C A R D I F F: I T S L I F E A N D T I M E S
Huw Stephens is urging people to get involved in Welsh Language Music Day
Looks good for food that would have been thrown away!
FOOD
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT
SING UP Whether you’re into indie, rock, punk, funk, folk, electronica, hip hop or anything else, there’s incredible music being made in the Welsh language for you to discover – that’s the message from Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens as he urges people and places in Cardiff and across South Wales to get involved and find their favourite new sound on the third Welsh Language Music Day on Friday, 9 February. The day celebrates all forms of Welsh Language music with live and free events aimed at gig goers, parents and children, young people, students and businesses happening all across the country. Womanby Street’s Castle Emporium will provide the backdrop for an all-day event featuring artists such as folk musician Gentle Good and grunge band Los Blancos, with headline acts soon to be announced. The capital’s iconic music venue Clwb Ifor Bach will welcome Alys Williams and her talented band. Previously mentored by Tom Jones on BBC’s The Voice, Alys will be joined by Iwan Huws, following the success of releasing Mis Mêl. Forte Project, the new music development scheme uncovering the next bright young things in music emerging from South Wales, are once again proudly involved in Welsh Language Music Day. Throughout the day, Forte Project alumni, Jack Ellis, a bilingual artist, who is no stranger to Welsh language circles with previous appearances at Battle of the Bands 10 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
at Maes B, will be performing a series of impromptu performances across the Valleys region. All through the morning, Jack will be calling upon office workers and daytime trade in Merthyr, presenting his material and discussing the story of the song to young pupils in Lewis Pengam Boys school. The day will culminate in an exclusive Forte Project showcase in Blackwood Miners Institute in the evening. If you want to listen from the safety of your smartphone, or you’re a business that would like to play more Welsh language music to its staff or customersthere’s six playlists curated by DJ Gareth Potter including Acoustic, Electronica, Campfire Sing Song, Chill Out, Workout and Legends to play on Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer, easily available by scanning a Shazam code with a phone camera. BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens, ambassador for the day, said: “Whatever you’re into, Dydd Miwsig Cymru is a day to help you discover music you’ll love. If you’ve never heard or not heard much Welsh language music, it might not be what you think it is. And you don’t need to understand any Welsh to get into it. There’s incredible music of almost every genre, all being made in the Welsh language. Try something and you might just find your favourite new sound.” The day is a part of the long-term vision to see a million people speaking and using Welsh by 2050. For more: cymraeg.gov.wales/DyddMiwsigCymru
The Wasteless initiative is back, turning food that might otherwise have been destined for the bin, into delicious dinners. Some of Cardiff’s best local food businesses will collaborate to each create a unique dish showcasing these often overlooked ingredients, all coming together to serve an exceptionally delicious meal. The exciting Wasteless menu will be finalised just 24 hours before the event but dishes from previous Wasteless menus include pickles from around the globe, Skordalia bread and walnut dip, stuffed peppers with rice/veg or meat, Welsh pork, apple and root vegetable stew and baked yoghurt with preserved fruit. Cocktails served at the dinners also take a zero waste approach and have included cascara infused gin with orange peel. The next Wasteless event is on 3 March at Cafe Sio, and the following on 31 March at Milk & Sugar’s Old Library branch. Tickets cost £27.54 per person and are available from eventbrite.co.uk. For more: liaskitchen.com
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HONOUR ROLL Huge congrats to Michael Bell, conductor of the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra who’s been awarded an MBE for his services to the orchestra and Welsh music for the last 35 years. After completing a degree at Cardiff University, Michael formed CPO in 1982. Their inaugural concert was staged at St David’s Cathedral on Saturday 19 June 1982, and the initial feeling was that it would be a one-off performance. Little did Michael know that CPO would still be here more than 300 concerts later! For more: cardiffphilharmonic.com Congratulations Michael!