Buzz February 2015

IDE. FEBRUARY 2015

T’S ON GU SOUTH WALES WHA

TARON EGERTON THE SPY GENRE GETS A SHAKE-UP IN KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE

OMID DJALILI: "I'M STILL UNICYCLING WITH CIRCUS RABBIS"

GARETH THOMAS & RAY GRAVELL FROM SPORT TO STAGE PLUS WOMAN IN BLACK | HENNING WEHN | JOSIE LONG | WIN THEATRE TICKETS

HHHHH

‘The wonders just keep coming in MATTHEW BOURNE’S magical new version’ OBSERVER

CYNHYRCHIAD NEW ADVENTURES \ A NEW ADVENTURES PRODUCTION

HHHHH

‘A SMASH HIT. Enchanting and exhilarating.

A treat for all the family’

‘

THE TIMES

Maw 10 – 14 Mar 15

feb2015

buzz... publisher EMMA CLARK editor HEATHER ARNOLD listings/music editor NOEL GARDNER advertising EMMA JARRETT film technician (buzz tv) JAYDON MARTIN administration TERESA CLARK designer www.scissorspaperstonedesign.co.uk contributors RYAN HEEGER (CLUBS), KEIRON SELF (FILM), LOIS ARCARI, ALEX CORNISH, BEN GALLIVAN, DAVID GRIFFITHS, GARETH GRIFFITHS, ROB HARRIES, ALYS HURN, DYLAN JENKINS, KATHRYN LEWIS, ELEANOR MCKEON, GARETH MOULE, DAMI OKHIRIA, STACEY OWEN,CHARLIE PIERCEY, LAURA RILEY, HUGH RUSSELL, OWEN SCOURFIELD, CHRIS SEAL, LAUREN SOURBUTTS, GETHIN THOMAS, MARK TIMLIN, FLEUR TUCKER, REBECCA UPSALL phone number 029 2022 6767 general enquiries info@buzzmag.co.uk editorial editorial@buzzmag.co.uk listings listings@buzzmag.co.uk advertising marketing@buzzmag.co.uk accounts accounts@buzzmag.co.uk BUZZ MAGAZINE 220C Cowbridge Road East, Canton, Cardiff CF5 1GY published EAC PUBLISHING contents KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE cover TARON EGERTON by PIP

04roundup

“It’s about my ex-boyfriend”

12upfront

Late-winter comedy glut in the form of Omid Djalili, Gary Delaney and Henning Wehn, plus Taron Egerton, star of Kingsman. “Like Bond on LSD,” he says of the new movie. In his defence, he would have still been in primary school when Lee & Herring’s ‘Norman Wisdom On Acid’ sketch, the ur-text of the “like [X] on [drug]” construct, was broadcast

34film

I was planning to take the piss out of Daniel Barnz – director of Jen Aniston vehicle Cake, mulled by Keiron Self this month – and his stupid name, but Wikipedia informs me it’s a portmanteau of his actual surname and that of his long-term boyfriend. Instead, I’m going to set up a premium-rate phoneline where you can vote on whether it’s crap or not

36food&drink

For the first time in some 12 months, Valentine’s Day is here, and with it an illuminating feature about aphrodisiac foods. Bonus oyster trivia: influential ethicist Peter Singer once declared oysters could be part of a vegan diet, ahead of a date he described as “nailed on”, but reversed his stance when the bivalves failed to score him even a cloth tit

40previews

Stage-loving readers are set for a month which is like Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day and Shrove Tuesday rolled into one, with THREE pages of theatre and comedy. Much of it embarking on tours which cause the page to read like a train timetable

50reviews

Is it weird that our review of Johnny Rotten’s new book, which says that it’s full of spelling mistakes, actually makes me want to read it more? Certainly, it’ll be a welcome break from reading this magazine, in which every word is definitely spelled correctly

56fashion

Take Me To Church, implored both Hozier and Sinead O'Connor in recent pop memory, but they proved to be all talk. Unbowed, we rustled up two stand-ins, dressed them in Queen Street's finest and photographed them while they did things with hoops which Sinead wouldn't have dreamed of trying

58sport

For the first time in some 12 months, the Six Nations tournament is here, and if you’re a mad keen rugby fan who’s nonetheless avoided news of it to date, scrape the ink from the page and pour our preview and fixture list into your eyes

59listings

We’ve rejigged the listings for the first time in over 100 years this month, making it much shorter. Do you like it? Er, you did notice, right? No, just be honest. I’m not going to take it personally if you didn’t! It’s just my job, which I do so I can eat.

Nothing major

78competitions

Q: What was the Reading Festival originally called in the early 1960s? A: Mr Power’s Smile-Time Jamboree Of Lavatory-Destroyers And Unverifiable Celebrity Death Rumour-Spreaders

www.buzzmag.co.uk • www.twitter.com/buzz_magazine • www.facebook.com/buzzsouthwales

roundup

BRIEFLY

WHAT’S ON OUR RADAR THIS MONTH.

STAGE

DANCE INTO SPRING National Dance Company Wales kicks off its Spring Tour this month with a triple bill of international work. As part of their trio of performances they will be the first UK company to present and tour the work of Swedish choreographer Johan Inger.

Inger’s award-winning Walking Mad is an humorous piece for nine dancers set to the dynamic sounds of Ravel’s renowned orchestral piece Bolero, as well as music by contemporary Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, that explores the idea of sanity with its disconcerting edge of madness.

The other two parts of this ménage à trois are Tuplet – a soundscape show in which the dancers bodies double up as instruments – choreographed by witty European choreographer Alexander Ekman; and Mythology, a powerful piece by Stephen Shropshire set to avant-garde jazz and spoken word.

Venues across Wales, Fri 13 Feb-Fri 15 May. Tickets: £14-£16.50 / £7-£12 conc.

Info: 029 2063 5600 / www.ndcwales.co.uk

THE KING OF POP IN CARDIFF

There’s a decent tribute act scene about these days.

Acts with fun-filled band names (my favourites one’s so far have been Ohasis and Maybe Gaga) tour regularly and Aberystwyth even has its own festival dedicated to musical impersonations (it’s called The Big Tribute and plans its return in spring). Even with such a surplus of tribute performers, it isn’t very often that these acts will befriend those they are impersonating, especially if they are impersonating someone as famous as Michael Jackson.

But that’s what happened to Navi, who has been performing as a Michael Jackson act for over 20 years. In 2003, Navi was asked to strut his stuff at the real Michael Jackson’s 45th birthday party, after which they became buddies and Navi often helped out as Michael's paparazzi decoy.

Navi has continued to perform as the King Of Pop, even after Jackson’s passing in 2009, and have even sold out the O2 arena in London. This month he will be aiming to beat it with a thriller of a show in Cardiff, with a pizzazz-filled performance that will make Navi look more like a man in the mirror than an impersonator. (See what I did there?)

King Of Pop starring Navi,St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Sat 7 Feb. Tickets: £17.50-£19.50.

Info: 029 2087 8500 / www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk BUZZ 04

GRUFF RHYS IS PROOF THAT the Welsh are born musicians with songs pumped through their veins and music in their blood.

The musician/filmmaker/author/ god knows what else will be taking the music and stories of his latest album/movie American Interior to the Ebbw Vale Institute on Sat 7 Feb for a live show. Last year the former Super Furry Animal went to the States to trace the story of his ancestor John Evans, as well as featuring the music inspired by the road trip the live show will tell his tale in more detail.

Tickets: £17.50. Info: www. ebbwvaleinstitute.org

• TAKER A STEP BACK IN TIME inside Swansea’s newest and coolest club, Flickering Light.

Decorated with combinations of a Victorian science fiction theme and rock'n'roll, the club is certainly a curious addition to Wind Street.

Walls are covered with metal vintage radios, old books, and posters of the king of rock'n'roll, Elvis Presley.

The club has even converted an old 1950s bus as part of the bar.

Info: Facebook search ‘flickering light swansea’

• WALES' VERY OWN GlastonBARRY is going to be the star subject of new rockumentary, Waking Up Barry. The independent documentary follows cousins Ross Mackintosh and Matt Blumberg in the months leading up to the festival. They seek to promote the event, gain support from the people of the South Wales town and find themselves a local act to open GlastonBARRY. Info: www.mackeventspresents.com

SAVING THE SHELTER

pic: ANDREW KUDRIN

With temperatures dropping it’s easy to take for granted the everyday necessity of warmth and shelter; it’s sometimes even easier to forget about those who don’t have these essentials. The Cardiff Night Shelter, which has provided accommodation and support to homeless people in Wales, had been faced with closure after its funding was cut. This year the shelter is expecting not to receive a penny in funding, leaving a dozen people to sleep rough every night. Thankfully, independent advertising agency Hello Starling and The Wallich, a charity that has been provided accommodation and support to homeless people in Wales for over 30 years, has funded enough money to keep it open. Thanks to the hundreds of backers, the campaign reached its initial target of £21,000, meaning the shelter can continue to run for another 12 months. You can get involved to help reach their extended target of £27,000 by pledging online.

Info: www.hellostarling.com/save-the-nightshelter

EVENT

WELSH SNOOKER OPEN SPORT

Cardiff will see an influx of snooker players from around the world this month as the city hosts the 2015 Welsh Open Snooker Championship. With a top prize of £60,000, the tournament will potentially see some of the biggest names in the sport go cue to cue with novices, thanks to its unusual format that sees all 128 players start in the same round.

Last year’s final at the Newport Centre saw Englishman Ronnie O’Sullivan thrash Chinese player Ding Junhui, with a spectacular 147 maximum break in the final frame. With these levels of excitement on offer, event organisers are advising any fan hoping to watch a live match to buy tickets early and avoid disappointment. Would-be punters who miss their chance will still be able to watch, as BBC Wales will be providing coverage during the contest.

Welsh Snooker Open 2015, Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Mon 16-Sun 22 Feb. Tickets: £9.65-£23 / £5.65-£14.50 conc (not available for finals and semi finals) / £17.50£45.50 full day pass / £11.66-£23 full pass conc (not available for finals and semi finals). Info: 029 2022 4488 / www.livenation.co.uk

WALES’ INTERCELTIC FESTIVAL

MUSIC

It’s that time of year again as the Interceltic Festival returns to Wales.

Known to Welsh speakers as Cwlwm Celtaidd (which translates as Celtic Knot) and spread over three days with two stages and over 300 performers, this family festival celebrates the Celtic regions of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle Of Man, Cornwall and Brittany. There should be plenty to enjoy with dances, workshops, street dance displays and a beach ceilidh. There will also be plenty of live music to enjoy; this year there will be music from nine-piece folk band Ar Log, the award-winning Celtic music trio Barrule and Cornish ceilidh music connoisseurs Splann (which actually means ‘splendid’, ‘shining’ or ‘bright’ in Cornish), as well as many others.

Wales’ Interceltic Festival, Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, Fri 27 Feb-Sun 1 Mar. Tickets: £8-£13 evening tickets / £5-£12 afternoon tickets (some events free) / £30-£40 weekend ticket. Info: www. cwlwmceltaidd.org BUZZ 05

roundup

WHAT’S ON OUR RADAR THIS MONTH.

WALES AT NO.1 Wales Millennium Centre vows to take you on a musical trip down memory lane as it celebrates St David's Day in the distinctive Welsh fashion of music and song. The concert showcases the best of Welsh rock and pop chart favourites of the last 50 years, including tracks from Dame Shirley Bassey, Bonnie Tyler, Manic Street Preachers and Stereophonics.

No Welsh music appreciation night would be complete without sounds from the legendary Sir Tom Jones, whose huge hit It’s Not Unusual, celebrates its 50th birthday this year. Hosted by The One Show’s Alex Jones, the party is set to be an indulgent mixture of nostalgia and national pride.

Wales At No.1, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Sun 1 Mar. Tickets: £17.50-£35. Info: 029 2063 6464 / www.wmc.org.uk

pics: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WALES

EVENT

MUSIC

ST.DAVID'S DAY It is without a doubt Wales’s largest celebratory day of the year, and St. David's 2015 is set to be a big one. The annual St David's Day Parade will be overflowing with Welsh folk music, folk dancing, Welsh traditional costume, and lively street bands. For the fitter amongst us, there is the St David's Day Run in Cardiff’s Bute Park, or you can traipse from Newport to Caerleon and back along at the Newport Half Marathon – in aid of the St David's Foundation Hospice. After all the parading and running around grab a bite to eat at one of Cardiff’s only Welsh restaurants, Pitch. Opened last month, the restaurant offers the finest Welsh dishes made using only the best locally-sourced ingredients. The varied venues of Womanby Street is joining forces with Fizzi events to throw an all-day Fizzi Sundays presents St.David's Day Festival, where will be plenty of live music from local talent.

St David’s Day, Sun 1 Mar. Info: www.stdavidsday.org / www.stdavidsdayrun.com / www.stdavidshospicecare.org / www.facebook.com/fizzievents

HOOKED TO HULA HOOP EVENT

Who says exercise is a chore? Take your work out to a whole new level of enjoyment with core and body toning in the form of hula hooping. Yes, that’s right, hula hooping.

Grab a hoop and swerve those hips as The Abacus in Cardiff holds classes on the last Wednesday of every month. Pilates and yoga are popular existing ways to strengthen the core muscles, but it’s always good to be different and let your inner child do all the hard work.

Classes are suitable for beginners and intermediate levels, ideal for learning a new hobby. Hoops are provided, but you can purchase one for £11 and take the fun home with you.

The Abacus, Cardiff, Wed 25 Feb, 7.30-8.30pm.

Admission: £4. Info: search ‘elliecoptor hoops’ for more info.

BUZZ 06

Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra Tchaikovsky Night - 6 March

Verdi La Traviata 8 March

Joan Armatrading 3 March

Philharmonia Orchestra 20 February

Verdi Rigoletto 7 March

Alun Cochrane 19 February

Coming Soon...

Caitlin Moran 16 April

Lord of the Dance 7 - 12 April

Milton Jones 14 May

roundup

WHAT’S ON OUR RADAR THIS MONTH.

pics: GILES SMITH

JOSIE LONG Comedian Josie Long tells Alex Cornish how she turned heartbreak into her hilarious new stand-up show Cara Josephine – which she will be bringing to Clwb Ifor Bach this month.

What’s your new show about?

It’s a show about how I got my heart broken last year. When it happened to me I had a big realisation that I wasn’t as young as I want to be, I couldn’t keep fucking up all the time. A lot of it is me talking about relationships and why I am the way I am. It’s hard to talk about the show without it sounding less than fun than it is, I promise it’s still fun!

Was it harder to make jokes about your personal life?

Yes, I have actually found it be harder because when you write about politics you can be so categorical. You can say ‘this is definitely wrong, I really believe this, this is important to me’.

When I talk about how I felt when my parents divorced, how I felt when somebody broke my heart, it felt like I had to be a lot more nuanced about it. Suddenly I’m talking about myself and my life and my heart. That felt a lot more like ‘Oh my god, if people hate this, they hate me.’

Did you find yourself in any trouble making jokes about your family?

Not really, partly because they haven’t seen it! It’s also much more about my personal experience but I got worried because it’s about my ex-boyfriend and I didn’t want him to think I was slagging him off, I didn’t know if we were going to be cool or if there was going to be beef between us! Really it’s only about the person doing the stand-up though, even if they say it’s about something else.

Has the show helped you get over the breakup?

Yeah, I really do! I think it’s quite cathartic.

You’re living proof laughter is the best medicine!

Definitely! It does help you to be less down in the dumps if you're onstage taking the piss out of yourself and taking the piss out the situation. It puts it all in perspective.

Josie Long, Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Tue 10 Feb. Tickets: £12. Info: 029 2023 2199 / www.clwb.net BUZZ 08

BOOK NOW SWAN LAKE – MOSCOW BALLET Grand Theatre, Swansea Fri 27 Mar £17.50-£23.50 Info: 01792 475715 www.swanseagrand.co.uk X FACTOR LIVE Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff Tue 10 Mar Tickets: £19.50- £59 Info: 029 2022 4488 www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk EDWARDS SCISSOR HANDS Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay Tue 10-Sat 14 Mar Tickets: £17-£42 Info: 029 2063 6464 www.wmc.org.uk DIRTY DANCING TOUR Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay Tue 17-Sat 28 Mar Tickets: £20-£80 Info: 029 2063 6464 www.wmc.org.uk MORRISSEY Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff Wed 18 Mar Tickets: £44-£88 Info: 029 2022 4488 www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk RICH HALL Aberystwyth Arts Centre Wed 18 Mar Tickets: £8-£16 Info: 01970 623232 www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk CIRCUS OF HORRORS St David’s Hall, Cardiff Wed 25 + Thurs 26 Mar Tickets: £18-£25 Info: 029 2087 8500 www.stdavidshall.co.uk RAG’N’BONE MAN Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff Thurs 26 Mar Tickets: £9 Info: 029 2023 2199 www.clwb.net

A Wonderful Christmas Time - An Improvised Film

Buzz at Scrum V Live

Buzz Acoustics

Interview with Kate Humble

Matthew Bourne’s Lord of the Flies Documentary

On the set of Craig Roberts’ new film

Interview with Joshua Jenkins

Welsh Directors Round Table

Podcast Interview with Noel Fielding

For enquiries please contact:

info@buzztv.co.uk / 029 2022 6767

For advertising please contact Emma Clark: emma@buzzmag.co.uk / 029 2022 6767

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roundup

WHAT’S ON OUR RADAR THIS MONTH.

pics: RICHARD MUNCKTON

EVENT

DOWNTON ABBEY REVEALED

pic: BRIAN FAGAN

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SOUTH WALES SECRET #51 Mewslade Bay

As Artes Mundi, the UK’s biggest contemporary arts prize, winds up this year’s exhibitions, festival director Karen MacKinnon tells Heather Arnold about the prize’s highlights and her personal South Wales Secret.

Artes Mundi, the international contemporary arts prize, has been strutting its stuff in venues across South Wales since October, but there is still plenty of time to take in all the artwork as the festival’s exhibitions continue until the end of the month.

Nominees from across the globe have been expressing themselves in new exhibitions, with the hopes of getting their hands on the £40,000 prize.

This year artists have displayed everything from Eton examination paper and chocolate portraits to toy donkeys and banjo players.

With such a mixed bag of artistic wonders in the National Museum Wales, Cardiff’s Chapter Arts Centre and Penarth’s Ffotogallery, it can be difficult to choose what to see but the prize’s Director, Karen MacKinnon, explains her own personal highlights.

“All of it! It takes a few hours to get across all three sites but it really is worth it! It's not just about the individual exhibitions by each of the artists but also about the conversations between each one. I really would urge anyone who has not been to see the BUZZ 10

show to spend a lazy Saturday visiting all three there is also an additional work by Sanja Iveković at Penarth Pier Pavilion on Saturdays, so that’s a good excuse to go to a nice place for a coffee stop by the sea! It’s such a rare opportunity to see the work of 10 international artists on your doorstep, so I would urge you make time and make your own recommendations to your friends to see the show.

It's a great experience whether you are from a contemporary art background or not.”

Karen’s doesn’t spend all her time in art galleries, however, and her South Wales Secret is of the outdoorsy nature.

“When I'm not working with artists and curators you can usually find me wandering on beaches and fields across The Gower. I love the little beach past Oxwich called Slade and also Mewslade, both still so quiet and beautiful and the little cafe at Pennard has amazing cakes!”

Info: www.artesmundi.org

If you’re a hardcore Downton Abbey fan and you’re starting to itch because you need your fix of British period drama, or if you’re a bit of a history buff who has a thing for Jacobethan-style castles, then Cardiff Castle has an event that can tick both those boxes. This month, the South Wales Decorative And Fine Arts Society will be hosting a lecture entitled Downton Abbey Revealed: The Story Of Highclere Castle.

There is more to Highclere Castle (the real life buidling that has come to be known as 'Downton Abbey') than Lady Mary’s love life, the Countess’s wry one-liners and the passing of Isis the dog.

The Downton effect may have brought our eyes back to Highclere but this isn’t the first time it’s been seen in film and TV. It played the home of a rich Englishman in the 1982 comedy The Missionary, which stared Michael Palin, while the castle’s salon can be seen in both erotic thriller Eyes Wide Shut and war film The Four Feathers.

It is also a place with plenty of stories from the real world, as the Castle serves as the ancestral home of the Earls Of Carnarvon and has a past linked to the Houses Of Parliament, Ancient Egypt and royal horse racing.

Downton Abbey Revealed, Cardiff Castle, Thurs 26 Feb. Tickets: £7.50.

Info: 029 2087 8100 / www.cardiffcastle.com

Anniversary Exhibition

The most FLAMBOYANT exhibition in Wales… EVER!

Cardiff Story Museum (Old Library), The Hayes, CF10 1BH 10am - 4pm, Saturday 31st January to Saturday 28th February 2015 (closed Sundays)

upfront upfront

OMID DJALILI

BUZZ BUZZ12 12

Comedian, actor, writer and Splash! contestant – Omid Djalili can tick a lot of the boxes on his bucket list, but he still has plenty to cover in his new stand-up show about getting older and living life to the full. He talks to Heather Arnold about sex changes, superpowers and The Sun.

How’s the tour going so far?

Put it this way: I've cured my need to get involved with Malaysian match-fixing scandals.

I'm sticking with BetFred.

Has the show changed a lot since your first few dates back in September?

The show is almost unrecognisable from September. I've also had a sex change since then so I feel like a completely different person on and off stage, physically and spiritually.

Do you get bored touring one show for such a long stretch?

I get bored all the time. This is why I have Boothby Graffoe (my support act) on tour with me. He's able to regurgitate my whole set back to me. No man should be allowed to be that entertaining.

When did you think up of the name Iranalamadingdong?

"I wanted a name which combined my loves of the musical Grease and ping-pong" Did writing your autobiography give you new ideas for the show?

Actually yes. It's very hard to capture in standup my love of transfer deadline day. Something I don't even mention in my book.

Did you always think you'd pursue a career in comedy?

No. I wanted to be a serious actor. But people kept laughing at me when I was on the stage.

Something about my face maybe? Either way, it was definitely the last time was I was going to play Anne Frank.

I wanted a name which combined my loves of the musical Grease and ping-pong.

Why did you decide to get involved in making a documentary (We Are Many)?

Do you think you will make more documentaries?

Does this show have a very different feel from your other shows?

We Are Many is one of the best films I've ever been involved with. I'm very proud to be an executive producer. I got involved for many reasons but mainly because of an emerging new superpower: worldwide public opinion.

Yes and no. I talk about things I've never done before. But I ease it all in with dancing. It's an excellent balance.

How did Splash!’change your life?

After my dive they called the show Tsunami.

You can't buy this kind of validation.

You mentioned before that you wanted to go on tour, learn to ride the unicycle or understand Judaism. Have you managed the latter two?

I'm still unicycling with circus rabbis so I'm hoping for a breakthrough any minute.

Do you have any new projects planned once the tour is over?

Lose two stone in weight and sell the pictures to The Sun. They have another scam planned.

Omid Djalili: Iranalamadingdong, Swansea Grand Theatre, Thurs 19 Feb; St David's Hall, Cardiff, Sat 21 Feb. Tickets: £23-£23.50. Info: www. omidnoagenda.com

BUZZ 13

upfront

THE NOT-SO-SECRET SERVICEMAN:

TARON EGERTON

pic: PIP

BUZZ 14

Rising Welsh star Taron Egerton has had quite a year and the Aberystwyth boy tells Dylan Jenkins about his lead role in Mathew Vaughn’s mischievous, ultraviolent spy-action blockbuster Kingsman: The Secret Service.

It’s not many people that can boast of rendezvousing with the likes of Colin Firth, Michael Caine and Mark Strong on their first big job. Fewer still of ‘playing spy’ in beautifully tailored suits, with jaw dropping Bondlike gadgets – but Taron Egerton can do exactly that.

Since graduating from the Royal Academy Of Dramatic Art in 2012, he’s accomplished things that some actors will only dream of. This month sees the release of his debut movie, Kingsman: The Secret Service, in which he is the lead.

“I was spoilt with all of the incredible components that make up this movie,” explains Taron, as he talks of the pressure of leading in such a big film. “It was and is incredibly daunting. There comes a point where you have to put those feelings to one side and get on with it.”

Kingsman: The Secret Service tells the story of Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwain, played by Taron, a South-Londoner tied to a life of law-breaking and mischief. Destined for a life behind bars, he is taken under the wing of Harry Hart (Colin Firth) – a Kingsman agent who, unbeknownst to Eggsy, had worked with his late father in an international secret spy organization, the Kingsmen.

“Colin and I naturally got on well, and that inevitably bleeds into the relationship our characters have,” explains Taron, as he talks of how comfortable it was to work so closely with Hollywood royalty.

“Colin isn’t someone who would ever act like a mentor; he’s too modest for that. It was more like a friendship between two men of different generations. I remember eating fish and chips on set with him once, and he managed to get a mushy pea on the brim of his glasses.

Still don’t know how he managed it!”

And fair play, there isn’t any evidence of inexperience on Taron’s behalf, when you consider he’s appearing alongside such talented co-stars. He looks completely at home on the screen, and with a flawless south London accent it’s hard to guess that he grew up in a small town in mid-Wales.

Director Matthew Vaughn (known for big screen triumphs X-Men First Class, Layer Cake and Star Dust) is famous for using little-known actors alongside Hollywood veterans, and his blockbusters have produced stars over the years. Take Aaron TaylorJohnson, for instance, who Vaughn cast alongside Nicholas Cage in superhero comedy Kick Ass. Kingsman itself is based on Kick Ass writer Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons’ 2012 comic book series The Secret Service. Director Matthew Vaughn has already proven his aptitude at successfully bringing the comic book to the screen, and an expert with this kind of action, with Kick Ass and X-Men: First Class becoming great successes. Kingsman promises the same feel and look as Vaughn’s other comic-inspired creations.

“I think Matthew has definitely developed a style of his own,” says Taron. “He likes things to be brave and bold

– there's a real mischievous streak that runs through all of his work, a real sense of anarchy, and he likes to shock too.”

The movie plays on the idea that spies should be, first and foremost, gentlemen, and as the film progresses we’ll see Eggsy swap his Nike Air Maxes for a shining pair of Oxfords as he goes from deviant to debonair.

Hidden behind a Savile Row tailor lies the base of the Kingsmen, whose agents are code named after famous knights: a clear suggestion of the fast-paced action that lies beneath an air of quintessentially British suavity, class and style, packing a punch without a hair out of place. Vaughn has parodied that classic Bond feel, taking the spy genre back to its roots, and away from the serious tones of the Daniel Craig era – but its adult rating means it’s still darker than any young-spy movies to hit our screens in the past.

“It’s Kingsman’s irreverence of the genre and the fact that it’s not rooted in too concrete a sense of reality – the science isn’t accurate and the characters are able to do borderline superhuman things,” Taron notes.

Certainly, the film relishes on excess and extravagance, softly making fun of the serious tone of today’s Bond movies, whilst standing on its own two feet with a lot of fun and flair. We’ll see an outlandish, lisping Samuel L. Jackson play a super villain who’s scared of blood; a Colin Firth who’s equally dapper as he is deadly; and then we have Taron, your classic underdog, a likeable character who will truly prove that ‘manners maketh the man’.

“Bond is ultra-real, ultra-cool; Kingsman isn’t afraid to take the mick out of itself. You can have a

“Kingsman is a bit like Bond on LSD” lot of fun when you’re not taking yourself too seriously, but I think the characters are all still very believable.”

For Taron, who got into acting by attending Aberystwyth’s local youth theatre, being part of such a supernova of a film was a clearly great experience; one which will hopefully, and quite certainly, see his career propelled into something spectacular.

“I suppose my other projects have been more naturalistic," he says. "It was fun to play something a little more heightened.”

One of those projects was the recently released Testament Of Youth, a biopic of early 20th century British writer Vera Brittain, in which he plays her brother Edward.

“They were worlds apart in terms of the experience and what they hope to achieve,” he explains, comparing to the experience to filming Kingsman. “It's great to be able to have such variety in my working life, though, and I'm equally proud of both.”

In a short space of time, Taron has gone from drama school graduate to a rising star with awesome potential. His roles in already critically acclaimed movies is admirable, proving he has the capacity to act on two ends of the spectrum, and he even has some exciting projects on the horizon.

“I'm about to play Eddie The Eagle – the ski jumper who came last in the 1988 Winter Olympics,” says Taron about a role for which he was chosen ahead of Jamie Bell, George MacKay and Daniel Kaluuya. “Hugh Jackman is playing my coach and it's being directed by Dexter Fletcher. I'm very excited. Beyond that I have the Krays biopic coming out, about English gangsters the Kray twins, which stars Tom Hardy.”

The future certainly looks bright for this rising star, but right now we’ve got our eyes on Kingsman. “It’s loads of fun. I guarantee you won't be bored. I suppose it's a bit like Bond on LSD.” The potential this film has of a brand new Bond-style franchise is definitely appealing, and with an array of spy movies promised for this year, with Spectre and the fifth Mission Impossible film confirmed, I’ve got a sneaky feeling that Kingsman could be the crowning jewel in what may become the year of the spy movie.

It’s great to see a film with so much promise not take itself too seriously, and with some young Welsh talent taking the reins.

Info: www.kingsmanmovie.com

BUZZ 15

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CARDIFF CARNIVAL CELEBRATES The annual Cardiff Carnival has been bringing creativity, costumes and colourful chaos to the streets of the city for 25 years. Heather Arnold takes a look at how the silver anniversary is being celebrated at the Cardiff Carnival 25th Anniversary Exhibition.

"When I started Cardiff Carnival way back in 1990, the reaction to the first ever parade included some open-mouthed shoppers and horrified policemen who viewed proceedings as a near-riot.”

Every year, for 25 years straight, the streets of Cardiff become filled with feathers, flamboyance and a festival spirit as South Wales Intercultural Carnival Arts (SWICA) hosts the Cardiff Carnival.

At the height of summer the SWICA carnival crew invite everyone to grab some sequins, dress in the brightest colours they can find and parade through the city centre. The result is a bright and beautiful party spirit that fills the streets of the capital, though it may have looked more like a glitter-covered revolution at the first carnival in 1990.

“Of course nowadays, the hundreds of flamboyantly costumed paraders are warmly applauded along the length of the parade route,” continues Steve Fletcher, SWICA’s artistic director and founder of Cardiff Carnival, “and yes, it is a riot; a riot of sequins, glitter and feathers danced to funky street bands which really shows Cardiff putting its best foot forward."

To celebrate a quarter of a century of mass jollification, SWICA are presenting an exhibition of their own history, with bright photos, vibrant video clips, crazy costumes and huge headdresses included.

“The carnival has never been cancelled in 25 years,” notes Steve, “including three glorious years in 2005, 2006 and 2007 where we performed and paraded in a complete downpour. The irony is that that brought out the best in the carnival; people went completely over the top to compensate for the weather!

It’s probably true that nothing can stop Cardiff Carnival.”

The past of the Cardiff Carnival isn’t just the history of SWICA, as many individuals and groups have brought their own unique contributions to the party. Last year, the local burlesque community dressed up in fantastical pirate garb, and the group representing Cardiff's Filipino community is now so big that they have to use their own marshals armed with whistles and flags to synchronise their choreography.

“Each group has different needs,” says Steve, “different things they want to express, and that’s good. Diversity has really been what Cardiff carnival is about.”

The anniversary exhibition hopes to showcase the diversity, colour and over-the-top party spirit encapsulated by the Carnival. Through the stories, people and costumes of previous Cardiff Carnivals, it will celebrate a 25-year history of the collective creativity that spills out onto the streets of Cardiff each summer.

Cardiff Carnival 25th Anniversary Exhibition, Cardiff Story Museum, until Sat 28 Feb. Admission: free. Info: www.swicacarnival.co.uk

BUZZ 16

Come and see us at one of our Open Days ‌ Interested in studying at Cardiff Met? Then why not come and see us at one of our forthcoming Open Days.

This is your chance to speak to staff about your course interests, talk to current students about their experiences and take a tour of our facilities and accommodation.

Open Day Dates by Academic School Cardiff School of Art & Design: Sat 7th March 2015 Cardiff School of Education: Sat 28th February 2015 Cardiff School of Health Sciences: Sat 14th February and Sat 25th April 2015 Cardiff School of Management: Saturday 21st February and Sat 18th April 2015 To book onto any of our Open Days please visit: www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/opendays You can also take a tour of campuses, facilities and accommodation at: www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/virtualtours #cardiffmet

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THE DARK SIDE OF DRAG

Drag fabulist Dickie Beau tells Heather Arnold how he came to emulate his dysfunctional heroes in his solo show Blackouts: Twilight Of The Idols.

We’ve all been guilty of trying to emulate our idols at some point or another, whether it was by rifling through your wardrobe to find the most Madonnaesque pair of shoes or convincing yourself to buy a red leather jacket because you think if Brad Pitt could pull it off in Fight Club you might be able to pull it off on a night out.

Some of us might have even have gone as far as lip syncing into a hair brush, but rarely will our emulations explore the darker and more troubled sides of our heroes, and when we pose in front of the mirror we seldom analyse why we connect to these characters and how they might define us.

Donning clown-like red lipstick and syncing along to intimate interviews, rather than big show tunes, drag artist Dickie Beau looks at how much of who we are is defined by who we look up to.

“Blackouts: Twilight Of The Idols, in the last part, is an education on ‘who am I?’” says Dickie. “Am I the people who I have identified with in pop culture, who I have absorbed in some way by some cultural osmosis? Have they actually made me who I am and am I just reflecting that?

“One of the great values of drag is that it often brings to the surface this idea that identity is a construction and that gender identity specifically is not essential, it’s a construction.”

Dickie’s venture into the unseen underworld of fame started when he heard the notorious Judy Speaks tapes. America’s sweetheart, and star of The Wizard Of Oz, Judy Garland recorded herself speaking about her life for memoirs that were never written.

Recorded at a low time in her life, as she was going through a messy divorce, Judy’s heart comes pouring out in sadness, love and anger.

The touching and dysfunctional revelations in the tapes spoke to Dickie, and he created a short set in which he emulated Garland, and performed with her voice. This was a turning point for Dickie’s drag performance as he transformed from friendly door whore at a local drag bar to a ‘found sound’ artist.

“I started to develop ideas about how this performance might grow,” Dickie elaborates. “It’s now looking at various figures in popular culture, including Marilyn Monroe. That led to me tracking down the last guy to interview Marilyn Monroe, Richard Meryman.”

Dickie flew to New York to meet Meryman who, now in his 80s, was the associate editor at Life Magazine the year Marilyn Monroe died. He interviewed Monroe over half a century ago but, captured by his vision for a show, Dickie is the only person he has ever shared the tapes with.

“When I met him and he had seen something of his

“And I tried my damndest to believe in the rainbow – and I tried to get over it and I couldn’t” – Judy Garland BUZZ BUZZ18 18

“Richard Meryman would manipulate Marilyn Monroe's words and present them as a monologue” younger self in me, he wanted to help me. He did this one thing with Marilyn Monroe where he would take her words and he would manipulate them slightly to present the interview as a monologue in the magazine. That became his schtick when he interviewed people. It’s a monologue rather than question and answer and that sort of got me thinking that we had something in common, because that is what I had done with Judy Garland’s words.

“After that I had the idea I could take his words and make them apply to me. There are things in the show where his voice is used but he probably wouldn’t recognise it as being him.”

Using the words of troubled starlets Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe, and of Richard Merriman, Dickie is doing more than just simply trying to imitate them.

“I hope that that doesn’t come across as an impersonation, because there that’s affection. I think that sometimes character comics, not that I am one, are sometimes quite mean about their subjects. You can see that they don’t actually like the people that they are sending up and I always feel uncomfortable when I see that. I much prefer to see people representing people that they clearly have an affection for.

“It’s more about channelling a voice,” Dickie continues. “It’s particularly about trying to imagine a sound coming through you, so that you don’t give the impression you are trying to put a character on but that rather you were carrying a voice.”

Blackouts: Twilight Of The Idols, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Fri 27 Feb. Tickets: £7-£14. Info: 01970 623232 / www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk

pic: DARRELL BERRY

BUZZ BUZZ19 19

UNDER OPERA'S SPELL

Welsh National Opera’s spring season brings a sense of magic to the stage with their ‘spellbound’-themed shows. Heather Arnold takes a look at the enchanting lineup.

Cinderella’s cruel stepsisters get their eyes pecked out by pigeons, Rapunzel’s prince hurls himself off the tower and lands in a bush of thorns and Rumpelstiltskin becomes so angered by his plan being foiled that he rips his own body in two.

Fairy tales aren’t quite the cheery, child-friendly, Disneyfied stories we’ve come to think them as. More often than not they have a sinister side and a gruesome ending.

This is an idea that Welsh National Opera (WNO) are very much bearing in mind with their new production of the Grimm classic Hansel & Gretel. After all, this is a story in which two kids are not only deliberately abandoned in the woods, but stumble across a childeating witch – it’s not exactly a story that lacks gravitas, with notions of hunger, gluttony, child neglect and cannibalism all at the forefront.

The opera, composed by Engelbert Humperdinck in 1891, not only remembers its dark origins but also its cultural routes as rational German folk songs are weaved into the music of the show.

On the other end of the operatic stick is Mozart’s warm, witty The Magic Flute. Containing some of Mozart’s most famous music, the opera tells the story of a handsome young prince and his quest to save the love of his life, who has been kidnapped by an evil sorcerer... or so it seems. In this peculiar production the prince, with a magical flute at hand, enters into a surreal world filled with furious lobsters, newspaper-reading lions and fish that turns into a bicycle.

There’s also the chance to experience some of the most famous opera tunes in the WNO’s ‘best of’ style show Chorus!. With over 20 songs from top operas, such as Il Trovatore and Madam Butterfly, it offers a good chance to listen a little something from many of opera’s most famous composers.

Welsh National Opera’s Spring Season, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Sat 7-Sat 28 Feb. Tickets: £18-£40/£5 conc.

Info: 029 2063 5000 / www.wno.org.uk

pic: BRIAN TARR

BUZZ 20

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CROUCH, TOUCH, PAUSE, ENGAGE No, it’s not a dance routine, or some secret martial arts move, it’s National Theatre Wales’ newest show. Noel Gardner finds out how one night in the life of a single rugby player is being brought to the stage.

National Theatre Wales’ pantheon of productions to date have ranged from the fantastical to the realist, depicting everyone from regular valleys folk to, well, Jesus Christ. Their latest work, Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage, depicts a very real sequence of events – ones which can be chalked up to the old-fashioned prurience of the public and the media alike.

The play focuses on one evening in February 2001, during that year’s Six Nations tournament. Its protagonist, Gareth Thomas, had grown into a talismanic figure in Welsh rugby since a barnstorming international emergence in 1995. Privately, however, he was wrestling with his sexuality: engaged to Jemma Thomas, but sporadically visiting gay clubs for hookups. Although it would be several years before confiding to anyone in rugby that he was gay, and longer still before publicly coming out in 2009, newspapers had somehow got wind of the rumours.

The night before he was due to face England – invariably Wales’ most intense, feverishly anticipated Six Nations clash – Thomas received a phone call alerting him to The Sun’s intention to out him. Ultimately, this never happened. Yet with prominent gay men in sport effectively non-existent in 2001, the implications of such a story were vast and, for Thomas, terrifying. Writer Robin Soans and director Max Stafford-Clark aim for sharp focus by condensing this fear into a timespan of a few hours.

Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage also parallels this unseemly speculation and intrusion with that heaped on Bridgend, Thomas’ home town, later in the decade.

From 2007 to 2009, the community was devastated by a sharp spike in suicides amongst young people, predominantly by hanging. No convincing reason has materialized to date, which only opened the door to the national media talking luridly of “suicide cults” and the like. Past body blows inflicted on Bridgend, such as the eradication of the coal industry and the downgrading of community rugby clubs in the area, are also worked into the narrative.

Thomas, who has spoken candidly of his own suicidal thoughts prior to coming out, has worked with NTW on this production, as well as young Bridgend residents. Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage features an all-Welsh cast, and begins with an extensive run in Cardiff’s Sherman Cymru before spending March traversing Wales. Thereafter, it’ll tour England from April to June, ending with a full month in London’s Arcola Theatre; its central character may be a Welsh sporting hero, but its themes are anything but parochial.

Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage, Sherman Theatre, Cardiff, Thurs 19 Feb-Sat 7 Mar; Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Tues 10-Sat 14 Mar; Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare, Tues 24 + Wed 25 Mar; Bridgend College, Thurs 26 + Sat 28 Mar. Tickets: £12-£25 / £6£18 conc. Info: 029 2035 3070 / www.nationaltheatrewales.org

BUZZ 22

Roots Unearthed Great Acts, Global Sounds & Relaxing Atmosphere

THE UNTHANKS Thursday 26 February, 8pm Since releasing three project albums in 2012, The Unthanks have been hiding away in Northumberland, working on an ambitious follow-up.

STEFAN GROSSMAN Tuesday 21 April, 8pm Stefan Grossman remains one of the world’s foremost authorities on acoustic blues guitar.

AL STEWART Sunday 10 May, 8pm Al Stewart was a key figure in British music and he appears throughout the musical folklore of the revivalist era.

GET CREATIVE WITH CLASSICAL MUSIC

MARY BLACK Friday 15 May, 7.30pm For over a quarter of a century, Mary Black has been a dominant presence in Irish music, both at home and abroad.

Live with BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales Yn fyw gyda Cherddorfa a Chorws Cenedlaethol Cymreig y BBC

CHRISTY MOORE Conductor • Arweinydd Thomas Søndergård

Saturday 16 May, 8pm Christy Moore remains a relevant force on today’s contemporary music scene.

Friday • Gwener

20.03.15 – 7.30pm St David’s Hall, Cardiff • Neuadd Dewi Sant, Caerdydd

0800 052 1812

Great value family tickets available Tocynnau teulu gwerth chweil ar gael

bbc.co.uk/now bbc.co.uk/tenpieces

3 Ten Pieces 93x275 ad.indd 1

21/01/2015 14:50

COMING SOON: SETH LAKEMAN, MNOZIL BRASS, SEASICK STEVE, BELLE AND SEBASTIAN

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BUZZ 24

‘The funniest show on the planet.’

Daily Mail

TICKETS FROM JUS* T

£11

Chwefror 10 – 14 February 029 2087 8889 | NewTheatreCardiff.co.uk *Tickets subject to £2.95 ticketing service fee.

A comedy by

RICHARD BEAN

Based on The Servant of Two Masters

By Carlo Goldoni with songs by Grant Olding

Hansel & Gretel Humperdinck 21, 25 & 27 Feb | Chwe

Tempted? | Digon i’ch temtio?

Tickets from | Tocynnau o £6.50* 029 2063 6464 | wmc.org.uk

wno.org.uk/hansel

Registered Charity No | Rhif Elusen Gofrestredig 221538 Photo by | Llun gan Clive Barda

*includes £1-£1.50 booking fee which does not apply to in person cash bookings | yn cynnwys £1-£1.50 o ffi archebu, nad yw’n gymwys i archebion arian parod wyneb yn wyneb

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THE OTHER ROOM EVER been to a pub or a bar and wondered where a mystery door leads to? It might be marked with a curious ‘No Entry’ or cordoned off with a luxurious velvet rope, either way the lure of that ‘other room’ certainly is strong.

Cardiff's theatre-loving bar Porter’s is actively welcoming people into The Other Room which, in this case, is a theatre.

Now the curtains are up on Cardiff’s first pub theatre, The Other Room has announced the launch of its first season – a series of shows centred around the theme of ‘Life In Close Up'. This is pretty literal as well: the theatre has found its home in a small side-room of Porter’s, and it plans to bring audiences and performers into very close quarters.

With three plays bringing to life what we would rather shy from, their opening season looks set to be intense, and visceral.

The season opens with Sarah Kane’s Blasted (Sat 17 Feb-Tue 7 Mar), a brutal portrait of the realities of war set within the confines of a hotel room in Leeds.

It’s a play which shook audiences and appalled critics in equal measure when it premiered at The Royal Court in 1995.

The shocking Blasted is followed by The Dying Of Today (Tue 24 Mar-Sat 4 Apr)

by Howard Barker. A man walks into a barbershop with the worst news there has ever been. While the barber works the two men tell the story of the military defeat which led to the fall of Athens in 413BC. The Other Room’s first ever season will round off with A Good Clean Heart (Tue 28 Apr-Sat 16 May), a bilingual show by new playwright Alun Saunders. It's a coming of age story about two brothers raised apart, in different families, speaking different languages. It is a study into how much language, and to an extent, geography, affects and defines who we are. LAUREN SOURBUTTS + HEATHER ARNOLD Tickets for Blasted: £12/£10. Info: 029 2128 0189 / www. otherroomtheatre.com

FFRESH FILM FESTIVAL THE UK’s longest running student media festival has reached its 12th year as Ffresh Festival returns to Cardiff this month. Established in 2002, Ffresh – the Student Media Festival of Wales – celebrates the works of exciting new media talent from artists across Wales, the UK and abroad.

The annual festival boasts some of the industry’s most renowned and respected figures including Marc Evans, the director of Hinterland, and has welcome back BAFTA Cyrmu award winners to the judging pane. These expert judges have watched the student media submissions and have shortlisted the many entries to just five in each category, which will be screened on the day.

It’s isn’t just about the Ffresh Award nominees, however, as there will be a programme of screenings, panel sessions, master classes and workshops.

Highlights in this year’s programme include the BAFTA Shorts Tour, which will screen a feature length package of shorts from 2014 that were nominated for the BAFTA prize, and Buzz TV itself will be hosting a session in which it showcases some of its short documentaries (including an intimate look at a man who is a steel mill worker by day and Elvis Presley by night) and a Directors Round Table with a guest list that includes Submarine star and Just Jim director Craig Roberts, BAFTA Cymru Award winning newcomer Keri Collins and Marc Evans – a director who has worked with the likes of Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver.

There will also be plenty of opportunities to learn more about the industry as aspiring filmmakers can get inside advice at a ‘Meet The Industry’ session in which key figures from S4C, Green Bay and Fiction Factory.

For those with an interest in the factual side of media there will be a session hosted by Documentary Wales which will talk about how to take the next steps with factual film making. Fiction Factory (the guys behind detective drama Y Gwyll/Hinterland) will also be hosting a session on developing production skills.

STACEY OWEN Ffresh Festival, Bute Building, Cardiff University, Sun 22 Feb, 11am-10pm. Tickets: £10/most events free to students from Aberystwyth University, Bangor University, University of South Wales or Cardiff University. Info: www.ffresh.com BUZZ 26

IRIS PRIZE FILM GETS BBC SCREENING We’ve all had those heart-wrenching, soul-searching moments where we questioned the purpose of life. In those times – when you’re lonely and your dreams, which once seemed so achievable, just aren’t coming true – it’s funny what you’ll do. In Followers, a lost woman seems to find the answers to life’s questions on a young man’s crotch.

Lynn, a lonely elderly churchgoer, is convinced that she has seen Jesus on what happens to be the shorts of a young African man at her swimming class.

Taking this as a message from the Lord Almighty, Lynn befriends the young man, determined that he will be the one to save her from the loneliness in which she lives.

Followers was filmed in Cardiff last summer by director Tim Marshall, with the support and funding of the Iris Prize. Marshall won the Iris Prize, Cardiff’s International Gay and Lesbian Short Film Prize, in 2013 with his short film Gorilla – which told the surreal story of a couple who come across a strange woman while camping in the wilderness.

Followers, which premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival in Utah, is the sixth short film to be produced by the Iris Prize but you don’t have to wait for the next Iris Prize Festival to see it as BBC Two Wales will be screening it this month.

The dark comedy drama, which explores how faith and loneliness intertwine and how people need faith during desperate times, is only 10 minutes long and will be broadcast at 11.20pm on Tue 24 Feb – just after Newsnight, so you can follow up the stern questioning of Kirsty Wark and Evan Davis.

For those who may not be aware, or haven’t heard of the Iris Prize before, it's a short film festival with a main prize of £30,000 worth of funding; additionally, the only short film festival in the world which provides the winner with the opportunity to create a new film. It’s also an opportunity for members of the public to get an insight of the LGBT film industry. STACEY OWEN Info: www.irisprize.org / www.facebook.com/FollowersShortFilm

ARTES MUNDI AND THE WINNER IS…

After five months of exhibitions, and after a difficult judging process, the winner of the sixth Artes Mundi Prize is socially engaged Chicago artist Theaster Gates.

Gates’ exhibition A Complicated Relationship Between Heaven And Earth, Or When We Believe, at Cardiff’s National Museum, displays a number of religious items from a variety of different countries and cultures. There’s a revolving goat tricycle, slate from a church roof, videos of gospel songs and an African bull sculpture. By bringing together objects from different spiritual traditions, Gates is trying to put a spotlight on the types of religions that are often dismissed in a western-centric, Christian view of the world.

In his acceptance speech, Gates graciously pledged to share the £40,000 prize money with his fellow nominees, as they are all equally talented.

Certainly, this year’s Artes Mundi Prize has demonstrated the work of some great artists, and there's still time to catch the exhibitions.

At the National Museum, alongside Theaster Gates' winning exhibition, is work by Dutch artist Renzo Martens – who fills his exhibition space with chocolate busts of members of the Congolese Plantation Workers Art League – and Omar Fast’s short film Continuity which tells the story of a German couple who hire a man to replace their dead soldier son.

Carlos Bunga has been able to completely change the structure and look of the rooms at the National Museum simply by using his towering cardboard creations, while you can change the shape of the room itself via Renata Lucas’ movable plywood floor.

In Canton’s Chapter Arts Centre, Karen Mirza and Brad Butler have not only vandalised a picture of Meryl Streep dressed as Margaret Thatcher but have also put you underneath an Eton College exam paper and unnervingly labelled you the Prime Minister, while Sharon Lockhart’s film and photography exhibition Exit looks at the lives and lunchboxes of ironworkers and miners.

At Ffotogallery in Penarth, there’s an emotionally charged video exhibition by Ragnar Kjartansson, inspired by his own divorce, and an equally powerful exhibition

by Sanja Iveković which explores ideas of fascism with the use of toy donkeys.

HEATHER ARNOLD Artes Mundi 6 Exhibitions, National Museum Cardiff, Chapter Arts Centre + Ffotogallery, Penarth, until Sun 22 Feb. Info: www.artesmundi.org BUZZ 27

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THE WOMEN OF RICHARD III IF you'd hoped that since his bones were dug from out of the concrete of a car park in Leicester, Richard III would be given a break from unusual settings, you’d be wrong. If you also assumed you’d never see live theatre on top of the Wales Millennium Centre, you’d be wrong again. Omidaze Productions, in collaboration with the WMC, is planning on bringing its all-female production of the Shakespeare classic to The Void – that big space under the bronze dome. Now we know 'Richard III In The Void' sounds a little like a lost episode of The Twilight Zone but bear with us. The play chronicles the rise and rapid fall of the nefarious Richard III, whose murderous scheming sees 15th century England laid waste by civil war. There is also a great lesson in supply and demand, as a desperate Richard offers up his whole kingdom in the hopes of a speedy battlefield exit.

If for a moment we can forget tales of regicide, we’ll see that Omidaze choice to use an all-female cast addresses a pertinent issue in the world of theatre: an industry where women make up only 30% of the creative talent yet amount to almost 70% of the audience. They are also engaging positively with the local community with their Open Rehearsal Strategy. This sees them holding their rehearsals across eight different schools in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, with a particular focus on areas of deprivation. It will allow up to 800 young people access to professional theatre production, in the hope of inspiring them to take an interest in what is often perceived to be an art form for the 'elite'. This isn’t some urban knitting, blogosphere slacktivism, this is giving real, tangible access to the arts to young people. By acknowledging and confronting all these challenges with their production, this particular performance of Richard III is really telling two stories at once.

The play itself is also part of events leading up to WOW Caerdydd, a festival celebrating female achievement and discussing future challenges, which takes place in March. ALEX CORNISH Richard III, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Tue 10-Mon 23 Feb. Tickets: £12. Info: 029 2063 6464 / www.wmc.org.uk

A LAUNCH INTO MUSIC THERE is a time in any emergent musical career when a tough decision must be made. Is this really worth it?

You never see friends, family or partners because your evenings and weekends are spent practising. You can’t go on holiday because you need new gear. You miss birthdays and anniversaries to play shows in places you’ve never heard of, and spend your rent to fix a 20-year-old van to get to them. You might not get paid the promised amount, you might not be paid at all (a constant feature of my own short music career was marching scared promoters to a nearby cashpoints). Rehearsal space, studio time, getting records made, merchandise and touring, it all costs money and there is a myriad of random expenses (I’m looking at you, Severn Bridge toll) to factor in too. It comes as welcome news, then, that a few Welsh musicians at this critical junction might be given a break.

Launchpad is a funding scheme that was developed by Horizons, a project that sees BBC Wales and the Arts Council Of Wales join forces to support new Welsh musical talent. This support is primarily in the form of a cash bursary, which saw an amount of up to £2000 given to each of the selected 29 acts. The music should have been ‘contemporary pop’ in nature and the musicians primarily residing in Wales (solo artists had to be Welsh residents).

Whilst this explains why your weird uncle’s 20 minute spoken word tape didn’t get green light, the Launchpad website does state the judges considered a wide range of genres including electronic, world, folk, rock, indie and urban amongst others. Acts that won funding in 2014 include Cardiff band Samoans, who were able to purchase new instruments, and Roka from Abergavenny, who will record a five-song EP for an indie label. Others were somewhat more ambitious, with Jess Hall from mid-Wales hoping to work with Gary Hughs who worked on Bjork’s debut album.

Plucking the lucky 29 from the 118 applications was a decision left to a panel of music experts including promoters, club owners and record label heads as well as a few from BBC Radio Wales and Arts Council Wales. ALEX CORNISH Info: www.bbc.co.uk BUZZ 28

D A N C E

T O U R I N G

P A R T N E R S H I P

P R E S E N T S

“ T O U G H , B R U TA L , P L AY F U L , I R O N I C AND TERRIFIC” T H E N E W YO R K T I M E S

www.UltimaVezTour.co.uk

What the Body Does Not Remember

Fri 20 & Sat 21 February 7.30pm SHERMAN THEATRE @ THE DANCE HOUSE Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

029 2064 6900 www.shermancymru.co.uk

upfront

ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS TRY not to rack your brains too hard as The National Theatre's award-winning comedy One Man, Two Guvnors, returns to Cardiff as part of its biggest-ever tour of the UK and Ireland.

We follow a baffled former skiffle player, Francis Henshall, who becomes separately employed by two different men; leading to a whole new level of confusion as characters are entwined without him even realising. in Richard Bean’s much-loved British classic Henshall – employed by both Roscoe Crabbe, a local gangster, and Stanley Stubbers, a posh twit and upper-class criminal – desperately tries to shuffle between two masters without them meeting to prevent discovery of them finding out he’s employed by another person. To make things more complicated for Francis, it turns out that Roscoe isn’t who he seems – in fact he is actually Rachel Crabbe, his twin sister, in disguise. Roscoe is actually dead, having been killed by Rachel's hapless lover who is none other than Stanley Stubbers.

Sounds simple, right? While it might be hard to keep up with, and can take a while for those unfamiliar with the tale to get the gist, it does start to unfold nicely once the play warms up.

It’s a bit of a bonkers story, but then this is intended to be a bonkers show, as Gavin Spokes (who plays Francis) goes heavy on the pantomime aspect: slapstick comedy, mockery and physical comedy. With the likes of James Corden, who won numerous awards for his role as Francis, in previous versions of the play, One Man, Two Guvnors is bound to have you in stitches as we watch characters veer from one near disaster to the next. Peppered through the production is music from skiffle band The Craze to complete a thoroughly entertaining evening.

Just to shake things up a bit and keep the actors on their toes, the play also includes two extended passages of improvisation where audience members are recruited into the play – making each show a unique one, with no two performances ever being the same. STACEY OWEN One Man, Two Guvnors, New Theatre, Cardiff, Tue 10Sat 14 Feb. Tickets: £9-£33. Info: 029 2087 8889 / www. newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

GARY DELANEY Billy Connolly likes his stories, Noel Fielding enjoys his weird worlds and Michael Mcintyre likes his head shaking. Gary Delaney, however, thinks it’s time to stick to the jokes.

This is the idea behind Purist – a show which is literally all about the jokes, most of them one-liners.

He’s keeping it simple. Instead of going off on tangents about being a comedian, recounting awkward memories and dysfunctional relationships (he is happily married to big name comedian Sarah Millican) he will just tell joke after joke.

It’s a bold move: anecdotes can fill time and give you a chance to get everyone on your side, whereas singular jokes are more likely to bomb, but Delany knows what he’s doing.

The quotable comic has written witticisms for programmes including Jimmy Carr-helmed comedy panel show 8 Out Of 10 Cats and satirical news show 10 O’Clock Live. He's also delivered jokes in person on another comedy panel show Mock The Week and many stand-up TV shows such as Live At The Apollo, Dave’s One Night Stand and Comedy Central’s The Comedy Store.

Delaney’s quick wit hasn’t been lost on social media where his gags, written in 150 characters or less, have won his Twitter feed a Chortle Award nomination. He is also the only comedian to have two of his lines featured in the top 10 funniest jokes of the Edinburgh fringe festival: the year was 2010 and the offending lines were "As a kid I was made to walk the plank – we couldn't afford a dog" and "Dave drowned, so at the funeral we got him a wreath in the shape of a lifebelt. Well, it's what he would have wanted").

Clearly Delaney is sticking to his strengths. The formula for Purist seems to be paying off as well, with the show receiving glowing reviews and regularly selling out. Delaney spent over a decade in the world of comedy and, as the years have gone by, he’s been collecting jokes and storing them away in the ‘comedy cupboard’ in his head so that he can unleash them all at once in a fury of funny.

HEATHER ARNOLD Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot, Thurs 26 Feb. Tickets: £14/£12. Info: 01639 763214 / www.nptartsandents.co.uk

BUZZ 30

livE music now

Auditions / ClyweliAdAu 13 & 14 April 2015 / 13 & 14 Ebrill 2015 royAl wElsh collEgE oF music AnD DrAmA / colEg brEnhinol cErDD A DrAmA cymru

closing date / Dyddiad cau 2nd march 2015 / 2nd mawrth 2015 Further information and application pack from auditions@livemusicnow.org or tel: 02920 554298 www.livemusicnow.org.uk/auditions

Founded by yehudi Menuhin, Live Music now oFFers young, proFessionaL Musicians invaLuabLe training and paid perForMance opportunities in a wide range oF venues.

Live Music Now Limited (LMN) is a registered charity in England and Wales (273596).

www.livemusicnow.org.uk

profile LUCY RIVERS Actress, musician, writer and co-founder of Gagglebabble: Lucy Rivers has a lot on her plate, but that doesn’t stop her from sharing ghost stories with Heather Arnold.

T

he Forsythe sisters: they’ve travelled the globe, experienced tragedy and have spoken to beings that no longer seem to exist in our world. These are the women that have been created inside the heads of the award winning theatre company Gagglebabble.

Founded by Hannah McPake and Lucy Rivers, Gagglebabble is a company with its eye on shows that are a bit sinister and a bit alternative, with a lot of music and an immersive blending of funny and dark.

For their haunting show, The Forsyth Sisters, Gagglebabble are joining forces with the equally exciting Theatr Iolo.

“It’s a bit of a medium show where we are contacting the spirits and helping people who have been haunted,” explains Lucy Rivers, Gagglebabble cofounder and one of the stars of the new show, “but it’s also partly about telling ghost stories.

“This is their story. They are twins. They’ve travelled round the world and they have got a tale to tell. One of the sisters, my character Maggie, went blind from this tragic fire that burned down her house and also killed her parents. Since then she’s been haunted herself, but she’s also had this ability... or so we are led to believe.”

The show was created last year when Lucy was looking for a dark tale to tell for Halloween, but began to take shape when she came across a Victorian leaflet.

“The whole show was really inspired by a pamphlet I found – Apparitions of spirits in the county of Monmouth and the Principality of Wales, a 17th century pamphlet by Reverend Edmund James. We also talked to the man who runs the Llandaff Ghost Walk [James Cowan]; people go to him if they have had sightings. We asked him to come in and talk to us about some of his ghost stories and some of the ghosts in the show have really been sighted around the Bay. “So some of the stories we got from that, but some are more classic harbingers of doom, certainly with the tales of sisters that go around the world. There is, however, always this common thread of dealing with death and a certain revenge or something that has not been tied up.”

BUZZ 32

The Forsythe Sisters isn’t all darkness and doom, however, as music and humour play as vital a role as the ghostly figures do.

“There are a lot of laughs and I think that’s quite funny – the idea that people like getting spooked.

When I watched Ghost Stories in the West End, there were loads of big shocks where lots of people would scream but my reaction half the time was hysterical laughter rather than sheer terror.”

It’s been said that some of the best shows are the ones in which you not sure whether to laugh or to cry, and this is something Lucy is aware of.

“If you’re going out you want to be touched on all angles, it’s good to have that emotional connection throughout – whether that’s laughing or screaming.

It’s good to be moved rather than just sitting there.

With The Forsythe Sisters you don’t know where you going next, there is a lot of unpredictability. You don’t

“With The Forsythe Sisters you don’t know where you going next, there is a lot of unpredictability. You don’t know what is around the corner.”

know what is around the corner.”

Before going head-first into the creation of shows inspired by Georgian-era leaflets, Lucy was once a little girl, dreaming of drama.

“My dad was an actor so I caught the bug quite early and thought, ‘that’s what I want to do’. I always had music going on but felt that I had to choose music or drama?” Lucy recalls. “For a long time I was just an actor but then I slipped into being an actor/musician, and then I started doing composing and creating full shows. From the beginning I thought it would be lovely to have my own company and now I’m creating my own theatre and writing doing all that sort of stuff! I guess that, until you try it, you don’t know what you're good at.

“Hannah and I met when we were doing a show together 12 years ago," she recalls. "We had a great time, became friends and started working together. We are not afraid to explore the dark or the underdog. We’re also quite interested in female protagonists, because it’s run by two women. We make sure there are good female protagonists, good parts for women, they don’t have to be nice women.”

The devilish sisters, with the gravelly-voiced help of Dan Lambert (from Cardiff rock band Johnny Cage And The Voodoogroove) and the comedy talent of My Name Is Sue’s Dafydd James, will be helping the haunted and revealing their secrets over Valentine’s day and there are also some late ‘Friday Night Fright’ performances at a more ghostly hour.

The Forsythe Sisters, The Norwegian Church, Cardiff Bay, Wed 4-Fri 6 + Wed 11-Sat 14 Feb. Tickets £10-£12. Info: 029 2087 7959 / www.gagglebabble.co.uk

VILLAGE HOTEL CARDIFF

Bushcraft Bash Celebration events and experience days with a difference.

TRIBUTE MOTOWNHT NIG Fri 1e3methal, Faceb t and 3 cours 1am disco until

£25

Activities include shelter building, fire lighting, campfire food, bushtucker trials!

per person

VALENTINE’S

TAY TS GH GE I N ER KA OV PAC ht

VERVE GRILL

49

£1 ding theeal

Thurs Saturd day, Friday & ay N Valentin ights - Specia l e’s men u for

nig per ple cou per lu m

£49

inc tine’s t s n Vale breakfa &

per coup le

Gift vouchers available.

SIX NATION

MOTHERS’ DAY LUNCH

LUNCH WITH MICHAEL BUBLE

Come and watch all the six nations matches at the Victory Pub & Kitchen.

3 course meal and tribute act

£22.50 per adult £12.50 per child

FULL MENU AVAILABLE AND RED CARD OFFER* *Red Card is a free loyalty card to obtain drinks offers when sports games are shown in the pub.

FEB SUN

VERVE GRILL 3 course buffet

SUNDAY 15th MARCH

£15.95 per adult £7.95 per child

One Direction Tribute Family Show

22

Because you know they’re beautiful! Enjoy a fantastic afternoon with your favourite boys

11 Children £9

Adult £

Ticket only includes the tribute act and disco 2pm -6pm Drinks and munchies will be available to purchase on the day

www.bushcraftbash.co.uk

To book call

0871 222 4578

village-hotels.co.uk

Discover your wild side... get in touch to find out more! info@bushcraftbirthdays.co.uk • mob: 07716 462 983

Village Cardiff, 29 Pendwyallt Road, Coryton, Cardiff, CF14 7EF Calls to 0871 numbers cost 10p per minute plus network extras

Welcome to the Pumping Station Trading for over 30 years, the Pumping Station is Cardiff's number one destination for antiques, interiors, collectables, sculpture, jewellery, vintage items and retro finds. Boasting 35 different retailers selling over 3 floors, this is a unique retail experience that’s full of surprises.

PENARTH ROAD | CARDIFF | CF11 8TT TEL: 02920 221 085

OPEN: MONDAY-SUNDAY | 9.30AM-5.30PM

www.thepumpingstation-cardiff.co.uk

film

by Keiron Self

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY***

JUPITER ASCENDING ***

Dir: Sam Taylor-Johnson (18, 100 mins) So, the publishing phenomenon and soft S&M porn ‘classic’ by EL James gets turned into a 9½ Weeks for the 21st century. Originally a fan fiction story for Twilight fans, EL James turned her libidinal musings into a way for erotica to become sexy again. Women-friendly porn that could be read without drawing attention on public transport or amongst friends became de rigeur, despite the apparent ‘woman-friendliness’ still being about being controlled by a man. The fantasy has now become celluloid flesh with Dakota Johnson’s literature student Anastasia Steele falling for The Fall’s Jamie Dornan’s Christian Grey and his ‘singular’ tastes. Lots of ice cubes, whipping and a Red Room Of Pain ensue, if the adaptation remains true and the kinkiness remains. The book may have been derided but this will surely tick many boxes for Valentine’s Day... ahem. Dornan and director Taylor-Wood have sophistication on their side as do supporting cast members Jennifer Ehle, Marcia Gay Harden and, er, Rita Ora. This will be a talking point if nothing else. Lets hope Taylor Wood and her cast can make it more than just trivial, questionable S&M, otherwise someone will get a proper spanking.

Opens Feb 13

Dir: Andy Wachowski/Lana Wachowski (12A, 125 mins) After the mind bending Cloud Atlas, the Wachowskis return to mainstream and, indeed, quite silly sci-fi hokum in what looks to be something more akin to the Matrix sequels. Postponed from last year’s summer blockbuster season due to reshoots, Jupiter Ascending now has somewhat of a cloud of foreboding about it. Mila Kunis plays crazily named Jupiter Jones, a woman destined for great things, despite the fact that she cleans toilets. Down on her luck but with her head in the stars, her humdrum existence changes with the arrival of pointyeared ginger Channing Tatum. He’s an ex-military space hunter charged with finding Jupiter and protecting her from otherworldly forces like Eddie Redmayne’s gleefully hammy baddie Balem. Kunis is about to inherit the queenship of Earth but Redmayne wants it for himself and is out to harvest Earth for all it’s worth, and only she can stop him. Many familiar elements are on sci-fi show here, amidst some eye-boggling special FX naturally. This could be a massive mess or a shamefully enjoyable bit of popcorn. It looks as if Tatum and Kunis will struggle to be heard above the constant spectacle at which the Wachowskis excel. Let’s hope it’s more like The Matrix rather than its sequels. Opens Feb 6

BLACK HAT ***

CAKE ***

FOCUS ***

Dir: Michael Mann (15, 135 mins) The director of Heat, Collateral and Miami Vice returns to modern day crime, enlisting Thor to battle cyber crime.

Chris Hemsworth plays an incarcerated computer whiz, pulled out of prison to battle a cyber network intent on bringing down the world as we know it. Hacking into bank records, destroying company assets and possible nuclear meltdowns, it’s up to Hemsworth to stop him with the help of FBI agent Viola Davis and the Chinese People Liberation Army. Very timely in the wake of Sony’s cyber attack before Christmas, Black Hat is tech-heavy as you’d expect from the thoroughly researched Mann. People sweat and tap on keyboards talking about code and occasionally there is some handheld chases and shoot outs as the team globe trot to track down their shadowy adversary. Solid stuff, all shot with cool icy sheen by Mann, this still struggles to entirely grip.

Opens Feb 20

Dir: Daniel Barnz (15, 102 mins) Jennifer Aniston goes dowdy and reminds everyone she can do more than be a haircut and romantic foil in this partially successful tale of addiction and grief. Aniston plays Claire, in chronic pain and facially scarred after a car crash. Pills are necessary for medication and to provide some relief. Aniston is admirably crabby and just the right side of unlikeable as she deals with her touchy feely support group, led by Felicity Huffman. She starts getting hallucinations from Anna Kendrick’s Nina, a woman who had killed herself and ends up making an unlikely alliance with her struggling husband, played by Sam Worthington. It’s low-key and engaging, if ultimately going down the formulaic route, with some flashy cameos from William H Macy and Lucy Punch and a winning turn from Aniston’s maid played by Ariana Barraza. Aniston pulls out all the stops with award baiting aplomb, but the rest of the film doesn’t match up to her raw anti-heroic performance. Opens Feb 20

Dir: Glenn Ficarra / John Requa (15, 104 mins) A romantic comedy/drama/crime thriller with Will Smith and Margot Robbie fizzing around each other as a veteran con man and the young attractive protégé he takes under his wing. The teaching soon turns romantic and a bit steamy and Smith decides to break it off. Time passes, as Dylan Thomas would say, and three years later Robbie shows up all femme fatale during one of Smith’s elaborate con jobs – involving fast cars, Buenos Aires and some nutty bad guys. His composure is gone and the two of them become embroiled in a dangerous con, and with one another, once more. Written and directed by the same people who brought us the formulaic but enjoyable Crazy, Stupid, Love, Focus treads more well-worn territory, but with aplomb. This is enjoyable froth, Smith and Robbie have chemistry and it’s good to see the Fresh Prince in a film without any of his children.

Opens Feb 27

ALSO RELEASED: THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL (PG) You know that best exotic Marigold Hotel? Apparently there’s a second best one too. An unnecessary sequel.

LOVE IS STRANGE (15) John Lithgow and Alfred Molina star as a gay couple forced to live apart after one of them loses their jobs and they search for somewhere cheaper. Great performances, funny and tender. STILL LIFE (12A) Eddie Marsan and Downton Abbey's Joanne Froggatt star in this gentle comedy drama, as a case worker looks for the relatives of the dead and alone. Sounds grim but isn’t. TWO NIGHT STAND (15) It’s a rom-com with Miles Teller who, due to a snow storm, is forced to extend his one-night stand with Annaleigh Tipton with predictable mushy results.

SELMA ****

INHERENT VICE **

Dir: Ava DuVernay (12A, 127 mins) A solid, serious and thoughtful snapshot of civil rights leader Martin Luther King as he struggles to get equal voting rights for black people in the racially charged Alabama of 1965. Kicking off with a shocking opening act of slaughter, the film chronicles the activists’ struggle against systemic oppression, sadly only 50 years ago. David Oyelowo is superb as Dr King, his voice modulating from the quiet of domestic scenes to the oratorical powerhouse who had a dream, battling against a reluctant President Lyndon Johnson, played by Tom Wilkinson, and Tim Roth’s bigoted Alabama governor. Matters come to a head as King marches from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama, his cry of non-violent resistance tested to the core as his supporters, both black and white, are killed for following his commands. Director DuVernay stirs the soul without getting preachy, showing King as a flawed but principled character whose marriage to Coretta, played by Carmen Ejgogo, was not without its problems. There are cameos from Oprah Winfrey, Cuba Gooding Jnr and Martin Sheen, all adding gravitas to a necessary, though less chronicled story from our all-too-recent history. A full-blown Martin Luther King biopic should be on the cards, with Oyelowo masterful in the lead role. Opens Feb 6

Dir: Paul Thomas Anderson (15, 148 mins) Thomas Pynchon’s bizarre detective novel gets an equally bizarre film adaptation courtesy of Boogie Nights and There Will Be Blood director Paul Thomas Anderson. Maddening and ultimately disengaging, the film follows Joaquin Phoenix’s Doc, a stoner PI embroiled in several labyrinthine plots that all sort of connect, but exactly how is open to opinion. It’s 1970s LA and the psychedelic 60s are turning into a bad trip as Phoenix searches for a missing former girlfriend (a great Katherine Waterston). A tenor sax player (played by Owen Wilson) falls foul of a possible drugs cartel called the Golden Fang and slams into Los Angeles police corruption. It’s well acted, although incessant mumbling abounds, and there are strong cameos from the likes of Martin Short, Reese Witherspoon and Josh Brolin. Writer/director Anderson however has eschewed heart and, whilst Phoenix’s performance is engaging, it’s difficult to care about his plight, or indeed any of the characters. It may well be a great adaptation of the book but the transition to screen baffles and infuriates, motives are purposely unclear, and though elements of the film are admirable, there is an inherent feeling of ‘so what?’. Out now

IT FOLLOWS **** Dir: David Robert Mitchell (15, 100 mins) A horror film that certainly fills you with dread, It Follows is scalp-tighteningly good, referencing other scary films before it whilst building its own unique menace. Maika Monroe plays Jay, a 19-year-old pursued by something dreadful. She has sex for the first time with her boyfriend and inherits a nightmare. She will be pursued by something that can take any form it wants and will follow her until it kills her. The only way to put a barrier between you and this supernatural curse is to have sex with someone else, then you put them before you in the pecking order of death. Director Mitchell’s slow moving potential death carriers, some easier to spot than others, adds huge tension in a dreamy nightmare of a horror movie that relies on storytelling rather than novelty gore and jumps for effect. You will definitely look over your shoulder more often after seeing this. Opens Feb 27

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE ****

PREDESTINATION ****

Dir: Matthew Vaughn (15, 129 mins)

Dir: The Spierig Brothers (15, 97 mins) This time-twisting sci-fi thriller, based on a short story by cerebral author Robert Heinlein ,is full of head scratchy conundrums with an added ticking time bomb, quite literally. Ethan Hawke reunites with the Spierig Brothers, playing a Temporal Agent: a time traveller who has travelled to 1975 to prevent a hideous terrorist attack.

As he struggles with what he was, is and may become, Hawke tends bar and spends time talking to a transgender columnist played by Sarah Snook, whose story adds further convolutions to an already dense plot. This is a slick budget sci-fi, with Hawke and Snook making a good partnership when the machinations of the plot allow them some breathing space. Despite its often ludicrous turns, Predestination remains shamelessly entertaining and Snook in particular impressing as a gender-swapping protagonist. It’s this year’s Looper, a definite cult genre discovery. Opens Feb 20

A Bond pastiche that gleefully name checks Ian Fleming’s super spy whilst creating its own hyper-violent gentlemanly world of espionage, Kingsman is a gleefully outrageous delight. Colin Firth is clearly having a ball as Harry Hart, a Kingsman and part of a secret spy network, who takes Eggsy (Taron Egerton), a wayward youth from a rundown, violent estate, under his wing. Eggsy’s father was also a Kingsman, so now Firth will coach him in the ways of the gentleman spy. Taking Eggsy to the Kingsman’s secret lair, he is soon trained in all things spy, then finds himself up against Samuel L Jackson’s lisping super villain and razor sharp prosthetic legged assassin Gazelle. Full of salty language, hyper stylised violence and old style Bondinage, this is 007 let off the leash. Far from the recent po-faced shenanigans of Daniel Craig’s establishment Bond, this is a cheeky younger brother in arms, that is ludicrously enjoyable. Michael Caine gamely adds gravitas to the stylised gore and buffoonery. Out now

THE WEDDING RINGER (15) Josh Gad has no best man for his upcoming wedding so obviously he hires one in the shape of the often annoying Kevin Hart. Mild hilarity ensues. MONSTERS: DARK CONTINENT (15) Delayed release to this follow up to Godzilla director Gareth Edward’s first film. Arthouse sci-fi seems to have been ditched in exchange for army men fighting against monsters in the desert. THE SIGNAL(12A) Sci-fi thriller about a man who may have been abducted by aliens, or may not. Laurence Fishburne adds gravitas to the diverting hokum.

CATCH ME DADDY (15) Dark Brit thriller as Laila, a girl who has run away from her strict family, is chased down by her brother and some thugs in a West Yorkshire town. Grim and tense.

food/drink

pics: KATE BORKOWSKI

pics: BARB STEINACKER

FOOD TO GET YOU IN THE MOOD Apparently the best way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, and Laura Riley couldn’t agree more as she suggests an appetite for aphrodisiacs on Valentine’s Day. Ah love, isn’t it grand? If only there was a day dedicated to it... oh wait, there is! Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to let someone know how much you care about them – and what says ‘I love you’ better than a home cooked meal?

If you’ve decided to cook for your beau this year, you may want to consider adding some aphrodisiacs to the mix. I’m sure your culinary skills and winning personality are enough to carry you through your evening, but a bit of extra help never hurt anyone.

For starters, consider a classic – oysters.

Often identified as the biggest libido-lifters around, the shellfish are rich in zinc and could increase sperm and testosterone production.

They also contain libido booster, dopamine.

Make sure you scrub the shells before serving, though: food poisoning is a real romance killer.

Celery is a popular diet staple, but it can be sexy too. It’s full of androsterone, a hormone which gets released in male sweat.

Surprisingly, the ladies are said to love it.

If you want to arouse passion in your lady friend, make sure to include almonds in your menu, or add to the ambience and light an almond-scented candle – the scent being where its power lies. It could also help you hide the scent of an exceptionally powerful aphrodisiac.

Although garlic has definite potential for ruining any passionate lip locks that your efforts have produced, it contains allicin, an ingredient that increases blood flow to your – ahem – private parts.

Avocados have some sexy benefits too. Firstly, their name is Aztec and means ‘testicle’ (think about the shape). Secondly, they’re rich in unsaturated fats: great for a healthy heart that’ll keep blood flowing to all the right places...

BUZZ 36

If your cooking isn’t up to much, or if the idea of combining oysters, garlic, almonds, avocados and celery into one menu sounds like way too much work, play it safe. Chocolate contains a chemical called phenylethylamine which can make you feel all loved up. If you shower your significant other with enough chocolatey delights, they might just forgive you for ringing up the local takeaway.

FROM BOGIEZ TO BREWERY Many were dismayed when Bogiez, Cardiff’s former rock and metal bar, closed its doors – but the cellar venue won’t be empty for much longer as people from the Pontyclun-based Hopcraft Brewery will be moving in and making their mark.

The brewers hope to open up the bar, called the Hopbunker, this month and will be serving up their own Hopcraft and Pixiei Spring beers (obviously), as well as guest beers from across the world and from fellow Welsh breweries.

Info: www.hopcraftbrewing.co.uk

THE PENYLAN

STEAK OF THE ART Looking a little bit more like the venue where Lewis Carroll's Mad Hatter would host his tea party than a steak house, Steak Of The Art, recently opened on Churchill Way, mixes an art gallery with a steak restaurant. Having done well in Bristol, the owners of Steak Of The Art have opened up their quirky restaurant in Cardiff, with a nod to Welsh food and culture. Not only is all the meat and beer locally sourced, but there is even a decorative booth inspired by the works of Cardiffian Roald Dahl.

Info: 029 2039 7284 / www.steakoftheart.co.uk

The Penylan, a wine bar making its home just off Cardiff’s Albany Road, has only been open a few weeks but is already proving a popular choice as its seats seem full most nights. This new wine bar does more than just drinks, however, as it serves up signature dishes that will change theme regularly. Currently the meals are Vietnamese-inspired, with a hint of French influence: it sounds like an odd combination, but modern Vietnamese food often has a French flavour, due to its colonial past. The enthusiastic owner has plans for Chinese New Year and St David’s Day, and there are also some interesting benefits for group bookings (free if you can get over 20 people along, and you can get your own customised menu).

Info: 07887 663344 / search ‘The Penylan’ on Facebook

RECIPE BOOZY

5

CHOCOLATES AND SEND A SPECIAL VALENTINE words RUTH JOSEPH www.ruthjoseph.co.uk www.veggischmooze.blogspot.com

pics: HEDVIGS

OF THE BEST... Pancake Houses in Cardiff

If you’re flipping out over Pancake Day on Tue 17 Feb, but can’t mix batter to save your life, then don’t panic: Kathryn Lewis is here to suggest the best places to grab a pancake in Cardiff.

THE CLASSIC BREAKFAST PANCAKE The Gutsy Goose, 145 Crwys Road. Info: 029 2022 8523 / www.thegutsygoose.co.uk For the sweet-toothed among us, spotting pancakes on a breakfast menu can feel like finding your car keys when you’re late for work, and lucky for us The Gutsy Goose has nailed the classic pancake brunch. Three fluffy pancakes topped with a thick slice of smoky bacon and a good helping of maple syrup: possibly the ultimate sweet/savoury combination?

THE BELLY-BUSTING PANCAKE Cafe 37, 37 Salisbury Road. Info: 029 2064 1137 / www.cafe37cardiff.co.uk This all-American diner goes all-American when it comes to portion sizes, as it serves up the thickest pancakes this side of the Atlantic. Pile them on the side of a full English or indulge Jack Johnson-style with a stack of delicious banana pancakes and ice cream.

THE FRUITY PANCAKE Bill’s, 27-39 Wyndham Arcade, Mill Lane. Info: 029 2023 1524 / www.bills-website.co.uk Clock up a couple of your five-a-day with Bill’s blueberry buttermilk pancakes – scattered with strawberries, banana and maple syrup. Good value for one of the city’s central eateries, the plentiful portion will keep you running ’til lunch.

THE VERSATILE PANCAKE

How often do we buy an expensive box of chocolates as a Valentine’s present thinking they’ll do? This year, consider creating your own and show your loved one how much you really care. These chocolates are easy to make and work every time, so make a few as the ultimate love present and give your love a special thoughtful gift.

You can add edible sparkle and pack them in a fancy mug or a pretty dish as a forever present.

Just buy some gauze available in craft shops. Arrange the chocolates in the container. Cut a large piece of the gauze and pull around the container. Now tie an elastic band around the mouth of the container and pull back the edges of the gauze. You’ll have an instant elegant wrapping.

INGREDIENTS 300g luxury mixed dried fruit / 100ml amaretto or Archers / 350g fair trade dark chocolate / edible sparkle (optional ) / pretty gauze to wrap, plus container PREPARATION • Soak the dried fruit in a pan with the liqueur-type drink. Either leave overnight or place on a stove and heat very gently until all the liquid has gone and the dried fruit plumped up. Leave it to cool completely.

• Take the fair trade dark chocolate (easier to work with if it’s in choc chips), and melt in a glass dish over a pan of just-boiling water, taking care that the water does not touch the chocolate.

The Pancake House, The Brewery Quarter. Info: 029 2064 4954 / www.breweryquarter.co.uk With flavour combinations changing with the seasons, The Pancake House is the home of sweet and savoury variety. Look out for intriguing specials such as chocolate coconut and salted caramel with crushed pretzels.

• Stir gently and when the chocolate begins to melt, take it off the heat and continue stirring.

THE SAVOURY PANCAKE

• Stir well until it is all combined. Drop teaspoons onto waxed or parchment paper. Leave to set.

Sophie’s Creperie, 16 High Street Arcade. Info: 029 2037 2352 / www.facebook.com/crepesophie Pancakes don’t have to be sweet and the super thin pancakes (better known as crepes) served at Sophie’s are stuffed full with a range of fillings more familiar with the sandwich. Try the fajita chicken crepe bursting with seasoned chicken, crunchy peppers and a spicy tomato sauce packing a feisty punch.

• Now add the cooled fruit to the chocolate mixture.

• Sprinkle with edible sparkle. When set, place the chocolates in your lovely container. Wrap and present. Happy Valentine’s Day! pic: VEGAN FEAST CATERING

BUZZ 37

food/drink

pics: KENNY LOUIE

ETHICAL EDIBLES

Love Your Heart and Enjoy Your Life words RUTH JOSEPH www.ruthjoseph.co.uk www.veggischmooze.blogspot.com

A TASTY START TO CHINESE NEW YEAR As the Year Of The Sheep approaches its start on Thurs 19 Feb, Kathryn Lewis takes a look at some dishes you can cook yourself for Chinese New Year.

We don’t really need an excuse to tuck into a good chow mein or a large bowl of special fried rice, but with Chinese New Year just around the corner there’s all the more reason to embrace the Asian cuisine. Like most cultural traditions, Chinese New Year sees families come together at the turn of the calendar to enjoy a reunion dinner.

Although most of us won't be lucky enough to be invited to an authentic supper, that’s not going to stop us getting stuck into some delicious Chinese food.

South Wales has a wealth of fantastic Chinese restaurants and takeaways, but let’s face it, it’s always going to taste so much better when you cook it yourself (even if no one else agrees).

What’s more, the Chinese cuisine is diverse but essentially simple: there’s no fiddly techniques like those oft-complicated French dishes, or hours of slow cooking that draw out British cookery.

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Here are a few culinary ideas to try out and welcome in the year of the goat.

Let’s start off with egg-fried rice, always a winner and a highly versatile side dish. First things first, always cook the rice in advance and let it cool, otherwise you’re going to get a gloopy mess. Then, in a wok heat a little oil and add a few chopped spring onions, after a couple of minutes add the cool rice and a egg and keep of the ingredients moving in the pan until the rice is covered in the cooked egg. Simple.

Try some straightforward stir-fries too if you’re more of a novice chef. All you need is a bit of onion, garlic and chilli in a pan with some veggies and you’re half way there. Sauces can be a little tricky, but you can throw together a quick chow mein sauce with a tablespoon each of ketchup and oyster sauce and two of soy.

According to the Department Of Health, “coronary heart disease is preventable, yet it kills more than 70,000 people and 110,000 have a heart attack every year. Around two million people suffer from angina in the UK. Such statistics mean that CHD is the biggest killer in the country.” Women suffer from the same risk factors as men and are three times as many are likely to die from heart disease as breast cancer.

Firstly, what is coronary heart disease? Arteries leading to the heart can gradually be ‘furred up’ by a buildup of plaque inside the coronary arteries called atheroma. These supply the oxygenated-rich blood to the heart muscles and if these are blocked, the heart is starved of essential nutrients.

However, latest advice from the British Heart Foundation can help. Those five fruits and vegetables a day are now almost a mantra, but add to that an increase of your consumption of fatty fish. New studies have suggested that enjoying two portions of fish per week – at least one oily, grilled, poached or baked – “can improve your chances of survival after a heart attack,” say the British Heart Foundation.

Change to wholegrains and high fibre wherever possible. Think daily porridge – an exceptional cholesterol-lowering natural food – and include more lentils and beans.

Reduce salt intake, including hidden salts found in tinned foods such as baked beans, soups and junk food. Reduce saturated fat intake, including high fat dairy products and meat, solid-type margarines and trans fats.

A small amount of red wine may be beneficial in helping the heart as it slightly increases highdensity lipoprotein (HDL).

Nevertheless, alcohol intake should be reduced. Controversy exists between American and British heart groups as to whether a change in lifestyle is more effective; certainly, a higher rate of activity is recommended.

Interestingly, the American Heart Foundation proved that slim people maintaining a sedentary lifestyle are more at risk that one slightly more overweight active person. So begin to enjoy walking fast, cycling, dancing or swimming. Or try gardening and run up an extra flight of stairs. Consider taking up yoga, tai chi or qigong which all promote relaxation as well as pic: ANO LOBB invigorating exercise.

food/drink

BURGER & LOBSTER

CHAI STREET

FED

153 Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff. 029 2022 8888 / www.chaistreet.com Food: *** Atmosphere: **** When Chai Street was open in its previous location, the other side of Cardiff on Whitchurch Road, the trend of ‘street food’ was – well, a trend, rather than the hollow, marketing co-opted buzzword it’s since become. Cardiff, especially, was an untested market, and their initial gambit – only opening for breakfast and lunch, expecting the district’s workers to grab some spicy Mumbai fodder instead of a Gregg’s sandwich – didn’t quite pan out. Overall, though, Chai Street was successful, and only closed because Mint & Mustard, its high-end parent located next door, wanted to expand.

Finally, it’s reopened in Canton in the immediate vicinity of mediocre Italians, dicey pubs and a sex shop, and seems to have hit the ground running. My friend and I are given the last two (window) seats and are shortly treated to the forlorn faces of two other pals of ours who can’t get in.

Starters arrive quickly and hit the mark, although both could benefit from an auxiliary sauce of some kind. My poricha kozhi – aka chicken supreme, if we must be British about it – has a remarkably good breadcrumb coating, tempered by the chicken’s tenderness. A ‘bajji basket’ (actually a miniature aluminium bucket) of onion, potato and aubergine varieties isn’t overly stodgy or greasy.

Aiming to see how they handle the staples, a lamb dum biryani (‘dum’refers to the method of cooking) bears fruit. The rice and spice isn’t leagues above the curry house 40 yards away, but the slow-cooked meat gives it a leg-up, and £6.95 is a steal. An eight-part fish thali is met with approval, especially the coconut-zingy fish curry, although marks are deducted for the puny serving of pickles. Two desserts – the syrup depth charge of gulab jamun and carrot halwa, both with ice cream – plus a pint of Cobra and glass of wine leaves us sated, not bloated, and over three years since my last visit still weighs in under £40. NOEL GARDNER

The Hayes, Cardiff 029 2022 4044 / www.burgerandlobster.com Food: ** Atmosphere: **** It has arrived, as we knew it would. Residing in the upper echelons of the old Habitat/Gas Building, the impressive open iron archways now house a restaurant, bar and seating area and an in-your-face fish tank.

Part of the Goodman steak chain, Burger & Lobster have continued the modern trend of applying two objects occasionally but not exclusively related in a dining concept: who can forget The Rat & Carrot? There is no printed menu: a blackboard by the entrance announces “Burger or lobster or lobster roll for £20”, that price including salad & chips. Cheery staff are eager to explain the concept in more detail once seated, and deliver well-rehearsed patter.

Imported Canadian live lobsters are held in tanks, and can be served steamed, grilled or in the form of a lobster roll. The burgers, all meat no sawdust, are delivered from a combination of grass-fed happy cows. Dessert is a choice of chocolate mousse or cheesecake, priced at £4 and served in plastic pots.

We shared a burger and a lobster and it arrived on two silver platters. I don’t actually know that many people who order lobster, or who genuinely like it, but the combo arrived cooked as promised: the lobster grilled, succulent and slightly charred, the burger fell apart, moist and tender.

At £20 per head plus wine (our bottle cost £23), I’m not sure it’s worth it, unless you have a particular penchant for lobster – you can get better burgers elsewhere and a lot cheaper. I did feel as if I was sat in a premium fast food outlet, using a very clever marketing ploy. Having said that, Burger & Lobster is tastefully designed and worth a visit, if only to sit at the bar and try one of the many cocktails. More importantly, the lobsters are despatched from this planet via a Crustastun machine, widely held to be the most humane way of killing them and endorsed by PETA. Perhaps not one for the veggies, but it does do exactly what it says on the tin. ANTONIA LEVAY

Mary Ann Street, Cardiff 029 2034 1501 / www.wearefed.co.uk Food: *** Atmosphere: *** The big, brightly lit ‘Food Exploration Destination’ (or FED, see what they did there) is a restaurant that offers up a combination of pre-made buffet food and freshly cooked dishes. The ‘exploration’ comes in the form of different cuisines from around the world, with everything from traditional Italian food to spicy Indian dishes, Tex-Mex to sushi, flame-grilled meat to Chinese classics.

Whether you’re into all-you-can-eat style restaurants or not I do find that there is something immensely fun about having Japanese sushi, chicken fajitas and pizza all on the same plate.

The fresh food stations, where you can pick and choose elements of your dish and have them delivered to your table, are a great idea, and provided the tastiest dishes. A pasta carbonara from the Italian stall was spot on: the spaghetti was well cooked and the sauce was smooth and creamy without being overly cheesy.

My partner and I tried to make sure we had the whole world covered, so we ate a lot, but other highlights included some well cooked, succulent freshly fried prawns, the 'build your own' Chinese stir-fry and the flame-grilled beef steak.

This being a buffet-style restaurant, with a huge selection of food, it’s unlikely that any of the individual dishes that are going to blow you away. If you’re looking for this style of meal,however, FED is probably the right way to go. The place is well lit so you can see what you’re getting, the staff are friendly and attentive, the buffet food is of a solid quality and the freshly cooked dishes turn things up a notch. Undoubtedly FED is a good choice if you have a big group and no one can agree on what type of food they want: the set price, which is between £8.99-£12.99 for lunch and £12.99-£14.99 for dinner, also makes splitting the bill a simpler task.

HEATHER ARNOLD BUZZ 39

art

ILLUMINATION Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay Fri 6 Feb-Mon 13 Apr

pic: Smashed Dreams, Heatherwood Court Hospital

For most of us, our only perception of life inside prison is the ones we’ve been shown through films and television series. We all had teary eyes watching The Shawshank Redemption, sweated over Law Abiding Citizen, and spent too many hours glued to the popular series Orange Is The New Black, but it’s near enough impossible to get an insight to those whose everyday life is spent inside a cell.

Reflecting prisoners' innermost thoughts, regrets and aspirations, Illumination is a moving display of artwork, music and creative writing created by artest who are in prisons and secure hospitals, or are on probabtion.

It's likely that the closest most of us can get to understanding a life overseen by the criminal justice system is by taking a step into the minds of those who do, and thier frustration and sadness with the system is clear in some pieces as suclpture of a woman appears closed off, isolated and looking defeated, and someone replaces thier own head with a smashed lightbulb.

They have bold things to say about the emotional consequences of being a 'prisoner'. The exhibition has been created with from entries from the 2014 Koestler Awards - a charitable scheme that has spent the last 50 years encourging people in the criminal justice sysmtem to engage with art. The Koestler Awardsrepresent an injection of creativity, humanity and empowerment into the cold closed world of prisons, and the Illumination exhibition hopes to highlight the significance of art in the lives of people both in and out of prison. STACEY OWEN Admission: free. Info: 029 2063 6464 / www.wmc.org.uk

pic: WATCHING ME WATCHING YOU by IAN MUNROE

INN FOCUS GROUP: BEYOND THE BOUNDS

Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay Mon 16-Sun 22 Feb Beyond The Bounds is the perfect title for Inn Focus Group’s inaugural photography exhibition. The amateur photography group and camera club from Bridgend has been running since 2009. The group of talented photographers have put together a gorgeous array of artwork that is anything but amateur, and all the more impressive when you realise that it has been developed around their day jobs.

The exhibition is described as “an insight in to the photography of Inn Focus Group" and includes not only beautiful landscapes and stunning wildlife but also some more surreal images of a woman standing still next to a breaking window, a man in a top hat sitting in the bath and a Shakespearean neck ruff being imitated by canine medical wear.

This amateur exhibition doesn’t lack any talent and seeing the results the Inn Focus Group members have produced from their hobby might just inspire you to pursue your hidden passion. It’s only February, so there’s still time to sneak it onto your list of New Year’s resolutions.

The exhibition will run for just a week in the Dahl Gallery. The gallery itself is steeped in creative history: named after Roald Dahl, in recognition of his work as president of the Norwegian Church Preservation Trust.

Admission: free. Info: 029 2087 7959 / www.norwegianchurchcardiff.co.uk (LR)

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pic: DEWI TANNATT LLOYD

JULIE ARKELL: AWAY

Mission Gallery, Swansea Sat 14 Feb-Sun 12 Apr Grief can do strange things to a person.

It’s an emotion that is hard to control and almost impossible to manage simply because, most of the time, we are left dazed and confused at the loss we have just suffered.

For Julie Arkell, the grief she experienced after the death of her mother manifested itself into the real, tangible forms of the creatures which make up her new exhibition, Away.

Made from papier-mâché and adorned with found objects and knitted accessories, Arkell’s strange but charming creatures make up a narrative set.

Totalling 100 creations in, a number Arkell intended to create from the start, the story begins with a small timid creature but as the tale continues, her creations grow in both size and personality. Presenting the grieving process in this unique way is a testament to Arkell’s creative ability.

Giving herself the challenge of creating one creature each week results in an exhibition that demonstrates strength in a time of extreme heartbreak.

My personal favourite is a small mouselike being, beautifully adorned in a Red Riding Hood-style cloak, and a rather sad looking gnome with a big nose who pulls a train of wool. If you want to immerse yourself in the world of Julie Arkell’s folktale world, this exhibition promises to be a magical pull on the heartstrings.

Admission: free. Info: 01792 652016 / www.missiongallery.co.uk (AH)

SACHA FERRIER: TRANSIENCE

Aberystwyth Arts Centre Until Sat 14 Mar Food and drinks, drugs and gambling, love and loss. It sounds like the checklist for a Hunter S Thompson novel but it’s not, it's Transience – a new three-part exhibition

by Burnley-based photographer Sacha Ferrier.

Soon arriving at Aberystwyth Art Centre, the photos will be themed around recent experiences in his life, including the death of his wife.

Unusually, the photographs owe much to the Dutch still life movement in their composition. Sixteenth century European art 101: expect lots of carefully staged, well lit, ‘flat’ images, filled with the colourful clutter of everyday life. Also, food, lots of food, food everywhere; the genre is famous for its ‘kitchen table’ painting, which seemed to exist mostly as an excuse for the artist to show off how full his larder was.

Perhaps it should come as no surprise then that a photographer who has previously worked for Heinz should be drawn to what some might think as a very formal aesthetic choice, especially for telling such personal stories. Don’t let that choice put you off though, as his previous work, such as the photo-series Empirical and Libertine (both shot in 2013), display a clear talent for the form. With this solid foundation in place, it’s with excitement we wait to see the artist’s new, more personal stories told in this way.

Admission: free. Info: 01970 623232 / www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk (AC)

JOHN ABELL: THE HORSE WITH THE HUMAN HEART

Oriel Mwldan, Cardigan Until Sat 21 Mar 2013 Welsh Print Artist Of The Year John Abell’s new solo exhibition The Horse With The Human Heart tells the story of a child born without a heart, an absence of which also happen to leave him devoid of a soul. That’s a pretty tough break, but to compound issues further, the only solution is to find a horse with a human heart and convince him to give it up (obviously).

With a plot so fresh and interesting and such an acute artistic talent, Dragonheart this is clearly not. Differing from Abell's usual practise of using found material in his work, this new show is combining the artist’s love for traditional printmaking and showcasing, for the first time, his natural gift for storytelling.

There’s additional good news for fans, as the series of woodcuts will be also be making up the groundwork of a forthcoming graphic novel which shares its title with the exhibition. Those familiar with his previous work will not be disappointed by the return of his large scale, eye-achingly detailed prints, although the collection does feature a wide breadth in scale. All in all this is quite a special offering from the Cardiffbased artist and one, I think, not to be missed.

Admission: free. Info: 01239 621200 / www.mwldan.co.uk (AC)

AR ad for Buzz.qxp_Layout 1 26/01/2015 14:37 Page 1

ARTIST ROOMS

Francesca Woodman Exhibition ends 25 February 2015

Oriel Davies, The Park / Y Parc, Newtown / Y Drenewydd, Powys, SY16 2NZ Mon- Sat 10am - 5pm / Llun - Sadwrn 10yb - 5yh Admission free / Mynediad am Ddim T: +44(0)1686 625041 E: desk@orieldavies.org www.orieldavies.org Francesca Woodman, Providence, Rhode Island, 1976, photograph, gelatin silver print on paper, 143 x 144 mm Š Courtesy of George and Betty Woodman ARTIST ROOMS Tate and National Galleries of Scotland. Acquired jointly through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Art Fund 2008 ARTIST ROOMS On Tour is a partnership with Arts Council England and the Art Fund, making available the ARTIST ROOMS collection to galleries throughout the UK.

stage “Everyone had a Grav story and it’s about trying to give these stories a voice.”

GRAV In October 2007, Wales stood still with the world of rugby in shock. Scarlets, Wales and British Lions legend Ray Gravell sadly passed away at the age of 56, following complications resulting from contracting diabetes. Owen Scourfield and Alex Cornish find out how his life is being brought to the stage.

Ray, nicknamed Grav, was a famous face in the world of rugby union and was known both for his exploits as a player and, later in life, as an excitable, passionate pundit for BBC and S4C. That’s where the ball stopped with Grav, however, as he was an actor, a cultural icon, a family man, and a person with a lifetime of stories worthy of being retold.

A new one-man show will celebrate the life of this patriotic, one-of-a kind Welshman. The show, developed by the Torch Theatre, will explore both Grav’s personal life and his varied career but you don's have to be a rugby fans to enjoy it. Gareth Bale, the Welsh actor taking on the Grav’s renowned character, explains why.

“His personal life was as interesting as his career and, without trying to sound too clinical about it, the reason he is so interesting is there is tragedy there. Real peaks and troughs. He lost his father at a very young age and had a very long battle with diabetes. It’s this that attracted me to the story."

The rough patches in Grav’s life weren’t the only thing that makes him stand out.

“There are so many sports stars that are out there, many more famous than Grav, but you wouldn’t be able to make a drama about them. He had that something extra special. His personality would light up a room and when he spoke to you it was all about you. He had a wonderful ability to make everyone feel comfortable and special. When I did my initial research, I spoke to so many people and when you say the name Ray Gravell the first thing they do is smile which is wonderful. What a way to be remembered."

Grav, various venues across Wales, Wed 4 Feb-Sat 14 Mar. Tickets: £12.50-£15 / £7-£13 conc. Info: www.torchtheatre.co.uk

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THE WOMAN IN BLACK Swansea Grand Theatre, Mon 23-Sat 28 Feb; New Theatre, Cardiff, Tue 5-Sat 9 May Don’t believe a stage show could ever send chills down your spine quite like the movies can? The Woman In Black (the play, not the Daniel Radcliffe film adaptation) is likely to surprise you then. Based on Susan Hill’s 1983 gothic horror story, the stage adaptation of The Woman In Black began life as a low-budget, quickly put together Christmas ghost story at Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre. It’s since gone on to terrify over seven million audience members throughout its impressive 25-year history.

Aging lawyer Arthur Kipps remains haunted by memories of an experience he witnessed over 30 years ago when, as a young solicitor, he was sent to visit the house of deceased widow Mrs Drablow to sort through her private papers. It is his hope that, through unburdening himself and telling his story of the horrifying visit, he will clear his psyche and exorcise his long-held fears.

Recruiting a young actor to assist in his narration, the theatre becomes the set in which Mr Kipps and the actor play out the story, transporting the audience to the eerie marshlands surrounding Eel Marsh House and inside the ancient property with its deserted rooms and locked doors. As Mr Kipps delves ever deeper into his memories his fearful experiences begin to unfurl, make believe blurs uncomfortably with reality in a way that will set even the steeliest of nerves on edge.

Fusing the power and intensity of immersive live theatre with the cinematic quality of film noir, The Woman In Black demonstrates just how far good storytelling, clever illusions and well-timed sound effects can go to creating an atmosphere of discomfort and tension so palpable it can bring entire audiences under its spell, with everyone ready to jump out of their skin at the slightest of movements.

Tickets: £8.50-£26 / £5-£22.50 conc. Info: 01792 475715 / www.swanseagrand.co.uk (Swansea); 029 2087 8889 / www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk FLEUR TUCKER

12 ANGRY MEN

New Theatre, Cardiff Tues 17-Sat 21 Feb Close your eyes and try to imagine the justice, or more likely, the injustice system that is 1950s America. Now open them as Twelve Angry Men sees an allwhite, all-male jury debating the fate of a black 16-year-old defendant who is on trial for the murder of his abusive father.

In 1954 the American film and television writer Reginald Rose was called to serve on a jury in a New York manslaughter trial and the experience inspired his thrilling drama.

Though the Twelve Angry Men script was written for TV it was the 1957 film, which starred the enigmatic Henry Fonda, that turned this into a court-room classic (I'm sure the talking heads on any 'best movies EVER' TV show will agree).

While the verdict appears evident from the outset, the trial becomes a colossal dilemma as prejudices and predetermined ideas about the trial, the accused, and each other turn the tables every way possible. All until the nailbiting, hair-raising climax. The scenes on stage are intensified in the claustrophobic environment of a juror’s room on a sweltering evening in Manhattan, and Cardiff’s New Theatre helps reinforce the apprehensive atmosphere.

Tickets: £9.50-£30.50 / £6-£25 conc. Info: 029 2087 8889 / www.newtheatrecardiff. co.uk (SO)

ALAN CARR: YAP, YAP, YAP!

Aberyswyth Arts Centre, Sat 7 Feb; Grand Pavillion, Porthcawl, Sat 28 March; Swansea Grand Theatre, Sat 23 May; St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Thurs 15-Sat 18 Oct Those familiar with Alan Carr’s live stand-ups and television appearances will know full well that he is absolutely no stranger to ‘Yap’. And by Yap, we are not referring to the small landmass in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. Instead, we’re talking about what the Urban Dictionary defines as ‘talk noisily’ or ‘jabber’, as in ‘quit your jibber jabber’ à la Mr T. Indeed, love it or hate it, born storyteller Carr has well and truly perfected the art of yapping. Fans of these abilities of Carr’s will be pleased to hear that the award-winning comedian and selfproclaimed chatty man will be bringing his new stand up show Yap, Yap, Yap! to Wales.

Carr has acquired many strings to his bow since his rise to fame – author, TV and radio presenter, and talk show host – but 2015 is the year he returns to his stand-up roots with more of his hilarious takes on life. If previous tours and the prevalent themes of the Chatty Man are anything to go by, expect plenty of selfdeprecation and observational humour that appeals to the masses.

Tickets: £13.75-£30.50. Info: www. alancarr.net (EM)

BIRDY

Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli, Wed 18 Feb; Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, Fri 20 Feb Among the many consequences of war, the mental impact on combatants is devastatingly evident. With the release of Clint Eastwood's, somewhat controversial, film American Sniper recently dealing with topics of PTSD in soldiers.

Inspired by William Wharton's novel (which was a Pulitzer Prize finalist), Birdy is a heart-wrenching story about friendship, ambition and endurance. It explores the effects of war, notions of sanity, and one man’s fixation with birds.

Within the walls of a psychiatric hospital, in the midst of World War II, we meet Birdy; a suffering former soldier who thinks he's a bird...but what happened to him?

Years earlier the clever, but easily tonguetied, Birdy dreams of raising canaries and his hot-blooded friend Al dreams of charming ladies. With youth filled enthusiasm they enlist and head out to war, planning to return home heroes.

The realities of war, however, take their hit and neither of them get the life they dreamed about.

Theatre company Osborne And What's explore the novel, and it's questions about sanity, through circus performances moving beautifully through the mind of a supposed 'mad man'.

Tickets: £8-£10. Info: www. osborneandwhat.com (SO)

THE ROYAL BED

Various venues in Wales, Wed 11 FebSat 28 Mar Dark castle towers, royal adultery and bearded tough guys dressed like the Tin Man. If you’ve found find your life has been left empty of all this since Game Of Thrones concluded its latest season, then you might just be in luck.

The Riverfront will be the host of the stage premier of The Royal Bed, Sion Eirian’s English language adaption of the Welsh classic Siwan (written

by Saunders Lewis). Set in 13th century Wales, Eirian tells the story of the princess Siwan – the intelligent, outspoken wife of the Prince of Gwynned – and her affair with an Anglo-Norman Lord. When the Prince discovers the pair in bed, his revenge threatens to throw a divided Wales into a deadly conflict with England. Haven’t we all wanted to start a war when our hearts have been broken?

Starring as Siwan is Eiry Thomas, winner of two Welsh BAFTAs, accompanied by a cast of (mostly) Welsh actors and actresses. Live music comes from Celtic harpist Delyth Jenkins and singer Buddug Verona James.

The scope of the story is epic, in the truest sense of the word, whilst also remaining painfully familiar exploring both the politics of a nation in crisis and the death of a marriage. The Royal Bed makes for an exciting narrative of treachery, revenge and effects of a few on the many.

Tickets: £10-£14 / £5-£12 conc. Info: www.theatrpena.co.uk (AC) BUZZ 43

DARK VANILLA JUNGLE

stage

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS

Royal Welsh College Of Music And Drama, Cardiff Sat 28 Feb It’s hard to resist a good fun-loving musical, whether it's a guilty pleasure of yours or a lifelong much-loved pastime, and the classic The Wind In The Willows is proving a tempting choice. From lazy days on the riverbank, to speeding cars, a jail break and criminal deeds cooked up in the Wild Wood, the escapades of the irrepressible Toad and his friends Ratty, Mole and wise old Badger are brought to life in a riverside Thames Valley setting.

This original adaptation, by the award-nominated Immersion Theatre and Cambridge Touring Theatre, allows audiences to experience a mixture of mysticism, integrity, adventure, and camaraderie in this family favourite.

The eye-catching costumes, music and larger than life characters will capture the imagination of the youngest of audience members, whilst the nostalgic charm brings Kenneth Grahame’s classic novel vividly to life, taking older generations on a trip down memory lane.

Immersion Theatre and Cambridge Touring Theatre use original scripts and scores, complex sets, colourful costumes and performers of considerable calibre.

They vow this version will introduce the much-loved tale to a whole new generation of fans.

Tickets: £9. Info: 029 2034 2854 / www. rwcmd.ac.uk (SO) BUZZ 44

Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, Tue 3-Sat 7 Mar The British film industry is known for having some great coming of age dramas, with the likes of Trainspotting and Kes highlighting the grittiness and struggles of everyday life through the social realism genre. This genre has also taken to the stage and no-one quite captures pain, violence, the misery of love gone wrong and shattered dreams quite like playwright Philip Ridley. In his latest play Dark Vanilla Jungle, he explores the darker sides of the human psyche in a harrowing manner.

This 75-minute monologue is brought to audiences by Company Of Sirens, who aim to present productions of uncompromising contemporary texts for the first time. Dark Vanilla Jungle offers a gripping examination of a murky world, the British grooming of teenage girls for sex.

Phillip brings a sinister surrealism into the theatre with his latest story of misery through the confessional, panic-stricken inner thoughts of Andrea, who has been abandoned by her own parents in Croydon and abducted as a schoolgirl sex slave.

Played by Game Of Thrones star Gemma Whelan, Andrea is a lonely, desperate teenage girl misled and let down by social circumstances.

A once bright and passionate girl now hopelessly mislaid, mistreated and betrayed, she ends up in situations that expose her to gang culture, while her vulnerability and naivety lead her to be taken advantage of and push her to do the unthinkable.

Phillip captures the brutality and urgency, making a taboo social issue a current and significant talking point.

It’s unlikely that Phillip Ridley will produce anything optimistic anytime soon, so brace yourself for a journey into bleak twisted realism.

Tickets: £8-£10. Info: 029 2030 4400 / www.chapter.org STACEY OWEN

LLOYD LANGFORD: OLD FASHIONED

Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, Thurs 12 Feb; Arts Centre, Pontardawe, Fri 13 Feb; Glee Club, Cardiff Bay, Sun 1 Mar and further Welsh venues in March until Fri 20 A concoction of personal stories, topical gags, moaning about life, and selfdeprecation blend together to make a cocktail that sounds too similar to the 3am feelings that come after too many glasses of wine. But no, these aren’t ingredients to an unsuccessful night out of self-doubt and drunken texts, but more so elements that make up Lloyd Langford’s stand-up show Old Fashioned where he expresses his confusion of the modern world and why it has left him feeling baffled.

His monotone delivery, combined with his own admittance of being a bit old fashioned, gives the impression that he must be a bit of a grump. Love it or hate it, some agree that the best kind of comedy comes from those who observe the mundane with shrewd and original comments, and well, have a little moan when doing so. Thankfully for his audience, he is a very funny and likeable grump at that.

Maybe it’s time for this undiscovered Welsh grump to have his time in the light with this 2015 tour.

Tickets: £12-£13 / £6.50-£10.50 conc.

Info: www.lloydlangford.com (SO)

GREED, THE ROCK OPERA

Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, Fri 27 Feb; Redhouse, Merthyr, Fri 20 Mar ‘Scream, shout and let it all out’ can be one option when needing to vent about life’s everyday dilemmas, but it’s also an unconventional way to express your political views and anger towards politicians and the government. It’s about time for an activist rock opera. Yes, you heard it correctly, rock opera.

Picture metalheads in black leather trousers, chains for belts and bandanas that compete with Axl Rose's, as Greed brings you a musical protest and a reaction to austerity, government cuts, bankers’ bonuses and big corporations.

Well, that sure is one way to get your voices heard.

Written in Brecon, Wales, and set in the fictional Welsh town Abertaff, Greed depicts a world where 1% of the population own 99% of the wealth. It portrays the debt-controlled system called money, to which writer Nigel Evans thinks we are manacled, and apparently it's also a love story. Nigel seeks to open up an alternative way of getting information across and for viewers to question what they see in the media.

Greed features vocal performances from actor Ian Milton (as the evil banker Rotkin), members of Aberhonddu Male Voice Choir and singer Jenni Davies.

Tickets: £6-£10. Info: www.brycheiniog. co.uk / www.redhousecymru.com (SO)

PLAYING 'THE MAIDS'

Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, Thurs 19-Sat 28 Feb; Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, Thurs 26 Feb; Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Fri 6 Mar “Human nature is universally imbued with a desire for liberty, and a hatred for servitude”. Or so the supposed words of Julies Caesar go.

But has our abhorrence for servitude meant we have truly thrown off its shackles? Though we like to think that, with legal slavery a thing of the past and many laws to protect our rights for a decent wage and standard of living, that our days of subjugation are behind us – but is that really the case?

Currently living in a world where governments scream ‘austerity!’ while 80 people own more money than half the world, are we really as in charge as we think we are? Or is it naïve to believe that wealth equals freedom?

Award-winning artists from around the world are coming together to explore this idea with a mixture of acting, music and dance. Two pairs of maids from Ireland and Korea, a Chinese Madame, a cellist and a sound artist will be combing their various talents to ask bigger questions about systems of power and the meaning of privilege.

Tickets: £12-£14 / £7-£10 conc. Info: www.phillipzarrilli.com (HA)

NatioNal theatre Wales out of JoiNt & arcola theatre With / gyda shermaN cymru

crouch touch Pause eNgage

Great Drama in 2015 at RCT Theatres GRAV

25 February/ Chwefror 7.30pm The Park & Dare Treorchy

24- 25 March/ Mawrth 7.30pm

£12.50/£10.50

The Coliseum Aberdare £12.00/£9.00.

Family Ticket/ Teulu o Bedwar £40.00

Written by / Wedi’i ysgrifennu gan

Robin SoanS

CROUCH, TOUCH, PAUSE, ENGAGE

THE HARRIS PARRIS THE LEAVING DO

GLADIATOR

buy online / PrynWcH arlein

nationalthEatREWalES.oRg

The Coliseum Aberdare

The Coliseum Aberdare

tickets / tocynnau

£12.00

£10.00/£8.00

directed by / Wedi’i gyfarWyddo gan

Max StaffoRd-ClaRk #ntWalfiE

17 March/ Mawrth 7.30pm

23- 24 April/ Ebrill 7.30pm

19.02.2015 — 28.03.2015 VeNues across Wales / lleoliadau ar draWs cymru

£6.00 - £25 + booking fEE / ffi bWCio audio described and oPen caPtioned Performances available / mae Perfformiadau gyda disgrifiad sain a cHaPsiynau ar gael

troyKa

Chris Montague guitars and loops Joshua Blackmore drums Kit downes organ Fri 13 Feb | gwe 13 Chwe 7.45pm

Friday Night is LatiN Night… with Lito FoNtaNa

royal welsh College Brass Band Band Pres Coleg Brenhinol Cymru Fri 27 Feb | gwe 27 Chwe 7.30pm

PowerPLaNt PLays wiLL gregory Joby Burgess percussion and electronics thurs 5 Mar | iau 5 Maw 7.30pm

BudaPest CaFé orChestra Chris garrick violin eddie hession accordion Kelly Cantlon double bass adrian Zolotuhin guitar, saz, balalaika, domra Fri 27 Mar | gwe 27 Maw 7.30pm

tickets | tocynnau 029 2039 1391 www.rwcmd.ac.uk

clubs

DJ BONE

Mood @ Undertone, Cardiff Fri 27 Feb There are a few reasons you should invest some hard-earned in this event. First and foremost, and indeed sadly, it is the last time Mood will be putting on a party. Secondly, not only is this an all-nighter with a 6am finish, but there is then the opportunity to carry on into Saturday at a secret location. Finally, for their closing celebrations they are bringing Eric Dulan over from Detroit, and what will be a lesson on finest techno of the underground variety via his better known identity as DJ Bone.

“I’ve labelled my sound and vibe ABM,” says Eric of his work. “It’s short for Advanced Black Music, a term I created over 10 years ago to describe my sound as well as my label’s sound. It’s the raw emotion side of Detroit techno – funky but firm, hard but moody. It’s my life soundtrack.

My productions are basically my life experiences translated into music.

They have my DNA. I’ve been working on interpreting my ideas and concepts into some special music projects for the last 10 years. The bulk of this will be released in 2015. This includes a new album, new mix and a Dance Tracks series.”

Fiercely proud of his ethos of remaining independent and free from any constraints that might dictate his sound or direction, Eric established Subject Detroit Records in 1998. As well as showcasing his own output, the label has seen releases from Dave Clarke, Chymera and Stephen Brown.

“I’ve been to Wales a few times to play at my favourite festival, Freerotation, which is always amazing,” says Eric. “I’m very much looking forward to Mood because I think it will be a great night, and even more special since this will be the last one. I always bring my Detroit inspiration and experiences with me to every gig, that’s my fuel. It’s not about me upholding the great legacy that the Detroit name has, but trying to push it forward and being uniquely me. My goal every gig is to create a moment in time that lives on long after I’ve left the venue.”

Tickets: £15. Info: 029 2022 8883 RYAN HEEGER

pic: SAMI JANJER

D’JULZ

Delete @ Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff Fri 27 Feb Some DJs are proactive with their communication channels, pushing their work through updates and not just relying on folk to come to their Facebook page.

Along with Jonty Skrufff’s excellent longstanding weekly clubland e-bulletin – which also cleverly promotes his output and gig dates – I also enjoy finding regular newsletters from Julien Veniel aka D’Julz in my inbox.

“I wish I didn’t have to do it as it takes so much time away from working on my music,” says the Parisian. “But you can’t do without it nowadays and unfortunately self promotion has become an important part of our activity.”

He’s been here a few times before, most notably for one of Backroom’s parties in The Vaults back in 2010. He looks forward to returning with his sound that contains elements of deep house and techno, as showcased through his Bass Culture label.

“The next Bass Culture release is a reissue of an old Gerd track called Mass Majestic,” he explains. “I also have some music from Mark Ambrose, Mr Tophat & Art Alife, and Mr G in the pipeline. As well as working on a new solo EP for Bass Culture, I have recently finished a remix for Rolando and also finished an EP with Phil Weeks that will come out on Rex Club’s new label this spring.”

Tickets: £10. Info: 029 2023 2199 (RH)

BUZZ 46

WALLOP!

The Moon Club, Cardiff Fri 20 Feb To give its full title, this is in fact WALLOP! Presents The Cardiff Fling Down Last Hour Open Mic Night (Best Behaviour). Although predominantly a drum’n’bass night hosted and performed by a line-up of veteran DJs and MCs, WALLOP! also looks to seek out and nurture new talent in order to keep the scene forward-thinking. This particular event will have an extra element of entertainment if you stick around for the final hour, when anyone who fancies stepping up to the mic can give their MC name and phone number at the door and be in with the chance of winning a resident slot at future events, plus a guest slot on DJ Mod’s Anti-Social drum and bass show which airs every Monday from 7-8pm on Inner Bass Radio.

Speaking of DJ Mod, away from the new talent showcase his is the main name on the flyer, when he’ll be joined by MC Mabu D. Many will remember Mod as one of the residents at Bulletproof. He is also on Universal Soul Productions’ Urbanfront roster alongside Slipmatt, Ray Keith and Tango & Ratty.

This is also a celebration of the return of Cardiff City Football Club’s strip to its rightful colour, with the request that “all ravers, MCs and DJs wear their City shirts and make it a blue night to remember.”

Admission: £3. Info: 029 2037 3022 (RH)

JOSEY REBELLE

Hully Gully @ Gwdihw, Cardiff Sat 28 Feb If you’ve encountered the impeccable taste, wise-headed selector’s ability and cheerful London accent of Josey Rebelle, chances are it’ll have been via her show on Rinse FM. The one-time pirate frequency for garage, grime and jungle is now blessed with legal status, but still still sits at the cutting edge of (blackoriginated) dance music. Paradoxically, this is probably why there’s provision for someone like Josey, who joined Rinse in 2011, to enjoy three-hour stretches piecing together a wide expanse of awesome music from no particular scene.

Expect to hear classic house, bleep techno, up-to-the-minute grime and deep crates of heartstoppingly great soul/funk/ disco/so forth. If you want to catch her live, she’s on every Sunday from 10am1pm, and if you reckon that whoever’s on 6music at that time is a better soundtrack to hungover breakfast-making then, eh, I’m pleased for you champ.

These days, both on Rinse and in actual clubs, there’s more opportunity for DJs to play eclectic, expansive sets. When the FACT website uploaded a supremely enjoyable mix from Josey just before Christmas, they sought to compare her steez to another Rinse DJ, Alexander Nut. Given that his most recent appearance in Cardiff, last October, came courtesy of tonight’s promoters Hully Gully, this all ties together rather nicely.

Admission: £5. Info: 029 2039 7933 (NG)

NEWHAM GENERALS

Sink @ Sin City, Swansea Sat 21 Feb A massive night of grime for Swansea, hosted by the Sink crew who also showcase art and new DJs at their events. The line-up includes Brixton’s Big Narstie – one of the MCs behind the NAA collective – plus Dirty Canvas’s DJ Magic.

D Double E, Footsie and MS1 as Newham Generals are already up and running in 2015 with plenty of new material incoming, as Footsie explains.

“There’s a King Original 4 (Footsie’s instrumental album series with DJ Tubby) on the horizon, but the Newham Generals album has been pushed back a bit. Instead we are going to put out the 5 Star Generals 2 EP and Bluku Bluku 2 EP, and possibly some solo stuff too. Our sound is very original, Double’s lyrics stick in your mind. I’ve never heard that from another individual. We are ourselves.”

Grime line-ups of this calibre are worth travelling for, and kudos to Sink for putting them on around our way, but lack of decent nights is not necessarily an indication of an unhealthy scene.

“It’s been really healthy,” says Footsie, “as healthy as it’s ever been, I think.

Awareness is up; the scene has chucked out some decent crossover tracks which has brought it to a wider audience, Skepta’s That’s Not Me and German Whip

by Meridian Dan to name a couple.”

Tickets: £10. Info: 01792 468892 (RH)

The venue at the EVI is a ‘must hire’ space for all occasions.

It hosts a 6x4 metre stage, a fully licensed bar, and an 8k PA system & lighting rig. ‘Kahve’ our in house caterer provides a wide ranging menu for all events, while the Cafe itself is spacious, inviting and can seat up to 25 people. Ebbw Vale Cultural Centre also boasts large naturally lit meeting spaces, a spacious board room area, an Apple Mac based media suite and two Sennheiser sponsored multipurpose rehearsal/training areas

Corporate, Community & Cultural use includes Conferences |Seminars | Annual General Meetings | Training Events Exhibitions | Award Ceremonies | Consultation Events | Annual Dinners Spoken Word Evenings | In Work Training & Development | Band Rehearsals | Wedding Receptions | Community Choir & Singing Tutorials Guitar Building Workshops | Community Music Training Courses Birthday & Anniversary Celebrations | Presentations |Quiz Nights | Yoga & Martial Arts Classes | School and College Events/Concerts | Rock Academy Workshops |Youth Development|National Tours The regeneration of Ebbw Vale Institute was born out of a need to set up a new space for cultural, community and creative development.

The centre Ebbw Vale Cultural Centre is a multi purpose building that is comfortable holding a large scale music event or equally at home hosting a youth conference, award ceremony or corporate AGM. The building has served the community since 1849 and its redevelopment by Promo Cymru has given it renewed focus and a new lease of life

For more information Please contact

01495 708022 Email: info@ebbwvaleinstitute.org

Audiolab is a state of the art studio housed within Ebbw Vale Cultural Centre (EVI) and based in the heart of Blaenau Gwent.

This ground breaking project with its high level audio capabilities brings the professional studio environment to the grasp of developing artists, third sector organisations, the community at large and to professional & established performers. Used by Producers such as Richard Jackson & Skip Curtis, Audiolab is the new home of Notting Pill Studios; Martyn ‘Ginge’ Ford and Matt Bond, who will be exclusively operating from Audiolab from December 2014.

The studio is based around a classic DDA Profile analogue console, running in conjunction with Avid Pro Tools 10 &11 and Apple Logic Pro. The studio sports high level outboard equipment and plug ins, has a mic collection that includes models from Royer, Sennheiser, Neumann and AKG among others, and monitoring via KRK & Tannoy.

For more information Please contact

Tel: 01495 708022 Email: julian@promo-cymru.org

live

pic: ANDY GALLACHER

THE HEARTS + PRETTY VICIOUS

Sin City, Swansea, Sun 1 Feb; Ebbw Vale Institute; Sun 8 Feb; Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Mon 9 Feb Both The Hearts and Pretty Vicious are from south Wales – Newport and Merthyr Tydfil respectively – both have shared next to no music with the public, and both have recently been referred to as future stars of British indie. Industry feeding frenzies!

Something in the water! And other turns of phrase which you don’t hear much now it’s more profitable to ‘do A&R’ by cycling through Taylor Swift covers on YouTube.

That said, Pretty Vicious’ backstory suggest they benefitted from this age of the instantaneous upload. Last November the sixth-form-age quartet created a Soundcloud account with one track, Cave Song. National radio play followed, then their first (and, prior to this brief Welsh tour, only) gig. A boisterous indie number with a singer, Brad Griffiths, who sounds almost exactly like Alex Turner, Cave Song doesn’t suggest Pretty Vicious will shift paradigms even as much as Arctic Monkeys, but indie stardom has been built from much less.

The Hearts, meanwhile, tip up with slightly more experience. Previously The Boy Royals, who changed their name from Town, they once peddled jittery Arctics/ Libertines gear themselves, but debut release Celebrate is synthy widescreen pop, carefully sculpted as their hairstyles.

Tickets: £8/Cardiff £6. Info: 01792 468892 (Swansea) / 01495 708022 (Ebbw Vale) / 029 2023 2199 (Cardiff) (NG) BUZZ 48

THE UNTHANKS

St David’s Hall, Cardiff Thurs 26 Feb From their beginnings as Rachel Unthank And The Winterset, The Unthanks have produced some outstanding, richly diverse sounds that defy categorisation. Whilst ‘folk’ might be an easy term to throw around, if you’ve listened to their back catalogue you’ll know they can’t be defined by a single style.

Speaking to Becky Unthank (the younger of the two sisters that formed the group), I asked what her interpretation of folk was and her answer put things into perspective. “Folk music can mean lots of different things. I read a quote in an old folk songbook from [esteemed folk arts centre] the Cecil Sharp House: ‘This is the tune for the first verse, the rest you should interpret.’”

Their interpretations see influences across a multitude of genres: Miles Davis, Steve Reich, Antony & The Johnsons, King Crimson and Tom Waits are just a few names that resonate. These musical role models have been shared by the two sisters (Rachel and Becky) across the years and have ultimately been what’s kept them so close. “It’s always been part of our relationship and friendship,” Becky says.

“We do have different influences but there’s a lot in common.”

Amidst the eclecticism, they could be accused of being a gloomy bunch and when asked why they lean towards melancholic sounds, Becky suggests, “We really love a good story – something that has strong emotions that give strong reactions. We choose songs that make us feel.” Indeed, anyone who’s been fortunate enough to listen to their latest recording Mount The Air will attest to it being fresh evidence of their uncommonly impassioned, poignant music.

They embark on a 21-date UK tour for this album and will be coming equipped as they pass through Cardiff. “We’ve got a full 10-piece band, we’ve got a string quartet, we’ve got trumpet, we’ve got a great drummer that we’ve been playing with for the last few years, Martin [Douglas]: he plays in a band called The Baghdaddies, we’ve nicked him for a bit cause he’s brilliant. Adrian [McNally] on piano and Chris [Price] on guitar and bass.”

Clearly a unique ensemble deserving of your attention this month.

Tickets: £18. Info: 029 2087 8444 CHARLIE PIERCEY

THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN

Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union Fri 27 Feb Formed in Scotland in 1983 by brothers Jim and William Reid, The Jesus And Mary Chain created a sound based on distorted guitars, drenched in feedback and Velvet Underground-style two chord primitivism.

Whilst the new romantic bands around them were drawing influence from Kraftwerk and David Bowie and imagining a shiny new future, the brothers Reid looked back to the brutal power of The Stooges and the Sex Pistols.

Psychocandy, the 1985 debut album by The Jesus And Mary Chain, is the ur-text for a certain kind of noisy indie music; its influence runs from the shoegaze scene through bands such as My Bloody Valentine and the Boo Radleys, and even filters into the space-age disco of Stereolab. Featuring future Primal Scream leader Bobby Gillespie’s thoroughly basic drumming, nearly all of the songs clock in at under three minutes, and none of them stray far from the most basic rock’n’roll template.

The band appear to have wised up to the financial potential of the heritage trail, as various bands with middle-aged members burdened with mortgages, miserly pension pots and rising school fees before them have. Thirty years(!) after its release you now have the opportunity to hear one of the most influential albums of the 1980s being performed in its entirety.

Tickets: £15. Info: 029 078 1458 (DG)

FROM NOW ON

Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff Fri 13 + Sat 14 Feb A joint venture by Shape Records (headed up by Mark Daman Thomas) and Chapter, From Now On Festival debuted in 2014.

The first event came as something of a surprise attack on the festival scene in Cardiff, but turned out to be a very welcome, and indeed sold-out, one.

Shape have quite a diverse set of artists on their current roster, including Flamingods, Wakes and Mowbird – the latter of whom will be performing at this year’s festival.

The self-styled “festival of adventurous music” brought home some excellent reviews last year thanks to its cutting edge line-up which mixed unknowns and established acts; this year looks to be more of the same.

Says Daman Thomas: “This year I’ve put together a line-up of Welsh and international artists who take risks, creating and performing music that is individual and thought-provoking!”

He’s not joking either – any lineup that includes a band boasting “multi-lingual tropicalia punk-funk” as their USP (I’m looking at you, Zun Zun Egui) definitely deserves a spot at the festival. Other highlights include the continued return of the reformed Jarcrew, a debut show from ex-Race Horses frontman Meilyr Jones and the promise of some bittersweet pop from Oh Peas!.

Tickets: £30 (both days)/£15 (Fri)/£20 (Sat). Info: 039 2030 4400 / www. fromnowonfestival.co.uk (BG)

ROYAL BLOOD

Newport Centre Tue 3 Mar If you’ve been living under a rock for the last 12 months, then you may just be forgiven for not noticing Royal Blood’s meteoric rise to become one of Britain’s biggest rock groups. To say that 2014 was a good year for the Brighton duo would be an understatement. Their breakthrough has seen the pair lap up critical acclaim on an international level, thanks to a number of high profile festival performances as well as appearances on the bill for Arctic Monkeys’ shows in London’s Finsbury Park and Dublin’s Marlay Park last summer.

August 2014 saw the release of the band’s hotly anticipated eponymous debut album, again drawing praise from critics and music fans alike. The ferocity and intensity of bassist/vocalist Mike Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher has created more than a buzz throughout the music industry, with many touting the duo as the future of rock music. It’s no coincidence that their record hit number one as the highest charting debut rock album in three years, as well as being nominated for the Mercury Prize.

With this, the biggest tour since their formation in 2013, Royal Blood will tackle Europe and the UK. Expect energy and aggression in abundance, but if you didn’t already grab a ticket, expect a draining hunt – this date’s now sold out.

Tickets: £16 (sold out – check box office for returns). Info: 01633 656757 (GT)

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reviews albums BERKSON & WATT ***

Keep Up Appearances (Modelmaker) Respected duo Dan Berkson & James What keep it dark and minimal for their first album, with 10 tracks of brooding techno. Done using mostly analogue gear, there is a spread of influences, including from Detroit on the title track, and playful loops on Seraphim. There is even some poetry by Patience Agbabi, courtesy of Qzen’s vocal over Worship. There are a few moments where it plods, but for the most part this is a decent debut. RH

BLACK RIVERS *** Black Rivers (Ignition) While Jimi Goodwin selfishly buggers off for some me-time, the other two in Manchester’s Doves could have sat around counting the royalty pennies from Black And White Town twitching their curtains at Elbow’s BMWs. Instead the brothers Williams have created their own album under the Black Rivers moniker but alas, still waters are more tepid than running deep. Diamond Days has the similar chiming guitars of Words and The Ship is Krautrock par excellence, though much of it is like Doves, but y’know funny looking. CS

DAN DEACON *** Gliss Riffer (Domino) Multi-instrumentalist Dan Deacon takes things back to (not so) basics with Gliss Riffer. The record contains all the trademark energy and zany exuberance you’ve come to expect from DD – with the usual multilayered instrumentation, looping repetition and processed vocals.

Although there’s a lot going on in every song, the repetition can be offputting at times and would work better with some more clean vocals. When I Was Done Dying is the perfect example of when the balance of these elements is dead on. GM

THE DODOS *** Individ (Morr Music) Compelling and alluring, the latest offering from this San Francisco-based duo is a perfectly listenable indie-folk album, with tinges of psychedelia thrown in for good measure. The record is built on pounding and persistent drum beats, merged with an ever-changing combination of acoustic and electric guitars, topped off with soaring harmonies reminiscent of West Coast counterparts Fleet Foxes. At times frustration is caused by the album’s often abrupt

nature, but generally speaking a quirky and inviting release. GT

vocal parts flag up their Butthole Surfers side, likewise the raucous bozo stomp towards the end, Eat It. NG

accompanying reading, check out former member Kris Weston’s War & Peace-length diatribe against his former bandmates. RH

Woodland Casual (Tenement)

MAD PROFESSOR ****

PEACE ***

Self-mockingly, and perhaps offputtingly, named, DWL is a vehicle for Edinburgh songwriter Dominic Harris to unfurl literate, poetic barbs over jagged electric folk. Active for a few years in the mid-90s, when the UK harboured a few comparable spirits (The Auteurs; fellow Scots Long Fin Killie), a mammoth 18-year hiatus has not dulled Harris’ eye for surreal detail.

Woodland Casual contains both brusque punkiness and tipsy grandeur, and would probably be described as “very English” if it had been made in England. NG

Dubbing With Anansi (Ariwa)

Happy People (Columbia)

Dub is what you might call a static genre; it assumed its classical mode of expression in the late 60s, hasn’t really moved on since then and has never needed to.

Mad Professor, a British-based exponent of the genre, has been making music since he was in short trousers, and great stuff it is too. There’s nothing here that strays from the traditional dub ingredients of lots of bass, clattering drums and the occasional blast of horns, but it’s top drawer gear. DG

Comparable with the alternative, psychedelic rock sounds that were bred during the Madchester era, this record has more than a slight 90s vibe to it, at times flirting on the border of dated. Nevertheless, the Midlands four-piece confidently aim for the masses with anthemic, singalong tracks that capture the youthful energy and enthusiasm of their renowned live performances perfectly. Happy People is a ballsy second album that is genuinely uplifting on occasions and well deserving of some attention. GT

MUMDANCE & LOGOS ****

You may think you know what to expect from this group, whose raison d’etre is to juxtapose their music with broadcasts from the 60s… you know, the ones with the stylised accents. In reality, this album presents starkly different traits with each track, something that might be criticised for inconsistency were they not so well crafted and enjoyable to listen to. Elements of funk, techno and prog erupt underneath eerie newscasts from the race to conquer outer space for the first time. CPI

DOMINIC WAXING LYRICAL ****

ESKMO **** Sol (Apollo) As pop upstarts like Sam Smith are selling soul back to the Yanks, LA-reared producers like Eskmo are busy peddling top quality ambient electro weirdness to us hipcats over in Blighty.

While it sounds a bit wank to build an album around the sun, moon and earth, the suave bastard has managed to pull off a majestic symphony of orchestral, machine made and found sounds to produce a transcendent experience that’s as elemental and surprising as a hailstorm on a hot day. Play it loud. CS

GAZ COOMBES ***** Matador (Hot Fruit) Gaz Coombes’ second solo record is a wonderful snapshot of an artist at the top of his game, with magnificent songwriting accentuated by impressively nuanced production. Subtle electronic additions peak out from beneath lush guitars, soaring vocals and sublime synths, creating a multi-layered, often euphoric experience. Stand-out track Detroit is a glorious blend of Eels’ earthy pop, Villagers’ melancholy and the sort of all-powerful, blast-off chorus that Spiritualized specialize in. It’s a gorgeous highlight amidst many moments of pop brilliance. HR

HEY COLOSSUS **** In Black And Gold (Rocket) By today’s standards, UK heavy heads Hey Colossus’ rate of production is prolific, which is to say roughly equal to your average 60s/70s professional rock band. ‘Always different, always the same,’ as was said of The Fall, their ninth LP is different, in that it bins off most of their sludgy, quasimetal side and dives into iridescent pools of psychedelic synth bizarrity. The manipulated

Proto (Tectonic) The producers with, respectively, the crappest and dullest monikers in ‘bass music’/‘postdubstep’/‘instrumental grime’ team up for a gleamingly muscular 10-track artist album. Proto is a break of sorts from both Mumdance and Logos’ previous work, harking back to screwface 90s drum’n’bass (a la No U-Turn, say) and the stylistically elusive techno of someone like Neil Landstrumm. It resides on the darkside, and panders to no specific scene, but is built for fist-pumping fun, and titles like Dance Energy (89 Mix) betray the duo’s humour. NG

THE NOTWIST *** Messier Objects (Alien Transistor) The Notwist have been leaping to and fro with their choice of musical styles for over 25 years and their 10th studio offering is one of their most sparse. The brothers Acher & Co present 16 bite-sized – and one mammoth – pieces of ambient electronica, which for the most part glide seamlessly into one another. The majority of the tracks use similar instrumentation, so telling them apart is the most challenging aspect of a very simple instrumental record.

Headphones music. BG

PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING **** The Race For Space (Test Card)

SHERWOOD & PINCH **** Late Night Endless (On-U Sound) Sounding like an upmarket brand of kitchen designers, Sherwood and Pinch combine the traditional dub heritage of On-USound legend Adrian Sherwood with the modern dubstep of Newport’s own boy-dun-good Pinch, to produce a bespoke offering that’s sleek, stylish and represents cutting-edge design. The mutual respect shines through like stainless steel on this true collaboration, where Sherwood sprinkles some vocals from numerous On-U toasters and slathers a tonne of reverb across tunes ranging from the bassbin-troubling Shadowrun and Music Killer Dub to the placid Wild Birds. CS

TROYKA ***

THE ORB ****

Ornithophobia (Naim Jazz)

History Of The Future Part 2 (Malicious Damage)

The press release assures me that this “is definitely not your usual Hammond organ trio”, which put my mind at rest. What it is is complex, knotty jazz with more than a hint of post-rock performed by a guitar, organ and drums trio.

Parts of the record sound like some interminable Frank Zappa or Primus-style jam, whereas other parts have the shimmering luminosity of early Durutti Column. It’s a mixed bag, but certainly worth at least one listen. DG

Another whopping four-disc back catalogue from The Orb, including some previously hard-to-find, unavailable and vinyl-only gems.

It’s essential stuff for their true followers, but fair-weather fans might prefer to check out the first instalment as their ‘classics’ aren’t here.

What you do have is their Battersea Bunches soundtrack and a DVD including their full live gig from Sinner’s Day in Belgium. For some

GAMES REVIEWS KBEAN BOY **** Tyson Ibele A nice little timewaster in which you play a flubber-like creature hurtling himself through a vertical obstacle course. You need to get the cute little bean boy bouncing off walls and propelling at the right angles to collect stars and land on platforms (some of which won’t stay still). It’s easy to fall down, which means you have to start again, but luckily you won’t have to redo the same stages as the obstacles are constantly changing.

BUZZ 50

BLOCKBUSTERS * Pretty Mobile I’ve never seen the 80s TV game show Blockbusters so I can safely say that I didn’t have nostalgia induced high expectations for this game. Nonetheless, I was disappointed. You’re supposed to make your way across a board of hexagons by answering trivia questions but the game was so unresponsive that pressing the right answer several times made absolutely no difference. I now feel robbed of a victory that should have been mine!

CROSSY ROAD *** Yoda 1 Games Why did the chicken cross the road?

Because someone made a game where that is the challenge. Crossy Road is an enjoyable little game where you jump your chicken across busy roads and rivers. Its fun to play but the difficulty leaps up very quickly after the first few levels – so only play if you have the perseverance to get good.

TRUST FUND ****

SMILER ***

No One’s Coming For Us (Turnstile)

Death Knell EP (self-released)

Trust Fund is Bristol’s Ellis Jones and his mates. When his debut album is good, it’s really, really really good: the spikey, stick-in-your-headfor-a-month college-rock of Cut Me Out, the triumphant Kid Kilowatt guitars of January and the joyous fuzz of Jumper all burst with warm exuberance. Occasionally hampered by some irritatingly twee moments, this is nonetheless an absolute charmer of a record by a musician brimful of potential and whose songwriting is guaranteed to put smiles on faces. HR

Short, sharp and shocking has generally been the modus operandi of Smiler, a south Wales four-piece given to blatting out badger’sarse-rough crusty hardcore/powerviolence. This new 11-minute EP starts with Psychomania, an instrumental taking up almost four of those minutes, but thereafter it’s business as usual – and, assuming this is your bag, business is good. NG

VARIOUS **** Glasgow Underground 97-07 (Glasgow Underground)

WICKET ****

They’ve been putting out big collections for some time, but luckily Glasgow Underground manage to combine quality with quantity.

Label founder Kevin McKay is also at pains to compartmentalise their back catalogue, in this instance via four discs of deep, house, disco and eclectic. It’s a worthy retrospective, with tracks from Mateo & Matos, Groove Assassins and Romanthony. The final eclectic mix is a particular highlight, with plenty of downtempo brilliance from DJ Q, Rose Smith and Daniel Ibbotson. RH

Suitably illustrating their aptitude for drama, Wicket conjure up a five-minute orgasm of celestial guitars and floating melodic refrains. In their evergrowing catalogue of instrumentals, this is a good example of carefully cultured dynamics, rolling efficaciously between subtle beauty and cataclysmic barrages of gorgeous, anthemic music. Good on them. CPI

ZUN ZUN EGUI ****

demos

Shackles Gift (Bella Union) This is a difficult one to categorise. The band themselves cite free jazz, Afrobeat, no wave and tropicalia as influences, and while all of those sounds can be heard in the background the resultant noise is original and spiky. No two songs on the album sound alike, and there’s plenty for fans of more straight-ahead rock to enjoy as well. This record suggests that Zun Zun Egui would be a formidable presence as a live act. DG

singles KODALINE ** Honest (RCA) Lazy journalism would dictate that I mention Kodaline sound like Coldplay, which is a comparison they have been suffering from in recent times.

Unfortunately (or not, depending on tastes) this song is soaring stadium rock of the fluffy kind, and doesn’t do them any favours in shaking off that stigma. RH

LUVBUG *** Revive (Say Something) (Polydor) This is Marvin who used to be in JLS plus two mates (including the wretchedly named The White N3rd), joining swathes of Britain’s twentysomethings in fetishising 90s-styled dance music. They call it deep house, because that’s the only way to interest people, but it’s more like a pre-millennium r’n’b single remixed by some Masters At Work imitator. NG

SAM AND THE WOMP *** Zeppelin (Womp) Fans of their surprise 2012 UK number one hit Bom Bom will be pleased to hear that the formula remains for SATW’s follow-up. The him and her duo have had a baby between then and now, but show no signs of sleep deprivation with this upbeat, decent piece of ska-pop. RH

We Were Sinking (self-released)

LACERTILIA

lacertilia-uk.bandcamp.com Founded by Matt Fry, former frontman of Cardiff heavy rock band The Witches Drum, Lacertilia were hatched almost immediately after that band’s final gig last spring. Also featuring personnel from bands including Thorun and Ak’bal, TWD’s enthusiastic audience seem to have stuck with Lacertilia – with good cause, as their first recordings are similarly hefty and anthemic. However, the bottom-heavy Kyuss stylings are countered by large helpings of driving, repetitious psych-rock, Hawkwind probably being the foundation stone in this case. Lacertilia are at their best at their most cosmic. NG

APPLIED SCIENCE www.facebook.com/appliedscienceuk What with south Wales hip-hop shows consisting pretty much solely of battle nights these days, it’s easy to lose track of which MCs and producers are still around. That’s my excuse, anyway. Applied Science are a duo who both feature in Knights Of Boom, and have a fulllength album, Blues, Booze & Hip-Hop, up on Bandcamp. Befitting two fellas active in the scene since the 90s, it sounds like vintage UK hip-hop: absurdist in its imagery, lurching and lairy in its boom-bap rhythms. NG

SON OF ONE EYE www.facebook.com/sonofoneeye In the event of this Carmarthenshire four-piece becoming massive, I think their abbreviated name could prove a boon: imagine arena crowds chanting SOO-E! SOO-E! as they towelled off backstage, pre-encore. Not actually convinced it’ll happen, but Son Of One Eye have a certain slickness and bombast which might prick up ears. Matthew O’Sullivan’s vocals have a James Dean Bradfield heft, while their brand of indie is twinkly, synth-laden and guns for anthemic choruses, a little like latter-day Manics in fact.

NG

THIS MONTH’S

DVD PICK

GONE GIRL 18 (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment) The usually insipid Rosamund Pike excels as the icy wife to Ben Affleck, who suddenly disappears. In a series of flashbacks and real time storytelling, and in David Fincher’s hands, it lurches from a film noir whodunit with numerous twists into a brooding thriller with an underlying menace. Brilliant. ****AL

THE EQUALIZER 15 (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) Denzel Washington reprises the iconic vigilante role in this very violent remake. Denzel plays a quiet man working in a B&Q-style store and is brought back to his kick-ass ways by an abused young prostitute who he befriends. He dishes out his own style of justice and then, well, all hell breaks loose. Despite the scathing reviews, I loved it, and yes, there is a scene with a nailgun. ***AL

BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP

15 (StudioCanal) The funny thing about films concerning amnesia is that they always feel as if you’ve seen them before, and it’s certainly the case in this thriller starring Nicole Kidman as a woman who forgets everything about her life upon waking up each morning. Despite the tired formula, there are enough twists and turns and excellent performances to keep us entertained, if not enthralled. ***RHA

LUCY 15 (Universal Pictures UK) A little like a more grown up version of Matilda, Lucy is about a woman (Scarlett Johansson) who unlocks the 90% of her brain that most humans never utilise after she accidentally absorbs a wonder drug.

She immediately becomes an incredibly clever super-fighter and teams up with scientist Morgan Freeman. The film starts well but falls into clichés, and feels hurriedly tied up at the end. It’s nothing amazing but an alright watch. ***HA

A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES 15 (Entertainment One) Liam Neeson does his lonely, ex-alcoholic, ex-cop, hardman routine again as a private eye searching for kidnappers who murdered a dubious character’s wife (played by Downtown's Dan Stevens). As much as I like Liam, this isn’t one of his best. Predictable and extremely gory. **AL

BOYHOOD 15 (Universal Pictures) Richard Linklater’s masterpiece, Boyhood, is the ultimate coming of age story. Filmed over a 12-year period with the same cast, the film focuses around Mason transitioning from boyhood, to adolescence, to manhood. Wonderful performances by Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke and especially Ellar Coltrane lifted Boyhood from a mere filmic exercise into an emotional journey that will stay with you. *****JM

MANAKAMANA U (Dogwoof) The Manakamana Temple is a sacred place found at the top of a mountain in Nepal. Most of those making the pilgrimage to the temple get their by riding a cable cart. In Manakamana, a camera is put in these cable carts and we get to witness the 10-minute journey of a variety of characters. There is no music or narration so you are left to just to take these people in, which is sometimes brilliant and other times a bit dull. Manakamana needs some patience to watch, but is a calm and insightful documentary. ***HA

THE IMITATION GAME 12 (StudioCanal) Superb true study of how Alan Turing and his team of cryptologists struggled to crack the Nazis' naval code, produced on an enigma machine, in WWII and convince his superiors that his own machine could decipher it. Given his achievements, it’s incredible that it was only last year he was pardoned for being a homosexual. Benedict Cumberbatch and the supporting cast shine throughout, and the film is certainly Cumberbatch high point. Fascinating and a compelling watch. ****AL

BUZZ 51

MUSIC NEWS EXTRA

Catapult, a Cardiff dance music shop opened in 1993 by Lucy Squire, closed its doors shortly before Christmas. Catapult 100% Vinyl (to give it its full, if not strictly accurate, name) established itself as a hub for pretty much any given dance genre represented in the city; a laundry list of DJs earned their spurs working in the shop, High Contrast probably the best known. They also released a handful of 12”s and promoted monthly drum’n’bass nights under the Catapult banner. The precise circumstances behind its demise are currently unconfirmed – the team have remained silent on social media and elsewhere – but the hole left in the local dance scene is large, and likely unfillable

More cheerfully, and perhaps indicative of physical media’s popularity in ‘rock’ as opposed to ‘dance’ right now, Cardiff’s most enduring independent record store Spillers toasted 2015 by moving premises.

Having been obliged to switch location back in 2010 due to rent increases, this time round they’re in a more luxurious position. Their relocation from one building in Morgan Arcade to another has only taken them a matter of yards,

but has given them extra space on the shop floor and a generally better layout.

It might also be interesting to see if they pick up any of the retail slack caused by Catapult’s closure, in terms of their stock

Another footsoldier in the infantry of small venues has been gunned down by invading forces of corporate expansion. This tortuous metaphor refers to Swansea’s Static Bar, which opened approximately 18 months ago and concentrated largely on hard rock and metal shows. Development around the Kingsway in Swansea, where Static was located, has led to a sharp drop in people visiting that area; the venue’s landlord has decided to sell the premises.

As things stand, Static won’t be seeking to reopen elsewhere – licensing terms offered by Swansea Council have made it a non-starter – but hope to house as many booked gigs in alternative venues as possible

If nothing else, the spate of small venue closures across the UK has sparked some outrage and pushback against the causes of such: capitalism, over-regulatory

councils and people’s shit taste in music.

For example, there’s a campaign to introduce into UK law the Agent Of Change Principle, which addresses noise complaint issues by protecting whoever was there first. So if someone moved next door to a venue, the venue would hold the upper hand, and vice versa. Cardiff’s Justin Toland, in his electronic/experimental guise as Location Baked, has released a 17-minute single supporting AOC’s implementation. Located at locationbaked. bandcamp.com, Agents Of Change is a hypnotic piece of pulsing minimalism a la Steve Reich, Terry Riley etc

White Noise Sound, FX pedal-liking rock dudes from Swansea way, have signed to London’s Rocket Girl label, which can claim a fair bit of experience and pedigree in releasing this kind of droney guitar bliss. Since their 2010 debut album, released by US label Alive, the six-piece have collaborated with Irish techno geezer Phil Kieran, who also had input into Like A Pyramid Of Fire – the second WNS album, released in March. Cian Ciaran produced and mixed it, and it’s previewed this month with a single, Heavy Echo

ONE TO WATCH...

EN GARDE

When forming a punk rock band, it’s important to include a healthy serving of punk rock self-consciousness. En Garde, a five-piece from Bridgend or thereabouts, seem to know the score. Their online presence, at least the parts they have control over, gives no clue as to members’ names, or any significant prehistory. Suffice to say, they’ve not made it easy to twig that debut album Weekenders is the work of, among others, a onetime Kids In Glass Houses member.

Folks from Attack Attack, Dopamine and The Next Nine Years also feature in the group, but it’s reasonable to suspect that Andrew Sheehy, the ex-KIGH man in question, is the keenest to make a clean break. His old band, who broke up last autumn, were a product of Bridgend’s mid-00s emo-rock scene, but over time morphed into a slick, Protooled pop-rock entity. Weekenders certainly can’t be described thus: it delivers a fair barrage of hooks and defiant choruses, but its medium is metal-tinged rock’n’roll punk. Thomas Dixon’s gruffly throaty vocals recall Every Time I Die and Canadian hardcore-meets-stoner rockers Burning Love, though you’re as likely to think of The Bronx or Turbonegro’s supercharged hard rock (Enough Is Never Enough).

Weekenders succeeds on two fronts. Sonically and lyrically triumphalist, En Garde sound like they’re up for a party, but are also pissed off and punching upwards. Songs tackle employment drudgery, getting hammered as escapism and the self-evident subjects of Champagne Socialist and Someday I Wanna Be Famous. Ten songs with plenty enough heft to let the odd corny lyric be overlooked. www.facebook.com/engardeuk BUZZ 52

one louder IT’s been about a year since I gave this column over to a bunch of cassette reviews, so it seemed like high time for another. There’s very little to talk about in overarching terms, but cassettes aren’t going away any time soon; heck, there was even another Cassette Store Day last year.

I recently read a ranty opinion piece by David Keenan, experimental music doyen and blowhard, in which he claimed to have invented Cassette Store Day as a sort of ironic joke. As such, he found it jolly amusing that Jen Long, indie label owner and BBC3 continuity announcer, had adopted the idea in earnest.

Worried about which side to take in this fearsome to-do?

Sack it all off! Here are six tapes released in the last few months and sold via mailorder, rather than on a designated date. They’re all available to stream online (as I write), and buy digitally, plus are easily Googleable. QUEER’D SCIENCE, a trio from Manchester, broke up before this album was released, which was probably why the label (Box) stuck to limited quantities, but it’s an awesome swansong. Hyperactive and abrasive, gnarly electronics are added to deranged sci-fi no wave/hardcore, which would have been equally at home on the Load or Three One G labels during their purple patches.

Only one release with the ‘local flavour’ you parochial twerps crave, and it’s by MELLTITH, the solo project of Alex Morgan from The Death Of Her Money. Released by Tesla Tapes, the imprint connected to Mancunian psych band Gnod, Sagittarius A* is an all-electronic excursion which hints at techno, ambient and experimental synth gear, without quite being any of those things. Subtly unsettling, loops are layered and blur together drones in a manner built for paranoid late nights; Supervoid, the last of four tracks, triumphs with pleasing industrial coldness.

Also on Tesla Tapes, we find LIVE LOW: a Portugese solo producer who, again, seems to use techno as a stylistic springboard for some solidly head-muddling excursions in rhythm. The ghosts of electro and hip-hop rattle chains throughout this half hour or so; at some point in the 90s, this might have been tagged as ‘illbient’, but in the main, this’d be too strung out for even the most torpor-addicted headnodder. Mid-90s Autechre dragging the Mo’Wax catalogue backwards through a glue spillage, he wrote hoping to be quoted on the billboard.

More shit to send you to sleep – I speak from experience; it was my intended goal, and successful – courtesy of OCEAN FLOOR, whose real name is Aonghus and who lives in Bristol. Jupiter is played entirely on what I think is a harmonium, meaning it’s ripe with sustained notes and smeary drones – not because it’s especially freaky or avant, but because that’s what harmoniums sound like. That said, this tape has much in common with the big dogs of 20th century minimalism (Glass, Riley, Charlemagne Palestine), and is probably my favourite of the things in this column.

Jupiter was released on the ZamZam label, and following it in the schedule was Touched, an EP by NEGRA BRANCA – Marlene Ribiero, from the aforementioned Gnod but a different listen in solo form. In The Night combines disembodied vocals and sawing cello, OPJ’s reverbed guitar recalls Grouper, and the other two tracks are a treat too.

Finally, the second edition of Another Subculture, a C90 which combines interviews and tracks showcasing the fine swill offered by today’s DIY punk culture. Snob, The Lowest Form and Big Joanie are among the rad groups who donate songs, while Aussie punks The UV Race and a guy from Constant Flux – who book tours for learning disabled bands – are engaging interview subjects. Side B was all taped on a Dictaphone at the Static Shock Weekender, a recent punk festival, and while I’m tolerant of a bit o’lo-fi, the live recordings are pretty much unlistenable.

Don’t bother recording SONGHOY BLUES (Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Wed 4), THE CITY ON FILM (Little Man Coffee Co, Cardiff, Sat 14), THE MILK RACE (Dempseys, Fri 20), CUT RIBBONS (Scene Club, Swansea, Sat 21), SEVEN THAT SPELLS and ANTA (Moon Club, Tue 24), TIM BARRY (Le Pub, Newport, Wed 25) and PHEENUS plus DC GATES (The Plan, Cardiff, Thurs 26), unless you have really good kit. NOEL GARDNER

books ANGER IS AN ENERGY: MY LIFE UNCENSORED John Lydon (Simon & Schuster)

BOOK OF THE MONTH

John Lydon: lead singer of the Sex Pistols and Public Image Limited.

Here is a man who has built himself from the ground up, using the dislike he often garnered as a propellant. Today, he is regarded by many as a national treasure, a title earned through hard work and incredible resilience. Anger Is An Energy is his story.

His recollection of his childhood is compelling, as he shares the adversity and dire circumstances that often breeds genius and fuels radical thinking. The book is politically charged, written by a man who is not afraid to state his opinions and stick to them regardless of criticism.

Having said that, John Lydon comes across as very self-congratulatory and egotistical, painting everyone around him as problematic. It would be interesting to read the other sides of these stories.

Many chapters are promising, sweet and even humorous, however they need structure and condensing. This piece of work is largely incoherent, contradictory and rife with errors in construction and spelling. If this book was well edited, structured and polished, it would be easier to comprehend.

Although highly flawed, I feel Anger Is An Energy showcases a distinctly eventful life that has all the potential to make a good read. DAMI OKHIRIA Price: £20/£11.64 ebook. Info: www.simonandschuster.co.uk

SIGNS PRECEDING THE END OF THE WORLD

HOW TO BE NORMAL: A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED

Yuri Herrera (& Other Stories)

Guy Browning (Atlantic Books)

Yuri Herrera’s novel about a young woman making her way across Mexico to the Unite States is deeply unsettling. Dealing with themes of sisterhood, violence, and identity, the book also has Mexican and US culture spun to myth within it.

Though short the book (written by Herrera but translated into English by Lise Dillman) it’s packed with risky choices; turns of phrase translated with passion and diligence; the prose always eager to captivate.

Luckily, the writing never overtakes its raw, engaging lead: Makina is a triumph of character development within novella format. Not all risks pay off, however; while the translation had care put into it, a few lines in the first couple of chapters feel more clunky than experimental and the true weight it yearns to create can only be felt within the cultural context, about a country that seldom registers in British consciousness.

Ultimately, Signs... is a captivating book that compels further reading on Mexico, its people and internally beloved author. LA Price: £8.99/£5 ebook. Info: www.andotherstories.org

CRIME CORNER Melody was attacked and left for dead, but survived. Eve was attacked and murdered. Both were dumped in London's Richmond Park, both holding gold chains with tiny birds in tiny gilded cages attached. The Life I Left Behind by Colette McBeth (Headline Review, H/B £16.99) is their story. One told by a woman who doubts her own sanity, the other from beyond the grave, waiting to move on, but where? So, one of the main characters is alive, but dead inside, and the other is dead, but alive inside. Interesting.

The man found guilty of Melody's attack is out of prison protesting his innocence just in time to be the prime suspect in Eve's killing. Only she knows the whole story, but who can she tell when no one can hear her?

McBeth plots with skill, with one or two surprises I for one didn't expect. The character of Melody can be a bit irritating at times, although considering she's suffering severe PTSD, it's not surprising. Eve is another matter. A tough woman who I'm sorry we won't meet again. A real Gone Girl for the new year, who really has gone. MARK TIMLIN

BUZZ 54

Am I normal? Are you normal? Is anyone normal? Well, probably not. For those of you whom may be concerned with your lack of normalness, Guy Browning steps in and offers his book. Probably best categorised as ‘humorous life advice’, you’ll find everything covered from ‘how to be nice’ to ‘how to have an opinion’. While Browning does have a certain charm, one thing that bothered me about the book was the ‘men are from Mars, women are from Venus’ approach; especially in the Loving Feelings sections. Enjoyable, but not to be taken seriously, this is definitely a book best placed firmly on the coffee table. EJ Price: £7.99-£12.99. Info: www.atlantic-books.co.uk

THE SCULPTOR Scott McCloud (Self Made Hero) Over a decade since the publication of his last graphic novel, cartoonist McCloud still knows what he’s doing in this captivating tale of an artist’s torment.

David Smith doesn’t have a lot going for him. His family are all dead and he foolishly destroyed his promising art career years ago. But David is saved from his bitterness when he is given the choice between his art and his life. He is given the superhuman power to sculpt any material with his bare hands, but now he only has 200 days to live.

That’s fine with David, until he meets a girl.

McCloud has made some great characters, often flawed and making selfish decisions, and my heart dropped more than once at the sharp twists and turns within the plot.

Some parts of the storyline feel a bit convenient, but they don’t take away from this touching story of someone struggling to live up to the their own expectations. HA Price: £18.99. Info: www.selfmadehero.com

@mabjones February kicks off with a big fat WOW – that’s WOW as in Write On Writers (Mon 2 + Mon 16, 7pm, Morganstown Village Hall), a new writing group hosted by the formidable Julie Pritchard.

Meeting on the first and third Monday of every month, WOW will offer a friendly, relaxed environment in which all writers can share work. They will have guest speakers and social events, too.

Julie will also be a guest poet alongside the very reputable Owen Sheers at the regular open mic at Merthyr Imperial Hotel (Thurs 26 Feb, 7.30pm). An earlier open mic event, more Swansea-way, is at the Cambrian Arms, Melincryddan near Neath. That takes place on Thurs 5, again at 7.30pm.

In Cardiff, new bi-monthly ‘literary lovein’ (Kuku Club, Greyfriars Road, Sun 15) arrives with wordy entertainment from local poet Aisling Tempany, former Bard of Bath Thommie Gillow, and comedy songs from burlesque beauty Honey Holiday. Entry is from £3-£5 and includes cake. There is also an open mic.

Finally the story-telling troupe The Devil’s Violin take thier new show The Forbidden Door (various venues in Wales, Mon 9 Feb-Sat 30 May. Info: www.thedevilsviolin.co.uk), Headed by the excellent Daniel Morden, The Forbidden Door tells tales from the Mabinogion - set to musical accompaniment. Stark, spine-tingling and seriously mind-melding, this is now to be missed.

And, finally, our guest poet this month is the marvellous Julie Pritchard, mentioned above. Enjoy!

BARREN Desert isolation arid bare Where temptation is out of reach Keep my inner thoughts to me.

Illumination of truth to enlighten The shadow past as I walk the path of solitude.

Tread lightly casting gently my love for you away Set free to the wilderness to be forgotten in the sands of time.

by Julie Pritchard

lifestyle 1 2 3

VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT GUIDE Whether you are in a relationship or not, Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to shake off our bitter ways and show our loved ones that we care about them. This can be in the form of a fancy dinner, an adventurous day out or a novelty gift. Here are some ideas to help you show the love on Sat 14 Feb.

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1.COLOURED SHAVING GEL (200ML), Colour Me Shave, £6 per bottle, www.amazon.co.uk / 2. ADULT SAUCY CHARADES, £7.99, MenKind, St David's Centre / 3. I LOVE YOU SWEET PEA SEEDS GIFT SET, £4, John Lewis, St David's Centre /4. VALENTINES LOVE CUFFS, £1, Poundland, www.poundland.co.uk / 5. MAP PERSONALISED PENDANT NECKLACE HEART, £32, Ellie Ellie, www.ellieellie.co.uk / 6. USB MIX TAPE, £19.99, www.GettingPersonal.co.uk / 7. I FUCKING LOVE YOU MUG, £7.99, www.firebox.com / 8. PSYCHEDELIC SEX BOOK, Taschen, £44.99 www.taschen.co.uk BUZZ 55

FALLING IN LOVE WITH FASHION...

With a little help from Mary Bijou Cabaret, we show off some Valentine's days fashion with an air of circus seduction

Photographer: Jacek Davis (www.jacekdavis.co.uk) Models: Hannah O'Leary and George Orange from Mary Bijou Cabaret Assistants : Alex Cornish and Joseph Alloway Clothes: Hannah Pink Wool Overcoat, New Look, £44.99; Floral Peach Dress, Primark, £10; Gold Necklace, Accessorize, £12; Gold Bracelet, Accessorize, £10; Shoes, models own George Tweed Blazer, New Look, £54.99; Long Sleeved Checked Shirt, New Look, £19.99; Grey Tweed Waistcoat, New Look, £24.99; Stone Washed Jeans, New Look, £24.99; Blue Socks, New Look, £4.99; Red Chelsea Boots, New Look, £29.99 All products available at St David's Centre, Cardiff

sport Whether you’ve got yourself a ticket to see the match in the flesh, or you’re simply sitting at home with the telly tuned in, you need to know who is taking on who and when. Here’s a round-up of the Six Nations’ rounds.

ROUND 1 Fri 6 Feb Wales v England. KO: 8.05pm. Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.

Sat 7 Feb Italy v Ireland. KO: 3.30pm. Stadio Olimpico, Rome.

France v Scotland. KO: 6pm. Stade de France, Paris.

ROUND 2

SOAKING UP THE SIX NATIONS As the rugby season gets back into full swing with the Six Nations, Rebecca Upsall takes a look at this year’s tournament.

It’s that time of year: the RBS Six Nations Championship Rugby Tournament has arrived once again and it seems every Welsh rugby fanatic is asking their own questions. Will 2015 be Wales’ year? Can the squad release the handbrake that held them back in last year’s tournament? Only time can tell.

The full-throated, red-blooded rivalry of the Six Nations Championship is set to shake up fans alike across six European countries: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. With a long history stretching back more than 120 years, the Six Nations has produced plenty of memorable championships.

Moreover, some rivalries in the tournament date back further still into the 19th century, so BUZZ 58

the atmosphere is set to be exhilarating.

Having ended last season's Six Nations Championship in third spot, the Welsh squad can only aim higher. Ireland were the winners of the 2014 tournament, but England hold the record for the number of Grand Slams won with 12, followed by Wales with 11, France with nine, Scotland with three and Ireland with two.

We don’t yet know if Wales will be victorious this year, but the experts certainly have an opinion. Rugby legend Jonathan Davies has stated that he thinks head coach Warren Gatland and his players must take more risks.

The 34-man squad is made up of familiar faces as well as four uncapped players.

Unsurprisingly, the majority of lineups have not been changed, but new players are included, to give the squad increased options. Fans are anxious at Gatland’s decision to place former U20 prop Rob Evans in the front row with more experienced players Gethin Jenkins and Paul James. It’s a risk, of the type Davies wants, but will it pay off?

Wales will be hosting two of their five games at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. The tournament is opened on Fri 6 Feb as Wales take on England – with historic rivalry at the forefront, it’s sure to be one heck of a curtain-opener – before meeting Ireland on Sat 14 Mar. Info: www.rbs6nations.com

Sat 14 Feb England v Italy. KO: 2.30pm. Twickenham Stadium, London.

Ireland v France. KO: 5pm. Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

Sun 15 Feb Scotland v Wales. KO: 3pm. Murrayfield, Edinburgh.

ROUND 3 Sat 28 Feb Scotland v Italy. KO: 2.30pm. Murrayfield, Edinburgh.

France v Wales. KO: 6pm. Stade de France, Paris.

Sun 1 March Ireland v England. KO: 3pm. Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

ROUND 4 Sat 14 Mar Wales v Ireland. KO: 2.30pm. Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.

England v Scotland. KO: 5pm. Twickenham Stadium, London.

Sun 15 March Italy v France. KO: 4pm. Stadio Olimpico, Rome.

ROUND 5 Sat 21 Mar Italy v Wales. KO: 1.30pm. Stadio Olimpico, Rome.

Scotland v Ireland. KO: 2.30pm.

Murrayfield, Edinburgh.

England v France. KO: 5pm. Twickenham Stadium, London.

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LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH CINEMA SCREENINGS Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, Fri 6-Thurs 26 Feb It’s a credit to Chapter that they don’t need a designated month to screen films stemming from and/or relating to the LGBTQ community. Notably, it’s the primary venue to watch the various movies and shorts nominated for October’s annual Iris Prize. Nevertheless, they’ve made a point of giving some of their February programme over to four films – two dramas, two documentaries – whose subject matter relates to LGBTQ history.

First up, Wild Combination: A Portrait Of Arthur Russell (Fri 6-Thurs 12 Feb): a long-awaited study of an American songwriter and producer who became one of the most quietly revolutionary figures in electronic music. Earning his spurs in New York’s late-70s disco scene, he retained an avant-garde outlook, and produced an eclectic body of work, but died from AIDS in 1992.

Staceyann Chin, an American poet and activist, is profiled in a half-hour documentary (Sat 7), likewise the poetry slam scene she moves in. Chin herself will be performing in Cardiff too, on Fri 6 at a venue TBC. Acclaimed 2014 drama Love Is Strange (Fri 13-Thurs 19) concerns two men, partners for 40 years and finally allowed to marry. The idyll is quickly punctured when one loses his job at a Catholic church – his wedded status, not his sexuality, being the sticking point. This, and the travails which follow, tackle the bumpy, mutating terrain which is contemporary social attitudes to LGBTQ issues. Finally, Pelo Malo [pictured] (Fri 20-Thurs 26) hails from Venezuela, and centres on a mother-son relationship. The boy, Junior, craves foppish pop star looks and long, straight hair; his mum, harried by a tough urban environment, doubles down to the extent of homophobic reactions. Their differences require ironing out, regardless of whether Junior’s hair does.

CONTENTS pg 60 pg 62 pg 64 pg 69 pg 73

art clubs events live stage BUZZ 59

art

art The Abacus 18-20 Wood Street, Cardiff.

Free. modernalchemists@ gmail.com / www. theabacusroom.wordpress. com Ceramacus Work by local Caramics graduates, namely Lisa Collingbourne, James Hobbs, Kathryn Lewis, Harriet McCormick, Zoe Richards, Ciara McGuinness, Sophie Southgate, Jack Welbourne and Katie Weyman. (From Mon 9 until Sun 22 Feb) Aberystwyth Arts Centre University Of Wales, Aberystwyth. Free. MonSat 10am-8pm. 01970 621903 / www.aber.ac.uk/ artscentre The Experimentalists Examples of work from the Experimental Painting and Drawing class led

by Roy Marsden. (Until Sat 7 Feb) Tom Wood Landscape photography depicting life in the west of Ireland, Merseyside and North Wales. (Throughout February) Liam Wood Photography from a late colleague of this Centre.

(Until Sat 7 Mar) Sascha Ferrier ‘Transience’ Digital photography meets Dutch still life, referencing a number of personal topics including bereavement.

(Until Sat 14 Mar) The Hot Pot Project Evolving exhibition of ceramics from

the Ann Carr Collection, a major donation of Michael Cardew and Wenford Bridge pottery. (Until Sun 14 June) Y Mabinogi Illustrations, curated by Peter Stevenson, to complement a storytelling of the Four Branches of Y Mabinogi here on Sat 14 Mar. (From Sat 14 Feb until Sat 4 Apr) Albany Gallery 74b Albany Road, Cardiff.

Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm. Free. 029 2048 7158 / www. albanygallery.com Sion McIntyre & David Porteous-Butler New work from two respected artists. David works with a palette knife and studied under Kyffin Williams; McIntyre, from north Wales, is the younger of the two, and grandson of Donald McIntyre. (From Thurs 5 until Sat 28 Feb) Andrew Lamont Gallery (Theatr Brycheiniog) Canal Wharf, Brecon.

Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm.

Free. 01874 611622 / enquiries@brycheiniog. co.uk / www.brycheiniog. co.uk The Fibre Of Wales Exhibition showcasing the versatility of handmade felt by local felt and fibre artists Emma Beavan, Sarah Goodgame, Petra Pinnock, Hannah Kemp and Sarah Powell. (Until Sun 8 Feb) Arcadecardiff Queens Arcade, off Queen Street, Cardiff. Usually open Wed-Sat 12.305.30pm. www. arcadecardiff.co.uk

Phil King Local art writer who has a body of paintings which allow him to present different ‘collections’ unpacking ideas of modern art. (Until Sat 14 Feb) Nikita McBride McBride, who graduated from Cardiff in 2014, works with found objects and will be “sorting through some atmospheric stuff in the bowels of Arcadecardiff”. (From Thurs 19 Feb until Sat 7 Mar) Art Central Barry Town Hall, King Square, Barry. Tue-Sat 11am-4pm. Admission free. 01446 709805.

Holocaust Memorial Exhibition Art Central have been working with 9-11 year olds in Glamorgan schools, respond to the poetry and artwork created by the children of Terezin – a concentration camp in the Czech Republic. (Until Sat 21 Feb) Attic Gallery 37 Pocketts Wharf, Maritime Quarter, Swansea. Tue-Fri 10am5.30pm, Sat 10am4.30pm. Free. 01792 653387 / www. atticgallery.co.uk Winter Group Show A refreshed group show from over 50 of this gallery’s artists. A wide selection of paintings, sculpture, prints and pottery are on show, “at prices to suit all budgets” Sounds like a wager to me... too bad I can’t afford to make one. (Until Sat 14 Mar)

THE SENSORIAL OBJECT Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay, until Sun 8 Mar Admission: free. Info: 029 2048 4611 / www.makersguildinwales.org.uk As befits the ‘makers’ who comprise the Makers Guild In Wales, exhibitions at their gallery usually have a practical application – crockery, textiles etc – as opposed to being purely for show. For The Sensorial Object, curators Zoe Preece and Natasha Mayo took as their starting point familiar domestic objects, and explored their sensory properties: how a bowl or item of cutlery might trigger a certain visual or olfactory (for example) response in the brain. So, visitors will have the opportunity to look at the creations of eight artists, and interact with them via various hooked-up digital technology. The exhibition’s launch in January also featured a collaboration with Cardiff restaurant Duck Egg Bleu, who made canapés which attempted to test people’s sensory expectations of food.

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Big Pit National Coal Museum Blaenafon, Torfaen. Every day 9.30am-5pm. Free.

029 2057 3650 / www. museumwales.ac.uk/bigpit Poppies For Remembrance This exhibition investigates the link between the cultural uses of poppies for remembrance and the science of biodiversity – the study of plant and animal species in the natural environment. (Until Sun 8 Feb) Butetown History & Arts Centre 4/5 Dock Chambers, Bute St, Cardiff Bay. Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat & Sun 11am-4.30pm. Free. 029 2025 6757 / www.bhac.org Salah Suliman Bakheit & Mohamed Hamza ‘Windows To The Soul’ Exhibition which explores the artwork of Sudanese artists Bakheit and Hamza through portraiture, plus the modern and contemporary art movement in Sudan.

(Until Sun 1 Mar) Cardiff Story The Hayes, Cardiff. MonSat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm. Free. 029 2078 8334 / museum@cardiff.gov.uk Cardiff Carnival 25th Anniversary Celebrating 25 years of Cardiff Carnival, this will feature carnival costumes, photographs, films, audio interviews, workshops and presentations. (Throughout February) Chapter Gallery Chapter Arts Centre, Market Rd, Canton, Cardiff. Tue, Wed, Sat + Sun 12-6pm; Thurs + Fri 12-8pm. Free. 029 2030 4400 / www.chapter.org Sharon Lockhart Artes Mundi exhibition courtesy of an American who works with individuals and groups, sometimes over periods of years, to create socially engaged photography and film work. (Until Sun 22 Feb) Karen Mirza & Brad Butler ‘The Unreliable Narrator’ Works purporting to “take advantage of the gap between fiction and reality” via video installations, neon signs and other multimedia stuff. (Until Sun 22 Feb) Craft In The Bay The Flourish, Lloyd George Avenue, Cardiff.

Mon-Sun 10.30am5.30pm. Free. 029 2048 4611.

The Sensorial Object Curated by Zoe Preece and Natasha Mayo, this exhibition aims to explore the sensory capacity of the familiar/domestic object, bringing together digital technologies with ceramics, wood, glass and textiles. (Until Sun 8 Mar) MakersXchange – New Brewery Arts Four resident makers from New Brewery Arts Centre, Cirencester: Sarah Beadsmoore (handloom weaver); Carla and Jeremy Bonner (bags); Richie Alli (glass) and Helen Nottage (ceramics). (Until Sun 8 Mar) Paul Wearing The new year’s first guest maker showcases a new body of ceramic vessels, created with the support of a Arts Council Of Wales

grant. (Until Sun 15 Mar) Combined: Foundation Degree Student Show Showcase of ceramics, textiles and graphic design by students studying on the Foundation Degree course at Cardiff & Vale College, Barry. (Until Mon 16 Mar) Cyfarthfa Castle Museum Cyfarthfa Rd, Merthyr Tydfil. Daily 10am5.30pm. Free. 01685 723112.

Glyn Morrill ‘What!

It Took 4000 Years To Make!?’ Sculptures made from bogwood which was encased in peat for some 4,000 years, and carved by Morrill into shapes which follow their natural contours. (Until Fri 20 Feb) Dylan Thomas Centre Somerset Place, Swansea.

Daily 10am-4pm. Free.

01792 463980 / dylanthomas.lit@ swansea.gov.uk / www. dylanthomas.com Love The Words Ongoing, permanent exhibition dedicated to Dylan Thomas, with lots of interactive features and voiceovers from people including Prince Charles and Richard Burton.

Ffotogallery At Turner House Plymouth Road, Penarth, nr Cardiff. Tue-Sat 11am5pm. Free. 029 2034 1667 / www.ffotogallery.org Artes Mundi 6 Work by Ragnar Kjartansson from Iceland, whose performative practice. takes in video installations, durational performances (sometimes lasting hours or weeks), drawing and painting; and Sanja Ivekovic from Croatia, who tackles issues of female identity, the politics of power, consumerism and the paradoxes inherent in society’s collective memory.

(Until Sat 21 Feb) Fountain Fine Art 6-8 Morgan Arcade, Cardiff. Tue-Sat 10.30am5pm. Free. www. fountainfineart.com Spring Group Exhibition An eclectic mix of new work from the gallery’s diverse stable of painters and sculptors. (Throughout February) Futures Gallery Pierhead Building, Cardiff Bay. Daily 10.30am-4pm.

Free. 0845 010 5500 / www.pierhead.org Building Bridges – Here To Listen Exhibition of artwork and short films showing young people’s experiences of growing up, relationships and the risk of sexual exploitation. (Until Thurs 5 Feb) G39 Oxford Street, Roath, Cardiff. Saturdays 11am5.30pm. Free. 029 2047 3633 / post@g39.org UNIT(e) New work from Becca Thomas, Dean Brierly, Freya Dooley, Gwenan Davies, Harry Morgan, Jason Pinder, John Michael Parry, Matthew Britton, Nia Metcalfe, Richard Bowers, Richard Morgan, Simon Holly, Tom Goddard and goodcopbadcop. (Until Sat 14 Mar) Y Galeri 8 St Fagans Street, Caerphilly. Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat 10am5pm. Free. 029 2086 1433 / www.ygaleri.co.uk

Caerphilly Open Art Annual exhibition of artworks selected from open submission: two and threedimensional work from amateur and professional artists from across Wales.

(Until Sat 7 Feb) Anthony Rhys ‘Dark Valleys’ Challenging photorealistic oil portraits of our Victorian ancestors. Rhys’ work deals with the skeletons in the closet and the hidden histories that lie dormant behind the facade of ‘respectable’ life. (From Tue 10 Feb until Sat 7 Mar) Beginnings: Exhibition From The Seven14 Group Christine Gittins, Pauline Hearn, Barbara Lock, Mandy Nash, Sue Shields, Lisa Marie Tann and Bronwen Thomas present work including free standing and wall hung ceramics, sculpture collage and contemporary jewellery.

(From Tue 10 Feb until Sat 7 Mar) Gallery/Ten 23 Windsor Place, Cardiff.

Free. www.gallery-ten. co.uk Paper Exhibition dedicated exclusively to work on paper, in media including print, drawing and painting.

New and recent work from a select few of the gallery’s artists including André Stitt, John Abell, Iwan Bala, Seren Morgan Jones, Elfyn Lewis, Sue Williams and Jon Oakes. (From Fri 6 until Sat 28 Feb) Gas Gallery Park Avenue, Aberystwyth. Mon-Sat 11am-5pm. Free. 01974 261279.

Joanne Thompson Paintings and mixed media.

(Until Fri 13 Feb) Peter Stevenson ‘A Cabinet Of Curiosities’ Contemporary images from fairy tales, told through the ancient art of visual storytelling.

(Until Fri 13 Feb) Gini Wade Exhibition of prints from a woman who only took up the form in the 00s, albeit with a career in illustration to her name, but quickly achieved excellence, and has since been exhibited worldwide. Her work draws on myths, dreams and celebrations.

(From Tue 17 Feb until Wed 25 Mar) Richard Brown ‘Nothing Is Forever’ A mix of loosely themed sculpture, partially inspired by an holiday snapshot, memento mori and the words of Angela Merkel (it says here).

(From Tue 17 Feb until Wed 25 Mar) Grand Pavilion The Esplanade, Porthcawl.

Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm. Free. 01656 815995 / www. grandpavilion.co.uk Lesley Dearn ‘Drawn In Oils’ Paintings and drawings in oil and charcoal through which Lesley explores people and moments, thoughts and expression. (Until Sun 8 Mar) King Street Gallery 33 King Street, Carmarthen. Free. 01267 220121 / gallery@ kingstreetgallery.co.uk Annual Sale Purchase 2D and 3D pieces at a reduced rate all this month.

(Throughout February)

art Kooywood Gallery 8 Museum Place, Cardiff.

Tue-Sat 10.30am-6pm.

Free. 029 2023 5093 / www.kooywoodgallery. com Peter Monaghan Peter sketches on location, oftern re-sketching many times in the studio in order to interpret and understand.

Only then does he feel the freedom to splash and pour paint; finished works conclude as mixed media pieces incorporating acrylic, ink, crayon and collage. (From Fri 6 until Sat 28 Feb) Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre St. David’s Rd, Cwmbran, Torfaen. Mon-Sat 10am5pm. Free. 01633 483321 / www.lgac.org.uk Pinnies From Heaven Eleven members of the textiles collective MaP Group along with six invitedmakers, have created contemporary responses to the traditional ‘pinny’, blending high quality craftsmanship with a large helping of nostalgia, creativity and humour. (Until Sat 14 Mar) MakersXchange New initiative where Venues and Makers Guilds from across Wales and the South West are coupled to exchange and present the work of makers they regularly show or represent. (Until Sat 14 Mar) Emily Kidson Jewellery showcase from a mixed media jeweller who currently works with wood, laminate and silver.

She uses techniques such as piercing, sanding, waxing, riveting and soldering.

(Until Sat 14 Mar) M.A.D.E. Gallery 41 Lochaber St, Cardiff.

Free. 029 2047 3373.

David Fitzjohn ‘Fimbulwinter’ Installation made of paper, previously shown in Oriel Mwldan. (Until Sat 21 Feb) Martin Tinney Gallery 18 St Andrew’s Crescent, Cardiff. Mon-Fri 10am6pm, Sat 10am-5pm. Free.

029 2064 1411 / mtg@ artwales.com Gwilym Prichard An exhibition of works on paper by one of Wales’ leading landscape artists. (Until Sat 14 Feb) Evelyn Williams ‘The Last Paintings’ Welsh painter who died in 2012 having won awards and recognition for over 50 years. He work was praised for its tenderness and personal nature, and remains in numerous public and private galleries today.

(From Wed 25 Feb until Wed 25 Mar) Mission Gallery Gloucester Place, Swansea. Tue-Sun 11am5pm. Free. 01792 652016 / www.missiongallery.co.uk ATB: Collective Misunderstandings Copenhagen-based art group who, in this exhibition, will critically examine the history of utopian thinking as a method of open process rather than a fixed place. (Until Sun 8 Feb) Mette Vorraa Work presented in ‘the [...] space’, from a Norwegian artist who aims to share stories and experiences through the visual language of photography. (Until Sun 15 Feb) Katherine Clewett Maker

In Focus show forming part of an ongoing investigation into how space can be mapped by light and create an element of ‘occupation’.

(Until Sun 15 Feb) Julie Arkell ‘Away’ Ruthin Craft Centre exhibition featuring Arkell’s ompelling, naïve handbuilt papier mache people and creatures.

(From Sat 14 Feb until Sun 12 Apr) MOMA Wales Y Tabernacl, Heol Penrallt, Machynlleth.

Mon-Sat 10am-4pm. Free.

01654 703355 / info@ momawales.org.uk Eileen Harrisson ‘A Sense Of Longing’ Partly inspired by a WB Yeats poem, states of human consciousness and longing are depicted here through colour, sound and hand stitch.

(Until Sat 21 Feb) Mervyn Rowe ‘China Sketchbook’ A frequent visitor to the country, Rowe’s work offers a glimpse of an unreported China through the eyes of a visual artist. (Until Sat 21 Feb) Derek Williams Memorial Exhibition Celebration of the paintings of Derek Williams RBSA FRSA (1932-2009), who was inspired by the Welsh coastline and the life of Dylan Thomas.

(Throughout February) John Charlesworth ‘Last Tango In Powys’ Artist and painter of the extraordinary since 1965. (Until Sat 21 Mar) Ian Phillips ‘New Views Of Old Hills’ Well known for his extraordinary lino prints, here Phillips presents new work with some new ideas and techniques, depicting the subtleties of wearher and the changing seasons in the Welsh hills. (Until Sat 11 Apr) 30 British Portraits This venue’s 30th anniversary is marked with 30 portraits by British artists.. (Until Sat 25 Apr) David Nash RA Inaugural exhibition in the new Sculpture Space, featuring the work of one of the leading sculptors in British art today. Much of his work is made out of unseasoned wood. (Until Sat 25 Apr) William Morris ‘Over The Hills And Far Away’ This exhibition is to mark Morris’ visit to Machynlleth 140 years ago and reflect on the continued popularity of Morris’ designs. Curated by Jane Dew. (From Sat 28 Feb until Sat 18 Apr) Kyffin Williams ‘Patagonia’ Marking 150 years since the Welsh people first went to Patagonia, this also celebrates Williams’ long support of MOMA Wales and features his paintings depicting the region on his visit there in 1968. (From Sat 28 Feb until Sat 9 May) National Botanic Garden Of Wales Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire. Daily 10am-6pm. £8.50/£7 OAP/£4.50 kids/free under-5s. 01558 668768.

Barcode Sculpture Located outdoors here, new work from nine artists from Sculpture Cymru. Each has made a response to the DNA barcode research by the Garden’s Head of Science & Research Dr. Natasha De Vere. (Until September)

National Museum & Gallery Cathays Park, Cardiff.

Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Free except where noted. 029 2057 3500 / www.nmgw. ac.uk Artes Mundi 6 Return to Cardiff of this esteemed prize, presenting groundbreaking work including film installations, sculpture, painting and performance.

The overarching theme this year is the human condition. (Until Sun 22 Feb) Historic Photography Uncovered Exhibition traces the evolution of photography, as a scientific process, as a social record and a medium for artistic expression, looking at the pioneering work of the Dillwyn Llewelyn family in the 19th century. (Until Sun 19 Apr) Maurice Marinot ‘A Passion For Glass’ French sculptor Marinot (1882-1960) was a pioneer in the development of glass as a studio art form.

This exhibition will bring together 44 pieces of glass from various collections, including this museum’s own. (Until Sun 7 June) National Waterfront Museum Oystermouth Road, Maritime Quarter, Swansea. Daily 10am5pm. Free. 01792 638950.

Commemorating The First World War In Glass Exhibition from Swansea School of Glass displaying a selection of cartoons (glass designs) and contemporary glassworks that are a response to WWI. (Until Sun 22 Feb) Working For Victory: Welsh Industry And The First World War Exhibition looking at what the tens of thousands of Welshmen who fought in WWI produced, how it contributed to the war effort and the impact of the war on Welsh industry. (Until Sun 15 Mar) Living By The Sea These portraits of people who make their living at sea were taken by pupils from Milford Haven School to raise awareness of the contribution made by seafarers working in Pembrokeshire. (Until Sun 22 Mar) Newport Museum & Art Gallery John Frost Square, Newport.Tue-Fri 9.30am5.30pm, Sat 9.30am-4pm.

Free. 01633 656656 / museum@newport.gov.uk Feibusch’s Figures Preliminary drawings for a series of murals which Newport Council commissioned Feibusch to paint in Newport Civic Centre in 1960. Featuring 12 panels depicting the development of Newport, the council has so far resisted the urge to destroy them, which is nice.

(Until Sat 30 May) Norwegian Church Arts Centre Harbour Drive, Cardiff Bay. Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 9am-3pm. Free. 029 2087 7959 / www. norwegianchurchcardiff. com Beyond The Bounds – Inn Focus Group An insight in to the photography of the Inn Focus Group.

(From Mon 16 until Sun 22 Feb)

SALAH SULIMAN BAKHEIT & MOHAMED HAMZA: WINDOWS TO THE SOUL Butetown History & Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay, until Sun 1 Mar Admission: free. Info: 029 2025 6757 Art from non-Western countries can be found exhibited in south Wales now and again, sometimes as a result of cultural exchange programmes and the like, but the region could hardly be said to be spoilt for choice on this front. Windows To The Soul is a unique Welsh showcase for the contemporary art movement of Sudan, and two Sudanese artists are given special focus here. Salah Suliman Bakheit (specialising in abstract, politicised paintings) and Mohamed Hamza (classical portraits of civilians) are both middle-aged, both attended art college in Khartoum in the 1980s, and both now live in Cardiff. In Bakheit’s case, he moved here a few years ago, having previously fled to Germany to escape Sudan’s repressive Islamic regime.

Oriel Davies The Park, Newtown, Powys. Mon-Sat 10am5.30pm. Free. 01686 625041 / enquiries@ orieldavies.org Showtime Exhibition celebrating the people who take part in the gallery’s learning programmes and the art they create. (Until Wed 25 Feb) *Francesca Woodman ‘Artist Rooms’ Exhibition of esteemed work from this lauded Modernist photographer, who committed suicide in 1981 aged only 22. (Until Wed 25 Feb) Responses Work by student photographers from Newtown, responding to the Francesca Woodman exhibition listed above. (Until Wed 25 Feb) Oriel Joanna Field Torch Theatre, St. Peter’s Road, Milford Haven.

Free. 01646 695267 / www.torchtheatre.co.uk Alexander Fox-Robinson ‘As Breath’ This young Pembrokeshire artist is only eighteen and has already sold sixty of his paintings and drawings and won several competitions. This features examples of both portrait and digital painting. (From Mon 2 until Sat 28 Feb) Oriel Mwldan Bath House Rd, Cardigan.

Mon-Sat 10am-8pm. Free.

01239 621200 / siobhan@ mwldan.co.uk John Abell ‘The Horse With The Human Heart’ A story in woodcuts, written and illustrated by Abell – his debut as both writer

and artist, differing from his usual practice of making sprawling images with found material. (Until Sat 21 Mar) Oriel Myrddin Church Lane, Carmarthen. 01267 222775 / www. orielmyrddingallery.co.uk Thin Place Curated by Ciara Helay, this features the work of five artists – Jonathan Anderson, Adam Buick, Ailbhe Ni Bhriain, Christine Mackey and Flora Parrott – living on the west coast of Wales and Ireland.

(Throughout February Oriel Q The Queens Hall, High Street, Narberth. Wed-Sat 10am-5pm. Free. 01834 869454 / www. orielqueenshallgallery. org.uk Tina Carr & Annemarie Schöne ‘Once We Were Birds’ Photographs. Oriel Fach: videos expanding on the lives and conditions of the people depicted in Tina and Annemarie’s photographs: Stairs: photographs by Lewys Canton. Main gallery 3D area: assorted ceramics and jewellery. (Throughout February) Oriel Y Bont University Of South Wales, Pontypridd. Mon-Thurs 8.30am-5.30pm, Fri 8.30am-5pm. Free. 01443 480480 / www.gallery. southwales.ac.uk FUSE 2: David Barnes, Paul Cabuts, Chris Nurse & Andreas Ruethi Contemporary artworks by four south Wales-based art-

ists: two photographers, one painter-printmaker and one painter. (Until Thurs 6 Mar) The Riverfront Bristol Packet Wharf, Newport. Mon-Sat 10am8pm, Sun 10am-6pm.

Free. 01633 656757.

World Community Arts Day Exhibition Annual open submission exhibition at The Riverfront (also featuring elsewhere on Earth, as the name implies), which unites artists in Newport through showcasing their work.

(From Thurs 5 until Thurs 26 Feb) Sherman Cymru Senghennydd Rd, Cathays, Cardiff. 10am11pm (when productions are on). Free. 029 2064 6900 / www. shermancymru.co.uk Come To Where I’m From Interactive exhibition consitsing of podcasts featuring short plays by various playwrights about their home towns. (From Wed 18 Feb until Thurs 12 Mar) St Donats Arts Centre St Donats Castle, Vale Of Glamorgan. Free. 01446 779100 / www.stdonats. com David Evans Berry ‘Om Vishnu’ Portraits from Welsh artist and documentary photographer Berry.

It features school children and their slum homes in the industrial township of Baddi in northern India.

(From Mon 2 until Fri 27 Feb)

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clubs Swansea Grand Theatre Singleton St, Swansea.

Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Free.

01792 475715 / www. swanseagrand.co.uk How Big Is Your Brave?

First exhibition by Swansea Young Single Homeless Project: a cross-media exhibition showcasing a diverse range of styles. (From Tue 3 until Fri 20 Feb) Abertawe Photographic Society Collection of work from the Society’s members, spanning many different ages and levels of skill and experience. (From Tue 17 until Fri 27 Feb) Swansea Museum Victoria Road, The Maritime Quarter, Swansea. Tue-Sun 10am5pm. Free. 01792 653763 / www.swanseamuseum. co.uk The Evolution of Man 1965-2014 Man, in this case, referring to the veteran south Wales prog rock band of that name. It’s a collection of of memorabilia belonging to John Bannon, a long-time fan who has spent over 30 years collecting Man-related stuff. (Until Sat 21 Mar) Taliesin Arts Centre Singleton Park, Swansea.

Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 12pm-6pm and performance evenings 6pm-8.15pm. Free. 01792 295526 / www. taliesinartscentre.co.uk Marc Chagall A collection of Chagall’s fine art prints from one of the last century’s most celebrated modernist artists, for sale at what the gallery call “relatively affordable prices”.

(Until Sat 14 Feb) Warren Heaton ‘Whatever The Weather’ Large-scale paintings of scenery along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, completed on site in all conditions. (From Fri 20 Feb until Thurs 2 Apr) Tenby Museum & Art Gallery Castle Hill, Tenby. MonSat 10am-5pm, £4/£3/£2 kids. 01834 842809 / www.tenbymuseum.org.uk robART Solo show from a German painter who travelled Europe in the 70s and 80s and received wide acclaim. He moved to Wales a few years ago, having got back the artistic mojo which the death of his wife in 1999 had robbed from him.

(From Sat 7 Feb until Sat 21 Mar) Theatr Hafren Llanidloes Road, Newtown, Powys. Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm. Free. 01686 625007 / boxoffice@ theatrhafren.co.uk TACT Showcasing the artistic talent of young people in Wales who are in the care of TACT foster carers. This project began in 2011, when a TACT staff member started up a small arts group in Mid Wales and invited young people in care to join and express themselves through painting and drawing. (From Wed 18 Feb until Sun 10 May) Velindre Hospital Whitchurch, Cardiff. Open 24/7. Free. 029 2075 2251.

South Wales Art Society – Permanent Rolling Exhibition Members’ works are available to view in the corridors and restaurant of the hospital at any BUZZ 62

any given time. 20% of all sales go to the hospital.

Victoria Fearn Gallery 6B Heol y Deri, Rhiwbina, Cardiff. Mon-Sat 9.30am5.30pm, Sun 10am-3pm.

Free. 029 2052 0884.

Dorian Spencer Davies & Rhiannon Roberts An exhibition of painting by two artists, also featuring jewellery (by Laura Thomas), ceramics and gifts. (Throughout February) Wales Millennium Centre Bute Place, Cardiff Bay. Free. 029 2063 6464 / www.wmc.org.uk Illumination An exhibition of artwork and creative writing from prisons, secure hospitals, and by people on probation in Wales. Curated by women from Gibran UK, an organisation that supports ex-offenders across Wales. (From Fri 6 Feb until Mon 13 Apr) The Winding House Cross Street, New Tredegar, Caerphilly.

Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Free.

01443 822666 / windinghouse@ caerphilly.gov.uk Our Duty To Bear: The First World War And Caerphilly County Borough Exhibition exploring how WWI affected men, women and children in this area. It will explore the impact of the war on the local area through objects, images, film and sound.

(Until summer TBC)

clubs 10 Feet Tall 11a + 12 Church Street, Cardiff. 029 2022 8883 / thisis10feettall@yahoo. co.uk Mondays Sabotage 8pm, free. Classic hip-hop every Monday courtesy of DJ Jaffa. Wednesdays Freshly Squeezed 7pm, free. Pre-club kinda night featuring freshly picked new music and drinks deals.

Aberystwyth Boat Club Bar South Marine Terrace, Aberystwyth. 01970 624575.

Sat 14 For The Love Of Music 9pm-2am, £3.50.

Hosted by Ultimate Party’s (their spelling), this spans two stages. The main stage has resident DJs in the bar and on the balcony, while The SweatBox finds Jawdun, Jay Milky and Muhredz MCing over jumpup, drum’n’bass and grime.

Blind Tiger 50 Cambrian Road, Newport. 01633 213161.

Wednesdays Meze Rocks/ Pounded Wednesdays Alternative bangers and underground sounds will continue to be the order of the day in this night’s temporary home while the Meze Lounge has a lick of paint (the Friday and Saturday nights below are also imported from there).

Saturdays Crash! Indie, new music anthems, and alternative hits.

Buffalo 11 Windsor Place, Cardiff.

Open Mon-Thurs 11am3am, Fri + Sat 11am4am, Sun until 4am. 029 2031 0312 / www.buffalocardiff.com Mondays Bump & Grind 10pm-3am, £4/£3 before 11.30. 90s r’n’b/ hip-hop night, which recently relocated to here from Undertone. Thurs 12 Trip City 10pm-4am, £5. Hot Toddy, an offshoot of live disco dudes Crazy P, headlines. Dave Little and Keeno can be relied on for quality house times too. Thurs 19 Signature 10pm-4am. Tieks is the headliner tonight; he’s signed to Atlantic Records and shares his name with a brand of ballet shoes.

Check him out online for more info, just like I didn’t.

Saturdays Buffalo Block Party 8pm-4am, £4/free b4 11. RichTea, James Size, Rackham and Stacy French offer hip-hop, house, garage, indie, alt-rock, disco etc.

Cardiff University Students Union Park Place, Cardiff. All listings apply to term time only. 029 2078 1458 / studentsunion@cardiff. ac.uk Wednesdays YOLO 9pm2am, £4/£3 adv/free before 11. New midweek club night promising both your favourite tunes and great offers.

Good name, really on trend.

Fri 6 Treatment Cardiff 9pm-4am, £25 adv. This sold out before I even knew it was happening. Oh well, here's the lineup anyway.

Main Room: Duke Dumont, Tiga and Rich Tea. Side Room: The Magician, Just Kiddin, Wilfred Giroux and Grades. Room 3: Signature presents Chris Lorenzo, Apexape, Woo and Comfort.

Saturdays Flux 9pm-2am, £5/£4 NUS. Chart, dance and pop.

Club Oxygen 1 Northampton Lane, Swansea. 0844 8849171 / www.globaloxygen.co.uk Fridays Dance Anthems 11pm-6am, from £5. House and commercial music all night from Big Al, Nicky G, 3 Bird, Jordan Steins, LJ Isaac and Tom Chizzy.

Saturdays 10pm-6am.

Room 1: ED, progressive, big room, electro, deep and house. Room 2: r’n’b, bassline, garage and hip-hop. Plus big name guests TBC. Sat 14 is a Valentine’s special. Sat 21 Danny Howard 10pm6am, £10. Radio 1 DJ is on a tour called ‘Nothing Else Matters’, a hat tip to Metallica no doubt. Mr H and Oxygen residents are also in the main room.

Room 2, hosted by Cool, features Tom Foolery, Dale ‘Shocker’ Lee, David Jay, Greeno b2b Josh Green, Mobs and DPK. Clwb Ifor Bach Womanby St, Cardiff. 029 2023 2199 / www.clwb.net Mon 9 Itchy Feet 10.30pm-3am, £7/£5.

Rock’n’roll, swing, funk, R&B and ska. Thursdays Maad City 11pm-4am, £3/£2 NUS. New night promising a “hip-hop house party vibe”. Fridays (bottom) Xerox 10.30pm3am, £4/£3 NUS. A “party jukebox” night. With DJs, though, not an actual

jukebox. Fri 13 Memorex 10pm-4am, £15 adv/£13.50 early bird. Their biggest lineup yet, I would say: Makam, Ralph Lawson and Kompakt Records’ Simon Baker all arrive by motorised vehicle of some kind.

Scott Kerr, Sinky and JV are also in room 1, while room 2 is hosted by Mi Casa and features Lucas Alexander b2b Minimal Masey, Chris Blackwell, Cono Frito and Incus b2b Greg Davies.

Fri 27 Delete 10pm-4am, £10 adv. D’Julz makes a Delete debut, having played Backroom a few years back.

Matt Owen, Lee Graves and Marc Parsons will serve up added techno and house.

Saturdays 10pm-4am, £5/£4 NUS. Three floors of fun: The Vinyl Vendettas’ top floor resident indie shindig; Dirty Pop and Mr Potter's proper disco.

Courtyard 48 Cambrian Road, Newport. 01633 213161.

Wednesdays Wild Wednesdays Upfront dance anthems and “Urban Vibes”. Fridays The Kickstart A selection of r’n’b and dancehall.

Saturdays Mischief Beat-driven anthems is the ambiguous description for tonight’s music policy.

Sundays The Sunday Sessions Upfront urban sounds from Courtyard residents.

DC / Maddison 71-74 St Mary Street, Cardiff. 029 2039 9399 / www. maddisondc.com Fridays Smack. 10pm3am, £5/£4 before 10.30. Hit student night, helmed by residents Lawrence Jones and Mozafari, with all the associated zany activities and modern floor-fillers that the clientele love.

Saturdays 9pm-5am, £5. Dance anthems from various special guests and residents. Sat 14 Wayne Marshall 9pm-5am, £5. As it’s Valentine’s Day, here’s a live PA from 90s r’n’b loverman, doing his song G Spot and some others.

Dempseys Castle Street, Cardiff. 029 2023 9253.

Thursdays (downstairs) Twisted By Design 9.30pm-2am, free. Weekly night along the lines of the Saturday lineups. Fridays (downstairs) Blah Blah Blah 10pm-3am, free.

Gary Twisted offers up Motown, indie, rock’n’roll, reggae and “no cheesy pop”.

Saturdays 9pm-3am, free.

Rock’n’roll, funk, soul, party tunes yadda yadda, selected

by Chris PJ Martin. Sat 14 Fabulous 9pm-2am, £4.

Mod, ska, reggae, indie, R&B, funk, boogaloo and northern soul, running here for the mods since the 90s. Sat 21 Twisted By Design 9pm-2am, £3.50/£3 NUS. Monthly event with Gary playing the best in indie choons – Belle & Sebastian, Bowie, Cure, Dead Kennedys, summat like that.

Fuel 5 Womanby Street, Cardiff. 0845 6430032 / www.givemefuel.co.uk Thursdays FUBAR 10pm-2am. Rock, metal and alternative clubnight.

Fridays + Saturdays Rock and metal anthems

each weekend, plus special guests when such types are in town.

The Full Moon / The Moon Club Womanby Street, Cardiff.

029 2037 3022 / info@ thefullmooncardiff.com Thursdays Hullabalooza 10pm-4am, free. Three rooms of alternative party tunes in time for the students coming back, taking over etc. Fri 6 Ultimate Power 10pm-4am, £4 adv.

Power ballads-themed club night. Fri 20 Wallop!

11pm-4am, £3. Subtitled “The Cardiff fling down last hour open mic (best behaviour)”, obviously.

Drum’n’bass from MOD & Mabu B, Dirty Elementz, Bongo, Manufakture and MCs Subzero and Razor.

Room 2 has house music from Sweeney and Cahill.

Saturdays Five Dollar Shake Free. DJ Puddlefunk with bebop, funk, soul, Motown, hip-hop, reggae, ska and everything in between. Sat 7 Back To Basskicks 11pm-3am, £5.

Swing and “big bass sounds” from Red Eye Hifi, Kathika and Sparkz.

Glam Greyfriars Road, Cardiff.

029 2022 9311 / info@ glamnightclub.co.uk Mondays The Fest 10pm3am, £3.50. Two floors of charts, dance and student anthems (room one) and r’n’b, hip-hop, urban and funky (room two). Mon 2 features special guest Dan Osbourne from TOWIE. Wednesdays HUMP 10pm3am, £3.50. This is billed as the most outrageous night ever to come to Cardiff, which they will achieve via drinking games and celeb DJ sets. Thursdays Trend 9pm-3am, £4/£3.50. DJs Giggsy, Jordan Valleys, Sole and Willow play chart, indie and student anthems; r’n’b, house and old skool. This has replaced Propaganda I guess. Fridays Antisocial 9pm-3am. Level 1: r’n’b, hip-hop and mash-ups from DJ Sole and DJ Pro. Level 2: house, electro, dubstep and drum’n’bass from Ian Davies and DJ Rewire.

Saturdays Vanity 9pm3am, £5-£10. Two rooms of quality music, everyone catered for it is claimed.

Sat 14 is a an r’n’b special, probably cos it’s romantic and that.

The Globe 125 Albany Road, Cardiff.

07590 471888 / www. globecardiffmusic.com Fri 13 The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club 8pm2am, £14 adv. These always sell out in advance and this one is no exception.

Gwdihw 6 Guildford Crescent, Cardiff. 029 2039 7933 / www.gwdihw.co.uk Fri 6 Sure Shot 9pm, £4/£3 adv. Soul, disco, boogie and electro spun

by Sure Sho residents and their pals from Blue Honey.

Fri 13 Superchango 9pm, £4/£3. Carnival special with a Latin ‘flavour’. Fri 20 Solid Steel DJs: Return Of The Boom Bap AV Show 9pm, £5/£4 adv.

Cheeba and Moneyshot assault your senses via four decks and a big screen.

Fri 27 Signor Funk 9pm2.30am, £3. Northern soul,

funk, disco etc. Sat 14 Fat City 9pm, £4. Soul, Latin, jazz, house, electro, funk and hip-hop with a guest set from Birmingham selector Sam Redmore. Sat 21 Tuxedo Junction 9pm, £4. Featuring sets from DJ Gwallgof, Sir Jasper (Hipicat) and Lindy Hop Cardiff DJs. Sat 28 Hully Gully 9pm, £4/£3. This month features a guest set from Rinse FM’s Josey Rebelle.

Jacob’s Market West Canal Wharf, Cardiff.

029 2039 0939. *Fri 6 Teak 10pm-5am.

Guest of honour tonight at this house-and-much-more night is Mr Ties, an Italian who lives in Berlin. He’ll be at the controls for all seven hours. Not had the pleasure before but he sounds bloody ruddy great, so it’s a pity this is already sold out.

Karma 75 St Mary Street, Cardiff.

Fri + Sat 8pm-6am. karmaclubcardiff@gmail. com Sat 6 Journey 10pm-6am, £7 adv. Cardiff’s current top dogs in trance bookings have the Neptune Project down tonight, playing a four-hour set. Nick The Kid, Hywel Matthews, Joe Byrne and Richie Knight are also present and correct.

Kuku Club Park Plaza Hotel, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff.

Members’ club. 029 2011 1177 / www. kukuclub.co.uk Fridays Kuku is available for private hire on Friday evenings. Get in touch with them via the website if you want to take advantage of this. Saturdays 10pm4am, £5/free members (10pm-1am); £10/£5 members (after 1am). With DJs TBC. Ladybird 41 St Mary St, Cardiff.

029 2066 5500 / info@ ladybirdcardiff.com / www.ladybirdcardiff.com Thurs 5 Edition 10pm4am, £3. Trap, house, electro and r’n’b from DJs Luke Smith, Brad Harrington, Jordan Jefferies and Jack Guishard. Plus “FIND THE SHOT GIRL ON THE NIGHT FOR FREE SHOTS!!” Bit macabre. Fridays C-Y-N-T 10pm-5am. Student clubbing favourites take up residency in a new venue.

Residents: Josh Thomas, Andrew Watkins, Elliot Mitchell, Batesy, Tom Rees, Van Pelt, Highforthis and Gavin Woo. Saturdays Solution 10pm-4am. A night whose flyer has a big photo of a model in her bra and pants. Sat 14 Fifty Shades Of Grey Does Ladybird 10pm-4am.

“Whether your in or out of a relationship get your love tied up this Valentines day!

The Basement will be transformed into Mr Greys dungeon, with everything you remember from the book, so you can be Anastasia or Mr Grey for the evening!!” I’m sure this won’t attract blokes looking to ‘legitimately’ inflict pain on women. Sundays Sunday Project 7pm-3am, free with guestlist. Free industry night offers floor fillers and house classics.

Lava Lounge The Old Brewery Quarter,

clubs Caroline Street, Cardiff.

029 2038 2313 / www. lavaloungecardiff.co.uk Fridays Circus Circus 9pm-3am. “The best music from the best DJs in town” and, perhaps more importantly, cheap drinks.

Saturdays 9pm-3am.

Commercial chart music and the best of the 80s and 90s is promised, as are various two for £6/three for £5 drinks offers. Sundays Industry Sundays 9pm4am. Folks in the bar, club and hotel industry can come here after work and party to the selections of DJs Rhys Lewis and DJ George.

The Lemon Factory 37 St Helens Road, Swansea. 07969 671379 / www. lemonfactorybar.co.uk/ Sat 28 Dogruff New venue for Swansea’s leading techno and house geezers (in fact The Lemon Factory is a new venue all round, although it mostly seems to put on indie cover bands at the moment). Rossko (Fuse, London) headlines over Shaun Edwards, Leigh Parry , Gyan Bhatia, Dan Knight and Mikki Wings. Price and times TBC. The Mackintosh Sports & Social Club Keppoch Street, Roath, Cardiff. 029 2049 4697 / www. mackintoshsportsclub.org Sat 7 The Saturday Social 7.30pm-12.05am, ££. Gareth J, MC Potato, The Rev P Dread and DJ:PJwill be playing danceable bangers, “post-pub pre-club” as they say. They also say they’re hoping for a

1am finish, rather than the entertainingly specific time given above.

Metros Baker’s Row, Cardiff. 029 2039 9942 / www. metroscardiff.com Wednesdays Cheapskates 9pm-4am, £5. Hywel plays ‘alternative mayhem’ and old skool cheese. Fridays Subversion 9.30pm3.30am, £3 with flyer before 10.30pm. Drinks promos, no dress code. Rock, punk, metal and alternative beats. Saturdays Slacker 9.30pm-3.30am. Wherein Hywel plays alternative and new music.

Meze Lounge Market Street, Newport.

01633 213161.

Fridays Party Hard 10pm-5am. Party bangers across the spectrum of heavy sounds, courtesy of Aaron Lille and Megatron Tom. Saturdays The Next Episode 10pm-5am, £3-£5.

DJ Lee and Alex Bee take over for a night of r’n’b and hip-hop vibes, from golden era classics to the freshest urban beats. Sat 14 is a Bob Marley birthday special, and will feature a bunch of live reggae sets.

Minskys Show Bar Cathedral Walk, St David’s Centre, Cardiff. 029 2023 3128 / www. minskys-showbar.com Fridays & Saturdays 8pm-1am. 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 The Social Affair 9pm-3am. Over25s night with chart hits through the ages. Fridays Timeless DJ Dan Nicholas plays r’n’b, funk, disco and old skool. Just old skool.

Saturdays Decorum Soulful and upfront house, plus funk, disco etc, from Sinky and Styles. Sundays VIP Chris Evans (My Playhouse) plays club classics, funky house and r’n’b.

Monkey Bar 13 Castle Street, Swansea.

01792 480822 / www. monkeycafe.co.uk Wednesdays Get Tasty New night for the new students of the new term. Sat 14 + 28 Marvel 10pm.

Funk, hip-hop and r’n’b, every other Saturday. I think those are the dates, but they only reply to about every fourth or fifth email I send.

Mozarts 76b Walter Road, Uplands, Swansea. 01792 649984 / www.mozarts.co.uk Fri 6 Hip-Drop 10pm2.30am. Northern soul night. Fri 13 Yum-Yum Club 10pm-2.30am. Disco, dub and hip-hop DJs. Fri 20 House Party Night 10pm-2.30am, £3. DJs play hits from the years 20002010. What a concept! Sat 7 Schwing 10pm-2.30am.

“Cool pop/indie/dance” DJs helm this 90s night. Sat 14 Gas Station Bop 10pm2.30am. Rock’n’roll and related fun from the 50s and 60s. Sat 21 Global World Music Night 10pm-2.30am.

WALKER & ROYCE The Lighthouse Project @ Sin City, Swansea, Sat 14 Feb Tickets: £6. Info: 01792 468892 / www.sincityclub.co.uk ‘Big Love’, The Lighthouse Project have called this night, in what could well be a nod to Pete Heller’s vintage UK house track of that name. Expect Sin City to be an oasis for both happily clubbing couples and blokes in scoop neck t-shirts with excruciating chat-up lines. Soundtracking this will be tonight’s special guests, Sam Walker and Gavin Royce from New York. Relative newcomers, having only started producing and remixing in 2011, they caught a break when Damian Lazarus, head of the Crosstown Rebels label, started caning a remix of theirs.

Walker & Royce were quickly signed to the label, and have since racked up an impressive discography – highlights of which have been given love by a still more impressive list of DJs.

Popworld Wind Street, Swansea.

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

Mondays Rock’n’Roller 9pm-3am. Student night. Roll the dice and win a round of drinks.

Tuesdays Popworld Idol 9pm-3am. Karaoke night. Wednesdays No Regrets 9pm, from £2.

Student night. Fridays + Saturdays Popworld Party 8pm-3am, £2-£4 (Fri)/£3-£5 (Sat).

Pryzm (formerly Oceana) Greyfriars Road, Cardiff.

029 2023 3854 / www. pryzm.co.uk/cardiff/ Mondays BASS 10pm3am, free before 11.30.

Student night. on an urban tip and also featuring live acts. Fridays + Saturdays 10pm-3am.

Three music arenas, VIP booths, other stuff. Saturday is in conjunction with Jongleurs comedy club, which also takes place here.

Pulse 3 Churchill Way, Cardiff.

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

Wednesdays Warped 10pm-4am. Join DJ Craig W on a journey through time with the best hits from the last two decades. Fridays Pulsetastic 10pm-5am, £4/£3. With live PAs once a month. Saturdays Pop Til You Drop 10pm-5am, £5/£4 b4 11. The very best chart remixes and classic hits all night long.

Revolution Castle Street, Cardiff.

Open from 11am. 029 2023 6689 / www.revolution-bars.co.uk Tuesdays Sync 9pm-3am.

Student night featuring hazers, lasers and drink deals.

Wednesdays Shotgun Rules 9pm-3am. Exclusive midweek student party.

You don’t need NUS to get in though. Fridays Nouveau 9pm-3am. DJs, drinks offers, free area hire.

There’s also deep house and mashups from Sarah Louise and DJ Snooze, respectively.

Saturdays Saturday Mix Session Party in style with table bookings. Saturdays 10pm, £5 adv. Revs seem to be booking adequate house DJs every Saturday at the moment, not seen who they’ve got for February though. I did ask.

The Royal Oak 200 Broadway, Splott, Cardiff. 029 2049 6628.

Fridays DJ 45 Free. Punk, indie, rock and soul classics from the 60s, 70s and 80s, all played from the original 7” vinyl.

The Scene Plymouth Street, Swansea.

07730 432166 / www. thesceneclub.co.uk Sat 7 Dead Of Night 10pm-3am, £3. Goth/ alternative club night, on the first Saturday of every month. Used to be in Sin City, is now in here.

Sin City Dilwyn Street, Swansea.

01792 468892 / bookings@ alternativeswansea.com Thursdays Sin Savers 10pm-3am, £3. Student night, back for the new term. Fridays Monsters Of Rock & Metal / 131 10pm-3.30am, £4/£2

before 12.30. Indie in room 1, metal in room 2.

Saturdays Sink 10pm3am. Hip-hop, drum’n’bass, dubstep etc, with special guests plus resident DJs Dubman, Swiss Elf and South. Sat 21 is a grime special featuring Big Narstie, Newham Generals and DJ Magic; looks great, and is £10 adv. Sat 14 The Lighthouse Project Presents Big Love 10pm, £8/£6 adv. Upfront house night returns American deep house duo Walker & Royce (Moda Black Records), plus TLP residents.

Soda Lounge St Mary Street, Cardiff.

029 2037 3363 / www. sodalounge.co.uk Tuesdays Cartel £4/£3.50.

UK-wide student night. Mr. Mozafari will be playing vocal house and electro upstairs; DJ Wallace will supply r’n’b and chart in the Soda Lounge. Thursdays Clique 10pm, £4. New night promising the hottest r’n’b and dancefloor fillers. Saturdays Soiree 9pm-4am. Three rooms including the Attic which is “the social playground for the high flyers and social elite, really the only place to be seen.” Imagine catching your reflection in the mirror just after writing that.

Tiger Tiger Friary House, Greyfriars Rd, Cardiff. Open Mon-Fri 12pm-2am, Sat 12pm3am, Sun 12pm-12.30am.

029 2039 1944 / www. tigertiger-cardiff.co.uk Every Day Lucky Voice Karaoke From £2.50 per session. The UK's leading private karaoke experience each day of the week.

Fridays Koosday 10pm3am, £7/£5. Something that has lots of decor, smoke machines etc and describes itself as an “Arrogantly Premium Clubbing Experience”. How depressing. Saturdays Kanaloa Polynesian style area with cocktails, VIP booths, dancers etc.

Undertone (basement of 10 Feet Tall) 11a + 12 Church Street, Cardiff. 029 2022 8883 / www.undertonecardiff. com Wed 11 + Tue 24 Mixtape 10pm. Eclectic tunes mixed by up and coming Cardiff DJs, presented

by Xpress Radio.Fri 13 Nocturnal Emissions 10pm-4am, £4/free before 1. Bi-monthly goth, EBM and industrial night with sets from Ember, Exhale, Hannah and Draken. Fri 20 Powercore 9pm-4am.

Hardcore, gabba and hardstyle from regular ravers in this venue. Lineup still TBC but it’s a birthday bash for someone called Terri Evans. *Fri 27 Mood 10pm-6am, £12.50 adv. This is the last ever night promoted by Cardiff techno folks Mood, apparently, which is a bit of a bish, but they have Detroit’s DJ Bone all up in the headline slot! Along with residents who will also be good. See Clubs. Sat 7 Deep Inside 10pm-4am, £4 adv. Jackin’ house enthusiasts serve up a warmup for next month, when they’ll be going to the Horizon Festival in Bulgaria. You can win a pair of tickets to it here,

in fact. Sat 21 Creeper v Tumble Radio 10pm, £5.

Grime, garage and jackin’ house from Deadbeat, Killjoy and Hank Limit. Sat 28 Temple 10pm, £7. New monthly night bringing biggish name drum’n’bass DJs to this venue. TBC right now though. Sun 22 Simple 9pm, £1. “The best DJs from your favourite nights come together once a month in the original basement venue to showcase their talents in a chosen genre or style.”

Sounds great.

The Vaults The Old Natwest Bank, 113-116 Bute Street, Cardiff Bay. 07977 131320 / cellardoorcardiff@ hotmail.co.uk Fri 13 Run Tingz Sessions 10pm-5am, £12.50 adv/£10 early bird.

Stepping into the breach while Catapult is AWOL, a night of old and nu-skool jungle. Main room: Mickey Finn, Serial Killaz, Run Tingz Cru, Dazee, Breakah, Terrahawk, Kooley, Stu Grady and hosts Karasel and Shady MC. Room 2: Back To Basskicks present Da Fuchaman, Carasel Live, Mikey Nitro, Hudon , Shanti Squire, Jimanoli and Ben Britton. Sat 14 Cellar Door 10pm-5am, £13 adv. Undercover DJs spin underground house, techno and progressive across two rooms, with a chillout room showing cartoons also. This month there’s a Valentine’s theme of some sort.

Warehouse 54 Cambrian Rd, Newport.

01633 259144 / www. wh54.com Wednesdays Wild Wednesdays Matt Kirke mixes up club-influenced beats from reggae to rock, d’n’b to dancefloor-led house. Thursdays The Social House beats and basslines. Friday Warehouse54 Live! A free festival-inspired mix of bass and live bands every week. Saturdays The NPclubhop Soulful selections from the WH54 Soundsystem, alongside live guests and special events on selected dates. Sat 13 features a late-night session by tech-house locals Perc on the rooftop. Sunday The Sunday Session DJs until late.

Wow Bar 4 Churchill Way, Cardiff.

Gay venue. Free all day Sun-Thurs; before 11pm Fri + Sat. 029 2066 6247 / www.wowbarcardiff.com Wednesdays Wish You Were Here Free. Student night with “inflight entertainment” from Lambrini Rampage and Mary Golds, plus music from DJ Krys.

Thursdays The Night With No Name Free. DJ Craig and Mary Golds offer “mad games and crazy entertainment.” Fridays The Greatest Show In The City Free b4 11.

With WOW Showgirls Miss Kitty and Marcia, plus special guests every week.

Saturdays The VKend Free b4 11. With DJs Craig and Krys. You can get cheap deals in VK. £6.50 for a fishbowl. £6 for a jug of WKD. Settle down now, kids.

Sundays The Cuckoo Club Free. DJ Krys plays the tunes until late.

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events

events EVERY MONDAY Ballet The Gate, Cardiff.

6-9.30pm, £6.50/£5.50/£3 taster. Info 029 2048 3344.

Beginners 6-7pm; intermediate 7-8; advanced 8-9.30.

No class on Mon 16 (half term).

Bharata Natyam Dance Classes For Adult Beginners Bayview House, Cardiff Bay. 8.15-9.15pm.

Info 029 2075 1158.

Bingo Porter’s, Cardiff.

8pm. Info info@porterscardiff.com. Hosted by Jack Cooper.

Cardiff Inter Varsity Club Meeting Churchill’s Hotel Bar, Llandaff, Cardiff.

8.30pm, £5 (three-month trial membership). Info 07526 141392. A friendly social group offering the chance to “liven up your social life and meet new friends” through a varied events programme including theatre, live music, walks, badminton, table tennis and pub nights. More info at www.cardiffivc.org.uk.

Ceroc The Gate, Cardiff.

7.45-10.45pm, £7/£5 NUS. Info 029 2048 3344.

Sessions for a dance style billed as a combo of salsa, ballroom, hip-hop, tango and jive. No class on Mon 16 (half term).

Ceroc Dance Class Odyssey Nightclub, Swansea. 7.45-10.45pm, £5. Info cerocsouthwales@ gmail.com.

Children’s Ballroom Dancing Classes Memorial Hall, Newbridge.

7-9pm. Info 01495 243252.

Community Choir Sessions Cornwall Street Church Hall, Cardiff. 7.309.30pm, free. Info 07952 752823. Led by Pauline Down and taking place most Mondays; ring ahead to check. (Mon 16 Feb is a break for half term, so it’s not on that week.)

Freestyle Fitness Yoga Kings Road Studios, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 7.308.30pm, £7/£6. Info 07774 601544 / serenhealth@hotmail.co.uk. Every Monday and Friday.

India Dance Wales Classes Highmead House, Lisvane, Cardiff. Info 029 2075 1158. For Grade 2 to vocational level. These classes are by special application only at various points in the month – not on specific days, hence listing them here. To apply write to admin@indiadancewales. com with previous dance experience and reason for wanting to join India Dance Wales.

Japanese Taiko Drumming The Riverfront, Newport. 4-7pm, £20 (four weeks). Info 01633 656757.

4-5pm: retired people; 5-6: stage 2 for 7-14-year-olds; 6-7: stage 1 for 7-14-yearolds.

Making Music The Gate, Cardiff. 6-10pm, £7.50£9.50 per session/£4 taster.

Info 029 2048 3344. Learn to play improvised rock and pop and basic chord sequences. Beginners 6-8pm; intermediate 8-10.

BUZZ 64

No class on Mon 16 (half term).

Musical Theatre The Riverfront, Newport. 6.158.30pm, £6/£5. Info 01633 656757. 7-11 years old: 6.15-7.15pm; 12 and up: 7.15-8.30pm.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Prince Of Wales Building, John Street, Cardiff. Info 029 2022 1330 / www. nofitstate.org. Today features Youth Circus Ewoks (4-5 + 5.15-6.15pm, £6 per session); Youth Circus Wookies (4.30-6pm, £7 per session); Flying Trapeze (6-8pm, £12/£10 per session); Handstands (6.15-8.15pm, £10/£8 per session) and Flexibility (7.45-9.15pm, £9/£7 per session).

Official Guided Tours – Every Day Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. £5/£4. Info 029 2063 6464. Tours of the centre running daily for one hour.

Advance booking recommended.

Pilates The Gate, Cardiff.

11.30am-1.30pm, £5.50£7.50. Info 029 2048 3344.

Beginners for the first hour, intermediate for the second.

No class on Mon 16 (half term).

Quizzical The North Star, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free. Info 029 2062 4050.

RAD Children’s Ballet The Gate, Cardiff. 4-7.45pm, £6.50/£5.50/£3 taster. Info 029 2048 3344. 4-6-yearolds: 4-4.45pm; 6-8 4.455.45pm; Ballet Grade 1 6-8 yrs 5.45-6.45pm; Ballet Grade 2 6-8 yrs 6.457.45pm. No class on Mon 16 (half term).

Salsa Classes Mischiefs, Cardiff Bay. 7.30-9.30pm, £5/£4 NUS. Info 07800 565651. Beginners for the first hour, then improvers/ intermediate.

SeeWales Sightseeing Day Tour: Golden Gower National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff (pickup point). 9am5.30pm, £5 off if you present this magazine. Info 029 2022 7227 / www.seewales. com. Day tours from Cardiff, every Monday, Thursday and Sunday. This one visits the Gower, Swansea Bay, ParcLe-Breos, the Dylan Thomas Centre and more.

St Donats Atlantic Chorale St Donats Arts Centre, Vale Of Glamorgan.

7.30pm. Info 01446 799100.

Choir rehearsals.

Tai Chi: Moving 5 Elements Qigong Glyndwr Community Hall, Penarth.

10.30-11.30am. Info 029 2020 6042. New daytime class.

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.

Welsh Lessons The Gate, Cardiff. 10am-12pm. Info 029 2048 3344. Every Monday afternoon and Tuesday evening. Email info@learnwelsh.co.uk for more deets.

Yoga With Valerie Price St Mary’s Church Hall, Canton, Cardiff. 6.309.30pm. Info admin@ yoga-works.co.uk. 6.30-8pm: intermediate; 8.10-9.30pm: beginners.

Zumba Dance Classes

Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 5.306.30pm, £5/£4. Info 029 2087 7959.

EVERY TUESDAY A Ballroom Dance Memorial Hall, Newbridge.

7-11pm. Info 01495 243252.

Aikido Village Hall, Heol Syr Lewis, Morganstown.

8-10pm. Info 07790 167560.

Every Tuesday and Friday.

American Line Dancing The Gate, Cardiff. 2.454.45pm, £3. Info 029 2048 3344. No class on Tue 17 (half term).

Belly Dance Classes Conway Road Methodist Church Hall, Cardiff. 6.308pm, £6. Info 07872 306745.

Mixed ability class with Steph.

Beth’s Buns Pilates Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff. 7.15-8.15pm, £8.50. Info 029 2048 4880.

New class here every Tuesday.

Circus Skills The Riverfront, Newport.

7-8.30pm, £3.50 per session.

Info 01633 656757. For ages 14 and up.

Climbing Class For Adults Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

7-8.30pm, £12. Info 029 2048 4880. Every Tuesday to Thursday.

Contemporary Dance The Gate, Cardiff.

6-8.30pm, £4.50-£6.50/£2.50 taster. Info 029 2048 3344.

Beginners 6-7pm; intermediate 7-8.30. No class on Tue 17 (half term).

Extend The Gate, Cardiff.

11am, £2.50. Info 029 2048 3344. Exercise to music, aimed at over-60s and people with a disability. No class on Tue 17 (half term).

Funkypump Fitness Universal Gym, Cardiff.

6pm. Info www.funkypumpfitness.co.uk. Boxing-based high-intensity workout with a house soundtrack. First session free. In this gym every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

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.

India Dance Wales Classes Rubicon Dance, Adamsdown, Cardiff.

6.30pm. Info 029 2075 1158.

From beginners to next level and for all ages and abilities.

Jazz Workshops For Beginners Atradius Offices (4th floor), Cardiff Bay. 6.20-8pm, £10. Info 07806 625717. All instruments and ages welcome.

Kizomba Tango Classes 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 6pm, £5. Info 029 2022 8883.

Learn African samba here.

Life Drawing Sketching Session 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 6-7.30pm, £5. Info 029 2022 8883. Hosted by Cardiff Life Model.

Lindy Hop Dance Classes & Social Swing Dancing The Garage, Swansea. 6-10pm. Info 01792 475147.

Little’ns Music The Riverfront, Newport. 9.4510.30am + 1.30-2.15, £3 per session. Info 01633 656757. Introduction to rhythm and singing for babies, plus a chance to

practice nursery rhymes.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Prince Of Wales Building, John Street, Cardiff. Info 029 2022 1330 / www. nofitstate.org. Today: Youth Circus Jedis (ground based skills, 4-6pm, £7 per session); Youth Circus Padawans (4.30-6pm, £7 per session); Hula Hoop (6-7pm, £7); Circus Mish Mash (6-8pm, £5); Unicycle (6-7pm £5) and Beginners Aerial (8-10pm, £11/£9).

Official Guided Tours – Every Day Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. £5/£4. Info 029 2063 6464.

Open Mic Night Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

Pied Piper Music The Gate, Cardiff. 10.15-10.45am + 1.30-2.15pm, £4.50 (morning)/£5 (afternoon).

Info 029 2048 3344. Songs, games and music making for toddlers (morning) and pre-schoolers aged 3+ (afternoon). No class on Tue 17 (half term).

Pilates And Stretch Conway Road Methodist Church Hall, Cardiff. 8.159.15pm, £6. Info 07872 306745. With Steph; bring your own mat please.

Pilates: Beginners The Gate, Cardiff. 6.30-7.30pm, £5.50-£7.50. Info 029 2048 3344. No class on Tue 17 (half term).

Pregnancy Yoga Om Studio, Partridge Lane, Cardiff. 6-7.15pm, £35/£30 (five-week blocks). Info kalavathi@omstudio.co.uk.

Salsa Classes Bar 44, Cowbridge. 7.30-9.30pm, £5/£4 NUS. Info 07800 565651.

Salsa Classes La Tasca, Cardiff. 7-11pm, £5/£4.50 NUS. Info 07949 270618.

Every Tuesday. 7.15pm beginners; 8.15pm improvers; 9.15pm intermediates.

SeeWales Sightseeing Day Tour: Mines & Mountains National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff (pickup point). 9am5.30pm, £5 off if you present this magazine. Info 029 2022 7227 / www. seewales.com. Every Tuesday and Friday. This one visits Big Pit Mining Museum of Wales and Brecon Beacons National Park (including BBNP visitors centre).

Street Dance Classes Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 5.306.30pm, £5. Info 029 2087 7959. With Tim Stevens.

Tai Chi / Qigong Shibashi St Mary’s Church Hall, Canton, Cardiff. 6.309pm. Info 029 2020 6042.

6.30-7.30: Tai Chi Health Qigong – Ba Duan Jin; 7.459: Rattan Bo Tai Chi Qigong (Chi Kung).

Welsh Lessons The Gate, Cardiff. 7-9pm. Info 029 2048 3344.

Yoga Classes Om Studio, Partridge Lane, Cardiff.

7.30-9pm, £8/£6.50. Info 07727 139379 / www. omstudio.co.uk. With Kalavathi Devi.

Yoga With Tori Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

6-7pm, £8.50/£8 NUS. 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.

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 A Tea Dance Memorial Hall, Newbridge. 2-4pm.

Info 01495 243252.

Ceramics For Adults The Riverfront, Newport. 6-8pm, £30 (five weeks). Info 01633

this magazine. Info 029 2022 7227 / www.seewales. com. Day tours from Cardiff, every Wednesday and Saturday. This one visits Caerleon, Caerwent, Tintern Abbey, the Wye Valley, Abbey Mill Craft Centre and Raglan Castle.

Yoga Classes Om Studio, Partridge Lane, Cardiff.

9.30-11am + 7-9pm, £8/£6.50. Info 07727 139379 / www.omstudio.co.uk.

Yoga Trwy Gyfrwng Y Gymraeg Insole Court, Llandaff, Cardiff. 7-8.30pm.

On Sat 14, straight after the final whistles blow in Wales' Six Nations clash against Scotland and Cardiff City's Championship tie v Blackburn, Newport Centre opens for a proper bruisers' sport: roller derby's UKRDA British Championships. It features six teams, including locals the Tiger Bay Brawlers and the keenly named Middlesbrough Milk Rollers.

656757.

Ceroc Dance Class Dinas Powys Parish Hall, Cardiff.

7.30-10.45pm, £5. Info cerocsouthwales@gmail. com.

Climbing Class For Adults Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

7-8.30pm, £12. Info 029 2048 4880.

Freestyle Fitness Yoga Wake Up Kings Road Studios, Pontcanna, Cardiff.

7.15-8am, £7£6. Info 07774 601544 / serenhealth@hotmail. co.uk.

Life Drawing Sketching Session The Project Space, Commercial Street, Newport. 6.30-8.30pm, £5.

Info 07830 381930. Hosted

by Cardiff Life Model.

Newport Youth Dance The Riverfront, Newport.

4.15-6pm, £2.75 per session.

Info 01633 656757. 7-10 years old: 4.15-5pm; 14-18: 5-6pm.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Prince Of Wales Building, John Street, Cardiff. Info 029 2022 1330 / www. nofitstate.org. Today: Youth Circus Jedis (acrobatics, 4.15-6pm, £7); Acrobatics (6-8pm, £9/£7) and Aerial Yoga (7-8pm, £11/£9).

Official Guided Tours – Every Day Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. £5/£4. Info 029 2063 6464.

Pilates The Gate, Cardiff.

6-8pm, £5.50-£7.50. Info 029 2048 3344. Concentrating on General Fitness.

Beginners for the first hour; advanced for the second. No class on Wed 18 (half term).

Pub Quiz The Pilot, Penarth. 8pm. Info 029 2071 0615. With Hayley.

Salsa Classes Rhiwbina Recreational Club, Whitchurch, Cardiff.

8-10pm, £5/£4 NUS. Info 07800 565651.

SeeWales Sightseeing Tour: Romans And Ruins National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff (pickup point). 9am5.30pm, £5 off if you present

Info admin@yoga-works. co.uk.

Yoga With Tori Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

6-7pm, £8.50/£8 NUS. Info 029 2048 4880.

Yu-Gi-Oh Tournaments The Freaks Geeks and Autographs Store, Swansea.

5.30pm, £3.50. Info 07914 683534.

Zumba Classes La Tasca, Cardiff. 6pm, £4. Info 07949 270618.

EVERY THURSDAY Ab Attack Class Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

6-6.30pm, £8.50/£8 NUS. Info 029 2048 4880.

Ballet Academy Wales Classes – Children 6-11 Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

4-5pm, £4.95. Info 07837 937351.

Bingo Market Street Club, Barry. 8.30pm. Info 01446 733863.

Biodanza Bishop of Llandaff High School, Cardiff. 7-9pm, £6/£5. Info antoinette@ biodanza4all.com. “A fusion of music, movement and feeling” taught here by Antoinette Lorraine.

Breakdance The Riverfront, Newport. 6.157pm, £3.50 per session. Info 01633 656757. Learn break dancing styles, uprock, freezes and power moves.

For ages 8-18.

Ceroc Dance Class Odyssey Nightclub, Swansea. 7.45-10.45pm, £5. Info cerocsouthwales@ gmail.com.

Children’s Latin/ Ballroom Classes Memorial Hall, Newbridge.

4.30-8pm. Info 01495 243252.

Circuits Class Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

6.45-7.45pm, £8.50/£8 NUS. Info 029 2048 4880. Every Thursday.

Climbing Class For Adults Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

7-8.30pm, £12. Info 029 2048 4880.

Funkypump Fitness

events Universal Gym, Cardiff.

6pm. Info www.funkypumpfitness.co.uk.

Hand Drumming Group Canton Uniting Church, Cardiff. 6-6.50pm, £15 (five weeks). Info 01446 401209.

Hosted by Laura Bradshaw.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Prince Of Wales Building, John Street, Cardiff. Info 029 2022 1330 / www. nofitstate.org. Today: Youth Circus Jedis (performance, 4.15-6pm, £7); Handstands (6-7.30pm, £10/£8); and Performance (7.30-9.30pm, £10/£8).

Official Guided Tours – Every Day Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. £5/£4. Info 029 2063 6464.

Pilates Kings Road Studios, Pontcanna, Cardiff.

6.15-7.15pm, £7/£6. Info 07774 601544 / serenhealth@hotmail. co.uk. Every Thursday.

Quiz Night NosDa, Cardiff.

8pm, £1 to play. Info 029 2037 8866.

Salsa Buena Class Eclipse, Penarth. 7.309.30pm, free. Info 07800 565651. New class, free for a limited time. Also features a Latin disco after the class.

Salsa Classes La Tasca, Cardiff. 7-11pm, £5/£4.50 NUS. Info 07949 270618.

7.15pm beginners; 8.15pm improvers; 9.15pm Rueda.

Salsa Dancing Classes Revolucion De Cuba, Cardiff. 8-10pm, £6/£5 NUS. Info 029 2023 6689. Salsa, bachata, zouk and kizomba.

SeeWales Sightseeing Day Tour: Golden Gower National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff (pickup point). 9am5.30pm, £5 off if you present this magazine. Info 029 2022 7227 / www.seewales. com.

Tai Chi / Qigong Shibashi Albert Road Church & Community Centre, Penarth. 6.309.15pm. Info 029 2020 6042. With Christie Butterick. 6.30-7.30: The 18 Movements Of Shibashi Tai Chi/Qigong; 7.45-9.15: Tai Chi Short Form.

Tai Chi / Qigong Shibashi St Fagans Village Hall. 12-1pm. Info 029 2020 6042.

Yoga Classes Om Studio, Partridge Lane, Cardiff.

7-8am + 1-2.30, 6-7.15 + 7.30-9pm, £8/£6.50. Info 07727 139379 / www.omstudio.co.uk.

EVERY FRIDAY Aikido Village Hall, Heol Syr Lewis, Morganstown.

8-10pm. Info 07790 167560.

Boys’ Dance The Riverfront, Newport. 4.455.30pm, £2.75 per session.

Info 01633 656757. Taught

by Rubicon, for ages 6-12.

Cardiff Aikikai The Dojo, Roath, Cardiff. 6.30-10pm.

Info mcaluan@cardiffaikikai.co.uk.

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.

Freestyle Fitness Yoga Kings Road Studios, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 7.308.30pm, £7/£6. Info 07774 601544 / serenhealth@ hotmail.co.uk.

Little’ns Dance The Riverfront, Newport. 9.45-

10.25am + 10.30-11.15am, £3 per session. Info 01633 656757.

Newport Photographic Club Skip Jennings Hall, Maindee, Newport. 7.30pm.

Info 01633 400685.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Prince Of Wales Building, John Street, Cardiff. Info 029 2022 1330 / www. nofitstate.org. Today: Youth Circus Jedis (aerial, 4.15-6pm, £7); Aerial Conditioning (6-7.30pm, £10/£8); Flying Trapeze Taster class (fortnightly, 6-8pm, £15).

Official Guided Tours – Every Day Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. £5/£4. Info 029 2063 6464.

Older Adult Dance/ Exercise The Riverfront, Newport. 11.15am-12.15pm, £2.80. 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.

SeeWales Sightseeing Day Tour: Mines & Mountains National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff (pickup point). 9am5.30pm, £5 off if you present this magazine. Info 029 2022 7227 / www.seewales. com.

Tango Argentine Chapter Arts Centre, Canton, Cardiff.

7.30-8.45pm, £7/£4. Info 029 2023 7332. No experience or partner required.

Zumba: Dance Exercise Classes Sbectrwm Community Centre, Fairwater, Cardiff. 1-2pm.

Info 07891 712344. With Irene Davies.

EVERY SATURDAY Children’s Climbing Classes Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

10-11.30am, £12. Info 029 2048 4880. Every Saturday and Sunday.

Climbing Class For Adults Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

12, 2 + 4pm, £12. Info 029 2048 4880. Every Saturday and Sunday.

Funkypump Fitness Universal Gym, Cardiff.

9.30am. Info www.funkypumpfitness.co.uk.

NoFit State Circus: Youth Circus Prince Of Wales Building, John Street, Cardiff. 10.30am-12pm, £7/£6 per session. Info 029 2022 1330 / www.nofitstate. org. 10.30-11.30am: Ewoks; 10.30am-12pm: Padawans; 10.30am-12pm: Wookies.

Roath Real Food Market Mackintosh Sports Club Car Park, Roath, Cardiff.

9.30am-1pm, free. Info 029 2022 7982.

SeeWales Sightseeing Tour: Romans And Ruins National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff (pickup point). 9am5.30pm, £5 off if you present this magazine. Info 029 2022 7227 / www.seewales. com.

St Mary Street Cardiff Market St Mary Street, Cardiff. 11am-5pm, free.

Info 029 2019 0036. Selling artisan foods, vintage clothing, antique furniture and bric-a-brac.

Yoga Classes Om Studio, Partridge Lane, Cardiff.

8-9.30am, £6.50. Info 07727 139379 / www.omstudio. co.uk. With Kalavathi Devi.

Youth Theatre The Riverfront, Newport.

12.45-3.15pm, £28 (seven weeks)/£25 (six weeks).

Info 01633 656757. For ages 8 to 16, across two classes (youngest first).

EVERY SUNDAY Ballet Academy Wales Classes – Adults Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

12-1pm, £6.50. Info 07837 937351.

Ballet For Beginners Dance Studio, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 2-3.30pm, £6/£15 for three classes.

Info info@ burlesquecardiff.co.uk.

Hosted by Stephanie of Burlesque Cardiff.

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.

Children’s Climbing Classes Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

10-11.30am, £12. Info 029 2048 4880.

Climbing Class For Adults Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

12, 2 + 4pm, £12. Info 029 2048 4880.

Lindy Hop Dance Classes & Social Swing Dancing Pontardawe Arts Centre. 6-10pm. Info 01792 863722.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Prince Of Wales Building, John Street, Cardiff. Info 029 2022 1330 / www. nofitstate.org. Today: Youth Circus Jedis (mixed circus skills, 12-2pm, £7) and Circus Fit (2-4pm, £10/£8).

Official Guided Tours – Every Day Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. £5/£4. Info 029 2063 6464. *Riverside Farmers’ Market Fitzhammon Embankment, Cardiff.

10am-2pm, free. Info 029 2022 7982. Always worth a trip.

SeeWales Sightseeing Day Tour: Golden Gower National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff (pickup point). 9am5.30pm, £5 off if you present this magazine. Info 029 2022 7227 / www.seewales. com.

Sunday Board Games Cardiff Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 3pm, free.

Info 029 2030 4400. Weekly session featuring a mixture of competitive and cooperative games.

SUNDAY 1 Badminton: Senior Nationals Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff. 9am-8pm.

Info 0300 3003124.

Cardiff Storytelling Circle Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 8pm, £4. Info 029 2030 4400.

Cwmbran Craft Fayre Our Lady’s School Hall, Cwmbran. 1-4pm. Info cwmbran_crafts@hotmail. co.uk. Every first Sunday of the month.

Don’t Do This At Home Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475.

Thrilling science demonstrations using simple household equipment that you should definitely not try at home. Sounds like a double bluff to me. Also on Sat 7 and Sun 8.

Fencing: Tournament

Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff. 12-10pm. Info 07530 226532. Also on Sun 8, Sat 21 and Sun 22.

Fireside Stories: National Storytelling National History Museum, St Fagans. 1-4pm, free.

Info 029 2057 3500. Join a storyteller by the fireside of Abernodwydd farmhouse.

Family event, part of National Storytelling Week.

Ice Hockey: Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze Ice Arena, Cardiff Bay. 6pm, £6-£15. Info 029 2038 2001.

Nuno Felt Scarves Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am-4.30pm, £55. Info 029 2048 4611. With Claire Cawte.

Pottery: Throwing & Slip Decoration Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am1pm, £80 (two days). Info 029 2048 4611. With Billy Adams. Continuing from yesterday.

Search For Life Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. “For many thousands of years people have looked out from the Earth and wondered if we are alone in the Universe. In Search for Life we will consider this question”. Also on Sat 7, Sun 8 and Sat 28.

Super Bowl Sunday Gwdihw, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2039 7933.

If you’re looking to watch the Super Bowl somewhere that isn’t your house, try Gwdihw, who have free nibbles and drinks deals and that.

Super Bowl Sunday 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 11.30pm, free. Info 029 2022 8883. ...or try here maybe.

11.30pm is the kickoff time by the way, you’d be best off getting there earlier though.

Table Tennis: Dragon Event Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff. 10am-3pm.

Info 07754 525754.

MONDAY 2 Netball: Superleague Fixture Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff. 10am-10pm.

Info 029 2063 5676.

Northern Lingo Bingo Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free. Info 029 2039 7933.

This is a night which seems to feature people playing bingo and speaking in Yorkshire dialect.

Shine Youth Auditions (9-19) St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Birchgrove, Cardiff.

6-8pm. Info 07545 072890.

Auditioning for a production of Bugsy Malone. Also on Mon 9.

Write 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. Here every first and third Monday of the month.

TUESDAY 3 Explore Books National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10.30am, free.

Info 01792 463980. Come along to discuss authors and books old and new. Also on Tue 10 and Tue 24.

Law Of Attraction Discussion Group Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 7.309pm, £5. Info 07976 478278.

New monthly event where likeminded people meet to

practice the principles of Law of Attraction and create the lives we desire.

Meet The Curator: Natural Sciences Gallery Talk National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff.

1.05pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. This edition of this regular talk will be taking a look at the cool dudes that are trilobites.

Tea And Cake Tuesdays Ffotogallery, Penarth. 11am4pm, free. Info 029 2034 1667. Ffotogallery staff talk you through the exhibitions currently showing, at your own pace, every first Tuesday of the month.

WEDNESDAY 4 Stories By Gaslight: David Ambrose Gas Gallery, Aberystwyth. 8pm, £5. Info peterstevensonart @gmail.com. Monthly storytelling club.

THURSDAY 5 Cardiff Archaeological Society Lecture Chemistry Lecture Theatre, Main Building, Cardiff University.

7.15pm. Info www. cardiffarchsoc.btck.co.uk.

‘The Hanging Garden Of Babylon’ by Dr Stephanie M Dalley.

Ghost Tour Cardiff Castle.

7.15pm, £14. Info 07538 878609. Also on Sat 7, Thurs 12, Fri 13, Thurs 19, Fri 20, Thurs 26 and Fri 27.

First Thursday Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £2.50. Info 029 2030 4400.

New poetry, fiction and memoir sessions.

Poetry Open Mic Cambrian Arms, Melin, nr Neath. 7.30pm, free. Info

JOAN JONES: VALENTINE’S DAY PERFORMANCE Glynn Vivian Art Gallery @ YMCA Theatre, Swansea, Fri 13 Feb Admission: free. Info: 01792 516900 / www.glynnviviangallery.org Almost-but-not-quite literally staying at the YMCA for an epic four-month stint, Joan Jones was selected by the Glynn Vivian – currently operating offsite while its homestead is extensively done up – to be its Artist In Residence from November until the end of February. Joan’s practise incorporates a variety of disciplines, and is strongly connected with (and influenced by) various tendrils of DIY culture in the UK. Their queer self-identification, and the experience of growing up transgender (hence the ‘their’ pronoun), is also a consistent theme.

It would be foolhardy to predict exactly what the Fri 13 performance will have in store, but the promise of a “jilted lovers dance party revenge” is a fair appetitewhetter, and a few songs by Joan’s solo musical project Truly Kaput wouldn’t be shocking. Their subject matter possibly notwithstanding.

BUZZ 65

events 01639 641556.

The Alternative Poetry Experience Café Nisse, Swansea. 7.30pm, free. Info 01792 686914. Poetry, spoken word and performance open mic night. This is its debut but it plans to take place every first Thursday of the month.

FRIDAY 6 Art Lunchtime Talk: An Introduction To Historic Photography Uncovered National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 1.05pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951.

With Arabella Calder.

Art Opinions Service National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 2-4pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951.

Bring in your own picture or art object for opinions/referrals by the Art Department.

Baby Mice Song Time National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10am, free. Info 01792 463980.

Introduce Welsh to babies of up to 12 months.

Followed by the related mice thing listed below.

Cardiff Inter Varsity Club Meeting Mochyn Du, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 8.30pm, £5 (three-month trial membership). Info 07526 141392 / www.cardiffivc. org.uk. Meeting here on the first Friday of each month.

Children’s Hospital Challenge 6 Nations Fundraiser 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 6pm, £10. Info 029 2022 8883. Charity evening, in aid of the Climb charity and based around today’s serving of hard boiled rugby.

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.

Get Quizzical The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, £2 to enter. Info 01497 821762. Pub quiz on the first Friday of every month.

Little Mice Club: Love Theme National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10.30am, free.

Info 01792 463980.

Only Fools & Boycie 2015 Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 7.30pm, £15 adv.

Info 01633 868239. The actor who plays Boycie in Only Fools & Horses talks about that a lot, I imagine.

Rick Wakeman Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl.

7.30pm, £22-£25. Info 01656 815995. This is just Rick talking about stuff and developing his personal brand. Seems like people want that more than his music nowadays.

Rugby Union: RBS Six Nations: Wales v England Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. 8.05pm.

Info 08442 777888.

Opening Six Nations game for Wales, and a “dress rehearsal for the World Cup” as the stadium website puts it.

Toddler Days Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. £4.80 for adults. Info 029 2047 5475. Monthly event where pre-school children have their run of the exhibits with activities on a special theme, which this month is ‘lots of love’.

SATURDAY 7 A Day With Lecsi Foyer, BUZZ 66

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 11am-4pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464.

Kids’ activities starring one of the WMC’s Millpwts characters.

Alison Graham Ceramics : Open Studio Events Above the Courtyard Flower Shop, Penylan Rd, Cardiff. 11am3pm. Info alisongraham79@yahoo. co.uk. Handmade porcelain light shades and wall art will be available to view and purchase Graham will also be demonstrating some of the techniques behind her artworks. Also on Sat 28 Mar. Caerwent Craft Fayre Caerwent Village Hall, Monmouthshire. 2.304.30pm. Info cwmbran_ crafts@hotmail.co.uk.

Every second Saturday of the month.

Carnival Arts Workshops Cardiff Story, The Hayes, Cardiff. 10am-4pm. Info 029 2078 8334. Every Saturday this month, upfront of the St David’s Day Parade on Sun 1 Mar. Chepstow Farmers’ Market Cormeilles Square, Chepstow. 8.30am-1pm, free. Info 01291 626370.

Every second and fourth Saturday of the month.

Craft Workshops Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea.

10am-1pm + 2-4pm, free.

Info 01792 463980. Textiles workshops with Lisa-Marie Evans; adults in the morning, ages 10-16 in the afternoon.

Craft Fair Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay. £50 to set up a stall for both days.

Info 07855 585114. On tomorrow also.

Crochet Club National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am-1pm, free.

Info 029 2057 3500.

Cuppa Cymraeg National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10.30am, free.

Info 01792 463980. Tour of the galleries aimed at Welsh learners.

Don’t Do This At Home Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475.

Football: Barclays Premier League – Swansea City v Sunderland Liberty Stadium, Swansea. 3pm.

Info 0870 400004.

Ghost Tour Cardiff Castle.

7.15pm, £14. Info 07538 878609.

Lazy Crafternoons: Pegs National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 1pm, £2.50. Info 01792 463980.

Llandaff Ghost Walk City Cross, Cathedral Green, Llandaff (meeting point). 7.45pm, £8.50.

Info 07538 878609. A walk through woodlands, ruins and graveyards, also on Sat 14, Fri 20, Sat 21, Fri 27 and Sat 28.

Mumbles Produce Market Seafront Car Park, Mumbles. 9am-1pm, free.

Info 01792 361012. Every second Saturday of the month.

Netball: Superleague Fixture Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff. 9am-7pm.

Info 029 2063 5676. On tomorrow also.

Newport Craft Fayre The Gallery, Newport Indoor Market. 9am-4.30pm, free.

Info 01633 656656. Every second Saturday of the month.

Pop-Up Food Waste

Cafe #1 Roath Church House, Waterloo Road, Cardiff. 11am-2pm, £5. Info hello@greencityevents. co.uk. Hosted by Green City Events.

Pottery: Building With Coils Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am4.30pm, £80 (two days).

Info 029 2048 4611. With Paul Wearing. On tomorrow also.

Search For Life Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475.

Strictly Social Dance Party Small World Theatre, Cardigan. 7pm, £10 adv. Info 01239 615952.

They call this the Blow Away The Winter Blues Bash.

Thrifty Kids: Pegs National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 11am, £2.50. Info 01792 463980.

Traditional Afternoon Tea Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2pm, £12 per person. Info 029 2087 7959. Taking place on various dates all through the year; this month it’s also on tomorrow and Sun 15. A minimum of two people need to book, sorry loners.

Vintage Fayre Le Pub, Newport. 8pm, free. Info 01633 221477. On the first Saturday of every month.

SUNDAY 8 Cardiff Hearthstone Fireside Gathering Gwdihw, Cardiff. 8pm, free.

Info 029 2039 7933.

Craft Fair Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay. £50 to set up a stall for both days.

Info 07855 585114.

Don’t Do This At Home Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475.

Fencing: Tournament Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff. 12-10pm. Info 07530 226532.

How Will Your Garden Grow? Adamsdown Community Garden, Moira Terrace, Cardiff. 1-3pm, £2.

Info hello@ greencityevents.co.uk.

Hosted by Edible Adamsdown and Green City Events.

Ice Hockey: Cardiff Devils v Sheffield Steelers Ice Arena, Cardiff Bay. 6pm, £6-£15. Info 029 2038 2001.

Marina Market National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10am-3pm. Info 01792 463980.

Netball: Superleague Fixture Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff. 9am-7pm.

Info 029 2063 5676.

Pottery: Building With Coils Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am-1pm, £80 (two days). Info 029 2048 4611.

Pre-Loved Popup Fair National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10am4pm. Info 01792 463980.

Search For Life Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475.

Talk: St Teilo’s Day National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am + 3pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500.

Traditional Afternoon Tea Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2pm, £12 per person. Info 029 2087 7959.

MONDAY 9 Food Haven Falafel Kitchen, Cathays, Cardiff.

7-10.30pm, £30. Info info@ realfrankfood.com. Vegan and gluten-free supper club presented by Romy of Real Frank Food. There’s also one on Sun 22 this month.

Joy 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.

Rhyme And Real Ale Mackintosh Sports Club, Roath, Cardiff. 7.30pm. Info 07512 235758. Monthly open mic poetry night with a little music too.

Shine Youth Auditions (9-19) St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Birchgrove, Cardiff. 6-8pm.

Info 07545 072890.

TUESDAY 10 Beatlemania Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 10pm-2am, £5. Info 029 2023 2199.

Photos, memorabilia and music combine in a night claiming to celebrate 50 years of the Fab Four.

Imagine how boring music must have been before 1965, the year in which The Beatles formed.

Behind The Scenes: Natural Sciences National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 1.05pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951.

With Dr Ingrid Juettner.

Black Kettle Collective YMCA, Swansea. 5-7pm, free. Info 01792 516900.

Multifarious events for audiences aged 14-24, responding to events at the Glynn Vivian Gallery. Also on Tue 24.

Explore Books National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10.30am, free.

Info 01792 463980.

Football: Sky Bet Championship – Cardiff City v Brighton & Hove Albion Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff. 7.45pm.

Info 0845 3451400.

Men And Medals: Some Great War Stories National History Museum, St Fagans. 12 + 2pm, free.

Info 029 2057 3500. A closer look at some of the WWI medals in the collection.

Music Matters Gwdihw, Cardiff. 8pm, £1 entry. Info 029 2039 7933. Pop quiz, held every month.

Poetry Night @ Ponty Arts Pontardawe Arts Centre. 7.30pm, £4.50/£3.

Info 01792 863722.

Featuring Glyn Roberts and Peter Read. Not happy about Pontardawe being shortened to ‘Ponty’, tbh.

Tea Dance Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 2-4pm, £4. Info 01656 815995. Also on Tue 24.

WEDNESDAY 11 Scriveners Writers’ Group Royal Exchange, Brynmawr. 8pm. Info 01495 753629. Established group aiming to provide constructive criticism, help, advice and guidance to its members. Also on Wed 25.

Table Tennis: Primary Schools Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff. 9am-6pm.

Info 07754 525754.

Table Tennis: South Wales Consortium Competition Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff.

10am-4pm. Info 07754 525754.

Urban Community

Chicken Keeping Adamsdown Community Garden, Moira Terrace, Cardiff. 6-8pm, £2. Info hello@greencityevents. co.uk. Hosted by Edible Adamsdown and Green City Events.

THURSDAY 12 Ghost Tour Cardiff Castle.

7.15pm, £14. Info 07538 878609.

Howl Mozarts, Swansea.

8pm-12am, free. Info 01792 649984. Poetry night, also on Thurs 19.

Rhyme & Reason Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 5.30pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464.

Bringing together performances from prominent poets and musicians with performances from schools and communities across Wales.

SWDFAS Lecture: A Royal Wardrobe Unlocked Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 2pm, £6. Info 029 2030 4400.

Lecture by Kate Strasdin BA MA. FRIDAY 13 Craft Fair Beacon Place, Merthyr Tydfil. 10.30am6pm, £20 to set up a stall.

Info 07830 315367. On tomorrow also.

Dinky Dragons Cardiff Story, The Hayes, Cardiff.

10am-3pm. Info 029 2078 8334. Free family fun day for 0-5 year olds.

Ghost Tour Cardiff Castle.

7.15pm, £14. Info 07538 878609.

Gymnastics: Welsh Schools Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff. 9am-4pm.

Info 0300 3003127. Also on Fri 27. *Joan Jones: Valentine’s Day Performance YMCA, Swansea. 4.30-6.45pm, free. Info 01792 516900.

Joan is the Glynn Vivian’s Artist In Residence for the first two months of 2015.

This is described as a “live performance spectacular/ jilted lovers dance party revenge.”

Joan Jones: Valentine’s Day Performance Afterparty Mozarts, Swansea. 7pm, free. Info 01792 649984. Following the above event, an evening of jollies including a zine stall and music from the superbly named XX Bottom.

Llandaff Midnight Ghost Walk City Cross, Cathedral Green, Llandaff (meeting point). 10.45pm, £10. Info 07538 878609.

Midnight Ghost Tour Cardiff Castle. 10.15pm, £14. Info 07538 878609.

Milonga: An Evening Of Social Tango Dancing Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

7.45pm, £2.50-£5. Info 01970 623232.

Tea Dance St Donats Arts Centre, Vale Of Glamorgan.

2-4pm, £5. Info 01446 779100. With Alan Taylor.

Valentine Chocolate Truffle Making Humble

By Nature, Penalt, nr Monmouth. 10am, £35.

Info 01600 714595. With Suzanne Coles.

Your Date With Mr Grey Coco Bar, Swansea.

5.30pm, £18.50. Info ae_events@yahoo.co.uk.

Charity evening in aid of The Pituitary Foundation.

Features a cocktail on

arrival, a fashion show, live entertainment by Jimi Webb, a raffle/auction and, in the middle, everyone pops out to the Vue cinema to watch 50 Shades Of Grey.

SATURDAY 14 A Date With Nature (Wildlife Watch) Margam Country Park, nr Port Talbot. 10.30am-2.30pm.

Info 01639 881635A day of environmental art and craft activities for all the family with a Valentine’s theme.

A Day With Ogi Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 11am-4pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464.

Kids’ activities starring one of the WMC’s Millpwts characters.

Ask The Gardener: Pegging Down Roses National History Museum, St Fagans. 2-3pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500.

Avenging Angels National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 11am, free. Info 01792 463980.

Talk by Glenys Davies about her WWI research.

Big Love Art National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 12.30-3.30pm, free. Info 01792 463980.

Help us create a huge line of text to hang around the Museum to celebrate love this Valentine’s weekend.

On tomorrow also.

Bubbles And Blasts Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. Make bubbles big enough to fit inside, square ones, ones which glow etc. (Until Sun 22) Carnival Arts Workshops Cardiff Story, The Hayes, Cardiff. 10am-4pm. Info 029 2078 8334.

Craft Fair Beacon Place, Merthyr Tydfil. 9am-6pm, £20 to set up a stall. Info 07830 315367.

Farmers’ Market Twyn Community Centre, Caerphilly. 9.30am, free.

Info 01656 658963. Every second Saturday of the month.

Football: Sky Bet Championship – Cardiff City v Blackburn Rovers Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff. 3pm. Info 0845 3451400.

Kidsmarkets Mega Spring Sale Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff.

11am-12.30pm, £1/kids free. Info 07760 802088.

Featuring 50 stalls of great quality new and pre-loved baby and children’s items.

Kids’ Quiz National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 2pm, free. Info 01792 463980. Aimed at ages 7-11.

Lesbians In Welsh Fiction National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 2pm, free. Info 01792 463980. Talk by Swansea Uni’s Dr Kirsti Bohata.

Lia’s Kitchen Pop-Up Recipe Of Love Dinner Waterloo Tea, Penarth.

7-10.30pm, £35. Info 07870 131558. Valentine’s special hosted by Lia of Lia’s Kitchen.

Llandaff Ghost Walk City Cross, Cathedral Green, Llandaff (meeting point). 7.45pm, £8.50. Info 07538 878609.

Marmaille’s Love Emporium The Abacus, Cardiff. 9-11pm, £7/£5. Info

events 07934 011061. Romantic, or at least romancethemed, performance art type evening hosted

by Rachel Helena Walsh.

“Laughter, games, passiveaggressive anger, fun, music and barely concealed contempt” are set to feature. In greater quantity if I end up going.

PJ’s Valentine Supper Club Humble By Nature, Penalt, nr Monmouth.

7.30pm, £46.80. Info 01600 714595. With Penny Johnstone, who apparently was Thatcher’s personal chef at one point. So if she never put deadly poison in any of her meals, I think anyone else is in safe hands.

Roller Derby: UKRDA British Championships Newport Centre. 5-9pm.

Info 01633 656757. Hosted by the Tiger Bay Brawlers, and featuring the following teams: Auld Reekie Roller Girls, Glasgow Roller Derby, Central City Rollergirls, Rainy City Roller Girls and Middlesbrough Milk Rollers. I’m just glad this venue is getting used for something it’s suited to, rather than rock concerts.

Saturday Family Workshops YMCA, Swansea. 10am-1pm, free.

Info 01792 516900. Help to create The ‘Adventures Of Richard Glynn Vivian computer game based on Richard Glynn Vivian’s travels and collecting. Also on Sat 21.

Seasonal Family Fundays: SWALK Portraits Ffotogallery, Penarth. 11am-5pm, free. Info 029 2034 1667.

Seasonal arty activities all day.

Stargazing With An Astronomer Venue TBC, Brecon Beacons National Park. £55. Info 01874 749092. A Good Day Out event. Also on Sat 21, Star Tours Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. Find out more about some familiar constellations, the Planets, how stars are born and how they die. (Until Sun 22) The Architecture Of Space National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 11am, 1pm + 3pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. Half-term workshop.

Help celebrate the final week of Artes Mundi 6 by taking part in constructing an exciting, collaborative artwork that explores materials and space. (Until Sun 22) Valentine’s Quiz Night National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 7pm, £3.50 adv. Info 01792 463980. Busy here today, isn’t it.

Working With A Coracle National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500.

Demonstration and talk.

SUNDAY 15 Big Love Art National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 12.30-3.30pm, free. Info 01792 463980.

Bubbles And Blasts Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 22) Karate: Tournament Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff. 9am-6pm. Info 029 2078 6441.

Literary Love-In Kuku Club, Cardiff. 7-11pm, £3-£5. Info 029 2011 1177.

New bimonthly night of live literature and spoken entertainment, this month featuring local poet Aisling Tempany and former Bard Of Bath Thommie Gillow.

Nature Talk & Walk Margam Country Park, nr Port Talbot. 10.30am2.30pm, free. Info 01639 881635. Learn a little about our local natural history with naturalist Mark Hipkin.

Preparing For Pancake Day National History Museum, St Fagans.

11am-1pm + 2-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500.

Demonstration on how to make pancakes.

Star Tours Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 22) Stitch Workshop Mission Gallery, Swansea. 11am4pm, £60/£54. Info 01792 652016. Hosted by Julie Arkell, who has an exhibition here this month.

The Architecture Of Space National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 11am, 1pm + 3pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. (Until Sun 22) Traditional Afternoon Tea Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2pm, £12 per person. Info 029 2087 7959.

MONDAY 16 Animal Finger Puppets & Face Painting Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea.

1-4pm, free. Info 01792 463980. Drop-in family workshop.

Art Cart National History

MARMAILLE’S LOVE EMPORIUM The Abacus, Cardiff, Sat 14 Feb Tickets: £7/£5. Info: rachelhelenawalsh@gmail.com Valentine’s Day-specific evenings, treacherous terrain at the best of times, are made even dicier this year thanks to a flurry of events exploiting the cinema release of 50 Shades Of Grey – itself timed to coincide with Valentine’s Day, a date invented in the 20th century by a soft toy company which needed to sell a warehouse full of asbestos-stuffed bears before a change in legislation. There’ll be none of that horseshit down at Cardiff’s estimable DIY artspace The Abacus, but a small gaggle of creative folks will be tipping their hats towards love, romance, feelings, human contact etc in Marmaille’s Love Emporium. Marmaille herself, whose dress sense and way with a makeup brush have been compared to Cardiff-based conceptual artist Rachel Helena Walsh, promises food, booze, party games and “outlandish actions” for your fee, with a special gift if you pay £7. Specialness is in the eye of the beholder, though.

Museum, St Fagans. 11am1pm + 2-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. Half-term family arts and crafts session. (Until Fri 20) Art Talk: Christian Ryan Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 7pm, £4. Info 01656 815995. Talking about glass-based art.

Bubbles And Blasts Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 22) Decorate A Lucky Lantern National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 11.30am-4pm, free. Info 01792 463980.

Kids’ activities in the runup to Chinese New Year.

(Until Sun 22) Focus On Birds Of Prey Cardiff Castle. 11am, £2.

Info 029 2087 8100. Halfterm activity giving you the chance to get close-up to the Castle’s resident hawks and owls.

Gwd Mondays Quiz Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free. Info 029 2039 7933.

Home Sweet Home Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. Free. Info 029 2063 6464. Live art experience, on all day and giving you the an opportunity to make your own brand new town out of cardboard.

(Until Fri 20) Life On Our Farm Margam Country Park, nr Port Talbot. 11am + 2pm, free. Info 01639 881635.

Join Margam’s own farmer Dai as he talks of the new arrivals to be joining us here at Margam Park.

Live Superstars Of Wrestling Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7.30pm, £12/£9.

Info 0845 2263510.

National Nest Box Week National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am-1pm + 2-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. Brush up on your bird identification skills and make a bird feeder to take home with you. (Until Fri 20) Snooker: Welsh Open Round 1 + 2 Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 9.30am + 7pm, £4-£8 (morning)/£5-£10 (evening). Info 029 2022 4488. Moved from Newport to Cardiff. Sorry Newport, guess this isn’t your lucky year. See Sport.

(Until Sun 22) Sparks Volcano, The Iceland Building Swansea.

10am-3pm, £60 (three days). Info 01792 602060.

Volcano Theatre present a half-term creative learning experience for young people aged 12 to 18, combining drawing, video, photography, movement, speech and music. (Until Wed 18) Star Tours Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 22) The Architecture Of Space National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 11am, 1pm + 3pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. (Until Sun 22) Tools & Woodcarving Demonstrations National History Museum, St Fagans. 12-1pm + 2-3pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500.

Come and see how our ancestors make their wooden objects and the tools they worked with.

(Until Fri 20) Write On Writers Morganstown Village Hall.

6.30-8.30pm. Info 07512 235758.

Young Art Force YMCA,

Swansea. 10am-3pm, free.

Info 01792 516900. Halfterm activity for young people aged 14-24 who are currently not in education, employment or training.

(Until Fri 20) TUESDAY 17 Art Cart National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am1pm + 2-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Fri 20) Behind The Scenes: Conservation National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff.

1.05pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. With Emily O’Reilly, Senior Paper Conservator.

Bubbles And Blasts Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 22) Decorate A Lucky Lantern National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 11.30am-4pm, free. Info 01792 463980.

(Until Sun 22) Hero-Zines Half Term Workshop Ffotogallery, Penarth. 11am-4pm, free.

Info 029 2034 1667. Allday session inspired by Artes Mundi artist Sanja Ivekovic.

Home Sweet Home Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. Free. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Fri 20) I Spy... Nature: Spring Flowers National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 11am, 1pm + 3pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. Learn to identify our native wild flowers, discover their importance to wildlife and do some seed planting of your own.

(Until Fri 20) Myths & Mysteries: The Real Truth! Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £12.50. Info 01792 475715.

Trevor Marriott is a retired detective who has mysteries including the Bermuda Triangle, Atlantis, the Mary Celeste, UFOs, the moon landing, yetis, mermaids, Shergar, Lord Lucan, crop circles, King Arthur and sea monsters. Becoming fascinated with this dude, he seems like a South Park character.

National Nest Box Week National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am-1pm + 2-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Fri 20) Script Cafe 2015 Pontardawe Arts Centre.

7.30pm, £4.50/£3. Info 01792 863722. Informal monthly night with professional scriptwriters and theatre makers.

Snooker: Welsh Open Round 1 + 2 Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 9.30am + 7pm, £4-£8 (morning)/£5-£10 (evening).

Info 029 2022 4488. (Until Sun 22) Sparks Volcano, The Iceland Building Swansea.

10am-3pm, £60 (three days). Info 01792 602060.

(Until Wed 18) The Architecture Of Space National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 11am, 1pm + 3pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. (Until Sun 22) The Gossip National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff.

11pm-7am. Info gossip@ riseup.net. This is presented by Chapter and is part of a project called The Patriarchal Clock. It is open to women only and invites them to congregate in the museum overnight.

I think I saw a movie like

this once.

Tools & Woodcarving Demonstrations National History Museum, St Fagans. 12-1pm + 2-3pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500.

(Until Fri 20) Tropical Encounters Cardiff Castle. £3. Info 029 2087 8100. Meet various exotic animals and reptiles, from mongoose and meerkats to snakes and lizards, at various slots throughout the day.

Tudor Herbs & Hygiene National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am-1pm + 2-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. Help the Museum’s Tudor herbalist concoct Tudor pomanders, washballs and sweetbags. On tomorrow also.

Young Art Force YMCA, Swansea. 10am-3pm, free.

Info 01792 516900. (Until Fri 20) WEDNESDAY 18 Art Cart National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am1pm + 2-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Fri 20) Bubbles And Blasts Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 22) Concertina Poetry Books Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea. 1-4pm, free. Info 01792 463980.

Drop-in family workshop.

Decorate A Lucky Lantern National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 11.30am-4pm, free. Info 01792 463980.

(Until Sun 22) Half Term Craft: Carnival Theme Cardiff Story, The Hayes, Cardiff.

10am-3pm. Info 029 2078 8334. Make attire suitable for the SWICA Carnival.

Home Sweet Home Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. Free. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Fri 20) I Spy... Nature: Spring Flowers National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 11am, 1pm + 3pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. (Until Fri 20) Lunchtime Family Talk: Archaeology In Performance National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff.

1.05pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. Talk by Morgan Barnes.

National Nest Box Week National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am-1pm + 2-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Fri 20) Slam Poetry + Workshop St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 4 + 7pm, £3/£7 for workshop. Info 029 2087 8444. Presented by Martin Dawes. Workshop in the afternoon, poetry in the evening.

Snooker: Welsh Open Round 3 Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 12 + 7pm, £4-£8 (afternoon)/£5-£10 (evening). Info 029 2022 4488. (Until Sun 22) Sparks Volcano, The Iceland Building Swansea.

10am-3pm, £60 (three days). Info 01792 602060.

(Finishes today) Spice Preview Night Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. Info 07429 598414.

A chance for you to go along and see what you might get out of this adventure, activity, sports and social group.

The Architecture Of Space National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 11am, 1pm BUZZ 67

live music

RUMER The Gate Arts Centre, Cardiff, Fri 27 Feb Tickets: £20. Info: 029 2048 3344 / www.thegate.org.uk Only two albums in, the first of them having racked up seven-figure sales at a time when that’s considered almost impossible, Rumer remains a clearly successful solo artist. All the same, you’d be forgiven for thinking this is a fairly... intimate venue for the Pakistan-born, UK-raised, US-based soul-popster to ply her trade. If you’ve not been to The Gate before, it’s also very attractive and atmospheric, and the lush, accessible tones of Rumer (Sarah Joyce, to give her real name) should fit it like a glove. Latest album Into Colour, which she’s touring this month, was recorded with Rob Shirakbari – her fiancé, which is nice, but also instrumental string-puller for Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick. Both of whom form component parts of the Rumer jigsaw, along with Elton John, disco and The Carpenters.

+ 3pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. (Until Sun 22) Tools & Woodcarving Demonstrations National History Museum, St Fagans.

12-1pm + 2-3pm, free.

Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Fri 20) Tudor Herbs & Hygiene National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am-1pm + 2-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500.

Young Art Force YMCA, Swansea. 10am-3pm, free.

Info 01792 516900. (Until Fri 20) THURSDAY 19 Actors Experience Sony Room, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 6-9pm.

Info 029 2063 6464. Diverse workshops for professional and experienced actors.

Visit www.lifeventurearts. com for more info.

Art Cart National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am1pm + 2-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Fri 20) Bubbles And Blasts Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 22) Cardiff Archaeological Society Lecture Chemistry Lecture Theatre, Main Building, Cardiff University.

7.15pm. Info www.cardiffarchsoc.btck.co.uk.

‘Wollongong To Wallonia: An Archaeology Of The Great War’ by Richard Osgood.

Decorate A Lucky Lantern National

Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 11.30am-4pm, free. Info 01792 463980.

(Until Sun 22) Farm Explorer Humble

By Nature, Penalt, nr Monmouth. 10.30am, £20.

Info 01600 714595. Halfterm family activity, hosted

by Hannah Townsend.

Ghost Tour Cardiff Castle.

7.15pm, £14. Info 07538 878609.

Home Sweet Home Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. Free. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Fri 20) Howl Mozarts, Swansea.

8pm-12am, free. Info 01792 649984.

I Spy... Nature: Spring Flowers National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 11am, 1pm + 3pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. (Until Fri 20) National Nest Box Week National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am-1pm + 2-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Fri 20) Snooker: Welsh Open Round 4 Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 1 + 7pm, £4-£8 (afternoon)/£5-£10 (evening). Info 029 2022 4488.

(Until Sun 22) Star Tours Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 22) The Architecture Of Space National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 11am, 1pm + 3pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. (Until Sun 22) The Sleeper Society Dempseys, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £6/£4. Info 029 2023 9253.

Live and and audiovisual performance Tools & Woodcarving Demonstrations National History Museum, St Fagans.

12-1pm + 2-3pm, free.

Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Fri 20) Young Art Force YMCA, Swansea. 10am-3pm, free.

Info 01792 516900. (Until Fri 20) FRIDAY 20 3D Animal Masks Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea.

1-4pm, free. Info 01792 463980. Drop-in family workshop.

Art Cart National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am1pm + 2-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. (Finishes today) Artist In Residence Open Studio YMCA, Swansea.

1-2pm, free. Info 01792 516900. Meet current AiR Joan Jones (see Fri 13 listing). Also on Fri 27.

Art Lunchtime Talk – Made In Wales: Topography, Industry And Photography National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 1.05pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. Talk by Paul Cabuts.

Bubbles And Blasts Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 22) Decorate A Lucky Lantern National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 11.30am-4pm, free. Info 01792 463980.

(Until Sun 22) Ghost Tour Cardiff Castle.

7.15pm, £14. Info 07538 878609.

Home Sweet Home Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. Free. Info 029 2063 6464. (Finsihes today) I Spy... Nature: Spring Flowers National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 11am, 1pm + 3pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. (Finishes today) Jess Green + Matthew Plumb The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, £3-£5.

Info 01497 821762. First in a new series of spoken word shows. Jess Green racked up big numbers on YouTube with something called Dear Mr Gove, if that rings any bells.

Llandaff Ghost Walk City Cross, Cathedral Green, Llandaff (meeting point).

7.45pm, £8.50. Info 07538 878609.

Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival 2015 – Workshops Queens Hall, Narberth. 10am-12.30pm, £10/£9. Info 01834 869323.

Featuring Black Voices and Frankie Armstrong (morning) and Michael Ormiston and Candida Valentino, Susie Ro Prater and Sarah Benbow (afternoon). (Until Sun 22) National Nest Box Week National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am-1pm + 2-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. (Finishes today) Sessions The Riverfront, Newport. 5-11pm, £1. Info 01633 656757. Boutique market and open mic night.

Snooker: Welsh Open Quarter Finals Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff.

12 + 7pm, £7.50-£15. Info 029 2022 4488. (Until Sun 22) So You Think You’re Smart? Memorial Hall, Newbridge. 7pm, free. Info 01495 243252. Quiz night, every third Friday of the month.

Star Tours Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 22) The Architecture Of Space National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 11am, 1pm + 3pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. (Until Sun 22) The Kinky Wizzards’ Drum & Bass Clinic + Marc James’ Guitar Clinic Theatr Soar, Merthyr Tydfil. 7.30-9.30pm, £9/£7 adv. Info 01685 722176.

Tools & Woodcarving Demonstrations National History Museum, St Fagans.

12-1pm + 2-3pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. (Finishes today) Young Art Force YMCA, Swansea. 10am-3pm, free. Info 01792 516900.

(Finishes today) SATURDAY 21 Ask The Gardener: Pruning Hybrid Teas Roses National History Museum, St Fagans. 2-3pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500.

How to prune roses and aftercare of roses in the Rosary.

Bubbles & Balloons Science Show National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 1 + 3pm, free.

Info 01792 463980.

Bubbles And Blasts Techniquest, Cardiff Bay.

Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 22) Cardiff Geek Party Gwdihw, Cardiff. 5pm, free. Info 029 2039 7933.

Monthly gaming night focusing on retro consoles.

Carnival Arts Workshops Cardiff Story, The Hayes, Cardiff. 10am-4pm. Info 029 2078 8334.

Chepstow Farmers’ Market Cormeilles Square, Chepstow. 8.30am-1pm, free. Info 01291 626370.

Decorate A Lucky Lantern National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 11.30am-4pm, free. Info 01792 463980.

(Until Sun 22) Fencing: Tournament Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff. 12-10pm. Info 07530 226532.

Folk Workshops – Cardboard Fox Gorseinon Institute, Swansea.

10.30am-4pm. Info www. gowerbluegrass.co.uk. Folk/ bluegrass band teach you the fiddle, mandolin etc.

Football: Barclays Premier League – Swansea City v Manchester United Liberty Stadium, Swansea.

3pm. Info 0870 400004.

Hedge Laying Course For Beginners Venue TBC, Brecon Beacons National Park. £65. Info 01874 749092. A Good Day Out event.

Kumihimo Braids Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am-4.30pm, £55. Info 029 2048 4611. With Kathy Williams.

Llandaff Ghost Walk City Cross, Cathedral Green, Llandaff (meeting point).

7.45pm, £8.50. Info 07538 878609.

Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival 2015 – Workshops Queens Hall, Narberth. 4.30-5.30pm, £10/£9. Info 01834 869323.

Featuring ‘pop-up choir’ Big Sing. (Until Sun 22) Netball: Northern Cup Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff. 9am-6pm. Info 029 2063 5676. On tomorrow also.

Pop-Up Food Waste Cafe #2 No Fit State Circus, Four Elms Road, Cardiff.

11am-2pm, £5. Info hello@ greencityevents.co.uk.

Hosted by Green City Events.

Roller Derby: British Champs Neeath Sports Centre. 1.30-6.30pm, £5 adv.

Info info@ bridgendrollerderby.com.

Featuring four teams: Bridgend, Riot City, Wiltshire and Grin’N’Barum.

Saturday Family Workshops YMCA, Swansea. 10am-1pm, free.

Info 01792 516900.

Snooker: Welsh Open Semi-Finals Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 1 + 7pm, £20. Info 029 2022 4488.

(Until Sun 22) Stargazing With An Astronomer Venue TBC, Brecon Beacons National Park. £55. Info 01874 749092. A Good Day Out event.

Star Tours Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 22) St Fagans Book Club National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am-1pm, free.

Info 029 2057 3500. This month they’re reading Hotel de Dream by Edmund White, tied in with LGBT Month. Or LGBTQ Month, as I’ve referred to it on the front page of these listings.

In my day the only acronyms we had was NUM, who held us all to ransom, and NORWICH, which my husband sent me in a telegram.

Tasty Tea With A Welsh Valleys Male Voice Choir The Kings’ Arms, Abergavenny. 3-5pm, £39.

Info 01874 749092. A new Good Day Out event where people can eat food made by the chef at this gastropub and listening to a choir do their thing.

The Architecture Of Space National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 11am, 1pm + 3pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. (Until Sun 22) The Buried History Of Disability In Britain’s Coalfields, 1780–1880 National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 11am, free. Info 01792 463980.

Talk by Daniel Blackie of Swansea University.

The Three Psychic Mediums Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot.

7.30pm, £21. Info 01639 763214. We fully believe in everything we do. Our services are given with genuine and sincere purposes. For reasons of legality, Psychic readings are intended for entertainment purposes only. No specific results can be guaranteed.

Communication with the Spirit World is experimental in nature and as such there can be no guarantees.

Wrestling: The First Frontier The Gate, Cardiff.

7pm, £10. Info 029 2048 3344. Presented by Vertigo Pro Wrestling and featuring grapplers including Dave Mastiff, Kenny Williams, Bison Brody and Wild Boar.

SUNDAY 22 Bubbles And Blasts Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475.

(Finishes today) Decorate A Lucky Lantern National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 11.30am-4pm, free. Info 01792 463980.

(Finishes today) Fencing: Tournament Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff. 12-10pm. Info 07530 226532.

Fresh Student Media Festival Of Wales Cardiff University Students Union. £10 adv. Info 029 2078 1458.

Awards ceremony centring on student media, although you don't have to be a student to attend. Tickets etc are available at www. ffresh.com.

Food Haven Waterloo Tea, Penarth. 7-10.30pm, £30.

Info info@realfrankfood. com. Vegan and gluten-free supper club presented by Romy of Real Frank Food.

Frame Baskets Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am-4.30pm, £55.

Info 029 2048 4611. With Melanie Bastier.

Ice Hockey: Cardiff Devils v Fife Flyers Ice Arena, Cardiff Bay. 6pm, £6-£15. Info 029 2038 2001.

Narberth A Cappella

JUST ANNOUNCED FOR MARCH: SIVU (Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Wed 4) THE WURZELS (The Globe, Cardiff, Fri 6) HAWKWIND (The Globe, Mon 9) X FACTOR LIVE (Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Mon 9-Wed 11) RUSSELL WATSON (Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, Tue 10; Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wed 11) BUZZ 68

live music Voice Festival 2015 – Workshops Queens Hall, Narberth. 10am-12.30pm, £10/£9. Info 01834 869323.

Featuring a Finnish choral tutorial from Enkelit.

(Finishes today) Netball: Northern Cup Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff. 9am-6pm. Info 029 2063 5676.

Snooker: Welsh Open Final Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 1 + 7pm, £20. Info 029 2022 4488. (Finishes today) Star Tours Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Finishes today) The Architecture Of Space National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 11am, 1pm + 3pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. (Finishes today) Welsh National Wedding Fayre Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. 11am-4pm, free. Info 01792 475715.

Featuring over 100 exhibitors.

MONDAY 23 Joy Of Living Mindfulness Group Meeting Gaia Yoga Studio, Roath, Cardiff. 7.30-9pm, free (donations welcome).

Info 07412 346054.

Science Cafe Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.30pm, free Info 01970 623232. Hosted this month by Roger Boyle.

Shine Adult Auditions (17+) St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Birchgrove, Cardiff. 7.309.30pm. Info 07545 072890.

Auditioning for a production of Little Shop Of Horrors.

TUESDAY 24 Behind The Scenes: Archaeology National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff.

1.05pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. Talk on flints by Elizabeth Walker.

Black Kettle Collective YMCA, Swansea. 5-7pm, free. Info 01792 516900.

Explore Books National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10.30am, free.

Info 01792 463980.

Tea Dance Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 2-4pm, £4. Info 01656 815995.

WEDNESDAY 25 Natural Sciences Lunchtime Talk National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff.

1.05pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. ‘Chips off the old block: pinpointing the origins of rock fragments from the Stonehenge Landscape’

by Richard Bevins, Keeper Of Natural Sciences..

Reading Between The Wines The White Hart, Llangybi, nr Caerleon. 7pm.

Info lucyrewilliams@gmail. com. Monthly book club.

This month’s book is The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien.

Scriveners Writers’ Group Royal Exchange, Brynmawr. 8pm. Info 01495 753629.

THURSDAY 26 Artist Talks: Andrew Morris YMCA, Swansea.

5.30pm, free. Info 01792 516900.

Design Stuff Cardiff Undertone, Cardiff. 6.30pm, free. Info 029 2022 8883.

Various talks about design.

Book in advance please.

Downton Abbey Revealed Cardiff Castle. 6pm, £7.50. Info 029 2087 8100.

Lecture Matthew Williams on Highclere Castle in Hampshire, ancestral home of the Earls of Carnarvon.

Ghost Tour Cardiff Castle.

7.15pm, £14. Info 07538 878609.

Music Geek Monthly Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

8pm, free. Info 029 2030 4400. On the last Thursday of each month.

Poetry Open Mic Imperial Hotel, Pontmorlais, Merthyr.

7.30pm, free. Info 01685 722555. Hosted by Julie Pritchard and featuring guest poet Owen Sheers.

Taith Iaith National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff.

1.05pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. Monthly session for Welsh learners.

Info 029 2047 5475. How can chemistry provide us with colour, energy and light? And related questions.

Craft Fair Rhiwderin Village Hall. 12-4pm, free.

Info 01633 810214.

Football: Sky Bet Championship – Cardiff City v Wolverhampton Wanderers Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff. 3pm. Info 0845 3451400.

Gymnastics: Welsh Championships Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff.

9am-5pm. Info 0300 3003127. On tomorrow also.

Kidsmarkets Family Sale Cowbridge Leisure Centre. 11am-12.30pm, £1/£15 to set up a stall. Info 07760 802088. Featuring 40 stalls of great quality new and pre-loved baby and children’s items.

Llandaff Ghost Walk City Cross, Cathedral Green, Llandaff (meeting point).

FRIDAY 27 An Evening With Damian 7.45pm, £8.50. Info 07538 878609.

Gorman Aberystwyth Arts Needle Felted Creatures Centre. 7.45pm, £2.50-£5.

Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Info 01970 623232. Ulster Bay. 10.30am-4.30pm, £55. poet and playwright chats Info 029 2048 4611. With about his craft.

Artist In Residence Open Mandy Nash.

Search For Life Studio YMCA, Swansea.

Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. 1-2pm, free. Info 01792 Info 029 2047 5475.

516900.

Celebrity Coffee Morning St David’s Celebration National Waterfront Mansion House, Richmond Museum, Swansea. 12-4pm, Road, Cardiff. 10am-12pm, free. Info 01792 463980. £6. Info info@gthc.org.uk.

Table Tennis: Senior A George Thomas Hospice Team Championships Care fundraising event.

Welsh Institute Of Sport, Four Bars Swing Cardiff. 10am-5pm. Info Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, 07754 525754. On tomor£5. Info 029 2023 9253. row also.

Featuring a lindy hop class The First World War – for beginners, followed by The War At Sea National dancing to classic swing Waterfront Museum, tracks.

Swansea. 11am, free. Info Fugly Arts Society Pen & Wig, Newport. 7pm-2am, £2/ 01792 463980. Illustrated talk by Ray Savage. free before 9. Info Lecture: The Pen & fuglyartssociety@gmail.

Plough Rhos Y Gilwen, com. Cool-sounding arty night with printing, painting, Pembrokeshire. 8pm, £7 adv. Info 01239 841387. drawing, crafts, digitalSt David’s Eve lecture design and clothing on the

by Dr Diarmuid Johnson agenda, plus live hip-hop about the legacy of Wales’ from Misled Truth, Applied 20th century writers.

Science, Knights Of Boom, Appropriately, I think this is Joe Dirt, Doc BlackdaWho, Leah Hutchinson and Jamee the first use this century of ‘St David’s Eve’ to mean the Summers. This in the issue where I’ve banged on about last day of February. there being no live hip-hop shows in south Wales these days.

Ghost Tour Cardiff Castle.

7.15pm, £14. Info 07538 878609.

Gymnastics: Welsh Schools Welsh Institute Of Sport, Cardiff. 9am-4pm.

Info 0300 3003127. Also on Fri 27.

Llandaff Ghost Walk City SUNDAY 1 Cross, Cathedral Green, Aubrey Parsons Tempus Llandaff (meeting point).

Bar, St David’s Hotel, 7.45pm, £8.50. Info 07538 Cardiff. 1pm, free. Info 0844 878609.

8246171. Cowbridge-based singer performs here every SATURDAY 28 Sunday.

Animated Dragon Betraying The Martyrs Puppets National + Texas In July + Upon Waterfront Museum, This Dawning + Make Swansea. 12.30-3.30pm, Them Suffer Clwb Ifor free. Info 01792 463980. On Bach, Cardiff. 7.30-10.30pm, tomorrow also. £10 adv. Info 029 2023 2199.

Botanic Inspired Metalcore, or maybe deathEnamels YMCA, Swansea. core. What are you going to 11am-4pm, free. Info 01792 do if I’ve got it wrong?

516900. Adult classes hosted Claire Martin & Ray

by Maggie Jones.

Gelato Taliesin Arts Carnival Arts Workshops Centre, Swansea. 7.30pm, Cardiff Story, The Hayes, £16/£14. Info 01792 602060.

Cardiff. 10am-4pm. Info 029 Doing the Great American 2078 8334.

Songbook.

Colourful Chemistry Here Right Now Congress Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Theatre, Cwmbran. 6pm,

live music

£8 adv. Info 01633 868239.

Presented by the The Katie Vallis School Of Music.

James Hollingsworth The Queens Head, Monmouth. 8.45pm, free.

Info 01600 712767.

Nicolai Demidenko Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 2pm, £15/£13. Info 029 2039 1391. Recital from esteemed Russian pianist.

Sunday Live Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 2.304.30pm, free. Info 01656 815995. Listen to live music and enjoy a snack and a nice view.

The Hearts + Pretty Vicious Sin City, Swansea.

7.30pm, £8 adv. Info 01792 468892. One of three local tour dates this month for two new south Wales bands (nominally new at least; The Hearts are on about their fourth name now) who apparently both caused an A&R frenzy. I remember those.

Wu String Quartet Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

3pm, £3-£12. Info 01970 623232. Music Club recital performance.

MONDAY 2 Dominic Norcross Quartet Noah’s Yard, Swansea. 8pm. Info 01792 447360.

Donnie Joe’s American Swing Café Jazz, Cardiff.

8pm, £3/£2.50. Info 029 2038 7026.

Grown Up Music The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free.

Info info@thefullmooncardiff.com. Jam session presented by Pi & Hash.

Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 8pm, £14/£13. Info 029 2087 8444. A Roots Unearthed gig. In Builth Wells on Wed 4; Llanelli on Thurs 5; Newtown on Fri 6.

Mark Wright The Sanctuary, University Hospital Of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff. 1.10-1.55pm, free. Info david.c.orton@ gmail.com. Singersongwriter performs music by some of his favourite artists.

Live Original Broadcasts The Brewhouse, Cardiff.

8.30pm, free. Info 029 2039 9913. Every Monday, promoted by Big Scott and broadcast live online simultaneously. This week’s edition has guest sets from Nia Ann, Chris Young and Bronze Age Boats.

Tony Hands + Kirk Morgan Undertone, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £3. Info 029 2022 8883. First night of the Monday Blues series features two solo artists plus a DJ set from Tom Bateman.

Ukulele Jam Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff.

8.30pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509. Every Monday.

TUESDAY 3 All That Jazz Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £4.50/£4/£2 NUS. Info 029 2038 7026.

Acoustic Tuesday South Riverside Community Development Centre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5. Info 029 2030 4400. Regular event led by pioneering local musicians and singers.

Capital City Jazz Orchestra Dempseys,

Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Charlie Simpson + Emma Blackery + Blackwell + Willow Robinson The Globe, Cardiff. 7pm, £15 adv. Info theglobevenue@gmail.com.

If, like Charlie from Busted here, you’re an ex-teenpop heartthrob who would rather shrug off the tag, simply spend 45 years creating a body of work equal to Scott Walker. Bob’s your uncle.

Community Samba Band – Practise Dates Westenders Hall, Llanfaes, Brecon. 6-8pm, £4/£2 under-16s. Info sambabrecon@yahoo.co.uk.

Every Tuesday.

Dimitris Dekavallas St David’s Hall, Cardiff.

1pm, £6.75/£5.75. Info 029 2087 8444. Classical guitar recital.

Ian Watt Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2039 1391.

Classical guitar recital.

The Starling Radicals + Animal Brothers + Life In Cold Climates Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £3. Info 029 2039 7933.

WEDNESDAY 4 Bad Ideas + Hellwinners + The Run Up + American Graffiti Le Pub, Newport. 7.30pm, £5. Info 01633 221477.

Poppy punk bands.

Bandaoke Porter’s, Cardiff.

8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com. “Sing with a fully rehearsed band and become the Popstar you always dreamed of being.”

BBC NOW Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. 7pm, £10-£16.

Info 01792 475715. Thomas Søndergård conducts a programme of Haydn, Beethoven and Mozart.

CAVMS Big Band + Torfaen County Borough Big Band Whiteheads Sports & Social Club, Bassaleg, Newport. 8pm, £8.

Info malc@dancebands. plus.com. South Wales Big Band Society gig.

Chris & Wendy Moreton Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club. 7.30pm, £8. Info 01443 226892. A Llantrisant Folk Club night.

Collabro St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £19.50£38.50. Info 029 2087 8444.

BGT winners, described as a “musical theatre boyband”.

That must be a great way to meet girls.

Folk Session Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £4/£3. Info 029 2038 7026.

Gilad Atzmon & The Orient House Ensemble Jazzland, Swansea. 8.3011pm, £10/£7 members.

Info 07802 912789. The Simpsons bit where Krusty says “I thought I was a self-hating Jew but it turns out I’m just a plain old anti-semite,” with Rainier Wolfcastle starring as Zero Books.

Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells. 8pm, £12.50. Info 01982 552555.

Louise Hall The North Star, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free.

Info 029 2062 4050.

Nat Johnson & Friends + The Gentle Good Gwdihw, Cardiff. 8pm, £4.

Info 029 2039 7933. A Folk In The Owl’s Nest night, headlined by Sheffield indie-folk sort Johnson.

Open Mic Market Street Club, Barry. 8pm. Info 01446 733863. Every Wednesday.

Rumours Of Fleetwood Mac Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £23. Info 01792 475715. Tribute act.

Mick Fleetwood endorses them. He has probably endorsed a lot of things though.

Sinfonia Cymru The Riverfront, Newport. 1pm, £5.50/£4.50. Info 01633 656757. Lunchtime recital.

Songhoy Blues Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 8pm, £6 adv.

Info 029 2023 2199. Blues guitarist from Timbuktu, possessor of a season ticket on D. Albarn’s Africa Express. Swn present.

Steve Waterman Quartet Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

The Albion Connection Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

1.15pm, £8/£6 adv. Info 029 2039 1391. Harp ensemble perform folk songs from around the UK. The ELO Experience Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7.30pm, £18.

Info 01873 850805. Tribute band.

World Vs World + King Goon + 100,000 Bodybags The Scene Club, Swansea. 7.30pm. Info 07730 432166. Headliners are launching their debut album, and are in Newport tomorrow.

THURSDAY 5 Aubrey Parsons Tempus Bar, St David’s Hotel, Cardiff. 6pm, free. Info 0844 8246171. Every Thursday.

BBC NOW St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10-£32.

Info 029 2087 8444. Thomas Søndergård conducts a programme of Haydn, Beethoven and Mozart.

Hackensack Programme Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £6/£5. Info 029 2038 7026.

Two sets taking place in the realm of jazz and improvised music. *H Hawkline + Gwenno Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff.

7pm, £6/£5. Info 029 2023 2199. LA-based Welshman Harold Hawkline has an album out this month, and is doing a gig here every Thursday in February, with different supports and DJs between bands (Joy Collective this time). Also in Hay-On-Wye on Sat 7.

Jimjam Open Mic Session The Claude Hotel, Albany Road, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 07557 505123.

Every Thursday. This evening’s guest band is Roosvelt.

Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 8pm, £8. Info 0845 2263510.

Open Mic Night Lyceum Tavern, Newport. 8.30pm.

Info 01633 858636. A Lyceum Folk Club night.

Every Thursday.

Pete Morton Lyceum Tavern, Newport. 8pm. Info 01633 858636. A Lyceum Folk Club night.

Quartet Urban Tap House, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5 adv/£3 early bird. Info 029 2039 9557. Fizzi and Sinfonia

HALESTORM (Cardiff University Students Union, Fri 13) THE QUIREBOYS (Fuel, Cardiff, Fri 13) STEVEN WILSON (St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Fri 13) KING DUDE (The Moon Club, Cardiff, Tue 17) MORRISSEY (Motorpoint Arena, Wed 18) WEDNESDAY 13 (The Globe, Wed 18) THE HANDSOME FAMILY BUZZ 69

live music Cymru present a classical music night, also featuring comedian Carlie Smith.

She-e Wu + David Hockings Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2039 1391.

Percussion duo.

The Cradles + The Echo & The Always Gwdihw, Cardiff. 8pm, £4. Info 029 2039 7933.

Wasters + Hana The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7pm, £4 adv. Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com.

100,000 Bodybags + Swift Arvel Le Pub, Newport. 8pm. Info 01633 221477.

SATURDAY 7 All To Ruin + Led By Lions + Sentiments + Arcadian Hobo’s, Bridgend. 7.30pm, free. Info www.hobosmusicvenue.com.

Aubrey Parsons Porter’s, Cardiff. 10.30pm. Info info@porterscardiff.com.

Crossing The Border 1: Workshop Day Cardiff University Concert Hall.

10am-8pm. Info 029 2087 4816. Introducing the music of Dutch composer Louis Andriessen and British composers who have been influenced by him. Workshops in the daytime, performances in the evening.

Dr Syntax & Pete Cannon Gwdihw, Cardiff. 9pm, £6/£5. Info 029 2039 7933.

UK hip-hop faves visit, with a live band.

Elvis: The Legend Lives On Miners’ Institute, Blackwood. 7.30pm, £15/£14. Info 01495 227206.

With Gordon Davis as Big E. Fairport Convention + Kevin Dempsey + Rosie Carson The Garage, Swansea. 8pm, £25 adv. Info 01792 475147.

Gruff Rhys Ebbw Vale Institute. 7.30pm, £19.25.

Info 01495 708022. The only Welsh date for this leg of Gruff’s tour.

H Hawkline The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, £7/£5 adv. Info 01497

pic: TOM BARNES

FRIDAY 6 Allegri Quartet Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 1.15pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2039 1391.

Chamber recital.

Aswad The Globe, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £20 adv. Info theglobevenue@gmail.com.

Blue Is Black + Glue Foot The Dragonffli, Pontypool. 6pm. Info gigs@ thedragonffli.com.

Chaser Kiwis, Cardiff. Free.

Info 029 2039 8965.

Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog + Bromas Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 10pm, £6/£3. Info 029 2023 2199. Presented

by Twrw and also featuring DJs Elan and Mari.

Gareth Evans & Bella Collins Duo Kitty Flynn’s, Cardiff. 9.30pm, free. Info 029 2064 4952.

Helena May & Thom Beetham The North Star, Cardiff. 9.30pm, free. Info 029 2062 4050.

Kathryn Roberts &

Sean Lakeman Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 8pm, £12.50/£11.50. Info 01686 614555.

Killer Queen Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £22/£19.50. Info 01792 475715. Tribute band.

Live Acoustic Night The Pilot, Penarth. Free. Info 029 2071 0615. On the first Friday of each month.

Open Night The Ivy Bush, Pontardawe. 8pm. Info huwpudner@ntlworld.com.

A Valley Folk Club night.

Pete Morton Cellar Bar, Cardigan. 7.30pm, £10 adv.

Info 07818 056599. “People in their millions routinely watch derivative kak masquerading as talent on Britain’s so-called ‘talent’ shows on television – they are being short-changed – Pete Morton is the REAL deal.” How are they being short-changed if they enjoy it?

Shelly Fairplay Congress Theatre, Cwmbran.

12.45pm, £6. Info 01633 868239. Harp recital.

Tankus The Henge Sin City, Swansea. 7.30pm, £3 adv. Info 01792 468892.

This Concept + Arlington Heights + Illicit Meze Lounge, Newport. 7.30pm, free. Info 01633 213161.

Traps Warehouse54, Newport. 8pm, £3/free before 9. Info 01633 259144.

Ska, surf, funk and rare groove combine courtesy of this Bristol band.

World Vs World +

TROYKA Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff, Fri 13 Feb Tickets: £12. Info: 029 2039 1391 / www.rwcmd.ac.uk When London trio Troyka are talked about, it’s often in the same breath as other newish bands who who purposefully blur the boundaries between ‘jazz’ and ‘rock’. There is, generally speaking, a schism between these two scenes in the UK: debuting in 2009 with a self-titled album on Cardiff label Edition, Troyka are from the jazz side of the tracks, culturally. Which is why they’re playing at the Royal Welsh College this month, and other marginal, sonically similar bands – chunky King Crimson-style riffs, broody 90s post-rock sections, electronic burbling – are condemned to venues with fewer seats and stickier floors.

Polar Bear, one of those common comparison points, went down a treat at the RWCMD late last year, though, and on the basis of new LP Ornithophobia, this should also shine.

821762.

High Stakes + Paradox Road The Masons Arms, Llanelli. 7.30pm. Info 01554 746627.

In The Round The Chattery, Swansea. 7.30pm, £10. Info 01792 473276.

Band comprising Peter Bruntnell, Neil Halstead and Danny George Wilson.

Having done various festivals with the reformed Slowdive last year, Neil will no doubt be touring in his own solid gold bus.

Junior Conservatoire Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

3.45pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2039 1391. Held in the foyer.

King Of Pop St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £19.50/£17.50. Info 029 2087 8444. M Jackson tribute courtesy of someone called Navi. In Aberyswyth tomorrow.

Last Chance Saloon Cellar Bar, Cardigan.

7.30pm, £5 adv. Info 07818 056599.

Leighton Jones The Royal Exchange, Cardiff. 9.30pm, free. Info 029 2056 4068.

Love Bazaar + Fur Morgans Cafe Bar, Tonypandy. 7.30pm, £5. Info 01443 437005.

Mr Dowland’s Midnight Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 6.15pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464.

Oxygen Thief + Strange Plains + Strange News From Another Star The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7pm, £4 adv. Info info@thefullmooncardiff.com. Headliner is an acoustic punk person from Bristol. This is the first gig in a while for SNFAS, AFAIK. She Says Kiwis, Cardiff.

Free. Info 029 2039 8965.

Sophie De Winter The North Star, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free. Info 029 2062 4050.

Starling Radicals + Swift Arvel + A Fool And His Money Meze Lounge, Newport. 7.30pm. Info 01633 213161.

The Rockin’ Sinners The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info info@thefullmooncardiff.com.

Thingumjigs St Donats Arts Centre, Vale Of Glamorgan. 7.30pm, £8.50/£2.50. Info 01446 779100. Ceilidh.

Transmission The Lemon Factory, Swansea. 7pm, £7 adv. Info 07969 671379. Joy Division tribute.

Whiskey Lies Rhondda Hotel, Porth. 8pm. Info 01443 682388.

Woahnows + Remedy + Something Anorak + Jesuits + Think Pretty Le Pub, Newport. 8pm, £3.

Info 01633 221477.

SUNDAY 8 Aubrey Parsons Tempus Bar, St David’s Hotel, Cardiff. 1pm, free. Info 0844 8246171.

Jelly Roll Jones The Queens Head, Monmouth.

8.45pm, free. Info 01600 712767.

King Of Pop: The Legend Continues Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 8pm, £9-£18.

Info 01970 623232.

Lynden Haf Roberts Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 1pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464.

Maddie Jones + Zaru Johnson + Aled Rheon The Moon Club, Cardiff.

6pm, free. Info info@thefullmooncardiff.com. This is a “celebration and gathering of local artistry” which is titled Up The Arts. They will surely be embarrassed when they realise how much that sounds like the phrase “up the arse”.

Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash + Attercopus The Scene Club, Swansea. 7.30pm, £12.50 adv. Info 07730 432166.

Roughneck Riot + Ghouls Sin City, Swansea.

7.30pm, £3 adv. Info 01792 468892.

The Hearts + Pretty Vicious Ebbw Vale Institute. 7.30pm, £8 adv.

Info 01495 708022.

MONDAY 9 Community Samba Band – Practise Dates Westenders Hall, Llanfaes, Brecon. 6-8pm, £4/£2 under-16s. Info sambabrecon@yahoo.co.uk.

Hammell On Trial The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8 adv. Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com. It’s 15 years since this sweaty NYC folk-rocker released his Choochtown album.

Live Original Broadcasts The Brewhouse, Cardiff.

8.30pm, free. Info 029 2039 9913.

The Gents Noah’s Yard, Swansea. 8pm. Info 01792 447360.

The Hearts + Pretty Vicious Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30-7.30pm, £8 adv.

Info 029 2023 2199.

You Me At Six + All Time Low Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 6.30pm, £29. Info 029 2022 4488. Biggest tour yet for YMA6. Not entirely sure who all their fans are but they’re not hurting me so.

Ukulele Jam Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff.

8.30pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

TUESDAY 10 Afternoon With Anu Tali Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2pm, £10£12. Info 029 2063 6464.

Estonian conductor Tali presides over performances of Distant Light by Peteris Vasks and music by Arvo Pärt.

Ceredigion Schools Senior Wind Band & Strings Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Info 01970 623232.

Concerto Competition Final Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

2.15pm, £10/£8. Info 029 2039 1391.

Freddie Willetts Group & Alex Merritt Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Preservation Rhythm Kings Café Jazz, Cardiff.

8pm, £4.50/£4/£2 NUS. Info 029 2038 7026.

St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5-£42. Info 029 2087 8444.

WEDNESDAY 11 Coffee Morning Concert The Met, Abertillery. 11am, £2. Info 01495 355800.

Featuring Dan Phelps and guest.

George Crowley Quintet Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Glass Giants + Nineteen Fifty Eight + Quarantine + Death

By Disco Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 10pm, £6/£3. Info 029 2023 2199. Presented

by Twrw and also featuring DJs Elan and Mari.

Godkilla + Piss Viper + A Vulgar Picture + Sodomized Cadaver + Extinction + Helldown The Scene Club, Swansea.

7.30pm, free. Info 07730 432166.

Hannah Watson St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 1pm, £4.75-£6.75. Info 029 2087 8444. Pianist.

Jack Savoretti The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £13 adv.

Info theglobevenue@gmail. com.

Jam Night The New Crown Inn, Merthyr Tydfil. 8pm.

Info 01685 387925. The first one of these, I think, so come along and work it out as you go along.

Jason Curvis The North Star, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free.

Info 029 2062 4050.

Mark Nightingale With The Dave Cottle Trio Jazzland, Swansea. 8.3011pm, £10/£7 members.

Info 07802 912789.

Matthew Ford And The Capital City Jazz Orchestra Whiteheads Sports & Social Club, Bassaleg, Newport. 8pm, £8.

Info malc@dancebands. plus.com. South Wales Big Band Society gig.

Open Mic Market Street Club, Barry. 8pm. Info 01446 733863.

Pontypridd Acoustic Club Clwb Y Bont, Pontypridd.

8.30pm. Info 01443 491424.

On the second Wednesday of every month.

Royal Welsh College Chamber Winds Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 1.15pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2039 1391.

The Caezars + John Lewis Gwdihw, Cardiff.

8pm, £6. Info 029 2039 7933. Rockabilly/rock’n’roll, with a DJ set from Simon Flinstone thrown in.

THURSDAY 12 Aubrey Parsons Tempus Bar, St David’s Hotel, Cardiff. 6pm, free. Info 0844 8246171.

Damien Cook Quintet Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £6/£5. Info 029 2038 7026.

H Hawkline + Tender Prey + No Thee No Ess Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff.

7pm, £6/£5. Info 029 2023 2199. DJing in between Hubert Hawkline and the other acts is Buzz listings editor Noel Gardner. “I look forward to it,” he quipped.

Jelly Roll Jones The Pear Tree, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free.

Info 029 2025 2042.

Jimjam Open Mic Session The Claude Hotel, Albany Road, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 07557 505123.

Every Thursday. This evening’s guest band is Blues Central.

Jive Talkin’ Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £15.50-£19. Info 01792 475715. Bee Gees tribute.

Leddra Chapman +

(The Globe, Sun 22) BLUE (St David’s Hall, Mon 23) FOUR YEARS STRONG (Cardiff University, Tue 24) RAY QUINN (Grand Theatre, Swansea, Tue 24) JUST ANNOUNCED FOR APRIL: ERRORS (Clwb Ifor Bach, Wed 1) WOLF ALICE (The Globe, Wed 1) SHALAMAR (St David’s Hall, Fri 3) WALES GOES POP! (The Gate, BUZZ 70

live music Lee Borderick The Scene Club, Swansea. 7.30pm. Info 07730 432166.

Open Hearth Acoustic Night The Open Hearth, Sebastopol, Pontypool.

7.30pm, £3. Info 01495 763752. On the second Thursday of every month.

Open Mic Night Lyceum Tavern, Newport. 8.30pm.

Info 01633 858636.

Slipstone Newport Fugitives Athletic Club, Rogerstone, Newport.

8.45pm. Info 01633 897923.

A Newport Folk Club night.

The Band Of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

8pm, £12. Info 029 2039 1391.

The Wave Pictures + The Band Formerly Known As My Name Is Ian + Ieuan Williams The Moon Club, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £8 adv. Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com.

TWP, perky indie folks and fairly regular visitors to this venue, are back to promote a new album featuring Billy Childish (doubt the gig will, though).

Thursday Lunchtime Performances Ffotogallery, Penarth. 1.05-1.30pm, free.

Info 029 2034 1667. SN perform the world premiere of specially commissioned music. Not sure who they are but still.

FRIDAY 13 Al Lewis A’r Band Pontardawe Inn. 8.30pm, free. Info 01792 864949. A Gigs Y Gwach night.

Andy Fairweather-Low & The Low Riders Queens Hall, Narberth. 7.30pm, £20/£18 adv. Info 01834 869323. In Pontardawe tomorrow.

Anneke Scott Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 1.15pm, £8/£6 adv. Info 029 2039 1391.

Romantic-era horn player.

Armonico Consort St David’s Hall, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £20. Info 029 2087 8444. Performing three Vivaldi pieces.

Bombs + Junior Bill & The Scallies + Hipicat The Moon Club, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £5 adv. Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com.

Also featuring various WOMP DJs. Cariad + Adam Sale & The Modern Age Mariners Cellar Bar, Cardigan. 7.30pm, £5 adv.

Info 07818 056599. Folk, rock and pop.

Cat Delphi The North Star, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free. Info 029 2062 4050.

Dion Lloyd Jones Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 6.15pm, free.

Info 029 2063 6464.

Don Broco + We Are The In Crowd + Bury Tomorrow + Beartooth Y Plas, Cardiff University Students Union. 7pm, £16.50 adv. Info 029 2078 1458. This year’s Kerrang! tour. It’s not like it was in my day, when Kerrang! covered proper heavy metal bands. Except actually there was always loads of wimpy rubbish in there, just like now.

Fingertrap Warehouse54, Newport. 8pm, £3/free

before 9. Info 01633 259144.

South Wales pop-rock group.

Their band biog is quite remarkable, in that literally every sentence contains at least one red flag, and in some cases several. *From Now On Festival Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. £15/£30 both days. Info 029 2030 4400. See Music for more on this festival, which was great last year.

Today features Zun Zun Egui, Anna Meredith, Meilyr Jones, Mowbird, Moonbow, Wrongs, Jemma Roper and Oh Peas!. On tomorrow also.

Gareth & The Machine The Full Moon, Cardiff.

8pm, free. Info info@thefullmooncardiff.com.

Jack The Biscuit Café Jazz, Cardiff. 9pm, £4. Info 029 2038 7026. Blues.

Lock & Key + To Kill Achilles + From Her Eyes + Conflicts + Backsnapper The Scene Club, Swansea. 7.30pm, £7/£5 adv. Info 07730 432166.

Lunchtime Classics Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl.

1-2pm, free. Info 01656 815995.

Martyn Joseph Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 8pm, £16/£14. Info 029 2089 0862.

Murder Circuit + Grim Existence + Mos Eisley + Strikeback Meze Lounge, Newport. 7.30pm, free withg food donation.

Info 01633 213161. Start Today present a gig in aid of the Cardiff Food Bank.

Music Of The Renaissance National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff.

2pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. Love songs from the 16th and 17th centuries for lute and soprano.

Featuring music by Alfonso Ferrabosco, John Dowland and others.

One Night Stand Kitty Flynn’s, Cardiff. 9.30pm, free. Info 029 2064 4952.

Plasterscene + The Dole Age The Dolls House, Abertillery. 8pm. Info 01495 213300.

Polar Bears Kiwis, Cardiff.

Free. Info 029 2039 8965.

Summer Ghost + Honister Pass + Loam Fields + Horses Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £5/£4 adv. Info 029 2023 9253. Various live electronic kinda things.

The Cradles + Joe Kelly + The Deadbeats Le Pub, Newport. 7.30pm. Info 01633 221477. The Cradles are influenced by The Kinks, Pixies, The Strokes and The Beatles. Great. Plastik magazine described them as being “just like music should be,” although I looked up the actual review and they’ve taken a bit of a film poster-style liberty with that quote.

The Jazz Boys Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

Thomas Ford Blues West End Club, Barry. 8pm, £7 adv. Info 07561 143114.

Blues guitarist whose gig schedule has “taken him from Bodmin to Berlin”.

One of those is the creative capital of Europe and the other had its Christmas tree vandalised because there was nothing else for its

inhabitants to do.

Troyka Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.45pm, £12. Info 029 2039 1391. Jazz-meetsrock (distinct from jazzrock, I think) band whose new album is reviewed in this issue.

SATURDAY 14 Andy FairweatherLow & The Low Riders Pontardawe Arts Centre.

7.30pm, £20. Info 01792 863722.

Bear Bones The Victoria Inn, Swansea. Free. Info 01792 36011.

Chris Kelly The North Star, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free.

Info 029 2062 4050. *From Now On Festival Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. £20/£30 both days. Info 029 2030 4400. Today features Jarcrew, Dope Body, James Blackshaw, Vena Cava, Them Squirrels, Tobion.

Giant Burger and The Wharves.

Hiraeth St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £25/£20.

Info 029 2087 8444. Music, song and dance named after the Welsh word for the feeling that a bear is following you through the woods.

Leighton Jones Band Kiwis, Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2039 8965.

Love Stories Miners’ Institute, Blackwood.

7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 01495 227206. Some of the finest opera melodies from history, courtesy of Opera Mint.

Miss May & The Magic Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@porterscardiff.com.

Monster Ceilidh Band The Globe At Hay, HayOn-Wye. 8pm, £7-£10. Info 01497 821762.

Polar + From Her Eyes + We The Deceiver + Ephemera Hobo’s, Bridgend. 7pm, £7 adv. Info www.hobosmusicvenue.com.

Preliminary Round Of The 2015 Welsh Musical Theatre Young Singer Of The Year Gowerton Comprehensive School, Swansea. 10am-4pm, £2.

Info morgandewi@hotmail. com.

Solid Gold Country Legends Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £14.50£19.50. Info 01792 475715.

The people appearing in this show might not be legends, but rest assured they’ll be playing music by people who are.

The Bella Collins & Gareth Edwards Duo Poets Corner, Roath, Cardiff.

9pm, free. Info 029 2045 8714.

The City On Film + Koji Little Man Coffee Co., Cardiff. 7.30pm, £6 adv. Info 07933 844234. TCOF is Bob Nanna, best known as frontman of 90s emo band Braid.

The venue is a new coffee place on Bridge Street; as such, space is limited.

The Cory Band Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7.30pm, £12/£6. Info 01686 614555.

The Journeymen + The Squirts + Plastic Sam’s Stargazer + Americana Gold The Garage, Swansea.

9pm, £12.50 adv. Info 01792 475147. Charity gig in aid of the prostate cancer ward at Morriston Hospital.

Toploader Aberystwyth

Arts Centre. 8pm, £10-£20.

Info 01970 623232. These guys are still touring the extremities of the UK and entertaining punters... and there’s nothing you trendy hipsters can do about it!

Toyah The Globe, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £17 adv. Info theglobevenue@gmail.com.

Alright Geoff? It’s Robert.

Inn, Oldwalls, Gower, Swansea. 8.30pm. Info 01792 850803. A Halfpenny Folk Club night.

MONDAY 16 Alexander The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7pm, £7 adv. Info info@thefullmooncardiff. com. This is presented by

This month sees the release of In The Pink Of Condition

by H Hawkline: the LA-based Welshman's second album and first for the enduring Heavenly label. He's playing five gigs in the region, too. One's at The Globe in Hay-On-Wye on Sat 7; the other four are at Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, on Thursdays 5, 12, 19 and 26. A residency, if you will.

Robert Fripp, your mate.

Yeah the wife’s buggered off to Wales for some reason, saved me a packet on flowers eh. What do you say we round the boys up and get mortal tonight? Sorry about the line by the way, I only built this phone earlier.

Trepalium + Hole In The Sky + Kill All The Gentlemen The Moon Club, Cardiff. 6.30pm, £8 adv. Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com.

Metal bands.

Valentine Jazz Hamptons, Penarth. 7.30pm, £35. Info 029 2070 5391. With the Keith Little Trio. Fully booked though.

Whisky Business Cellar Bar, Cardigan. 7.30pm, £5 adv. Info 07818 056599.

Covers band.

Will Killeen New Panteg Rugby Club, New Inn, Pontypool. 7.30pm, £7/£5 members. Info 01633 483238. A Borough Blues Club gig.

SUNDAY 15 Aubrey Parsons Tempus Bar, St David’s Hotel, Cardiff. 1pm, free. Info 0844 8246171.

Bear’s Den Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30-10.30pm, £12.

Info 029 2023 2199. Sold out. Just had a swatch at a photo of these guys and I think their name amounts to false advertising, you need more than an indie beard or two to look the part lads.

Handel’s Dixit Dominius Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

1.15pm, free. Info 029 2039 1391.

Ian Luther The Queens Head, Monmouth. 8.45pm, free. Info 01600 712767.

Lakota + Heil Zilla + The Albatross Project The Moon Club, Cardiff.

7pm, £4 adv. Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com.

Lunchtime Concert National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 1pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. Featuring Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama students.

Skyhook The Greyhound

Keko and is for ages 14 and up. I don’t know who or what Alexander is but maybe a 14-year-old would if you asked them.

Bailey McConnell The Globe, Cardiff. 7pm, £12.50 adv. Info theglobevenue@ gmail.com. Teenage acoustic lad.

Emp!re Sin City, Swansea.

7.30pm, £6 adv. Info 01792 468892.

Live Original Broadcasts The Brewhouse, Cardiff.

8.30pm, free. Info 029 2039 9913.

REPCo: Progressions Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

9pm, £5/£3. Info 029 2039 1391. Jazz-influenced improvised music meets string quartet.

RWCMD Cello Orchestra Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

1.15pm, £6/£4. Info 029 2039 1391.

The Collective Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

The Gents Noah’s Yard, Swansea. 8pm. Info 01792 447360.

The Staves Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £12.50.

Info 0871 4720400. Touring their album If I Was. Ukulele Jam Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff.

8.30pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

TUESDAY 17 10cc St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £32.50/£29.50. Info 029 2087 8444.

Blossoms + The Vryll Society Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30-10.30pm, £7.50. Info 029 2023 2199.

Bruno Heinen Trio Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Captain Hotknives + Cosmo + Grant Sharkey The Moon Club, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £5 adv. Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com.

Headliner is a middle aged bloke who sings comedy songs to crowds of casualties at small festivals across the UK. Chelsea Grin + Veil

Of Maya CF10, Cardiff University Students Union.

7pm, £10 adv. Info 029 2078 1458. Deathcore type stuff.

City Of Light: Paris 19001950 Cardiff University Concert Hall. 7-9pm, £3-£10. Info 029 2087 4816.

Works by Messaien and Stravinsky, performed by Peter Hill and Benjamin Frith.

Community Samba Band – Practise Dates Westenders Hall, Llanfaes, Brecon. 6-8pm, £4/£2 under-16s. Info sambabrecon@yahoo.co.uk.

Dan Phelps Classical Trio St Donats Arts Centre, Vale Of Glamorgan. 3pm, £6.50. Info 01446 779100.

David Grubb Gwdihw, Cardiff. 8pm. Info 029 2039 7933. Jazz-folk local. In Chepstow on Sat 21.

Enter Shikari Y Plas, Cardiff University Students Union. 7pm, £19.50 adv.

Info 029 2078 1458. Touring a brand new album, which I listened to and made it to about the fourth song.

A plaque has been fixed to this office’s outside wall to commemorate my heroic feat.

Hot Club Gallois Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £4.50/£4/£2 NUS. Info 029 2038 7026.

REPCo: PROFILE Piano Concerti Concert Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £4.

Info 029 2039 1391. Tianyi Lu conducts a programme of Mozart, Shostakovich and Grieg.

The Mavron Quartet The Gate, Cardiff. 1pm, free. Info 029 2048 3344. Half-term concert.

WEDNESDAY 18 Ant Law Trio Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Blackhawk Big Band Whiteheads Sports & Social Club, Bassaleg, Newport.

8pm, £8. Info malc@dancebands.plus.com. South Wales Big Band Society gig.

Dominic Griffin + Aled Rheon + David Roberts + Shiny Tiger Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £3. Info 029 2039 7933.

Free Ride + The Final Chapter The Scene Club, Swansea. 7.30pm, £3. Info 07730 432166.

Mariachi El Bronx + Pounded By The Surf Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff.

7.30-10.30pm, £12.50. Info 029 2023 2199. Return to Cardiff for the logically named mariachi project of LA rock band The Bronx.

Midweek Madness The North Star, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free. Info 029 2062 4050.

Hosted by Amanda Kelli, the main performer is TBC however.

Paul Wigley Barbershop Quartet Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5/£2. Info 029 2089 0862.

Tipitina Jazzland, Swansea. 8.30-11pm, £10/£7 members. Info 07802 912789. New Orleans-style jazz.

Toundra + Right Hand Left Hand + Scumbag Familiar Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30-10.30pm, £6.

Info 029 2023 2199. Spanish post-rock band headline.

Cardiff, Fri 3-Sun 5) LEE ‘SCRATCH’ PERRY (Portland House, Cardiff, Sun 5) A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS (Clwb Ifor Bach, Wed 8) LOWER THAN ATLANTIS (Cardiff University, Thurs 9) MCBUSTED (Motorpoint Arena, Thurs 9 + Fri 10) TURBOWOLF (Sin City, Thurs 9) G4 (Sherman Theatre, Cardiff, Fri 17) THE BLOW MONKEYS BUZZ 71

live music Traditional Night The Dingle Hotel, Narberth.

8pm, £7/£6. Info 01834 869323. This month’s Spanjazz gig.

THURSDAY 19 Aubrey Parsons Tempus Bar, St David’s Hotel, Cardiff. 6pm, free. Info 0844 8246171.

Cardboard Fox Burnett’s Hill Chapel, Martletwy, Pembrokeshire. 7.30pm, £10. Info 01646 651725.

Folk/bluegrass band which features the Carrivick Sisters. In Swansea on Sat 21.

H Hawkline + Alex Dingley Band + Fist Of The First Man Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7pm, £6/£5.

Info 029 2023 2199.

Jimjam Open Mic Session The Claude Hotel, Albany Road, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 07557 505123.

Every Thursday. This evening’s guest band is Kerosene Lane.

Mike Wilson & Damien Barber Lyceum Tavern, Newport. 8pm. Info 01633 858636. A Lyceum Folk Club night.

Monomyth + Heil Zilla + Cities The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £4 adv. Info info@thefullmooncardiff. com. Headliners are Dutch and play some sort of Krautrock/prog stuff.

Open Mic Night Lyceum Tavern, Newport. 8.30pm.

Info 01633 858636.

Pharis & Jason Romero Snails Deli, Rhiwbina, Cardiff. 7pm, £15 inc buffet. Info 029 2062 0415.

Americana duo who “sing like birds” according to one of the reviews on their poster.

Sam Fowke + The Man With Salt Hair + Aria Sappho + Tendons Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £3. Info 029 2039 7933.

Folk gig presented by Sold Out Music. TMWSH is named after a Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci deep cut but

doesn’t seem to have an online presence.

Tommy Xu Quintet Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £6/£5. Info 029 2038 7026.

Apparently this is a special Chinese New Year gig, for which Tommy and pals will perform four or five Chinese jazz songs.

FRIDAY 20 2 Sick Monkeys + Strength In Blunders + Clay Statues The Dolls House, Abertillery. 7pm, free. Info 01495 213300.

Punk bands.

Ben Huws Duo The North Star, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free.

Info 029 2062 4050.

Brenig Cellar Bar, Cardigan. 7.30pm, £5 adv.

Info 07818 056599. Welsh folk and roots type band.

Cardiff University Chamber Orchestra Cardiff University Concert Hall. 3-5pm, £5/free NUS and under-18s. Info 029 2087 4816. Works by Mozart and Beethoven.

Chinatown Big Band Swing Hamptons, Penarth.

7.30pm, £36. Info 029 2070 5391. Laura and Joan sing songs from the 50s and 60s; you eat a five-course meal.

On tomorrow also.

Chris Summerill Kitty Flynn’s, Cardiff. 9.30pm, free. Info 029 2064 4952.

Classical Cafe Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 8pm, £10£15. Info 029 2089 0862.

Four emerging artists from the classical world each perform a 20-minute set.

Côr Cymru 2015: Youth Choirs Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Info 01970 623232.

Annual event, also broadcast on S4C.(Until Sun 22) Cuba Libre Warehouse54, Newport. 8pm, £3/free before 9. Info 01633 259144.

Got It Covered Kiwis, Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2039 8965.

I Cried Wolf + Carving A Giant + All To Ruin + Arcadian Meze Lounge, Newport. 7.30pm, free. Info

01633 213161. Headliners are a “UK party metal crew” for fans of The Dillinger Escape Plan. Who I rather doubt would enjoy being called party metal.

Lily Beau Pedal Power Cafe, Pontcanna, Cardiff.£15 adv. Info www. cardiffpedalpower.org. New series of monthly nights curated by Newsoundwales and hosted by Pedal Power, a cycling charity working with disabled people.

Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival 2015 Queens Hall, Narberth.

7.30pm, £12-£16. Info 01834 869323. First of three days for this innovative annual event. Today features performances from Black Voices, Frankie Armstrong And Friends and Michael Ormiston & Candida Valentino. (Until Sun 22) Open Mic Market Street Club, Barry. 8pm. Info 01446 733863.

Panic Station Café Jazz, Cardiff. 9pm, £4. Info 029 2038 7026. Blues.

Paul Carrack Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £40/£30. Info 01792 475715.

Philharmonia Orchestra St David’s Hall, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £5-£42. Info 029 2087 8444. Esa Pekka Salonen conducts a programme of Ravel and Stravinsky.

The Blues Band The Riverfront, Newport.

7.30pm, £19.50. Info 01633 656757.

The Jazz Boys Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

The Milk Race + Arms Like Legs + Tusk + Eject Pilot Eject Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £4. Info 029 2023 9253. EP launch gig for TMR. The Rumblestrutters The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com.

The Texas Flood + No Glory + Psycho Kiss The Masons Arms, Llanelli. 8pm.

Info 01554 746627.

Trio Da Kali Pontardawe Arts Centre. 7.30pm, £10/£8.

Info 01792 863722. Jazztinged griot music from Malian trio.

WNO Chorus & Orchestra Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 6.15pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464.

The Magic Flute pre-performance concert.

SATURDAY 21 18th Annual Rorke’s Drift Concert Theatr Brychieniog, Brecon.

7.30pm, £9.50/£8.50. Info 01874 611622. Featuring over 100 young cadet musicians.

3amp Kitty Flynn’s, Cardiff.

9.30pm, free. Info 029 2064 4952.

3sticks The Heath, Cardiff.

8pm, £10. Info 029 2039 4207. A RUFF Ceilidh night, featuring a set by Clocs Canton in the interval.

All Becomes Clear + Esuna + Cross Eyes Meze Lounge, Newport.

7.30pm, free. Info 01633 213161. Headliners are, it says here, Cumbrian grunge revivalists.

Aloha From Hawaii Grand Theatre, Swansea.

7.30pm, £22.50/£30.50. Info 01792 475715. Elvis tribute show, specifically a tribute to his Honolulu performance of the same name.

An Evening With The Siren Sisters Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale. 7.30pm.

Info 01495 355800.

Cardboard Fox The Chattery, Swansea. 7.30pm, £10. Info 01792 473276.

Chinatown Big Band Swing Hamptons, Penarth.

7.30pm, £36. Info 029 2070 5391.

Cloudbusting The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10 adv.

Info theglobevenue@gmail. com. Kate Bush tribute band, for the price of about two songs of an actual Kate concert.

Côr Cymru 2015: Female & Male Choirs

live review FIRST AID KIT

St. David’s Hall, Cardiff, Thurs 15 Jan words JAYDON MARTIN photo GARETH GRIFFITHS The phenomenon of depressing pop joy is still growing strong with First Aid Kit. Picking up the mantel from the likes of Morrissey and Leonard Cohen, the melancholy Stockholm sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg belt out the most unique, blues-inflected country pop anyone has heard in the last 20 years.

Having come a long way from their humble YouTube beginnings, First Aid Kit are now one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the last few years, and one enjoying the luxury of an ever growing audience. Touring off the back off their new album Stay Gold, they sauntered into Cardiff dressed in their shiny boots of gold.

Klara’s vulnerable vocals proved haunting, especially when harmonised with her sister

Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

Info 01970 623232.(Until Sun 22) Cut Ribbons The Scene Club, Swansea. 7.30pm. Info 07730 432166.

David Grubb Lime Tree Cafe Bar, Chepstow. 8pm.

Info 01291 620959.

Denim Snakes + Them Dead Beats The Dolls House, Abertillery. 7pm, free. Info 01495 213300.

Punk bands.

Exaudi St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 1pm. Info 029 2087 8444. Contemporary music ensemble play lunchtime concert. You’re invited to pay what you feel like for this.

Gareth Evans & Bella Collins Duo The North Star, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free.

Info 029 2062 4050.

Houdini Dax + The Cast Offs Rhondda Hotel, Porth.

8pm, £5/£4 adv. Info 01443 682388.

Llyr Williams Beethoven Piano Cycle Part I Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £18/£15. Info 029 2039 1391.

Matt Clark Angorfa Stage, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 6pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464.

Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival 2015 Queens Hall, Narberth.

7.30pm, £12-£16. Info 01834 869323. Today features performances from Enkelit, Grace Savage and Original Sing. (Until Sun 22) Peacemaker, Die! + Hangfire Fuel Bar, Cardiff.

7.30pm. Info mail@ givemefuel.co.uk.

Pete Spokes The Royal Exchange, Cardiff. 9.30pm, free. Info 029 2056 4068.

Poor Old Dogs The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free.

Info info@thefullmooncardiff.com.

Retrospect Kiwis, Cardiff.

Free. Info 029 2039 8965.

Scout Killers + Area 53 Crowley’s Rock Bar, Swansea. 8pm, free. Info

07981 684142.

Simian Ghost + Death Rattle Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 6.30-9.30pm, £5.

Info 029 2023 2199.

St David’s Celebration Concert Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7.30pm, £18. Info 0845 2263510.

The Big What Band Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@porterscardiff.com.

The Kre8ers Cellar Bar, Cardigan. 7.30pm, £5 adv.

Info 07818 056599. Covers band The Marks Cartel + The Caspiens The Lemon Factory, Swansea. 7.30pm, £4 adv. Info 07969 671379.

U2 Tribe The Dragonffli, Pontypool. 6pm, £5 adv. Info gigs@thedragonffli.com.

Welsh Open Brass Bands Entertainment Championship Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. £6/£5.

Info 01656 815995.

SUNDAY 22 Aubrey Parsons Tempus Bar, St David’s Hotel, Cardiff. 1pm, free. Info 0844 8246171.

Côr Cymru 2015: Children’s Choirs & Mixed Choirs Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Info 01970 623232. (Finishes today) Darius Brubeck Quartet Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £15/£13.

Info 01792 602060.

Ghost Of A Dog The Queens Head, Monmouth.

8.45pm, free. Info 01600 712767.

Glen Manby Quartet Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

9pm, free. Info 029 2030 4400. Jazz in the bar.

King Charles The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12 adv.

Info theglobevenue@gmail. com. Alt-pop type singer with big hair.

Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival 2015 Queens Hall, Narberth.

1pm, £12-£16. Info 01834 869323. Today features performances from Sioned Haf Wyn Llewelyn & Bella Voce.

Johanna in songs like Waitress Song and Stay Gold. After listening to their darkly romanticised paeans to America and its attendant culture, you almost want to jump out of your seat, buy a one-way ticket to New York, travel along route 66 and get your heart broken. These feelings of fantasy culminate with their rendition of Simon & Garfunkel’s America, which almost rivals the original for pure heart.

Although St David’s Hall, whose acoustics were designed with orchestrated performances in mind, was packed, the atmosphere was a little lacklustre, with the crowed confined solely to their seats. That said, this forced you to sit back and really take in the music in a more focused fashion, hearing harmonies and musical flair that you wouldn’t otherwise. And even if I yearned to be swaying on my feet with a pint in my hand, the gig was one of the finest musical experiences I’ve been a part of in recent months.

(The Globe, Sun 19) AKALA (Clwb Ifor Bach, Fri 24) DUKE SPECIAL (The Globe, Sun 26) SEASICK STEVE (St David’s Hall, Tue 28) ICEAGE (Clwb Ifor Bach, Wed 29) JUST ANNOUNCED FOR MAY: RHYDIAN (Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare, Fri 1) STORNOWAY (The Globe, Wed 6) THE VAMPS + UNION J (Motorpoint BUZZ 72

live music (Finishes today) Neath Extreme Feast The Duke, Neath. 6-11pm, £3. Info 01639 643892.

Featuring Sodomized Cadaver, Conjurer, Inferno Ortum, Madicide, Helldown, Abyssal Zone, Democratus and The Judas Cradle.

The Remi Harris Trio The King’s Arms, Abergavenny. 8pm, £10/£8.

Info 07958 612691.

MONDAY 23 Community Samba Band – Practise Dates Westenders Hall, Llanfaes, Brecon. 6-8pm, £4/£2 under-16s. Info sambabrecon@yahoo.co.uk.

Gwd Mondays Open Mic Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free. Info 029 2039 7933.

Gypsy Jazz Noah’s Yard, Swansea. 8pm. Info 01792 447360.

Live Original Broadcasts The Brewhouse, Cardiff.

8.30pm, free. Info 029 2039 9913.

Omaha + Pavilions + Bandicoot + Worried For Willis The Scene Club, Swansea. 7.30pm, £3. Info 07730 432166.

Pipedream + Broadbay + The New Tusk The Atrium Students Union, Cardiff. 7pm. Info studunion@southwales. ac.uk. Alt-rock of various kinds, booked by Zen Presents.

Sodomized Cadaver + Conjurer + Inferno Ortum + The Dweller The New Crown Inn, Merthyr Tydfil. 7pm, £3.

Info 01685 387925. Metal bands play for cheap, as part of what seems to be calling itself the Spreading The Sodomy Tour. Not sure if that’s meant in the strict biblical sense. In Abertillery on Wed 25, so there is at least a minor amount of spreading taking place.

The Rumblestrutters Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 8pm, £8.

Info 0845 2263510. Blues and jazz.

Ukulele Jam Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff.

8.30pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

TUESDAY 24 Acoustica Live Sessions Theatr Hafren, Newtown.

7.30pm, £2. Info 01686 614555. Monthly night.

Crossing The Border 2: Concert Cardiff University Concert Hall. 7-9pm. Info 029 2087 4816. Featuring the Contemporary Music Group, conducted by Robert Fokkens.

Dave Smith Quartet Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £4.50/£4/£2 NUS. Info 029 2038 7026.

Gardenia Swing Theatr Brychieniog, Brecon. 8pm, £6. Info 01874 611622. A Brecon Jazz Club gig, with guest Heinz Hunt (wind/ sax) and vocals by Ruth Bowen.

Gnarwolves + Boxkite Hobo’s, Bridgend. 7.30pm, £8 adv. Info www. hobosmusicvenue.com.

Jazz Night The New Crown Inn, Merthyr Tydfil.

8pm. Info 01685 387925.

Jessica Bullen Quintet Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Richard & Adam At The

Movies St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £23-£27.

Info 029 2087 8444.

Royal Welsh College Percussion Ensemble Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £10/£8. Info 029 2039 1391. *Seven That Spells + Anta + Akb’al The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5 adv. Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com.

Powerful bill of heavy prog type stuff here. Anta have played this venue a few times before, while STS are cosmic Croatians whose record sleeves always have scantily clad women on them, the sort of thing that comet scientist guy might wear in the form of a shirt.

WEDNESDAY 25 Alex Dingley + Swci + No Thee No Ess + American Mustard Gwdihw, Cardiff. 8pm, £3.

Info 029 2039 7933. Charity gig in aid of Beauty With A Purpose/Coram, and organised by Sadie Pullman.

Ashley John Long Trio Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Composer Portrait: B Tommy Andersson Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £11.50. Info 029 2063 6464. Thomas Søndergård conducts a programme featyring four Andersson compositions.

Mayuko Katsumura and Nigel Hutchison St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 1pm, £4.75-£6.75. Info 029 2087 8444. Violinist and pianist lunchtime concert.

Midweek Madness The North Star, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free. Info 029 2062 4050.

Open Mic Market Street Club, Barry. 8pm. Info 01446 733863.

Open Mic Night NosDa, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2037 8866. Free drink for performers. Last Wednesday of every month.

Royal Welsh College Chamber Orchestra Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 1.15pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2039 1391.

Safari Gold + Mixalydia + Aled Rheon 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5.

Info 029 2022 8883.

Sodomized Cadaver + Clarity As Arson + Inferno Ortum + Ferinus The Dolls House, Abertillery. 7pm, £2. Info 01495 213300. This is a birthday gig for someone called Ray Packer. Happy birthday Ray. The Afan Trio Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 6.15pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464.

The ‘J’ Word Jazzland, Swansea. 8.30-11pm, £10/£7 members. Info 07802 912789. Jazz quintet.

Tim Barry + Sam Russo + Cory Branan Le Pub, Newport. 7.30pm. Info 01633 221477. Headliner used to be in American punk band Avail. According to his biog, in late 2009 he’ll release a split 7” EP with pal Frank Turner. Thanks for the headsup.

THURSDAY 26 Aubrey Parsons Tempus Bar, St David’s Hotel,

Cardiff. 6pm, free. Info 0844 8246171.

Big Girls Don’t Cry Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

8pm, £11.50-£23. Info 01970 623232. Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons tribute.

Cambion + Ilenkus The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7pm, £4. Info info@thefullmooncardiff.com. Prog metal stuff.

Coltrane Dedication Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £6/£5.

Info 029 2038 7026.

Doomed From Day One + A Trust Unclean + The Dweller + Arlington Heights + Ephemera Fuel Bar, Cardiff. 7pm, £3.

Info mail@givemefuel. co.uk.

Easy Street Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £3/£2.50. Info 029 2038 7026.

H Hawkline Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7pm, £6/£5.

Info 029 2023 2199. Final slot here for Horatio Hawkline, with a very special guest promised.

Jimjam Open Mic Session The Claude Hotel, Albany Road, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 07557 505123.

Every Thursday. This evening’s guest band is Outback.

Make An Aria Public Masterclass Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7pm, £12. Info 029 2039 1391.

Man Without Country Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £6.50 adv. Info 029 2087 7959. This local indie/ electronic duo have been laying low for a while, but have a second album ready to go, and several tour dates including this one.

Open Mic Night Lyceum Tavern, Newport. 8.30pm.

Info 01633 858636. *Pheenus + DC Gates The Plan, Morgan Arcade, Cardiff. 7pm, £7/£5 adv (£12/£10 adv with food).

Info 029 2039 8764. Encôr, Fizzi and The Joy Collective present a show of improvised rock surrealism and scabrous spoken word.

The Elias Quartet Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2039 1391. Specialising in the Beethoven quartets, in fact.

The Unthanks St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 8pm, £18. Info 029 2087 8444. See Music.

FRIDAY 27 Abba Mania St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12.50-£17.50. Info 029 2087 8444.

ACAB Kiwis, Cardiff. Free.

Info 029 2039 8965.

Alex Stacey Workmen’s Hall, Caerphilly. 7.30pm.

Info 07512 237983.

Barbican Piano Trio Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

1.15pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2039 1391.

Basement Torture Killings + Black Skies Burn + The Judas Cradle + Girl Power Le Pub, Newport. 7.30pm, £5. Info 01633 221477.

Grindcore, death metal and, in the case of the entertainingly named Girl Power, D-beat.

Cardiff University Music Department Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

Bay. 6.15pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464.

Chris Kelly Bella Capri, Caerphilly. Free. Info info@ bellacapri.co.uk.

Classic Clapton Borough Theatre, Abergavenny.

7.30pm, £16/£14. Info 01873 850805. Until he read about it in the paper recently, my stepdad was unaware of Eric’s famous racist speech in the 70s, despite being about 22 at the time and a big rock fan. Makes you think. Perhaps.

Cwlwm Celtaidd Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. £15/£10 ages 10-15 (weekend ticket £40/£30 ages 10-15). Info 01656 815995. A family festival of music, song and dance (see Stage for the dance listings) from the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland, Isle Of Man, Cornwall, Brittany, Asturias & Wales. Tonight’s lineup, precise running order TBC: Barrule, Maelog, Emerald Revellers, California & District Pipe Band, Splaan and Hogie’r Berfeddwlad.

(Until Sun 1 Mar) Denim Snakes Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30-10.15pm.

Info 029 2023 2199.

Duncan Disorderly Warehouse54, Newport.

8pm, £3/free before 9. Info 01633 259144. Latin, reggae and gypsy punk, not the sort of thing I’d expect this band’s namesake – elbowy 90s Scottish centre-forward Duncan Ferguson – to rock out to.

Ethemia + Thin Vision The Globe At Hay, Hay-OnWye. 8pm, £3-£5. Info 01497 821762. Folk, ska and indie in various quantities.

Friday Night Is Latin Night with Lito Fontana Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £14/£12. Info 029 2039 1391. Argentinian trombonist joins the Royal Welsh College Brass Band.

Gaz Brookfield The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free.

Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com.

HMS Morris + Rhodri Brooks + Eugene Capper Gwdihw, Cardiff. 8pm, £4.

Info 029 2039 7933.

Inner Terrestrials + Public Order Act + Poetic Justice + Turna Phrase + Taffy Twp + Stereoripe The Moon Club, Cardiff. 6.30pm, £10 adv.

Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com.

Surplus Festival preview gig, headlined by anarcho/ punk favourites who are in Swansea tomorrow.

Lick Of The Python Rhondda Hotel, Porth.

8pm, £4/£3 adv. Info 01443 682388. Yeah nan, the name’s, er, about this time at school we went to the zoo and this kid, er, Chris... anyway, how’ve you been keeping?

Max Raptor + Yearbook + Swim Good Buffalo, Cardiff. 7pm, £5 adv. Info 029 2031 0312. Poppy punk type bands I think.

Organ Recital National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff.

1pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951.

Rumer The Gate, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £20 adv. Info 029 2048 3344. Soul-pop singer, presented here by Orchard.

Sion Russell Jones St Donats Arts Centre, Vale Of Glamorgan. 7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 01446 779100.

Stereophonish + Plasterscene Workmen’s Hall, Caerphilly. 7.30pm, £7/£5 adv. Info 07512 237983. Title, Invasion Of The Zombie Stereophonics Tribute Bands. Strapline, “They want their pound of flesh... and a £500 guarantee!”

The British Blues Allstars The Globe, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £15 adv. Info theglobevenue@gmail.com.

Featuring Zoot Money, Pick Withers, Gary Fletcher and more.

The Harriet Earis Trio + Bare Bones Pontardawe Arts Centre. 7.30pm. Info 01792 863722. An Acoustic Meeting Ground night. *The Jesus & Mary Chain Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union.

7pm, £25 adv. Info 029 2078 1458. See Music.

The Lewis Creaven Band Café Jazz, Cardiff. 9pm, £4.

Info 029 2038 7026. Blues.

Trigger’s Broom Kitty Flynn’s, Cardiff. 9.30pm, free. Info 029 2064 4952.

Two Piece Sweet The North Star, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free. Info 029 2062 4050.

SATURDAY 28 A Design For Live The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8 adv. Info theglobevenue@ gmail.com. Manics tribute band.

Beneath The Reef + Junior Bill & The Scallies + Clean Young Mess Meze Lounge, Newport. 7.30pm, free. Info 01633 213161.

By The River NosDa, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2037 8866. Presented by Big Scott Radio.

Chris Kelly Poets Corner, Roath, Cardiff. 9pm, free.

Info 029 2045 8714.

Cwlwm Celtaidd Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. £18/£13 ages 10-15 (weekend ticket £40/£30 ages 10-15). Info 01656 815995. Tonight’s lineup, precise running order TBC: Shooglenifty, Padraig Lalor Band, Robin Huw Bowen, Emerald Revellers and Bagad Ploërmel. There’ll also be workshops etc in the afternoon. (Until Sun 1 Mar) Dreaming Spires + Redlands Palomino Company Le Pub, Newport.

7.30pm, £5. Info 01633 221477. Country-rock type stuff.

ESTA Young Composers Concert Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £6. Info 029 2039 1391.

Houdini Dax + Emerald Armada + Sion Russell Jones Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 8pm, £6/£5. Info 029 2023 2199.

Inner Terrestrials + A Sudden Vengeance Waits + Tim Loud + Tim Holehouse The Garage, Swansea. 8pm, £5 adv. Info 01792 475147.

Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £11. Info 029 2087 7959. Popular folk/roots duo.

One For The Road Kiwis,

Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2039 8965. I went to see this band play a few weeks back, on account of being friends with the drummer. Not only did they get ‘the ladies’ dancing, the spectacle of seeing blokes sidle up to the ladies, before getting shooed away like dogs, made for fine spectator sport. Maybe this will occur here also.

Peacemaker, Die! + Hangfire The Duke, Neath.

7.30pm. Info 01639 643892.

Prosperina + Vails + Attercopus The Scene Club, Swansea. 7.30pm, £6/£4 adv. Info 07730 432166.

Regime The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info info@thefullmooncardiff. com.

The Cut Ups + Dividers + Roka + Life Under Bombs The Moon Club, Cardiff. 8pm, £5. Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com.

Presented by DIY Cardiff.

The Groundnuts & Independents + Sump + Heil Zilla Mozarts, Swansea. 7.30pm, £3. Info 01792 649984.

The University Singers Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

8pm, £2-£9.50. Info 01970 623232. Choir.

stage SUNDAY 1 Dan Nightingale + Harriet Kemsley Buffalo, Cardiff. 7pm, £7 adv. Info 029 2031 0312. Presented

by Buffalo Comedy. More acts TBC. Johann Strauss Gala St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 3pm, £17.50-£32.50. Info 029 2087 8444. Flamboyant revuew featuring an orchestra, dancers and soprano Kirsty Swift.

Live Cabaret Market Street Club, Barry. 8.30pm. Info 01446 733863. Every Sunday.

Matt Richardson + Matt Rees + Karen Sherard + Phil Cooper The Scene Club, Swansea. 7pm, £8 adv.

Info 07730 432166. Comedy night, here on the first Sunday of every month for the foreseeable.

Mother Goose St Donats Arts Centre, Vale Of Glamorgan. 7pm, £8/£6. Info 01446 779100. Presented by Stage Door 1 Youth Theatre.

Yr Hwyden Fach Hyll Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

2pm, £4-£8. Info 01970 623232. Welsh language kids’ show.

MONDAY 2 Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience Ffresh, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £45. Info 029 2063 6464. Restaurantbased tribute to popular 1970s sitcom. Change one letter and you can absolutely anything you want, anywhere, is the moral of this story. (Until Wed 11) Y Twr Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen. 8pm, £14/£12.

Info 0845 2263510. Gwenlyn Parry’s play, performed by Invertigo Theatre.

Arena, Thurs 7) THE PRODIGY (Motorpoint Arena, Fri 8) YOUNG FATHERS (Clwb Ifor Bach, Wed 27) JOHN BARROWMAN (Motorpoint Arena, Sat 30)

BUZZ 73

stage

WEDNESDAY 4 Brian Damage & Krystaal + Dan Thomas + Jordan Brookes + Paul James Maesteg Town Hall. 7.30pm, £7 adv. Info 01656 733700. February’s edition of the Clown’s Pocket comedy night.

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience Ffresh, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £45. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Wed 11) Grav Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 7.45pm, £7-£12.50.

Info 01646 695267. See Upfront. In Neath on Mon 16; Ystradgynlais on Wed 18; Llanelli on Thurs 19 and Fri 20; Abertillery on Tue 24; Treorchy on Wed 25; Blackwood on Sat 28. (Until Sat 14) The Comedy Of Errors The Gate, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £8.50. Info 029 2048 3344.

Presented by Clock Tower Theatre. (Until Fri 6) The Business Of Murder New Theatre, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £9.50-£27. Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 7) The Forsythe Sisters Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8pm, £10. Info 029 2087 7959.

Lucy Rivers and Hannah McPake have written a paranormal-themed thriller which is on for three days now, then Wed 11-Sat 14.

(Until Fri 6) Urdd Jambori Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 10.30am + 1.30pm, free. Info 01686 614555. Welsh language fun for kids.

Waiting For Stanley Miners’ Institute, Blackwood. 7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 01495 227206.

Play set in WWII circa 1945, and concerning a day in the life of a woman waiting for her husband to return home.

In Abergavenny tomorrow.

THURSDAY 5 Ablutions Pontardawe Arts Centre. 7.30pm, £5-£10. Info 01792 863722. Dark modern drama adapted from the novel by Patrick DeWitt.

Alan Carr Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 8pm, £27.50. Info 01686 614555. Sold out. In Aberystwyth on Sat 7.

A Night Of Dirty Dancing The Riverfront, Newport.

7.30pm, £20. Info 01633 656757.

Clint Edwards + John Gordillo + Ben Norris Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £10/£5 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. New series, Comedy Carousel, featuring “handpicked” comedians BUZZ 74

from the circuit. The audience are also asked to choose a winner, and there’s interactive games etc. Every Thursday this month.

Dr Livingstone, I Presume Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 7.30pm, £11-£14.

Info 01656 815995. Miracle Theatre tell the story of Livingstone’s journey to “the heart of Africa” in Victorian music hall style. It has a bit of a pop at imperialism, but also credits bravery where it’s due. Pick a side and pigheadedly stick to it, I say.

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience Ffresh, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £45. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Wed 11) Grav Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 7.45pm, £7-£12.50.

Info 01646 695267. (Until Sat 14) Le Pub Is For LOLs Le Pub, Newport. 8pm. Info 01633 221477. Comedy night on the first Thursday of every month.

Mike Doyle Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £13.50£17.50. Info 01792 475715.

Oliver Twist Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.30pm, £5-£10. Info 01970 623232.

Presented by Castaway Community Theatre. (Until Sat 7) The Business Of Murder New Theatre, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £9.50-£27. Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 7) The Comedy Of Errors The Gate, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £8.50. Info 029 2048 3344.

(Until Fri 6) The Forsythe Sisters Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8pm, £10. Info 029 2087 7959.

(Until Fri 6) The Joyce Grenfell Fan Club Mozarts, Swansea.

7.30pm, free. Info 01792 649984. A night of comedy charcters with Karen Sherrard, Simon Emanuel, Louisa Lorey, Ben Thurston and Mark Montinaro.

This Is The Moon, That Is The Earth Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.45pm, £4.25£8.50. Info 01970 623232.

Comedy theatre presented

by Gameshow.

Waiting For Stanley Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 01873 850805.

FRIDAY 6 Dave Johns + Brendan Reece + Andrew Ryan Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 8pm, £12/£10 adv. Info 0845 2263510. Comedy Club night.

Drones Comedy Club Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

8.30pm, £3.50. Info 029 2030 4400. Also on Fri 20.

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience Ffresh, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £55. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Wed 11) Grav Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 6pm, £7-£12.50. Info 01646 695267. (Until Sat 14) Kevin McCarthy + Ivo Graham + John Gordillo + Ben Norris Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £15/£5 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. On tomorrow also.

Mike Doyle Borough Theatre, Abergavenny.

7.30pm, £17/£15. Info 01873 850805.

Oliver Twist Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.30pm, £5-£10.

Info 01970 623232. (Until

Sat 7) Rosie’s Magic Horse Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot. 10 + 11am.

Info 01639 763214. Kids’ play (for ages three and up) based on a Russell Hoban book.

Seussical Jr. Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7.30pm, £9. Info 0845 2263510. Dr Seuss taken to the stage, presented by SA15 Stage School.

(Until Sun 8) The Business Of Murder New Theatre, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £9.50-£27. Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 7) The Comedy Of Errors The Gate, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £8.50. Info 029 2048 3344.

(Finishes today) The Forsythe Sisters Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8 + 10pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2087 7959. (Until Fri 6) SATURDAY 7 Alan Carr Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 8pm, £13.75-£27.50.

Info 01970 623232.

Body Poppers Fantasy Showcase Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7pm, £9/£6. Info 01686 614555. Local youth dance company showcase their talents.

Dances From Frozen Blake Theatre, Monmouth.

2 + 6.30pm, £7.50/£5. Info 01600 719401. Presented by Wye Valley Dance School.

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience Ffresh, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 12 + 7.30pm, £55. Info 029 2063 6464.

(Until Wed 11) Flick & Julie Riverside Conservative Club, Cardiff.

6pm, free (donations welcome). Info flickandjulie@ yahoo.com. Comedy duo Flick & Julie, real names Beth and Gemma, have set up what they call their Pop-Up Penny Pinching Shop here. “There will be badgers.* (*There may not be badgers)” says their press release, which was in Comic Sans.

Grav Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 7.45pm, £7-£12.50.

Info 01646 695267. (Until Sat 14) Jukebox & Bobbysox 2015 Congress Theatre, Cwmbran.

7.30pm, £15 adv. Info 01633 868239. Rock’n’roll musical.

Junior Simpson + Danny Sutcliffe + Stephen Grant + Johnny Candon Tiger Tiger, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12.50 adv. Info 029 2039 1944. New weekly event here, Manford’s Comedy Nights, the nationally franchised brainchild of Jason Manford and his brother. “I want to put something back into what comedy has given me,” says Jason, who as I recall got into trouble before for doing that.

Kevin McCarthy + Ivo Graham + John Gordillo + Ben Norris Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £17.50/£5 NUS. Info 0871 4720400.

Mike Doyle Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 7.30pm, £18.

Info 01646 695267.

Oliver Twist Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.30pm, £5-£10. Info 01970 623232.

(Finishes today) Ross Noble Grand Theatre, Swansea. 8pm, £25. Info 01792 475715.

Seussical Jr. Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 3 + 7.30pm, £9.

Info 0845 2263510. (Until Sun 8)

pic: KIRSTEN MCTERNAN

TUESDAY 3 Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience Ffresh, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £45. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Wed 11) The Business Of Murder New Theatre, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £9-£21. Info 029 2087 8889. Psychological thriller by Richard Harris, which ran for nine years in the West End until it was realised that the actors’ weapons were only props, making it easier to force them to stop acting. (Until Sat 7) Tim Key & Tom Basden + Henry Widdecombe Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff.

8-10pm, £10 adv. Info 029 2023 2199. Comedy.

HOOD Sherman Cymru, Cardiff, Wed 25-Sat 28 Feb Tickets: £8/£6/£4 under-25s. Info: 029 2064 6900 / www.shermancymru.co.uk The Youth Theatre wing of Sherman Cymru has been an important cog of the organisation’s whole setup, before and after the venue’s lavish rebuilding job and generous Arts Council funding. It was restructured last year, with budding thesps aged 10-17 starting to hone their skills from September 2014. Hood is the first results to be shared with the public, and it seems that a glut of talent was unearthed: the play runs for four nights, with two wholly separate casts performing twice each. For its subject matter, Hood examines the plight of a teenage girl, herself named Hood; the eldest child of five, she’s forced to take on a parental role thanks to an absent mother and indolent father.

Sully O’Sullivan + Bryan Lacey + Tony Hendriks Jongleurs, Cardiff. 7pm, from £15. Info 08700 111960.

The Business Of Murder New Theatre, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £9-£27. Info 029 2087 8889. (Finishes today) Welsh National Opera: Chorus! Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £5-£40. Info 029 2063 6464.

Compilation of famous operatic scene, featuring the WNO Chorus and Lesley Garrett. Also on Sat 14 amd Sun 22.

SUNDAY 8 Live Cabaret Market Street Club, Barry. 8.30pm. Info 01446 733863.

Russell Kane & Friends Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 6.45pm, £13.50/£10 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. Sold out.

Seussical Jr. Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 3pm, £9. Info 0845 2263510. (Finishes today) Showtime St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 12pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2087 8444. Presented by the Mandy And Shirley Morris School Of Dance.

MONDAY 9 Annual Drama & Pantomime Festival 2015 Theatr Brychieniog, Brecon.

7pm, £12. Info 01874 611622. Presented by the Young Farmers’ Club. (Until Sat 14) Caterpillar Comedy Gwdihw, Cardiff. 8pm, free.

Info 029 2039 7933. Open mic standup night hosted

by James Dunn (taking over from Jordan Brookes).

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience Ffresh, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £45. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Wed 11) Room On The Broom Grand Theatre, Swansea.

1.30 + 4.30pm, £12/£8. Info 01792 475715. Witchy kids’ play. On tomorrow also.

The First Time Machine Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

6 + 8.30pm, £8. Info 029 2030 4400. Live music, theatre and dance presented by Run Ragged. On tomorrow also; in Aberystwyth on Sun 15, Brecon on Thurs 19 and Ystradgynlais on Sun 22.

The Forbidden Door Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

8pm, £8-£12. Info 029 2030 4400. Folk-centric storytelling/theatre session presented by The Devil’s Violin. In Aberystwyth on Sat 28.

TUESDAY 10 Annual Drama & Pantomime Festival 2015 Theatr Brychieniog, Brecon.

7pm, £12. Info 01874 611622. (Until Sat 14) Brendon Burns Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 8pm, £8 adv. Info 029 2030 4400. Ranty UK comedian embarks on a tour playing to wilfully small audiences, in an attempt to avoid the “stag and hen party” crowds.

Obviously it is possible to look at this in a cynical light, but in this instance I choose not to. In Newport tomorrow and Bridgend the day after.

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience Ffresh, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £45. Info

029 2063 6464. (Until Wed 11) Grav Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 7.45pm, £7-£12.50.

Info 01646 695267. (Until Sat 14) Josie Long Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12. Info 029 2023 2199. See the Q&A section this month.

Longing Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2039 1391. William Boyd’s novel, based on two Chekhov tales, presented onstage by the Richard Burton Theatre. (Until Mon 16) One Man, Two Guvnors New Theatre, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £13-£30. Info 029 2087 8889. Award-winning National Theatre comedy which has been here a few times before. (Until Sat 14) Reasons To Be Pretty Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

7.15pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2039 1391. Neil LaBute play tackling modern standards of beauty and related issues.

(Until Mon 16) Richard III Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2 + 7.30pm, £12. Info 029 2063 6464. All-female production situated in The Void, which is the bit of the WMC under the bronze canopy. Presented by Omidaze.

(Until Mon 23) Room On The Broom Grand Theatre, Swansea.

1.30 + 4.30pm, £12/£8. Info 01792 475715.

Singin’ In The Rain Parc & Dare, Treorchy. 7pm, £6-£8. Info 0800 0147111.

Musical presented by Treorchy Comprehensive

stage School. (Until Thurs 12) The Cripple Of Inishmaan Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2039 1391. Richard Burton Theatre present a play – previously a West End hit starring Daniel Radcliffe – about a small Irish island.

(Until Mon 16) The First Time Machine Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

6 + 8.30pm, £8. Info 029 2030 4400.

WEDNESDAY 11 Accrington Pals Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £12.50/£8.50 NUS. Info 01633 263670. Play set in Accrington during the first few years of the First World War. (Until Sat 14) Annual Drama & Pantomime Festival 2015 Theatr Brychieniog, Brecon.

7pm, £12. Info 01874 611622. (Until Sat 14) Boxfull Porter’s, Cardiff.

8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com. Dan Mitchell and his comedic mates are making live sketch and film funnies this month on the theme of food and drink.

Brendon Burns Le Pub, Newport. 7.30pm, £8 adv.

Info 01633 221477.

Count Arthur Strong Grand Theatre, Swansea.

8pm, £18. Info 01792 475715.

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience Ffresh, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £45. Info 029 2063 6464. (Finishes today) Grav Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 7.45pm, £7-£12.50.

Info 01646 695267. (Until Sat 14) Longing Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Mon 16) One Man, Two Guvnors New Theatre, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £13-£30. Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 14) Reasons To Be Pretty Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

7.15pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Mon 16) Richard III Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2 + 7.30pm, £12.

Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Mon 23) Singin’ In The Rain Parc & Dare, Treorchy. 7pm, £6-£8. Info 0800 0147111.

(Until Thurs 12) The Cripple Of Inishmaan Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2039 1391.

(Until Mon 16) The Forsythe Sisters Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2087 7959.

(Until Sat 14) The Royal Bed The Riverfront, Newport.

7.45pm, £6.50-£12.50. Info 01633 656757. English language adaptation of Siwan by Saunders Lewis, presented by Theatr Pena.

In Milford Haven on Wed 18; Aberystwyth on Thurs 19; Blackwood on Tue 24; Newtown on Thurs 26; Abergavenny on Sat 28.

(Until Sat 14) THURSDAY 12 Accrington Pals Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £12.50/£8.50 NUS. Info

01633 263670. (Until Sat 14) Annual Drama & Pantomime Festival 2015 Theatr Brychieniog, Brecon.

7pm, £12. Info 01874 611622. (Until Sat 14) Brendon Burns Hobo’s, Bridgend. 7.30pm, £8 adv.

Info www.hobosmusicvenue. com.

Carey Marx + Fin Taylor + Susan Murray Queens Hall, Narberth. 7.15pm, £8-£12. Info 01834 869323.

Comedy Club night.

Charlie Smith Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com. A Porter’s Comedy Den standup night.

Clint Edwards + Phil Nicol Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £10/£5 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. Comedy Carousel night.

Grav Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 7.45pm, £7-£12.50.

Info 01646 695267. (Until Sat 14) Lloyd Langford Torch Theatre, Milford Haven.

8pm, £12/£10. Info 01646 695267.

Longing Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.15pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2039 1391.

(Until Mon 16) One Man, Two Guvnors New Theatre, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £11-£30. Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 14) Reasons To Be Pretty Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

7.15pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Mon 16) Richard III Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2 + 7.30pm, £12.

Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Mon 23) Singin’ In The Rain Parc & Dare, Treorchy. 7pm, £6-£8. Info 0800 0147111.

(Finishes today) The Cripple Of Inishmaan Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Mon 16) The Forbidden Door Pontardawe Arts Centre.

7.30pm, £5-£10. Info 01792 863722. Drama with live music, presented by The Devil’s Violin Company.

The Forsythe Sisters Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2087 7959.

(Until Sat 14) The Little Mermaid Jr Theatr Hafren, Newtown.

7.30pm, £10/£7. Info 01686 614555. Performed by the performing arts course here at the NPTC Newtown campus. On tomorrow also.

The Muddy Choir Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea. 1 + 7.30pm, £7-£11. Info 01792 602060. Drama by Theatre Centre, set in Ypres circa November 1917. Afternoon performance is for schools.

In Aberystwyth tomorrow.

The Royal Bed The Riverfront, Newport. 2.30 + 7.45pm, £6.50-£12.50. Info 01633 656757. (Until Sat 14) FRIDAY 13 Accrington Pals Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £12.50/£8.50 NUS. Info 01633 263670. (Until Sat 14) Andy Robinson + Phil Jerrod + Mark Nelson + Phil Nichol Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £15/£5 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. On tomorrow also.

Annual Drama & Pantomime Festival 2015

Theatr Brychieniog, Brecon.

7pm, £12. Info 01874 611622. (Until Sat 14) Champions Of Magic Grand Theatre, Swansea.

7.30pm, £20/£17. Info 01792 475715. Big flashy magic show with bells and whistles and bangs.

Grav Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 7.45pm, £7-£12.50.

Info 01646 695267. (Until Sat 14) Lloyd Langford Pontardawe Arts Centre.

8pm, £12. Info 01792 863722.

Longing Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Mon 16) National Dance Company Wales: Spring Tour Premiere Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £12-£16. Info 029 2063 6464. Featuring three pieces by Johan Inger, Alexander Ekman and Stephen Shropshire. On tomorrow also.

One Man, Two Guvnors New Theatre, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £15-£33. Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 14) The Little Mermaid Jr Theatr Hafren, Newtown.

7.30pm, £10/£7. Info 01686 614555.

Reasons To Be Pretty Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.15pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Mon 16) Richard III Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2pm, £12. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Mon 23) The Cripple Of Inishmaan Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Mon 16) The Edelweiss Pirates Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 8pm, £10 adv. Info 0845 2263510.

WWI drama set in Germany circa 1942 and presented

by Llanelli Youth Theatre.

(Until Sun 15) The Forsythe Sisters Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8 + 10pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2087 7959. (Until Sat 14) The Magic Flute Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £5-£40. Info 029 2063 6464. WNO production, conducted by Lothar Koenigs. Also on Sun 15, Fri 20, Thurs 26 and Sat 28.

The Muddy Choir Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

7.30pm, £5-£10. Info 01970 623232.

The Royal Bed The Riverfront, Newport. 7.45pm, £6.50-£12.50. Info 01633 656757. (Until Sat 14) Warnings To The Curious Gwyn Hall, Neath. 7.30pm, £9/£7. Info 0300 3656677.

Don’t Go Into The Cellar present three spooky stories, told in theatrical style by MR James.

SATURDAY 14 Accrington Pals Dolman Theatre, Newport. 2.30 + 7.15pm, £12.50/£11 matinee/£8.50 NUS. Info 01633 263670. (Finishes today) Andy Robinson + Phil Jerrod + Mark Nelson + Phil Nichol Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £17.50/£5 NUS. Info 0871 4720400.

Annual Drama & Pantomime Festival 2015 Theatr Brychieniog, Brecon.

7pm, £12. Info 01874 611622. (Finishes today) Bluestocking Lounge: Mad Love Grand Theatre Arts Wing, Swansea. 8pm, £12/50. Info 01792 475715.

Burlesque show headlined by one Scarlett Daggers.

Cinderella 2015 Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 2pm, £14/£10. Info 01633 868239.

Panto starring Owen Money.

“Don’t be like Owen Money on the golf course. Make sure you do get to the ball!” advises someone who timetravelled from 1973 and got a marketing job for Rainbow Valley Pantomimes. (Until Sun 22) Grav Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 7.45pm, £7-£12.50.

Info 01646 695267.

(Finishes today) Longing Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Mon 16) National Dance Company Wales: Spring Tour Premiere Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £12-£16. Info 029 2063 6464.

One Man, Two Guvnors New Theatre, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £13-£33. Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 14) Phil Evans & Friends Savoy Theatre, Monmouth.

8pm, £12. Info 01600 772467. Valentine’s comedy show by a Welsh comic who can, apparently boast over 20 years’ experience.

Reasons To Be Pretty Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

7.15pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Mon 16) Richard III Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2pm, £12. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Mon 23) Robin Hood Miners Theatre, Ammanford. 2pm, free. Info 0845 2263510.

Free kids’ performance presented by Riverbank Productions.

Sean Meo + Adam Staunton + Dave Johns + Debra Jane Appleby Tiger Tiger, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12.50 adv. Info 029 2039 1944.

Ste Porter + Javier Jarquin + Richard Morton Jongleurs, Cardiff.

7pm, from £15. Info 08700 111960.

The Cripple Of Inishmaan Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Mon 16) The Edelweiss Pirates Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 4 + 8pm, £10 adv. Info 0845 2263510.

(Until Sun 15) The Forsythe Sisters Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2087 7959.

(Finishes today) The Royal Bed The Riverfront, Newport. 2.30 + 7.45pm, £6.50-£12.50. Info 01633 656757. (Finishes today) U. Dance 2015 Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 0845 2263510. Nationwide celebration of youth dance.

Welsh National Opera: Chorus! Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £5-£40. Info 029 2063 6464.

SUNDAY 15 Cinderella 2015 Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 2pm, £14/£10. Info 01633 868239.

(Until Sun 22)

STAGE COMPETITIONS With all the exciting shows hitting the stage this month we have more free competition tickets to see them. We also have DVDs, comedy and festival tickets to give away on page 78.

TICKETS TO SEE THE FORSYTHE SISTERS If all things sinister get you excited, then catch The Forsythe Sisters. We have a pair of tickets to thier 8pm show on Fri 6 Feb at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay. Just answer the question before Tues 3 Feb. Q: Which Cardiff-born writer was baptised in the Norwegian Church?

TICKETS TO THE WOMAN IN BLACK This acclaimed stage show Twill be terrifying audiences at the Swansea Grand Theatre this month and you could get a fright for free with a pair of tickets to the show on Mon 23 Feb. Just answer before Sat 14 Feb. Q: Why does the Woman In Black seek revenge?

TICKETS TO ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS This much-loved British classic comes to Cardiff’s New Theatre this month. If you’re a lover of slapstick and all things silly, don’t miss the chance to win a pair of tickets to see the show on Wed 11 Feb. Just answer this question before Wed 4 Feb. Q: What does Cockney rhyming slang term 'bubble bath' mean?

TICKETS TO GREED: THE ROCK OPERA Fancy an activist themed rock opera?

We have a pair of tickets to the show at Theatr Brycheiniog on Wed 27 Feb and the Merthyr Redhouse on Fri 20 Mar. For your chance to win just answer the question before Mon 16 Feb and let us know your preference of venue.

Q: What is the name of the fictional Welsh town in Greed?

TICKETS TO HANSEL AND GRETEL Forget what you know about the childhood fairytale Hansel And Gretel, and prepare for a dark and delicious version instead of the sugary sweet tale you're likely used to. You can win a pair of tickets to the sinister opera, on Fri 27 Feb at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay, by answering the following before Wed 18 Feb. Q: What was the name of the 2013 follow-up film based on the Brothers Grimm tale?

Please email your answers, name, address, Twitter username (if you have one) and contact number to competitions@buzzmag.co.uk by Sun 1 Mar unless otherwise stated.

BUZZ 75

stage

THE MUDDY CHOIR Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea, Thurs 12 Feb; Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Fri 13 Feb Tickets: £6-£10. Info: 01792 602060 / www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk (Swansea); 01970 623232 / www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk (Aberystwyth) It's November 1917 and young soldiers Will, Jumbo and Robbie are battling through a landscape far removed from the lifestyle and estates of their Northern English home. Their time in the trenches could soon be over, though, as their new-found survival method of singing has attracted the attention of the German gunmen – resulting in a fatal decision imposed by British Commanders. Could their passion for song lead to serious consequences for these lads? The Muddy Choir marked the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War when it premiered last year, and is a deeply moving, beautifully constructed play written

by Jesse Briton, who has brought the war to life by exploring the relationship of personal and military motivations that rules the lives of the three protagonists.

Festival Of Diversity: X11 Ratu Kelantan St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 2pm, £11. Info 029 2087 8444. Musical presented by Cardiff University’s Malaysian Students Society.

Live Cabaret Market Street Club, Barry. 8.30pm. Info 01446 733863.

Longing Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Mon 16) Reasons To Be Pretty Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2039 1391.

(Until Mon 16) Richard III Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £12. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Mon 23) The Cripple Of Inishmaan Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2039 1391.

(Until Mon 16) The Edelweiss Pirates Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 4 pm, £10 adv. Info 0845 2263510.

(Finishes today) The First Time Machine Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

2pm, £4-£8. Info 01970 623232.

The Magic Flute Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 4pm, £5-£40. Info 029 2063 6464.

MONDAY 16 Cinderella Borough Theatre, Abergavenny.

7pm, £5.50. Info 01873 850805. Presented by the Abergavenny Panto Company.

(Until Sat 21) Comedy Gala Night Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £25.50. Info 01792 475715.

This is in aid of Cyrenians BUZZ 76

Cymru and features Jon Richardson, Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe, Lloyd Langford and Elis James, plus a charity auction hosted by Rhod Gilbert.

Grav Gwyn Hall, Neath.

7.30pm, £5-£10. Info 0300 3656677.

Longing Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2039 1391. (Finishes today) Nick Helm + David Trent Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.3010pm, £10. Info 029 2023 2199. Comedy presented by Little Wander.

Noel Fielding Grand Theatre, Swansea. 8pm, £25.50. Info 01792 475715.

Reasons To Be Pretty Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2039 1391.

(Finishes today) REPCo: Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Scenes Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 6.45pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2039 1391.

Richard III Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2 + 7.30pm, £12. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Mon 23) Sing A Long A Frozen St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 11am, 3pm + 6pm, £15/£10. Info 029 2087 8444.

The Addams Family Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen.

7.30pm, £15/£13. Info 0845 2263510. Presented by Carmarthen Youth Opera, who claim to have so much talent this year they’ve organised a double cast. I guess that means the director says “break both legs” to the actors as they go onstage.

That’s a dadjoke right there.

(Until Sat 21) The Cripple Of Inishmaan Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2039 1391.

(Finishes today) YFC Pantomime Festival 2015 Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7.30pm, £8. Info 01686 614555. (Until Sat 21) TUESDAY 17 Blasted The Other Room, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2128 0189. Other Room Theatre debut their new venue, inside Porters bar, and present their take on Sarah Kane’s play. (Until Sat 7 Mar) Cinderella Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7pm, £5.50. Info 01873 850805.

(Until Sat 21) Cinderella 2015 Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 2pm, £14/£10. Info 01633 868239.

(Until Sun 22) Family Interactive Matinee Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2.30pm, £8. Info 029 2063 6464.

National Dance Company Wales present a session aimed at kids aged 7 and up.

Grandfather Ted’s Shed Theatr Brychieniog, Brecon.

2.30 + 6pm, £6.50/£4.50.

Info 01874 611622.

Multimedia musical for kids.

Piste Off Comedy Club Face 11, Cathays, Cardiff.

8pm, free. Info 029 2022 8221. Here on the third Tuesday of every month.

Richard III Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 11am, £12. Info 029 2063 6464. No show on Wed 18 or Thurs 19. (Until Mon 23)

Robin Hood & The Babes In The Wood Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare. 7pm, £7-£10. Info 0800 0147111.

Panto, presented by Colstars.

(Until Sat 21) Robinson Crusoe Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7pm, £11/£9 kids. Info 01633 263670. Presented by Newwport Pantomime Society. (Until Sat 21) The Addams Family Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen.

7.30pm, £15/£13. Info 0845 2263510. (Until Sat 21) The Last Tempest Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

7.30pm, £6-£12. Info 01970 623232. Uninvited Guests and Fuel present their own sequel to The Tempest. Got an email yesterday about a book called An Apology For Shakespeare, aiming to counter a culture which has apparently forgotten about him. The author thought this was Satan’s fault, and that Shakespeare wrote his books “over half a millennium ago”.

Theo The Mouse Circus Show Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 2pm, £8. Info 01646 695267.

The Selfish Giant Queens Hall, Narberth. 1.45pm, £7/£6 adv. Info 01834 869323.

Kids’ show from Sealeags Puppet Theatre.

Twelve Angry Men New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £11.50-£28.50. Info 029 2087 8889. Esteemed courtroom thriller whose cast features people who have been in Coronation Street, Drop The Dead Donkey, EastEnders, Hollyoaks, Secret Diary Of A Call Girl, Doctors, The Royal, Holby City and Torchwood. Oh and Tom Conti, who can stand on his own name rather than what TV shows he’s been in.

(Until Sat 21) YFC Pantomime Festival 2015 Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7.30pm, £8. Info 01686 614555. (Until Sat 21) WEDNESDAY 18 Birdy Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli.

7pm, £10/£8. Info 0845 2263510. Dance production from Osborne & What, based on both the novel and subsequent film of the same name.

In Brecon on Fri 20.

Blasted The Other Room, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2128 0189. (Until Sat 7 Mar) Cinderella Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7pm, £6.50. Info 01873 850805.

(Until Sat 21) Cinderella 2015 Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 2pm, £14/£10. Info 01633 868239.

(Until Sun 22) Cirque Du Hilarious Grand Theatre, Swansea. 2pm, £14.50/£12.50. Info 01792 475715. Slapstick comedy from Clive Webb and Danny Adams.

Comedy Club 4 Kids Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale.

2.30pm. Info 01495 355800.

Grav The Welfare, Ystradgynlais. 7.30pm, £11/£10. Info 01639 843163.

Jekyll & Hyde Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 7.30pm, £5. Info 01656 815995.

Presented by Bridgend Youth Theatre. Today is an open dress rehearsal; the next two days, er, aren’t. (Until Fri 20) Robin Hood & The Babes In The Wood Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare. 2.30 + 7pm, £7-£10. Info 0800 0147111. (Until Sat 21) Robinson Crusoe Dolman

Theatre, Newport. 7pm, £11/£9 kids. Info 01633 263670. (Until Sat 21) The Addams Family Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen. 2 + 7.30pm, £15/£13. Info 0845 2263510. (Until Sat 21) The Royal Bed Torch Theatre, Milford Haven.

7.30pm, £8.50-£12.50. Info 01646 695267.

Twelve Angry Men New Theatre, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £9.50-£28.50. Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 21) YFC Pantomime Festival 2015 Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7.30pm, £8. Info 01686 614555. (Until Sat 21) THURSDAY 19 Alun Cochrane St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 8pm, £12. Info 029 2087 8444. Standup comedian who has a dour and grumpy onstage persona.

Just what we need, don’t think anyone’s ever tried that before. [looks around to see if any comedy bookers are listening] Blasted The Other Room, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2128 0189. (Until Sat 7 Mar) Cinderella Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7pm, £6.50. Info 01873 850805.

(Until Sat 21) Cinderella 2015 Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 2pm, £14/£10. Info 01633 868239.

(Until Sun 22) Clint Edwards + Gary Little + Jarlath Regan Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £10/£5 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. Comedy Carousel night.

Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12-£20. Info 029 2064 6900. See Upfront for more on this dramatisation of Gareth Thomas’ coming out at the hands of the UK tabloids. This is a preview price and is on for the next couple of days after this. (Until Sat 7 Mar) Funny Business Maesteg Town Hall. 2.30pm, £6 adv.

Info 01656 733700. Clowning show for kids, presented by Circus Berzercus.

Grav Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli.

7.30pm, £14/£12. Info 0845 2263510. On tomorrow also.

Jekyll & Hyde Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 2 + 7.30pm, £7-£14. Info 01656 815995. (Until Fri 20) Omid Djalili Grand Theatre, Swansea. 8pm, £23.50. Info 01792 475715.

See Upfront. In Cardiff on Sat 21.

Playing ‘The Maids’ Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

8pm, £8-£12. Info 029 2030 4400. Theatrical teamup of The Llanarth Group (Wales), Gaitkrash (Cork) and Theatre P’yut (Seoul). (Until Sat 21) Robin Hood & The Babes In The Wood Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare. 2.30 + 7pm, £7-£10. Info 0800 0147111. (Until Sat 21) Robinson Crusoe Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7pm, £11/£9 kids. Info 01633 263670. (Until Sat 21) The Accordion Shop The Riverfront, Newport. 7pm, £5/£3.50. Info 01633 656757.

Performed by The Riverfront Youth Theatre Academy as part of National Theatre Connections Festival 2015.

The Addams Family Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen.

7.30pm, £15/£13. Info 0845 2263510. (Until Sat 21) The First Time Machine Theatr Brychieniog, Brecon.

6pm, £8/£6. Info 01874 611622.

The Funtastic Magic Show The Met, Abertillery.

2pm, £5. Info 01495 355800.

Starring Simon Sparkles and the Magnificent Johno.

The Royal Bed Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.30pm, £5-£10.

Info 01970 623232.

This Is The Moon, That Is The Earth The Riverfront, Newport. 7.45pm, £4.50£8.50. Info 01633 656757.

Theatre piece starring Matt and Matthew, who want to be astronaurs and take the audience into space with them.

Twelve Angry Men New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £11.50-£28.50. Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 21) Winona Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.45pm, £2.50-£5.

Info 01970 623232. New play by Christopher T Harris about a rural Welsh break which goes awry. In Cardiff tomorrow.

YFC Pantomime Festival 2015 Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7pm, £8. Info 01686 614555. (Until Sat 21) FRIDAY 20 Arrive Dance Platform The Riverfront, Newport.

7.45pm, £6/£4. Info 01633 656757. Innovative contemporary dance performed by emerging artists.

Blasted The Other Room, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2128 0189. (Until Sat 7 Mar) Birdy Theatr Brychieniog, Brecon. 7.30pm, £10/£8. Info 01874 611622.

Cinderella Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 2.30 + 7pm, £7.50. Info 01873 850805. (Until Sat 21) Cinderella 2015 Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 2 + 7pm, £14/£10. Info 01633 868239.

(Until Sun 22) Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12-£20.

Info 029 2064 6900. (Until Sat 7 Mar) Drones Comedy Club Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

8.30pm, £3.50. Info 029 2030 4400.

Grav Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli.

7.30pm, £14/£12. Info 0845 2263510.

If Only Rosa Could Do Magic Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 11.30am + 3pm, £6/£9 with workshop. Info 029 2030 4400. One-woman clown show, the woman in question being Katja Brita Lindeberg from Norway.

On tomorrow also. There’s a workshop after the first performance today, and the second one tomorrow.

Jekyll & Hyde Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 2 + 7.30pm, £7-£14. Info 01656 815995. (Finishes today) Kiri Pritchard-McLean + James Meehan Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells.

8pm, £12.50. Info 01982 552555. A Havin’ A Laugh Comedy Showcase night.

Leroy Brito + Dana Alexander + Gary Little + Jarlath Regan Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £15/£5 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. On tomorrow also.

Pitschi, The Kitten With Dreams Miners’ Institute, Blackwood. 11am + 1.30pm, £5/£4. Info 01495 227206.

A show for kids with several cute cat puppets.

Playing ‘The Maids’ Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

8pm, £8-£12. Info 029 2030 4400. (Until Sat 21)

stage Richard III Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 11am, £12. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Mon 23) Robin Hood & The Babes In The Wood Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare. 2.30 + 7pm, £7-£10. Info 0800 0147111. (Until Sat 21) Robinson Crusoe Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7pm, £11/£9 kids. Info 01633 263670. (Until Sat 21) The Addams Family Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen.

7.30pm, £15/£13. Info 0845 2263510. (Until Sat 21) The Magic Flute Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £5-£40. Info 029 2063 6464.

Twelve Angry Men New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £13.50-£30.50. Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 21) What The Body Does Not Remember Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £15-£25. Info 029 2063 6464. Performance of this groundbreaking piece of dance, which was devised by Wim Vandekeybus and Ultima Vez and which debuted in 1987. On tomorrow also.

Winona The Gate, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £5. Info 029 2048 3344.

YFC Pantomime Festival 2015 Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7.30pm, £8. Info 01686 614555. (Until Sat 21) SATURDAY 21 Blasted The Other Room, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2128 0189. (Until Sat 7 Mar) Bryan Lacey + Rob Hughes + Rob Collins Jongleurs, Cardiff. 7pm, from £15. Info 08700 111960.

Cinderella Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 1.30 + 6pm, £7.50. Info 01873 850805. (Finishes today) Cinderella 2015 Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 2pm, £14/£10. Info 01633 868239.

(Until Sun 22) Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12-£20.

Info 029 2064 6900. (Until Sat 7 Mar) Duck In The Truck Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells. 1 + 3.30pm, £8.50/£7.50. Info 01982 552555. Kids’ drama.

Hansel & Gretel Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £5-£40. Info 029 2063 6464. WNO team up with Chicago’s Lyric Opera for a production “set both in the 1950s and in a timeless fairytale age”. If I was on social media I would do a joke about UKIP at this point, before basking in the resultant favs and retweets.

Also on Wed 25 and Fri 27.

Henning Wehn The Riverfront, Newport. 8pm, £15. Info 01633 656757. See Upfront.

If Only Rosa Could Do Magic Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 11.30am + 3pm, £6/£9 with workshop. Info 029 2030 4400.

Leroy Brito + Dana Alexander + Gary Little + Jarlath Regan Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £17.50/£5 NUS. Info 0871 4720400.

Mike Newall + Colin Manford Tiger Tiger, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £12.50 adv. Info 029 2039 1944.

Omid Djalili St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 8pm, £23. Info 029 2087 8444.

Peter Pan Savoy Theatre, Monmouth. 1pm, £9/£7 kids.

Info 01600 772467. Panto. On tomorrow also.

Playing ‘The Maids’ Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

8pm, £8-£12. Info 029 2030 4400. Also on Fri 27 and Sat 28; in Brecon on Thurs 26.

(Finishes today) Richard III Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2pm, £12. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Mon 23) Robin Hood & The Babes In The Wood Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare. 11am + 4pm, £7-£10. Info 0800 0147111. (Finishes today) Robinson Crusoe Dolman Theatre, Newport. 2.15 + 7pm, £11/£9 kids. Info 01633 263670. (Finishes today) The Addams Family Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen. 2 + 7.30pm, £15/£13. Info 0845 2263510. (Finishes today) The Village Quire: Precious Bane Pontardawe Arts Centre. 7.30pm, £4.50/£3. Info 01792 863722.

Folk collective present “a story of faith and folklore, of pantheism and personal advancement”.

Twelve Angry Men New Theatre, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £11.50-£30.50. Info 029 2087 8889. (Finishes today) What The Body Does Not Remember Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £15-£25. Info 029 2063 6464.

YFC Pantomime Festival 2015 Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7.30pm, £8. Info 01686 614555. (Finishes today) SUNDAY 22 Builth YFC Young Famrers Concert Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells. 2 + 7pm, £8/£5 under-11s. Info 01982 552555.

Cinderella 2015 Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 2pm, £14/£10. Info 01633 868239.

(Finishes today) Jimeóin Theatr Brychieniog, Brecon. 7.30pm, £16.50.

Info 01874 611622. Irish comedian and possessor of the ability to “boil his audience down to a tear-filled, gibbering mess”. Sounds like a matter for the authorities quite frankly.

Live Cabaret Market Street Club, Barry. 8.30pm. Info 01446 733863.

Peter Pan Savoy Theatre, Monmouth. 1pm, £9/£7 kids.

Info 01600 772467.

Richard III Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 11am, £12. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Mon 23) The First Time Machine The Welfare, Ystradgynlais.

3pm, £6/£5.50. Info 01639 843163.

Welsh National Opera: Chorus! Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £5-£40. Info 029 2063 6464.

MONDAY 23 Actor’s Showcase Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10/£8. Info 029 2039 1391.

Thirty-two actors each get two minutes onstage to demonstrate their skills. On tomorrow also.

Blasted The Other Room, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2128 0189. (Until Sat 7 Mar) Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15-£25.

Info 029 2064 6900. (Until

Sat 7 Mar) Dance ‘Til Dawn New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £13-£35. Info 029 2087 8889.

Romance set in 1940s LA and starring two people off Strictly. (Until Sat 28) Richard III Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2 + 7.30pm, £12. Info 029 2063 6464. (Finishes today) The Witches Of Eastwick Gwyn Hall, Neath. 7pm, £13/£10. Info 0300 3656677.

Musical presented by Melyncrythan Amateur Operatic Society. (Until Sat 28) The Woman In Black Grand Theatre, Swansea.

7.30pm, £13-£23. Info 01792 475715. Spooky West End theatre fave. (Until Sat 28) TUESDAY 24 Actor’s Showcase Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 1.15pm, £10/£8. Info 029 2039 1391.

Blasted The Other Room, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2128 0189. (Until Sat 7 Mar) Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15-£25.

Info 029 2064 6900. (Until Sat 7 Mar) Dance ‘Til Dawn New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £13-£35. Info 029 2087 8889.

(Until Sat 28) Grav The Met, Abertillery.

7.30pm, £10/£8. Info 01495 355800.

The Royal Bed Miners’ Institute, Blackwood.

7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 01495 227206.

The Witches Of Eastwick Gwyn Hall, Neath. 7pm, £13/£10. Info 0300 3656677.

(Until Sat 28) The Woman In Black Grand Theatre, Swansea.

7.30pm, £13-£23. Info 01792 475715. (Until Sat 28) WEDNESDAY 25 Blasted The Other Room, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2128 0189. (Until Sat 7 Mar) Captain Flinn & The Pirate Dinosaurs Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea.

4.30pm, £8. Info 01792 602060. Kids’ show.

Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15-£25.

Info 029 2064 6900. (Until Sat 7 Mar) Dance ‘Til Dawn New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £13-£35. Info 029 2087 8889.

(Until Sat 28) Edge Of The World Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 1pm, £5. Info 01656 815995.

Lunchtime theatre, presented by Fluellen.

Fascinating Aïda: Charm Offensive Blake Theatre, Monmouth. 7.30pm, £19.50 adv. Info 01600 719401.

Grav Parc & Dare, Treorchy.

7.30pm, £12.50/£10.50. Info 0800 0147111.

Hansel & Gretel Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £5-£40. Info 029 2063 6464.

Hood Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2063 6464.

This is the first performance from the Sherman’s newly restuctured Youth Theatre, and is about what happens when kids have to cope with feckless adult behaviour.

(Until Sat 28) John Robins + Andrea Hubert + Nish Kumar

Grand Theatre Arts Wing, Swansea. 8pm, £11. Info 01792 475715. This month’s Comedy Club night.

Ray Peacock + Tommy Rowson + Steve Bugeja Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2039 1391.

Comedy At The College standup night.

The Witches Of Eastwick Gwyn Hall, Neath. 7pm, £13/£10. Info 0300 3656677.

(Until Sat 28) The Woman In Black Grand Theatre, Swansea.

1.30 + 7.30pm, £13-£23. Info 01792 475715. (Until Sat 28) THURSDAY 26 Alma Rhos Y Gilwen, Pembrokeshire. 8pm, free.

Info 01239 841387. Described as a jazz musical, this is a work in progress show presented by the Rhosygilwen Drama Club, who want you to come along and react, within reason.

Blasted The Other Room, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2128 0189. (Until Sat 7 Mar) Clint Edwards + James Acaster + Dave Fulton Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £10/£5 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. Comedy Carousel night.

Comedy Club Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.30pm, £5-£10.

Info 01970 623232. Featuring Elis James, Sam Fletcher and Clint Edwards.

Comedy Sheep Dempseys, Cardiff. 7pm, £10/£5 adv. Info 029 2023 9253. Live standup with acts TBC. Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15-£25.

Info 029 2064 6900. (Until Sat 7 Mar) Dance ‘Til Dawn New Theatre, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £11-£35. Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 28) Gary Delaney Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot.

8pm, £14/£12. Info 01639 763214. Comedian of the ‘carpet-bomb you with puns’ school. See Upfront.

Hood Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2063 6464.

(Until Sat 28) Playing ‘The Maids’ Theatr Brychieniog, Brecon.

7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 01874 611622.

The Harri Parris: The Big Day Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 7.45pm, £12/£10. Info 01646 695267. Welsh comedy musical. (Until Sat 28) The Magic Flute Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £5-£40. Info 029 2063 6464.

The Royal Bed Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7.45pm, £10/£8. Info 01686 614555.

(Until Sat 21) The Witches Of Eastwick Gwyn Hall, Neath. 7pm, £13/£10. Info 0300 3656677.

(Until Sat 28) The Woman In Black Grand Theatre, Swansea.

7.30pm, £13-£23. Info 01792 475715. (Until Sat 28) FRIDAY 27 Blackouts: Twilight Of The Idols Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.30pm, £7-£14.

Info 01970 623232. Spookysounding drag show, if you can believe that, starring Dickie Beau.

Blasted The Other Room, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 029 2128 0189. (Until Sat 7 Mar)

Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15-£25.

Info 029 2064 6900. (Until Sat 7 Mar) Cwlwm Celtaidd Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. £15/£10 ages 10-15 (weekend ticket £40/£30 ages 10-15). Info 01656 815995. A family festival of music, song and dance (see Music for the... music listings) from the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland, Isle Of Man, Cornwall, Brittany, Asturias & Wales. This evening features dance performances from Cercle Celtique Tal Ous Tal, Dawnswyr Gwerin Penyfai and Emerald Revellers.

(Until Sun 1 Mar) Dance ‘Til Dawn New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £14-£37.50. Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 28) Grav Miners’ Institute, Blackwood. 7.30pm, £13/£11.

Info 01495 227206.

Greed: The Rock Opera Theatr Brychieniog, Brecon.

7.30pm, £10/£8. Info 01874 611622. This is set in Abertaff, a fictional town where 1% of the population control 99% of the wealth, and concerns “the debtcontrolled slavery system called money to which we’re manacled”. You might be wondering why they’re charging people to get in, if you have a trite worldview with little nuance that is.

Gwent Young Farmers Entertainments Competition Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.30pm, £10/£18 both nights. Info 01633 263670. On tomorrow also.

Hansel & Gretel Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £5-£40. Info 029 2063 6464.

Holly Walsh + Lloyd Griffiths The Riverfront, Newport. 7.45pm, £12. Info 01633 656757. Comedy Shed night.

Hood Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2063 6464.

(Until Sat 28) Only Fools And 3 Courses Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7.30pm.

Info 0845 2263510. This is another of those things where you have your dinner while a fanfic version of a popular BBC sitcom takes place around you. “Marlene & Boycie are hosting a Gala Dinner, but will things go to plan with Del, Rodney and Uncle Albert on the guest list? Will Raquel put in an appearance and sing! Surely not after the last time?”

Hope someone does 15 Storeys High next.

Pam Ayres Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7.30pm, £22. Info 01686 614555. If there was a genre of music whose lyrics were based around simple rhyming couplets, whimsical subject matter and twee homespun wisdom, it could be called ‘Ayres Rock’. That or ‘indie’, I suppose. Boom boom!

Playing ‘The Maids’ Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

8pm, £8-£12. Info 029 2030 4400. On tomorrow also.

Sean Percival + Nish Kumar + James Acaster + Dave Fulton Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £15/£5 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. On tomorrow also.

Steve Gribbin + Vikki Stone + Becky Brunning Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells. 8pm, £10/£8. Info 01982 552555. Wyeside

Comedy Club night.

Tân / Spin The Riverfront, Newport. 7.30pm, £6-£10.

Info 01633 656757. Piece

by Harnisch-Lacey Dance Theatre combining contemporary dance, breakdance and parkour.

The Witches Of Eastwick Gwyn Hall, Neath. 7pm, £13/£10. Info 0300 3656677.

(Until Sat 28) The Woman In Black Grand Theatre, Swansea.

7.30pm, £13-£23. Info 01792 475715. (Until Sat 28) SATURDAY 28 Captain Flinn and The Pirate Dinosaurs Blake Theatre, Monmouth. 3pm, £13. Info 01600 719401.

Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15-£25.

Info 029 2064 6900. (Until Sat 7 Mar) Cwlwm Celtaidd Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 7.30pm, £18/£13 ages 10-15 (weekend ticket £40/£30 ages 10-15). Info 01656 815995.

Today features Ballochleam Highland Dancers, Kemysk, Perree Bane, Emerald Revellers and Cercle Celtique Tal Ous Tal. (Until Sun 1 Mar) Dance ‘Til Dawn New Theatre, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £13-£37.50. Info 029 2087 8889. (Finishes today) Dave Longley + Tudor Owen Tiger Tiger, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £12.50 adv. Info 029 2039 1944.

Gwent Young Farmers Entertainments Competition Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.30pm, £10/£18 both nights. Info 01633 263670.

Hood Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2063 6464.

(Finishes today) Kevin Dewsbury + Nabil Abdul Rashad + John Robertson Jongleurs, Cardiff. 7pm, from £15. Info 08700 111960.

No Known Grave Grand Theatre Arts Wing, Swansea.

12.30pm, £6/£4.50. Info 01792 475715. Fluellen lunchtime theatre show.

Paul Foot Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.45pm, £6.25£12.50. Info 01970 623232.

Comedy bloke.

Playing ‘The Maids’ Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

8pm, £8-£12. Info 029 2030 4400.

Sean Percival + Nish Kumar + James Acaster + Dave Fulton Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £17.50/£5 NUS. Info 0871 4720400.

The Forbidden Door Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

7.30pm, £6-£12. Info 01970 623232.

The Magic Flute Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £5-£40. Info 029 2063 6464.

The Royal Bed Borough Theatre, Abergavenny.

7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 01873 850805.

The Wind In The Willows Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £9. Info 029 2039 1391.

The Witches Of Eastwick Gwyn Hall, Neath. 2.15 + 7pm, £13/£10. Info 0300 3656677. (Finishes today) The Woman In Black Grand Theatre, Swansea.

2.30 + 7.30pm, £13-£23.

Info 01792 475715. (Finishes today) BUZZ 77

competitions TWO WEEKEND CAMPING TICKETS TO READING FESTIVAL 2015 Reading Festival is always one of the highlights of the British summer, as thousands of festival lovers head to the Berkshire town each year to watch the cream of the contemporary rock scene perform. You could save yourself over £400, as Buzz are giving away a pair of weekend camping tickets for one lucky reader. There’s an exciting lineup already underway, with likes of Metallica, Jamie T and Pierce The Veil already signed up to play the festival on August Bank holiday weekend (Fri 28-Sun 30 Aug), and many more yet to be announced (which you can see at www.readingfestival.com). A fantastic prize that will have all your friends competing for that extra ticket of yours – all you have to do is answer the question below.

Q: What was the Reading Festival originally called in the early 1960s?

GIG TICKETS OF YOUR CHOICE

Music lovers, open yer ears. The lovely people at musohaunt Clwb Ifor Bach are giving Buzz readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to any upcoming gig their wee heart desires. Just email competitions@buzzmag.co.uk, with ‘WELSH CLUB’ in the subject header and your name and number by Mon 1 Sept.

STEWART LEE TICKETS AND DVD

Comedy lovers, listen in as there’s a pair of tickets up for grabs to see stand-up comedian Stewart Lee’s brand new show at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay on Sat 7 Mar. We’re also throwing in a copy of Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle (Series Three) and Carpet Remnant World DVDs. Q: The name of Stewart’s latest tour is ‘Room With A...’ what?

TICKETS TO SWANSEA GRAND COMEDY CLUB

The Swansea Grand Theatre hosts regular Comedy Clubs featuring some of the best acts on the circuit.

For your chance to win a pair of tickets on Wed 25 Feb – just answer this question before Mon 16 Feb. Q: Which French Baroness and opera singer opened the Grand Theatre in 1897?

THE WAY HE LOOKS ON DVD

Director and Iris Prize winner Daniel Ribeiro has made his first feature length film, The Way He Looks.

This universal story of first love, which follows a blind teenager as he falls for his best friend, could be yours as we have three copies to give away. Just answer the following question.

Q: This film was entirely shot in what country?

BUZZ 78

TICKET TO MIKE PETERS: ALARM STRENGTH

Mike Peters’ band The Alarm perform the 1985 album Strength in a contemporary style featuring performances, stories and images. If you fancy a free pair of tickets for the show at Sin City in Swansea on Fri 20 Mar, then answer this: Q: What colour did Mike Peters wear every day until he spontaneously went into remission after suffering from cancer?

TICKETS TO GARY DELANEY: PURIST

Straightforward funnyman and one-liner lover Gary Delaney is coming to the Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot. We have a pair of tickets to the show on Thurs 26 Feb; if you want to win them, just answer this question before Mon 16 Feb. Q: Which famous comedian is Gary Delaney married to?

EASTERN BOYS ON DVD

Director Robin Campillo’s Eastern Boys – which follows the exploits of a teenage gang and the wealthy middle age man that takes a shine to them – has had many rave reviews and was screened at last year’s Iris Prize festival. We have three copies of it on DVD to give away – just answer the following question.

Q: Who won the Iris Prize last year and what with?

Please email your answers, name, address, Twitter username (if you have one) and contact number to competitions@buzzmag.co.uk by Sun 1 Mar unless otherwise stated. T&Cs: WE DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION FOR THESE COMPETITIONS TO BE REPLICATED OR SHARED ANYWHERE ONLINE.

MOST PEOPLE ARE SHIT CRAZY

01/04/15 buzzed.uk.com

www.grav.cymru #WestIsBest #Grav

Torch Theatre

Milford Haven

Gwyn Hall The Welfare Y Ffwrnes Metropole Park & Dare Theatr Mwldan Miners Institute Galeri Neuadd Dwyfor Theatr Harlech Pavilion Theatre Sherman Cymru Borough Theatre Theatr Felinfach Theatr Brycheiniog

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01646 695267

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gwynhall.com thewelfare.co.uk theatrausirgar.co.uk blaenaugwentvenues.com rct-arts.co.uk mwldan.co.uk blackwoodminersinstitute.com galericaernarfon.com gwynedd.gov.uk/neuadd-dwyfor theatrharlech.com rhylpavilion.co.uk shermancymru.co.uk boroughtheatreabergavenny.co.uk theatrfelinfach.com theatrbrycheiniog.co.uk