Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Ammanford's Alexandra Roach and Swansea’s Cerys Matthews (educated in Llanelli) and will be among the stars taking part in S4C's New Year's Eve show. Matthew Rhys and Bryn Terfel will also feature in the show which looks back at 2013. The Heno and Prynhawn Da presentation team, led by Angharad Mair, will look back at the major events of the year, chronicling both the successes and heartbreaks of a memorable year. See link for Carmarthen Journal story.

It was the night they ran out of cider at Theatr Elli, Llanelli. Singer and musician Cerys Matthews, who went to school in St Michael's in Llanelli, played to a full house at Theatr Elli, Llanelli. It was the first time she had appeared on stage in the town’s theatre, despite having sat in the audience a number of times as a former pupil of St Michael’s School. Cerys, who shot to fame in the 90s with Welsh rock band Catatonia, was on tour following the release of her first album in two years ‘Don’t Look Down’ which also makes history as the first album to be released by an artist in Welsh and English versions simultaneously. Recorded at sessions in Nashville, Seattle, London, Providence and Rhode Island, ‘Don't Look Down' was written, produced and recorded by Cerys along with Mason Neely. It shows off her voice – raw and full of emotion - like never before. Some subtle lighting and an empty stage of just a few candles and three chairs (for Cerys and her two musicians) creat...

Due to popular demand, Cerys Matthews has extended her sell-out tour and will be hitting Llanelli’s Theatr Elli on the 16th April. The Welsh songbird and multi-instrumentalist carved a name for herself fronting successful rock group Catatonia, whose hits include ‘Mulder And Scully’ and ‘Road Rage’ and has seen continued success with a recent stint on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here plus her own radio show on BBC’s 6 Music. She’s enjoyed a triumphant solo career, kick-started by her duet with Tom Jones on the perennial classic ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ and two critically acclaimed early albums ‘Cockahoop’ and ‘Never Said Goodbye’. Featuring two of Nashville’s finest young musicians, Kevin Teel and Mason Neely, last year’s highly-regarded release ‘Don’t Look Down’ (available in both Welsh and English language versions) was dubbed one of HMV’s most prestigious albums of the year and has led to a sell-out, country-wide tour. Due to the unprecedented demand for tickets, the singer has add...