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

St David’s Day concert and celebration of Amelia Earhart (Burry Port’s moment in world history), featuring Burry Port Town Band, Burry Port, Burry Port Junior Band and the brass ensemble of the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment, at Memorial Hall, Burry Port. It is so often the case that inspirational stories lend themselves to equally inspirational tributes. It was certainly the case at Burry Port Memorial Hall when Burry Port Town Band staged the Welsh premiere of ‘Stillness’ a special composition celebrating the achievement of Amelia Earhart, the first woman to cross the Atlantic in a plane. Burry Port’s part in the Earhart story is well documented. In 1928, a seaplane carrying Earhart landed in the estuary and was later towed into Burry Port harbour. Nearly 89 years later, composer Tom Davoren was finally able to stage a ‘homecoming’ for his 15-minute-long musical tribute. Tom, who hails from Gower and made his first connection with Burry Port Town Band as a musician at th...

Burry Port Town Band Christmas Gala concert at the Memorial Hall with special guests Cor Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal, from Cardiff, and Burry Port Junior Band. Burry Port Town Band and their special guests served up a festive treat at the Memorial Hall in the town. It was an evening which demonstrated why the band has true championship status. It was also an evening to introduce young talent to the stage in the shape of the Burry Port Junior Band and the beginner’s class from music rehearsals. And it gave the packed house at the Memorial Hall the chance to hear the excellent Cor Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal mixed choir from Cardiff. Festive fun was the order of the day and the band set the tone with Shostakovich’s Festive Overture, followed by Away in a Manger (featuring Flugelhorn Soloist Jane Stredwick, Hwiangerdd Mair (an arrangement by choir member Jayne Thomas) and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (which even included a couple of sing-a-long verses!). Cor Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal were under t...

Burry Port Town Band are ready to host their summer concert in Burry Port Memorial Hall, on Saturday, July 23. The concert will offer the audience the chance to exclusively preview the band's programme for this year's National Eisteddfod of Wales competition. Burry Port Band are the reigning 2015 Eisteddfod champions and return to the contest in Abergavenny at the end of July to defend their title with a show-stopping programme. On top of this, the concert will feature some classic brass band music, as well as some jazz and popular numbers, and will undoubtedly have something to please all ears. What's more, the band are delighted to announce that their musical guests for the evening will be Côr Lleisiau’r Cwm. The ladies choir from Dyffryn Aman will be bringing their own fabulous sounds to the concert, under the experienced leadership of musical director Catrin Hughes.  Robert Lloyd will also return as compere for another year, bringing his light-hearted touch...