk Queens Hall, Narberth. 2pm, £6. Info 01834 869323. Show for ages 3+, presented by Lyngo Theatre. In Builth Wells tomorrow. uMadagascar – A Musical Adventure Jr Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot. 12.30 + 5.30pm, £11.50 adv. Info 01639 763214. Presented by Stage 8 Theatre School. On tomorrow also. uPeter Pan Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7pm, £10/£8. Info 01633 263670.

GRAV Various venues, Wed 13 Feb-Fri 15 Mar Tickets: prices vary. Info: torchtheatre.co.uk This one-man play, about Ray Gravell, the legendary Wales centre who made over 400 appearances for Llanelli RFC in the 70s and 80s, has toured many times since its inception in 2015, and last year it even made it all the way to New York. Grav, as he was known, has been performed by Gareth John Bale ever since, in what is now a mainstay of Welsh stages. For its 2019 tour it will visit the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven (Wed 13 and Thurs 14 Feb), Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon (Wed 20), Pontardawe Arts Centre (Thurs 21), Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff (Thurs 28 and Fri 1 Mar), Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot (Wed 6 Mar), Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen (Thurs 7), Aberystwyth Arts Centre (Tue 12), The Welfare, Ystradgynlais (Wed 13), The Riverfront, Newport (Thurs 14) and Theatr Felinfach, Lampeter (Fri 15).

Panto presented by Newport Pantomime Society. Also on at 2.15pm on Sat 2 Mar. (Until Sat 2 Mar) The Amazing Adventures Of Pinocchio Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 2pm, £12.50/£10.50.

Info 0845 2263510. Presented

by Immersion Theatre. In Abertillery tomorrow and Thurs 28.

The Horne Section Grand Theatre, Swansea. 8pm, £22.

Info 01792 475715. Wacky musical comedy troupe.

The Selfish Giant Miners Theatre, Ammanford. 2pm, £5/£4. Info 0845 2263510.

Kids’ show with puppetry.

WEDNESDAY 27 FEBRUARY Così Fan Tutte Torch Theatre, Milford Haven.

7.30pm, £19/£18.50. Info 01646 695267. Opera, presented by Swansea City Opera.

Jack And The Beanstalk Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells. 2pm, £8.50/£7.50. Info 01982 552555. uSnow White & The Seven Dwarfs Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare. 2 + 7pm, £9-£12.

Info 0300 0040444. Panto, presented by Colstars. Also on Fri 1 Mar, at 7pm only, and Sat 2 Mar at 2pm and 7pm. uThe Amazing Adventures Of Pinocchio The Met, Abertillery. 1.30 + 4.30pm, £6.50. Info 01495 355945. On tomorrow also. uThe Tiger Face Show The Other Room at Porter’s, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10 adv. Info info@otherroomtheatre.com.

Comedy theatre by Justin Cliffe, a man who dresses in a tiger suit for whatever reason.

On at 3pm and 7.30pm on Sat

2 Mar. (Until Sat 2 Mar) uThree Knights And Two Welshmen Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 01792 473238.

Play concerning the friendship between Dylan Thomas and Richard Burton. (Until Sat 2 Mar) Tosca Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli.

7.30pm, £18/£16. Info 0845 2263510.

THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY uAndrew Stanley + Phil Ellis + Janey Godley Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £10/£17 with a pie/£6 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. Tonight is Pie Face Comedy and features both comedians and food offers. On tomorrow also, with Chris Forbes headlining (£16.50/£8.50 NUS/£24.95 with food and a drink) and Sat 2, again with Forbes headlining (£19/£10 NUS). uGrav Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

7.45pm, £7.50-£15. Info 029 2039 1391. On tomorrow also.

Jack And The Beanstalk Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan.

2pm, £9.50/£8.50. Info 01239 621200. Presented by Lyngo Theatre.

Jason Donovan Gwyn Hall, Neath. 7.30pm, £27.50. Info 0300 3656677. Eighties pop singer who will not, as far as I can tell, be playing any of his 80s pop hits, just chatting about his life and times Mark Thomas Sherman Theatre, Cardiff. 8pm, £20/£15. Info 029 2064 6900.

Performing his set noting 70 years since the creation of the NHS, although I guess it’s now closer to 71.

Phil Nichol + Evelyn

Mok + Garrett Millerick Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

8pm, £12/£10. Info 01970 623232. Comedy night presented by Little Wander. uRoberto Devereux Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £12.50-£49.50.

Info 029 2063 6464. Welsh National Opera present Donizetti’s opera. Also on Sat 2 Mar. Shappi Khorsandi Savoy Theatre, Monmouth. 8pm, £15. Info 01600 772467.

Comedian presents her latest show, Skittish Warrior.

The Dark Room Pontardawe Arts Centre. 2 + 7.30pm, £11. Info 01792 863722. John Robertson hosts a cross between a comedy and liveaction game show in which you are stuck inside a video game.. uThe Taming Of The Shrew Sherman Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £9-£18.

Info 029 2064 6900. An anti-patriarchal take on this Shakespeare work, by Jo Clifford. On at 7pm on Tue 5 Mar (although it’s sold out); 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Thurs 14 and Sat 16 Mar. No performances on Sun 3 or Sun 10 Mar. (Until Sat 16 Mar) What’s In The Boz? Beelzebub’s, Cardiff. 7pm, free. Info events@ craftydevilbrewing.co.uk.

Newe improv comedy night which is scheduled to be on the second and last Thursday of each month after this, and will feature three-minute slots on a topic chosen by the audience.

BUZZ 77

COMPETITIONS HOW TO WIN: Unless otherwise stated, our competitions are generally shared on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

To enter a competition, keep an eye on our social media channels and click ‘like’ and ‘share’ when published. Alternatively, email competitions@buzzmag.co.uk with the name of the competition in the subject line and up to two sentences on why you think you should win the competition. The more original you are, the better your chances.

TWO TICKETS FOR REBUS: LONG SHADOWS AT THE NEW THEATRE, CARDIFF Over the years, Ian Rankin’s Rebus novels have proven to be major bestsellers, and now they’ve made the comfortable shift over to the stage thanks to this adaptation by Rona Munro. Long Shadows finds detective Rebus coming back from retirement, and you can join him on a hard-boiled journey through the back streets of Edinburgh on Tue 5 Feb. TWO TICKETS TO THE CHERRY ORCHARD AT CHAPTER ARTS CENTRE Everyman Theatre are one of Cardiff’s longest running theatre companies, and they have a fantastic programme in mind for 2019. Kicking off their year is an adaptation of Russian playwright Anton Chekov’s The Cherry Orchard, for which we have two tickets – the play starts its run on Tue 5 Mar. TWO TICKETS FOR ROD WOODWARD AT ST DAVID’S HALL, CARDIFF This Cardiff-based standup is hitting up the Hall on Sat 2 Mar with the sole intention of tickling the capital’s funnybones. An award-winning comic with successful Edinburgh Fringe runs as well as plaudits from a who’s who of the big names of the comedy world, this is sure to be a great night.

TWO TICKETS TO THE JOY FORMIDABLE AT SIN CITY, SWANSEA One of Wales’ most innovative and exciting bands are making a stop in Swansea’s Sin City in February. With new album Aaarth out now (a mutilation of the Welsh word for bear, ‘arth’), continuing to refine their brand of shoegazy alt-rock, their set in the city’s biggest independent venue on Wed 20 Feb is likely to be a barnstormer.

TWO TICKETS TO THE MAGIC FLUTE AT WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE There once was a composer by the name of Mozart, and he did a few operas you see. Some of them are quite famous, including The Magic Flute, one of his last. As Welsh National Opera kick off another season of works, they’ll be performing this one and we have two tickets up for grabs for the Wed 27 Feb showing.

In the USA, approximately 80% of new year’s resolutions fail by the second week of February.

The number one resolution in the UK is to exercise more, closely followed by losing weight.

It is tradition in Estonia to eat seven, nine or 12 meals on New Year’s Day. It is believed that doing this will result in never going hungry the following year.

One theory about the origin of Valentine’s Day is that while the Roman Emperor Claudius II was attempting to reinforce his army, he forbade young men to marry because he believed single men would make better soldiers. However, St Valentine opposed the ban and wedded couples in secret, resulting in his execution on Feb 14.

Every dolphin calf has a ‘nanny’, which means that if its mother dies, the ‘nanny’ can produce milk to continue feeding the baby.

The British Library in London holds the world’s first known Valentine card; a poem sent in 1415 by Frenchman Charles, Duke Of Orléans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. The poem was signed “Your Valentine”.

Wales boasts two spots on the list of the top 10 places in the world to propose; one of them is near the lighthouse on Llanddwyn Island, Anglesey, and the other is in the highest row of stands in the Principality Stadium, Cardiff.

In Taiwan, sending 108 flowers to a loved one on Valentine’s Day is a way of asking their hand in marriage.

In Lisdoonvarna, Ireland, a festival for single people is held for the whole month of September each year. There is music, dancing and an opportunity to meet Ireland’s only traditional matchmaker, Willie Daly. It is believed that if people touch Willie’s “lucky book” with both hands, they will be married within the next six months.

A group of jellyfish is called a smack.

The first man to plunge over Niagara Falls in a steel barrel died years later by slipping on an orange peel.

The longest recorded marriage lasted 91 years and 12 days.

(Disclaimer: some of these may not in fact be true)

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BUZZ 78

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