Buzz June 2016

WHAT’S ON GUIDE. JUNE 2016

J O H N C A L E + CH A RL OTTE CH UR CH FES TIVA L O F VO I CE B IL L B A I L E Y TH E PR O CL A I M E R S WA LES IN UE FA E UR O 2 0 1 6 RICHARD PARKS | BEN FOLDS | FEMI KUTI | BEYONCÉ | ROD STEWART | BBQ MONTH

june2016

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04roundup

“In 1990 I was a pinball ‘player’, if you like”

publisher EMMA CLARK editor LUKE OWAIN BOULT listings/music editor NOEL GARDNER advertising EMMA CLARK film technician (buzz tv) JAYDON MARTIN administration TERESA CLARK designer www.polar10.com contributors KEIRON SELF (FILM), GWYN THOMAS DE CHROUSTCHOFF (CLUBS), MICHAEL BELL, LLOYD BEST, LYDIA DE BLANGY, ZOE BROOKES, CHELSEA BROWNHILL, JANE COOK, DENIECE CUSACK, SAM EASTERBROOK, BEN GALLIVAN, EMILY GARSIDE, DAVID GRIFFITHS, LOUISE HEATH, ELOUISE HOBBS, RHIANNON HOLLEY, MARCUS HUGHES, AMANDA HUNT, DYLAN JENKINS, PORTIA JONES, CONOR KNIGHT, MONICA MARTIN, LUCY MENON, DAVID MORGAN, LYNDA NASH, CIARA NELIGAN, DAVID NOBAKHT, KIERAN OWEN, HELEN PAYNE, CHARLIE PIERCEY, RHONDA LEE REALI, ANDREW PAUL REGAN, FFION RIORDAN-JONES, HUGH RUSSELL, OWEN SCOURFIELD, CHRIS SEAL, WILL STEEN, GETHIN THOMAS, LIAM TURNER, BENJAMIN WILLIAMS, HANNAH WILLIAMS, DAVID WYN, GUNDIJA ZANDERSONA phone number 029 2022 6767 general enquiries info@buzzmag.co.uk editorial editorial@buzzmag.co.uk listings listings@buzzmag.co.uk accounts accounts@buzzmag.co.uk BUZZ MAGAZINE 220C Cowbridge Road East, Canton, Cardiff CF5 1GY published EAC PUBLISHING contents BEN FOLDS cover JOHN CALE

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10upfront

From the virginal choirboy’s crystalline trill to the virginal gore metal frontman’s guttural grunt, the human voice is a wonderful thing, and celebrated in the Festival Of Voice across Cardiff this month. Are all of John Cale, Charlotte Church, Femi Kuti and Ben Folds primarily celebrated for their vocal prowess?

Maybe not, but they’re all playing, and all interviewed

28film

Keiron Self is on a one-man mission to flush all toilet talk this month: the films he looks cockeyed at for being “foul-mouthed” number two in total. If nothing else, it’s equally balanced between the sexes, with ballbreaking Melissa McCarthy vehicle The Boss taking its profane place alongside the Shane Black-directed The Nice Guys

32food&drink

A month partly weighted towards carnists, to employ a term that no-one has ever used while talking to people normally – there’s a global guide to BBQ culture, the best and meatiest south Wales restaurants and a recipe for beef buns. Mind, there’s also the Milgi column and a review of foraging-based supper club, Herbivore

36previews

Do you know what trypophobia is? “It’s the fear of things which have clusters of small holes, you condescending shit.” Christ, cool your jets. I was just gonna say that there are two images on the art preview page which could easily set anyone off who is that way afflicted

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44reviews

Speaking of artwork that runs the risk of upsetting those with limited fortitude, it wasn’t until it was pointed out to me that I clocked the “slightly coprophilic” sleeve of the Little My album, reviewed this month. In a move that harsher critics might describe as “labouring the point”, it’s also available on brown vinyl

49lifestyle

It’s a summer style guide for some reason. Probably something to do with it being summer. Just so’s you know, when I see someone wearing ripped denim shorts like the ones on this page, I assume it’s because you developed horrific growths on your thighs that were so huge they tore through the fabric

50sport

This section has expanded its name just in time for Wales’ appearance at the European Championships, which will be both a sport (football – there is probably a Euros of crown green bowls or something this month, yes) and an adventure. Conor Knight looks ahead to the likely tales of the turf

55listings

Worst band names in this issue: When We Were Wolves, I The Mighty, Screamin’ Miss Jackson And The Slap Ya Mama Big Band, The Dynamite Pussy Club, Murder Circuit, Chonkinfeckle, Hurray For The Riff Raff

78competitions

Q. What is the name of the showgirl from Copacabana? A. It’s problematic to insist that sex workers use their real names

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Buzz Magazine

www.buzzmag.co.uk BUZZ 3

roundup

WHAT’S ON OUR RADAR THIS MONTH.

EVENT

Man vs Horse Marathon Hot off the hooves (get it?) of the Grand National, riders and runners alike are preparing for a highly unusual 22-mile annual race which pits humans against, well, humans-on-horses in the Welsh town of Llanwrtyd Wells every June.

The marathon started in 1980 as part of a pub bet that humans were equal to any horse over a long distance. It starts out like a typical cross-country race, with hundreds of runners setting off through the picturesque town and up through the hills of central Wales, followed 15 minutes later by 50 galloping horses and their riders up the hills, across the streams and down the ridges. To date, only two human runners have managed to come out on top. Could a third be on the cards for this year’s race?

BRIEFLY

ENTER THE DRAGON! Returning for its 13th year, one of the UK’s most iconic cyclosportive events returns to South Wales on Sun 5 June. With distances ranging from 100km to a staggering 305km, the Dragon Ride invites cyclists in search of a challenge to take part, with four routes to choose from. This year’s newcomer, the Macmillan 100, joins the massively popular Medio Fondo (153 km) and Gran Fondo (230km) returning for 2016 alongside the Dragon Devil (305 km).

Not for the faint of heart!

Info: www.humanrace.co.uk

The Whole Earth Man vs Horse Marathon, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, Sat 11 Jun. Info: www.green-events.co.uk

EVENT

Blaenavon World Heritage Day

The biggest day in the Blaenavon calendar, World Heritage Day, is set to attract thousands of residents and visitors in celebration of the town’s 16th year of World Heritage status. It became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000 after the exceptional role it played in South Wales’ pre-eminence as the world’s major producer of iron and coal in the 19th century.

The event will feature live music and dancing, various craft stalls and shops, a miniature steam railway and a Victorian funfair. As always, the highlight will be the Heritage Costume Parade which begins at 1pm, pic Loco Steve starting at the top of Broad Street before proceeding through the town. This year’s theme is 'Blaenavon Then And Now', which celebrates not only the town’s industrial past, but what makes the town unique today.

Blaenavon World Heritage Day, Town Centre, Blaenavon, Sat 25 June. Info: 01495 742333 BUZZ 4

pic Chris Bowman

TRI AND GET BY! After last year’s record-breaking Cardiff Triathlon attracting 1,300 competitors in an impressive showing, over 2,000 people are expected to take part on Sat 25 and Sun 26 June. Will you be one of them? The event organised by Always Aim High Events will see athletes swim in the iconic Cardiff Bay, cycle on the city’s picturesque roads, culminating in the run to the Cardiff Bay Barrage.

Spectators can enjoy a festival-like atmosphere while showing their support.

Registration: £54.95-£79.95.

Info: www.cardiff-tri.com

EVENT

Joust!

If you’re looking for a medieval twist to your midsummer weekend, head to Cardiff Castle to witness fierce competition and take part in all sorts of frivolous activities as the grounds are transformed into a medieval arena, complete with stunts, falls, the splintering of lances and the slashing of cold steel swords.

Immerse yourself in the fanfare-filled spectacle and show up in costume as kings and queens, knights and princesses for the day. Gather around for exhilarating horseback stunts, brutal battles of and intense swordplay.

To experience all the pomp and pageantry of a traditional joust, join the ever exciting Knights Of Royal England in a magnificent show featuring combat displays, a dragon parade and captivating storytelling.

Tickets will also grant you access to the Interpretation Centre for the film presentation and entry to the Keep, subject to availability.

Joust!, Cardiff Castle, Sat 18 + Sun 19 June. Tickets: £8.50-£15.50.

Info: 029 2087 8100 / www.cardiffcastle.com

Welsh Folk Dance Festival Gŵyl Ifan

EVENT

Gŵyl Ifan is the capital’s annual celebration of folk dancing. It’s an integral part of Welsh heritage which brings the colour, joy and excitement of Welsh dancing to the streets of Cardiff, welcoming folk dancers from Wales and across Europe in this midsummer festival.

The weekend’s festivities will begin with the public twmpath (or ceilidh in Irish) in the Angel Hotel in the city centre. Then on Saturday, everyone taking part will head through the city to City Hall for the raising of the summer pole, followed by dancing at various spots around Cardiff before culminating in the mass dance performance in the Hayes.

A staple in Welsh dance tradition, the festival has been held annually since 1977 and encourages people from all over Wales and further afield to come and dance, whether you’re experienced or trying out your dancing shoes for the very first time.

Welsh Folk Dance Festival – Gŵyl Ifan, Angel Hotel, Cardiff, Fri 24Sun 26 June. Admission: £8/£7 adv. Info: www.gwylifan.org

EVENT

Try Gamelan The Try Gamelan Workshop gives you and your family the chance to enjoy beautiful bronze Javanese percussion instruments and learn to play a traditional piece in exciting two-hour sessions.

Based in St David’s Hall for over a decade, Cardiff Gamelan use their set of Javanese instruments to promote music by supporting the teaching of music in schools and facilitating group music making.

This welcome departure from the norm is open to all, whether you’re a seasoned instrumentalist or have no prior musical experience.

This is a truly unique experience as no two gamelans are tuned exactly alike, with each instrument tuned with the purpose of matching the intended ensemble rather than a standard pitch.

Gamelan offers something new as a fun, stimulating experience which develops listening skills, flexibility and, of course, group music making, distinct from many forms of music popular in the West.

pic David Stanley

Try Gamelan, St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Sat 18 June. Tickets: £5£8. Info: 029 2087 8444 / www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk BUZZ 5

roundup

WHAT’S ON OUR RADAR THIS MONTH.

WELSH GAMES DEVELOPMENT SHOW As the Welsh Games Development Show gears up for its fifth consecutive year, Liam Turner talks with the chaps behind the controls, Huw Marshall and Mark John, about what’s in store this time round.

Why have you decided to move the show from Cardiff What can visitors expect?

City Hall to the Tramshed?

We are going to be featuring Minecraft, which is becoming an This year Tramshed has just opened, and it was felt that it would be an appropriate venue to be able to host it because the tech hub that is going to open next to the venue is ideally going to be home to the gaming community of South Wales. We’re also looking to grow the industry, so basing the show slap-bang in the in the middle of Cardiff, next door to one of the city’s most exciting new venues, just makes perfect sense.

What are you hoping to achieve with this year’s show?

We want to give companies a chance to show their wares, showing the great games that are being produced in Wales, and also showing a new generation that not only can they be digital consumers, but they can also be digital creators. We want to see people coming through the door here that in a few years’ time are actually going to be part of that new economy creating games.

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increasingly more powerful tool in the classroom, for coding and cross-curricular activities. We’ve also got four speakers lined up.

There’s a guy called William Huber, who’s the head of Games Education at Abertay University, who are viewed as possibly the leading games educators in Europe. And something we want to do with the show is have a VR lounge – it’s actually something we’d like to make as a more permanent fixture of the Tramshed building.

How strong do you think the Welsh gaming industry is at the moment?

It’s strong but it needs to be stronger. It’s got to be getting its products to work internationally, all around the world. We need to work together to create that sort of critical mass, to enable Wales to punch above its weight. But overall as an industry, Wales is one of the fastest growing games areas in the UK. We’re a little behind Scotland, but we’re playing catch-up very fast indeed.

Welsh Games Development Show, Tramshed, Cardiff. Tickets: £10/£7.50 NUS/£20 family. Info: www.walesgamesdevshow.org

Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra Saturday 25 June Sadwrn 25 Mehefin

Cara Dillon

Tuesday 5 July Mawrth 5 Gorffennaf

Juan MartĂ­n

Paul Mason

Tuesday 21 June Mawrth 21 Mehefin

Monday 6 June Llun 6 Mehefin

Jamie Raven

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Thursday 16 June Iau 16 Mehefin

Friday 17 June Gwener 17 Mehefin

Festival of Voice

John Cale & Gwenno Friday 3 June Gwener 3 Mehefin

Femi Kuti & Mbongwana Star Thursday 9 June Iau 9 Mehefin

Ronnie Spector

Friday 10 June Gwener 10 Mehefin

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roundup

WHAT’S ON OUR RADAR THIS MONTH.

BOOK NOW

pic Andrew Rees

2016 British FIM Speedway Grand Prix Principality Stadium, Cardiff Sat 9 July Tickets: £19-£295 Info: 0844 249 1999 www.principalitystadium.wales The Maccabees Cardiff University SU, Cardiff Wed 13 July Tickets: £25.30 Info: 029 2078 1456 www.cardiffboxoffice.com Kaiser Chiefs SSE SWALEC, Cardiff Sat 16 July Tickets: £49.50 Info: 029 2041 9359 www.swalecstadium.co.uk -

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SOUTH WALES SECRET #66 Heighway Pinball

Founder of Heighway Pinball, the United Kingdom’s only pinball manufacturer, Andrew Heighway, the Pinball Wizard of Merthyr Tydfil, reveals the South Wales Secret.

Andrew Heighway is a man with a passion for pinball, a pastime that in the age of apps still continues and is adapting to new opportunities. While some may think that the machines may be relics of a bygone era, Andrew is determined to make sure they continue to thrive. “In 1990 I was a pinball ‘player’, if you like,” he starts. “You couldn’t walk into a bar without there being a pinball machine in there, it was huge! It led to it becoming a major business for me. I thought to myself ‘okay, who’s making pinball machines here?’ and nobody was, so I saw this business opportunity and for the next 10 years I was the go-to guy for everything to do with pinball. I wanted to bring pinball back to the masses again.”

But why did he choose to set up Heighway Pinball in Merthyr Tydfil? “I looked at different areas and I wanted somewhere with good BUZZ 8

transport links and cheap factory space, and job creation was a factor too. When you put all those factors together, it’s a good area to have a company because you have a much more skilled potential workforce.”

Andrew then reveals his South Wales Secret.

“I would say my South Wales secret is here in Heighway Pinball. We’re not only the first ever pinball manufacturer to be in Wales but we’re actually the first ever pinball manufacturer to be in the UK. I think that in itself is a pretty big secret to get out in Merthyr Tydfil. You would never know about it unless somebody told you that the first ever UK mass manufacturer of pinballs is here in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales.”

Heighway Pinball, Merthyr Tydfil. Info: 01685 370190 / www.heighwaypinball. com

Simply Red SSE SWALEC, Cardiff Sun 17 Jul y Tickets: £51.75 Info: 029 2041 9359 www.swalecstadium.co.uk Peter Pan Jr. Sophia Gardens. Cardiff Sat 23-Sat 20 July Tickets: £7-£30 Info: 0333 666 3366 www.ticketsource.co.uk Chicago – The Musical Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay Mon 25-Sat 30 July Tickets: £10.50-£42.50 Info: 029 2063 646 www.wmc.org.uk Airbourne Cardiff University Students Union Wed 27 July Tickets: £22.75 Info: 029 2078 1456 www.cardiffboxoffice.com -

TASTE

BY ST DAVID’S EAT LATE AT OVER 30 RE STAURA NTS A ND CAFÉ S

upfront

J O H N V E LV E T

C A L E V O I C E

Musician, singer-songwriter, and founding member of the Velvet Underground, John Cale speaks with Kieran Owen about rap, Wales and Lou Reed.

“I’d like to see Kokane do Back 2 Tha Clap,” John Cale starts when asked which album he’d like to see performed live. “I mean, that had such a powerful theme in it. It has the Katrina theme and a whole bunch of things. I’ve never seen him live, he came from the whole Snoop scene.”

It’s a strange feeling, that moment of panic as the recently turned 74-year-old namedrops a rapper you’ve never heard of in a voice which reminds you of your old great uncle from the farmhouse in Bancyfelin.

The one who used to complain Sundays should be for church and not rugby and smoked cigarettes in bed on a mattress hiding shotgun shells.

It’s not the only time John expresses his love of rap music – he describes his current favourite artist Chance The Rapper as “loveable” and a “breath of fresh air” – which may come as a surprise to those who have only heard John via his work with the Velvet Underground, or through some of his more traditional songwriting in solo albums such as 1972’s Paris 1919.

He discusses his recent shows in Paris, performing The Velvet Underground’s first two albums – with guests including rapper Saul Williams and Pete Doherty and Carl Barât of The Libertines – and the latest rerelease, remaster and entirely new rerecording of his 1981 solo album Music For A New Society, an incredibly modern-sounding reimagining dubbed M:FANS. He speaks, too, about how the idea for the autotune and 808 synthesizer-heavy M:FANS followed a festival in Denmark which required the artist to return to a previous work. He chose the thenout-of-print Music For A New Society.

“When we came back from Aarhus, I said I’m not doing it with strings and voices any more – I’m going to do it with some hard electronics. Those were the BUZZ 10

things that I was interested in anyway. These hip-hop records, they were really elemental, a voice and two or three other things. It really gives you power.”

During the reworking, late in 2013, his old friend and collaborator Lou Reed passed away. Despite working on a number of projects after The Velvet Underground, the two’s relationship remained fraught. Did John think that Lou Reed, who wrote a much publicised review in praise of Kanye West’s Yeezus months before he died, might be fan of what he has achieved in the production on M:FANS? He laughs, “I don’t think Lou was a fan of anything I did.”

It was reportedly said at the time that John was dismissed from the Velvet Underground because Lou thought his ideas were getting too ‘out there.’ He explains, “Whenever we worked together, it was fine and that was really work well done. It was done on time and it was strong, and that was it.”

On what’s in store for his upcoming headlining performance at the Festival Of Voice in Cardiff this month, he’s just as concise and cautious. “There’ll be a lot of different things, some material I’ve never performed before from past albums. They’ll be some Velvet Underground – generally they’ll be some identifiable things but they’ll be presented in a different way. They’ll have different arrangements.”

John’s remarkable body of work also includes production credits on landmark records by Patti Smith and Nick Drake as well as soundtracks for films, most notably the score for American Psycho.

Though looking forward to returning to the capital this month, John defines his relationship to Wales as a young man in the early 60s by a sense of wanting to escape to do what he wanted to do in art and music, first in London and then in New York. While discussing

his work setting the poetry of Dylan Thomas to music for the 1989 album Words For The Dying, he sums this feeling up in a typically conceptual light. Thomas, often referred to as a ‘rockstar poet’, fell into his alcohol-induced and fatal coma at the same Chelsea Hotel in New York that later became central to Andy Warhol and the Velvet Underground.

“I always think about why a Welshman with a background in classical music went to New York and ended up in rock’n’roll. So I went back and tried to put it all together in a different way. You get the poems and you arrange them as songs and then you orchestrate them. So that was what that exercise was about. It was about finding a contact with Wales, finding a contact with me, finding a contact with myself as I remembered myself.”

His deep, dulcet voice then explains how there’s still a bunch of tapes of Dylan Thomas poems he recorded that he hasn’t listened to in years, hinting at a revisit. Before saying hwyl fawr, it was worth asking about his recent exchange on Twitter between himself and Michael Sheen.

A seemingly impromptu set of tweets regarding the Festival Of Voice has led to John trying to get the actor to feature in his performance. What does he like about Michael Sheen? “He’s had a variety of personae. I like that.”

John Cale, Festival Of Voice, St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Fri 3 June. Tickets: £34-£39. Info: 029 2087 8444 / www. stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

"I always think about why a Welshman with a background in classical music went to New York and ended up in rock’n’roll."

BUZZ BUZZ11 11

upfront

CHARLOTTE CHURCH Amanda Hunt speaks with singer and political activist Charlotte Church about growing up a child star, protesting, and her new play The Last Mermaid.

I

n February 2016, Charlotte Church turned 30. But when hitting any birthday milestone, there is always a slight period of self-reflection. Having being catapulted into stardom at such a young age, did she feel she’d missed out on having a regular childhood?

“Not really, because the way I ended up working was that I could go back to school, and I also had two tutors when I was on the road. I got to travel the world, meet incredible people and perform with orchestras from all over the world. It was hard and intense at times but looking back, I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

A problem that’s often seen in a lot of child stars is that fame, fortune and lack of normality can lead to a path of self-destructive behaviour. However, despite what has been printed over the years, Charlotte Church has remained grounded and has developed a clear set of principles. Nowhere is this more evident than in the political arena. For the majority, discussions of politics remain indoors, among friends or colleagues. So what prompted Charlotte to speak out?

“When the Tories got into power, I went to a demonstration in Cardiff by the Aneurin Bevan statue, then it all went from there. It was important at that time as I could see so many people around me suffering. You can see people’s benefits getting slashed or cut completely and how on earth are you expecting people to live? It’s just rampant capitalism gone nuts. Also one of the most important things that an artist can do is to reflect the times that they live in – to try and understand what is happening to the world. “ During the lead-up to May 2016’s elections, the impression was that Charlotte would be voting Labour.

However, on the day she tweeted “@Plaid_Cymru all the way for me today!!!” This caused a little bit of controversy but she pointed out, “I have never said that I supported Labour but I do like Jeremy Corbyn. I like his politics. Obviously the Welsh elections are very different to the national elections. I never said that I was going to be supporting Welsh Labour. They are a completely different party; they have a completely different manifesto and a different leader. “ Moving on from bad press and politics, Charlotte has become involved in Cardiff’s Festival Of Voice, the first major UK celebration of the voice in all its forms. Charlotte will be bringing her new production The Last Mermaid to the stage.

“I met Graeme Farrow, the artistic director of the Wales Millennium Centre, who was talking to me about his vision for the WMC and Cardiff as an artistic hub. He was talking about the Festival Of Voice and I was thinking, oh my God, this sounds like a phenomenal thing to happen to Cardiff – and Wales in general, because often we are left behind.

“Graeme asked if I wanted to be a part of it and I had a little think with my partner Jonathan Powell, who’s a writer. We were thinking about The Little Mermaid and how she was made voiceless at a certain point, as well as the idea of being voiceless in this modern world, even though we have more ways to communicate than we ever have had before. The Last Mermaid has got ecological themes running through it about the ocean and pollution, but we’re not banging people over the head with an eco-message at all. It’s not really a musical as such; it is more like a film mix. Hopefully we’ve created something really beautiful and something that will stay with you for a long time.”

The Last Mermaid, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Sat 4-Sun 12 June. Tickets: £20/£18 on Sat 4. Info: 844 8700887 / www.wmc.org.uk

BUZZ 12

BUZZ 13

upfront

B I LL L O O K I N G

BAIL EY I N T O

L I M B O

Marcus Hughes speaks with Bill Bailey about his latest live show, Limboland, examining life and its ability to fall short or, if we’re lucky, occasionally exceed our expectations.

F

lick through the channels on any given night of the week and you’re bound to land on several appearances from Bill Bailey. Whether a repeat from one of Bill’s 11 series as team captain on Never Mind The Buzzcocks, puffing on a mockingly pompous unlit pipe behind the desks of QI, or performing one of his arena shows, it’s certainly not difficult to run into Bill’s unique brand of musical satire.

What we can expect from Limboland? “It’s about the idea that there’s this slight gap between how you imagine something’s going to be and how it actually turns out. Limbo is a state of being between, of slight uncertainty between one thing and another. And we all think like this, just as we do planning a night out.

Somebody says ‘we’re going out’, and you can’t really be bothered, but something happens and it turns into the most brilliant night ever! It happens so often that I just thought it was such fertile ground for comedy.”

Perhaps this is an unfair example: there must be very few people who feel worse three pints into a visit to the pub. Was there any particular event that got Bill into this frame of mind?

“It kicked off when I was thinking about this story of a trip to Norway to see the Northern Lights. I had this grand idea of how wonderful it was going to be and then, of course, it didn’t pan out that way at all.

It was disastrous. Somebody got knocked off the sledge, and dragged along and they nearly died and then we got lost. A disaster! And I just found myself standing there thinking, ‘this is not how I imagined this at all...’”

Reading reviews of the shows to date, you get the impression that Limboland is lighter on musical elements than the majority of his other shows, but Bill was quick to put this right.

“Somebody was asking me recently if I was scaling down the whole music thing, and I said ‘yeah’, then I started listing all the instruments in the show. ‘There’s a keyboard, a sampler, a drum machine, a Theremin, a sitar, and then there’s a long drum, a whistle, a swanee whilstle, a mandola, an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar...’ I got to about 17 instruments and it was like ‘yeah OK, it’s not actually

BUZZ 14

scaled down that much then.’ But I suppose by my standards it is.”

Bill laughs at this and it’s obvious that as an accomplished musician he wouldn’t dream of preventing himself from indulging his passion.

Bill’s comedy lovingly pokes fun at popular culture through its relationship with music, parodying everything from television theme tunes and classical music to some of his favourite bands. One fantastic song of Bill’s is Unisex Chipshop, his attempt at writing a song in the style of Billy Bragg. Bragg is a friend of Bill’s and has even performed the song with him on stage, but what sort of feedback does he usually get from artists whose music has made an appearance in his act?

“I once played a version of the Hokey Cokey done in the style of Kraftwerk. So then when I went to see Kraftwerk at Brixton Academy I started talking to one of the new guys they’d recruited after a big falling out. You can’t ever imagine Kraftwerk falling out, they’re so dour they don’t look as if they’d get excited about anything much, but they did. So I told this guy about my version of the Hokey Cokey and ages later I got a message back from them saying ‘yes, it was quite good’. And from Kraftwerk, I consider that to be a ringing endorsement.”

Bill also recalls a less favourable review from the lead singer of Portishead.

“A while back I did a new national anthem because I just thought our national anthem was a bit dull, so it would be good to kind of cheer it up a bit. So I reworked Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah into the style of Portishead, because I just loved that trip-hop style.

I got some word back later that Beth Gibbons was not impressed. Oh well [laughter], it was meant as a fond tribute.”

Bill’s affection for the music and the artists he uses in his act is clear to see, and a genuine draw for audiences who share his fondness. With this in mind, it’s not long before we get onto the subject of David Bowie’s Blackstar. “I’ve actually been listening to a lot of Bowie recently. I was, like a lot of people, really shocked by his death and it unlocked a whole series of memories; of listening to his albums throughout

my youth, and how much of an affect they had on me.

I was quite taken aback by how much I was affected by not only his death but also relistening to a lot of his music. I’ve been listening to the latest album Blackstar, which I think is brilliant.”

Bill’s not alone in his sentiment, and it’s this ability to engage with an audience as a fan of popular music that makes his comedy so insightfully unique. The Limboland tour will see performances at a variety of venues, large and small capacity, across the globe.

Which of these does he feel best serves his act?

“It’s undeniably exciting to play an arena, no doubt about it. It’s more of a rock gig. But I try not to play the big venues these days. I agonise over it a little bit.

On the one hand I feel like comedy isn’t really best served by a larger venue. But I look around the stage at one of my gigs, and it’s littered with rock guitars and keyboards and projectors. And I just think ‘well, if anyone’s going to play an arena, it might as well be me.’ We just sling a few more speakers onto the stage.”

It’s true that Bill looks far more at home on a larger stage than one man with a microphone attempting to dance around and engage with a front row 20 feet away. In 2011 Bill headlined Sonisphere alongside Slayer, Motorhead and Metallica. To tackle this challenge Bill assembled a band and successfully performed to 60,000 ‘rain drenched metal-heads’.

“I remember a few years ago, the first time I played Wembley arena. I was standing on the stage with my foot up on the monitor, I had a Flying V guitar with a goose-neck camera looking down the neck which was projected onto a 50-foot screen behind me. And I remember thinking, ‘yeah, this is it. This is rock ‘n’ roll.’”

Bill Bailey: Limboland, Grand Theatre, Swansea, Tue 21 + Wed 22 June. Tickets: £25.50. Info: 017 9247 5715 / www. swansea.gov.uk; Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Sat 25 June. Tickets: £29. Info: 029 2023 4500 / www.livenation.co.uk/ cardiff

'A while back I did a new national anthem because I just thought our national anthem was a bit dull, so it would be good to kind of cheer it up a bit.'

BUZZ BUZZ15 15

upfront

pic Murdo Macleod

THE P R O C L A I M E R S The Scottish duo’s back catalogue boasts years of experience, with their latest album Let’s Hear It For The Dogs staying true to form.

Ffion Riordan-Jones caught up with one half of the twosome, Craig Reid, to find out more about what it is like to be a Proclaimer.

What inspired Let’s Hear It For The Dogs?

Well there’s lots of different subjects covered in it – there’s politics, there’s love songs, there’s social commentary. So it was really whatever the song was about that inspired it. Most of them were written in the same way I usually write songs – I get the completed tune and get that set absolutely right, then start working on words after that. Then you focus on what the song is going to be about. Until I get the first couple of lines and that usually comes a couple of weeks after I first write the tune.

Why did you choose Rockfield Studios to record this album?

There used to be a lot of residential studios when we first started making records and Rockfield is one of the few ones left now. It’s just a really nice place, and the people who own it are really pleasant. It’s a really good place to go and work for a couple of weeks and we really enjoy the experience there. They’ve got a few live rooms there where you can set everybody up, and, you can all play together, so that was the reason.

Have you got any fond memories of concerts you have played in Wales?

Yes! Well the first I remember is the first night we did of BUZZ 16

a tour; we played Cardiff University where we opened for The Housemartins, which was good. Two of the first major tours we did for ourselves were a joy, where the top headliner was Voice Of The Beehive, and I remember playing a place in the Rhondda Valley on the first night.

We’ve played Cardiff a few times, Swansea once or twice, Llandudno two or three times, but yeah – a few happy memories of playing in Wales.

Have you noticed any crowd differences throughout the years?

The one thing that has been constant with our shows down the years is that there has always been a fairly even split between male and female. There has always been that right from the start. What we’ve noticed now is that in the UK, we play to bigger crowds than we did in the early days. And also you’re getting a much wider age group – two, sometimes even three generations of families coming along.

Do you think the success of Sunshine On Leith has affected that at all?

It did, yes! The musical changed around three times, it could have got bigger every time and that led to the film being made. I think the people who went to see it and bought the DVD are certainly people that wouldn’t

usually go and see The Proclaimers. Some of them may come along and not really appreciate that what we do live is much louder, with more aggressive songs than the musical or film, but I think it’s had a big effect. Getting more of your music to people who have just liked a few songs by watching the film is a huge thing.

What future plans do you have?

We are very much looking forward to getting back out, and this will take us all the way up to the end of October.

But I’m looking forward to maybe playing places I haven’t played before, and meeting new people as well.

I think the main thing to say for us as The Proclaimers is that writing and playing live is the main thing for us.

Playing to a live audience is what we’ve always wanted to do and we will continue to go for as long as we can justify it.

The Proclaimers, Grand Theatre, Swansea, Sat 18 June. Tickets: £29. Info: 01792 475715 / www.swansea.gov.uk

upfront

STEREOPHONICS

pic Peter van Velthoven

Stereophonics have announced a special show at Cardiff City Stadium in June with special guests The Vaccines and Band Of Skulls. The band recently released Keep The Village Alive, which claimed the number one album spot and made them the eighth group to achieve five consecutive UK number one albums. The Cwmaman outfit visit the home of the Bluebirds for a second time, having previously played a sold out performance there in June 2010. The show will be another iconic moment for the band in Wales, following on from previous massive shows at the Millennium Stadium, Morfa Stadium and Cardiff Castle. Hit singles C’est La Vie, I Wanna Get Lost With You and Song For The Summer will be sure to get fans singing along.

Stereophonics, Cardiff City Stadium, Sat 4 June. Tickets: £47.50 seated/£40 standing.

Info: 0845 3451400 / www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk

LIONEL RICHIE International superstar Lionel Richie will be performing in Swansea for the first time this month, bringing with him his much loved songs from his extensive music career. This unmissable performance will include the classics Hello, Easy, Dancing On The Ceiling, Say You Say Me and All Night Long, it could be just what you’re looking for (sorry). With Lionel’s Glastonbury performance on the Pyramid Stage in 2015, the UK was once more smitten with the performer, with his album The Definitive Collection soaring to the number one spot in the album charts for the first time in 23 years. Lionel went on to receive the British GQ’s Icon Award, adding to his grand career, and already extensive collection of awards. Corinne Bailey Rae will support.

Lionel Richie, Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Sat 18 June. Tickets: £40. Info: www.liberty-stadium.com

BARRY MANILOW Music legend Barry Manilow is bringing his One Last Time! tour to the UK in June following a successful tour of America.

Barry is bidding farewell to his fans, too, as this will be his final tour. With a live band of 13 musicians and singers, it’s sure to be an emotional, yet lively as ever show for fans. After the successful performances in America, Barry is excited to undertake the shows in the UK, but mostly wants to thank his fans one last time for their years of support. The Grammywinning musician will be playing all of the old favourites, including the huge hit song Mandy, which topped the charts in 1975.

Barry Manilow, Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Mon 20 June.

Tickets: £19.75-£85.75. Info: 029 2023 4500 / www. livenation.co.uk/cardiff

BUZZ 18

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BUZZ 19

upfront

FEMI KUTI Being born of greatness can have its ups and downs. Like the sons of Marley and Dylan, following in the footsteps of their fathers, individuals who not only defined a genre but left a significant mark on the world, was certainly a daunting task.

For Femi Kuti, as the son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti he was always a star in the making.

“My father once asked me to me what I wanted to do. Naturally, I said ‘music’.”

Femi began his musical career playing saxophone and piano in his father’s band, Egypt 80, often playing at his legendary club, The Shrine, on the outskirts of Lagos.

“My father insisted that I listened to jazz. At the time I felt it was very difficult to acclimatise to – so busy in my ears, like a difficult mathematical problem to solve. But when he introduced me to James Moody, to a milder jazz, this was the beginning of my intoxication with jazz music. I knew I could never be Charlie Parker or Dizzy Gillespie; I could never be my father – but I could be Femi Kuti.

I would have my pain, have my good times, my bad times, I would live my own life. And through listening to jazz and believing in this theory, it really helped me become who I am today."

“I sing about things that bother me. In Nigeria, we have no constant electricity – this bothers me. The justice system doesn't work – this bothers me. The healthcare doesn't work – this bothers me. I've been able to travel the world with my music, I've seen other countries, and they all have problems but they are not comparable to wartorn areas like the problems we face in Africa.”

Nigeria and the suffering of his people are prominent in Femi’s music. Born in London, he moved almost right away to Lagos in Nigeria. Poverty, injustice and corruption have influenced his life and those around him like we in Wales can’t imagine. Like his father, he sings as an African that’s had enough.

DYLAN JENKINS Femi Kuti & The Positive Force / Mbongwana Star, St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Thurs 9 June. Tickets: £15-£25. Info: 029 2087 8444 / www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

BEN FOLDS “Really well. It’s exceptional. It’s been one of my favourites,” says Ben Folds when asked about his latest tour. “I’ll be really sad to wrap it all up, which we do in August in Sydney. It’s been going really well live. Never, ever, do you make a record, go out with new material and not have to repeat it a little bit, to let it sink in. This one really didn’t have much of a break in time. And I think the reason is because the ensemble is so unique and the presentation is so different, and my audience is really pretty smart.”

Having previously said that he has a lot of freedom as a musician, is that why Ben has recently worked with yMusic? “Some of that is just the freedom that you allow yourself. If you say you want to put a physics book to music and that’s going to be your project, everyone will be looking at you like ‘you’re out of your mind, this is going to ruin you’. The freedom comes from doing it. Then everyone has to shut up, you did it. It might not work out but you have to do it.”

One of his recent tracks, Phone In A Pool, Ben sings about how he threw his phone into a pool in New Orleans. Is it true that Kesha fished it out?

“Yeah! Although she doesn’t remember it! Well, I know Kesha anyway, but I didn’t know she was at the hotel. I didn’t know anyone was there. I threw my Blackberry in the deep end of this pool in Hollywood at about midnight.

I had a couple too many and thought, ‘might as well throw my phone in the pool’. And Kesha pops out of the dark with a hoodie on and she’s like ‘Ben, is that you?’

“Then she jumps straight into the pool with all her clothes on, got my phone out and told me to put it in rice. I was meant to see her the next day but she had a cold or something. Probably from jumping in the pool!”

MARCUS HUGHES Ben Folds, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Sun 12 June. Tickets: £19-£35. Info: 029 2063 6464 / www.wmc. org.uk BUZZ 20

pic Allan Amato

Credit: Keith Morris

23rd - 30th July Gorfennaf

Orion Orchestra

National Youth Choir of Wales

Tom Poster

Toby Purser

Guy Johnston

Anya Fadina

Gamal Khamis

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Orion Orchestra

Andy Scott

Asdis Valdimarsd贸ttir

David Campbell

Raphaela Papadakis

Sigyn Fosnes

National Youth Brass Band of Wales

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Arlene Sierra

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Enigma14

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YN AGO

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See the heads, hear the tales Discover the unexpected wonder of coins at The Royal Mint Experience, near Cardiff.

Mae gan bob darn arian ei stori Darganfyddwch gyfrinachau cudd y ceiniogau ym Mhrofiad y Royal Mint, ger Caerdydd.

Book now: Archebwch nawr:

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19/04/2016BUZZ 10:21 21

upfront

ROD STEWART Rod Stewart’s album Another Country is the latest edition to his ever-growing discography, making it his 29th album. Now that’s impressive. Stewart has some of the biggest hits of all time under his belt, and he’ll be undertaking an eight-date tour across the UK and Ireland to show them off, giving tens of thousands of people the opportunity to see the legend. The Hits Tour gives audiences the opportunity to listen to the classics live and also hear songs from Another Country live for the first time.

Fresh from his triumphant Hyde Park Radio 2 show on the main stage in September 2015, where he played to more than 50,000 people, the tour could not have come at a better time for Rod’s new album. With Another Country becoming a new lease of life for Rod, he has certainly put his heart and soul into writing the songs. With one of the new songs on the new album entitled The Drinking Song, Rod was adamant that all the lyrics were true and have all happened at one point in his life, including walking through a hotel foyer naked with the band Faces.

Describing his upcoming tour as “just great music”, Rod is adamant that all of his hits would be played originally, insisting that he will “give people what they want”. Also, to put any fans out there at ease, Rod will definitely be kicking out a number of balls into the crowd, perhaps even Cardiff City footballs if you’re lucky!

Rod combines his raspy soul voice with creative lyrics to put consistently passionate performances, and over five decades, he has had six UK number 1s and sold 200 million albums and singles worldwide, including hits such as Have You Ever Seen The Rain, Sailing and When I Need You. The spiky-haired rocker will take you to the 70s and back again in one night.

The Sisterhood duo has been announced as the support act, one half of whom is Stewart’s daughter, Ruby. HANNAH WILLIAMS Rod Stewart, Cardiff City Stadium, Sat 11 June. Tickets: £55£95. Info: www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk

SARAH MILLICAN AND ADAM HILLS Stand-up comedian Sarah Millican is no stranger for comedy lovers. After winning the Edinburgh Festival Fringe if.com best newcomer award in 2008, there hasn’t been a year where she hasn’t appeared on our TV screens. In eight years, she has gone from regular Geordie lass to a multi-award-winning comedian. Her debut DVD, Chatterbox Live, is the biggest selling stand-up DVD by a female comic of all time.

For those who have had the pleasure of watching one of her previous DVDs or shows, there’s just as many unapologetic tales as before. This year she’s touring across the UK with her Outsider tour, where Millican shares her experiences of marriage, cats, dogs, moving from the city to her new life in the country and what she has learnt in-between on the stage. It promises to be another show praised by critics and the punters. Be quick, most dates are sold out or close to selling out.

This June, Millican isn’t the only comedian making her way down to South Wales. If you’ve watched The Last Leg on Channel 4, you’ll understand why Adam Hills stepping on the stage of Swansea Grand is worth getting excited about. The Last Leg has seven series under its belt with a further two commissioned for 2016. The Aussie-born comedian brings a refreshing feel to comedy, being a big fan of audience participation, he will be sure to make every audience member feel like they got their money’s worth.

Hills has made numerous TV and radio appearances, was nominated for Best Entertainment Performance and won the Best Breakthrough Act in 2013. Adam Hills regularly visits the Edinburgh Fringe and Melbourne Comedy Festival, so his standard is among the highest in the circuit. This spring he’s touring with his new show, Clown Heart. Think positive but spontaneous comedy which has won over the hearts of comedy lovers across the world.

HANNAH WILLIAMS Sarah Millican, St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Mon 27 + Tue 28 June. Tickets: £25. Info: 029 2087 8444 / www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk; Adam Hills, Grand Theatre, Swansea, Mon 13 June. Tickets: £21.50. Info: 01792 475715 / www.swansea.gov.uk/swanseagrandtheatre BUZZ BUZZ22 22

GŴYL RYNGWLADOL CELFYDDYDAU CAERDYDD \ CARDIFF’S INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL

CH ARLOT T E CHU R CH y n \ i n

TH E LAST MERMAID MEH EF I N 4 – 1 2 JU N E 2 0 1 6 CANOLFA N MILENIWM CY M R U \ WAL E S M I L L E N N I U M C E N T R E £9 – £20 Yn nyfnderoedd tywyllaf y môr, mae’r fôr-forwyn olaf yn codi o’i chragen ac yn darganfod taw hi yw’r unig un sydd ar ôl yn y deyrnas goll… Gyda cherddoriaeth wreiddiol, dyma gynhyrchiad gwefreiddiol newydd i’r teulu sy’n dathlu symudiad, cerddoriaeth, golau ac – wrth gwrs – y llais.

CRËWYD GAN CREATED BY

In the darkest depths of the ocean, the last mermaid emerges from her clamshell and discovers she is the sole survivor of a lost, undersea kingdom… Featuring original music, this stunning new family show celebrates movement, music, light and – of course – the voice.

MAE GŴYL Y LLAIS YN BOSIBL DIOLCH I FESTIVAL OF VOICE HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO

www.GwylyLlais.cymru www.FestivalofVoice.wales @GwylyLlais @FOVCardiff

CAREM DDIOLCH CEFNOGWYR ERAILL GŴYL Y LLAIS AM EU HAELIONI WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR OTHER FESTIVAL OF VOICE SUPPORTERS FOR THEIR GENEROSITY

CRËWYD GAN CREATED BY

Kommilitonen!

MAE GŴYL Y LLAIS YN BOSIBL DIOLCH I FESTIVAL OF VOICE HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO

CAREM DDIOLCH CEFNOGWYR ERAILL GŴYL Y LLAIS AM EU HAELIONI WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR OTHER FESTIVAL OF VOICE SUPPORTERS FOR THEIR GENEROSITY

(Young Blood!)

Music by | Cerddoriaeth gan Sir Peter Maxwell Davies Libretto by | gan David Pountney

WNO Youth Opera with WNO Orchestra Opera Ieuenctid WNO a Cherddorfa WNO 27 – 30 July | Gorffennaf

Memo Arts Centre, Barry Canolfan Y Celfyddydau Memo, Barri

wno.org.uk/kommilitonen

01446 738622 memoartscentre.co.uk

By arrangement with Chester Music Limited.

The Opera was jointly commissioned by the Royal Academy of Music, London and The Julliard School, New York.

Drwy drefniant gyda Chester Music Limited.

Comisiynwyd yr Opera ar y cyd â’r Royal Academy of Music, Llundain ac Julliard School, Efrog Newydd.

Supported by ABP, Schafer Bursary, David Speller and WNO Partners | Cefnogwyd gan ABP, Schafery Bursary, David Speller a WNO Partners

Registered Charity No | Rhif Elusen Gofrestredig 221538

BUZZ 23

upfront

DANCE ROADS Coreo Cymru and Chapter Arts Centre present an evening of five contemporary dance works brought to you by artists from five different countries, presenting their cultural backgrounds. Dance Roads is a European network established to support emerging choreographers selected from each partner country, providing artists with a range of international performance opportunities. This year Dance Roads is presenting e works from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania and Wales.

Compagnie Adéquate represents France with a 20-minute-long, expressive, comical at places, however intriguingly touching and inviting duet Nœuds (Knots). Extensively playing with gestures and facial expressions, it emphasises the shift between softness, fluidity and power in movements. The duet unravels a relationship, taking inspiration from Antoine de Saint Exupéry‘s words “Man is solely a knot of relations. Relations only are important to man”.

Italian artist Claudia Catarzi introduces the audience with an experimental solo performance that explores different aspects of the given moment, and focuses on the bodily responses they evoke. Jasper van Luijk, a choreographer from the Netherlands, offers the audience a chance to travel through time and experience momentary timelessness with his piece, Yonder.

Continuing on the exploratory route, Romanian choreographer and performer Cristina Lilienfeld offers an expressive performance that focuses on skin as an organ with its own life, able to transmit information, regenerate, hold memories and respond. With an interactive dialogue between her and the audience, Layers opens up to vulnerability and struggles for a way into the emotional body.

Last but not the least is the choreographer from Wales, Gwyn Emberton. Of The Earth, From Where I Came was inspired by Dylan Thomas’ poem Fern Hill, and Emberton's detailed and complex choreography emphasises the inseparable human connection to the Earth.

GUNDIJA ZANDERSONA Dance Roads, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, Tue 7 + Wed 8 June.

Tickets: £10-£12. Info: 029 2030 4400 / www.chapter.org

CARDIFF FRINGE THEATRE FESTIVAL This month, experience a cluster of theatrical delights from established and new theatrical companies in various venues across the capital.

Following on from other large cities such as Brighton and London, Cardiff is playing host to a festival to celebrate its own theatrical scene. With dramatic culture exploding across Cardiff, the festival was created for people to experience a programme that caters to a wide range of tastes, in the hope that this festival will draw in a larger crowd that one single production cannot. The festival also aims to provide theatrical entertainment in venues that may not be associated with the theatre such as Cathays’ CF24 Project and the extremely central 10 Feet Tall.

Over the five days the festival aims to promote a nurturing environment where audiences can experience a large range of plays, artists can mingle and people can learn from others. This unique event also aims to promote the arts and culture in Cardiff.

The programme for this week offers three to four different plays a day all at different times making this experience even more convenient for audiences. They include The League Of Gentlemen-inspired The Dead Of Night In The Middle Of Nowhere, the introspective I See A Different You and open mic poetry nights.

The Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival is also giving you the chance to get involved in the fun, be it suggesting a concept or idea you have or a theatre company who would be perfectly suited for this event. The organisers are also encouraging aspiring actors to get involved, offering workshops across the week to answer any questions and give advice to those considering opening their own theatrical company, those looking to join or just those looking into learning more about grassroots theatre.

CIARA NELIGAN Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival, various venues, Cardiff, Mon 20-Sat 25 June. Tickets: prices vary per event. Info: www. cardifffringetheatrefestival.co.uk

BUZZ 24

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JAMES ALLEN James Allen, General Manager of the Glee Club in Cardiff Bay, speaks with Luke Owain Boult about working in comedy, hecklers, and how to get into stand-up.

C

ould you just roughly describe an average day at Glee if there is one?

Well, on an average day, we do shows here at least three times a week, sometimes they’re fully booked, and it’s my job to be here all of the time that we are open to get things ready for the shows, so I spend a lot of time in here. There’s people who make sure we have fully stocked bars and kitchens and stuff like that, and making sure that the shows run well.

How did you get started doing this sort of thing?

I started working for the Glee 11 years ago, when I was working part-time behind the bar here in Cardiff.

I’ve obviously been working for the Glee for the entire time, for that 11 years. I’ve worked with three or four of the venues that we have, I’ve worked on the bar and then I was the bar manager here, assistant manager at the Nottingham club, and then co-manager at our Birmingham club and now I’m back here as the venue manager.

What’s it like to work with so many comedians?

Generally, they are a joy to work with – they are, you know, not particularly diva-ish as performers

BUZZ 26

go. I’ve generally found them to be absolutely lovely.

Some of the funniest things I’ve ever heard are from comedians backstage – most are naturally very funny witty people, I’d love to be able to capture some of the moments sometimes backstage, they are sometimes just as funny there as they are onstage.

Have you ever done stand up yourself?

I haven’t, no. It’s never been something that’s particularly appealed to me. I’m quite happy being behind the scenes of it all – I get to do the voiceovers on the shows but that’s about as far as it goes in terms of performing.

Are there ever any issues with hecklers there?

It’s always a perennial issue. You might get someone who thinks that they're as funny or funnier than the act on stage so they’re going to get involved. Normally here, though, I think these are fairly short-lived incidents. Usually the act that we have will make them feel very uncomfortable and sort them out. The way that we set our rooms and our shows actively discourage heckling, and unless the act on stage wants the audience to get involved, that’s generally the way it stays and we’ve worked out that the act is the one producing the entertainment.

How do you decide who performs?

We have quite an incredible range in terms of styles, we have acts all over the world. We're always looking for something a little bit different. The standard at the moment is observational humour, for example Gary Delaney, who has one liners. We also have the absolutely un-shamefully silly, and fantastic acts, which are very different from our normal stand-ups.

It’s a real mixed bag and we like it that way – we try and get the biggest range of acts that we possibly can.

How can people get a slot at Glee?

Well they can contact us. The best thing to do is send us a little bit about themselves, the things they’ve done, the amount of time they have been doing standup for and preferably a little video so that we can see them in action. All of our Thursday night shows are now Comedy Carousel shows, most weeks of which feature three five minute slots so we can get through the quite considerable amount of applicants that we have so that they can be seen on our weekend shows.

Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. Info: 0121 693 2248 / www.glee.co.uk

pic Rosmarie Voegtli

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BUZZ 27

film

by Keiron Self

INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE ***

THE CONJURING 2 ***

Dir: Roland Emmerich (12A, 130 mins) Who would have thought this would even happen? Independence Day was a big budget cheese-fest back in 1996, and 20 years later it’s getting a belated, a bit so-what sequel. The original re-started a cycle of big budget disaster movies where landmarks were destroyed, countless millions die and people cameo, they were a gleeful reminder of 1970s disaster films like The Poseidon Adventure, Earthquake and The Towering Inferno, but with a huge CGI budget. The White House was exploderised in Independence Day, now it’s London with Abu Dhabi falling on it or something. Yes, the aliens are back and they’ve had 20 years to prepare but hey, so have we, so that’s good. Bill Pullman returns to give more toecurling speeches, Jeff Goldblum is a sarcastic highlight and Liam Hemsworth is given bland fighter pilot duties. The FX have been ramped up, there’s a female President in Sela Ward and Will Smith’s character has been killed off – replaced with his son, played by Jessie Usher. Maika Monroe from It Follows is Pullman’s daughter and various other original cast members cameo. This will be utter nonsense and another cheese fest, but secretly enjoyable no doubt. Opens June 23

Dir: James Wan (15, 94 mins) Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren return in a British set sequel that riffs on the recent Enfield Haunting on UK TV. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return as the real-life husband-and-wife team, picking up six years after the first film – this time exploring the case of a single mother (Frances O’Connor) in North London with four daughters, one of whom has gone a bit low-voiced and possessed. Furniture flies around rooms, crosses turn upside down, and it’s not long before there are creepy nuns appearing in mirrors, weird nosebleeds and red-eyed demons. The Warrens did really investigate what was one of the longest paranormal cases in history, but of course the scares and ‘facts’ have been amped up for pant-soiling effect on celluloid. Madison Wolfe who plays the possessed Janet Hodgson does her best Linda Blair, all funny voices and malevolence, and there’s stalwart support from Brit thesps David Thewlis and Simon McBurney.

This, like the first film, benefits from a period setting, tightly controlled tension and genuinely unsettling moments. Wilson and Farming ground the film and James Wan knows not to miss a trick. Scarily enjoyable. Opens June 17

WHERE TO INVADE NEXT ****

THE BOSS **

RACE ***

Dir: Michael Moore (15, 119 mins) After the polemics of Fahrenheit 9/11, Sicko and Capitalism: A Love Story, documentary filmmaker Michael Moore sets his sights on US foreign policy – visiting other countries to see what they are doing right and what America is doing wrong. In Germany, the Holocaust is widely recognised, monuments built in plain sight, whereas America does not spend so much energy reminding its citizens of the Native American genocide and slave labour on which it was built. Women are at the forefront of Icelandic political life, whereas Hilary Clinton is an anomaly in the USA. Moore makes a series of compare-and-contrast points with sobering relevance, ranging from drug laws to school meals; it’s a scattershot approach but informative, challenging and entertaining and demonstrates that America has a lot to learn from the world despite trying to impose its own will upon it. Opens June 10

Dir: Ben Falcone (15, 99 mins) Another vehicle unworthy of the comic chops of Melissa McCarthy, this is her second collaboration with husband Ben Falcone and like Tammy before it, is a weak, scattershot comedy redeemed only by McCarthy and some violent slapstick. Another SNL sketch character stretched to beyond breaking point, McCarthy plays an appalling money-grabbing CEO, Michelle Darnell, the 47th wealthiest woman in America.

Following accusations of insider trading, however, she find herself penniless and homeless and falls upon the generosity of former assistant Kirsten Bell. Soon McCarthy is transforming a Girl Scout troupe into a ruthless gang of Brownie sellers and turning Bell into a businesswoman. McCarthy squeezes every laugh she can out of the character but the script and plot don’t offer that much comedy gold, improvised or otherwise.

The Boss ain’t so boss. Opens June 10

Dir: Stephen Hopkins (12A, 134 mins) A biopic of black athlete Jesse Owens who triumphed in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games in the face of Hitler and the rise of the Nazis, Race is a solid if formulaic drama. Stephan James stars as Owens, whose athletic history is dealt with briskly until he comes across Jason Sudeikis’ coach who takes Owens on amidst the bigotry and racism of 1930s America. Despite Stephan James’ best efforts, the film only really springs to life when we get to the 1936 Olympics themselves, Owens wins his gold medals and is snubbed by Hitler. There are moments of nuance, but the film never really probes deep enough into Owens’ character to truly satisfy. There’s an interesting subplot about whether to boycott the 1936 Olympics peopled by William Hurt and Jeremy Irons, but Race remains a worthy if often bland retelling of a wondrous historical moment.

Opens June 3

ALSO RELEASED JUNE 2016: BREAKING THE BANK (12A) Bumbling Brit comedy as a batty British businessman who looks suspiciously like Frasier fends off a Japan/US takeover. HOLDING THE MAN (15) Gay romantic drama from Australia that follows a relationship over 15 years through all its ups and downs. Solid and sweet. MISCONDUCT (15) Thriller with some phoned-in performances from Al Pacino and Anthony Hopkins, as lawyer Josh Duhamel pushes too far in a pharmaceutical case and ends up framed for a crime he didn’t commit. LEARNING TO DRIVE (15) Ben Kingsley and Patricia Clarkson form an unlikely partnership, he as her Sikh driving instructor, she a self-absorbed book critic whose husband has left her. Quite unlikely romance ensues. MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN (12A) Overtly Christian

THE NICE GUYS ****

WARCRAFT: THE BEGINNING ***

Dir: Shane Black (15, 116 mins) The writer behind Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and more recently director of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Iron Man 3 returns, in sweary buddy movie style, with this 1970s-set comic noir. Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe are the mismatched pairing: Gosling is a down at heel Private Investigator, Crowe an enforcer for hire who is investigating the disappearance of a girl. After an initial meeting that results in a broken arm for Gosling, they have to work together to find Kim Basinger’s missing daughter. This leads them to the death of a porn star, being pursued by a hitman and ultimately a Chinatown-esque conspiracy, with lots of laughs, zingy one liners and some cracking chemistry between Crowe and Gosling. Shane Black has crafted a spiritual cousin to the excellent Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, with Crowe better than he has been for ages and Gosling showing a real knack for comedy. The 70s are lovingly recreated and although it’s a bit of a shaggy dog story, the characters are great fun to spend time with. Foul mouthed, funny and frenetic, The Nice Guys is a sparky summer treat.

Opens June 3

Dir: Duncan Jones (12A, 120 mins) A long awaited adaptation of the global phenomenon that is the 20-year-old Warcraft series, a collection of real time strategy and role playing games, is finally coming to the screen. Attention to detail has been key, with writer/director Jones lovingly recreating the landmarks of Azeroth so familiar to gamers. The plot follows the basic ideas behind the series’ first outing, Warcraft: Orcs & Humans which was released in a rather basic game way back in 1994. The orcs’ planet Draenor is dying and via a gateway to another world, Azeroth, the survival of the species looks to be safe, trouble is the humans in that world don’t want them there. And so, war. A CGI-heavy one. Motion capture has been taken to another level, apparently, with Toby Kebbel’s fanged Orc leader full of green skinned emotion as he battles with Travis Fimmel’s human warrior Lothar in the service of Dominic Cooper’s King Wrynne. Ultimately orc and human have to team up, alliances are tested and many a battle is fought. Whether Warcraft will strike cinema goers’ nerves is open to question, fans of the game will no doubt lap it up, Jones is a great indie director as Moon attests, but has this got the storytelling verve of previous mega franchises? Out now

ME BEFORE YOU ***

GODS OF EGYPT **

ELVIS AND NIXON ***

Dir: Thea Sharrock (12A, 110 mins) A weepie about seizing the day and living for the moment based on Jojo Moyes’ bestselling book, this has Emilia Clarke ditching the dragons for romance and Sam Clafin leaving Hunger Games for life affirmation.

Clafin plays Will a recently paralysed former banker who is now utterly fed up with life, who meets Clarke’s Lou, who becomes his carer. She lives for the moment and adventure, he has retreated from that, guess what happens. It’s formulaic slush given extra depth by nuanced performances by the young leads and strong support from Charles Dance, Janet McTeer, Brendan Coyle and former Dr. Who assistant Jenna Coleman.

Set in an idyllic, idealised England, this has very little in the way of surprises but still engages and suckers you into a quiet sniffle. Thea Sharrock makes a solid directorial debut with a sob story that manipulatively works. Opens June 3

Dir: Alex Proyas (12A, 127 mins) Oh dear. A CGI-stuffed version of Egyptian legends with nary a Middle Eastern actor in sight, this is overblown nonsense despite coming from Alex Proyas who brought us the far superior original The Crow and Dark City. Nicolas Coster Waldau takes a break from Game Of Thrones to play Horus, a god about to inherit the throne from his Dad, Bryan Brown, only for nasty charisma free Scotsman Gerard Butler as dastardly uncle Set to nab it off him. Horus is blinded and has to team up with the blank Brendon Thwaites and a variety of other gods to win back the throne. Money has been thrown at the spectacle at the expense of plot and acting. Geoffrey Rush chews scenery and is mostly on fire, sexy ladies ride serpents and set pieces are noisy and catastrophic. It could be campy fun. It isn’t. Opens June 17

Dir: Liza Johnson (15, 86 mins) Michael Shannon may be an odd choice to take on the mantle of the King of rock'n'roll, but his Elvis against Kevin Spacey’s Nixon works a treat, underplayed and real. The film is an imagining of the story behind the most requested photo in the National Archives, that of Presley and Nixon shaking hands in the White House. Liza Johnson’s film is a breezy concoction that plays with history. Presley is a man at the crossroads, unsure of his own identity, wanting to become a secret federal agent at large and serve his country, to the bemusement of Nixon an opportunist hoping to appeal to the youth through a meeting with the snake-hipped one. Strong support comes from Colin Hanks as Nixon’s advisor, and Shannon and Spacey spar well off each other, but a sub-plot involving one of Presley’s bodyguards is an unwelcome distraction.

Opens June 24

tearjerker as a family struggle to come to terms with their daughters’ illness when a ‘miracle’ happens. The TV movie dynamics are only elevated by a spirited turn from Jennifer Garner. MOTHER’S DAY (12A) Director Gary Marshall destroys another day with a lacklustre ensemble dreamed with a great cast but dreadful script. Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson and Julia Roberts struggle on. WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE (U) Studio Ghibli’s final film is as gorgeous and lovely as you’d expect from the animation giant and again deals with difficult but engrossing subject matter as a withdrawn teenage girl escapes into a fantasy life. BARBERSHOP 3 (15) Seen Barbershop 1 and 2? This is like the third one. THE KEEPING ROOM (15) Solid Western as three women defend themselves in the dying days of the American Civil War.

food/drink

MERTHYR CHILLI FIESTA If you’re expecting burgers and hot dogs, chill (i).

Penderyn Square will be overrun by stalls with the best chilli producers from across Wales, chilli-themed food outlets and live music. Swallow your ego to make room for the Chilli Eating Contest: competitors are challenged to chomp their way through the world’s hottest chillies, including the dreaded bhut jolokia (also known as the ghost chilli), infamous for being 400 times hotter than Tabasco. Not to curry (again, sorry), there will be beverages to wash the chilli down with, like chilli cocktails and chilli beer..

You’re probably better off swallowing your own tears.

pic Adriel O Socrates

A GLOBAL GUIDE TO BARBECUING With summer feeling like it's just right round the corner, and the smell of bonfires and Pimm's wafting through the air, it can only mean one thing: BBQ season.

Chelsea Brownhill takes us on an international tour of the wonderful meaty world of barbecuing.

It’s hard to imagine a summer without the great British BBQ. Inviting all your friends and family over to eat mountains of food (and drink plenty of beer) because you witnessed a hint of sun, only to find it inevitably starts to drizzle once you’ve started sizzling the sausages.

There’s absolutely nothing better. But how do other countries barbecue?

Let’s start with the best-known BBQ country, Australia. Alongside stunning scenery, and stiflingly hot weather (no need for BBQ gazebos), Australia has managed to make barbecuing a national pastime, with beach barbecues on Christmas day being a common sight. Barbecue meats like prawns (they’re not called shrimps down under, that’s the power of advertising), emu and kangaroo.

Korean barbecue, also known as Gogigui, is legendary in the grilled meat world. It incorporates a selection of beautifully marinated meats, often served at the dinner table through a grill built directly into the table. The meats are usually marinated with soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic and pepper, and can be wrapped in lettuce. The Korean barbecue is increasing in popularity, so this summer perhaps dine out at a Korean restaurant, or attempt the recipes yourself.

Equally renowned for its BBQ lifestyle is the United States Of America. Fierce barbeque competitions take place yearly, and barbecued food is a massive tradition for Independence Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day celebrations. Like Australia, the American BBQ originated from the convenience of outside eating for the European settlers. Techniques differ between hot smoking (wood fire at 180°F), and smoke cooking (indirect heat at a higher temperature), each providing the food with a beautifully smoky taste. To taste the trueAmerican experience, you can slather some tangy BBQ sauce on top of your meat.

So, if you wish to impress your (slightly soaked) family and friends at the British BBQ this year, perhaps take some inspiration from the methods of our barbecuing allies.

After all, barbecues are mouth-watering no matter where you are.

Korean BBQ Grill Plate. Info: www.mykoreankitchen.com; The American BBQ Company. Info: www.americanbbq.co.uk

BUZZ 30

Merthyr Chilli Fiesta, Penderyn Square, Merthyr Tydfil, Sat 11 June. Admission: Free. Info: www.chillifest.net

PEMBROKESHIRE FISH WEEK The longstanding festival returns after being sorely missed last year due to a key organiser falling ill. Pembrokeshire Fish Week looks to reel you in to celebrate Pembrokeshire’s maritime heritage, dazzling coastlines and first-class seafood.

Organised by the Port of Milford Haven, this year’s event will contain a range of fish-related activities across the nine-day period, from fishing lessons for the less experienced and angling competitions for veteran fishermen/women. A masterclass is also on the cards, with celebrity chefs creating truly delectable dishes from their own catch – but what would a culinary masterclass be without tasting?

From tapas to traditional fish and chips, a mouthwatering selection awaits.

Pembrokeshire Fish Week, Milford Fish Docks, Pembrokeshire, Sat 25 JuneSun 3 July. Admission: free. Info: www. pembrokeshirefishweek.co.uk

MONMOUTHSHIRE FOOD FESTIVAL Kick off the first weekend of the summer with a festival full of talks, demonstrations, tastings and wide range of food and drink to try and buy. Visitors will be able to explore some of the best quality produce Wales has to offer at the magnificent Caldicot Castle in what promises to be an authentic culinary extravaganza.

If you’re bringing the little ones along, the Children’s Quarter, hosted by a team from the Monmouthshire Youth Service, will have plenty of activities and surprises in store for all to enjoy. Taste beer brewed just a mile from the festival, take home a loaf or some delightful doughnuts or learn to make them at the Look and Learn Theatre.

Monmouthshire Food Festival, Caldicot Castle, Sat 4 + Sun 5 June. Tickets: £5.

Info: www.monmouthshirefoodfestival. co.uk

TOP

MEATY EATS

ASIAN BBQ SHREDDED BEEF BUNS & PURPLE MALIBU COLESLAW Words MICHAEL BELL www.mikeyandthekitchen.wordpress.com @mikeyandthekitchen Summer demands fuss free-food with little prep and lots of flavour, and nothing says summer more than meat in a bun and alcohol-spiked accompaniments.

INGREDIENTS FOR THE BEEF BUNS 400g braising steak, 2 bell peppers, 3 garlic cloves, handful of fresh thyme, 1 carrot, 1 red onion, 1 tsp paprika, 4 soft white bread buns FOR THE ASIAN BBQ SAUCE 2 garlic cloves, ½ tsp dry chilli flakes, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp cumin, ½ tsp Chinese five spice, 1 cup tomato ketchup, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 1 tbsp honey

Portia Nicholson rounds up the best places to grab something meaty in South Wales for meat lovers and carnal connoisseurs.

GRAZING SHED Welsh company the Grazing Shed serve up a slamming selection of 'super tidy' burgers using local Welsh produce where possible. Feast upon delights such as The John Wayne, loaded with smokey bacon, cheddar and BBQ sauce, or perhaps the Hula Hula – grilled pineapple with mozzarella and 'boom boom mayo'. Slick branding, an open kitchen and cool urban-feel interior make this a stand-out joint.

37 St Mary Street, Cardiff. Info: 07599 882363 / www.thegrazingshed.com

MEATING PLACE For those who are serious about steak, this contemporary grill house offers a great selection of steaks and visually marvellous hanging meat skewers, all cooked to perfection on a charcoal grill. Locally sourced seasonal produce is paired perfectly with a great selection of wines in this gorgeously decorated and lit venue.

40 St Mary Street, Cardiff. Info: 029 2022 4757 / www.theameatingplace.co.uk

THE SMOKE HAUS Enjoy a taste of Americana with the meaty menu offerings of the Smoke Haus. This is the home of big portions and big flavours with a selection of smoked meats lavished with homemade marinades, ensuring melt in the mouth ribs, pulled pork and brisket.

Go all out and order a gigantic combo and a pitcher of cocktail to wash it down with.

You won't be disappointed.

Mary Ann Street, Cardiff. Info: 029 2022 0777 / www.thesmokehaus.co.uk

HANG FIRE SOUTHERN KITCHEN You can't have a 'meaty guide' without including Hang Fire Southern Kitchen, the first restaurant from the team behind the BBQ pop-up sensation Hang Fire. Sample soul food and BBQ classics in a beautiful Grade II listed building right on the Barry Waterfront. Chow down on gumbo, wings, ribs and more, with beers brewed in-house to accompany your meat feast.

Hood Road, Barry. Info: www.hangfiresouthernkitchen.com

THE OLD CUSTOM HOUSE The Old Custom House is a great waterside venue that boasts spectacular views of Penarth Marina as you enjoy a spectacular selection of Welsh beef and lamb and local fish, all prepared on site using traditional butchery techniques. A vast vintage wine cellar makes for a sensational wine list to pair with the gorgeous dishes on offer.

Penarth Marina. Info: 029 2070 5551 / www.theoldcustomhousepenarth.co.uk

FOR THE PURPLE MALIBU COLESLAW 1 red cabbage (finely sliced), 1 apple (finely sliced), 1 carrot (finely sliced), 1 red onion (finely sliced), ½ cup raisins 4 tbsps Malibu (or any white rum), salt and pepper, chopped fresh parsley to garnish METHOD 1. Season the steak well with sea salt and black pepper.

2. Warm a small amount of olive oil in a deep pan with a tight fitting lid and sear the steak for 2-3 minutes a side before lowering the heat.

3. Add all remaining ingredients for the beef buns to the pan before covering with water.

4. Bring the water to the boil before dropping to the lowest setting, clamping on a lid and allowing to simmer for 2 hours.

5. Meanwhile, prepare your coleslaw by combining all ingredients in a large bowl, covering with cling film and allowing to rest in the fridge.

6. An hour into the steak’s simmering time, begin your Asian BBQ sauce by grating the garlic into some cold olive oil before scattering in some dry chili flakes.

7. Turn on the heat and once at sizzling point, add the dry oregano, cumin and five spice followed by the tomato ketchup.

8. Lower the heat and warm slowly before adding the soy sauce and balsamic vinegar.

9. Stir this on a low and gradual heat until lightly bubbling, before adding the honey and allowing to simmer for the remainder of the steak’s simmering time.

10. Once the 2 hours’ simmer has completed, remove the steak to a plate with two forks and use them to shred the beef – it may be worth preheating the oven here to toast the buns.

11. Add the shredded beef to the simmering pot of Asian BBQ sauce, stirring to combine.

12. Place your buns in the oven to toast then proceed to add the meat to the toasted buns and serve with the coleslaw.

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food/drink

MILGI M O N T H L Y Not just for veggies There is no getting away from the fact that Milgi is a plant-based restaurant. We don’t serve any meat or fish and have very limited dairy choices, but the great thing is – you don't need to be vegetarian to enjoy eating our food. Our style is nourishing, which enhances wellbeing and health, but our focus is firmly on everyday eating and creating dishes that are satisfying, full of flavour and most importantly, inspiring to eat.

JUNE FOODIE FOCUS Words JANE COOK www.hungrycityhippy.co.uk

T

his month’s roundup of alternative foodie finds kicks off with an intimate event from the girls at the lovely Penylan Pantry. Their Spanishinspired evening of tasty sharing platters and Spanish wine takes place on Fri 3 June with tickets priced at £20pp – for more info and to book, see facebook.com/PenylanPantry.

On the Sat 4 June, mental health blog My Discombobulated Brain will host a pop-up fine dining event with Masterchef Quarter Finalist, Caerwyn Ash. Guests can enjoy seven mouth-watering courses served in the cosy confines of Little Man Coffee – with tickets costing £60 and all proceeds going towards helping mental health charities with their work. For more info, visit mydiscombobulatedbrain.com.

The family behind Indian street-food catering company Zest Dining will be holding another pop-up event at Roath Church House (in – you guessed it, Roath) on Fri 10 June - focusing on a pan-Indian menu of different types of kebabs. Tickets are £25pp and you can BYOB, too. For more info, visit facebook.com/zestdining.

On Sat 11 June, Japanese chef Yuko Harris is coming to Cardiff city-centre for a pop up event at Wyndham Tearooms. A three-course menu of sensational Japanese sushi, tempura and teriyaki will be served up to hungry guests, and each ticket costs £37. To book, head to waterlootea.com.

Later in the month, the Lostlands Rooftop Cinema are paying homage to the ‘lost legends’ of late, with screenings of Prince’s Purple Rain on Fri 24 June, and David Bowie’s Labyrinth on Sat 25 June. A fully stocked cocktail bar and popcorn stand will be set up on the roof of Jacob’s Antiques, accompanying the fluffy Taiwanese bao buns being served up by the talented chefs from Little Bao Peep. For more info, see facebook.com/Lost-Lands-Rooftop-Cinema.

Finally, the boys from the Crafty Devil brewery will be back at Canton's Printhaus on Sat 25 June for their annual Cardiff Does Glastonbury event with the Dusty Knuckle Pizza Company.

The event will also feature live music from Siren, The Bakestones, Stone House Band, OldSamuel, No Glory, Darren Eedens, and DJ Bonzai. Best of all, entry is free!

We see our way of cooking as a modern interpretation of what people are currently looking for in their diet – well-sourced, well-cooked, exciting, fun food that offers health benefits without the often associated pretentiousness. Our aim, above and beyond, is to redefine what eating a plant-based diet can be and make way for a new way of dining that includes everyone and anyone who is interested in eating tasty food.

But let us mention the health benefits of eating a plant-based diet. The truth is, most of us want to be more healthy and by making a conscious decision to eat less meat you are becoming so. Millions of people around the world live without meat or fish, and each have their own reasons for doing so, but by choosing to eat less meat you will be making a positive lifestyle choice and Milgi is a great way to step into this world.

Milgi is a place you can socialise without compromising your diet and life ethos. We don’t take a moral high ground when it comes to eating a plant-based diet: it’s just what we do, and so it feels completely natural to eat our food, whether you’re a veggie or not!

Why should we eat less meat?

1. It’s easier on your digestive system – you’ll feel lighter and happier 2. Eat more plants and you will simply have more energy.

3. Do your bit to help save the planet. The UN says that the single most important step an individual can take to reduce global warming is to adopt a meat and dairy-free diet.

4. Natural diet = clearer conscience.

5. Making a stance against factory farming.

If you’re hungry for more, join the Milgi Tribe for recipes and the inside scoop on everything, from how we make our kombucha to sprouting lessons, recipes, foraging walks and field trips. Get online content delivered directly to your inbox each month and start making the most of your free time! www.milgicardiff. com words: Gabrielle Kelly (Milgi) Info: www.milgicardiff.com

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food/drink

HERBIVORE

DUSTY KNUCKLE

16 Llandaff Rd, Canton, Cardiff 07807 038690 / www.dustyknuckle.co.uk Food **** Atmosphere ***** From its beginnings as a pop-up wood-fire pizza stall at the Riverside Market, to touring the summer festival circuit and holding pop-up nights at the Hangfire Smokehouse and Got Beef, Dusty Knuckle has now opened a permanent restaurant in the courtyard of Crafty Devil Brewing Cellar. Which, I have to say, is a brilliant idea. You can order, with the help of the Crafty Devil staff, a wide selection of IPAs, pale ales and so forth to complement your pizzas.

Phill Lewis, co-owner of Dusty Knuckle along with Deb Noyes, prepared all our courses with his gifted pizza hands. To start, my date and I were recommended Crafty Devil’s own American pale ale to complement the vegetarian antipasti, which incorporated a selection of Teifi nettle cheddar, green tomato chutney and the fresh and flavourful apple and mint. We also shared the Neal’s Yard goat’s curd, beautifully combined with locally sourced honey and acidic ribbons of pickled carrot.

For mains – pizzas, of course – we again both went for the vegetarian options: goat’s cheese with garlic pesto and Perl Las with purple sprouting broccoli. The ability Phil has to combine unique flavours on a beautifully cooked pizza base is mind-blowing. At the end of demolishing our pizzas and cider our stomachs were stuffed and our tastebuds satisfied, slipping into a heavenly pizza coma.

I would highly recommended Dusty Knuckle as one of the best new eats in Cardiff, but I do have to mention that the second time I went to Dusty Knuckle with a group of friends it was quite a disappointing experience – most of the vegetarian pizzas being out of stock, the quality not being as good as previous and our crème brûlée being served without a crispy caramel layer. I won’t hold this against them, though, as their pizzas were so amazing the first time we went there, and still highly recommend Dust Knuckle for a chilled out evening. JAYDON MARTIN

Pop-up restaurant. simon@theherbivore.co.uk / www.theherbivore.co.uk Food ***** Atmosphere ***** Chef Simon Matthew recently spread the green gospel in Pontcanna for with an instalment of his south Wales supper club. Not only is everything deliciously vegetarian, all the ingredients were foraged growing wild. The evening began with wild garlic, watercress and dandelion tempura. As it was served, the staff presented each diner with a paper wrap, containing hot Japanese shichimi seasoning to sprinkle on.

Another local delicacy is the underrated leaf, sea beet. It's deliciously tangy, ironrich, and grows near the shore all across the UK. Tonight it arrived on the plate in a loose patty, mixed with chickpeas and Middle Eastern preserved lemon, topped with a lacework of pennywort leaves, a familiar site in hedgerows. More surprise came with the pumpkin seed and nori seaweed 'risotto'. This intense dish was riceless, with the seeds replacing the grains and the nori providing a strong, stocklike flavour and thick texture. If this sounds a bit 'health-foody', served with it were slivers of pale, pink, pickled Jerusalem artichoke, in sweet, zingy counterpoint.

The least successful part of the meal was gnocchi made with nettles. The soft roundness was lovely, but a little bland and claggy, as doughy potato balls are liable to be. Finally came the pudding. A moist, comforting cube of orangey almond sponge was topped with a sweet, sharp rhubarb compote, but that was just the beginning. Next to it was wild fennel granite.

The whole meal was an exciting experience with a great buzz in the relaxed and sociable spot that is Kemi's – whose own daily cafe fare is worth a look too. After an evening of eating like that, going out for steak and chips seems a bit barbaric.

GWYN THOMAS DE CHROUSTCHOFF

THE DOCK

Mermaid Quay, Cardiff. 029 2045 0947 / www.sabrain.com Food ***** Atmosphere ***** I was sitting in The Dock in the Bay, watching the tide roll away. Well, more looking across to Penarth. The Bay doesn’t get tides. I was just desperate to make an Otis Redding reference, and I imagine those who coined the new name for what once was Cardiff Bay’s Brains pub Terra Nova were too.

After a £1.25m refurbishment, the new bar and kitchen has been totally transformed. Upon entry, the first thing to strike me was the huge drinks cabinet, sprawling across two storeys and resembling something out of Hogwarts (except with rather more tempting tonics). The bar, as expected for a Friday evening, was bustling, but upstairs offered a more relaxed atmosphere, full with views across the Bay. First up were gravadlax and a twice-baked cheddar and brie soufflé. Both were delicious, with the gravadlax being extremely flavoursome served alongside a salad and a vodka-battered oyster. It was, like all the items sampled, a perfect mix between the traditional and experimental. For mains were homemade buttermilk chicken and a Celtic Pride rib-eye steak. Both were cooked to perfection, with the chicken beautifully tender and the steak delicately seasoned, without overpowering its melt-in-the-mouth flavour.

For afters, a peanut butter cheesecake and a lemon meringue pie. Both hit the spot and had lived up to the high standard of the rest of the evening. You’d be hard pressed finding a better Cardiff location, and while drinkers may revel by the bar, the upstairs restaurant is an almost entirely separate world, and the food on offer is some of the best in the city. LUKE OWAIN BOULT BUZZ 33

THE FOODIE’S GUIDE TO CARDIFF’S ARCADES

pic Chris Sampson

food/drink

Castle Arcade

Cities are often affectionately given nicknames. Paris is the City Of Love, Los Angeles the City Of Angels, and London the Big Smoke. With the highest concentration of Victorian, Edwardian and contemporary shopping arcades in the UK, Cardiff is the City Of Arcades, and Portia Jones has provided a list of the best places to grab a bite to eat within them.

pic Alex Lilvet

FRESH This seriously good, family-run sandwich shop in Royal Arcade offers up a huge selection of sandwiches, paninis and salads along with creative specials that promise intriguing yet flavourful combinations. A small venue nestled in a busting arcade, it's a popular spot for lunch so expect queues at lunchtime, completely worth the wait though.

Fresh, 32 Royal Arcade. Info: 029 2022 3158

Castle Arcade Balcony

SCIENCE CREAM Science Cream is a visually engaging liquid nitrogen ice cream parlour in the Castle Arcade, and a favourite at pop-up foodie events. There's nothing like watching your ice cream order be created before your very eyes in what appears to be a science experiment. Great flavours of smooth and creamy ice cream that are accompanied by tasty toppings.

Science Cream, 28 Castle Arcade. Info: 029 2037 2391 / www.sciencecream.co.uk

THE NEW YORK DELI A massively popular sandwich shop with equally massive sandwiches, bagels and hoagies to boot. Enjoy a good selection of 'American sized' portions of fresh, made-to-order sandwiches and more in this buzzing deli. Lunchtimes are very busy here but it's worth the queue for a taste of Americana.

The New York Deli, 20 High Street Arcade. Info: 029 2038 8388 / facebook.com/new-yorkdeli-cardiff

SEASONS CAFÉ BAR Quaint and independent boutique bar and cafe serving Welsh food, cocktails, cream teas and coffees. There’s a unique vibe here and friendly staff are on hand to talk through scrumptious menu options, which has a strong Welsh theme featuring classic favourites cawl, rarebit and crempog.

Seasons Café Bar, 47-49 Castle Arcade, Castle Street. Info: 07731 489728 / www. seasonscardiff.co.uk

WALLY’S DELICATESSEN AND KAFFEEHAUS One of Cardiff's best delis also has an upstairs cafe serving up deli food that delights. Downstairs you can peruse some of the finest meats, cheeses and nibbles, while upstairs you can order European-style lunches of sourdough open sandwiches and cheese and meat platters. A speciality coffee accompaniment is also highly recommended.

Wally’s Delicatessen, 38-46 Royal Arcade. Info: 029 2022 9265 / www.wallysdeli.co.uk BUZZ 34

New York Deli Fresh

food/drink

Pulled Pork (serves 6) This is a big joint of pork shoulder, marinated overnight and then slowly cooked for several hours at about 150°C in a moist environment. It’s difficult to pinpoint an exact recipe – ideally it would be made in a closed barbeque over indirect heat, in which case you’d need fewer of the smokey flavourings.

To do this in a conventional oven, make up a generous quantity of marinade the day before.

Ingredients: 1.5kg boneless pork shoulder, most of the rind removed For the marinade:

A Guide To Enjoying Chillies We need to talk about chillies. Big fat juicy ones, long thin skinny ones, see how the little ones burn. I’m a great lover of the plant in its infinite variety, but I’ve never believed that it can enhance my macho credentials. I get genuinely annoyed that they make the news only when some horticultural dweeb manages to cross fertilise his way to the hottest variety ever known to man.

M

y first cooking lesson came about when I shared a house in Oxford with a Mexican fellow. I was working in a wine shop in town and he was doing a PhD in physics at one of the more prestigious colleges. He was a tad conversationally intense and, instead of using the kitchen cupboard to store old trainers that were still too good to throw away, like normal people, he had amassed a collection of strange, wizened objects which he kept in lidded jam jars. I asked him about them and he replied that he couldn’t explain (due either to his lack of English or my lack of intellectual prowess, I was never sure), but he could show me.

So began a Saturday afternoon when he made a veggie chilli from scratch. We tasted after every addition as he explained how each chilli was used and could contribute to the developing flavours. The cascabel was ground and fried with the onions, thus permeating the whole dish with a lively, but gentle fire; the ancho was added Ian Young with the garlic to contribute a raisiny note; the chipotle gave a smoky piquancy; the habanero was left whole and removed at the end of cooking, leaving a profound warmth in its wake. Fresh, finely diced

chilli was added at the end to give the only fiery aspect. Everything in moderation, including moderation.

The cooking built up layers of heat and piquancy in a manner that would complement the sweetness and acidity in the food. As a wine man, the parallels were inescapable: it’s all about creating a balance of flavours. Having a chilli that’s too hot is like having too much lemon juice in your food. The right amount of heat works like the right amount of acidity, stimulating your sense of taste so that the flavours are heightened and last longer in the mouth. Too much heat means that you can’t even taste your food.

The piquancy and heat of chilies is measured with the Scoville scale, which grades the concentration of capsaicin in the fruit using a formula that is at once notoriously unreliable and so complex that not even my Mexican physicist friend could understand it. I have come up with a simpler method, which may or may not have been influenced by the fact that I’m spending too much time with lawyers these days, but it’s based on the universally recognised gradation of public order offences. You can, of course, also appropriate the Richter or Beaufort scales to good effect.

1 fresh red chilli (the long, Dutch type), chopped 3 cloves garlic, peeled and bashed 1 tbsp tomato puree 1 tbsp smoked paprika 1 chipotle chilli (a dried, smoked jalapeño), soaked and chopped 1 ancho chilli, toasted for about one minute in an oven, then cooled and ground to a powder 2 tbsps cumin seeds, gently toasted and ground to a powder 1 tbsp dried oregano, toasted in a hot pan for 2 seconds and ground to a powder ½ tsp salt ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper Grated zest and juice of 2 limes 4 tbsps olive oil 3 tbsps cider vinegar 3 tsps soft brown sugar 1 bunch fresh coriander

Method: Puree marinade to get a pleasantly spicy & sharp marinade. Cover meat with marinade & refrigerate overnight.

You’ll also need upwards of half a litre of orange juice to add to the baste.

The next day, heat the oven to 200°C. Place pork in baking tray with the remaining rind on top, reserving marinade for later.

Cook at high heat for 15 mins, and then reduce heat to 150°C. Heat marinade and orange juice and add to the pan so that the meat is ¼ submerged. You can always add more later. Cook this for at least 3 hours, basting generously with the marinade as it cooks. The meat should fall apart with slight pressure from a fork (It might take 3½ hours to get very loose). When done, let it rest for 15 mins before separating the fibres with 2 forks.

Once shredded, the meat can be returned to a hot oven for 10 mins to get crispy, or you can serve as it is. You can serve this with a mixture of starchy/bland (tortilla), cooling (salad and cucumber), cooling yet spicy (fresh tomato, red onion, lime, garlic, chilli, coriander and olive oil salsa or roasted pineapple with lime and red chilli) and soothing (crème fraiche/soured cream).

pic Ozzy Delaney

BUZZ 35

art

ARTES MUNDI: AURAL CONTRACT AND SEEING VOICES

Aural Contract, Reardon Smith Theatre, Cardiff, Wed 8 June; Seeing Voices, The Gate Arts Centre, Cardiff, Thurs 9 June Wales-based charity Artes Mundi will be taking part in June's Festival Of Voice with Aural Contract, a new co-commissioned work by Beirut-based artist Lawrence Abu Hamdan and Seeing Voices, a performance

by UK band Woman’s Hour.

Aural Contract brings together Hamdan’s interest in sound and its relationship with politics. It aims to help understand the role of voice in law and the ways in which it affects border control, medical sciences and surveillance. Aural Contract will be performed as a live audio essay combined with pre-recorded samples.

After receiving a positive reaction in 2014 when they released a video for their song, Her Ghost, with a young deaf actor performing the lyrics in British Sign Language (BSL), UK band Woman's Hour developed the idea into a live touring performance, Seeing Voices. It will be performed for the first time in Wales this month.

Aural Contract. Admission: free. Info: 029 2039 7951 / www.museumwales.ac.uk; Seeing Voices. Tickets: £5. Info: 029 2048 3344 / www.thegate.org.uk (LH)

BUZZ 36

THE ATTRACTION OF ONLOOKERS: ABERFAN – AN ANATOMY OF A WELSH VILLAGE

National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff Until Sun 4 Sept In Aberfan, a normal Friday morning in 1966 changed into a day that devastated a nation and wiped out a generation. On October 21 of that year, a colliery waste tip slid down the hillside and engulfed Pantglas Junior School, killing 28 adults and 116 children.

Scenes of the unfolding disaster were broadcast worldwide. Mothers rushed to the scene, wading through the mud to try to find their children, local miners shovelled to clear the debris non-stop for 10 hours and over 2,000 rescuers worked through the night looking for survivors.

The community has been under the spotlight ever since the tragedy. For a long time, the town lay in the shadow of the slag heap that had taken so much; their own homes trapped in the memory of that day. The archives of reporting, photographs and films have meant that this little mining town will never be forgotten.

The Attraction Of Onlookers: Aberfan – An Anatomy Of A Welsh Village was originally created in 2006, 40 years after the disaster, to help the Aberfan community move forward from the events of that tragic day. Shimon Attie created The Attraction Of Onlookers as a video installation that hopes to give the community back its once anonymous status as one of many Welsh villages. The five channels capture a unique perspective of the town and its residents. Attie asked villagers to pose on a revolving stage in a way that reflected a professional or social role they held in the village.

The still photographs, taken in 2006, that accompany the video instillation, create a new identity for both individuals and groups in Aberfan. The portraits show groups and individuals against a stark black backdrop. They highlight the diversity of the community from the local minster and headmaster to a boxer, the male voice choir, the barman and the fish-and-chip man. This imaginary space allows the subjects to be distant in time and space from the tragic events of that day. This means they are able to create a new identity that they have defined.

Admission: free. Info: 029 2039 7951 / www.museumwales.ac.uk ELOUISE HOBBS

BEATE GEGENWART: TRANSLATING BETWEEN THE LINES

DAIL BEHENNAH: FIELDWORK

Oriel Myrddin, Carmarthen Until Sat 30 July Dail Behennah’s latest exhibition Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay Fieldwork has been inspired by leaving her Until Sun 10 July house on the North Pembrokeshire coast.

Manipulating metal is Beate Gegenwart’s Stirred by the emotions of leaving the house main artistic style, however Beate continually pushes her boundaries of talent where she has grown, loved and lived, her as she explores different materials, linking new exhibition has become an elegy to the imposing and wild beauty of the coast that them together. The Makers Guild in Wales delight in displaying the exciting challenge has stolen her heart.

Starting her artistic exploration as a Beate has created for herself in her major inter-related artworks; connecting the body, basket-maker, Dail has experimented with different mediums and had great success movement, cloth, architectural space and with manipulating willow, wire and objects small wearable art. she found in nature and daily life to create Living and working in Wales for 37 poetry which expresses the interesting and years, Beate has dedicated these years diverse nature of her local environment. to supporting the Applied Arts in Wales.

The exhibition uses delicate feathers, sharp Curating and teaching, whilst creating thistles, polished stones and shells, and and inspiring, Beate is interested in the imprinted wood. ‘in-between’, whether that be distance, Ceibwr is a piece inspired by the cliffs borderland or identity. Language is also a in Pembrokeshire of the same name. The big feature in her work, following the idea white willow pins replicate the intricate of the ‘translator’ intertwined with the folds of the hills. Two walks, surveyed, is ‘mother tongue’ and focusing on her ideas a piece consisting of two chains, inspired of orientation, home and dwelling, instead

by Gunter’s chain, a 17th century invention of physical location. used for surveying. They correspond to Beate has also been working on her great walks in Pembrokeshire and contain objects interest in cross-disciplinary ways of that were collected on the walk. working, mixing her thoughts of the ‘inThe exhibition is a document of a between’ with the lines and holes of her work, creating energetic movements around geographical, emotional and metaphorical journey that spans space and time. and across her artwork.

Admission: free. Info: 012 6722 2775 / Admission: free. Info: 029 2048 4611 / www.orielmyrddingallery.co.uk (EH) www.makersguildinwales.org.uk (MM)

WAR’S HELL! THE BATTLE OF MAMETZ WOOD IN ART National Museum, Cardiff Until 4 Sept Many of the trees have grown back in Mametz Wood, and going there today, you can see the view World War One soldiers had before the carnage began.

This is the centenary of one of the fiercest battles of the Somme where Welsh troops went into the forest to capture it from the Germans. The attack was eventually a success but at a cost of 4,000 casualties, including 600 dead. This exhibition explores that fateful time in July by first-hand witnesses and others who responded to it.

Included on view is writing, art and poetry of Robert Graves, Llewelyn Wyn Griffith, David Jones and Siegfried Sassoon. The centrepiece is Christopher Williams’ painting, The Welsh Division At Mametz Wood. You can also find out more about Jones’ epic poem, In Parenthesis.

Curator Beth McIntyre says she hopes visitors learn more about the First World War and this particular battle, but also through the creativity of soldiers, who responded to their experience with these works to discover more about their feelings and thoughts.

Come reflect on their bravery and sacrifice and see how the battle continues to affect people.

Admission: free. Info: 029 2039 7951 / www.museumwales.ac.uk (RLR)

MAY WINNER

BY JULIA MILLS

Next month's theme is 'Summer'.

are you a photographer? want to showcase your work? go to: www.buzzmag.co.uk

buzz online photography competition

Buzz’s photography section is an initiative to showcase Welsh photographers and their work.

Photographers are invited to submit galleries by emailing (or sending via Dropbox) 5-15 pictures, numbering in the order they would like them to be displayed, along with a title of the gallery, and a subtitle.

If you want more direction, please take a look at previous galleries on our site.

Selected photographers will win exhibition space at a renowned gallery, a feature in Buzz and be featured as our Facebook and Twitter cover pictures. This month's theme was 'Exccss'.

If you have any queries, please email editorial@buzzmag.co.uk

stage

MEET FRED The Other Room at Porter’s, Cardiff Thurs 23 June-Sat 2 July Meet Fred is a charming, hilarious and touching production with puppetry skills that really are a wonder to watch. Drawing on the puppetry forms of bunraku (a three-man puppetry style that originates in Japan), Hijinx developed it with the puppet company Blind Summit, who coined the term ‘extreme puppetry’ for the extremes of emotion it creates. The skill of the puppeteers and the actors in responding to Fred are a credit to the joint work of Hijinx and Blind Summit, and the hard work in the workshops and in the rehearsal period in making Fred really come to life.

The puppetry team (Dan McGowan, Morgan Thomas, Craif Quat) work in harmony to control and give life to Fred. They simultaneously blend into the background so the audience cease to see ‘Fred the Puppet’ but see him as another actor, while the puppeteers also reflect and create Fred’s emotions through their own bodies. The way in which the three other actors (and one rogue director) work with Fred shows just how much of a ‘real person’ he has become by interacting with him seamlessly, and despite the constant reminders that he is ‘a puppet’, it’s really hard to see Fred as anything but a real person.

Fred has encounters with the job centre, a date, a disastrous job and an ill-advised evening in a bar. Parallels between everyone’s lives and Fred’s soon become apparent, in particular people with disabilities, echoing the work Hijinx does with actors who have learning disabilities.

A highly entertaining, moving and brilliantly produced piece of theatre, Meet Fred asks some challenging questions about society and inclusion in keeping with Hijinx’s remit of providing inclusive and equal performance opportunities. They also show that inclusive theatre can be all of these things, and much more. Hijinx challenges their actors to produce high calibre work, and continues to break down barriers in doing so.

Tickets: £5-£12. Info: www.otherroomtheatre.com EMILY GARSIDE

OPERA FOR THE UNKNOWN WOMAN

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay Wed 8-Sun 12 June Opera For The Unknown Woman is an exciting twist on opera and a treat for those who like theatre with a science fiction twist.

Set 300 years in the future, the global economy has fallen into disarray. Human cities are abandoned, and humans are in a crisis situation, threatened by vicious climates. Aphra is the last hope for life on Earth, but only has two weeks to live. Back in 2016 women from around the world are mysteriously united with a mission to create a new future for their planet and save Aphra.

Although opera and operatic influences feature heavily, as per the name, Opera For The Unknown Woman is by no means a traditional piece and audiences should expect a reimagined format quite like any other opera they’d have seen before.

The piece was commissioned by the Wales Millennium Centre for the Festival Of Voice and Yorkshire Festival in association with Warwick Arts Centre, while it was written and directed by the sound artist Melanie Wilson and co-composed by Wilson and Polish composer Katarina Glowicka. The cast includes Patricia Rozario OBE and Adey Grummet (Jerry Springer The Opera).

Tickets: £25. Info: 029 2063 6464 / www. wmc.org.uk (EG) BUZZ 38

MEET THE REAL MAGGIE THATCHER

Grand Theatre, Swansea Fri 10 June When it comes to political leaders who are renowned for dividing the opinions of an entire nation, Margaret Thatcher definitely springs to mind. Whether her name conjures up images of her tackling overly powerful unions and defending the Falklands, or brings back bitter memories of record high unemployment and closures of the coal mines, the former Prime Minister’s name continues to provoke a reaction from people since her death in 2013.

This original modern drama examines the ways in which the Iron Lady affected the lives of various British people, including a police officer, a solider and a schoolteacher. Delving into a variety of key issues, such as the Miner’s Strike, Poll Tax, Clause 28 and the Falklands War, the monologues provide a chance to show her rule from a personal perspective.

The play is written and performed as a one-man show Mike Francis Carvalho, who is most recently known for his 80s themed drama Vienna and controversial Edinburgh Fringe production Breathe In. A must-see for those curious about the Iron Lady.

Tickets: £10/£8. Info: 01792 475715 / www.swansea.gov.uk/ swanseagrandtheatre (LH)

ROMEO AND JULIET

Thompson’s Park, Cardiff Thurs 16-Sun 19 June This summer, Romeo And Juliet, as performed by Taking Flight Theatre, will tour all over Wales in beautiful outdoor spaces – kicking off in Thompson’s Park and later taking in the likes of Tintern Abbey and Cyfarthfa Castle.

It’s Verona 1963, the annual college Boat Race, a high society courtship event for the rich and beautiful. In this tale of two feuding families, a boy and a girl, driven by youthful passion and blind love, enter a forbidden affair. The families’ reactions end in a fallout of murder, betrayal and heartbreak. Faced with separation and banishment, the star-crossed lovers hatch a drastic plan with terrible consequences.

Times are turbulent, and as the undersiege lovers, Romeo and Juliet, struggle to make sense of their respective families’ bitterness, you’ll need to really support your house, whether it be Montague or Capulet, as they battle it out on the river.

Shakespeare’s most memorable verses are brought to life in a promenade performance that invites you to move with the travelling performance. This brand new take on the tale brings out Taking Flight’s signature traits – exciting visual theatre coupled with comic relief and live original music.

Tickets: £6-£14. Info: 029 2023 0020 / www.takingflighttheatre.co.uk (ZB)

THE 39 STEPS

New Theatre, Cardiff Tue 14-Sat 18 June After spending nine years in London’s West End, Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps has made its way to Wales. This classic spy thriller is a brilliant and hilarious stage play, recreating the smash hit Olivier Award-winning comedy.

Originally adapted from the 1915 novel by John Buchan, and turned into a film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1935, the play has an aesthetic inspired by the 1930s.

Adapted by Patrick Barlow, from an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon, this play follows the fantastical adventure of a handsome man named Richard Hannay. Get ready for all the classic British stereotypes; the stiff-upper-lip, gung-ho attitude and, of course, a pencil moustache. Laugh out loud as you watch our hero encounter dastardly murders, double-crossing secret agents and don’t forget the devastatingly beautiful women.

Amazingly performed, this inventive comedy thriller contains only four actors: Richard Ede, Olivia Greene, Rob Witcomb, and Andrew Hodges.Together they play 139 roles, keeping us on our toes with their fast-paced acting. Get ready to laugh at this classic thriller that will leave you wondering who was playing who.

Tickets: £8.50-£26. Info: 029 2087 8889 / www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk (MM)

^ Gwyl gelfyddydau bur wahanol A surprisingly different arts festival

Meh 27 June - Gorff 3 July

Wales Millennium Centre The Other Room at Porters The Hayes

#HUnityFest Hijinxundod.org.uk Hijinxunity.org.uk October 2016

Coreo Cymru & Chapter present

presents / yn cyflwyno

Dance Roads 2016 7+8 June 2016 @ 8pm £12/£10

June 9 Mehefin Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon 7:30pm / yh June 10 Mehefin Ffwrnes, Llanelli 7:30pm / yh June 11 Mehefin Dora Stoutzker Hall RWCMD, Cardiff Neuadd Dora Stoutzker CBCDC, Caerdydd 7:30pm / yh June 12 Mehefin The Riverfront, Newport Glan yr Afon, Casnewydd 3.00pm / yh

SC - The Mercury Project Buzz Mag R4.indd 1

Tickets Tocynnau £16 / £12 (£5 under / dan 27) www.sinfoniacymru.co.uk

Five short works of quality contemporary dance from France, Italy, Romania, the Netherlands and Wales. danceroads.eu ● chapter.org

BUZZ 39 19/04/2016 17:29

clubs

pic Rhodri Brooks

CYNT & PURRMOTIONS WAREHOUSE DAY PARTY

Splott Warehouse, Cardiff Sat 11 June CYNT, in league with Purrmotions, are back again, and with their best line up for years. This is one of Cardiff’s biggest house and techno events for a long time. Scuba [pictured] has a vibrant history in UK dance music: Paul Rose started the Hotflush label in 2005, and with his own productions played a role in the creation of the original dubstep sound. He’s reinvented himself multiple times since, traversing austere Berlin machine music and shiny pseudotrance, with recent material mastering a big-room, 90s-leaning techno sound.

Boddika is an even more shapeshifting producer. He started off deep in the drum’n’bass world’s deeper side, as half of Instra:mental, the name under which he helped rejuvenate a stagnating sound with cold, inventive rhythms and downtempo twists, before becoming Boddika. This alias explored 130bpm sounds, mixing techno, electro and house with technically advanced skills and a futuristic feel.

Elsewhere on the lineup are still more delights for the energetic dancers. Daniel Avery brings the brilliant slow-mo acid and machine chug you might have heard on his album Drone Logic, signed to Erol Alkan's Phantasy label. And Ejeca brings his limber yet eye-rollingly heavy hybrid sound of adrenaline-heavy techno-house, with breezy UK garage energy infused within.

Tickets: £20. Info: cyntcardiff@ googlemail.com (GTDC) BUZZ 40

PESKI NACHT 006 Jacob’s Antiques, Cardiff Sat 4 June Kicking off the month is the bittersweet leaving party for a label that will always be fondly remembered.

Peski Records is a Cardiff-based label that, since 2003, has been active in releasing underground and alternative music across the spectrum and from all over Wales. The label is closing its doors after nearly 15 years of releasing some of the best Welsh music, including Cate Le Bon, Race Horses and Gwenno – whose 2014 debut Y Dydd Olaf was critically acclaimed across the UK and beyond. If this decision is financially induced, it's a morose reflection of the homegrown Welsh music scene's viability.

This show, part of the Cardiff-wide Festival Of Voice, features a good chunk of their roster. The blossoming R Seiliog brings his Autechre-influenced psych-techno movements; Twinfield is a fantastic Cardiffian singer and producer of emotive acid house and synthpop voyages; Llwybr Llaethog have been the masters of “Dub Cymraeg” for 30 years; Plyci is a Nottingham-based creator of noisy melody and jarring beats influenced by everyone from Plaid to James Holden and Nathan Fake. There’s loads more, with Krautrock and psych influences everywhere, including Farm Hand aka Mark Thomas of Islet [pictured], David Mysterious' “outsider Welsh power pop”, and Anelog's Super Furries-meets-Boards Of Canada shoegaze.

So much thriving brilliance, and now no home at Peski for it. Hopefully the weekly radio show, Cam O’r Tywyllwch, will continue (Radio Cardiff, every Thursday, 9pm). Presented in Welsh, the Peski team and Gwenno give a platform to Wales-based sonic explorers, placing them in an international context with relevant music from elsewhere. It’s a valuable addition to the country’s cultural landscape, and deserves a place on BBC Wales, if it would finally start paying attention to the interesting stuff – did they learn nothing from their ignorance of Datblygu when John Peel was gushing over them in the 90s?

Anyway, as Peski say, “let’s have one more awkward dance together.... one last Nacht before we turn off the lights,” and let’s look to the future.

Tickets: £12. Info: 029 2039 0939 GWYN THOMAS DE CHROUSTCHOFF

JACK WICKHAM + NICVIUS

Dogruff @ Unit, Swansea Sat 11 June Dogruff are back again, mainstays of Swansea's small but virulent club scene.

This time, they say, they'll be pushing the boundaries of “crazy ass venues” for their much-loved car park parties. Think of Dogruff as the Western city's answer to Delete, with their club events taking place out of season and the summer climate reawakening a well-attended, sweaty series of outdoor dances.

Dogruff are obsessively up to date on the movements of Romania's lively minimal techno scene, and continuing that tradition, they bring Nicvius to headline the afternoon session. He's part of the country’s techno new school, taking dubby elements and mixing them with a meditative, passionate fervour that, though subtle, comes through when you hear his mixes. It's a wonder that Dogruff continue to bring over incredibly high quality, far flung techno producers and DJs, surely at no small cost to themselves, but I, for one, am thankful that these hidden micro-scenes exist in Wales.

Their second headliner for this inaugural 2016 party is Jack Wickham, a Leeds-based producer of club tracks that takes in the organic beat of house and the synthetic energy of techno without ever entering the dull and repetitive zone of so-called techhouse. His recent releases should provide the pulsing techno that Dogruff's regulars require, with a little Detroit-ish depth.

Tickets: £10. Info: se_dr@outlook.com (GTDC)

PENDER STREET STEPPERS

Teak @ Jacob’s Antiques, Cardiff Sat 11 June We don't feature Teak in these pages that often, but the only reason is that, like Delete, their parties are so eagerly anticipated that tickets sell out within hours, or minutes, every time – it seems to us at least. Their parties at Jacob’s, a converted basement underneath an antiques emporium in the city centre, never disappoint. In the past they've brought down esoteric geniuses like Young Marco, Telephones and the magisterial DJ Sprinkles. Their obsession with achieving the perfect dancefloor moment each night is consolidated by a policy of “no cameras on the dancefloor” – if you're only heading out in order to be seen, take it someplace else.

Canadian duo Pender Street Steppers have been acclaimed throughout the coolest echelons of dance music for the last year or so, partly due to one member Jack J’s excellent record for the Future Times label, Thirstin’ – a catchy jazz-funk house number that harks back to Donald Byrd but keeps things fresh and percussive for the Boiler Room generation. The material produced by the duo themselves is of a similar nature; their entry into wider recognition came from a 2013 album, Life In The Zone, released on cassette, where lo-fi drum machines and live bass take cues from Chicago house and 80s boogie and electro-funk to create a summery, soulful collection of retro but on-trend grooves.

Tickets: £20/£9 day only. Info: 029 2039 0939 (GTSC)

PERC

108 Lower Dock Street, Newport Sat 18 June Perc have been going for nearly five years now, which is not a small feat in Newport.

Though the city has been a hotbed for rock and metal, it’s a kind of cultural hinterland in many ways, between Cardiff and Bristol, and a walk around the moribund-seeming city centre attests to that. Perc is the brainchild of Paul Blandford, a producer who has worked under the monikers Blandf, The Omega Men, Something Crooked, Kodiaks, Polar Patterns and his own name – he’s also the owner of Death Proof Recordings, a digital label releasing techno and house since 2011. Perc have been holding it down against all odds in the city of Newport – not exactly a popular spot on the clubbing map – for over four years, and this event also sees the return of Newport’s original party starters, the Suntrap crew.

This is the second so-called car park party we’re featuring this month, and they’ve brought down Delete promoters and resident DJs, Clare James and Matt Owen [pictured], sometime-saviours of Cardiff’s club scene, for an afternoon-evening party that ushers the sun out with a stream of beats and bass. They'll be warming up for the outdoor party they’re hosting in Cardiff the following evening that we didn't have room to feature on this page – that one is headlined by Ben Sims under his Ron Bacardi alias, where he'll be laying down the housier side of his rhythmic rationale.

Tickets: £8. Info: facebook.com/perc. newport (GTDC)

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live

CLIFFTOP REGGAE PARTY

Secret location nr Aberystwyth Fri 3-Sun 5 June Want a weekend of the best reggae artists the UK have to offer? An event by Skarumba Hifi, the Clifftop Reggae Party 2016 is taking place in Aberystwyth early June. Although this event is a fresher in the festival world, eagerly awaited acts include Solo Banton [pictured] & The Upper Cut Band, The Powersteppers and Roots Garden, all popular draws in today’s grassroots reggae scene.

Makign its debut this year, this event has an air of mystery as it is semi-secretly located – its precise address will be revealed on purchase of a ticket. The weekend looks set to be full of festival spirit, with theatrical decoration adding escapism to the performances. Families of all shapes and sizes are welcome to join in the abundance of activities on offer, including arts and crafts, storytelling and drumming sessions to learn rhythmic patterns of reggae.

A roots outfit from the south-west of England who are looking forward to the clifftop party are King Solomon, who will be performing their debut album Ceasefire.

The 10-piece, who have played festivals such as Boomtown Fair, promise their set will consist of original UK reggae.

Start June with a weekend of roots and reggae bands, whilst you watch the sun setting over the sea. This intimate event is an ideal way to kick off your festival season with a bang.

Tickets: £70/£35 teens/under-12s free.

Info: skarumbahifi@yahoo.co.uk (FR-J) BUZZ 42

SWANSEA INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL

Maritime Quarter, Swansea Fri 17-Sun 19 June Returning for the third consecutive year is the much revered eclectic Welsh summer jazz festival. After a massive turnout last year, Swansea is evidently proud to again host an impressive gathering such as this, and so it should be.

The proprietors of the reputable Swansea Jazzland venue, based in Uplands, are again hosting the festival. Dave Cottle, its chief organiser, is recognised as having established (with the help of many) a distinguished support network for jazz in Swansea that has consistently attracted top musicians from all over the world to the city.

Utilising a format similar in scope to Wales’ pre-eminent jazz festival, Brecon Jazz, there is a combination of main events and fringe events to please all punters. Those artists billed on the main event program are exactly as previously mentioned: internationally renowned names including former James Brown saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis [pictured]; bass player extraordinaire and son of John Dankworth and Cleo Lane, Alec Dankworth; lauded composer and pianist and son of legendary jazz musician Dave Brubeck, Darius Brubeck; and the colossal juggernaught of a jazz-funk collective, 360 – made up of ‘pieces picked up’ from acclaimed 70s group Average White Band. These and more big names will grace the stage of the Dylan Thomas Theatre throughout the proceedings.

For those of you hungry to see local and upcoming bands, this privilege is free and there will be numerous groups each encompassing differing styles within the jazz idiom (i.e gypsy, funk, blues, swing, Latin etc) dotted around the various venues in the Maritime Quarter. Supporting local jazz musicians appears to be paramount in the festival’s ethos.

The Maritime Quarter is a burgeoning epicentre for cultural activities in Swansea and has seen a resurgence of popularity due in part to the National Waterfront Museum. It’s a very pleasant place to be on a sunny day and fingers crossed, this will be the third year in a row the festival will experience glorious sunshine. Let’s hope I haven’t just jinxed the entire weekend!

Tickets: price varies per event. Info: 07900 314245 CHARLIE PIERCEY

DEREK GRIPPER

Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells, Thurs 9 June; Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan, Fri 10 June South African guitarist Derek Gripper will be heading to Wales this month, demonstrating some of his best hybrid works. The soloist has a wealth of experience touring the world and performs an extensive range of genres from European classical traditions, to “avant-garde Brazilian works”. His original style of crossgenres creates a unique sound distinctive to Gripper.

Gripper has recorded nine studio albums including 2012’s One Night On Earth, a collection of Malian kora music that has achieved wide acclaim. This album, which reinterprets the hypnotic, singular sound of West African string instrument the kora, features collaborations with the likes of Ali Farka Toure, Toumani Diabate and Ballake Sissoko, encompassing the best of African music.

Derek Gripper will be touring the UK in June showcasing his latest album Libraries On Fire, another suite tackling the likes of Diabate and Sissoko. Named in reference to the saying “in Africa, when an old man dies it’s like a library burning,” if you want a night of international sounds infused into one set, this is one that won’t disappoint.

His music, forward-thinking yet spacious and accessible, ought to be well suited to the two Welsh venues he’s visiting on this tour: modern, community-minded arts centres in mid and west Wales respectively.

Tickets: £12. Info: 01239 621200 (FR-J)

PLEASE MIND YOUR HEAD VII

Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff Sun 3 July For those of you too young to have been taught Roman numerals, this year sees the seventh incarnation of the annual Please Mind Your Head microfestival. Curated and presented by local Cardiff hero Justin Evans, three names have been announced to date: headlining will be Euros Childs [pictured], erstwhile member of legendary Carmarthenites, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci and let’s face it, you’d pay the entrance fee to see him alone. Also confirmed are Simon Love & The Old Romantics, the current pop-classicist vehicle of former Loves frontman Simon, and Cardiff indie surrealists My Name Is Ian. On that note, all of the money raised from ticket sales will once again be going to support Headway, a charity close to Justin’s heart. “Headway Cardiff helped me a lot when recovering from brain surgery and for the tricky stages of recovery. They tirelessly help brain injured people and their families despite very little funding, so me organising this annual event is to help them with funds and say a big thank you to all involved.”

Alongside the live music there will also be brief interludes of lunacy, lots of hugging and the now (in)famous hip-hop cover performed by Justin and friends, which could go well. It probably won’t, but that’s all part of the fun. Part with seven quid for your ticket and bring cash for the raffle.

Tickets: £7. Info: 029 2023 2199 (BG)

TITUS ANDRONICUS

Gwdihw, Cardiff Wed 8 June New Jersey four-piece Titus Andronicus appear engaged in a perpetual musical battle – in a good way – between their roughhouse DIY punk origins and their more commercially-minded rock instincts.

With this in mind, their debut gig in Wales ought to see them received as kings, or at least fine practitioners of latter-day driving indie-rock, but will be held in a venue that thrives on its own intimacy.

Forming in 2005, Titus Andronicus knocked out a few singles before hinting at their ambition on ‘08 debut album The Airing Of Grievances. At once ramshackle and grandiose, Patrick Stickles’ wracked vocal style gave them extra emotional heft – something that’s come to the fore as the band’s profile has increased, and the singer has discussed his continuing battles with depression. The Most Lamentable Tragedy, the band’s latest album, spins these personal issues into a remarkable, 90-plus minute rock opera (Stickles’ own description), whose breadth of influence is wide but whose most obvious ancestor is Hüsker Dü’s 1984 double set Zen Arcade.

TMLT has been well received, albeit not quite on the level of 2010’s The Monitor, itself pretty ambitious and lengthy. As Titus Andronicus are at heart a good-time rock’n’roll band, expect a decent spread of cuts from their albums here, the better to please the crowd.

Tickets: £10. Info: 029 2039 7933 (NG)

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BUZZ 43

reviews albums 65DAYSOFSTATIC **** No Man’s Sky OST (Laced) 65days’ new record is a characteristically ambitious, inventive, and varied set of instrumental rock, created to soundtrack a video game – though I sadly can’t comment on how well the mix of tribal rhythms, searing top-of-the-fretboard solos, doomy synths and glitchy beats will complement your attempt to guide Pac-Man safely away from the ghosts.

The bombastic crescendos can become wearing, but there are moments of subtlety too. With video games increasingly recognised as Art, what better soundtrack than art rock? APR

BAND OF SKULLS ***

By Default (BMG) Admirers of this dynamic trio may well find themselves torn by this latest offering. It’s certainly refreshing to hear the garage rockers move in a different direction from their previous three albums and, with a noticeably more experimental approach, the record intrigues as it produces some oddly catchy tracks along the way. Ultimately though, you can’t help but feel that the band’s distinguishable punch and ferocity has been lost with this release, which fans may struggle to get on board with. GT

FATHERSON **

modern day. The neo-soul/jazz/hip-hop formula adopted on this record is decidedly engrossing and the combination of seductive, infectious beats and basslines with alluring melodies atop keeps this record resolutely on repeat. CPI

IDRIS ACKAMOOR & THE PYRAMIDS ***** We Be All Africans (Strut) The Pyramids released three albums of spectral jazz fusion (and future eBay gold) in the mid-70s, setting a sweet marker for forward-thinking, planet-roaming dazzle. We Be All Africans, their second LP since reforming in 2012, is another space cadet victory lap, this time heavy with some serious Sun Ra invoking: delirious chanting leads to fierce sax skronk on the title track; elsewhere desert shimmer keyboards meets horizontal trippiness, for an elegant journey through transcendent sound. WS

THE KILLS ***** Ash & Ice (Domino) The Kills’ experimental bluesy sound has got better and better with each album. Their last album, Blood Pressures, proved that they had mastered the art of dark song writing, without having to compromise their outsider status.

Ash & Ice is not going to disappoint. Hince’s guitar playing is still as caustic as Robert Johnson’s and Mosshart proves that she can give both Siouxsie and Patti Smith a good run for their money. The Kills are back with an enormous bang. DN

THE LIMINANAS ***

Open Book (Sony) Fair play, Fatherson are monumentally, excruciatingly, impeccably boring. They play nonspecific, non-offensive rock with zero subcultural reference points; the sort that sounds as though it was written and produced with the principal intention of getting played over a montage on Hollyoaks or on the instore playlist of Burton Menswear. Their lyrics seem initially profound, but are on closer inspection vacuous, uninspired sloganeering. It is, of course, flawlessly performed and immaculately produced. Anything else might risk something interesting happening. HR

HARLEIGHBLU **** Futurespective (Tru Thoughts) She’s no doubt acquainted with comparisons to vocal greats such as Amy Winehouse and Billie Holiday, but Harleighblu has such an authentic timbre to her voice it’s hard not to make these stylistic parallels. What her and her band create, though, brings these influences firmly into the

Malamore (Because) Ah the French – enigmatic, stylish, insouciant and rebellious – Malamore is all of these things. El Beach could have come from Gainsbourg's Histoire De Melody Nelson, the groovy Prisunic and Dahlia Rouge are beat happenings, and Spacemen 3's fuzzy psychedelia is replicated on title track Malamore and it's refrain of “I’m Robert Mitchum, Bob Duvall / Sit yourself down and shut your mouth”. The equally pugnacious Peter Hook slings his bass on Garden Of Love, which is akin to the Velvet Underground covering Air's Sexy Boy. CS

LITTLE MY **** Beeps (Bubblewrap) Despite being inactive for longer than they were gracing the stage, Cardiff supergroup (certainly

in terms of number and alumni) Little My finally bring their debut album to fruition in the form of Beeps. Sharing their writing nous (and primary vocalist Harri) with fellow Cardiffians, The School, the songs are summery in flavour with shades of Motown and sixties surf-pop combined with some playful lyrics concerning love, life and, well, beeps. As a recommendation, V For Five is tremendous. BG

MARISSA NADLER ****

MOURN ** Ha, Ha, He (Captured Tracks) From their arrival causing blog ripples as boisterous Catalonian teenagers fighting the garage rock wars, Mourn now enter the ‘slightly dispiriting office job’ phase of youth. Ha, Ha, He grinds out 12 buffed and proficient songs that sometimes recall the arid fire of Sleater-Kinney, but more often end up in the monochrome pile inhabited by all those guitar bands whose faces you can't quite remember.

Repeated listens do throw up a few nuances but, like photocopying, it's a bit of a slog. WS

Strangers (Bella Union)

PANTHA DU PRINCE **

For this, her seventh album, Marissa Nadler has created a delicate and ethereal dreamlike world, which gives the listener the impression of participating in an interior journey across the singer’s emotional landscape.

The unusual chord changes leave some of the melodies with an unresolved feeling, adding to the album’s enigmatic quality, but the slow tempos and minor key melodies occasionally combine to shift the mood from melancholic to soporific. This is a thoughtful and interesting collection of downbeat psychedelia. DG

The Triad (Rough Trade)

MINOR VICTORIES ****

German techno producer Hendrik Weber returns after six years of collaborations and remixes with a new solo album of mellow electronics and dreamy downtempo explorations, all with introspective glitchy flourishes. Judging by track titles such as Dream Yourself Awake and Wallflower For Pale Saints, and the self-directed video that accompanies The Winter Hymn, we're meant to find this beguiling and hypnotic. Instead it's kind of boring. Stick with his remix work for genuinely forward-thinking and distinctive electronic music. SE

Minor Victories (Play It Again Sam)

PSYCHIC ILLS **

Minor Victories is the enthralling debut of a band made up of members of Mogwai, Editors and Slowdive, which successfully mixes elements of all of their alma maters, and combines them into a swirling, dense album which will excite fans of all three bands. Rachel Goswell’s soaring vocals add a silken softness to the huge choruses of songs like {Breaking My Light} and Stuart Braithwaite’s influence is clear in the dynamic range of a band equally capable of raging noise and intimate delicacy. HR

Inner Journey (Sacred Bones ) The latest album from Psychic Ills is billed as a “detailed exploration of the interior and the exterior”. A pretty laidback affair that takes a while to get going, great intros set the scene but fail to deliver. Another Change, Don’t Want To Be Alone and Don’t Worry stand out from the rest, while New Mantra is strange and tribal. The album, which started life as one of front man Tres Warren's demos, has a definite Syd Barrett-withoutthe-quirk feel but overall lacks oomph. LN

MOTÖRHEAD ****

QUANTIC PRESENTA FLOWERING INFERNO ***

Clean Your Clock (UDR GmbH) Many of you won’t need reminding, but from beyond the grave, Motorhead frontman Lemmy is still able to hammer home the thunderous impact he, Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee had on the music world. Recorded live at The Zenith in Munich, Germany in November last year, merely weeks before the shock passing of the metalhead ringleader, this collection of 16 tracks is littered with newbies and classics such as Overkill, Orgasmatron and the incomparable Ace Of Spades. OS

1000 Watts (Tru Thoughts) Will ‘Quantic’ Holland continues his pursuit of musicology with this threequel from his Flowering project, magnifying the reggae this time around.

The dubby Spring Tank Fire points towards Scientist as an inspiration and A Life Worth Living pairs the chemistry of Alice Russell with the alchemy of U-Roy. All I Do... is a nice lovers rock version of Stevie Wonder's classic but Macondo, a blend of cumbian skanking, is a tired recycling of a thesis better explored on previous LPs. It's a desmond of an LP then. CS

RICHARD ASHCROFT ***

GAMES REVIEWS Bethesda, PC, PS4, XBOX ONE When Fallout 4 was released last year the gaming world went into meltdown, as it does any time Bethesda, the award-winning creators behind Skyrim, release a game. Since then three add-ons have been released, and the latest Far Harbour adds a new open world for the player to explore, full with an interesting storyline. The player travels to a mysterious island to find a young woman in a secret colony of synths (more Blade Runner than Vangelis). As ever, this may have some mild gameplay flaws but it is more than made up for its charming style. LOB

You won’t find a Bittersweet Symphony-like masterpiece on the Verve frontman’s fourth studio album, yet These People is a clever piece of old school indie – and, as always, Ashcroft’s smooth vocals send shivers of nostalgia through you. This Is How It Feels will feel comfortingly familiar to Verve fans, while Out Of My Body starts off with an almost Johnny Cash-like intro before bursting into a fusion of electrohouse sounds and finishing with a live orchestra backing. DC

THE WALKING DEAD: ROAD TO SURVIVAL ****

THE TEMPER TRAP *****

Scopely, Android, iOS This turn based RPG is set in the apocalyptic world of The Walking Dead. It combines many elements that have become staples of mobile gaming, and despite not bringing anything new to the genre, it does cover all these bases comfortably. There’s an original storyline campaign, but the main focus of this game is factions. Join a group of likeminded survivors then raid other players’ camps and declare war on other factions to earn rewards. Sadly though, as with many other mobile games, there is an aspect of pay to win. DM

Thick As Thieves (BMG)

FALLOUT 4: FAR HARBOUR ****

BUZZ 44

These People (Cooking Vinyl)

The Australian four-piece have returned after a four-year hiatus – an ‘experimental’ second album Conditions poorly received by fans and critics alike – with an album packed full of summer sounding tunes. The band that brought us Sweet Disposition

collaborate for the first time with outside writers, yet Thick As Thieves reverts to the classic Temper Trap sound, indie/electro rhythms pulsating against lead man Dougy’s glass-breaking falsettos.

However, it’s a tad more edgy, with an 80s influence reminiscent of INXS. DC

with a Chili Peppers-esque chorus, and I’m not sure why I don’t hate it, but I don’t. Moreover, the situation this pioneering duo find themselves in (‘Grandmaster’s Furious 5’ includes only two members and no Grandmaster Flash) is so ridiculous as to be endearing. NG

VARIOUS ***

HURRICANE #1 ***

Sharon Signs To Cherry Red (Cherry Red)

I Wanna Kill You (Bourbon Sleeze)

Compared to most of the Cherry Red label’s consistent multi-CD snapshots of long-lost British music scenes, this one requires you to just go with the concept – which is ‘bands consisting of, or at a minimum fronted by, women in the first half of the 1980s’. Named after its opening track, a slightly leaden indie-scene satire by The Kamikaze Pilots, over 45 songs an umbrella is constructed to cover punk, country, folk, powerpop, garage and various, still less categorisable, one-offs. You could call it tokenistic, but it reflects the era’s general upswing of female autonomy, and is a valid exercise for that reason.

That, and the presence of some properly essential cuts from Family Fodder, The Petticoats and Dolly Mixture to name three. NG

Nothing much is as depressing as a 90s band relaunching, except cancer maybe – the very theme of Hurricane#1’s radio-unfriendly-sounding I Wanna Kill You. “What do you think I see?” sings cancer survivor Alex Lowe, but what I wanted to hear was probably a remix: what’s the point getting back together to make what sounds like a reissue? I blame Kasabian. DW

VARIOUS **** The Wag (Harmless) Imagine a modern-day nightclub that caters to celebrities, the rich and other denizens of the supposed elite. Bag of shite, right? Then imagine a five-hour compilation of the music they played in there being released. Laughable! It wasn’t always this way, though. As well as Studio 54 in New York, The Wag opened in London in 1982 and was a haven for a bunch of monied, drug-spanking bastards who, it would appear, had exquisite taste in the black music of the last two decades and the latest developments of the era. Wag DJs later embraced rap and acid house, which will apparently be chronicled on another hefty compilation volume, but for now, here are four CDs of stone killer soul, funk, jazz, disco and starcrossed breakers of all those boundaries – I don’t think there’s a single less-than-great cut on the first two discs. NG

singles 50 FOOT WAVE *** Bath White EP (Happy Happy Birthday To Me) One of Kristin Hersh’s many projects and certainly her most gritty and lo-fi, which suits her trademark sweet-yet-raspy vocals. The Bath White EP’s title track is by far the standout (with the riff an unexpected nod to Lenny Kravitz’s Fly Away) with God’s Not A Dick a close second despite its unfortunate title. BG

CLOSE LOBSTERS *** Desire & Signs EP (Shelflife) An ode to getting high in a radical and summery 1980s London, Under London Skies harks back to the Scottish indie rockers’ earlier sound, with twanging guitar chords, a catchy, if unoriginal bassline, and that distinctive 80s vibe. The whole EP’s yearning and lament for times gone by is evident through its desire to remain akin to their roots, but with no progression to their sound. HP

GRANDMASTER’S FURIOUS 5 FEAT. MELE MEL & SCORPIO *** Some Kind Of Sorry (self-released) This song sounds pretty terrible on paper, a few throwaway lines of prototypical 80s rap spiked

JASMINE POWER ***

THIS MONTH’S DVD PICK PRIDE & PREJUDICE & ZOMBIES 15 (Lions Gate) Despite a good cast and being an interesting genre mashup, P&P&Z never seems to find its footing, loosely dangling in the realms of horror, comedy and drama, but never successfully hitting the marks for any.

Fans of Austen might find some enjoyment in this muddled adaptation, but zombie fans will find very little to enjoy here. **DM

Stories And Rhymes EP (self-released) There’s no denying the vocal skill of Jasmine Power, beautiful and smooth tones that roll through the jazzy vibes on display here, but her delivery lacks any energy and leaves much to be desired. What could have been a collection of stunning songs fall short of their potential. LB

DEADPOOL 15 (20th Century Fox)

MATTHEW PASTKEWICZ ***

Bryan Cranston gives a fantastic performance as the successful screenwriter Dalton Trumbo in this gripping drama. Set during the Hollywood blacklist communist scare of the late 40s, Trumbo tells the story of the exiled writer responsible for many films, most notably the classic Spartacus. ***DM

Hotel (self-released) Amidst the caustic walls of electronic blare and ambient bellows hides insatiable rhythm and haunting melody. An unconventional sound, Pastkewicz’s music is a very much a journey exploring noise, textures and atmospherics and this is nevermore true than on this release. He travels a similar path to Fuck Buttons and Ben Frost. You might liken it to Marmite... CPI

demos THE BELLAMYS facebook.com/bellamysok The Bellamys are one of a few new Cardiff bands whose tunes and DIY sensibilities instil in me rays of optimism, and whose youthfulness makes me feel displaced and decrepit. Their music sounds like an artefact from before any of them were born: marzipan-centred jangly indiepop, simplistic in the best (i.e. Beat Happening or Vaselines) way. They mention going for a beer in two of the four songs on their demo, which proves to be no laddish bravado but a very nice offer thanks. NG

DEAD METHOD facebook.com/deadmethoduk According to the press release (all caps on a black background, like reading an especially waffly headstone) for this single track, live performances

by Cardiff trio Dead Method (who feature a Buzz contributor) are set to include “performance art” and “costumes”. This is at odds with the serious vibes given off by Hollywood Harmony, the song in question. Slowly-building, mournful electronic pop akin to a more bombastic James Blake, it’s very of-the-moment but slick and fully formed. NG

THE GUILTY SPARK theguiltyspark.bandcamp.com From 2000-2006 Andrew Oakes, a Merthyr home studio producer trading as The Guilty Spark, composed hundreds of tracks’ worth of filmic, IDM-tinged synth music – and then lost most of it in a chronic hard drive meltdown. Apart from these CD backup versions, which he’s tidied up and uploaded a decade on. Presumably, only Oakes knows how complete these versions are (or aren’t) but they’re certainly worthy of excavation. NG

The merc with a mouth finally gets his very own movie, and oh boy, he’s happy about it. Ryan Reynolds’ turn as the fourth wall-breaking antihero heralds one of the best (and most violent) Marvel movies to date, and hopefully will spark an influx of darker, edgier superhero films. ****DM

TRUMBO 15 (Entertainment One)

SON OF SAUL 15 (Lions Gate) Son Of Saul follows a Hungarian-Jewish prisoner working in Auschwitz. It is an extremely gritty portrayal of one man's efforts to give his son a proper burial, as he tries to hold onto the last glimmers of humanity in the face of true terror. As powerful as it is disturbing. ****DM

CONCUSSION 12 (Sony) Concussion tells the true life story of one doctor’s arduous battle against the American sports juggernaut, the NFL. Will Smith undertakes his dramatic role quite convincingly, but sometimes his Nigerian accent seems to slide into a crude Christopher Walken impression. The film gives a decent account of all the information, but there’s no real payoff. **DM

DAD’S ARMY PG (Universal) The loveable home guards are visited by a female journalist and a spy leading up to D-Day. A stellar cast, including Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring and Catherine Zeta Jones, and reliable Bill Nighy and Michael Gambon. If you ignore the awful puns and dodgy jokes, the nostalgic premise will grab you. ***EC

THE FOREST 15 (Icon Film Distribution) One of the most disappointing films I have seen this year, especially when it has such an interesting and thrilling concept – incorporating the real Aokigahara Forest where, historically, Japanese people have visited to commit mass suicides. The story is unoriginal, the acting is bland and the dialogue is the only non-horrifying part of the film. *JM

THE LOBSTER 15 (Film 4) Greek director, Yorgos Lanthimos has created a dystopian society in which single people must find a mate within 45 days, otherwise they will be transformed into an animal of their choice. Sounds rather tame for Lanthimos. Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz star in the strange but beautiful oddity that is The Lobster. ***HW

BUZZ 45

music news EXTRA pic Magenta Photography

The first 30 acts have been announced for the 2016 Swn Festival, as well as confirmation that it’ll be returning to a three-day stretch following a slimmeddown two-dayer last year. The 10th edition of the annual autumnal multi-venue dash around the streets of Cardiff, Swn ‘16 will run from Fri 21-Sun 23 Oct, and Welsh indie enthusiasts of a certain age may have their heads turned by the presence of Derrero and Melys on the lineup. From south and north Wales respectively, both were active in the late 90s/early 00s but disbanded well over a decade ago – rehearsal time will have surely been pencilled in. Other confirmed names include Meilyr Jones, Gallops (also recently reformed), Ani Glass and Chorusgirl The BBC National Orchestra & Chorus Of Wales [pictured] have announced their 2016-17 season, which looks to be creditably bold and outward-looking.

Xian Zhang, who was appointed Principal Guest Conductor in Dec 2015, will debut with BBC NOW in September, with six concerts planned in total. Also noteworthy among the programme is Rhys & Meinir – a collaboration between the Orchestra and Cian Ciaran, best known as a member of Super Furry Animals. This will be his

first foray into classical waters, and has reputedly been developing almost since the beginning of SFA themselves; it’s set in north Wales and addresses both romantic heartbreak and the decline of the Welsh language. It’ll premiere in Cardiff Bay’s Wales Millennium Centre on Fri 4 Nov Semi-secretive Welsh club night Cellar Door is to move from Cardiff, where it began in 2012, to an unlikely new base in Haverfordwest. A nailed-on sell-out during its time in Cardiff Bay’s Vaults venue, since leaving there last year it’s bounced around a clutch of city centre nightspots – Clwb Ifor Bach the most recent – but failed to secure what dog charities call a ‘forever home’. However, on Sat 4 June you’ll find their brand of techno and prog house lighting up Eddie’s, in the aforementioned west Wales town. The first night in a monthly residency, tickets are only a fiver and Cellar Door are hoping that some loyal Cardiffians will even make the trek Shaped By Fate, a metalcore band from Cardiff who formed in the early 00s and were a popular draw on the circuit before quietly winding proceedings up a few years ago, have a posthumous album

out now. I Fear The World Has Changed shouldn’t be mistaken for a half-cooked selection of leftovers, either. Recorded in 2011, it was intended to be the followup to their ‘07 debut album The Unbeliever, and a closer representtion of the bitter, sludgetinged sound they’d nailed, but most of the people responsible for bringing it into the world (band, label, producer) quit or vanished. Finally, though, and with the help of new label Red Sun – the same folks behind the Cardiff festival of that name – the quintet have dragged it from the vault Two Swansea-based musician/artist pals, Simon Parton and Ed Bayes, have a new charity-minded project reasonably – if slightly awkwardly – titled & Friends.

Of their longer-term plans, Parton says, “We’re planning on releasing a collection of original music that will be coupled with bespoke artwork in the form of a zine in the future.” This has began with two singles, both available at musicbyfriends. bandcamp.com and both of which betray an ability to craft warmly inviting, literate folk-rock. Proceeds from purchases will go to either Arts Emergency or Swansea Foodbank, depending on which one you plump for

ONE TO WATCH...

BUFFALO SUMMER

This Swansea/Neath four-piece’s rise to a position of actual popularity on the UK’s hard rock circuit has been so gradual as to be nearly imperceptible. Unless, that is, you’ve been following Buffalo Summer since they formed in 2010, and saw the potential for their hairy, bellbottomed blooze-rawk wailings to attract an audience beyond mates and undiscerning weekend drinkers. Roughly five and a half years on, with the release of sophomore LP Second Sun, that’s what’s happening.

In that interim period, they’ve picked up decent support slots when ‘name’ acts have rolled into town. These slots have turned into support tours, including two especially fruitful ones with Walking Papers – who feature Duff from Guns N’ Roses and Screaming Trees drummer Barrett Martin. The latter of those produced Second Sun, and has done a sterling job highlighting its Free/Black Crowes moments of groove, Soundgarden-recalling grunge bluster and the soaring (if questionably Americansounding) vocals of Andrew Hunt, who along with his drumming brother Gareth was previously in another local rock outfit, Lethargy. It’s a big step up from their self-titled, self-released 2013 debut album, although chancers are still flogging that for £20 on Amazon.

Circa 2016, Buffalo Summer have a label (UDR, also home to Motörhead), a global booking agent and the experience of having opened for Black Sabbath in Hyde Park. There’s been very little hype attached to their name, so their success to date is either the product of a Faustian pact or just being really good at what they do. www.buffalosummer.net

BUZZ 46

one louder AS I write, I’m drinking a glass of Seven Flowers double IPA, a beer brewed (once, in 2014) by the good folks of Celt in Caerphilly – who have certainly not paid me to write this, and surely wouldn’t dream of doing so, even though I’d happily sell myself out for their wares. The glass contains liquid almost exactly to the halfway mark – I took a photo [pictured] in case anyone challenges me on this – and in doing so sets up a handy metaphor for the dilemma imposed on so many of us by society as it is today.

Is your glass half-empty or half-full, for example, when it comes to the return of social democracy into mainstream politics at the hands of Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders? Both gentlemen have spearheaded a revival, and a conversation, that few if any serious commentators would have predicted two years ago. Yet, and acknowledging the folly of predictions here, they remain unlikely to become prime minister or Democrat nominee, respectively – in which case, will history judge their efforts as beingfor naught? Similarly,the Black Lives Matter movement – only necessary because of racist injustice – has planted its message squarely in the mainstream media. Will it stem the frightening number of AfricanAmericans slain by the state? Can its work ever truly be done?

More frivolously, albeit receiving comparable column inches, Leicester City won the Premier League last month at no-chance-of-that-again 5,000-1 odds. A fairytale puncturing of a predictable football fiefdom – could this kick off a seachange in the Prem, where pretty much anyone can feasibly win it? The glum consensus seems to be that it’ll be a wacky one-off, and billionaire muscle will re-assert its power in due course.

As you’ll know, it’s been decreed that 2016 is the year of celebrity death. To an extent, memes like this are selfpowering machines where people, transfixed by the idea, work themselves into a froth – but sure, Prince and Bowie dying are pretty big deals. They inspired emotional bloodletting, unashamed fandom and good old nerdy musical chatter about their talents. None of which appears to be filtering into the pop charts that both artists once carved up, decades before said charts’ current state of debased moribundity. Did Messrs Nelson or Jones ultimately ‘win’?

An interesting, if not always agreeable, New York Times article I read recently concerned a modern verbal tic (especially among those ‘millennials’) of prefacing opinions with “I feel like”. That is to say, being bet-hedging and uncertain rather than assured of one’s own correctness.

The writer largely disapproved, thinking – feeling? – that it justified indecision and enfeebled discourse. As a writer of a monthly column which is largely built on handwavey equivocating and the maxim “the more I know, the less I understand,” I think the maligned phrase deserves defending. It’s less obvious each week what might next be round the corner; the possibilities are often frightening and a retreat back from self-centred grandstanding into something more rounded might help to make the hell of ideological debate less of a bad place to be. Or... maybe it won’t.

Do you feel like seeing HELEN LOVE (Le Pub, Newport, Fri 3), PETROL GIRLS and JOILETTE (Gwdihw, Cardiff, Tue 7), LUICIDAL plus loads of other hardcore bands (The Moon Club, Sat 11), FISHBOY and OH PEAS! (Gwdihw, Sun 12), CC DUST, LIBERATION and BEAUTY PARLOUR (Undertone, Mon 13), HARM’S WAY and other hardcore bands (Moon Club, Tue 14), AS ONDAS and TWO WHITE CRANES (Castle Emporium, Fri 17), CATTLE DECAPITATION and DESECRATION (Moon Club, Mon 20) or KID CONGO AND THE PINK MONKEY BIRDS (The Globe, Wed 29)? NOEL GARDNER

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Thurs 09 June - Y Plas, Cardiff Students’ Union

Tues 18 October - The Globe, Cardiff

Fri 08 July - Buffalo Bar, Cardiff

Tues 01 November - Aberystwyth Arts Centre

Wed 27 July - Y Plas, Cardiff Students’ Union

Wed 02 November - Aberdare Coliseum

Wed 14 September - The Moon Club, Cardiff

Sat 12 November - Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Sat 01 October - The Moon Club, Cardiff

Sun 13 November - Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff

Fri 07 October - Aberystwyth Arts Centre

Thurs 01 December - Brangwyn Hall, Swansea

Mon 10 October - Brangwyn Hall, Swansea

Fri 02 December - Y Plas, Cardiff Students’ Union

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books

BOOK OF THE MONTH

SECOND-HAND TIME Svetlana Alexievich (Fitzcarraldo Editions)

In what is considered to be the magnum opus from the Belarusian writer, and winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Literature, Svetlana Alexievich, she weaves together a rich tapestry of Russian voices and thoughts during the breakup of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, and the subsequent emergence of a new Russia. Rather than being a simple history book, Second-Hand Time chronicles the oral history of the age – with interviews taking place from 1991 to 2012 as people remember the various terrors of the decades of Soviet rule, nostalgia, and a sense of hope and pride in their country. The book offers a fascinating insight into the minds of average Russians during one of the most polemical eras in modern history, and more importantly allows for a better understanding of a country that is often looked upon with suspicion and distrust.

Histories are more often than not written about emperors, presidents, premiers and prime ministers, but refreshingly Alexievich moves the focus back onto the people who had to live through gulags, ethnic violence, wars, famine and political extremism. When reading about any national disaster it can be easy to look at statistics, dates and facts in a rather sterile way, but the writer here forces the reader to look at it from an emotional aspect, and at the hundreds of thousands of personal tragedies and changes that defined the period.

This book not only highlights the devastating events that took place in the post-Cold War USSR, but also humanises often misunderstood people and provides an all-important context for Russian relations with the West today. Painstakingly curated and beautifully written, Alexievich’s Second-Hand Time is nothing short of a masterpiece, and an essential insight into another world. LUKE OWAIN BOULT Price: £10.49. Info: www.fitzcarraldoeditions.com

FOOTBALL

WE AND ME

Jean-Phillippe Toussaint (Fitzcarraldo Editions)

Saskia de Coster, trans. Nancy Forest Flier (World Editions)

Belgian writer Toussaint begins with a self-effacing disclaimer: that this compendium of intellectuallyminded essays about football will be a turnoff to both intellectuals and football buffs. This isn’t necessarily true (wonderful, deep things have been written about the sport over the decades), but I was largely left unmoved by his musings. Chronicling his visits to the last four World Cups, Toussaint’s turns of phrase – translated from French – are exquisite, but his thoughts on football culture are largely jejune and unremarkable. (Exception: an essay on Zinedine Zidane’s infamous 2006 WC final red card, whose circumstances were so theatrical as to transcend their context.) Also, contrary to his assertion of “indisputability”, he’s the only person I’ve ever heard claim that the World Cup trophy looks like a wang.

Price: £12.99 paperback. Info: www. fitzcarraldoeditions.com​

Saskia de Coster is already an established Belgian author, and now the award winning We And Me has been translated into English. With a laconic grandmother, a neurotic mother, a career-driven father, a felon uncle and nosy neighbours, young Sarah tries to carve out her place in the world. Set on a private estate on a mountain, the location adds a fascinating element of claustrophobia which reflects the family tensions.

The characters are cleverly constructed with intriguing idiosyncrasies and revealing eccentricities such as the mother who combs her carpets fastidiously as a form of therapy. The book provides a wonderfully witty narrative about family relationships that everyone will be able to relate to in some way: an incredibly accessible novel that is hugely entertaining. LM Price: £11.38 paperback, £8.01 Kindle. Info: www. worldeditions.org

WIND/PINBALL Haruki Murakami (Penguin) Haruki Murakami is beyond any doubt Japan’s most internationally successful writer, with novels like Norwegian Wood and 1Q84 stunning critics and audiences alike. However, his first two novels Hear The Wind Sing and Pinball, 1973 were not published in English outside Japan, until now that is. Wind/Pinball combines the two novels in one edition, and both follow the narrator and his friend, known only as the Rat. Wind sees the narrator try to woo a girl with nine fingers as he hangs out in bars, while Pinball sees the narrator move to Tokyo as a translator. The narrator yearns for his life back home, symbolised by a certain model of pinball machine, which he then tries to find in his new life. Both are honest and witty novels, colourfully written as ever, and come highly recommended to Murakami fans. LOB Price: £9.99. Info: www.penguin.co.uk BUZZ 48

@mabjones

How The Light Gets In continues from May, with its programme of speakers and writers. On Thurs 2 June, before the festival ends on Sun 5 June, is poet Patrick Jones’ latest book launch. If you can make your way from Hay to Merthyr, of course you can attend both events (Wales is only wittle!) so get yourself to the Imperial Hotel in Merthyr Tydfil to hear the popular poet read from his book The Aspirations Of Poverty. The evening begins at 7.30pm and is sure to be smashing.

At the Imperial Hotel, Merthyr Tydfil is the usual Open Mic Night, hosted by Mike Jenkins, and this time with special guest Jeremy Hooker. That’s on Thurs 9 June. The Valleys seem to be oozing with literary goodness this month, and there’s also Penned On The Bont in Bridgend on Thurs 23 June, with Rachel Tresize and Amanda Rackstraw and, for writers keen to forge their way ahead and usurp some of these grand names, there’s a workshop on self-promotion and marketing in Pontypridd. See www.write.wales for more information.

If you fancy a trip to the north, then the RS Thomas Literary Festival (following hot on the heels of last month’s International Dylan Thomas Day) takes place in Aberdaron on the Llyn Peninsula from Fri 24-Mon 27 June. And, if you’re just roaming and roving about, you can certainly make it a literary summer with so many other famous poets and writers having hailed from the place. See www.visitwales.com/explore/literature for more ideas and information. It’s the Welsh government’s Year Of Adventure and this can include some lively lit, too!

So, wherever you are in Wales, have some wordbased fun and get along to one (or more!) of these events. Have a lovely June!

“Now summer is in flower and natures hum Is never silent round her sultry bloom Insects as small as dust are never done Wi' glittering dance and reeling in the sun….”

From June by John Clare

lifestyle

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SUMMER STYLE GUIDE You wouldn’t always think summer is on the horizon, with weather that sometimes seems to be foreboding the end times, but be sure to pick up these yearround essentials. Get some Buzz inspiration for June and blaze your own trail this summer.

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1. SUNGLASSES, River Island, St David’s Centre, Cardiff, £16 / 2. PALM TREE BEACH TOWEL, John Lewis, St David’s Centre, £15 / 3. HERSCHEL SUPPLY CO. PACKABLE DUFFEL BAG, Route One, Morgan Arcade, Cardiff, £24.99 / 4. GAME OF THRONES RULED JOURNAL: HOUSE OF LANNISTER, Waterstones, The Hayes, Cardiff, £13 / 5. TOTES SUPERMINI COMPACT UMBRELLA, Slaters, St David’s Centre, £10 / 6. ABIGAIL AHERN/EDITION – PINEAPPLE LANTERN, Debenhams, St David’s Centre, £22.40 / 7. BATMAN MULTI TOOL, Menkind, St David’s Centre, £5.99 / 8. CK ONE SUMMER 2016 EDT, Boots, St David’s Centre, £24.75 / 9. RIPPED DENIM SHORTS, Fat Face, McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, Bridgend, £40 / 10. PURE COTTON SHORTS, Marks & Spencer, McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, £20

BUZZ 49

adventure

RICHARD PARKS FROM RUGBY TO EVEREST Former Wales international rugby player and extreme environment athlete Richard Parks speaks with Amanda Hunt about determination, climbing Everest and adventure.

R

ichard Parks began talking over a peppermint tea, and contrary to the stereotype of a rugby player, he had a surprising calmness, warmth, insight and a soothing voice. He started off by explaining a phrase that has helped him reach dizzy heights over the last few years. “’The horizon is only the limit of our sight’ was the catalyst to all of the adventures in this chapter of my life. It might have well saved my life, and I don’t say that lightly. I was forced to retire from professional rugby because of injury, and found myself in quite a dark place both emotionally and physically. It was this sentence that inspired me and gave me the courage to pick myself up and channel my energies into something positive.

“You can’t see beyond the horizon but we know that there is a world and land beyond that. I couldn’t see past my rugby career – it was how I defined myself, it was what I loved and it was everything to me. When that was taken away through injury, I couldn’t see beyond that. That sentence changed my perspective and allowed me to start moving again.”

When his rugby career was threatened, Richard was determined to be an extreme athlete. Guided by his motto, he focused all his

BUZZ 50

attention into creating a world-first expedition: the 737 Challenge. This involved being the first to climb the highest mountain on each of the world’s seven continents and stand on all three poles (North, South and Everest), all within seven months. To help complete this challenge, he sold a lot of his own personal items to help fund the expedition. But where did he get the faith in his own abilities?

“It was a mega gamble. I did have belief in my ability and I surrounded myself with people who shared my belief. At the time when I developed the 737 Challenge, I was lost and I was rock bottom. So it was easier to invest that money into myself. You have this appetite for risk that you don’t necessarily have when things are going really well. If somebody had given me the opportunity to climb the highest mountain on each of the seven continents, standing on the North and South Pole during the time I played rugby, I probably would have said no. It was the darkest period of my life that gave me the mindset and opportunity to embrace it.”

Moving onto 2016, Richard set himself a new goal, Project Everest Cynllun. He was to become the first person in history to collect a blood sample and muscle biopsy from the summit of Mount Everest. He was also set to climb the highest mountain in the world without

using supplementary oxygen.

Unfortunately, due to an unforeseen medical issue, Richard was unable to reach the summit and had to abort the mission. He says, “The thing that was really interesting during that 737 Challenge was that it was a world’s first. That year I was the fastest summit of Everest in 25 days, bearing in mind people take seven to nine weeks to climb the mountain. I had complete faith in my ability and was meticulous in my training. Fast forward six or seven years, and what enabled me to do that physiologically has ended this expedition. My ability to produce red blood cells made my blood dangerously thick, which lead to me cancelling or aborting this particular project.”

For all his achievements, his love and passion for his homeland, Richard Parks is now an Ambassador for the Year Of Adventure. Richard explains how that feels: “I’ve got a really exciting year ahead with my Ambassadorial work. I’ve got two television shows coming out based on the Year Of Adventure. In today’s society I think it’s really important to embrace the spirit of adventure, try new things and step outside our comfort zone.”

Year Of Adventure. Info: www.visitwales. com

'The horizon is only the limit of our sight'

BUZZ 51

sport

UEFA EURO 2016: WALES Conor Knight takes a look at Wales’ chances in their first major international competition in over 50 years: the UEFA European Championship.

Now that the domestic season has finished and the silverware has all been engraved and won, there’s still one more competition left: UEFA Euro 2016. The coveted European prize has returned from its four-year dormancy, and this year it is closer than ever, with the tournament held across France. Given the extent of talent in the French ranks and the amount of home support at their disposal, the hosts enter the competition as favourites alongside World Cup winners Germany.

This will not disparage Wales as they venture into their inaugural Euros, on the back of an impressive qualification campaign that saw them lose only once, including a victory over Belgium. In their road to qualification for the Euros, Wales were commended for their disciplined, defensive ethos that was forged on a 5-3-2 formation, most notably keeping seven clean sheets in 10 games.

Captain of both Swansea and the national side, Ashley Williams is integral to this formidable defence. With Ramsey returning from injury and Sam Vokes scoring 15 goals in a Championship winning campaign, Coleman will be confident with the form of all departments of his team heading into France this summer.

Should Wales manage to progress through the group stages, this overall form will be vital, with them most likely facing Portugal or Austria should they finish second, or probably Spain if they are the superior third placed team.

Indeed, the squad selection for the Euros comes with few surprises considering their success in qualification. However, a significant question mark looms over the fitness of Joe Ledley though, which will be a notable loss in their condensed three-man midfield.

Ruled out of Crystal Palace’s final league game of the season with a leg injury, Ledley BUZZ 52

pics Jon Candy

Wales

will be in the minds of many Wales supporters.

Should it be serious, there is little concern with his replacement, after Andy King just completed a historic title winning season with Leicester. Despite his bit part role with the club, the midfielder showcased his abilities when given the opportunity, finishing the last game he started with a goal and an assist.

Though he needs rather less assurance, Gareth Bale has also proved his worth, evolving into a talisman for Real Madrid in the final stages of their domestic campaign with a number of winning goals, having found the net 2- times and assisting in 11 in all competitions.

Having overcome the injury issues which marred the middle of his season, Bale has returned stronger than ever with a hunger for goals, victory and trophies.

Slovakia Fixture Russia Fixture

Verdict

Wales’ first test of the tournament is on Sat 11 June, when they journey to the Nouveau Stade Bordeaux to face Slovakia. A must-win game if Wales want to keep their Euro hopes alive, the presence of veteran Liverpool defender Martin Škrtel will prove a significant task for the Welsh attack to break down. At the other end of the pitch, Marek Hamšik will most likely feature – the Napoli attacking midfielder has found the net times and assisted 11 in Serie A, with another five goals in Slovakia’s Euro 2016 qualification bid. Hamšik is key to Slovakia’s attack and will thus need to be targeted by the Welsh midfield if they hope to contain his firepower. With a victory over Spain on their journey to qualification, Slovakia’s international credentials are impressive and will take some beating.

Judging the competition overall, though Germany and Belgium seem attractive bets for the Euro 2016 trophy, ultimately a French victory seems most likely. With Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and N’Golo Kanté all in great form – with two of the three winning their respective domestic titles – it seems only an inevitability that this form will translate into European glory. However, should Wales achieve second place in their group and gain a favourable knockout fixture, we could, very optimistically and hesitantly, begin to dream – together stronger.

As Group B’s favourites to qualify behind England, Wales’ final game before the knockout stages is key. Kicking off at the Stade GeoffroyGuichard on Mon 20 June, this is arguably the defining game of the group; the result will most likely determine the fate of Wales’ Euro hopes.

Though all conjecture, should both teams lose to England and win against Slovakia, this final fixture will be a head-to-head to determine who joins the English to the next stage. A nasty injury to Real Madrid’s Denis Cheryshev partially dilutes Russia’s potency, but Artem Dzyuba, who scored eight goals in eight games to see his national side reach the Euros, is continuing to fire on all cylinders with 14 goals for Zenit St. Petersberg. With Russia hosting the 2018 World Cup, and thus automatically granted qualification, the European stage becomes even more significant to Wales, with it being their first major European tournament for 57 years.

It felt almost fitting when Wales were drawn in Group B with England. Taking place on Thurs 16 June, you can be sure Wales will come to a standstill at the prospect of overcoming England once more on the international stage. Following a tumultuous Rugby World Cup for England that saw Wales claim sporting bragging rights for the next few months, the Anglo-Welsh rivalry has been reignited, with Wales once more taking the position of underdogs (though arguably more so this time). Winning all 10 of their qualifying games, and only conceding three goals in the process, England will be entering the competition confident of advancing to at least the knockout stages of the tournament, having failed to do so in the 2014 World Cup. With a fresh-faced attack to those that failed to record a single victory in Brazil, England have been commended for their youth-orientated selection.

Both Dele Alli and Harry Kane have established themselves as potent attackers for Tottenham this season in a title pursuit that eventually petered out but was impressive nonetheless.

However, it will be the presence of underdogs Jamie Vardy and Danny Drinkwater that would have raised eyebrows a year ago.

@copyright 2015 All-free-download.com

England Fixture

Rest of the Groups Elsewhere in the tournament, France feature in Group A, and are favourites to win with Switzerland to finish beside them. Northern Ireland remain hopeful within their tough group, with Poland, Ukraine and World champions Germany all vying for a knock out spot. Current European Cup holders Spain will look to retain their title in Group D, though their capitulating form in recent years will provide a light for Croatia, Turkey and Czech Republic. Arguably the group of death, comprising Belgium, Italy, Sweden and Ireland, Group E’s tantalising batch of fixtures feature global stars of the game: Eden Hazard, Gianluigi Buffon, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robbie Keane. Largely a two-horse race between Austria and Portugal, Group F will be a test for Hungary and Iceland.

Wales v Slovakia, Sat 11 June; Wales v England, Thurs 16 June; Wales v Russia, Mon 20 June. Info: www.uefa.com

GROUP B FIXTURES UEFA EURO 2016

WALES v SLOVAKIA Saturday 11 June 2016 / 17:00 Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux Bordeaux

ENGLAND v WALES Thursday 16 June 2016 / 14:00 Stade Bollaert-Delelis Bordeaux

RUSSIA v WALES Monday 20 June 2016 / 20:00 Stadium Municipal Toulouse

BUZZ 53

sport

EXTREME SAILING SERIES The tranquil waters of Cardiff Bay will soon be transformed into a racing arena, playing host to the Extreme Sailing Series this month. Returning to Cardiff for the fifth consecutive year, Act 3 will see some of the world’s elite sailors take to the waters for the thrilling competition.

For those of you unfamiliar with the sport, the series consists of eight of the world’s top sailing teams competing to be crowned winners of Act 3 during the four-day event. The fast-paced races last around 10 minutes and with weather conditions playing a big part in proceedings the teams, including Oman Air, Alinghi and the Red Bull Sailing Team, will be hoping for favourable conditions to land them a top spot on the leaderboard.

Now in its 10th year, organisers have unveiled the GC32 hydro-foiling catamaran, a smaller and faster vessel that can reach speeds of 32 knots and replaces the previous Extreme 40 catamaran. To give you an idea of the size of the vessel, it takes four hours to dismantle and pack each catamaran after an event and 21 40-foot containers will travel around the world to each location. Having already staged acts in Muscat and Qingdao as part of the 2016 series, the teams will be able to enjoy the urban cities of Hamburg, St Petersburg, Istanbul and Lisbon before the series finale in Australia.

The free event provides a unique experience, a little different to the usual boats spotted on the freshwater lake. You can catch a glimpse of the races from various viewpoints around the bay, with the barrage providing a particularly good vantage point to watch the exciting drama as it unfolds on the course. There’s also the option for a wildcard entry from the location’s national team, so even if you’re new to the sport you’ll get the chance to cheer on Team Wales. RHIANON HOLLEY

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Extreme Sailing Series, Cardiff Bay, Thurs 23-Sun 26 June.

Admission: free. Info: www.extremesailingseries.com

listings

Inclusion in Buzz Listings is free. Send via post or email by 17th of the previous month. Buzz takes no responsibility for material sent or any errors made after time of going to press. * – recommended

BEYONCÉ Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Thurs 30 June During Super Bowl 50, Beyoncé announced The Formation World Tour. If Single Ladies doesn’t at least make your foot tap, that would be a surprise. She has stood out since 1997 in Destiny’s Child and it doesn’t look like she’s stopping any time soon. Performing in Cardiff’s Principality (aka Millennium) Stadium, the highlyanticipated tour is planned to perfection for the best possible experience at the concerts. Beyoncé is aiming for highest quality audio experience – not always on the agenda at stadium gigs, to say the least – so you can listen to new hits like Hold Up loud and clear.

The costumes are saucy as ever, most of them being leotards and tights, and her hair is bigger than the last tour. As this is her first solo venture since her ambitious Mrs. Carter Show World Tour in 2013 (which reached nearly two million fans over two years), expect a show that will top that. The show is traversing the US at the time of writing, and has received rave reviews from critics and fans.

Winner of 20 Grammy awards, she still goes the extra mile. Bey believes in giving back: she wants to include her fans in her #BeyGOOD initiative, which supports United Way and their work on the water crisis in Michigan. Get tweeting.

Hold up – they don’t love you like she loves you and she will be sure to slay and put on a real show at the end of the month in Cardiff.

HANNAH WILLIAMS Tickets: £73.50/£108.50 gold circle. Info 08442 777888 / www.principalitystadium.wales

CONTENTS pg 56 pg 58 pg 60 pg 68 pg 74

art clubs events live stage BUZZ 55

art

art Aberglasney House & Gardens

Llangathen, Carmarthenshire. Free.

01558 668998 / www. aberglasney.org Sandra Phillips Exhibition of work in oils, pastels and watercolour, reflecting not only the sea, coast and rugged mountains of Wales, but also of views further afield.

(From Fri 3 until Thurs 16 June) Pembrokeshire Craft Makers Work from a group established for over 30 years in West Wales. (From Fri 17 until Thurs 30 June)

Aberystwyth Arts Centre

University Of Wales, Aberystwyth. Free. Mon-Sat 10am-8pm. 01970 621903 / www.aber.ac.uk/artscentre Ruth Thomas & Linda Alterwitz ‘Inside Out: From Vegas To Wales’ The collograph prints of Thomas reflect the area of rural Wales where she lives, through use of natural materials and organic structures. Alterwitz often photographs her more urban surroundings. (Until Sat 18 June) Power In The Land video, Photography,

sound, sculpture, installation and alternative photographic processes from X-10, an artist group who have been working around the closure and decommissioning of Wylfa, the last nuclear power station in Wales. (Until Sat 2 July) Screenprinted Textiles A range of work produced by participants of Becky Knight’s weekly workshop.

(Until Sat 23 July) The Eye A rolling programme of video art, notably including Robert Mapplethorpe’s Artist Rooms. (Until Sat 10 Sept) Jeremy Moore ‘Bird/Land’ Panoramic photographs, framed in sets of three, in which birds and their surroundings are integral to each image. (From Sat 25 June until Sat 27 August)

Albany Gallery

74b Albany Road, Cardiff.

Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm. Free. 029 2048 7158 / www.albanygallery. com Tim Fudge & Peter Morgan Two popular Pembrokeshire based artists.Fudge captures the vibrant richness of the landscape whilst Morgan depicts the buildings scattered around. (Until Sat 18 June) Summer Exhibition A mixed and changing exhibition of new work by established and emerging artists.

(From Thurs 23 June until

Sat 13 Aug)

22 June until Sat 9 July)

Andrew Lamont Gallery (Theatr Brycheiniog)

Art Central

Canal Wharf, Brecon. Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. Free.

01874 611622 / enquiries@ brycheiniog.co.uk / www. brycheiniog.co.uk Ann Dierikx ‘Multiplicity – A Journey Through Portrayal And Perspective’ Music, mountains, people and places are all depicted here in an exhibition claiming to reflect a Carl Jung quote, “the many contains the unity of the one”. (From Fri 3 until Tue 28 June)

Arcadecardiff

Queens Arcade, off Queen Street, Cardiff. Usually open Wed-Sat 12.30-5.30pm. www.arcadecardiff.co.uk Richard Powell Richard Powell ‘Unbidden’ “Sometimes, the fabric of our worlds are summarily penetrated by a something so powerful, we’re rightly troubled.

This unreliable recollection is of just one such collective instant. This isn’t rebuke or expiation, reproach or accusation. All those passed into us within the event itself.”

Thanks Richard. (Until Sat 18 June) Sarah Rhys ‘Coal Tree’ Work in development using coal and salt, created on the artist’s recent return from eastern Europe. (From Wed

Barry Town Hall, King Square, Barry. Tue-Sat 11am-4pm. Free. 01446 709805.

Richard Cox ‘Subterranean Architecture’ Exhibition documenting an unusual aspect of Indian traditional architecture, stepwells, this has already toured India, America and the UK, indeed it’s been in these listings a few times.

(Until Sat 4 June) Cardiff & Vale College Exhibition 2016 End of year show offering a mix of painting, print, graphics, ceramics, fashion design and more. (From Sat 11 until Sat 25 June)

Art In The Attic

The Factory, Jenkin Street, Porth. Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

Free. 01443 687080 / www. facebook.com/thefactoryvenue Gemma Jayne Paine ‘Imagination Made With Love’ Photography, printmaking, poetry and craft, with de/ reconstructed garments and mixed media artworks based on dance two specialist modes of Paine. (From Tue 7 until Thurs 23 June)

Attic Gallery

37 Pocketts Wharf, Maritime Quarter, Swansea. Tue-Fri 10am-5.30pm, Sat 10am4.30pm. Free. 01792 653387 / www.atticgallery.co.uk Gwyn Roberts Solo exhibition from a painter with over 30 years’ prior experience as an art teacher. His work is inspired by the Snowdonia mountains, with thick layers of paint and geometric strokes. (Until Sat 4 June) Aneurin Jones & Meirion Jones Two-man painting show featuring a father, Aneurin, and his son. (From Sat 11 June until Sat 2 July)

Barker Gallery / Torfaen Gallery

GEMMA JAYNE PAINE: IMAGINATION MADE WITH LOVE Art In The Attic @ The Pop Factory, Porth, Tue 7-Thurs 23 June Admission: free. Info: 01443 687080 / facebook.com/thefactoryvenue When someone’s imagination is so creative, they deserve to have that creativity on show. Textile artist Gemma Jayne Paine is showcasing her latest work at Art In The Attic throughout June. Imagination Made With Love will include a mixture of poetry, stories, doodles, scribbles and photographs sewn and printed onto textiles. Pieces have been deconstructed, reconstructed, unpicked and restyled; pointed titles include Why Pink For Girls And Blue For Boys and Liberating Women On A Frock Coat, and there’s a tribute to the Dolly Parton movie Coat Of Many Colours. The exhibition also includes a free-hanging nine-inch miniature textiles of 1940s-era clothing. The results of this show will make you rethink clothes and textiles.

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Pontypool Museum, Park Buildings, Pontypool. MonSat 11am-5pm, Sun 2-5pm.

Free Wed/Sun 2-5pm. 01495 752036.

Colour Vibrations Vision Arts presents a collection of mixed media work by eight well known Torfaen artists: Masae Takeuchi, Mark Medcalf, Jane Dorset, Patricia Clifford, Valerie Stewart, Joanne Price, Gillian Clayton and Aurelia. (Until Thurs 27 Oct) Deborah Wildgust & Sue Allford ‘Our Favourite Places’ Photographic exhibition. (Throughout June)

Blossoms Gallery

Park Avenue, Aberystwyth. info@blossomsgallery.co.uk / www.blosssomsgallery. co.uk Spring Open Exhibition Celebrating the wealth of creativity in West Wales and the Welsh borders. (Until Sat 4 June) Portraiture Exhibition Another open exhibition/competition. (From Sat 4 June until Sat 2 July) Life In Our Seas An exhibition celebrating the diversity of life found in our seas whilst also exploring issues affecting the oceans such as plastic pollution, overfishing and

global warming. (From Sat 18 June until Sat 30 July)

Cardiff Story

The Hayes, Cardiff. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm.

Free. 029 2078 8334 / museum@cardiff.gov.uk Representing Butetown: The Caribbean Elders Project Exhibition spotlighting some of the people and community groups who have taken part in the Representing Butetown project – an effort to “listen, see and engage with the Elders of our community” – between 2013 and 2016.

(Until Wed 31 Aug)

Chapter Gallery

Chapter Arts Centre, Market Road, Canton, Cardiff. Tue, Wed, Sat + Sun 12-6pm; Thurs + Fri 12-8pm. Free.

029 2030 4400 / www. chapter.org Steven Shearer ‘Sorry Steve’ Art In The Bar piece by a Canadian artist: a handwritten note blown up to the size of one of Chapter’s walls and replicated on it. (Until Sun 19 June)

Chepstow Museum

Bridge Street, Chepstow.

Mon-Sat 11am-4pm, Sun 2-4pm. Free. 01291 625981 / www. chepstowmuseum.co.uk The Hidden Presence Project Showcasing the work produced by Eva Sajovic, working with local schools and young people, based on the life of Nathaniel Wells – who went, in the 18th century, from being aplantation owner’s son to Britain’s first black sheriff. (Throughout June)

Coppertone Gallery

Exchange Building, Cambrian Place, Maritime Quarter, Swansea. Free.

01792 293200 / www. coppertonegallery.com See California Landscapes, Like Never Before Large photography, ranging in size from 76 x 76cm up to 2.5m, from a recent road trip undertaken

by Nigel J. Williams and Greg Jones around California.

(Throughout June)

Craft In The Bay

The Flourish, Lloyd George Avenue, Cardiff. Mon-Sun 10.30am-5.30pm. Free. 029 2048 4611 / www. makersguildinwales.org.uk Katie Scarlett Howard Guest maker with ceramic sculptures inspired by the fishermen and women of Welsh fishing ports in the early 20th century. (Until Sun 26 June) Margo Schmidt Vessels of different sizes created with flat coils of clay whose quiet exteriors contrast with an array of vibrant colour inside. (Until Sun 26 June) Beate Gegenwart A new set of inter-related artworks that make links to cloth, the body, movement, the small wearable and to architectural space, created with metal and virtuous enamel. (Until Sun 10 July)

Dinas Powys Parish Hall

Britway Road, Dinas Powys.

Free. 029 2051 3114 / www. dinaspowysartgroup.org.uk

Dinas Powys Art Group Two-day annual exhibition with paintings, personal images of Dinas Powys, crafts and kids’ activities. (From Sat 11 until Sun 12 June)

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.

Elysium Gallery

16 College Street, Swansea.

Wed-Sat 12-5pm. Free. www. elysiumgallery.com Dalit Leon ‘Time Signatures’ Israeli-born, Wales-based artist will be creating a new body of work seeking to explore the relationship between symbolic and material language and to question overlapping realities of sense perception, cultural and historical readings. (Until Sat 4 June) Lee Williams New mixed media exhibition inspired by the town and docks of Port Talbot and its shipping industry. (From Sat 18 June until Sat 16 July6)

Erwood Station Gallery

Llandeilo Graban, Builth Wells. Daily 10.30am-5pm.

Free. 01982 560674 / www. erwoodstation.com Summer Exhibition Contemporary applied craft, paintings and sculpture by over 50 of the very best artists working in Wales and the UK today. (Throughout June)

Fountain Fine Art

6-8 Morgan Arcade, Cardiff.

Tue-Sat 10.30am-5pm. Free. www.fountainfineart.com Alastair Elkes-Jones Solo exhibition of 25 paintings of Cardiff, Swansea and Gower.

(From Sat 4 until Sat 25 June)

Fountain Fine Art

Rhosmaen Street, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire. Mon-Sat 10.30am-5pm. Free. www. fountainfineart.com Andrew Douglas-Forbes Solo exhibition of west Walian landscapes, buildings and people. (Throughout June)

Futures Gallery

Pierhead Building, Cardiff Bay. Daily 10.30am-4pm.

Free. 0845 010 5500 / www. pierhead.org Your Medicine Your Health Large screen-printed wall hangings depicting important messages about good medicine use, made by schoolchildren. (From Tue 21 June until Thurs 14 July) Wall Of Silence Photographs, poems, stories, paintings and other media, sent from across the UK by survivors of child sexual abuse and displayed on a gallery wall here. (From Mon 27 June until Sun 3 July)

G39

Oxford Street, Roath, Cardiff. Saturdays 11am5.30pm. Free. 029 2047

art 3633 / post@g39.org Thomas-Irvine ‘Limen Locale’ A multifaceted installation that includes architecture, photography, film, and sculptural works, focusing on a mysterious set of minimalist concrete structures in Portreath, Cornwall.

(Until Sat 25 June)

Y Galeri, Caerffili

Lower Ground Floor, The Visit Caerphilly Centre, The Twyn, Caerphilly. Tue-Sat 10am-5pm. Free. 029 2132 2570 / www.ygalericaerffili. co.uk Louise Collis ‘Forty@ Forty’ Forty oil paintings depicting Devon, Cornwall, remote areas of Scotland, The Black Mountains and numerous areas of outstanding beauty around Wales. (Until Sat 2 July)

Gallery/Ten

23 Windsor Place, Cardiff.

Free. www.gallery-ten.co.uk John Abell ‘Three Act Play’ Solo exhibition of prints, publications and oil paintings by Cardiff-born artist. Included in this is The Book Of Job, fully illustrated with Abell’s linocut blocks and housed in prestigious collections elsewhere. (Until Sat 2 July)

The Gate

Keppoch Street, Roath, Cardiff. Mon-Sat 10am-9pm.

Free. 029 2048 3344 / info@ thegate.org.uk When I Was A Kid Open exhibition inviting you to submit art based on childhood memories. (From Wed 15 June until Mon 18 July)

The Gate / Y Gat

Pentre Road, St Clears, Carmarthenshire. Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 9am-3pm.

Free. 01994 232726 / thegate@carmarthenshire. gov.uk Re-awakening Carmarthen Artists’ Network’s spring group show, featuring new work by contemporary West Wales artists. Ceramics, prints, paintings, drawings and sculpture will reveal the artists’ response to the theme of re-awakening. (Until Sat 4 June) Gina Hughes Ceramics and photography.

(From Tue 7 June until Sat 23 July)

Grand Pavilion

The Esplanade, Porthcawl.

Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm. Free. 01656 815995 / www.grandpavilion.co.uk Art By Jane: Heart to Art South Wales-based painter, foregoing a surname here, offers “paintings which inform the mind, delight the eye and touch the heart.” (Until Sun 8 July)

King Street Gallery

33 King Street, Carmarthen.

Free. 01267 220121 / gallery@kingstreetgallery. co.uk Yve Kelly New work by a paintwhose inspiration is her love of light and colour. (Until Thurs 2 June) Summer Show New and diverse work by the Gallery’s members.

(Throughout June) Sarah

Maria Rhys An exhibition of retrospective and recent work by the painter which includes scenes of Carmarthen town and Industrial Wales. (From Thurs 9 until Thurs 30 June)

Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre

St. David’s Rd, Cwmbran, Torfaen. Mon-Sat 10am5pm. Free. 01633 483321 / www.lgac.org.uk Rozanne Hawksley ‘Reflections’ A mixture of 3D work and self-portraits, imbued with a personal power and reflections on war and loss. (Until Sat 16 July) Paul Wearing Craft showcase of sculptural vessels with textures that manifest naturally on surfaces within diverse urban and rural landscapes.

(Until Sat 16 July) Susan Kerr Jewellery showcase featuring original hand-crafted silver designs including earrings, necklaces, brooches, bracelets and pins. (Until Sat 16 July) Healing Words And Pictures Work shown in the Cafe Gallery – poems and art from Talygarn Ward, Country Hospital, Pontypool. (Until Sat 16 July)

M.A.D.E. Gallery

41 Lochaber St, Cardiff.

Free. 029 2047 3373.

Floribunda / Spring Affordable Art Wall Featuring over 20 local artists in all media. (Until Sat 4 June) MADE’s Pick Of The Degree Shows Showcase of the best of this year’s creative graduates from three major arts education institutions in the South Wales region.

(From Thurs 16 June until Sat 9 July)

Martin Tinney Gallery

18 St Andrew’s Crescent, Cardiff. Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-5pm. Free. 029 2064 1411 / mtg@artwales. com David Jones (1895-1974) Approximately 50 woodengravings, copper-engravings and dry-points from different periods of Jones’ career – one which saw him become of the most acclaimed British artists of the last century. (Until Sat 4 June) Claudia Williams Roughly 20 new paintings and drawings (all for sale) from Williams, born in 1933 and considered one of Wales’ leading figurative artists. (From Wed 8 June until Sat 2 July)

Mission Gallery

Gloucester Place, Swansea.

Tue-Sun 11am-5pm. Free.

01792 652016 / www. missiongallery.co.uk Philip Eglin ‘Slipping The Trail’ Touring exhibition which is the result of a collaboration between the Ceramic Collection And Archive at Aberystwyth University and Eglin himself, one of the major ceramicists in the UK. (Until Sun 5 June) Matthew Bush Maker In Focus show featuring unique vessels made with 3D printing technology.

(Until Sun 19 June) Penny Hallas Work in the [...] space, a series of films and stills concerned with observing and recording the strange remains of the interplay between human and natural

activity in and around the caves of Craig Y Cilau Nature Reserve. (Until Sun 19 June) Alana Tyson Maker In Focus show, a series of crochet and concrete sculptures attempting to document and confront the desire, frustration and failure of motherhood. (From Tue 21 June until Sun 31 July) Sarah Rhys Work in the [...] space, a multi-layered work of film projections in the cave. (From Tue 21 June until Sun 31 July)

From The First World War A variety of postcards from the Amgueddfa Cymru collections, made, written and sent throughout that time of unrest. (Until Sun 19 June) Matt Wright ‘Relics: A Photospherical Reflection On Wales’ Wright captures various historical sites from around Wales. and presents them in a series of 3D photospheres. (Until Sun 19 June) Rich White ‘Resistance’ A new Art Across The City

Formerly found in a Roath side street, Cardiff's Sho Gallery (also a shop selling neat arty things, T-shirts etc) is relocating to the Castle Emporium in the city centre. It's got an exhibition of contemporary design opening there on Thurs 16 June, and running until Wed 6 July.

National Museum & Gallery

Cathays Park, Cardiff. TueSun 10am-5pm. Free except where noted. 029 2057 3500 / www.museumwales.ac.uk/ cardiff War’s Hell!’ The Battle Of Mametz Wood In Art Discover the art and poetry created by those who witnessed this battle – one of the bloodiest of World War I – first-hand and the work it later inspired. (Until Sun 4 Sept) The Attraction Of Onlookers: Aberfan – An Anatomy Of A Welsh Village New York-based artist Shimon Attie shows a video installation and photographs of the community, 50 years after the disaster that claimed 144 lives, supporting their desire to move on from this tragic event. (Until Sun 4 Sept) Augustus John In Focus A selection of paintings, watercolours, drawings and prints by this important Welsh artist. It will focus on images of his family, friends and celebrated sitters as well as his fascination with gypsy culture. (Until Fri 30 Sept) Treasures: Adventures In Archaeology Major exhibition showcasing artefacts from Egypt, Rome and more, with some Indiana Jones content to boot. Admission is £7, £5 concessions or free for under16s. (Until Sun 30 Oct)

National Waterfront Museum

Oystermouth Road, Maritime Quarter, Swansea.

Daily 10am-5pm. Free.

01792 638950.

Chips, Curry And Cappucino A young people’s project from the Ethnic Youth Support Team that looks at the diverse food culture in Swansea and how it has been influenced by people from different ethnic backgrounds that have settled here. (Until Mon 30 May) Forget Me Not: Postcards

installation, tackling themes of location, sense of place and the relationships that develop between people and their environment, by an artist with an amusing name.

(Until Sun 19 June) Student Exhibitions The annual exhibition of the best work from students on University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Product Design, Automotive Design and School of Glass degree courses. (Until Sun 19 June)

Newport Museum & Art Gallery

John Frost Square, Newport.Tue-Fri 9.30am5.30pm, Sat 9.30am-4pm.

Free. 01633 656656 / museum@newport.gov.uk The 1922 Newport Hospital Carnival Photos and film footage, more details TBC with this one (it was supposed to start in late May but was delayed due to technical issues) so check with the museum. (Until Sat 9 July)

Norwegian Church Arts Centre

Harbour Drive, Cardiff Bay. Daily 11am-4pm. Free. 029 2087 7959 / www. norwegianchurchcardiff.com Linda Agostini ‘Wild Things (Africa)’ Abstract art “for which the vibrant colours of the land emerge altogether as one, to create a ‘mystical creature’ within the picture,” says Linda. (Until Sun 5 June) Harriet Jenkins & Miranda Witty Life and landscape paintings by two local artists. (From Mon 13 until Sun 19 June) Tondu & District Art Society A diverse range of artwork by local artists. Subject matter ranges from animal portraits to land and seascapes and abstracts in all mediums.

(From Mon 20 until Sun 26 June)

Off The Wall

The Old Probate Registry, Cardiff Road, Llandaff,

Cardiff. Tue-Fri 9.30am5.30pm, Sat 10am-4pm.

Free. 029 2055 4469 / art@ galleryoffthewall.com Eloise Govier & Swci Delic Govier, a Welsh painter based in Bath, creates bright abstract works, applying paint thickly with a palette knife.

Swci, from mid-Wales, has gained a fair bit of attention for her psychedelic pop art pieces in the last few years.

(Until Thurs 16 June) Val Kosh ‘Accidental Horizon’ Staffordshire-born painter who works between Cheshire and Le Marche, Italy. This is her first exhibition in Wales and is inspired by both Italian and British landscapes. (Until Sat 9 July)

as the basis for photographic, sculptural and 2D work.

(Until Sat 11 June) Morgan Griffith (Sonomano) & Jo Hinchcliffe ‘The Dental Cosmos’ Griffith uses found images to create unnerving collages, shown here alongside kinetic assemblages, created especially for Oriel Mwldan with his collaborative partner Jo Hinchcliffe. (From Sat 18 June until Sat 6 Aug)

Oriel Bach

Oriel Q

4 Dunns Lane, Mumbles, Swansea. Mon-Sat 11am4pm. Free. 01792 361012 / www.orielbach.com Mike Doyle, Eiona Roberts, Philip Davies & Adrian Hughes Photography, photography, paintings and paintings respectively. (Until Sat 4 June) Sue Mann Paintings from this local Gower artist. (From Mon 6 until Sat 18 June) Gay Mitchell Paintings. (From Mon 20 June until Sat 2 July)

Oriel Canfas

Glamorgan Street, Canton, Cardiff. Tue-Fri 1-4.30pm, Sat 10.30am-4.30pm. 029 2066 6455 / www.orielcanfas.co.uk Sara Wyn Walker Recent work from an artist enjoying her first exhibition at this gallery. (Until Sat 18 June)

Oriel Davies

The Park, Newtown, Powys.

Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm.

Free. 01686 625041 / enquiries@orieldavies.org Eifion Sven-Myer ‘Obscured Light – Misshapen Vistas’ An installation in response to the TestBed space that incorporates the play of light on mirrors, wooden structures and magnifying plastic sheets. (Until Wed 15 June) Oriel Davies Open 2016: Painting Representing the current strength of painting practice by established and emerging talent across the UK and overseas, this show will feature 32 artists, roughly a third of whom are Walesbased. (Until Wed 15 June)

Oriel Joanna Field

Torch Theatre, St. Peter’s Road, Milford Haven. Free.

01646 695267 / www. torchtheatre.co.uk Yma O Hyd Photographer Bruce Cardwell, with poet Elin ap Hywel and painter Rhodri Evans, offer a mosaic of the vibrant community of Borth, in Ceredigion. (Until Sat 30 July)

Oriel Mwldan

Bath House Rd, Cardigan.

Mon-Sat 10am-8pm. Free.

01239 621200 / helena@ mwldan.co.uk Jessica Lloyd Jones ‘A Chemical Process’ Responses to geological landscapes such as coal mines, using materials that include coal, iron oxide and plant life

Oriel Myrddin

Church Lane, Carmarthen.

01267 222775 / www. orielmyrddingallery.co.uk Dail Behennah ‘Fieldwork’ Intricate works made from willow, wire and found objects.

(Until Sat 30 July) The Queens Hall, High Street, Narberth. Wed-Sat 10am-5pm. Free. 01834 869454 / www.orielqueenshallgallery.org.uk Welsh Illustration And Design A mixed show by school pupils, students, and professional illustrators in the main gallery and Oriel Fach.

Stairs:work by year-12 students from Sir Thomas Picton School. 3D area: assorted ceramics and jewellery by students and well-known artists.

(Until Sat 4 June)

Oriel Y Bont

University Of South Wales, Pontypridd. Mon-Thurs 8.30am-5.30pm, Fri 8.30am5pm. Free. 01443 480480 / www.gallery.southwales. ac.uk Nth Degree Group exhibition by BA Art Practice Year 3 students at the University Of South Wales. Showing in the gallery and the Kidwelly Building. (Until Wed 8 June)

Penarth Pier Pavilion

The Esplanade, Penarth.

Tues-Sat 10am-5pm. Free.

029 2071 2100 / info@ penarthpavilion.co.uk South Wales Art Society 129th Annual Exhibition This year’s showing from Wales’ oldest art society, founded in 1886. (Until Sun 19 June)

Redhouse

Old Town Hall, High Street, Merthyr Tydfil. Free. 01685 384111 / info@ redhousecymru.com Ar Agor A showcase of photography from local photographers. (From Thurs 9 until Sat 11)

The Riverfront

Bristol Packet Wharf, Newport. Mon-Sat 10am8pm, Sun 10am-6pm. Free.

01633 656757.

Coleg Gwent City Of Newport Campus Art & Design End Of Year Show Collaborative exhibition of work – digital media, fashion design, photography and fine art – by students who have engaged in a host of artsrelated projects in the city campus. (From Thurs 9 until Thurs 16 June)

Royal Welsh College Of Music And Drama Castle Grounds, Cathays Park, Cardiff. Free. 029

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clubs 2039 1391 / www.rwcmd. ac.uk Balance Annual exhibition offering a fresh look at the work of the RWCMD, courtesy of graduate designers, sonic artists, musicians and technicians. (From Thurs 9 until Wed 15 June)

The Sho Gallery

Upstairs, The Castle

Emporium, Womanby Street, Cardiff. Free. www. thesho.co.uk Summer Exhibition Group exhibition of illustrative works featuring a collection of contemporary design by local and national artists.

This is the opening exhibition in the Sho’s new space, having relocated from Roath.

(From Thurs 16 June until Wed 6 July)

Swansea Grand Theatre

Singleton St, Swansea. MonSat 10am-5pm. Free. 01792 475715 / www.swanseagrand.co.uk University of Wales Trinity Saint David Work from BA Hons Graphic Design and BA Hons Illustration graduates.

(Until Fri 3 June) Gower College New work across levels 1, 2 and the White Room.

(From Tue 7 June until Fri 1 July)

Swansea Museum

Victoria Road, The Maritime Quarter, Swansea. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Free. 01792 653763 / www. swanseamuseum.co.uk Artists Of Berllan Las Work by a Pontardawe-originated group called the Blue Orchard Group; the artists in question here are Hilary Bryanston, Sue Mann, Phillip Jacobs, Andy Wardrop, Tim Grant, Bruce Risdon and Rhiannon Jones. (Until Sun 19 June) Mining Josef Herman A display of some of the work which resulted from the collaboration between the Tate’s Transforming Tate Britain: Archives And Access project and The Josef Herman Art Foundation. (Until Sun 10 July)

Taliesin Arts Centre

Singleton Park, Swansea.

Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 12pm-6pm and performance evenings 6pm8.15pm. Free. 01792 295526 / www. taliesinartscentre.co.uk The Welsh Group A variety of works from artists including Robert Macdonald, Sue Roberts, Alan Salisbury, Thomasin Toohie and Jean Walcot. (Until Sat 18 June)

Tenby Museum & Art Gallery

Castle Hill, Tenby. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, £4/£3/£2 kids.

01834 842809 / www. tenbymuseum.org.uk Royal Society Of Marine Artists Featuring approximately 70 works by members and associates, all of which are for sale. (Until Sun 12 June)

Theatr Hafren

Llanidloes Road, Newtown, Powys. Mon-Sat 10am5.30pm. Free. 01686 625007 / boxoffice@theatrhafren. co.uk BUZZ 58

Neyla Grady A body of work inspired by the marriage of art and language, Grady invites us to use the words exhibited as a springboard for creative observation. (Until Fri 20 May)

Tower Gallery

49 High Street, Crickhowell.

Wed-Sat 10am-5pm. Free.

01873 812495 / www. towergallery.co.uk Kay Leverton Original scraperboards, prints and mixed media work from a self-taught artist known for her detailed designs from the natural world. Also showing work by all members of the Usk Valley Artists’ Co-operative. (Until Sat 18 June)

Tower Gallery

Oriel Y Parc Landscape Gallery & Visitor Centre, The Grove, St Davids, Pembrokeshire. Free. 01437 720392 / info@orielyparc. co.uk Peter Brown & Elly Morgan ‘Swifts Around A Tower – Exhibition Rationale’ Exhibition of words and images paying tribute to, and hoping to raise awareness of, the swift – one of the most striking British birds, yet one which is slowly dying out. (Throughout June) Deborah Withey New 2016 summer collection from a local illustrator who’s recently designed a bespoke line of tableware and soft furnishings. (Throughout June)

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 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.

Janette Goringe & Kate Andrew Joint exhibition from two sisters. (Until Sat 2 July)

Wales Millennium Centre

Bute Place, Cardiff Bay. Free. 029 2063 6464 / www. wmc.org.uk WNO Field Interactive digital installation situated outside the building; a memorial to the Royal Welch Fusiliers who died at Mametz Wood.

(Throughout June) Refugee Wales Created at refugee and asylum seeker drop-in centre Oasis Cardiff in collaboration with community volunteers, this exhibition is a collection of personal stories about people seeking sanctuary and their reasons for doing so.

(From Fri 3 June until Fri 1 July)

Wendrich Art House

Temple Gallery, 1 Brickyard Cottages, Llanelli. 12-5pm.

Free. 01792 295526 / www. wendricharthouse.com Open Studio Artists Harry and Nicola Wendrich display work in their tranquil garden studio, including a display of Temple Crafts including meditation aids, incenses,

astrological birth charts and calendars. The opportunity to hear “the Music of the Plants” is also offered. (Every Sunday until Sun 28 Aug)

West Wharf Gallery / Jacobs Gallery

Jacobs Market, Cardiff.

Thurs-Sat 10am-5pm. Free. westwharfgallery@gmail. com / info@jacobsgallery. co.uk / www.jacobsgallery. co.uk David Gould & Geoff Davies ‘A Passion For The Ephemeral’ Two artists educated at the Royal College Of Art, and until recently lecturers at Cardiff Met, offer work with painting at its base, but also with elements of printing, photography, digital processing and bas relief. (Until Sat 25 June)

Workers Gallery

99 Ynyshir Road, Ynyshir, Rhondda Cynon Taff.

Thurs-Sat 10am-5pm or by appointment. Free. 01443 682024 / wood4tt@gmail. com People’s Art Wall Gareth Milliner presents wood carvings, assemblages and replicas of narrative historical plaques and museum artefacts. (Until Sat 18 June) Mates Beyond Wall Group show of artists from Cardiff-based Oriel Canfas.

(Until Sat 23 July) Melanie Ezra ‘Methodology’ First solo exhibition by Workers Gallery artist . (From Thurs 9 June until Sat 9 July) Susan Williams ‘The Familiar Made Unfamiliar:Capturing Motion’ Photographic images of Wales. (From Thurs 23 June until Sat 23 July)

clubs 10 Feet Tall

11a + 12 Church Street, Cardiff. 029 2022 8883 / thisis10feettall@yahoo.co.uk Fridays Soulection 9pm3am, £3 after 10. Soul, boogie and the like from Blue Honey DJs. New night. Saturdays Under A Groove 9pm-3am, £3 after 10. Funk, neo-soul and Motown with music from James Morgan-Rees & Alex Moxham. Sundays 10 Feet Tall Industry Night 5pm-3am, free. 50% off all drinks for industry staff with this venue’s Industry card, alongside late-night Blue Honey DJs.

Balter Festival

Secret location, Monmouthshire. www. balterfestival.com Fri 3-Sun 5 Balter Festival £100 adv. Third year for this festival of jungle, breakcore, free party/‘tek’ type stuff and other soundtracks to rotting one’s bladder. Here’s the lineup, which took up half of thos page before I formatted it. The Caravan (punk, ska etc): Los Albertos, The Carny Villains, Inner Terrestrials, The Autonomads, Captain Hotknives, Faintest Idea, Ed Cox, Mad Apple Circus,

Jake & The Jellyfish, The Rev Schnider & The Band Of Angels, Chris The Poet and Marmalady & The Pasty Smashers. Jigsore (hardcore and breakcore): Hellfish, Drumcorps, Slipmatt, Detest, FFF, Feyder, Aaron Spectre, Jerome Hill, Mattycore, Monster X, Junglord, Humb, Katch Pyro, Scheme Boy, Vocoda, J Man, Dub Liner, Omen Breaks, Dr..Um, Killabomb, Psykosis, Pants & Socks, Osh Kosh, Spacedocker, E-coli, Default, T-Menace, Raggamortis, Doomham and MC Noia. The Black House Hex: DJ Hazard ft Skibadee, Featurecast, Born On Road vs Chopstick Dubplate Sunday Soundclash (Stivs, Kelvin 373, Gold Dubs & Lion Art vs Aries, Jacky Murda, Sunday Lion & Cheshire Cat), Father Funk, Don Johnston, Mr Traumatik, Sebby T, Boundary, Spectrum and Rogue One. Tremor Soundsystem & Swing N Tings Takeover: Bear Twists, Leo, DIB and Usagi Drop & Offbeat. The Drawing Room (jungle, tek and neuro): Ragga Terror Front & Monkey Business Soundsystem, Wan Bushi, Audiotist, Mr Bad Monkey, Tropmanga, Bman and Els In Wonderland. Amen4Tekno: Mandidextrous, Stivs, C3B, Heatzy, Major Upset, Slinks, Matt:Scratch and Ruff Tek & T-Menace. Bris-Tek: DLR, Amoss, Mikal, Gerra & Stone, Onset, Subtle Element, General Waste, Breakforce One, M1dlet, Danger Marc, Circus Brekovic, Doc, Simply Dread, Vincent Van Sloth, Thrackh, Pixl, Lady Lox, Gizmode b2b Breakwhore, Leeroy and Lemon Girl.

Neverlution Soundsystem: Brew Machine, Tapeworm, BooGhost and TMG. Rigurgitate Soundsystem: Ruckus, Shortson, Muzzy, Mole Eyes and DJ Gary Glitter. Balkanical Circus: The Turbans, Buffo’s Wake, Manushka, The Balkan Bandits, Disco Panther, The Rubber Duck Orchestra and The Piratones. 24hr Garage Girls: DJ Luck & MC Neat, MC Kie, Phatworld, Thorpey, Deadbeat, Gash, Cellardore & MC Stavros, Hadean, Fiyahman, Wit!?, Womble, Ali Monsta, Riffs, DJ Shosh, Mustard Gunn, Iller Instinct, Prude LeRude, Wonka & Syn, WamJam, Detrivore, DJ Fukrag, Inflatable Fuhrur and MC Dert Bagginz. SIKA studios: Klashnekoff. SIKA Records Grime Division showcase: Devilman, Skinzmann, Bru C and Danja. SIKA Records Hip Hop Squad showcase: Wordsmiff Flip & Spitfire, Omus One, 420 and Chedeye Knights.RLD showcase: Leaf Dog & BVA, Smellington Piff, Jack Jetson, Team Dreebs, Omni Prezidents, SWMS, K-orse & Basshound, Tea Unit, Last Tree Squad, Holly Flow Lightly, Verbal Highz and Snoopydubz. Irie Bingo (reggae and dub): Mungos Hifi, Solo Banton presents Classic Wonder Veterans, Konquering Soundz, Derw Tha Damaja, Shire Roots & Blazenstein ft Joe Burn, Roots Factory ft. Frankie Dread, Freshly Baked ft Snoopy, Reason Sound, Gwarn Owl, King Bolo, Frenchy, Hezit, Dub Et Al and Rugga & Rusta.

BuckyHam Palace: Mood Swings, Jenova Collective, Dephicit & Summer Bright, Extra Spectrum, Shamen, Ezee and Key-lo. Long Live The Animals: Alk-M-E, Wonkrete, Alternate and Funkstain b2b Drake Mallard.

12:34 Productions: Monroller Pull Up Collective, Dubtime, Subcriminal, King Long Ting, Earl Grey, Supa Ape, Daddy Long Legs, The Silly Tang, Waggles, Buster, Black Orchid, Itoa, Ile Flottante, Ivory & Sust, Jungle Jewce, More or Less and Kane & Abels. The Dutty Disco: Chinstroke Records, DJ Detweiler, Armand Van Hard On, Wit!?, The G.S.C, Shut Up FM, Mademoiselle Carousel, Ras Nukem, The Cool Willy Brothers, Gavoc, Minghead, Barry Von Weedhousen and BlueSisters5.

Blind Tiger

49 Cambrian Road, Newport. 01633 243500.

Fridays Shake It Off Alternative anthems, poppunk, hardcore and guilty pleasures. Saturdays Koncept & Friends House, techno and bass music with guest DJs, breaking producers and residents from Wales’ freshest nights: Sat 4 Dante De Marco; Sat 11 Chris Bates (Deep Inside); Sat 18 Lassandro (Su Casa Ibiza) and Sat 25 Owen Kilby (Perc).

Buffalo

11 Windsor Place, Cardiff.

Open Mon-Thurs 11am-3am, Fri + Sat 11am-4am, 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.

Wed 1 Systm 10pm-3am, £7. House, techno and techhouse presented by a clothing company called Theo. The first 50 people to buy a ticket get a free t-shirt. Thurs 9 Official Festival Of Voice Afterparty 10pm-4am, £6-£10. Specifically, an afterparty for the Scritti Politti gig in the Tramshed, which will feature a DJ set by the support act, Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip. Fri 3 Aperture 10pm4am, £10 adv/£8 early bird.

Monthly drum’n’bass blowout, headlined by Calibre this time

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 4 Warehouse 11pm, £8 adv. Trance/EDM stalwart Michael Woods headlines over Vedrea, Rob Illing, Luca Rinaldi, Taz Meah and Corey Squires. Room 2 is hosted by Bassline Live and features Lloyd-E, Kai, Nicky G, K-Lo, Alistar, Kyle P and Fabian Tremorfire.

Clwb Ifor Bach

Womanby St, Cardiff. 029 2023 2199 / www.clwb.net Wed 8 Itchy Feet 11pm-3am, £7. Rock’n’roll, rockabilly etc.

Thurs 9 Carnival 11pm, £3-£5. Bashment, reggae and dancehall. Thurs 30 Bump & Grind / Brooklyn Zoo Unofficial Beyonce Afterparty 10pm-4am, £3-£5.

Current and classic hip-hop alike. Fridays (bottom) Zerox 10.30pm-3am, £4/£3 NUS. A “party jukebox” night.

With DJs, though, not an actual jukebox. Fri 10 Bullion 11pm-4am, £13. Drum’n’bass night headlined by Optical, of ‘Ed Rush &’ fame, plus BTK & Rym. *Fri 3 C-Y-N-T 10pm, £12 adv. First showing in Cardiff since, er, a few years ago for genre-shifting UK dance fave Joy Orbison.

Saturdays Dirty Pop 10pm4am, £5. 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 / Terrace Session Classic anthems, downstairs, Mr Ifsta plus allstar residents up on the roof terrace. Saturdays Mischief Beat-driven

The Organ Grinder, a house and techno head with 12"s on multiple labels, has a new night, Graft, in Cardiff's Undertone club. The second of them is on Sat 2 July and features sets from Dudley Strangeways and Michael Mclardy, both of Leftback Records.

round. Saturdays Shindig 10pm-4am, £3. Pop, chart, funk and soul from residents over two floors. Drinks deals.

anthems is the ambiguous description for tonight’s music policy. Sundays Sunday Sessions DJs til late and the weekend’s sports highlights.

Cube

Greyfriars Place, Cardiff.

07920 445930.

Sat 4 Deep Inside x Mi Casa: The After Party 10pm-4am, £5 adv/£4 early bird. An X Music Festival afterparty headlined by Jamie Roy of Viva Warriors. Lucas Alexander, Batesy and Masy also DJ.

Dempseys

Castle Street, Cardiff. 029 2023 9253 / www. dempseyscardiff.com Thursdays (downstairs) Twisted By Design 9.30pm2am, 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 4 Fabulous 9pm-2am, £4. Mod, ska, reggae, indie, R&B, funk, boogaloo and northern soul, running here for the mods since the 90s.

The Duke

Old Market Street, Neath.

01639 643892.

Sat 2 July Hedone Opening Party 8pm-2am, £5. Underground house and techno from Dean Morgan, Nathan Lazda, JohnE, Evs and Joe Thomas.

Eddie’s

4 Quay Street, Haverfordwest. 01437 779595 / www.eddies.co Wednesdays WTF 9pm2.30am. Drinks deals and the DJing presence of Chris Lee and Wayno. Fridays Stock Exchange 9pm-3am. Toby Ellis and TTD are the DJs as the drinks rise and fall in price according to some pseudo-stock exchange thing, inviting you to be the ‘Wolf Of Quay Street’. Topical reference. Sat 4 Cellar Door Cardiff house/techno night moves to a new venue out west for a monthly residency.

Not sure why they’ve chosen here but why not. Saturdays The Main Event 9pm-3am.

Three floors, three DJs, one venue. Amazing but true.

Face 11

105 Cathays Terrace, Cardiff. 029 2022 8221 / www.face11.co.uk Fridays DJ 45 Free. Funk, soul, hip-hop and more, or “poppin’ funk and funkin’ pop” as the tagline goes.

Fuel

5 Womanby Street, Cardiff.

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

The Full Moon / The Moon Club

Womanby Street, Cardiff.

029 2037 3022 / info@ thefullmooncardiff.com Fri 3 Sub:Culture 11pm4am, £5 adv. Irregular techno night, with Viers the headline act for June. The main room also has Tom Ware, Dan

Gough and Aneurin; room 2 features Iolo, Dirty Techno Dog, Butch Queen and Jam. Fri 24 Ultimate Power 11pm-4am, £4. Regular night of power ballads and silliness.

Saturdays Five Dollar Shake Free. DJ Puddlefunk with bebop, funk, soul, Motown, hip-hop, reggae, ska and everything in between. e down for a session tonight.

Sat 11 Killing Moon 11pm, £4. Nght celebrating 80s alternative music. Sat 18 The Hold Up 9pm, £6.50 adv.

Monthly hip-hop night, with its May lineup TBC right now.

Sat 25 One House 11pm, £7. Featuring Ke-An of the Simma and Punks labels, plsu Undercover DJs, Stu Grady, Madame Twisted, Dean Angel Quadey, Jhester, Lori, Ac5es and Kendawg.

doesn’t feel like being quite as boshing. Matt Owen, Lee Graves, Marc Parsons, Luke Winds, Butch Queen and Jon Bird also feature over 10 hours. Anyone want to go to this with me? It’s my birthday weekend.

Ladybird

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). Fridays Smack. 9pm-3am. This night has moved from, er, some other Cardiff club, I can’t be arsed looking up which one.

Fri 3 has a guest DJ set from Low Steppa. Saturdays Vanity 9pm-3am, £5-£10. Two rooms of quality music, everyone catered for it is claimed.

Sat 25 Glam Rooftop 4-11pm, £10 adv. Deflef, a house DJ who is “often billed on the same line-up with industry giants,” headlines the second of Glam’s summer roof raves.

41 St Mary St, Cardiff. 029 2066 5500 / info@ ladybirdcardiff.com / www. ladybirdcardiff.com Wednesdays Cheeky 10pm-4am, £2. Tickets are £2, drinks (some of them) are £2 and there are two rooms of music. Thursdays Propaganda 10pm-4am, £4. UK-wide indie night’s Cardiff wing. You can tell it’s the Cardiff one becuse they list Stereophonics first on the list of bands likely to be played. Fridays Mi Casa 10pm-4am. House and techno every week, often with some pretty big names. They never announce them in time for these listings though. Fri 3 Memorex & Mi Casa After Party 10pm-4am, £9/£6.

After the X Music Festival, specifically. (This and the thing in The Cube the day after appear to be under some sort of legal instruction not to mention the festival in any of their promo.) One or more special guests from its lineup will feature alongside Sinky, Lucas Alexander, Scott Kerr, Tom Rees, Adam Carey, Mr Sass and more. Saturdays Solution 10pm-4am. A night whose flyer has a big photo of a model in her bra and pants.

Sundays Sunday Project 7pm-3am, free with guestlist.

Free industry night offers floor fillers and house classics.

Gwdihw

Laser Station

Glam

6 Guildford Crescent, Cardiff. 029 2039 7933 / www.gwdihw.co.uk Tue 14 Club Tropicana 9pm. Disco, afro-influenced electro (?) and house. Fri 10 Superchango Takeover 9pm-2.30am, £4/£3 adv. The last one in this series, apparently. Fri 17 Modula x One Good Thing 9pm, £4. Fri 24 Pleasuredome 9pm-2.30am, £5/£3 before 11. Conroy, Deemo and Teoman play the electronic music of the 80s.

Sat 4 Blue Honey 9pm, £3.

Modern disco and electro from Seka (Teak) and Natural Sugars (Pardon My French).

Sat 18 Mise En Bouche 9pm. DJing from Gidge and Toclifrench. Sat 25 Hully Gully 9pm, £4. Sorry these Gwdihw listings are so terse this month, this is about all the info I was given.

Jacob’s Market

West Canal Wharf, Cardiff.

029 2039 0939.

Sat 11 Teak Miami Vice Party 5pm-5am, £20 adv/£9 day only. Return of a bash that happened here last June, and sold out like this has. There are two parts to the evening, starting off outdoors and finishing inside. Outdoors: Jan Shulte, People Like Us and Dismalman. Indoors: Pender Street Steppers, Seka and Rikki Humphrey. *Sun 19 Delete 1-11pm, £15/£12.

This is headlined by Ron Bacardi, an alias of UK hard techno don Ben Sims when he

Bridge Wharf, Carmarthen.

01267 235648 / www. laserstationwales.com Sat 25 Cool 10pm-4am, £10/£8 before 12. Pumping hard dance from Dirty Funk Rockers, Dale ‘Shocker’ Lee b2b Nuflex, Jonzzo & Butty, The House Junkies, Boy Griff and Chrisy B.

The Lounge

6 Market Street, Newport.

01633 259144 / www. facebook.com/ theloungenewport Fridays Flashback Signature cocktails and a selection of retro-centric grooves from the 80s, 90s and 00s. Saturdays Live:Lounge Air guitar anthems and indie classics, along with live bands whose names you can hopefully find in the Live Music listings.

The Mackintosh Sports And Social Club Keppoch Street, Roath,

Cardiff. 029 2049 4697 / www.mackintoshsportsclub. org Sat 4 The Saturday Social 7.30pm-12am. Acid house, new wave, funk, electro and techno from Jake Mercanoglu plus Shaun and Kat from Feral Disco.

Mary’s

89 St Mary Street, Cardiff.

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

co.uk Sundays Mary’s Mad Sundays 12pm-1am, free.

Cabaret and cocktails with Mary Mac.

RIP Peter Loughlin

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 Freespirit 9.30pm-3.30am, £3 with flyer before 10.30pm.

Drinks promos, no dress code. Rock, punk, metal and alternative beats. Saturdays Cherry Bomb 9.30pm3.30am. Indie, electroclash (!) and good time rock’n’roll.

Minskys Show Bar

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

Missoula

84-86 St Mary Street, Cardiff. 029 2037 1315 / www.missoulabars.co.uk/ missoulacardiff Fridays Unfunkinbelievable Half price drinks from 5-10pm.

What I find ‘unfunkinbelievable’ is that there’s a club night called ‘Unfunkinbelievable’ in the year 2016. Saturdays ‘Miss’ Behaviour Music, cocktails, party. All these things are found here.

Mocka Lounge

Mill Lane, Cardiff. Mon-Sat 11am-late. 029 2022 1295 / www.mockalounge.com Thursdays The Social Affair 9pm-3am. Over-25s 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 Drop 10pm4am. Hip-hop, drum’n’bass, house, garage, jungle and grime. Fridays Dime 10pm6am, £5/£3 before 12 or with a Kon Tiki stamp. Hip-hop, grime, house and drum’n’bass.

Saturdays Get Busy £3 with a Kon Tiki stamp. Funk, soul, hip-hop, Motown, boogie and party.

Mozarts

Walter Road, Swansea.

01792 649984 / www. mozartsswansea.co.uk Fri 3 Hip-Drop 8pm-3am.

Mod, Stax, reggae and northern soul. Fri 10 Yum Yum Club 8pm-3am. Funk, soul, reggae, disco and hip-hop. Sat 4 Rewind 8pm-2.30am, free before 12. Nineties revival night.

P

eter Loughlin, a pioneering figure in the Cardiff clubbing scene in the 1990s, passed away in May. Although he was long retired from the hustle and bustle of event promotion, his death was greeted with shock and sadness by those who remembered him from his best known venture, The Hippo Club.

Following on from a few stints in venue management in the 80s, Loughlin initially opened the Hippo (or the Hip’po, as it was sometimes styled) above a restaurant opposite Cardiff Castle. However, it cemented its iconic status after moving to a larger venue on Penarth Road in 1993. Rave culture had taken hold in the UK by this point, and with the Hippo Cardiff finally had a nightspot that served as an epicentre for that chemical-fuelled abandon.

Its speciality was house, especially the hard, pumping and sweaty kind that was a fixture during the decade. Names who passed through during the Hippo’s seven-year existence included Sasha, Sven Vath, Boy George, Judge Jules, Paul Oakenfold, X-Press 2, Sister Bliss and more than space allows to mention. It also gave early exposure to local DJs including Jimpy, Shane Morris and Paul Lyons.

Ensuring that it would forever define the 90s for its loyal coterie of ravers, the Hippo Club shut its doors for good in January 2000. Since then, there have been a couple of reunion nights featuring old faces on both sides of the decks; regarding the possibility of another, post-Loughlin’s passing, former venue manager Meady Mohamed has expressed a wish to wait “until the dust has settled”. One thing is clear, however – for those who were regulars at the Hippo Club in its halcyon days, there’s never been anything to measure up to it since.

Perc

108 Lower Dock Street, BUZZ 59

events Newport. www.facebook. com/perc.newport Sat 18 Perc 4-11pm, £8 adv/£5 early bird. Newport’s top, indeed only, quality house and techno night rides again, with the Delete DJs (Cardiff) guesting today. In full: Matt Owen, Lee Graves, Paul Blandford, Owen Kilby, Billy Jordan, Chris Cain, Richie Moulton, Ali Boksh and more.

See Clubs.

Popworld

96 St Mary Street, Cardiff.

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

029 2023 5825.

Mondays Candy Pop Karaoke 9pm, free. Does what it says in the tin I guess.

Wednesdays Giggle Free before 12. Student night.

Thursdays Poptails.

9pm-3am. Non-stop pop with DJ Lyndon and 2-4-1 cocktails deals. Fridays + Saturdays Until 3am. Drinks deals from 5-11pm (Fri) and 3-8pm (Sat).

Popworld

Wind Street, Swansea. MonFri + Sun 8pm-3am; Sat 3pm-3am. 01792 470676.

Tuesdays Popstar Karaoke 9pm-3am. Karaoke night with a £50 prize. Wednesdays W.H.I.P. 9pm, free before 11.

That’s short for What Happens In Popworld. Thursdays T.N.T. 9pm-3am. That’s short

for Thirsty Night Thursday.

All drinks are £1.50 before 12am, apart from wines, cocktails, champagnes and – oh, Swansea – Rekorderlig.

Fridays + Saturdays Ain’t No Party Like A Popworld Party 8pm-3am, £2-£4 (Fri)/£3-£5 (Sat).

Pryzm (formerly Oceana) Greyfriars Road, Cardiff.

029 2023 3854 / www. pryzm.co.uk/cardiff 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 Fridays + Saturdays 9pm-

3am. DJs, drinks offers, free area hire.

The Robin Hood

16 Severn Grove, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 029 2037 8829 / www.robinhoodbar.co.uk Sat 4 + Sat 2 July Totally Mod For It Free. Every first Saturday of the month, DJ 45 presents an evening of 60s/70s beat, rhythm & blues, soul, ska, 80s/90s Britpop and 2-tone.

Room 112

3-6 St Mary Street, Cardiff.

Thurs 9pm-3am, Fri + Sat 10pm-4am. 029 2066 7996 / www.room112.net Fridays Bedrock 9pm-4am, £10/£5 before 12. R’n’b, hip-hop and dancehall.

Saturdays Pillow Talk 9pm-4am, £10. Old skool r’n’b, hip-hop, house and decadent partying is this night’s deal.

The Scene

Plymouth Street, Swansea. events@thesceneclub.co.uk / www.thesceneclub.co.uk Fri 24 That’s My Jam 90s Party 9pm, £3 adv. Pop and rock hits from said decade.

And some more modern stuff in case you can’t actually handle the retro. They’re also getting Reef, Bacardi Breezers, Smirnoff Ice and 20/20 in to drink as well, none of which have sold a single bottle in Swansea since Jan 1 2000, I imagine. Sat 4 + Sat 2 July

Dead Of Night 10pm-3am, £3. Goth/alternative club night, on the first Saturday of every month. June’s edition incorporates a live set from neo-industrial sorts Nachtmahr. Sat 25 Funktion Tek x Bad Design 10pm, £8 adv/£6 early bird. Drum’n’bass and related bigness. Room 1 (hosted by Funktion Tek): Dillinja, Grok, Parklife and Rob Shaw. Room 2 (hosted by Bad Design): Mandra, Gabe, Cal, Starmix and Kuro.

Sin City

Dilwyn Street, Swansea.

01792 468892 / www. sincityclub.co.uk Tuesdays Hustle 10pm3am, £3/£2 before 12.

Motown, r’n’b and hip-hop.

Thursdays Sin Savers 10pm-3am, £3. Student night. Fridays Monsters Of Rock 10pm-3.30am, £4/£2 before 12.30. Indie in room 1, metal in room 2. Saturdays Sink 10pm-3am. Hip-hop, drum’n’bass, dubstep etc, with special guests plus resident DJs Dubman, Swiss Elf and South. Sat 11 is a Sink Or Sin night, ie a teamup between Sink and Sin Savers. Sun 12 Silent Disco 10pm-3am, £5 adv.

Soda

St Mary Street, Cardiff. 029 2037 3363 / www.sodacardiff.com Thursdays Thursday Club 10pm, £4. Live music, live DJ and live games. 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.

Splott Warehouse

Titan Road, Cardiff. www. splott-warehouse.co.uk *Sat 11 CYNT & Purrmotions Warehouse Day Party 2-10pm, £20 adv/£32 inc afterparty. See Clubs for more on this.

One of the most impressive lineups of its type I can recall in these parts: Scuba, Boddika, Daniel Avery, Ejeca and Dekmantel Soundsystem.

Plus an afterparty in the Vaults (see their listing).

Tiger Tiger

DILLINJA Funktion Tek x Bad Design @ The Scene Club, Swansea, Sat 25 June Tickets: £8. Info: www.thesceneclub.co.uk London drum’n’bass stalwart Dillinja is the man responsible for the Valve Sound System, which spent many years blowing unsuspecting students’ heads off with its frequency range and also appears to have been put into (at least) semi-retirement. You can, nevertheless, bet that a headline set of his selections will be briskly paced, gut-punchingly bassy and hard-nosed.

Flying out of the blocks in the early 90s as hardcore spawned jungle, Dillinja racked up dozens of singles that helped to shape the genre, and made his Valve Recordings label into one of the scene’s major players. He still commands both respect and audiences in healthy proportions, and has been brought to Swansea tonight by newish promoters of raveable allsorts, Funktion Tek.

BUZZ 60

Friary House, Greyfriars Rd, Cardiff. Open Mon-Fri 12pm-2am, Sat 12pm-3am, Sun 12pm-12.30am. 029 2039 1944 / www.tigertigercardiff.co.uk Every Day Lucky Voice Karaoke From £2.50 per session. The UK's leading private karaoke experience each day of the week. Wednesdays Shotgun Rules 10pm-3am, £5/£3.50. Exclusive midweek student party, now transferred from Revolution. You don’t need NUS to get in though.

Fridays Tic Toc 10pm-3am, £4. Fri 3 June is a Start Of Summer party; Fri 10 is ‘Ibiza v Napa’; Fri 24 is a Beyonce Special. Saturdays Kanaloa Polynesian style area with cocktails, VIP booths, dancers etc.

Tramshed

Clare Road, Grangetown, Cardiff. 0117 9259273 /

www.tramshedcardiff.com Sun 12 Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave 2-4.30pm, £7.50 adv. Carnival-themed afternoon dance party for small kids and the people who parent them. Daf and Bunf from the Super Furries, plus their cohort Kris Jenkins, are the DJs.

Undertone (basement of 10 Feet Tall)

11a + 12 Church Street, Cardiff. 029 2022 8883 / www.undertonecardiff.com Fri 3 Groove Theory 10pm, £12/£8. With a headline set

by Fouk, a jazzy house duo made up of Dutch producers Daniël Leseman & Junktion.

Fri 10 La Fiesta 10pm, £4/£3. Guilty pleasures, commercial hits and traditional Spanish music. Keen to confirm my assumption that this is Undertone’s, if not Cardiff’s, horniest clubnight.

Fri 17 Temple 10pm, £5 adv.

Monthly drum’n’bass night, lineup TBC as always. Fri 24 Selecta 11pm, £7/£5. Leeson, Onslaught and Woo Ha serve up classic garage and grime.

Sat 4 Selecta X Music Festival Afterparty 11pm, £5/£3. Classic garage jams for them what’s been to Bute Park and haven’t peaked/ puked too early. Sat 11 Gangster’s Paradise 11pm, £5/£3 before 11.30. Pre-2010 hip-hop and r’n’b night. Sat 18 Rotary Club 10pm-4am, £5/£3 before 12. Disco, house and boogie with a headlien set by Seb Wildblood. Sat 25 Cardiff’s Finest 10pm-4am.

House, techno and techhouse. Sat 2 July Graft x Leftback Records Party 10pm-4am, £5. Deep, house, dub techno and garage all promised from Leftback Records’ Dudley Strangeways and Michael Mclardy, alongside Richie Curran and The Organ Grinder. I really like the flyer for this night.

Unit

Neath Road, Swansea. www.facebook.com/ events/1708523832750187 Sat 11 Dogruff 5pm-3am, £10 adv. Another indoor/ outdoor two-parter. Carpark (early): Nicvius, Shaun Edwards b2b Gazesh, Mikki Wings, Oli Evans, Dale Willams and Richie Curran.

Warehouse (later): Jack Wickham, Matthew Riley b2b Jack Fossy, Alex Taylor b2b Aled Wynne and Kye. See Clubs.

The Vaults

The Old Natwest Bank, 113116 Bute Street, Cardiff Bay. www.vaultspresents.com Sat 11 Warehouse Afterparty 10pm-4am, £32/£28 (inc ticket to daytime party). Eight hours of whooping it up to techno gentry (see Splott Market listing) not enough for you? Have another four down the bay with headliner Alanb Fitzpatrick, plus CYNT, Purrmotions, Mi Casa and Deep-Inside resident DJs. You need to have bought a ticket for the daytime thing to go to this.

Warehouse 54

Cambrian Rd, Newport.

01633 259144 / www.wh54. com

Friday Aloha! Live sessions and drinks deals early on; club classics from residents later. Saturdays Old Skool Saturdays R’n’b, hip-hop and urban classics from Mr Ifsta and others.

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.

X Music Festival

Bute Park, Cardiff. www. xmusicfest.com Fri 3 + Sat 4 X Music Festival 2016 £44-£64.

Second year of a dancecentric festival which looked a bit shakey, shall we say, in its preamble last year, then actually did OK in the end, and is back for 2016. Pretty strong lineup too (schedule TBC): Annie Mac, Craig David’s TS5, Flume, Stormzy, Andy C, Hannah Wants, Eats Everything, Snakehips, Blonde, Redlight, Shy FX, 99 Souls, Barely Legal, Big Narstie, D Double E, Preditah, TQD (aka Royal T, DJ Q and Flava D), B Traits, Bodhi, Friction, Jackmaster, Jasper James, My Nu Leng & Dread MC, Waze & Odyssey, Astroid Boys, Dellux, Digital Farm Animals, Kideko, Nvoy, Uniiqu3, Culture Shock, Dimension, Hazard, The Prototypes, Rene Lavice and Sasasas.

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. Runs until Mon 22 July.

Bharatanatyam Dance Classes For Adult Beginners Bayview House, Cardiff Bay. 8.15-9.15pm. Info 029 2075 1158.

Cardiff Inter Varsity Club Meeting The Plum Tree, Canton, 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.

events Cardio Climb Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

6.30pm, £5. Info 029 2048 4880. High intensity workout combing cardio and climbing.

Ceroc The Gate, Cardiff. 7.4510.45pm, £7/£5 NUS. Info 029 2048 3344. Sessions for a dance style billed as a combo of salsa, ballroom, hip-hop, tango and jive. Runs until Mon 22 July.

Children’s Ballet The Gate, Cardiff. 4-7.30pm, £6.50/£5.50/£3 taster. Info 029 2048 3344. Ages 4-6 4pm; 6-8 4.45; grade 1 5.45; grade 3 6.45. Runs until Mon 22 July.

Children’s Ballroom Dancing Classes Memorial Hall, Newbridge. 7-9pm. Info 01495 243252.

Community Choir Sessions Cornwall Street Church Hall, Cardiff. 7.30-9.30pm, free. Info 07952 752823. Led by Pauline Down and taking place most Mondays; ring ahead to check.

Freestyle Fitness Yoga Kings Road Studios, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 6-7pm, £7/£6. Info 07774 601544 / sarasclasses4@gmail.com.

Every Monday.

India Dance Wales Classes Highmead House, Lisvane, Cardiff. Info 029 2075 1158.

For Grade 3 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.

Making Music The Gate, Cardiff. 6-10pm, £7-£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. Runs until Mon 22 July.

Musical Theatre The Riverfront, Newport. 6.158.30pm, £6/£5. Info 01633 656757. 7-11 years old: 6.15-7.15pm; 12 and up: 7.158.30pm.

Newport Badminton Club Pill Millennium Centre, Newport. 7.30-8.30pm. Info 07789 965285. One of the largest badminton clubs in South East Wales. Monday club nights have coaching with Carissa Turner, the current Ladies Welsh number one, for juniors and then senior club members.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Cardiff Central Sports And Community Centre, Ocean Way, Cardiff.

Info 029 2022 1330 / www. nofitstate.org. Today features Youth Circus Wookies (age 7-9, 4.30-6pm); Youth Circus Ewoks (age 5-7, 5-6pm); Flying Trapeze L3 (6-8pm); Aerial Hoop L3 (6-8pm); Static Trapeze L3 (6-8pm); Aerial Yoga (6.15-7.45pm); Aerial Hoop L2 (8-10pm); Flying Trapeze L1 (8-10pm); Static Trapeze L4 (8-10pm) and Flexibility (8-9.30pm).

Taking place in a new venue for 2016.

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 Conway Road

Methodist Church Hall, Cardiff. 7-8pm, £6/£30 for six sessions. Info 07872 306745 / info@burlesquecardiff.co.uk.

Mixed ability class with Steph; please bring your own mat.

Pilates The Gate, Cardiff.

10.30am-1.30pm, £5.50-£7.50.

Info 029 2048 3344. Gentle fitness for the first hour, general for the second two. Runs until Mon 22 July.

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-year-olds: 4-4.45pm; 6-8 4.45-5.45pm; Ballet Grade 1 6-8 yrs 5.456.45pm; Ballet Grade 2 6-8 yrs 6.45-7.45pm. Runs until Mon 22 July.

Ruff Folk Dance Club St Andrew’s Methodist Church Hall, Birchgrove, Cardiff. 8pm.

Info 029 2051 3440. With Ian Lewis.

Salsa Classes Mischiefs, Cardiff Bay. 7.30-9.30pm, £5/£4 NUS. Info 07800 565651. Beginners for the first hour, then improvers/ intermediate.

St Donats Atlantic Chorale St Donats Arts Centre, Vale Of Glamorgan. 7.30pm. Info 01446 799100. Choir rehearsals.

Tai Chi: Health Qigong Glyndwr Community Hall, Penarth. 10.30-11.30am. Info 029 2020 6042.

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.

Yoga Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 12.301.15pm. Info 029 2087 7959.

On tomorrow also.

Yoga With Valerie Price St Mary’s Church Hall, Canton, Cardiff. 6.30-9.30pm. Info admin@yoga-works.co.uk.

6.30-8pm: intermediate; 8.109.30pm: beginners.

2022 8883. New weekly session of table tennis, with two tables in the main bar (little known fact: table tennis is one of the best games to play while drinking).

Circus Skills The Riverfront, Newport. 7-8.30pm, £3.50 per session. Info 01633 656757.

For ages 14 and up.

Contemporary Dance The Gate, Cardiff. 6-8pm, £5-£6.50.

Info 029 2048 3344. Beginners 6-7pm; intermediate 7-8. Runs until Tue 23 July.

Extend The Gate, Cardiff.

11am, £2.50. Info 029 2048 3344. Exercise to music, aimed at over-60s and people with a disability. Runs until Tue 23 July.

Funkypump Fitness Universal Gym, Cardiff. 6pm.

Info www.funkypumpfitness. co.uk. Boxing-based highintensity 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 –

EVERY TUESDAY

Bharatanatyam Classes Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 5-6pm. Info 07410 977427. Beginners’ class.

India Dance Wales Classes Rubicon Dance, Adamsdown, Cardiff. 6.30pm. Info 029 2075 1158. From beginners to grade 2 and for all ages and abilities.

Irish Dancing The Gate, Cardiff. 5.15-8.15pm, £6.50/£5.50. Info 029 2048 3344. Kids 5.15-6.15; adult beginners 6.15-7.15; adult advanced 7.15-8.15. Runs until Tue 23 July.

Jazz Workshops For Beginners Atradius Offices (4th floor), Cardiff Bay. 6.208pm, £10. Info 07806 625717.

All instruments and ages welcome.

Karate Classes Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.15-8.15pm. Info 029 2087 7959. With Emma Robins.

Kizomba Tango Classes 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 6pm, £5.

Info 029 2022 8883. Learn African samba here.

Laughter Yoga Llandaff North Community Centre, Cardiff. 7.15-8.15pm, £5 (suggested donation). Info www.sparklylaughter.co.uk.

“No experience required, no

A Ballroom Dance Memorial Hall, Newbridge.

7-11pm. Info 01495 243252.

Acrobalance The Gate, Cardiff. 8-10pm, £7/£5.50. Info 029 2048 3344. Combining elements of partner lifts, poses and transitions that involve two and sometimes more people. Runs until Tue 23 July.

Adult Give It A Go Climbing Session Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

7-8.30pm, £10. Info 029 2048 4880. Every Tuesday to Thursday.

Advanced Belly Dance Cardiff Central Youth Club, Ocean Way, Cardiff. 5.306.45pm, £6/£30 for six sessions. Info 07872 306745.

With Steph.

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. Runs until Tue 23 July.

Beth’s Buns Pilates Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff. 7.15-8.15pm, £5. Info 029 2048 4880.

Bring It Pong 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 7pm, free. Info 029

stretching and no mats needed,” promise the organisers.

Learn To Rock’n’Roll 50s Style JK Club, Neath Rd, Briton Ferry. 8-10.30pm, £5.

Info 07400 080101. Hosted

by Frank, who also runs a similar class in Pencoed each Thursday. Lessons are from 8-9pm; there’s a disco from 9-10.30.

Life Drawing 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 5.30-7pm, £5. Info 029 2022 8883. Hosted by Cardiff Life Model. There’s also an irregular meetup session afterwards where you can all go to the cinema (Capitol Centre) for £3.

Lindy Hop Dance Classes & Social Swing Dancing The Garage, Swansea.

6-10pm. Info 01792 475147.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Cardiff Central Sports And Community Centre, Ocean Way, Cardiff.

Info 029 2022 1330 / www. nofitstate.org. Today: Youth Ground Skills – Jedi (11+, 4.15-6pm); Youth Circus Padawans (age 9-11, 4.306pm); Hula Hoop (6-7pm); Performance (7-9pm); Circus Mishmash (6-8pm); Beginners Aerial L1 (8-10pm) and Static Trapeze L2 (8-10pm).

Off Centre Silver Dragon, Wales Millennium Centre,

This month, the Italian Cultural Centre Wales is screening two recent Italian films at Chapter, Cardiff. Tale Of Tales (Fri 17-Thurs 23) is inspired by Giambattista Basile's fairytales, while. Fire At Sea (Fri 17-Thurs 30), depicts life on Lampedusa, an island which thousands of refugees pass near each year.

Cardiff Bay. 5pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464. Adult drama group meeting weekly to develop performance skills.

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.

Pilates And Stretch Conway Road Methodist Church Hall, Cardiff. 8-9pm, £6/£25 for five sessions. Info 07872 306745 / info@burlesquecardiff.co.uk.

With Steph; bring your own mat please.

Pilates: Beginners The Gate, Cardiff. 6.30-7.30pm, £5.50-£7.50. Info 029 2048 3344. Runs until Tue 23 July.

Pregnancy Yoga Om Studio, Partridge Lane, Cardiff.

6-7.15pm, £35/£30 (five-week blocks). Info kalavathi@ omstudio.co.uk.

Salsa Classes Kapu, Cardiff.

7.30-10.30pm, £5/£4 NUS. Info 07800 565651. Beginners’ class starts 7.30pm; improvers 8.30; bachata 9.30.

Salsa Classes La Tasca, Cardiff. 7-10.30pm, £5.

Info 07949 270618. Every Tuesday. Beginners 7.15-8pm; Improvers 8.30-9.30pm; dancing 9.45-10.30pm.

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).

Tai Chi / Qigong Shibashi Continuation St Mary’s Church Hall, Canton, Cardiff.

6.30-7.30pm. Info 029 2020 6042.

Yoga Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 5.30-6.30 + 6.45-8pm. Info 029 2087 7959.

Yoga Classes Om Studio, Partridge Lane, Cardiff. 7.309pm, £9. Info 07727 139379 / www.omstudio.co.uk. With Kalavathi Devi.

Yoga Share M.A.D.E. Gallery & Shop, Cardiff. 5-7pm, £4 (suggested donation). Info 029 2047 3373. Led by Ashtanga practitioner Sarah Cleary.

Yoga With Tori Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

7-8pm, £5. 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

Adult Give It A Go Climbing Session Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

7-8.30pm, £10. Info 029 2048 4880.

A Tea Dance Memorial Hall, Newbridge. 2-4pm. Info 01495 243252.

Ceramics For Adults The Riverfront, Newport. 6-8pm, £30 (five weeks). Info 01633 656757.

Ceroc Dance Class Dockers Club, Swansea. 7.45pm-12am, £6/£8 freestyles. Info cerocsouthwales@gmail.com.

Contemporary Dance Youth Session The Gate, Cardiff. 5pm, £3-£6. Info 029 2048 3344. Runs from Wed 8 June until Wed 24 July.

Creepy Carmarthen The Guildhall, Carmarthen (starting point). 7pm, £7.50/£5.

Info 01267 231557. Take a trip through Carmarthen’s ‘horrible history’ and meet murderers and their victims; visit the sites of grisly executions; discover dark secrets from bygone days - and find out where ghosts walk. Every week until Sept 28.

Drop-in Exploring Drawing Workshop Workers Gallery, Ynyshir, Rhondda. 7-9pm, £10. Info 01443 682034. With tutor Chris Williams.

Freestyle Fitness Yoga Wake Up Kings Road Studios, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 7.15-8am, £7/£6. Info 07774 601544 / sarasclasses4@gmail.com.

Newport Youth Dance The Riverfront, Newport. 4.156pm, £2.75 per session. Info 01633 656757. 7-10 years old: 4.15-5pm; 14-18: 5-6pm.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Cardiff Central Sports And Community Centre, Ocean Way, Cardiff.

Info 029 2022 1330 / www. nofitstate.org. Today: Youth Acrobatics Jedi (11+, 4.15-6pm); Adult Acrobatics (6-8pm); Creative Aerial L3+ (8-10pm).

Official Guided Tours – Every Day Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. £5/£4.

Info 029 2063 6464.

Pilates The Gate, Cardiff.

7-8pm, £5.50-£7.50. Info 029 2048 3344. Advanced fitness session. Runs from Wed 8 June until Wed 24 July.

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 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. 9.3011am, 1-2.15pm + 7-9pm, £9/£8. Info 07727 139379 / www.omstudio.co.uk.

Yoga Trwy Gyfrwng Y Gymraeg Insole Court, Llandaff, Cardiff. 7-8.30pm.

Info admin@yoga-works. co.uk.

Yoga With Tori Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

7-8pm, £5. 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

Adult Give It A Go Climbing Session Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

7-8.30pm, £10. Info 029 2048 4880.

Alexander Technique & Yoga M.A.D.E. Gallery & Shop, Cardiff. 11.30am-1pm, £16/£80 for six sessions. Info 029 2047 3373.

Art Club Penarth Pier Pavilion. 4.15-5.15pm, £5. Info 0844 8700887. Creative fun for 5-11-year-olds with tutor Becky.

Ballet Academy Wales Classes – Children 6-11 Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

4-5pm, £4.95. Info 07837 937351.

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. 6.15-7pm, £3.50 per session. Info 01633 656757.

Learn break dancing styles, uprock, freezes and power moves. For ages 8-18.

Ceroc Dance Class Lysaght Institute, Newport. 7.30BUZZ 61

events

This thing we call roots music is a slippery beast that’s difficult to pin down. It doesn’t help that there aren’t any hard and fast rules by which to define it. As a rule of thumb, it’s generally agreed that to qualify as roots music there should be a traditional element in the music – either in the form of the material being performed or the instrumentation being used. However, it’s not always that clear cut and an artist performing brand new compositions using a synthesiser can also qualify if their music is informed by the tradition.

If that wasn’t complicated enough, we also have to factor in traditional music from other parts of the world, which means that in addition to British folk songs, roots music also includes everything from Saharan desert blues and Tuvan overtone singing to Scandinavian joiking and Indonesian gamelan.

However you determine it, one thing that isn’t in doubt is that roots musicians are among the most proficient, talented and inventive on the planet – as any regular listener or gig goer will be only too aware.

This month, Cardiff’s Roots Unearthed series at St David’s Hall welcomes a man who fulfils several of the criteria outlined above. A superb musician grounded in the musical traditions of his native Spain, he’s also a composer who stays true to the flamenco tradition that has seen him perform on stages around the world for many years.

A native of Andalucía, Juan Martin is considered to be one of the finest guitarists in the world, regularly topping polls, producing bestselling albums and collaborating with artists as diverse as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Martin Carthy. He’s also the author of the book El Arte Flamenco De La Guitarra widely considered to be the bible of Flamenco guitar method.

Influenced by the likes of Nino Ricardo and Paco de Lucia, Juan Martin eschews the ‘notes per second’ techniques of some of his contemporaries in favour of a more measured approach to his art that’s led to The Times referring to him as “a giant of the flamenco guitar tradition” – which will be confirmed when he appears for a rare solo performance at St. David’s Hall on Tue 21 June.

Buzz also recommends Malinky / Allan Yn Y Fan. Double header by respected Scottish and Welsh outfits. Newbridge Memo, Gwent (Wed 8); Victoria Hall, Llanwrtyd Wells (Fri 10).

Gower Folk Festival. Feast of top notch folk featuring, among others, Lady Maisery, John Spiers and The James Brothers. Greyhound Inn, Oldwalls, Gower (Fri 10-Sun 12). www.gowerfolkfestival.co.uk Chris & Kelly While. Mother and daughter in perfect harmony. Pennar Hall, Pembroke Dock (Sat 25).

Please send your folk and roots listings to listings@ buzzmag.co.uk or phone them in to 029 2022 6767

BUZZ 62

10.45pm, £8/£6 NUS. Info cerocsouthwales@gmail. com.

Children’s Latin/Ballroom Classes Memorial Hall, Newbridge. 4.30-8pm. Info 01495 243252.

Funkypump Fitness 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.

Hard Côr Japan Room, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464. Join the Centre’s urban choir who blend choral singing with hip-hop. Every Thursday and Saturday; contact takepart@ wmc.org.uk for further details.

Hatch The Riverfront, Newport. 4.30pm, £8 per session/£60 per term. Info 01633 656757. New youth theatre programme organised by the Tin Shed Theatre Co. Learn To Rock’n’Roll 50s Style Pencoed Rugby Club.

8-10.30pm, £5. Info 07400 080101. Hosted by Frank.

Lessons are from 8-9pm; there’s a disco from 9-10.30.

Newport Badminton Club Newport Active Living Centre. 7.30-9.30pm. Info 07789 965285.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Cardiff Central Sports And Community Centre, Ocean Way, Cardiff. Info 029 2022 1330 / www.nofitstate.org.

Today: Flying Trapeze L1/2 (6-8pm); Static Trapeze L2 (6-8pm); Ropes & Silks L2 (6-8pm); Static Trapeze L3 (8-10pm); Ropes & Silks L3 + 4 (8-10pm).

Official Guided Tours – Every Day Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. £5/£4. Info 029 2063 6464.

Pilates Kings Road Studios, Pontcanna, Cardiff. 6.157.15pm, £7/£6. Info 07774 601544 / sarasclasses4@ gmail.com. Every Thursday.

Quiz Night NosDa, Cardiff.

8pm, £1. Info 029 2037 8866.

With money, beers and pizza to be won.

Salsa Buena Class Little Shop Of Calm, Cowbridge.

8.30-10.30pm, free. Info 07800 565651. Beginners 8.30pm; improvers 9.30.

Salsa Classes La Tasca, Cardiff. 7-11pm, £5. Info 07949 270618. Beginners 7.15-8pm; improvers 8.309.30pm; Rueda 9.45-10.30pm.

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. Thursday and Sunday.

This one visits the Gower, Swansea Bay, Parc-Le-Breos, the Dylan Thomas Centre and more.

Tai Chi / Qigong Shibashi Albert Road Church & Community Centre, Penarth.

6.30-9.15pm. Info 029 2020 6042. 6.30-7.30: Tai Chi/ Qigong; 7.45-9.15: Tai Chi

Short Form.

Tai Chi / Qigong St Albans Church Hall, Splott, Cardiff.

10.30-11.30am. Info 029 2020 6042.

The Alexander Technique M.A.D.E. Gallery & Shop, Cardiff. 11.30am-1pm, £16.

Info info@yogaskies.co.uk.

Small group class hosted by Mike Young.

Yoga Classes Cardiff Steiner School, Llandaff North, Cardiff. 6-7.15 + 7.158.30pm, £8/£6.50. Info info@ yogaskies.co.uk. Hosted by Mike Young.

Yoga Classes Om Studio, Partridge Lane, Cardiff.

7-8am + 1-2.30, 6-7.15 + 7.30-8.45pm, £9/£8.

Info 07727 139379 / www. omstudio.co.uk. 11am: Mums & Baby yoga; 7.30pm: Pregnancy yoga.

EVERY FRIDAY

Aikido Village Hall, Heol Syr Lewis, Morganstown. 8-10pm.

Info 07790 167560.

Boys’ Dance The Riverfront, Newport. 4.45-5.30pm, £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.

Cardiff Table Tennis Community Club Upper Hall, Sport Wales, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. 7-9pm. Info 01446 412352. Featuring 16 table tennis tables; players of all ages and abilities are welcome.

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.

Little’ns Dance The Riverfront, Newport. 9.4510.25am + 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 Cardiff Central Sports And Community Centre, Ocean Way, Cardiff. Info 029 2022 1330 / www.nofitstate.org.

Today: Youth Aerial Jedi (11+, 4.15-6pm); Aerial Conditioning (6-7.30pm); Flying Trapeze Taster (6-8pm).

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.

artisan foods, vintage clothing, antique furniture and bric-a-brac.

Yoga Classes Om Studio, Partridge Lane, Cardiff.

8-9.30am, £8. Info 07727 139379 / www.omstudio. co.uk. With Kalavathi Devi.

EVERY SATURDAY

EVERY SUNDAY

African Drumming Sessions Penarth Pier Pavilion. 10.30-11.30am, £5.

Info 0844 8700887.

Ballroom Dancing Class Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil.

10am kids / 11am adults, £4 per class. Info 01685 384111.

10am: kids; 11am: adults; 12pm: private tuition.

Children’s Climbing Classes Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

10-11.30am, £15. Info 029 2048 4880. Every Saturday and Sunday.

Clwb Drama The Riverfront, Newport. 11.30am-12.30, £5.

Info 01633 656757. Welsh language drama group for ages 7+.

Family Give It A Go Climbing Session Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

12, 2 + 4pm, £15. Info 029 2048 4880. Every Saturday and Sunday.

Family Saturdays Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. Free. Info 029 2063 6464. Craft workshops for kids and parents.

Funkypump Fitness Universal Gym, Cardiff.

9.30am. Info www.funkypumpfitness.co.uk.

Hard Côr Sony Room, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 11am, free. Info 029 2063 6464.

Mini Musical Theatre The Riverfront, Newport.

10-11am, £5. Info 01633 656757. Run by Defying Gravity, professional tutors will teach ballet and drama to kids aged 3-6.

NoFit State Circus: Youth Circus Cardiff Central Sports And Community Centre, Ocean Way, Cardiff.

10.30am-12pm, £7/£6 per session. Info 029 2022 1330 / www.nofitstate.org. Today: Youth Circus Wookies (age 7-9, 10-11.30am); Youth Circus Ewoks (age 5-7, 10.30-11.30am); Youth Circus Padawans (age 9-11, 11.30am-1pm).

Performance Academy Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil.

10am-1pm, £10. Info 01685 384111. Offering professional theatre and performance coaching in dance, acting, musical theatre and singing.

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.

Sewing Workshops Barnabas Arts House, Newport. 10am-1pm. Info 01633 673739. Hosted by Ellery Design – see www. ellerydesign.com for details of how to book and/or contact them.

St Mary Street Cardiff Market St Mary Street, Cardiff. 11am-5pm, free.

Info 029 2019 0036. Selling

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.

Cabaret And Showgirl Dancing For All Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 11am12.30pm. Info 07872 306745.

With Steph. Beginners and mixed ability class. More info at www. cardiffcabaretclub.com.

Children’s Climbing Classes Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

10-11.30am, £15. Info 029 2048 4880.

Cooper’s Quiz Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm, £1 to play. Info info@porterscardiff.com.

Hosted by Ben Cooper.

Draw Somebody’s Sunday Body Little Man Coffee Co, Cardiff. 1.30-3.30pm, £7.50.

Info 07830 381930. Hosted by Cardiff Life Model.

Family Give It A Go Climbing Session Boulders, St Catherine's Park, Cardiff.

12, 2 + 4pm, £15. Info 029 2048 4880.

Farmers’ Market National History Museum, St Fagans.

10am-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. Welsh producers sell their wares every week at this brand new market.

Lindy Hop Dance Classes & Social Swing Dancing Pontardawe Arts Centre.

6-10pm. Info 01792 863722.

NoFit State Circus Classes And Courses Cardiff Central Sports And Community Centre, Ocean Way, Cardiff. Info 029 2022 1330 / www.nofitstate.org.

Today: Youth All Skills Jedi (11+, 12-2pm) and Youth Performance Jedi (11+, 2-4pm).

Official Guided Tours – Every Day Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. £5/£4. Info 029 2063 6464. *Riverside Farmers’ Market Fitzhammon Embankment, Cardiff. 10am2pm, 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 co-operative games.

WEDNESDAY 1

A Dinosaur Encounter

events Cardiff Castle. £4. Info 029 2087 8100. Take a close look at dinosaur models, bones and eggs and meet a T Rex. All booked up though sorry.

Adventure Week National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon. 11am-4pm, £2. Info 029 2057 3550. Get back to basics learning some survival skills, such as lighting fires, making a den or using a bow drill. (Until Fri 3) A Wild Whitsun – The Coity Tip Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenafon.

12-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3650. Get out and about for half term and explore the Coity Tip with a week full of activities for children of all ages. (Until Fri 3) Cricket: T20 – Glamorgan v Essex SSE SWALEC, Cardiff. 6.30pm. Info 029 2040 9380.

Fire & Ice Show Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. Discover what happens when things get really hot... and... really cold.

(Until Sun 5) Fizzi Networking Event Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7-9pm, free. Info 029 2023 2199.

Half Term Crafts Cardiff Story, The Hayes, Cardiff.

10am-3pm, £1 per child. Info 029 2078 8334. Drop-in event for kids and their adults.

Hay Festival 2016: Day 7 Various venues, Hay-OnWye. 9am-10pm. Info 01497 822629. The full programme is at www.hayfestival.com, you’ll have to make do with highlights from Buzz I’m afraid. Today this includes Marcus Brigstocke, Carrie Quinlan, Kader Abdolah, Pavel Kolesnikov, Margaret Drabble, Martha Kearney, Monty Don, Rose Tremain, Lucy Worsley and Baba Maal.

(Until Sun 5) Hedgehog Helper Morning Venue TBC, nr Builth Wells. £20. Info 01874 749092. A Good Day Out event. Also on Sat 4, Sun 12, Mon 20, Thurs 23 and Sun 26.

How The Light Gets In: Day 7 Various venues, HayOn-Wye. 9am. Info www. howthelightgetsin.iai. tv. Now-established “art and ideas” festival, today featuring Robin Ince, Gavin Turk, musical Day Sessions from midday, Waldemar Januszczak, Siôn Russell Jones, Femme, Mac & Ivan, Jalen N’Gonda, Abigail Collins (who was the person on our front cover last month), Roving Crows and Lolly Adefope. (Until Sun 5) Instructor Training Cycle Training Wales, Gabalfa, Cardiff. 9.30am-4pm, £350 (four days). Info www. cycletrainingwales.org.uk.

(Until Fri 3) Makers’ Market National History Museum, St Fagans.

10am-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Sun 5) Neon Noise Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. Free. Info 029 2063 6464. All-day, all-ages event inviting you to respond to a playlist of different genres and styles of music to create a huge art piece. (Until Sat 4) Never Forget Your Welsh Heroes Roadshow Swansea Museum. 10.30am-3.30pm, free. Info 01792 653763. If you have letters or other

documents from Welsh soldiers, bring them along to be scanned for these guys’ archive. Or simply look at said archive as it currently stands.

Pottery Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am12.30pm, £10. Info 029 2048 4611. Half term class for ages 7-12.

Printmaking Workshops National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 11am, 1pm + 3pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. Take inspiration from the powerful images and poetry on display in Battle Of Mametz Wood exhibition and make your own print. On tomorrow also.

Reminiscence Monthly Cardiff Story, The Hayes, Cardiff. 11am-1pm, free.

Info 029 2078 8334. Come to the museum and share your memories of Cardiff, on the first Wednesday of every month.

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 15 and Wed 29.

Star Tours Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. Find out about some familiar constellations, the planets, how stars are born and how they die. (Until Sun 5)

which offers writers and performers the chance to share work in development in a supportive environment.

Drop-In-And-Make Craft Afternoons For Kids Drill Hall, Chepstow. 2-4pm. Info 01291 625981.

Fire & Ice Show Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 5) Hay Festival 2016: Day 8 Various venues, Hay-OnWye. 9am-10pm. Info 01497 822629. Today features Peter Temple-Morris, Melvin Burgess, Jonathan Dimbleby, Sarfraz Manzoor, Richard Shirreff, Michael Palin, Billy Bragg, Roger McGough, James Naughtie, Laura Marling and Ghazalaw. (Until Sun 5) How The Light Gets In: Day 8 Various venues, HayOn-Wye. 9am. Info www. howthelightgetsin. iai.tv. Today features Babette Babich, Camila Batmanghelidjh (as part of a session called Doing Right And Feeling Good), Simon Heffer (as part of a session called People Who Deserve To Be Clubbed To Actual Death), Owen Hatherley, Zoe Williams, Cherry Shoes, Rachael Sage. Stuart Laws, Martha Tilston, Dele Sosimi and James Acaster. (Until Sun 5) Instructor Training Cycle Training Wales, Gabalfa, Cardiff. 9.30am-4pm, £350

Having debuted last year, and found its mixture of everyman entertainment and old-skool socialist soapboxing to go down smoothly, the Merthyr Rising Festival hits Merthyr Tydfil again from Fri 3-Sun 5. John McDonnell, Tariq Ali and The Farm are all set to appear.

Three Cool Things To Make With A Penny National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 12.30-3.30pm, free.

Info 01792 463980. Does what it says on the tin. (Until Sun 5) What Ya Got? 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free. Info 029 2022 8883. Open mic night incorporating music, poetry, storytelling, comedy, cabaret etc. Also on Wed 15.

THURSDAY 2

Adventure Week National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon. 11am-4pm, £2. Info 029 2057 3550. (Until Fri 3) A Wild Whitsun – The Coity Tip Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenafon.

12-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3650. (Until Fri 3) Bat Walk National History Museum, St Fagans. 9pm, £5. Info 029 2057 3500.

After-dark journey around the Museum to find bats. Wear sensible clothing and bring a torch.

Crash Test Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.45pm, £3-£5. Info 01970 623232. Scratch night

(four days). Info www. cycletrainingwales.org.uk.

(Until Fri 3) Live Superstars Of Wrestling Miners Theatre, Ammanford. 7.30pm, £12/£9.

Info 0845 2263510.

Makers’ Market National History Museum, St Fagans.

10am-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Sun 5) Mosaic Monster Fish Mission Gallery, Swansea.

11am-2pm, £6. Info 01792 652016. Create monster fish using clay thumb pots, and then decorate with mosaic tiles.

Neon Noise Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. Free. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Sat 4) New Poetry & Fiction Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £2.50. Info 029 2030 4400. This month’s event will be dedicated to the new issue of Poetry Wales magazine, on the theme of ‘desire’, and features editor Nia Davies plus readers from the issue: Emily Blewitt, Rhys Trimble, Suze de Lee, and Tamara Dellutri.

Poems & Pints Brown’s, Laugharne. 7.30pm. Info 01994 427688. With guest host Tracy Rees, a poet from Swansea.

Poetry Competition – Bridgend Young Poet Of The Year 2016 Carnegie House, Bridgend. 6pm.

Info 01656 815757. Robert Minhinnick and Kristian Evans will be judging two categories of poets, Years 7-11 and Years 12 + 13.

Printing Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am12.30pm, £10. Info 029 2048 4611. Half term class for ages 7-12.

Printmaking Workshops National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 11am, 1pm + 3pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951.

Self-Led Activities Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea.

10am-4pm, free. Info 01792 463980. Books, crafts, writing activities, puppets, dressing up costumes and more.

Star Tours Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 5) Storytelling Suppers Kemi’s, Pontcanna, Cardiff.

7pm, £14. Info 029 2037 2055. Stories by Phil Okwedy and Mikey Price. Entry fee includes food.

Three Cool Things To Make With A Penny National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 12.30-3.30pm, free.

Info 01792 463980. (Until Sun 5) Washday Play National History Museum, St Fagans.

11am-4pm, £2.50. Info 029 2057 3500. Interactive sessions for families.

Weber Seafood Essentials Course Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan.

5-9pm, £99. Info 01443 222716. A Grill Academy course.

FRIDAY 3

Adventure Week National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon. 11am-4pm, £2. Info 029 2057 3550. (Finishes today) Alun Harvard: A Conversation With Heaven The Met, Abertillery. 7.30pm, £8. Info 01495 355800. Spirit medium.

Attack! Pro Wrestling: Press Start IV Cathays Community Centre, Cardiff.

7pm, £10 adv. Info 029 2037 3144. Local indy wrestler faves return to their mostoften-used venue.

A Wild Whitsun – The Coity Tip Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenafon.

12-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3650. (Finishes today) Bingo Lingo The Depot, Cardiff. 6pm, £5. Info www. depotcardiff.co.uk. This is on every Friday and features street food, a wheel of fortune and “rubbish prizes”.

Cardiff Inter Varsity Club Meeting Park Plaza Hotel, Cardiff. 8.30pm, £5 (threemonth trial membership).

Info 07526 141392 / www. cardiffivc.org.uk. Meeting here on the first Friday of each month.

Come And Sing At The Museum: Songs From The Trenches National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 2.30pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951.

Cricket: T20 – Glamorgan v Hampshire SSE SWALEC, Cardiff. 6.30pm. Info 029

2040 9380.

Drop-In Family Workshop Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea. 1-4pm, free. Info 01792 463980.

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.

Fire & Ice Show Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 5) Fleece To Felt Day Venue TBC, Brecon Beacons. £45/£30 under-16s. Info 01874 749092. Help shear a sheep, then learn the process of taking the wool and create a felted picture or object. A Good Day Out event.

Hay Festival 2016: Day 9 Various venues, Hay-OnWye. 9am-10pm. Info 01497 822629. Today features Kate Humble, Helen Cross, Laura Dockrill, Laura Bates, William Sitwell, Jenny Valentine, Michael Morpurgo, David Aaronovitch, Lucy Hawking, Sarah Millican Lucie Green, Marina Lewycka, a BBC Horizons showcase, Shazia Mirza, Simon Callow, Brix SmithStart and KT Tunstall. (Until Sun 5) Hedgehog Helper Morning Venue TBC, nr Builth Wells. £20. Info 01874 749092.

How The Light Gets In: Day 9 Various venues, HayOn-Wye. 9am. Info www. howthelightgetsin.iai.tv.

Today features Bernard Carr, Rupert Read, Carlos Frenk, Alex Valentine, Joe Black, Ben Target, Mahalia, Ed Aczel, Crazy P, Piers Corbyn, Is Tropical and Jim Eliot.

(Until Sun 5) Instructor Training Cycle Training Wales, Gabalfa, Cardiff. 9.30am-4pm, £350 (four days). Info www. cycletrainingwales.org.uk.

(Finishes today) Jam Jar Creatures & Fairy Houses Mission Gallery, Swansea. 11am-2pm, free. Info 01792 652016.

Create creatures of your imagination – wth a digital drawing element.

Little Mice Club: Transport National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10.30am-12pm, free. Info 01792 463980.

Enjoy bilingual play, song and crafts and meet Morys the Museum Mouse.

Makers’ Market National History Museum, St Fagans.

10am-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Sun 5) Merthyr Rising Festival Penderyn Square, Redhouse + Theatr Soar, Merthyr Tydfil. £10 (weekend pass).

Info 01685 384111. Music, comedy, plays, exhibition and debates across three venues and three days. Today is the festival launch and has special guests TBC. (Until Sun 5) Museum Ghost Walk National History Museum, St Fagans. 9pm, £15. Info 029 2057 3500. Presented by Cardiff History & Hauntings.

There are normally more of these over the month, and may be in June, but that’s subject to the cessation of industrial action across Wales’ museums.

Neon Noise Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

Bay. Free. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Sat 4) Printing Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am12.30pm, £10. Info 029 2048 4611. Half term class for ages 7-12.

Sharing Boards And Spanish Wine Penylan Pantry, Cardiff. 7.30-10.30pm, £20. Info 07854 724980.

Star Tours Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 5) Three Cool Things To Make With A Penny National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 12.30-3.30pm, free.

Info 01792 463980. (Until Sun 5) Welsh Wrestling Live Memorial Hall Theatre, Barry. 7.30pm, £10/£8 under16s. Info 01446 738622.

Glitz, glamour and bodyslam mayhem are all mooted to feature.

Workshop Bike Sale Cardiff Cycle Workshop, Gabalfa, Cardiff. 10am-2pm. Info www.cycletrainingwales.org. uk. Adult bikes on sale from £60; kids’ bikes from £10.

On tomorrow also, and every Friday this month.

SATURDAY 4

Beats, Eats And Treats 2016 Various locations, Barry Island. Free. Info 01446 700111. Craft and food stalls, demos, kids’ activities, live music etc. On tomorrow also.

Craft Fair Coffee Cove Cafe Bar, Barry Island. 10am3.30pm, free/£10 to set up a stall. Info 07948 399111.

Every first Saturday of the month.

Craft Fayre Community Hall, Neath. 10.30am-4pm, free. Info ariancrafts@hotmail.co.uk.

Dewch Y Ganu National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 11am, free. Info 01792 463980. Sessions for Welsh learners.

Dragon Boat Race Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff. 9.30am. Info 029 2052 2600. In aid of Bobath and open to teams featuring members aged 12+.

Eclectic Crafters Centenary Hall, Maryport Street, Usk. Info eclectic. crafters@gmail.com. Craft fair held on the first Saturday of each month.

Enfys Craft Fair St. Francis Millennium Centre, Barry. 10am-4pm. Info 01446 792149.

Fire & Ice Show Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 5) Greek Kitchen Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan. 9.30am-3.30pm, £170. Info 01443 222716.

Gymnastics: Women’s Artistic Sport Wales National Centre, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. 9am-6pm.

Info 0300 3003127. On tomorrow also.

Handmade Arts And Crafts Market Tabernacl Chapel, The Hayes, Cardiff.

10am-4pm. Info uniquefairs@gmx.co.uk.

Hay Festival 2016: Day 10 Various venues, Hay-OnWye. 9am-11pm. Info 01497 822629. Today features Erwin James, Chris Riddell, Kate Summerscale, Lindy West, Gordon Brown, Julian Clary, Jeanette Winterson, Sophie Thompson, Niall BUZZ 63

BAFTA CYMRU

As the whole of Wales looks eagerly to France and the kick off of the Euros, we will be looking back at the Welsh international football team from 1976 with two screenings of the documentary Ffwtbol A Fflêrs; Cofio Arwyr ’76 (Football and Flares: Remembering The Heroes From ’76) which tells the story of the team that reached the quarter-finals of the European Championships. The screenings in Cardiff and Wrexham will be followed by a Q&A with ex-Wales captain and manager Terry Yorath.

On Sat 18 June we will be hosting the Dewi Vaughan Owen Keynote Lecture at the Wales Games Development Show. This year, the Keynote will be offered by Catherine Woolley.

Catherine is currently a Senior Designer at Creative Assembly and worked on BAFTA Award-winning Alien: Isolation and it's DLC, in total she has been working as a designer for six years and previously worked at Electronic Arts Bright Light on Harry Potter and Flips titles.

Catherine is a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit for 2015 and is also on the BAFTA Games Committee. She has been listed in the Top 100 Women In Games list for MCV twice now and recently the Top 30 Women In Games for MCV. The Games Show will also host the 4th British Academy Cymru Games Award ceremony and is a great chance to play the nominated games, talk to the companies exhibiting about the growth in the industry and celebrate with the winners of Best Game and our four commendations.

Our last two events of the month will focus on the new highend television production company in Swansea, Bad Wolf, with a Q&A with Jane Tranter (Spooks, Waking The Dead) and Julie Gardner (Torchwood, Doctor Who, The Sarah Jane Adventures) giving us an opportunity to hear about the slate of projects they have in development and thoughts on moving home to Wales from LA. Swiftly followed by An Audience With Eddie Izzard, which will have a number of public tickets available for the lively Q&A with the stand-up comedian, actor and writer who lived spent periods of his childhood in Porthcawl and Skewen.

Our new membership year kicks off on 1 June so please take a time to check out our membership perks for industry professionals, students and career starters.

Find out more here www.bafta.org/wales

BUZZ 64

Ferguson, Anuradha Roy, Sarah Howe, David Mitchell, George Monbiot, Amy Liptrot, Simon Schama, Greg Proops, Mark Steel and Flavia Coelho.

(Until Sun 5) Hip-Hop Forever: A Day Of Hip-Hop Cathays Community Centre, Cardiff. 11am-10pm.

Info 029 2037 3144. Studio 22 and The Hold Up host this alldayer, which is a fundraiser for Cathays & Central Youth & Community Project and which “aims to bring together the four pillars of hip-hop in one location”. People still really like to push the idea of those pillars don’t they.

How The Light Gets In: Day 10 Various venues, HayOn-Wye. 9am. Info www. howthelightgetsin.iai.tv. Today features Theodore Dalrymple, Piers Corbyn again (this guy is definitely here on his own merit), Frank Wilczek, Terry Eagleton, Bruce Parry, Katy Brand, Doon Mackichan, Maribou State, Gemma Hayes, John Bird, Rowan Pelling, Creative Martyrs, Martin Harley, Sam And The Womp and Jenny Collier. (Until Sun 5) Introduction To Shamanism Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. £120 (two days). Info www.shamaniclife. co.uk. A two-day course exploring shamanism, the shamanic journey and how it can help you in everyday life. On tomorrow also. Enjoyed the Onion article the other day, ‘Ayahuasca Shaman Dreading Another Week Of Guiding Tech CEOs To Spiritual Oneness’. They still do occasional good ones, you know.

Junior Photography Workshop Day Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 11am-4pm, £35. Info 029 2087 7959. Aimed at ages 8+, this course is focused on seeing and capturing the details around us. More details: info@photojunior.com.

Make A Garden Trug Or Flower Basket Humble By Nature, Penalt, nr Monmouth.

10am-4pm, £95. Info 01600 714595.

Makers’ Market National History Museum, St Fagans.

10am-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Sun 5) Meet The Beekeepers National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500.

Merthyr Rising Festival Penderyn Square, Redhouse + Theatr Soar, Merthyr Tydfil. £10 (weekend pass). Info 01685 384111. Today features music from The Farm, Henry’s Funeral Shoe and more; a tour of the sites related to the 1831 Merthyr Rising; and appearances by Alan McGee, John McDonnell, Tariq Ali, Thea Hartley and that Artist Taxi Driver guy. (Until Sun 5) Monmouthshire Food Festival Caldicot Castle & Country Park. 10am-5pm, £5/ free under-12s. Info 01291 420241. Demos, a market, a kids’ section, tastings and more. On tomorrow also.

Neon Noise Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. Free. Info 029 2063 6464.

(Finishes today) Pop-Up Dining Evening: My Discombobulated Brain Little Man Coffee Co, Cardiff. 7pm, £60. Info 07830 381930. Seven-course taster

menu hosted by Caerwyn Ash, who reached the quarterfinal in Masterchef, and My Discombobulated Brain, a mental health blog.

Rhian Edwards Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea.

6.30pm, £1.60-£5. Info 01792 463980. Reading by awardwinning poet.

Rhondda Responds The Factory, Porth. 12pm-12am, £15 to set up a table. Info 07825 367287. Fundraising night for UNICEF with live bands, stalls, art etc.

Sheep Trekking – Forestry Trail Venue TBC, Brecon Beacons. £45/£35 under-16s.

Info 01874 749092. Walk a sheep around a 200-acre farm along ancient drovers’ trails, and forestry paths. A Good Day Out event.

Smashing Ceramics Stall Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

11am. Info 01970 623232.

Shatter some ceramics to help the refugee crisis in Europe (I assume you have to pay to do so) and then have your shards placed in the gallery here.

Star Tours Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Until Sun 5) Summer Of Stories Caldicot Castle & Country Park. 11am4pm. Info 01291 420241.

Half-hour storytelling sessions presented by Cadw.

Taking Plain Weave One Step Further Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am4.30pm, £65. Info 029 2048 4611. With Laura Thomas.

Three Cool Things To Make With A Penny National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 12.30-3.30pm, free.

Info 01792 463980. (Until Sun 5) Trekfest 2016 Trekfest Village, Brecon Beacons (start and finish point). £35-£60.

Info info@gthc.org.uk. A George Thomas Hospice Care fundraising event, lasting two days and with the option to trek 25, 50, 75 or 100km. On tomorrow also.

Up Close Red Kite Photography Day Venue TBC, nr Llandovery. £85.

Info 01874 749092. Spend the day with award-winning photographer Gareth Scanlon, learning about wildlife and photographing Red Kites. A Good Day Out event.

Workshop Bike Sale Cardiff Cycle Workshop, Gabalfa, Cardiff. 10am-12pm. Info www.cycletrainingwales. org.uk.

Ysbridoli / Inspired In Spirit YMCA, Swansea. 10am1pm, free. Info 07947 363441.

Create enlarged papier mache objects from the Gallery’s permanent collection with artist Aled Simons.

SUNDAY 5

Beats, Eats And Treats 2016 Various locations, Barry

Island. Free. Info 01446 700111.

Cardiff Storytelling Circle Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

8pm, £4. Info 029 2030 4400.

Cardiff World Naked Bike Ride Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (starting point). 1.30pm, free. Info 029 2022 8883. We wrote a bit about this in the May issue.

Cwmbran Craft Fayre Our Lady’s School Hall, Cwmbran.

1-4pm. Info cwmbran_ crafts@hotmail.co.uk. Every first Sunday of the month.

Duck Race 2016 Roath Park,

Cardiff. 12pm, £1 to sponsor a duck. Info group105@hcpt. org.uk. Fundraiser for HCPT 105, a Cardiff based charity offering pilgrimage holidays to Lourdes for disabled and disadvantaged children.

Fire & Ice Show Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Finishes today) Foraging: A Wild Taste Of The Hedgerow Humble By Nature, Penalt, nr Monmouth.

10am-4pm, £95. Info 01600 714595.

Gymnastics: Women’s Artistic Sport Wales National Centre, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. 9am-6pm. Info 0300 3003127.

Hay Festival 2016: Day 10 Various venues, Hay-OnWye. 10am-10pm. Info 01497 822629. Today features Jacob Rees-Mogg, Jacob ReesMogg’s nanny, Andrea Wulf, Emerald Fennell, Siddhartha Mukherjee, Alain de Botton, Paul Mason, Fay Weldon, Max Hastings, Mohammed Nasheed, Brian Blessed and a closing concert featuring Bryn Terfel and Rebecca Evans.

(Finishes today) How The Light Gets In: Day 11 Various venues, HayOn-Wye. 9am. Info www. howthelightgetsin.iai.tv. Today features Jasper Fforde, Oliver Burkeman, Peter Tatchell, Sally Phillips, Erin Pizzey and the Blaenavon Male Voice Choir. (Finishes today) Introduction To Shamanism Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. £120 (two days). Info www.shamaniclife. co.uk.

Karaoke Kiwis, Neath.

6-10pm, free. Info 01639 643733. Every Sunday this month.

Llandaff Charity Raft Race Llandaff Rowing Club, Cardiff. £100 to enter per team/free to spectate. Info info@gthc.org.uk. A George Thomas Hospice Care fundraising event. Teams are asked to raise £500 or more in sponsorship.

Makers’ Market National History Museum, St Fagans.

10am-4pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500. (Finishes today) Merthyr Rising Festival Penderyn Square, Redhouse + Theatr Soar, Merthyr Tydfil. £10 (weekend pass). Info 01685 384111. Today features music from Oasis and Bob Marley tributes, a showing of a new film by rentaquote football hooligan Cass Pennant, a debate titled ‘Can Merthyr Rise Again?’ and a trade union march through the town.

(Finishes today) Monmouthshire Food Festival Caldicot Castle & Country Park. 10am-5pm, £5/ free under-12s. Info 01291 420241.

Open Haus The Printhaus / The Boneyard, Canton, Cardiff. 10am-2pm, free. Info 029 2022 0349. Monthly open studios here, an opportunity to meet the artists and makers in this creative community. On the first Saturday of every month.

Star Tours Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Finishes today) Three Cool Things To Make With A Penny National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 12.30-3.30pm, free.

Info 01792 463980. (Finishes

events today) Trekfest 2016 Trekfest Village, Brecon Beacons (start and finish point). £35-£60.

Info info@gthc.org.uk.

Wiggle Dragon Ride Margam Park, nr Port Talbot (starting point). Info 01639 881635. Non-competitive cycling marathon held over a mountainous course using public roads in South Wales and the Brecon Beacons.

MONDAY 6

Roman Ritual And Religion In Caerwent And Caerleon Ye Olde Murenger, Newport. 3pm, free. Info 01633 263977. One of Newport Museum’s bi-monthly Down Your Local sessions held in this jarhouse.

Science Cafe Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

Tea Dance Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 2-4pm, £4. Info 01656 815995. Also on Tue 21.

Carmen Medway-Stephens – Four Brothers Carnegie House, Bridgend. 10am-1pm, free. Info 01656 815757.

Artist residency with MedwayStephens, a poet from the Garw Valley, looking at her family’s history in WWII. On tomorrow also, with a performance on the evening of Fri 10.

Cricket: Royal London One-Day Cup – Glamorgan v Gloucestershire SSE SWALEC, Cardiff. 2pm. Info 029 2040 9380.

Gwd Mondays: Musical Bingo Gwdihw, Cardiff.

7.30pm, free. Info 029 2039 7933.

Herbivore Supper Club Arboreal, Cowbridge. £25. Info simon@theherbivore.co.uk.

Five courses of creative vegan cuisine. Book in advance please. *Paul Mason St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15. Info 029 2087 8444.

Economist and journalist, a popular figure among the thrusting new British left of the moment thanks to his habit of writing op-ed pieces with swears in, tours his new book. “Could Wales become the first post-capitalist society?” he will apparently be asking, Betteridgely.

Poetry Open Mic The Capel, Bargoed. 7-10pm, free. Info 01443 830272. With guest reader Peter Finch. First Monday of every month.

Screening: Over Ply Wood Cinema & Co, Swansea. 8pm, £6. Info info@cinemaco. co.uk. A documentary, apparently showing as a work in progress, about the history of skateboarding in Swansea.

The evening also features live music from The Boneless Ones.

The Big Lord Of The Rings Quiz Face 11, Cathays, Cardiff. 7pm, £3 entry per team. Info 029 2022 8221.

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.

WEDNESDAY 8

TUESDAY 7

FRIDAY 10

Carmen Medway-Stephens – Four Brothers Carnegie House, Bridgend. 10am-1pm, free. Info 01656 815757.

Explore Books National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10.30am. Info 01792 463980. Every Tuesday this month.

Piggy Walking With A ‘Pig-Nic’ Senni Valley, Brecon Beacons. £25/£10 under-16s.

Info 01874 749092. Take a pair of friendly Kune Kune pigs (from New Zealand, look a bit like Ewoks) for a walk, then return to the smallholding for refreshments.

Cricket: Royal London One-Day Cup – Glamorgan v Sussex SSE SWALEC, Cardiff. 2pm. Info 029 2040 9380.

Essential Ghost Tour Cardiff Castle. 10pm, £11.50.

Info 07538 878609. Also on Tue 14 and Tue 28.

Meet The Conservator: Archaeology National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff.

1.05pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. With Karla Dayhoff, Student Archaeological Conservator.

Pruning Fruit Trees National History Museum, St Fagans. 2-3pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500.

Skill Builder: Fish Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan. 6-9pm, £90. Info 01443 222716.

Volunteer Week: Afternoon Tea Party Cardiff Story, The Hayes, Cardiff. 2-4pm, free.

Info 029 2078 8334. Drop-in event where you can find out more about volunteering for the Cardiff Story Museum.

THURSDAY 9

Essential Llandaff Ghost Walk City Cross, Cathedral Green, Llandaff (meeting point). 9.30pm, £8. Info 07538 878609. A walk through woodlands, ruins and graveyards, at a cheaper price than normal.

Also on Thurs 16, Thurs 23 and Wed 29.

Howl Mozarts, Swansea.

8pm, free. Info 01792 649984.

Poetry open mic, every second and third Thursday of the month.

Lee Gameson + Lynsey Shankland + Hayley Medcaft Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 7.30pm, £8. Info 01633 868239. Spirit mediums.

Open Mic Night Imperial Hotel, Merthyr Tydfil. 7.30pm, free. Info 01685 722555. With special guest, poet Jeremy Hooker.

SWDFAS Lecture: The Extraordinary Life Of Misia Sert, Queen Of Paris 1872–1950 Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 2pm, £6. Info 029 2030 4400. Lecture by Julian Halsby.

Allez Les Gallois! Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 6pm12.30am, free. Info 029 2030 4400. A week of pan-European food and drink to celebrate the start of Euro 2016. (Until Thurs 16) Art Lunchtime Talk – Mametz 1916: Llewelyn Wyn Griffith And The London Welsh National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff.

1.05pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951.

Bingo Lingo The Depot, Cardiff. 6pm, £5. Info www. depotcardiff.co.uk.

Cooking On A Wood-Fired

Oven Humble By Nature, Penalt, nr Monmouth. 10am4pm, £95. Info 01600 714595.

Dinky Dragons Cardiff Story, The Hayes, Cardiff.

10am-3pm, free. Info 029 2078 8334. Family fun day for 0-5-year-olds on the second Friday of every month.

Late Night Ghost Tour Cardiff Castle. 10.15pm, £15.

Info 07538 878609.

Mark Thompson Miners’ Institute, Blackwood. 7.30pm, £14/£12. Info 01495 227206.

Astronomy-based chat with a fella from BBC show Stargazing Live.

Talk: Lawrence Abu Hamdan National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 6pm, free.

Info 029 2039 7951. Beirutbased artist with a ‘live audio essay’ talk incorporating samples and sonic tweaking. This sounds really neat!

Wine Tasting Talk National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 7pm, £15/£12.50.

Info 01792 463980. Each of the eight wines will be accompanied by the stuff you really came for tonight: fascinating facts, along with regional music and location maps.

Workshop Bike Sale Cardiff Cycle Workshop, Gabalfa, Cardiff. 10am-12pm. Info www.cycletrainingwales. org.uk.

Zest Dining Pop-Up Restaurant Evening Roath Church House, Cardiff. 8pm, £25. Info 07736 592103. Three course sit-down meal featuring some of Zest Dining’s signature Indian dishes.

SATURDAY 11

Adult Craft Workshop Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea.

10.30am-1pm, free. Info 01792 463980.

Allez Les Gallois! Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 2pm12am, free. Info 029 2030 4400. (Until Thurs 16) A Right Royal Knees Up Street Party Broad Street, Blaenavon. 10am-4pm, £5/£3 kids. Info 01495 790127.

Featuring music, hot food, face painting and henna tattoos, all things that the Queen Of England loves to take part in herself.

Barrie John Workmen’s Hall, Caerphilly. 7.30pm, £12.50 adv. Info 07512 237983. Spirit medium with a stupid Andy Cairns chinny beard. No relation to Barry John.

Bone Yard Fundraiser The Bone Yard, Canton, Cardiff.

12-10pm, £5. Info 07738 092524. “Craft beers, wood fired pizza, workshops, art, craft stalls, caravans, live music and mojitos,” they promise.

Caerwent Craft Fayre Caerwent Village Hall, Monmouthshire. 2.30-4.30pm.

Info cwmbran_crafts@ hotmail.co.uk. Every second Saturday of the month.

Chepstow Farmers’ Market Cormeilles Square, Chepstow.

8.30am-1pm, free. Info 01291 626370. Every second and fourth Saturday of the month.

Choir Clock Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. Free. Info 029 2063 6464.

Part of a city-wide events where choirs will be performing somewhere, every hour on the hour. You’ll have to use your smarts to find out what’s happening where, though.

Colourful Chemistry Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. How do colour changes occur in chemical reactions, and how can chemistry provide us with colour, energy and light? (At weekends until Sun 26) Eat Well Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan.

9.30am-3.30pm, £170. Info 01443 222716.

Enamelling Workshop Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am-4.30pm, £55. Info 029 2048 4611. With Kathryn Willis.

Essential Bike Maintenance Cycle Training Wales, Gabalfa, Cardiff.

9.30am-4pm, £65. Info www. cycletrainingwales.org.uk.

Farmers’ Market Twyn Community Centre, Caerphilly. 9.30am, free. Info 01656 658963. Every second Saturday of the month.

Giants Of The Solar System Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. Find out about Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, aka the ‘gas giants’. (At weekends until Sun 26) Gyles Brandreth Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.45pm, £18.50. Info 01792 475715.

Tit. Heroes & Villains YMCA, Swansea. 10am-1pm, free.

Info 07947 363441. Learn how to make rod puppets for the parade and discover who were the ‘goodies and baddies of Swansea’, with artist Zanne Andrea. Just remembered the ‘Zanne Andrea’s fault’ joke I did last year when she had a workshop here, still a classic.

Also on Sat 25.

Japanese Supper Club Waterloo Tea, Wyndham Arcade, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £37.

Info 01792 475715. Pop-up dining event with Japanese chef Yuko Harris. Menu looks pretty neat, you’ll need to like tofu though.

Llandaff Late Night Ghost Walk City Cross, Cathedral Green, Llandaff (meeting point). 10.45pm, £11. Info 07538 878609. Also on Sat 25.

Drop-In Knotwork & Beadwork Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. £5 per session.

Info 029 2048 4611. With Suzen Millodot every month.

Felt-Making Workshops National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am-12pm + 2-4pm, £2. Info 029 2057 3500. On tomorrow also.

Man Vs Horse Llanwyrtd Wells, Powys. £25 to enter/ free to spectate. Info 01591 610666. Annual event, organised by Green Events, with some cult appeal. Men on foot race against men on horses, on hooves. If man beats horse this year, the man in question will win £1500. It’s too late to enter now though sorry.

Merthyr Chilli Fiesta Penderyn Square, Merthyr Tydfil. 10am-5pm, free. Info 01685 384111. Hot food and other produce combined with live music, plus a ghost pepper eating challenge. Funny, Merthyr doesn’t seem like a place that would go in for foolhardy displays of machismo.

Mumbles Produce Market Seafront Car Park, Mumbles.

9am-1pm, free. Info 01792 361012. Every second Saturday of the month.

Neath Steam & Vintage Show Llwyn Felish Farm,

Crynant, Neath. 10am-5pm, free. Info 07971 167651. On tomorrow also.

Newport Craft Fayre The Gallery, Newport Indoor Market. 9am-4.30pm, free.

Info 01633 656656. Every second Saturday of the month.

Nimble Fingers Craft Fayre Victoria Hall, Mumbles, Swansea. 10am4pm, free. Info 07790 298913.

On the second Saturday of every month.

Picasso, Man Ray And Max Ernst Through The Eyes Of Lee Miller And Roland Penrose Dylan

11am-12pm + 2-4pm, free.

Info 029 2057 3500. On tomorrow also.

SUNDAY 12

Allez Les Gallois! Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 2-11pm, free. Info 029 2030 4400.

(Until Thurs 16) Colourful Chemistry Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (At weekends until Sun 26) Craft Fair LC2, Swansea.

10am-4pm, £25 to set up a table. Info cottagecraftfairs@ gmail.com.

Professor Tom Solomon is in conversation on Thurs 16, in Cardiff University's Shandon Lecture Theatre. Solomon was Roald Dahl's doctor towards the end of his life, and talks here about that experience and the author's keen interest in medical science in general.

Thomas Centre, Swansea.

1pm, £1.60-£5. Info 01792 463980. Talk by Antony Penrose.

Plant Sale National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am12pm + 2-3pm, free. Info 029 2057 3500.

Responses To The Nature Table Oriel Myrddin, Carmarthen. 10.30am-4pm, £120 (two days). Info 01267 222775. Two-day workshop with internationally renowned artist and maker, Dail Behennah. It relates to the exhibition currently showing here (see Art listings) and invites you to make your own small objects which explore the properties of wire, foil and found objects. On tomorrow also.

Skydive Swansea International Airport. 8am8pm, £40 to register. Info info@gthc.org.uk. A George Thomas Hospice Care fundraising event; participants are asked to raise £320 or more in sponsorship. On tomorrow also.

Spoken Word Saturday Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 3pm, £3.

Info 0845 2263510.

Summer Fest With The Italian Wine Women Roath Church House, Cardiff. 5pm.

Info enquiry@ kilgarriffandkahan.co.uk.

Music, food and soecially selected wine are all promised.

Summer Flowers: HandTied Bouquet & Vase Arrangement Humble By Nature, Penalt, nr Monmouth.

10am-12.30pm, £65. Info 01600 714595.

Traditional Tanning Adamsdown Community Garden, Cardiff. 10am12.30pm, £10. Info hannah@ greencityevents.co.uk. As in making leather. Hosted by a fellow called Scott in cahoots with Green City Events.

Woolly Weekend National History Museum, St Fagans.

Decorative Willow Platters Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am-4.30pm, £55. Info 029 2048 4611. With Melanie Bastier.

Felt-Making Workshops National History Museum, St Fagans. 11am-12pm + 2-4pm, £2. Info 029 2057 3500.

Giants Of The Solar System Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (At weekends until Sun 26) Gymnastics: Floor & Vault Sport Wales National Centre, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

8am-6pm. Info 0300 3003127.

Hedgehog Helper Morning Venue TBC, nr Builth Wells. £20. Info 01874 749092.

Karaoke Kiwis, Neath.

6-10pm, free. Info 01639 643733.

Make A Green Wood Chair Humble By Nature, Penalt, nr Monmouth. 10am-5pm, £115.

Info 01600 714595.

Marina Market National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

10am-4pm, free. Info 01792 463980.

Neath Steam & Vintage Show Llwyn Felish Farm, Crynant, Neath. 10am-5pm, free. Info 07971 167651.

Responses To The Nature Table Oriel Myrddin, Carmarthen. 10.30am-4pm, £120 (two days). Info 01267 222775.

Scratch This! Cardiff Speaker Hire, Cardiff. 6pm12am, £5 adv. Info 029 2009 5590. Cabaret show presented

by Sparkles Circus and housed in a big top.

Skydive Swansea International Airport. 8am8pm, £40 to register. Info info@gthc.org.uk.

Souls Awakening Mind Body Soul Event Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 10am4.30pm, £2.50. Info 01656 815995. Over 40 stalls of holistic therapies, natural health and cosmetics, clairvoyant and tarot readers, crystals, jewellery, aura phoBUZZ 65

events tography, psychic/spiritual art, sound therapy, gifts, drums, clothing and more.

Summer Supper Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan. 9.30am-3.30pm, £170. Info 01443 222716.

The Flex Lewis Welsh Classic St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 9am, £25. Info 029 2087 8444. Bodybuilding contest with an amusing poster, which features Flex Lewis himself trying to smile, but only managing a bizarre sinewy gurn.

Welsh National Wedding Fair Brangwyn Hall, Swansea.

11am, free. Info 01792 475715.

Woolly Weekend National History Museum, St Fagans.

11am-12pm + 2-4pm, free.

Info 029 2057 3500.

Zine Fair Gwdihw, Cardiff.

1pm, free. Info 029 2039 7933.

A chance to sell, buy and create zines, thanks to The Ladderless Window Painting Co. who are hosting this.

MONDAY 13

Allez Les Gallois! Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 2-11pm, free. Info 029 2030 4400.

(Until Thurs 16) Elliecoptor Hoops Hula Hoop Class Plasnewydd YMCA, Cardiff. 6-7pm, £5.

Info elliecoptor@hotmail. com. Second Monday of every month.

Joy Of Living Mindfulness Group Meeting Gaia Yoga Studio, Roath, Cardiff. 7.309pm, free (donations welcome). Info 07412 346054. On the second and fourth Monday of every month.

The Pixar Quiz Buffalo, Cardiff. 7-10pm, £1. Info 029 2031 0312. Presented by Inaminutenow.

Velotech Cycle Training Wales, Gabalfa, Cardiff.

9.30am-4pm, £450 (four days). Info www.cycletrainingwales.org.uk. (Until Thurs 16)

TUESDAY 14

Allez Les Gallois! Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 5-11pm, free. Info 029 2030 4400.

(Until Thurs 16) Carmarthen Storytelling Caffi Iechyd Da, Carmarthen. £3. Info 07752 438901.

Monthly event featuring guest storytellers and tales from the floor.

Chris Boardman Blake Theatre, Monmouth. 7pm, £8 adv. Info 01600 719401.

British cyclist and former Olympic gold-nabber talks about his career.

Cricket: Royal London One-Day Cup – Glamorgan v Middlesex SSE SWALEC, Cardiff. 2pm. Info 029 2040 9380.

Essential Ghost Tour Cardiff Castle. 10pm, £11.50.

Info 07538 878609.

Explore Books National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10.30am. Info 01792 463980.

Meet The Curator: Natural Sciences National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 1.05pm, free.

Info 029 2039 7951.

Philosophy Cafe The Gate, Cardiff. 7.30pm, pay by donation. Info 029 2048 3344.

Second Tuesday of every month.

Spirituality Cafe The Gate, Cardiff. 7.30pm, pay by donation. Info 029 2048 3344.

Second Tuesday of every BUZZ 66

month.

Velotech Cycle Training Wales, Gabalfa, Cardiff.

9.30am-4pm, £450 (four days). Info www.cycletrainingwales.org.uk. (Until Thurs 16)

WEDNESDAY 15

Allez Les Gallois! Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 2-11pm, free. Info 029 2030 4400.

(Until Thurs 16) Friends Of The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery Lecture Lecture Theatre 1, Dynevor Centre, Swansea School Of Art. 6.30pm. Info 01792 481285. Titled ‘Crisis of the real: irrationality of the photographic image’ and taken by Ryan Moule.

Mongol Rally Car Auction Face 11, Cathays, Cardiff.

12pm. Info 029 2022 8221.

This relates to the upcoming 10,000-mile charity drive across Europe and Asia, and the possibility for sponsors to fund it by putting their logo on the car being used.

Retrofest Gwdihw, Cardiff.

4pm, free. Info 029 2039 7933.

(the story of) Frankenstein’s monster. They are called Frankenstein & The Vampyre – A Dark & Stormy Night and Frankenstein Birth Of A Monster. The is the first of a number of Frankenstein-related events here – see also Fri 17, Mon 20, Tue 21 and Tue 5 July.

Howl Mozarts, Swansea. 8pm, free. Info 01792 649984.

In Conversation: Professor Tom Solomon Shandon Lecture Theatre, Cardiff University. 6.30-7.30pm, free.

Info www.roalddahl.com.

Interview exploring Roald Dahl’s lifelong fascination with medical science. Part of the Roald Dahl 100 celebrations.

Velotech Cycle Training Wales, Gabalfa, Cardiff.

9.30am-4pm, £450 (four days). Info www.cycletrainingwales.org.uk. (Finishes today)

FRIDAY 17

Art Lunchtime Talk: Drawing On The Front Line National Museum &

Two competing Cardiff venues attempt to replicate the Glastonbury Festival on June's final weekend. Canton's Printhaus has live music and good pizza on Sat 25 (Cardiff Does Glastonbury), while The Full Moon's annual Glasnost bash is on Fri 24 and Sat 25.

Pop-up fashion festival with loads of local brands/stores.

Scriveners Writers’ Group Royal Exchange, Brynmawr.

8pm. Info 01495 753629.

Sea Shanty Session Lookout Cafe, World Of Boats, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £5. Info 07971 055811. Hosted by Pauline Down. Bring your own shanties and instruments if you wish.

Skill Builder: Pasta Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan. 6-9pm, £90. Info 01443 222716.

Velotech Cycle Training Wales, Gabalfa, Cardiff.

9.30am-4pm, £450 (four days). Info www.cycletrainingwales.org.uk. (Until Thurs 16) What Ya Got? 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free. Info 029 2022 8883.

Words&Words&Words Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

7.45pm, £5. Info 01970 623232. Poetry and spoken word evening.

THURSDAY 16

Allez Les Gallois! Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 1-11pm, free. Info 029 2030 4400.

(Finishes today) Essential Llandaff Ghost Walk City Cross, Cathedral Green, Llandaff (meeting point). 9.30pm, £8. Info 07538 878609.

Frankenstein Fest Drill Hall, Chepstow. 7.30pm, free.

Info 01291 625981. Screening of two 2 BBC drama documentaries about the birth of

Gallery, Cardiff. 1.05pm, free.

Info 029 2039 7951. Dan Petersen talks about artists at war.

Bingo Lingo The Depot, Cardiff. 6pm, £5. Info www. depotcardiff.co.uk.

Cricket: T20 – Glamorgan v Kent SSE SWALEC, Cardiff.

6.30pm. Info 029 2040 9380.

Frankenstein On Film Drill Hall, Chepstow. 7.30pm, £4/£3. Info 01291 625981.

Screenings of Frankenstein movies from 1931 and 2004.

Giants Of The Solar System Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (At weekends until Sun 26) Lunch Club Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan. 10.30am-2.30pm, £37. Info 01443 222716.

Nitro Circus Live Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli. 6pm, £29-£49. Info 01554 783900.

Freestyle motocross, BMX and skate stunts.

So You Think You’re Smart? Memorial Hall, Newbridge. 7pm, free. Info 01495 243252. Quiz night, every third Friday of the month.

Unearthed In A Field Cerbid, nr Haverfordwest. £65 (three days)/£40 teenagers or over-75s/free under-12s/£30 per day. Info www.unearthedinafield.co.uk. Community weekender featuring roots, folk and reggae musicians; speakers on various topics, fire dancers and lots of workshops. (Until Sun 19)

Workshop Bike Sale Cardiff Cycle Workshop, Gabalfa, Cardiff. 10am-12pm. Info www.cycletrainingwales. org.uk.

SUNDAY 18

Anodised Aluminium Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am-4.30pm, £55. Info 029 2048 4611. With Mandy Nash.

Boutique Gift Markets Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am5.30pm. Info 029 2087 7959.

On tomorrow also.

Brecon Craft Fair Market Hall, Brecon. 9am-4.30pm.

Info 01495 753782.

Cardiff Creative Writers Little Man Coffee Co, Cardiff.

6pm, free. Info 07830 381930.

An open forum to discuss work, new reads, author news etc. Third Sunday of each month.

Cardiff Summer Solstice Terrace Party The Depot, Cardiff. 2-11pm, £15 adv.

Info www.depotcardiff.co.uk.

Apparently some 3,000 people turned up to this last year and Miss Dynamite did a live set.

This year there will be facepainting, confetti balloons, BBQ food, candyfloss and inflatable animals. “This is an 18 years + event,” they add at the end, as well they might.

Colourful Chemistry Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (At weekends until Sun 26) Cymru Beats 2016 Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 1pm. Info 029 2030 4400. Two-day convention type thing for modular synth enthusiasts, hosted by a shop in the Bay also called Cymru Beats. There are evening performances from artists including Thighpaulsandra, Nick Batt, Eden Grey, ‘Mute Group(s), VCOADSR and John Biddulph. Not sure of ticket info yet but www. cymrubeats.com will hopefully have details soon. On tomorrow also.

Eisteddfod Rhydaman Miners Theatre, Ammanford.

1pm, £4/50p kids. Info 0845 2263510. Local talent show.

Friends Lecture National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff.

10.30am, £10. Info 029 2039 7951. ‘Clues To Climate Change: Past, Present And Future’, by Siwan Davies.

Garden Structures: Make Willow Pea Frames And Hurdles Humble By Nature, Penalt, nr Monmouth. 9.45am4pm, £95. Info 01600 714595.

Giants Of The Solar System Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (At weekends until Sun 26) Golf: Men’s Open Day Cottrell Park Golf Resort, St Nicholas, Vale Of Glamorgan.

7am-3pm, £15/£7.50 members. Info 01446 781781.

Gymnastics: Gymeisteddfod Sport Wales National Centre, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. 9am-6pm.

Info 0300 3003127.

Introduction To Digital Photography Workers Gallery, Ynyshir, Rhondda.

11am-2pm, £12. Info 01443 682034. With tutor Dale Poole.

Joust! Cardiff Castle. 10am5pm, £10-£15.50. Info 029 2087 8100. Medieval reenactment for the family, led by the Knights Of Royal England. this is on here this time each

year and is always popular. On tomorrow also.

Lansdowne Beer Festival The Lansdowne, Canton, Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2022 1312. Featuring a bunch of guest ales in the back yard plus live music all day from James Bower, Francesca’s Word Salad, James Kennedy, Friends Of Mark Humphries, Naomi Rae Duo and Andy Lewis Duo. Learn How To Shear Sheep Humble By Nature, Penalt, nr Monmouth. 9.45am-4.30pm, £100. Info 01600 714595.

Llandaff Ghost Walk City Cross, Cathedral Green, Llandaff (meeting point).

9.30pm, £11. Info 07538 878609.

Lazy Crafternoons: Beautiful Book Folding National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 1.30pm, £5. Info 01792 463980.

Lotus Fold Books Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am4.30pm, £55. Info 029 2048 4611. With Becky Adams.

Medieval Life, Warfare And Merriment Abergavenny Castle. 11am-3pm, £5/£3 kids. Info 01873 854282.

Multi-faceted reenactment fun courtesy of the Freemen Of Gwent.

Nantgarw Craft Fair Nantgarw China Works. 11am3pm, free. Info deb_0001@ hotmail.co.uk. Every third Saturday of the month.

Out Of This World Accessories YMCA, Swansea.

11am-4pm, free. Info 07947 363441. Creating outlandish costumes and props suitable for an intergalactic disco party, with Megan Broadmeadow.

Polo At The Manor 2016 Celtic Manor, nr Newport.

11.30am, £8-£20. Info 01633 413000.

Saturday Morning Kitchen Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan. 10.30am12pm, £15. Info 01443 222716.

Stepping Into Hell: Historical Experiences of Work In The Port Talbot Steel Industry National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

11am, free. Info 01792 463980. Talk by Bleddyn Penny of Swansea University.

Summer Twmpath The Welfare, Ystradgynlais. 10am5pm + 7-9pm. Info 01639 843163. The daytime has music, dance, ber and a hog roast; the twmpath is in the evening.

Thrifty Kids: Cool Book Creations National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

10.30am-12.30pm, free. Info 01792 463980. Create paper book sculptures made by folding pages of old books in different patterns. Why is everyone choosing to do this today (see listings above)? It’s like the beginning of a weird horror movie.

Try Gamelan St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 1pm, £8/£5. Info 029 2087 8444.

Unearthed In A Field Cerbid, nr Haverfordwest. £65 (three days)/£40 teenagers or over-75s/free under-12s/£30 per day. Info www.unearthedinafield.co.uk. (Until Sun 19) Wales Games Development Show Tramshed, Cardiff. £11.74/£9.11 NUS. Info 0117 9259273. Showcase for the Welsh gaming industry, featuring a programme of talks,

presentations and hands-on workshops on all aspects of game creation and development.

Welsh Game Fair Pembrey Country Park, Carmarthenshire. 9am. Info 07785 975773. A different breed of games to the event above, this is more about outdoor activities such as carving walking sticks and jumping 30ft in the air on a quad bike. On tomorrow also.

Who Wants To Be A Superhero? Science Show National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 1 + 3pm, free. Info 01792 463980. For ages 8+.

SUNDAY 19

Boutique Gift Markets Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am5.30pm. Info 029 2087 7959.

Buddy Wakefield The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£8 adv. Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com.

Poetry slam fella, has been here before and met with popularity.

Cardiff Go Dad Run Bute Park, Cardiff. 10.30am, £21.50 to register (10k)/£16.50 (5k).

Info www.godadrun.co.uk.

Runs of 5k and 10k open to men and boys, raising funds for Prostate Cancer UK. Colourful Chemistry Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (At weekends until Sun 26) Cricket: CC2 – Glamorgan v Kent SSE SWALEC, Cardiff.

11am. Info 029 2040 9380.

(Until Wed 22) Cymru Beats 2016 Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 11am.

Info 029 2030 4400. Featuring a screening (at 11am) of the synth documentary I Dream Of Wires.

Dogs Trust Fun Day And Dog Show Margam Park, nr Port Talbot. 10am-4pm. Info 01639 881635.

Felt Bags Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am-4.30pm, £85. Info 029 2048 4611. With Clare Cawte.

Joust! Cardiff Castle. 10am5pm, £10-£15.50. Info 029 2087 8100.

Karaoke Kiwis, Neath.

6-10pm, free. Info 01639 643733.

Karate: Welsh Tournament Sport Wales National Centre, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

9am-6pm. Info 0844 2886116.

Kidsmarkets Family Sale Paget Rooms, Penarth. 11am12.30pm, £1/kids free. Info 07760 802088. Featuring 35 stalls of great quality new and pre-loved baby and children’s items.

Make A Superhero Mask National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 12.30-3.30pm, free.

Info 01792 463980.

Unearthed In A Field Cerbid, nr Haverfordwest. £65 (three days)/£40 teenagers or over-75s/free under-12s/£30 per day. Info www.unearthedinafield.co.uk. (Finishes today) Weber Essential Course Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan. 10am2pm, £99. Info 01443 222716.

A Grill Academy course.

Welsh Game Fair Pembrey Country Park, Carmarthenshire. 9am. Info 07785 975773.

Yoga For Alzheimer’s Japan Room, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 1pm, free.

Info 029 2063 6464.

events MONDAY 20

Cricket: CC2 – Glamorgan v Kent SSE SWALEC, Cardiff.

11am. Info 029 2040 9380.

(Until Wed 22) Hedgehog Helper Morning Venue TBC, nr Builth Wells. £20. Info 01874 749092.

Poetry Night CF24 Project, Cathays, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free.

Info 029 2115 9063. Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival event.

Will The Real Victor Frankenstein Please Stand Up? Drill Hall, Chepstow.

7.30pm, £4/£3. Info 01291 625981. Talk by Iwan Rhys Morus, Professor of History at Aberystwyth University.

Write On Writers Morganstown Village Hall.

6.30-8.30pm. Info 07512 235758.

TUESDAY 21

Cricket: CC2 – Glamorgan v Kent SSE SWALEC, Cardiff.

11am. Info 029 2040 9380.

(Until Wed 22) Explore Books National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10.30am. Info 01792 463980.

On The White Plain: The Search For Mary Shelley Drill Hall, Chepstow. 7.30pm, £4/£3. Info 01291 625981.

Talk by by Fiona Sampson, Professor Of Poetry at the University Of Roehampton.

Tea Dance Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 2-4pm, £4. Info 01656 815995.

WEDNESDAY 22

3G (Genetics And Genomics For The Third Generation) Conference Park Inn, Cardiff. Info walesgenepark@cardiff.ac.uk. A conference primarily for members of the public over the age of fifty about genetics and genomics-related research and advances. There will be a programme of short talks from expert speakers, as well as interactive stands for the public to enjoy. Part of the Wales Festival Of Innovation, which runs in various venues until Thurs 30. They’re listed in full at www.festivalofinnovation. org (some are private events so I’ve left them out).

Cricket: CC2 – Glamorgan v Kent SSE SWALEC, Cardiff.

11am. Info 029 2040 9380.

(Finishes today) Dance Sport: Showcase Sport Wales National Centre, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

5-8pm. Info 01433 691978.

Friends Of The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery: Visit to Stradey Castle, Llanelli Various meeting points TBC, Swansea. 2pm, £8. Info 07738 378839. If you want to go to this, ring Daniel Trivedy on the number above to arrange where to meet.

Gardener’s Question Time Pughs Garden Village, Radyr, Cardiff. 5.30-8pm, £8. Info info@gthc.org.uk. A George Thomas Hospice Care fundraising event.

Open Evening & Bike Sale Cardiff Cycle Workshop, Gabalfa, Cardiff. 5-9pm. Info www.cycletrainingwales. org.uk.

Open Mic Spoken Word Extravaganza Ye Olde Murenger, Newport. 7.30pm, £5/£3. Info 01633 263977.

Featuring Ivy Alvarez and Gillian Brightmore.

Puncture Workshop Cycle

Training Wales, Gabalfa, Cardiff. 7-9pm, £15. Info www. cycletrainingwales.org.uk.

Skill Builder: Tapas Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan. 6-9pm, £90. Info 01443 222716.

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.

Spin Your Own Yarn Little Man Coffee Co, Cardiff. 6.309pm, £10. Info hannah@ greencityevents.co.uk.

Presented by Green City Events.

Wales And Norway In The Life Of Roald Dahl Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 6.45pm, £4. Info 029 2087 7959. Talk

by Donald Sturrock, author of the biography Storyteller: The Life Of Roald Dahl.

THURSDAY 23

A Public Event To Explore Genetics And Epilepsy Institute Of Life Science, Swansea University. Info walesgenepark@cardiff.ac.uk.

A series of talks on genetics and epilepsy, plus an interactive panel discussion with the speakers. A Wales Festival Of Innovation event.

Design Stuff 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 6pm, free. Info 029 2022 8883. Monthly social event about design-related topics.

Essential Llandaff Ghost Walk City Cross, Cathedral Green, Llandaff (meeting point). 9.30pm, £8. Info 07538 878609.

Extreme Sailing Series Harbour Drive, Cardiff Bay. 10am-5pm, free to spectators.

Info 029 2087 7900. Elite level sailing teams battle it out in the Bay, one of eight cities which host this competition.

(Until Sun 26) Hedgehog Helper Morning Venue TBC, nr Builth Wells. £20. Info 01874 749092.

Introduction To Photoshop Workers Gallery, Ynyshir, Rhondda. 11am-2pm, £12.

Info 01443 682034. With tutor Dale Poole.

Penned On The Bont Carnegie House, Bridgend. £4 adv. Info 01656 815757.

Literaure Wales event featuring Amanda Racktraw and Rachel Trezise.

FRIDAY 24

Bingo Lingo The Depot, Cardiff. 6pm, £5. Info www. depotcardiff.co.uk.

Cricket: T20 – Glamorgan v Surrey SSE SWALEC, Cardiff. 6.30pm. Info 029 2040 9380.

Extreme Sailing Series Harbour Drive, Cardiff Bay. 2-5pm, free to spectators. Info 029 2087 7900. (Until Sun 26) Four Bars Swing Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £5. Info 029 2023 9253. Featuring a lindy hop class for beginners, followed by dancing to classic swing tracks.

Gwyl Ifan Folk Dance Festival The Angel Hotel, Cardiff. 8pm, £8/£7 adv.

Info gwylifan@gmail. com. Opening evening of a three-day festival, which will feature a twmpath tonight and take the form of a street parade tomorrow.

Summer Fete Gnoll Primary

School, Neath. 3-5pm. Info 07808 667703.

Terry Hetherington Award Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea. 7pm, free. Info 01792 463980. Readings, celebration and a prize awarded to writers under 30.

Wheelbuilding Cycle Training Wales, Gabalfa, Cardiff. 9.30am-4pm, £95.

Info www.cycletrainingwales. org.uk.

Workshop Bike Sale Cycle Training Wales, Gabalfa, Cardiff. 10am-12pm. Info www.cycletrainingwales. org.uk.

SATURDAY 25

Blaenavon World Heritage Day Blaenavon town centre.

11am-4pm, free. Info 01495 742333. Including a funfair, a miniature steam railway, live music, craft stalls and special offers in the shops Cardiff Does Glastonbury The Printhaus, Canton, Cardiff. 10am-10.30pm. Info 029 2022 0349. Full details TBC but this annual event (well, there was one last year) will include live music from Live music from Siren, The Bakestones, Stone House Band, Old Samuel, No Glory, Darren Eedens, and DJ Bonzai!, plus pizzas from nearby Dusty Knuckle.

Cardiff Independent Comic Expo Masonic Hall, Cardiff. £5 adv. Info comicexpo@ hotmail.co.uk. John Higgins is the guest of honour but there is an impressively long laundry list of comic illustrators, writers, publishers etc for this.

Visit ciceevents.wordpress. com for a fuller rundown.

Cardiff Triathlon Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay (starting point). Free to spectators.

Info 029 2087 7900. Two-day event, on tomorrow also, featuring swimming in the bay itself, cycling around the city and a run in the Cardiff Bay Barrage. Plus various other entertainment for spectators.

Castell Polo presents Polo In The City Pontcanna Fields, Cardiff. 12.30-8.45pm, £25/£15 under-18s/£85 VIP. Info 029 2137 3409. The exclusive event appeals to both men and women in the corporate and leisure market, making it the ideal option for organisations and individuals looking for a sophisticated day out this summer.

Colourful Chemistry Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (At weekends until Sun 26) Crickhowell Craft Fair Clarence Hall Crickhowell.

10am-4pm, £10 to set up a table. Info 01495 524764.

Extreme Sailing Series Harbour Drive, Cardiff Bay. 2-5pm, free to spectators. Info 029 2087 7900. (Until Sun 26) Giants Of The Solar System Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (At weekends until Sun 26) Gwyl Ifan Folk Dance Festival Cardiff city centre / National History Museum, St Fagans. Free. Info gwylifan@ gmail.com. Over a hundred dancers from across Wales, the Netherlands, France and Cornwall will leave the Angel Hotel in Cardiff as a procession through the streets of the capital city, dancing in various locations along the way.

Heroes & Villains YMCA, Swansea. 10am-1pm, free.

Info 07947 363441.

Knife & Fork Beer Festival The Old Swan Inn, Llantwit Major. Free. Info 01446 792230. One-day event showcasing top tipples from these beer producers: Cornish Crown, Great Heck, Vale, Celt, Liverpool Organic, Partners, 4ts, Twisted and VOG. Llandaff Late Night Ghost Walk City Cross, Cathedral Green, Llandaff (meeting point). 10.45pm, £11. Info 07538 878609.

Made It Market St David’s Church, Neath. 10am-3pm, from £15 to set up a stall. Info 07971 242730. Quarterly craft and produce fair.

Pembrokeshire Fish Week Various venues, Pembrokeshire. 9.30am, prices vary per event. Info 01437 776169. This annual event, er, didn’t happen last year, but it’s back for 2016 and features all manner of taster events, demos, workshops, coastal explorations and special meals all based around the locale’s wealth of seafood. Go to www.pembrokeshirefishweek.co.uk for a full schedule.

(Until Sun 3 July) Pigs F#or Beginners Humble By Nature, Penalt, nr Monmouth. 9.45am-4.30pm, £100. Info 01600 714595.

Summer French Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan. 9.30am-3.30pm, £170. Info 01443 222716

Trampoline: League Sport Wales National Centre, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

9am-6pm. Info 0208 5693211.

Working With Plant Dyes Craft In The Bay, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am-4.30pm, £55. Info 029 2048 4611. With Clare Cawte.

SUNDAY 26

Ab Fab Vegan Food Festival Plasnewydd YMCA, Cardiff. 11am-4pm, £1/free kids. Info 029 2070 9292. Also includes a bouncy castle!

They don’t specify if it’s a vegan bouncy castle but it probably is.

Cardiff Triathlon Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay (starting point). Free to spectators.

Info 029 2087 7900.

Colourful Chemistry Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475. (Finishes today) Extreme Sailing Series Harbour Drive, Cardiff Bay. 2-5pm, free to spectators.

Info 029 2087 7900. (Finishes today) Family Fun Day Blaenavon Rugby Club. Free. Info 01495 792878. Organised by Blaenavon Town Team, Bron Afon and Blaenavon Rugby Club itself, this will feature sports activities, entertainment for the children, food and many stalls.

Giants Of The Solar System Techniquest, Cardiff Bay. Info 029 2047 5475.

(Finishes today) Hedgehog Helper Morning Venue TBC, nr Builth Wells. £20. Info 01874 749092.

JCP Swansea Half Marathon Oxford Street, Swansea (start and finish point). 8.45am (wheelchair race)/9am (wave 1)/9.10am (wave 2), £35 to enter/£33 unaffiliated. Info enquiries@ swanseahalfmarathon.co.uk.

Going along Swansea Bay to the Mumbles and back.

Karaoke Kiwis, Neath.

6-10pm, free. Info 01639 643733.

Pembrokeshire Fish Week Various venues, Pembrokeshire. 9.30am, prices vary per event. Info 01437 776169. (Until Sun 3 July)

MONDAY 27

Joy Of Living Mindfulness Group Meeting Gaia Yoga Studio, Roath, Cardiff. 7.309pm, free (donations welcome). Info 07412 346054.

Pembrokeshire Fish Week Various venues, Pembrokeshire. 9.30am, prices vary per event. Info 01437 776169. (Until Sun 3 July)

TUESDAY 28

Essential Ghost Tour Cardiff Castle. 10pm, £11.50.

Info 07538 878609.

Explore Books National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 10.30am. Info 01792 463980.

Meet The Conservator:

PAUL MASON St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Mon 6 June Tickets: £15. Info: 029 2087 8444 / www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk A regular, strident and sometimes lone voice in modern British media, you may have seen Paul Mason on your television – until a few months ago, as part of the Channel 4 News team, and also on Newsnight and the like. You may have perused his newspaper columns or personal blogposts, which are invariably ruthless in skewering their targets (the global financial system, and the capitalist one which props it up). You may have even purchased his recent book Postcapitalism – A Guide To Our Future, which makes a case for socialism driven by technology over dogma. And if none of those apply to you yet pique your interest, you have a chance to see him discuss it onstage in Cardiff, speaking to Jane Davidson.

BUZZ 67

live music Archaeology National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff.

1.05pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951.

Pembrokeshire Fish Week Various venues, Pembrokeshire. 9.30am, prices vary per event. Info 01437 776169. (Until Sun 3 July)

WEDNESDAY 29

Elliecoptor Hoops Hula Hoop Class Plasnewydd YMCA, Cardiff. 8-9pm, £5.

Info elliecoptor@hotmail. com. Last Wednesday of every month.

Essential Llandaff Ghost Walk City Cross, Cathedral Green, Llandaff (meeting point). 9.30pm, £8. Info 07538 878609.

Games Wales 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 6.30pm, free. Info 029 2022 8883. Monthly social meetup for video-games developers.

Pembrokeshire Fish Week Various venues, Pembrokeshire. 9.30am, prices vary per event. Info 01437 776169. (Until Sun 3 July) Scriveners Writers’ Group Royal Exchange, Brynmawr.

8pm. Info 01495 753629.

Summer Pruning Of Figs National History Museum, St Fagans. 2-3pm, £2. Info 029 2057 3500.

Tristan Gooley: How

To Read Water Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 7.45pm, £9.50-£11.50. Info 01874 611622. Natural navigator and bestselling author tells us how to spot the clues, signs and patterns in the water all around us.

Wriggle Lunchtime Talk National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 1.05pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. Supporting our exhibition Wriggle! The Wonderful World Of Worms on display until January.

THURSDAY 30

Gemau Cymru: Weightlifting Sport Wales National Centre, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. 2-8.30pm.

Info 029 2063 5688.

Pembrokeshire Fish Week Various venues, Pembrokeshire. 9.30am, prices vary per event. Info 01437 776169. (Until Sun 3 July) Taith Iaith National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff.

1.05pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. Monthly session for Welsh learners.

Welsh Innovation In Wound Prevention And Treatment Welsh Wound Innovation Centre, Pontyclun.

Info info@welshwoundnetwork.org. A Wales Festival Of Innovation event, open to anyone with an interest in

how wounds are prevented and treated.

live WEDNESDAY 1

Acoustic Open Mic Night The Bunker, Cardiff. 7pm, free. Info james@thebunkercardiff.com. Every Wednesday.

Blackhawk Big Band Whiteheads Sports & Social Club, Bassaleg, Newport. 8pm, £8. Info malc@dancebands. plus.com. South Wales Big Band Society gig.

Blue Note Bistro Sessions Café Jazz, Cardiff. 6-9pm.

Info 029 2038 7026. Smooth/ mellow jazz while you eat your tea, every Wednesday this month.

Cancer Bats + Continents + When We Were Wolves Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £11. Info 029 2023 2199.

Choralia! Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10/£8. Info 029 2039 1391. Choral gems from across the continents.

Duski Jazzland, Swansea.

8.30-11pm, £10. Info 07802 912789.

Galleons + Bear & The Woods + Jess Bishop +

Russell Swallow Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £4/£3. Info 029 2039 7933. A Folk In The Owl’s Nest night.

Glen Manby Quintet Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

8pm, £10/£8. Info 029 2030 4400.

Jazz Night Clwb Y Bont, Pontypridd. 7pm. Info 01443 491424. First Wednesday of every month.

Jazz Wednesdays Warehouse54, Newport. 8pm.

Info 01633 259144. In-house live jazz band every week.

Joe Webb & Jeff Simkis Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

John Nicholas The Riverfront, Newport. 8pm, £5/£4.25. Info 01633 656757.

Acoustic guitarist.

Open Jam Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

Every Wednesday. Expect to hear jazz, blues, rock or ska here.

Open Mic Market Street Club, Barry. 8pm. Info 01446 733863. Every Wednesday.

Senser + Red Racer + The Boom Sons The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12 adv. Info 07590 471888. British rap/ rock/hippy waffle crossover act who rose to prominence in the 90s and, reformed, now visit Cardiff about once a year.

The Rumblestrutters Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 8pm, £8.

Info 0845 2263510.

THURSDAY 2

THE PRETTY THINGS The Scene Club, Swansea, Thurs 9 June Tickets: £18. Info: www.thesceneclub.co.uk True witnesses to the birth of rock music, The Pretty Things formed in the early 1960s from a shapeless, London-based protozoan which, on splitting in two, also created The Rolling Stones. Despite scattered appearances in the pop charts later that decade, their appeal has generally been of the cult, as opposed to stadium-filling, kind – yet there was a new Pretty Things studio album as recently as last year, featuring seventysomething OGs Phil May and Dick Taylor plus a brace of urchins who look barely out of short trousers. That lineup, also featuring drummer Frank Holland, will be in Swansea this month to kick out a set of R&B, blues-rock and psychedelia – hopefully giving a chunk of their wild, pioneering 1968 concept album S.F Sorrow an airing.

Bass 12 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff.

7pm, £5/£3. Info 029 2022 8883. Brass band who knock out contemporary covers, a la Hot 8 Brass Band etc.

Buck & Evans + Aled Clifford Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £11 adv.

Info 029 2023 2199. Local 70s-styled soft rock band headline. This gig is (a) a Download Festival warmup and (b) sold out.

Busted + Wheatus + Emma Blackery Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 7pm, from £41.50. Info 029 2022 4488.

They sold out this venue in May and they may do so in June again, but equally may not.

Corn Potato String Band Cwtch Coffee, Pembroke Dock.

8.30pm, £12 adv. Info 01646 687635. Old timey American music.

Death Remains + Lay Siege Fuel Bar, Cardiff. 7pm, £5. Info 07970 063107.

Grown Up Music The Full Moon, Cardiff. 7pm, free. Info info@thefullmooncardiff.com.

Jam session presented by Pi & Hash.

Hackensack Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £5-£10. Info 029 2038 7026. Pay scale is based on how generous you’re feeling. No pressure, like.

Hands Like Houses + I The Mighty + Dead! + The Gospel Youth Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10.

Info 029 2023 2199.

JimJam Open Mic Session The Claude Hotel, Albany Road, Cardiff. 9pm, free.

Info 07557 505123. Every Thursday. This week’s guest band is Riff Raff.

MTW: Make An Aria Royal Welsh College Of Music &

Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2039 1391.

A public masterclass of five new arias exploring the theme of Immigration.

Oceans Ate Alaska + Fathoms + Loathe + Revealer + Ferinus The Bunker, Cardiff. 7pm, £6 adv.

Info james@thebunkercardiff. com.

Open Mic Night Lyceum Tavern, Newport. 8.30pm.

Info 01633 858636. Every Thursday except when there’s a guest on.

Pipedream + Stillwave + Saltwater Sun Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £4/£3. Info 029 2039 7933.

Pop Factor The Concert Miners’ Institute, Blackwood.

2.30pm, £15/£13. Info 01495 227206. Modern pop tribute acts. “Meet the cast after the show! Pose for photo opportunities and get cast autographs!” They always mention this golden opportunity when this show comes around and it never fails to baffle me who would actually take them up on it.

REPCo: 20th Century Piano Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7pm, £5/£3. Info 029 2039 1391.

FRIDAY 3

A Night Of Soul And Motown Hamptons, Penarth.

7.30pm, £38. Info 029 2070 5391. With Glen Leon of The Soul Survivors. A five-course meal is included in the price.

Bandaoke Porter’s, Cardiff.

8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com. “Sing with a fully rehearsed band and become the Popstar you always dreamed of being.”

Also on Fri 17.

Be Bop A Lula Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 7.30pm, £21 adv. Info 01633 868239.

Celebrating the music of Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Billy Fury and Roy Orbison.

Cardboard Fox The Chattery, Swansea. 7.30pm, £10. Info 01792 473276.

Bluesgrass/folk from Bath.

Clifftop Reggae Party 2016 Secret location near Aberystwyth. £70 adv (three days)/£35 teens/free under12s. Info skarumbahifi@ yahoo.co.uk. What it says on the tin, apart of course from the location, which you’ll have to buy a ticket to find out. Here’s who’s playing over three days (more TBC too I think): Earl 16 & The Gideon Band, Solo Banton & The Uppercut Band, El Fata & Dreadsquad, Vibronics with Madu Messenger & Parvez, I-mitri, Powersteppers ft Molara, Jam Jah, Mungos HiFi (DJ set & MC), Friendly Fire Band, King Solomon, ​ African Simba, Roots Garden (DJ sets & artists), Haille Bless, Wayne McArthur & The International Players, Dogdub, Dubverzion, Maxi Dread and Earthdoctor. (Until Sun 5) Colum Regan St David’s Hotel, Cardiff Bay. 9pm, free.

Info 029 2045 4045.

Dreaming Of Kate Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £11 adv. Info 029 2023 2199. Kate Bush tribute.

Elvis Club Soputh Wales 68 Special Night:

Scott Hayward + Paul Campbell + Chez West Cathays Sports & Social Club, Cardiff. 8pm, £4 adv. Info 029 2022 0906.

Fatima + Wyles & Simpson + Daudi Matsiko Tramshed, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15 adv. Info 0117 9259273.

One of several Festival Of Voice events at this venue.

Fatima is a newish UK/ Swedish soul singer who released an album last year to good reviews.

Fire In The Mountain V Cwmnewidion Isaf, Cnwch Coch, Aberystwyth. 12pm, £110 weekend/£95 NUS/£60 teens/£30 2-12-year-olds/£5 under-2s. Info www.fireinthemountain.co.uk. Small but cutely formed festival which leans towards folk, bluegrass etc, and emphasises jam sessions, workshops etc. Lineup (schedule TBC): Foghorn Stringband Cajun Country Revival, Corn Potato String Band, The Turbans, Mik Artistik’s Ego Trip, The Gentle Good, Ewan McLennan, Martha Tilston, Murder Murder, Elephant Sessions, Alaw, Horseman And The Upper Cut Band, Screamin’ Miss Jackson And The Slap Ya Mama Big Band, Stompin Dave And His Bluegrass Band, Darren Eedens, Heal The Last Stand, Francesca Ter-Berg & Flora Curzon, The King Driscolls, The Dylan Thomas Sound Project, Mari Randle, Hedge Gods, Lord Strange, Bog Standard Stringband, Jock and Vera, Root And Branch, Mat Skinner, Bear Hunter, Prinny Ave. Jazz Band, Alex Gavaghan And The Boss Jockeys, Ruth Theodore, Bouche and Buffalo Skinners.

(Until Sun 5) Fleetwood Bac The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12 adv. Info 07590 471888. Tribute act.

Georgia + Summer Ghost Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

8pm, £12. Info 029 2030 4400. Festival Of Voice show for newish soul/r’n’b/electronic sort signed to Domino Records.

Glas Café Jazz, Cardiff. 9pm, £4. Info 029 2038 7026. Blues. *Helen Love + Sweet Benfica Le Pub, Newport.

7.30pm, £8 adv. Info 01633 221477. They live in Swansea, support Cardiff and are playing in Newport – it’s digital indiepop zealots Helen Love!

Idge Logan The Thomas Arms, Llanelli. 9pm, free. Info 01554 772043. *John Cale + Gwenno St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 8pm, £39/£34. Info 029 2087 8444.

Festival Of Voice event.

John Nicholas + Fire Fences + Julia Harris Hobo’s, Bridgend. 7.30pm, free. Info www.hobosmusicvenue.com.

Keith Rock Ty Newydd, Barry. 9pm, free. Info 01446 407767.

Live Acoustic Night The Pilot, Penarth. Free. Info 029 2071 0615. On the first Friday of each month.

Michael Leslie The Twelve Knights, Margam. 9pm, free.

Info 01639 882381.

Mike Dennis Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £4/£3. Info 029 2039 7933. Album launch

JUST ANNOUNCED FOR JULY: EASY STAR ALL STARS (The Globe, Cardiff, Tue 12) BASEMENT + DINOSAUR PILE-UP (The Globe, Thurs 14) RAM CARDIFF BBQ (Tramshed, Cardiff, Sat 16) RAGING SPEEDHORN (Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Sat 16) KEITH TIPPETT (Rhos Y Gilwen, Cilgerran, Wed 27) SASHA (Tramshed, Fri 29) A WILHELM SCREAM (Clwb Ifor Bach, Sun 31) BUZZ 68

live music gig.

Moongazer Band The Vivian Arms, Swansea. 9pm, free.

Info 01792 516194.

Open Night The Ivy Bush, Pontardawe. 8pm. Info huwpudner@ntlworld.com. A Valley Folk Club night.

Paul Ashton The Windsor, Penarth. 9pm, free. Info 029 2070 8675.

Paul Dark The White Horse, Coychurch, nr Bridgend. 9pm, free. Info 01656 652583.

Pentreffest Noz St Fagans Village Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm.

Info 029 2023 2970. Monthly folk night.

Piss Viper + Chaos Trigger + A Vulgar Picture + Among The Dead The Scene Club, Swansea. 7pm, free. Info 07730 432166.

Pull Duo The Duke Of Wellington, Cowbridge.

9.30pm, free. Info 01446 773592.

Quercus Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £15. Info 029 2039 1391. Festival Of Voice concert featuring June Tabor and Iain Ballamy.

Roy Orbison & The Travelling Wilburys Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £20.50/£18.50. Info 01792 475715. Tribute show.

Rustavi Ensemble Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff. 7pm, £20.

Info 029 2056 4554. Festival Of Voice event, featuring Georgian choir plus Welshies Côr Y Gyrlais.

The 4th Kind Kiwis, Cardiff.

10pm, free. Info 029 2039 8965.

The Empty Page + Flowerpot + Stay Voiceless The Dolls House, Abertillery. 7pm. Info 01495 213300. Rock bands from Manchester, Bristol and south Wales.

The Rockin’ Sinners The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free.

Info info@thefullmooncardiff. com.

Tom Jenkins + Eleri Angharad + Cameran Trowbridge + Laura Power Globetrotters Bar, Pontypridd. 7pm, £5. Info 01443 492558. Presented by Young Promoters Network.

Toyah Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 7.30pm. Info 029 2089 0862. An “up close and personal” acoustic gig. Let’s hope Robert Fripp doesn’t find out!! Anyway this has sold all its tickets. *United Vibrations 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 10pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2022 8883. Afro-fusion kinda band from London, sound pretty good to me.

Unplugged And Acoustic Monthly Group Cellar Bar, Cardigan. 7.30pm, £3. Info 07818 056599.

Vento Em Madeira Quintet Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea.

7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 01792 602060. Samba, Afro-Brazilian folklore, jazz and classical is combined here. In Brecon tomorrow; Cardiff on Sun 5.

Wild Card Carnegie House, Bridgend. 8pm, £8 adv. Info 01656 815757. Afro-jazz and hard bop band.

SATURDAY 4

Aubrey Parsons The Sycamore Tree, Cowbridge.

9pm, free. Info 01656 652827.

Backwater Roll Blues Band Cwmbran RFC, Pontnewydd, Cwmbran.

7.30pm, £8/£6 members. Info 01633 483238. A Borough Blues Club gig.

Bruce Anderson St David’s Hotel, Cardiff Bay. 9pm, free.

Info 029 2045 4045.

Clifftop Reggae Party 2016 Secret location near Aberystwyth. £70 adv (three days)/£35 teens/free under12s. Info skarumbahifi@ yahoo.co.uk. (Until Sun 5) Fire In The Mountain V Cwmnewidion Isaf, Cnwch Coch, Aberystwyth. 12pm, £110 weekend/£95 NUS/£60 teens/£30 2-12-year-olds/£5 under-2s. Info www.fireinthemountain.co.uk. (Until Sun 5) Girlband Porter’s, Cardiff.

8pm, free. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

Higher Learning Tramshed, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £20 adv.

Info 0117 9259273. Festival Of Voice night, curated by recently-revived local hip-hop promoters, features Rodney P & Skitz, The Four Owls, The Mouse Outfit, MC Melo, Mr Phormula and DJ Jaffa.

Icons Of Filth + Pizza Tramp + UK’s Lowest + The D-Teez The Moon Club, Cardiff. 4pm, £8. Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com. Punk bands playing a benefit for Cardiff YMCA. More bands TBC, hence the 4pm start.

Ivan Moult + The Brwmys + Shop Girls M.A.D.E. Gallery & Shop, Cardiff. 7pm, £5/£4 adv. Info 029 2047 3373.

Jean Toussaint’s Roots & Herbs Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £13. Info 029 2039 1391. British jazz ensemble.

Keith Rock The Red Dragon, Bridgend. 9pm, free. Info 01656 654753.

Last Night Of The Proms Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7pm, £20. Info 0845 2263510.

Featuring Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers, Angelicus Chorale, Dunvant Male Choir, Llanelli Choral Society, The British Sinfonietta Orchestra, Gwawr Edwards, Huw Tregelles Williams, Jane Jewell and Rhoda Pickens and your host Jeremy Hywel.

Metal To The Masses South Wales Grand Final Fuel Bar, Cardiff. 8pm. Info 07970 063107.

Nachtmahr + Shivr The Scene Club, Swansea. 7pm, £13 adv. Info 07730 432166.

Austrian industrial acts, big on the scene and that. *Nikolai Galen Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 8pm, £12.

Info 029 2030 4400. Festival Of Voice show for a guy who used to sing for a weird 80s indie band called The Shrubs, under the name Nick Hobbs.

For this he’ll be interpretating Jacques Brel songs, which sounds good!

Owen Money’s Jukebox Heroes Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 7.30pm, £15.

Info 01646 695267.

Parcs + Dusty Cut Le Pub, Newport. 8pm, £5. Info 01633 221477. Weirdo blues-rock dude, around for over 20 years in various forms, headlines. *Peski Nacht 006 Jacob’s Antiques, Cardiff. 1pm-2am, £12 adv. Info 029 2039 0939.

Welsh label Peski Records is winding up its operation, but bowing out with this Festival Of Voice-affiliated alldayer.

Sets from Plyci, R. Seiliog, Y Pencadlys, Accü, Twinfield, Llwybr Llaethog, Anelog, Farm Hand, David Mysterious and Ffrancon, plus special guests, are in the offing.

Resident House Band Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8-10pm, £2.

Info 029 2038 7026. Every Saturday.

Sacrilege + Revival The Patriot, Crumlin. 8pm, £3. Info 01495 247178.

Sam & Jade Brown’s, Laugharne. 8.30pm. Info 01994 427688. Local brothersister duo.

Shop Girls + The Brwmys + Ivan Moult M.A.D.E. Gallery & Shop, Cardiff. 7pm, £4. Info 029 2047 3373. First of two Summertime Sessions evenings in here, the next being on Fri 10.

Sianed Jones Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 5pm, £10. Info 029 2030 4400. Festival Of Voice show.

Stereophonics + The Vaccines + Band Of Skulls Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff.

3.30pm, £40 standing/£47.50 seated. Info 0845 3451400.

Submarine Kiwis, Cardiff.

10pm, free. Info 029 2039 8965.

The Droppers Neck + The Dynamite Pussy Club + The Boom Sons The Dolls House, Abertillery. 8pm. Info 01495 213300. Punk and psychobilly.

The Edsel Furys The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info info@thefullmooncardiff.com.

The Harry Fontaine Band The Lounge, Newport. Free.

Info 01633 259144. Playing as part of the Live:Lounge night here.

The Jonestown Flood + Time Of The Mouth + A Hunderd Suns + Bag Of Bones + Torque + Soviets The Dragonffli, Pontypool.

7pm. Info gigs@thedragonffli. com. Gig to celebrate this venue’s second birthday.

The Simon & Garfunkel Story Miners’ Institute, Blackwood. 7.30pm, £19/£18.

Info 01495 227206.

The Ukeaholics The Vivian Arms, Swansea. 9pm, free.

Info 01792 516194.

Ultimate Bowie Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £18. Info 01792 475715.

Ultimate Floyd Rhondda Hotel, Porth. 7pm, £5. Info 01443 682388.

Vento Em Madeira Quintet feat. Monica Salmaso Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon.

6.30pm, £12/£10. Info 01874 611622.

Wales 1,000 St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7pm, £10-£25. Info 029 2087 8444. Festival Of Voice event.

WNO COmmunity Chorus Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 4pm, £10. Info 0844 8700887. Celebrating 70 years of Welsh National Opera.

SUNDAY 5

Aubrey Parsons Porter’s, Cardiff. 9pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

Beyond Borders St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7pm, £9-£18.

Info 029 2087 8444. Festival Of Voice event, celebrating the many vocal styles and languages of Wales, Scotland, England and Ireland.

Clifftop Reggae Party 2016 Secret location near Aberystwyth. £70 adv (three days)/£35 teens/free under12s. Info skarumbahifi@ yahoo.co.uk. (Finishes today) Fire In The Mountain V Cwmnewidion Isaf, Cnwch Coch, Aberystwyth. 12pm, £110 weekend/£95 NUS/£60 teens/£30 2-12-year-olds/£5 under-2s. Info www.fireinthemountain.co.uk. (Finishes today) Flavia Coelho Tramshed, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £14 adv. Info 0117 9259273. Festival Of Voice event.

Jean Louis Raimbaud Rhos Y Gilwen, Pembrokeshire.

12-2pm, £15 adv. Info 01239 841387. Playing something called a ‘Gypsy Jazz Brunch’, the edible part of which is included in the price.

Minnie Birch + Zoe Konez Sunflower & I, Cardiff Bay. 5.30pm, £15 adv. Info 029 2048 4211. Two English singer-songwriters. Price includes food.

Modern Maori Quartet Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 5.45pm, £18/£15. Info 029 2087 7959.

Cabaret style crooning from this New Zealand ensemble.

Nigel Dee Brown’s, Laugharne. 8.30pm. Info 01994 427688. Sunday Session gig, one of which is here every week.

Rob Barbour The Cornwall, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2030 3947.

Rufus Wainwright Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £19-£54. Info 029 2063 6464. Festival Of Voice show for showman of repute, interviewed in Buzz a couple of issues back.

Vento Em Madeira Quintet Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £13. Info 029 2039 1391.

Vogue Dots + Cotton Wolf + Alphabetic + Ani Glass Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5/£4. Info 029 2039 7933.

MONDAY 6

Atrium Live Music Night Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm. Info 029 2038 7026. Every Monday.

Live Jazz Noah’s Yard, Swansea. 8pm. Info 01792 447360. Every Monday.

Live Original Music Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com. Presented

by U&I Radio. Every Monday.

Monday Club 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2022 8883. Local singersongwriters perform in the main bar every week.

Open Mic Night Ex Servicemens Club, Taffs Well, nr Cardiff. 7.30pm. Info 029 2025 0731.

REPCo: Linus Fenton Quintet Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

7.45pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2039 1391. Jazz-pop ensemble.

REPCo: Pictures At An Exhibition Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 1.15pm, £6/£3. Info 029 2039 1391.

Ukulele Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free.

Info 029 2021 2509. Every Monday, with The Plucking Fourstrings.

TUESDAY 7

Acoustic Tuesday South Riverside Community Development Centre, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £5. Info 029 2030 4400. Regular event led by pioneering local musicians and singers.

An Evening With Bryn Terfel And Friends Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff. 7pm, £32.

Info 029 2056 4554. Festival Of Voice event, on tomorrow also.

concert.

REPCo: Flash Contemporary Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 1.15pm, £5/£3. Info 029 2039 1391.

REPCo: Quartet For The End Of Time Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7pm, £5/£3. Info 029 2039 1391. Messiaen, as performed by the Messy Anne Players.

Spike’s 5 & Dime Band Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £4.50/£4/£2 NUS. Info 029 2038 7026.

The Story Of Guitar Heroes Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £20. Info

London ensemble United Vibrations are hitting up Cardiff's 10 Feet Tall venue on Fri 3, and their melange of funk, disco and Afro-centric jazz should splash bright primary colour over its uniform black walls. Gilles Peterson is a big fan, as you might expect.

Ayria + Inertia + Ghost Story Fuel Bar, Cardiff. 7pm, £8 adv. Info 07970 063107.

Trio of acts from the 80s pop end of the modern goth scene.

Headliner is from Toronto.

BBC NOW: Elgar Cello Concerto Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £10-£12. Info 029 2063 6464.

Also featuring a premiere of a new symphony by John Pickard of Bristol.

Capital City Jazz Orchestra Dempseys, Cardiff.

8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Community Samba Band – Practise Dates Westenders Hall, Llanfaes, Brecon. 6-8pm, £4/£2 under-16s. Info sambabrecon@yahoo.co.uk. Every Tuesday.

Dan Patlansky + Tristan Mackay The Globe, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £17.50 adv. Info 07590 471888. Blues.

Hugh Masekela & Larry Willis New Theatre, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £10-£25. Info 029 2087 8889. Festival Of Voice show for South African musical icon and New York jazzer.

Open Mic The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, free. Info 01497 821762. Now on every Tuesday.

Open Mic Night Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com. Every Tuesday.

Petrol Girls + Joilette + This Is Wreckage + The Bellamys Gwdihw, Cardiff.

8pm, £7/£6 adv. Info 029 2039 7933. Punk bands of various types. Joliette are from Mexico.

REPCo: Collective 31; Illuminations Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 8pm, £5/£3. Info 029 2039 1391. Audiovisual

01792 475715. In which a guy called Phil plays guitar (over 20 of them in fact) in the style of some of the greatest six-string slingers of all time.

I certainly hope that [wanky obscure guitarist who obviously wouldn’t be included] is included!

Van Morrison & Bryn Terfel Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8.30pm, £50-£82. Info 029 2063 6464.

Festival Of Voice teamup.

Wheatus The Scene Club, Swansea. 7pm, £15 adv. Info 07730 432166. Inprobably, these guys sold out this venue the other month, well in advance. So it might be sold out again by the time you read this. I just don’t know.

WEDNESDAY 8

Acoustic Open Mic Night The Bunker, Cardiff. 7pm, free. Info james@thebunkercardiff.com.

Allusondrugs + Fizzy Blood + Disjoy Le Pub, Newport. 8pm. Info 01633 221477.

An Evening With Bryn Terfel And Friends Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff. 7pm, £32.

Info 029 2056 4554.

Anna Calvi New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £13-£28. Info 029 2087 8889. Festival Of Voice show.

Blue Note Bistro Sessions Café Jazz, Cardiff. 6-9pm. Info 029 2038 7026.

Brandon Allen & Dave Cottle Trio Jazzland, Swansea. 8.30-11pm, £10. Info 07802 912789.

Brawlers + Blackhole + Masts Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8. Info 029 2023 2199.

DB Big Band Whiteheads Sports & Social Club,

JUST ANNOUNCED FOR AUGUST: DE LA SOUL (Newport Centre, Wed 3) KAYA FESTIVAL (Margam County Park, Port Talbot, Thurs 4-Sun 7) ODYSSEY (Ex-Servicemens Social Club, Taffs Well, Sat 6) WAR ON WOMEN (Le Pub, Newport, Sat 6) WILLIS EARL BEAL (The Globe, Wed 10) HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS (The Scene Club, Swansea, Tue 17) ARCH ENEMY + SOILWORK BUZZ 69

live music Bassaleg, Newport. 8pm, £8.

Info malc@dancebands.plus. com. South Wales Big Band Society gig.

Elliot Glavin Trio Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Folk Night Clwb Y Bont, Pontypridd. 7pm. Info 01443 491424. Second Wednesday of every month.

Jamie Woon + Jalen N’Gonda Tramshed, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £16 adv. Info 0117 9259273. Festival Of Voice event.

Jazz Wednesdays Warehouse54, Newport. 8pm.

Info 01633 259144.

Mariza Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £19-£34. Info 029 2063 6464.

Festival Of Voice show for Portugese fado singing star.

Norma Jean + Palm Reader + Continents + All To Ruin The Scene Club, Swansea. 7pm, £10 adv. Info 07730 432166. US metalcore sorts headline. I think they were god botherers but maybe shrugged that off at some point.

Open Jam Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

Open Mic Market Street Club, Barry. 8pm. Info 01446 733863.

Open Mic Night NosDa, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2037 8866. With host Grace Hartrey. Free drink for performers.

REPCo: Copland Ensemble Royal Welsh College Of Music

& Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8/£5. Info 029 2039 1391.

REPCo: Jazz Concert Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 1.15pm, £7/£4. Info 029 2039 1391.

Ritchie Parish Ritchie Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club. 7.30pm, £8/£5. Info 01443 226892. A Llantrisant Folk Club night.

Tir Na N’og Burnett’s Hill Chapel, Martletwy, Pembrokeshire. 7.30pm, £10 adv. Info 01646 651725. Irish folk-rock band from the early 70s, recently reformed.

Titus Andronicus Gwdihw, Cardiff. 9pm, £12/£10 adv. Info 029 2039 7933. See Music.

THURSDAY 9

Alien Ant Farm Y Plas, Cardiff University Students Union. 7.30pm, £22 adv. Info 029 2078 1458.

Allan Yn Y Fan + Malinky Memorial Hall, Newbridge.

7pm, £6/£5 adv. Info 01495 243252. Two Welsh folk bands.

In Llanwrtyd Wells tomorrow.

Broadway: A Night At The Musicals Miners’ Institute, Blackwood. 7.30pm, £15.50£23.50. Info 01495 227206.

Castles + Winter Coat + Rhodri Brooks & Eugene Capper + Desert Fevers Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £4/£3 adv. Info 029 2039 7933.

Derek Gripper Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells. 8pm, £12/£10. Info 01982 552555.

See Music. In Cardigan tomorrow. *Femi Kuti & The Positive

live review BILLY OCEAN Tramshed, Cardiff, Wed 11 May

Force + Mbongwana Star St David’s Hall, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £15-£25. Info 029 2087 8444. Festival Of Voice event. See Upfront for an interview with Femi.

JimJam Open Mic Session The Claude Hotel, Albany Road, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 07557 505123. This week’s guest band is The Mighty Handful. *John Grant + Meilyr Jones Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £19-£34. Info 029 2063 6464.

Festival Of Voice show.

Mass Collective Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

Open Mic Night Lyceum Tavern, Newport. 8.30pm. Info 01633 858636.

Pedro Asencio Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £6/£5. Info 029 2038 7026.

REPCo: Acacella Concert Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 9.30pm, free. Info 029 2039 1391.

Taking place in the foyer.

Acacella is the RWCMD’s cello orchestra.

REPCo: Opera Double Bill Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2039 1391.

REPCo: Symphonic Stories Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £6/£4. Info 029 2039 1391.

Scritti Politti + Alexis Taylor Tramshed, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £22 adv. Info 0117 9259273. Festival Of Voice event. You should be able to

read an interview with Green Gartside from Scritti Politti Upfront.

Slowly Rolling Camera Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

8pm, £15/£12. Info 029 2030 4400. Festival Of Voice show.

The Artefacts From The Museum The Open Hearth, Sebastopol, Pontypool.

7.30pm, £3. Info 01495 763752. This month’s edition of the Open Hearth Acoustic night, on the second Thursday of every month. TAFTM feature the night’s main organiser Jon Airdrie, who has a new CD, Rope And Rags, out now.

The Attix + Chapter And Verse + Magnu Fuel Bar, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 07970 063107.

The Hot Sardines New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £9-£18. Info 029 2087 8889.

New York retro-jazz ensemble plays Festival Of Voice show.

The Mercury Project Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 7.30pm, £5-£16. Info 01874 611622.

Sinfonia Cymru, in the form of a 23-piece orchestra, present a classical reimagining of “Freddie Mercury’s music” – which on closer inspection means Queen songs, rather than a set drawn wholly from Mr. Bad Guy and the one he did for the Olympics. In Llanelli tomorrow; Cardiff on Sat 11; Newport on Sun 12.

The Pretty Things The Scene Club, Swansea. 7pm, £18 adv. Info 07730 432166.

House Of Rock’n’Blues

present infamous British psych-rock band, who formed over 50 years ago and whose current lineup includes two members who look literally quarter the age of the original guys.

Tibet + The Hearts + White Room The Moon Club, Cardiff. 8.30pm, £4 adv. Info info@thefullmooncardiff.com.

Woman’s Hour The Gate, Cardiff. 8pm, £5. Info 029 2048 3344. Festival Of Voice performance in which this British indie band unveil a new conceptual performance featuring sign language and audiovisual elements.

Yak + Cabbage Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8. Info 029 2023 2199. Buzz’s Jaydon was very enthused by Yak’s live show a few months back, so they’ve come back just for him. Sike, you can go too.

FRIDAY 10

2 Tickets 2 The Gun Show Kiwis, Cardiff. 10pm, free. Info 029 2039 8965.

Allan Yn Y Fan + Malinky Victoria Hall, Llanwrtyd Wells.

7pm, £6/£5 adv. Info 01591 610487.

Anonymous Iconoclasts The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info info@thefullmooncardiff.com.

Aubrey Parsons The Windsor, Penarth. 9pm, free.

Info 029 2070 8675.

Ben Huws The Hen & Chickens, Abergavenny. 9pm, free. Info 01873 853613.

Benn Willis The Phoenix,

Eighties icon Billy Ocean span and shuffled his way into Cardiff as the heavens opened, but the bad weather couldn’t dampen the excitement of the diehard Ocean fans who lined up around the block. The Tramshed was sold out with middleaged women and men who looked as if this was the one time a year they’re allowed out of the suburbs, but they were so into the whole experience of the night, I have to admit it was really energising. I haven’t been to a gig in a long time where the venue was packed out before the supporting bands came on.

With chants of “BILLY... BILLY... BILLY” swirling around the room, Ocean danced onto the stage as the crowed exploded with more cheers. The sheer charisma that Ocean evokes is very reminiscent of the old Vegas crooners like Sinatra, Martin or Sammy Davis Jr. The crowd lapped it up, singing and dancing along to every song he smoothly belted out.

The strength of Ocean’s vocals is pretty mindblowing: being 66, most of his musical peers have hung up their coats due to their lack of vocal range, but Ocean is still here, and still hitting those high notes.

The setlist was filled to the brim with hits like Caribbean Queen, Suddenly and When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going. However, the crowd really responded to a cover of No Woman No Cry, erupting in a slow jam that could have exported you to the beaches of Jamaica. I was completely elated after the show and floored by Ocean’s flawless performance. words and photo JAYDON MARTIN

Gorslas, Llanelli. 9pm, free.

Info 01269 844438.

Bicycle Thieves + Concave Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7pm, £5. Info 029 2023 2199.

Colum Regan Tempus Bar, St David’s Hotel, Cardiff Bay. 9pm, free. Info 029 2045 4045.

Derek Gripper Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan. 8pm, £12/£10. Info 01239 621200.

Dinner On The Orient Express Hamptons, Penarth.

7.30pm, £38. Info 029 2070 5391. With Glen Leon of The Soul Survivors. Seven courses of food plus music by a female duo, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Donna Marie The Twelve Knights, Margam. 9pm, free.

Info 01639 882381.

Elkie Brooks Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 7.30pm, £25.50.

Info 01656 815995. Popular UK blues-rock singer. Real name Elaine Bookbinder.

What a name!

Gower Folk Festival The Greyhound Inn, Gower, Swansea. 5-11.30pm, £7-£16 day/£26-£63 weekend. Info 01792 850803. Annual music and folk dance weekender.

Today features Karen Pierce & Ken Humphreys, Kantref, Josefina Paulson & Jonas Åkerlund and Hérétique (marquee); Annette Davies and Gareth Cornfield (workshop tent). (Until Sun 12) Hip Route + The Starling Radicals + Grace Hartrey + The Garden Party + Luke Bennett NosDa, Cardiff.

7pm, free. Info 029 2037 8866.

Hits Of The Blitz with Liz Tiley The Met, Abertillery.

71pm, £8. Info 01495 355800.

Price includes sandwiches and cake, a “wartime lunch” as it’s described by The Met. HM The Queen’s 90s Birthday Celebration Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 1.15pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2039 1391.

With the Royal Welsh College Brass Band, who may or may not include a prankhappy staunch republican who upsets the applecart by veering off-script with an atonal jazz solo.

House Gospel Choir Tramshed, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15 adv. Info 0117 9259273.

Festival Of Voice event.

Inge Thomson’s Ffatri Vox National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 6pm, £12. Info 029 2039 7951. Experimental vocalist from Fair Isle, where they make the big fishing jumpers, with a Festival Of Voice performance.

Kaytannau Ty Newydd, Barry. 9pm, free. Info 01446 407767.

Keaton Henson New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15-£22. Info 029 2087 8889.

London vocalist performs a Festival Of Voice show.

Led By Lions + Black Boxes + Ghost As Alibis + Audio Plague The Dragonffli, Pontypool. 7pm, £2. Info gigs@thedragonffli. com.

Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff. 6.30pm, £20. Info 029 2056 4554. Festival Of Voice event.

Let’s Hang On Torch

(Tramshed, Tue 23) SUUNS (The Globe, Cardiff, Wed 24) DERRICK CARTER + GRAEME PARK + JON DA SILVA (Tramshed, Fri 26) JUST ANNOUNCED FOR SEPTEMBER: TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS (Tramshed, Thurs 1) NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS + FRIGHTENED RABBIT + GAZ COOMBES (Singleton Park, Swansea, Fri 2) THE OVERTONES (St BUZZ 70

live music Theatre, Milford Haven.

7.30pm, £22. Info 01646 695267. Frankie Valli tribute.

Live Acoustic Music The Thomas Arms, Llanelli. 9pm, free. Info 01554 772043.

LOFT + Atomic Supermen + Simon Gore M.A.D.E. Gallery & Shop, Cardiff. 7pm, £4. Info 029 2047 3373. Live electronic music and audiovisual stuff hosted by CGI Friday, describes as a “joyful collision of the trashier side of art and the strange corners of internet culture”.

Maddie & The Pandas Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff.

8.15pm, £12.50. Info 029 2089 0862.

Manalishi Café Jazz, Cardiff.

9pm, £4. Info 029 2038 7026.

Blues.

Martyn Joseph West End Club, Barry. 8pm, £15 adv.

Info 07561 143114. UK folk fave. Sold out gig.

Momus Sings Bowie Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

8pm, £15/£12. Info 029 2030 4400. Self-explanatory Festival Of Voice show for eyepatchsporting sex pervert Momus.

Natalie Williams Ffresh, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 9pm, £10. Info 029 2063 6464. Jazz/soul singer.

Nia Ann Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 6pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464.

Off The Record The Vivian Arms, Swansea. 9pm, free.

Info 01792 516194.

Paige Kenzie The Duke Of Wellington, Cowbridge.

9.30pm, free. Info 01446 773592.

Paul Ashton The White Horse, Coychurch, nr Bridgend. 9pm, free. Info 01656 652583.

Pity The Foo Memorial Hall, Newbridge. 7.30pm, £12/£10 adv. Info 01495 243252. Foo Fighters tribute band.

REPCo: Arthritis Research UK Opera Gala Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15/£10. Info 029 2039 1391.

Roman Rabinovich Rhos Y Gilwen, Pembrokeshire. 8pm, £15 adv. Info 01239 841387.

Acclaimed young pianist. In Cardiff on Sun 12. *Ronnie Spector St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 8pm, £19-£34.

Info 029 2087 8444. Festival Of Voice event with legendary ex-Ronettes singer.

Simply Red Chepstow Racecourse. 3pm, £39 adv.

Info 01291 622260. Another day of races (seven), food and drink and an 80-minute set by Mickey Huckers and his band.

Tendons Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2030 4400. A ChapterLive gig.

The Bowie Experience Ebbw Vale Institute. 7pm, £11 adv. Info 01495 708022.

The Mercury Project Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7pm, £16/£12. Info 0845 2263510.

SATURDAY 11

360 Degrees Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.30pm, £10. Info 01633 263670. Price includes a cocktail.

Aubrey Parsons Tempus Bar, St David’s Hotel, Cardiff.

8pm, free. Info 0844 8246171.

Also on Fri 17 and Fri 24.

Candi Staton Tramshed, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £17 adv. Info 0117 9259273. Festival Of Voice event.

Courtney Pine feat. Zoe Rahman St Donats Arts Centre, Vale Of Glamorgan.

7.30pm, £23.50. Info 01446 799100. Two esteemed names of British jazz perform a stripped-down set on the bass clarinet and piano respectively.

Cymanfa Ganu St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10.

Info 029 2087 8444. Festival Of Voice event.

Dictaphone Devil Kiwis, Cardiff. 10pm, free. Info 029 2039 8965.

Donna Marie The Red Dragon, Bridgend. 9pm, free.

Info 01656 654753.

Electric Soup M.A.D.E. Gallery & Shop, Cardiff. 7pm, £4. Info 029 2047 3373. Live ambient electronics with accompanying visuals. This evening seems to have been named after an obscure late80s Scottish adult comic.

Gower Folk Festival The Greyhound Inn, Gower, Swansea. 10.30am-11.30pm, £17-£28 day/£26-£63 weekend.

Info 01792 850803. Today features Plu, Josefina Paulson & Jonas Åkerlund, Pat Smith & Ned Clamp, Kirsty Bromley, Ninebarrow, John Spiers, Moore, Moss, Rutter and Malinky (marquee); Josefina Paulson, Come All Ye, Gareth Cornfield, Appalachian Dulcimer with Geoff ReeveBlack, Piano Accordion with Annette Davies, Melodeon with John Spiers and Fest Noz with Kantref (workshop tent). Plus a mid-afternoon Songwriters Forum with Andrew McKay & Carole Etherton (Ebenezer Chapel).

(Until Sun 12) Help For Heroes Charity Rock Gig 2 Fuel Bar, Cardiff.

2pm, £5. Info 07970 063107.

With sets from, in chronological order: IDestroy, Sabrage, Void, The Boom Sons, Beneath The Divine, Pilgrim, A Vulgar Picture and The Eighth Bridge.

I Feel Good Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 8pm, £17. Info 01656 815995. A tribute to the music of James Brown, Little Richard and Ray Charles, all of whom were born around the same time in Georgia. Yes, the former Soviet republic, that’s right.

Kaytannau The Birchgrove, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2031 1319.

Laura Mvula Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8.30pm, £19-£29. Info 029 2063 6464. Festival Of Voice show.

Legend Savoy Theatre, Monmouth. 8pm, £15. Info 01600 772467. Bob Marley tribute.

Madassa The Globe, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £10 adv. Info 07590 471888. Cardiff soul band. In Pentyrch on Sat 25.

Mammal Hands Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £4/£3 adv. Info 029 2039 7933.

Experimental/jazz band who sound potentially interesting.

Modify The Lounge, Newport. Free. Info 01633 259144. Playing as part of the

Live:Lounge night here.

Nell Bryden Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 8pm, £16 adv. Info 029 2089 0862.

Night Machine Ex Servicemens Club, Taffs Well, nr Cardiff. 8pm, £5 adv. Info 029 2025 0731. Covers band playing a benefit for Velindre.

Penzance Orpheus Ladies Choir Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells. 7.30pm, £8. Info 01982 552555.

Pit O’Clock The Moon Club, Cardiff. 4-10pm, £8 adv. Info info@thefullmooncardiff.com.

Punk and hardcore alldayer headlined by Luicidal, aka Louiche Mayorga from the OG lineup of Suicidal Tendencies, plus Mind x Control, Grand Collapse, Judgement, Slow Zone, Bitter Youth, Pizza Tramp, Belief System and Salt Wound.

Resident House Band Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8-10pm, £2. Info 029 2038 7026.

Rick Berry & The Retrospex Cellar Bar, Cardigan. 7.30pm. Info 07818 056599.

Rod Stewart Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff. 5pm, £55£95. Info www.cardiffcityfc. co.uk. See Upfront.

Sinead & Mike Saturday Sessions Face 11, Cathays, Cardiff. 7-10pm. Info 029 2022 8221.

Sons Of Liberty The Patriot, Crumlin. 9.30pm. Info 01495 247178. “Ass-kicking southern rock”.

The Mercury Project Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5-£16. Info 029 2039 1391.

Wright Hear Wright Now The Twelve Knights, Margam.

9pm, free. Info 01639 882381.

SUNDAY 12

Alistair McGowan: Erik Satie’s Faction Sunflower & I, Cardiff Bay. 3 + 6pm, £20 adv. Info 029 2048 4211. Work in progress performance by 90s impersonator, in which he plays several Satie piano pieces and reads translations of his poems.

Ben Folds & yMusic Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £19-£35. Info 029 2063 6464. Alt-rock pianopopster Folds teams up with chamber group yMusic.

Fishboy + Oh Peas! + Rainbow Reservoir Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £4/£3 adv.

Info 029 2039 7933. Indie type fare presented by Odd Box. Folk Music & Song Session Arvon Ale House, Llandrindod Wells. 4pm. Info 07477 627267. Also on Sun 26.

Gower Folk Festival The Greyhound Inn, Gower, Swansea. 12-11.30pm, £11£22 day/£26-£63 weekend.

Info 01792 850803. Today features Karen Pierce & Ken Humphreys (dance workshop), Elfen, The Carrivick Sisters, The Gentle Good, The Dovetail Trio, Josefina Paulson & Jonas Åkerlund, The James Brothers and Lady Maisery (marquee); Gareth Bonello (guitar workshop) Pat Smith & Ned Clamp (spoons workshop), fiddle with Jonas Åkerlund (wahey), Welsh Tunes (any instrument) with Pat Smith & Ned Clamp and ‘Come All Ye’MC: Gareth

Cornfield (workshop tent).

(Finishes today) Joe Louis Walker + The Mojo Sinners The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15 adv. Info 07590 471888.

Liam Ward Band Brown’s, Laugharne. 8.30pm. Info 01994 427688. Sunday Session gig.

Wyedean Gospel Choir The Old Station, Tintern. 1-4pm.

Info 01291 420241. Part of a succession of Music On The Platform sessions going on throughout summer.

Roman Rabinovich Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 2pm, £14£18. Info 029 2039 1391.

Acclaimed young pianist.

Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama Students National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 1pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. Lunchtime concert.

Steve Williams Gypsy Jazz Trio Café Jazz, Cardiff.

6.30-9pm, £5/£4 musicians.

Info 029 2038 7026. Hot Club Swing night.

The Mercury Project The Riverfront, Newport. 3pm, £5.50-£16.50. Info 01633 656757. (Until Fri 10)

MONDAY 13

Atrium Live Music Night Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm. Info 029 2038 7026. *CC Dust + Liberation + Beauty Parlour Undertone, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £6. Info 029 2022 8883. The Joy Collective and Lesson No.1 present an evening of electronic music cooked up by people who are also, or have been, in punk rock bands. From, respectively, Olympia, Australia and Cardiff.

Expire + Cross Me + Renounced + Guilt Trip + Reaper The Bunker, Cardiff. 7pm, £10 adv. Info james@thebunkercardiff. com. Hardcore show with the two top billed bands from Milwaukee and signed to Bridge Nine Records. Neither of them really look like my thing.

Live Jazz Noah’s Yard, Swansea. 8pm. Info 01792 447360.

Live Original Music Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

Monday Club 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2022 8883.

National Youth Orchestra Of Wales St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7pm, £15-£28. Info 029 2087 8444. Featuring performances from harpists Catrin Finch and Anne Denholm.

The Appleseed Cast + Listener + Kurt Travis + Atlas:Empire Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £16. Info 029 2023 2199. Floaty emo/indie band from the turn of the millennium, having reformed a few years back, play what I think is their first ever Welsh date.

The Sons Of Pitches + Finlay Leslie Tramshed, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £20 adv. Info 0117 9259273.

Woody Guthrie: The Long Road To Peekskill Miners’ Institute, Blackwood. 7.30pm,

£14/£12. Info 01495 227206.

Somewhere between a tribute set and a one-man stage show, courtesy of Will Kaufman.

Ukulele Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free.

Info 029 2021 2509.

TUESDAY 14

Beach Slang + Weaves + Muncie Girls The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8 adv. Info 07590 471888. Melodic punk from the US and UK. Community Samba Band – Practise Dates Westenders Hall, Llanfaes, Brecon. 6-8pm, £4/£2 under-16s. Info sambabrecon@yahoo.co.uk.

Duski Dempseys, Cardiff.

8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253. *Harm’s Way + Brutality Will Prevail + Ironed Out LBU + Adjust + Interrogation The Moon Club, Cardiff. 6pm, £10 adv.

Info info@thefullmooncardiff. com. Beefy hardcore lineup headlined by Chicagoans on the Deathwish label. Their last album was pretty good as I recall.

John Davies Quintet Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £4.50/£4/£2 NUS. Info 029 2038 7026.

Open Mic The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, free. Info 01497 821762.

Open Mic Night Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

Samantha Barks Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £25/£22. Info 01792 475715.

Cabaret singer tours her debut album.

The Ian Stoutzker Prize: The Final Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 6.30pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2039 1391. Annual event.

WEDNESDAY 15

Acoustic Open Mic Night The Bunker, Cardiff. 7pm, free. Info james@thebunkercardiff.com.

Billy Walton Band The Scene Club, Swansea. 7.30pm, £10 adv. Info 07730 432166.

Blue Note Bistro Sessions Café Jazz, Cardiff. 6-9pm. Info 029 2038 7026.

Donna Lewis And Her Band Jazzland, Swansea.

8.30-11pm, £12. Info 07802 912789.

Erik Satie 150th Anniversary Concert Torch Theatre, Milford Haven.

7.30pm, £12. Info 01646 695267. For better or worse, this one doesn’t feature Alistair McGowan (see Sun 12), rather Noriko Ogawa (piano) and Mami UsamiWilliams (dancer).

Jazz Wednesdays Warehouse54, Newport. 8pm.

Info 01633 259144.

Junior Proms Concert 1 Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7pm, £8/£6.

Info 0845 2263510. Featuring Llanelli Junior Woodwind, Llanelli & Dinefwr Cerddorfa Arall, Llanelli Junior Strings and Llanelli Junior Choir.

Matthew Ford with 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 Jam Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

Open Mic Market Street Club, Barry. 8pm. Info 01446 733863.

Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama Students Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Sworn Amongst + Belial + Chaos Trigger + The Dweller + Nycosia The Scene Club, Swansea. 7pm, £5 adv. Info 07730 432166.

Deathcore etc.

The Simon & Garfunkel Story St David’s Hall, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £18/£16.50. Info 029 2087 8444. Tribute show.

We’ll Meet Again Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 2.30pm, £14/£13. Info 01656 815995.

Songs and music of the war years.

THURSDAY 16

And Finally... Phil Collins Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7.30pm, £18.50.

Info 01873 850805. Tribute act. Also features relevant Genesis numbers. In Brecon on Sat 18.

Aoife Ní Bhríain St Melangell’s Church, Pennant Melangell. 7.30pm, £20/£10 under-18s. Info 01686 207100.

Irish violinist. One of several events comprising this year’s Gregynog Festival, which runs until Sun 26. Some of it is in north Wales but I left bits out for that same reason last year, so will make up for it this year by including stuff even if it’s outside Buzz’s ‘area’.

BarlowCree Newport Fugitives Athletic Club, Rogerstone, Newport. 8.45pm.

Info 01633 897923. A Newport Folk Club night.

BBC NOW: Mahler 1 Brangwyn Hall, Swansea.

7.30pm, £12.50-£18. Info 01792 475715. Thomas Søndergård conducts a programme topped by Mahler’s Symphony No.1. Also featuring soprano Nadine Koutcher.

In Cardiff tomorrow.

Doomcrow + Democratus + Beware The Tortoise The Scene Club, Swansea.

7pm, £3 adv. Info 07730 432166.

JimJam Open Mic Session The Claude Hotel, Albany Road, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 07557 505123. This week’s guest band is Junior Hacksaw.

Junior Proms Concert 2 Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7pm, £8/£6.

Info 0845 2263510. Featuring Carmarthen & Gwendraeth Junior Woodwind, Carmarthen & Gwendraeth Cerddorfa Arall, Carmarthen Junior Strings and Carmarthen Junior Choir.

Maddie Jones 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 7pm, £4. Info 029 2022 8883.

Mike Silver Lyceum Tavern, Newport. 8pm. Info 01633 858636. A Lyceum Folk Club night.

Pretend Happy + Pushing Daisies Fuel Bar, Cardiff.

7pm. Info 07970 063107.

Primary Partners Grand Theatre, Swansea. 6.30pm, £5. Info 01792 475715. A celebration of music-making featuring pupils from primary schools across Swansea. On tomorrow also.

David’s Hall, Fri 2) KARNATAKA (Acapela, Cardiff, Sat 3) BARENAKED LADIES (Tramshed, Tue 6) THE WEDDING PRESENT (Tramshed, Wed 7) DISCHARGE (The Moon Club, Sat 10) RONAN KEATING (Motorpoint Arena, Sat 10) JUSTIN HAYWARD (St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Sun 11) PRETTY VICIOUS (The Globe, Sat 17) GAYE BIKERS ON ACID (The Globe, Tue 27) BUZZ 71

live music The Dreamers Parc & Dare, Treorchy. 7.30pm, £18. Info 0800 0147111. Pop hits from the 60s. Where is Freddie? I just looked it up and he died 10 years ago. In Bangor.

Welsh National Opera Orchestra: An Elegant Summer’s Eve Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15/£13. Info 029 2039 1391.

FRIDAY 17

Alan Barnes Octet Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea.

6.45-8.30pm, £13 adv/£7 under-16s. Info 01792 473238.

Opening event of this year’s Swansea Jazz Festival, which runs in this venue until Sun 19.

And Finally... Phil Collins Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7.30pm, £19.50/£18.50. Info 0845 2263510. *As Ondas + Two White Cranes + Megaflora + Caramel Castle Emporium, Cardiff. 7-10.30pm, £6/£5. Info 07967 257529. Four distinct flavours of DIY indie music. A BYOB gig too!

Attila The Stockbroker Le Pub, Newport. 8pm, £7 adv.

Info 01633 221477. Benefit show for refugees in Calais.

Aubrey Parsons Tempus Bar, St David’s Hotel, Cardiff.

8pm, free. Info 0844 8246171.

Bandaoke Porter’s, Cardiff.

8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

BBC NOW: Mahler 1 St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15-£35. Info 029 2087 8444.

Benn Willis Ty Newydd, Barry. 9pm, free. Info 01446 407767.

Calypso The Vivian Arms, Swansea. 9pm, free. Info 01792 516194.

Can’t Remember? The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info info@thefullmooncardiff.com.

That’s an actual band name, not someone failing to recall who was playing this evening.

I checked.

Cath Jones The Duke Of Wellington, Cowbridge.

9.30pm, free. Info 01446 773592.

Chris Kelly The Windsor, Penarth. 9pm, free. Info 029 2070 8675.

Graham Larkbey + Cornfield & Kealy The Ivy Bush, Pontardawe. 8pm. Info huwpudner@ntlworld.com.

Valley Folk Club night.

Humanity’s Last Breath + Shields + Dienamic + Nycosia The Scene Club, Swansea. 7pm, £7 adv. Info 07730 432166. Metal.

Kaytannau The Twelve Knights, Margam. 9pm, free.

Info 01639 882381.

Kaz Hawkins The Met, Abertillery. 8pm, £10/£8. Info 01495 355800. Blues fron Belfast.

Le Bistro Jazz Washington Buildings, Penarth. 8pm, free.

Info 029 2070 9600. Violin and guitar jazz duo. This is in a restaurant so you have to buy some food, OK? Live Acoustic Music The Thomas Arms, Llanelli. 9pm, free. Info 01554 772043.

Live Line Mini Hardcore Fest The Arches, Cardiff.

7pm, £5 adv. Info liveline. bigcartel.com. Featuring sets from Guilt Trip, Restrict, Sanity Check, Back Down, Turn To Dust and Vaults.

This is an all ages gig in a BUZZ 72

rehearsal space so no booze is allowed FYI. Music For Syria Fundraiser The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 7pm, £5.

Info 01497 821762. Featuring Manu Song, Atto Mul, Thomasin & Friends, Brently and Busload Blue.

National Youth Chamber Choir Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

1.15pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2039 1391.

Pee Wee Ellis Funk Assembly Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea. 9.1510.45pm, £13 adv/£7 under16s. Info 01792 473238.

Swansea Jazz Festival show with James Brown’s legendary sideman.

Primary Partners Grand Theatre, Swansea. 6.30pm, £5.

Info 01792 475715.

Remi Harris Trio Blossoms Gallery, Aberystwyth. 7pm, £6-£12. Info info@blossomsgallery.co.uk. Jazz guitarist.

Retrospect Kiwis, Cardiff.

10pm, free. Info 029 2039 8965.

Swansea Jazz Festival Fringe Various venues, Maritime Quarter, Swansea.

4pm, free. Info 07900 314245.

Featuring Afternoon In Paris (Morgans Hotel, 4-6pm), The Steve Doolan Quartet (Queens Hotel, 4-6pm), Groucho Club (The Pump House, 4-6pm); The Clare Hingott & Graham Watkins Trio (The Swigg, 4-6pm); The Steve Williams Trio (Tino’s Tapa’s Bar & Restaurant, 4-6pm) and a Late Jazz Jam session (No.6 Bar, 10pm). (Until Sun 19) The Broadcasts + Written In Kings + Tom Jenkins Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £3. Info 029 2023 2199.

The Chop Idols The Open Hearth, Sebastopol, Pontypool. 8.30pm, £10. Info 01495 763752. Playing this venue’s monthly jazz night.

The Deslondes + Twain + Screamin’ Miss Jackson & The Slap Ya Mama Big Band + Featherjaw The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8 adv. Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com.

Country rock type stuff.

Stereophonish + Last Mile Home Ebbw Vale Institute. 7pm, £5 adv. Info 01495 708022.

The Irish Consort The Music Room, Gregynog, Powys.

7.30pm, £20/£10 under-18s.

Info 01686 207100. Irish/ European performers of traditional and early music. A Gregynog Festival event.

SATURDAY 18

4th Kind The Lounge, Newport. Free. Info 01633 259144. Playing as part of the Live:Lounge night here.

Abergavenny Eisteddfod Winners’ Grand Concert Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7pm, free. Info 01873 850805.

Alec Dankworth Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea.

2.30-4.15pm, £12 adv/£6 under-16s. Info 01792 473238.

Swansea Jazz Festival concert, one of four here today.

And Finally... Phil Collins Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon.

7.30pm, £18.50/£17.50. Info 01874 611622.

Darius Brubeck Quartet

Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea. 9.15-10.45pm, £13 adv/£7 under-16s. Info 01792 473238.

Dreamstate Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7.30pm, £6. Info 0845 2263510. Youthful Swansea rock band whose biog was clearly written by someone who doesn’t listen to rock music (“hard hitting vocals, powerful guitars, and earnest emotion”).

GBH + Brassick Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10.

Info 029 2023 2199. Meanmuggin’ metalpunks of olde headline.

Gnarwolves + Crows An Wra + Broadbay Hobo’s, Bridgend. 7.30pm, £9 adv. Info www.hobosmusicvenue.com.

Gwalia Singers Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. 7pm, £18/£15.

Info 01792 475715. Fiftieth anniversary celebration concert. Guest stars include Shân Cothi, Trystan Llyr Griffiths and compere Roy Noble.

Inglorious + Fireroad + Psycho Kiss + Forever Vendetta + The Boom Sons The Scene Club, Swansea. 7pm, £10 adv. Info 07730 432166.

Jeff Hooper Big Band Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea. 12-1.15pm, £10 adv/£5 under-16s. Info 01792 473238.

Jeni & Billy Beulah Community Centre, Rhiwbina, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £11 adv. Info 029 2062 5786. US country duo.

Jumpin' Jimmy & The Nice Guys Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info info@porterscardiff. com.

Kaytannau The Red Dragon, Bridgend. 9pm, free. Info 01656 654753.

Keith Ball & His Jazzmen Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea. 6.45-8.30pm, £13 adv/£7 under-16s. Info 01792 473238. Trad jazz band led by Kenny Ball’s son.

Keith Rock The Birchgrove, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2031 1319.

La Forme The Riverfront, Newport. 8pm, £13.50. Info 01633 656757. Local synthpop group.

Last Chance Saloon Cellar Bar, Cardigan. 7.30pm. Info 07818 056599.

Lionel Richie + Corinne Bailey Rae Liberty Stadium, Swansea. 4pm, £40. Info 0844 8156665.

Magic Eight Ball + Ulysses + Digital Criminals The Dolls House, Abertillery. 8pm, free. Info 01495 213300.

Mahan Esfahani National Library Of Wales, Aberystwyth.

4pm, £15/£7.50 under-18s.

Info 01686 207100. Iranian harpsichord player. Gregynog Festival event.

Marie Batchelder Tempus Bar, St David’s Hotel, Cardiff.

8pm, free. Info 0844 8246171.

Melvana + Faith No More Or Less Clwb Y Bont, Pontypridd. 7pm, £5. Info 01443 491424. Tributes to Nirvana and Faith No More take the stage for Pontypridd’s drunkest rock revivalists.

Mervyn Strutter Torch Theatre, Milford Haven.

7.45pm, £13/£11. Info 01646 695267. Comedy meets folk, I think.

Mr Hate The Patriot, Crumlin. 9.30pm. Info 01495 247178.

Nicky Taliesin The Twelve Knights, Margam. 9pm, free.

Info 01639 882381.

Resident House Band Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8-10pm, £2. Info 029 2038 7026.

Revival The Dragonffli, Pontypool. 7pm, £2. Info gigs@thedragonffli.com.

Special Brew Workmen’s Hall, Caerphilly. 7.30pm, £10/£7 adv. Info 07512 237983. Bad Manners tribute.

Swansea Jazz Festival

The Navarones Rhondda Hotel, Porth. 7pm, £5 adv. Info 01443 682388. Ska. The Proclaimers + Will Varley Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £29. Info 01792 475715. See Upfront.

The Simon & Garfunkel Story Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 7.30pm, £17-£20.

Info 01656 815995.

We’re No Heroes The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info info@thefullmooncardiff.com.

'Alternative country' is a vague, sometimes unhelpful genre term, but in the hands of Howe Gelb – and his band since the mid-80s, Arizona's Giant Sand – it certainly applies. Giant Sand are calling time on their hypnotic blend of psychedelia and countrified twang this year, but Gelb will continue, and plays Cardiff Tramshed on Tue 21.

Fringe Various venues, Maritime Quarter, Swansea.

4pm, free. Info 07900 314245.

Featuring the Constellation Big Band (Dylan Thomas Theatre, 10.45-11.45am), The Rumblestrutters (Dylan Thomas Centre, 10.45am; Queen’s Hotel, 3 + 4.30pm), Kevin Bolton Quintet (The Village Hotel, 12 + 1pm), Steve Williams Trio (No.6 Bar, 12 + 1pm), Stringefellows with Ray ‘Taff’ Williams (The Pumphouse, 12.30 + 1.30pm), John Paul Gard Organ Trio (Garbo’s Cafe Bar, 1 + 2.15pm), The Three Divas (Dylan Thomas Centre, 1.30pm + 2.30pm), The Albino Frogs (The River House, 1.30 + 2.45pm), Schools Big Band Concert (National Waterfront Museum, 1.30-2.00pm), Trefor Owen Quartet (Cafe TwoCann, 1.30 + 3pm), The Gents (Morgans Hotel, 2.30 + 3.30pm), Liberty Street Jazz Band (Swansea Yacht and Sub Aqua Club, 2.30pm + 3.30pm), Tuk Tuk (Swansea Museum, 2.30pm + 3.30pm), Neon Villages (Garbo’s Cafe Bar, 4 + 5pm), The Jazz Dragons (Tawe River Cruise, 4-6pm – book directly with boat call, 07785 347549), Sarah Smith Gypsy Trio (Dylan Thomas Centre, 4.30 + 5.30pm), Mike Gambo Band (The River House, 4.30pm + 5.30pm), The Cottle Brothers (The Pump House, 4.30pm + 5.30pm) and and a Late Jazz Jam session (No.6 Bar, 10pm).

(Until Sun 19) The City Of Cardiff ‘Melingriffith’ Brass Band Annual Gala Concert Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10/£8. Info 029 2039 1391.

The Goodman Trio National Library Of Wales, Aberystwyth.

4pm, £10/£5 under-18s. Info 01686 207100. Gregynog Festival event.

The Hit Kings Kiwis, Cardiff.

10pm, free. Info 029 2039 8965.

SUNDAY 19

360 Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea. 8.30-11pm, £25 adv/£13 under-16s. Info 01792 473238. Average White Band spinoff close this year’s Swansea Jazz Festival.

Chapter Four Jazz Quartet Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

9pm, free. Info 029 2030 4400.

Jazz in the bar.

Cory Band Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. 3pm, £5-£12. Info 01792 475715.

Gary Hall Brown’s, Laugharne. 8.30pm. Info 01994 427688. Sunday Session gig.

Hespèrion XXI The Music Room, Gregynog, Powys.

2.30pm, £25/£12.50 under18s. Info 01686 207100. Jordi Savall’s Celtic Viol project. A Gregynog Festival event.

Inglorious The Globe, Cardiff. 7pm, £15 adv. Info 07590 471888. Foolish-looking hard rock band.

Janet Siedel & Her Band Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea. 12-1.15pm, £10 adv/£5 under-16s. Info 01792 473238.

Moscow Drug Club Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea.

2.15-3.30pm, £10 adv/£5 under-16s. Info 01792 473238.

National Youth Jazz Orchestra Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea. 4.306.15pm, £15 adv/£8 under16s. Info 01792 473238.

Red Rug The Old Station, Tintern. 1-4pm. Info 01291 420241. Music On The Platform performance.

Swansea Jazz Festival Fringe Various venues, Maritime Quarter, Swansea.

4pm, free. Info 07900 314245.

Featuring a jazz sax workshop with Dave O’Higgins (Dylan Thomas Centre, 10.30am), BlackHawk Big Band (Dylan Thomas Centre, 11.30am + 12.30pm), Hot Club Gallois (Garbo’s Cafe Bar, 1 + 2.30pm), Sarah Smith Trio (The Pump House, 1.30 + 3.30pm), Stringefellows with

Taff Williams (The River House, 1.30 + 3pm), Steve Williams Trio (Cafe Twocann, 1.30 + 3pm), Bridgend Big Band (Dylan Thomas Centre, 2 + 3.15pm), Amy Walton Quartet (Morgans Hotel, 2.30 + 3.30pm), Gary Phillips & Li Harding Trio (Swansea Yacht and Sub-Aqua Club, 3.30 + 4.30pm), Brian Breeze Band (The Queen’s Hotel, 3.30 + 5pm), The Gents (Tawe River Cruise, 4-6pm – book directly with boat call, 07785 347549), On Blue Street (Garbo’s Cafe Bar, 4.30 + 6pm), Jazz Africana (The River House, 5 + 6.30pm) and Chums (The Pump House, 6 + 7.30pm).

(Finishes today)

MONDAY 20

Atrium Live Music Night Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm. Info 029 2038 7026.

Barry Manilow Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 7pm, from £19.75. Info 029 2022 4488.

That seems like a very low lowest price for tickets to see Baz. Maybe he’s steering his ethos in a Fugazi type direction.

Cattle Decapitation + Desecration + Sodomised Cadaver + Venom Prison The Moon Club, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £13 adv. Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com. Large death metal lineup headlined

by Californian animal lib conceptualists. Presented by The Bunker, and in fact moved from their venue.

CW Stoneking The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15 adv. Info 07590 471888. Blues.

Junior Proms Concert 3 Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7pm, £8/£6.

Info 0845 2263510. Featuring Dinefwr Junior Woodwind, Dinefwr Junior Strings and Dinefwr Junior Choir.

Live Jazz Noah’s Yard, Swansea. 8pm. Info 01792 447360.

Live Original Music Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@porterscardiff.com.

Monday Club 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2022 8883.

The Collective Big Band Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

The Fairweather Band + Austeros + Human Heat + Van-illa Undertone, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5. Info 029 2022 8883. Punk and indie fare, presented by DIY Cardiff.

Ukulele Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free.

Info 029 2021 2509.

TUESDAY 21

Camelia Jazz Band Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £4.50/£4/£2 NUS. Info 029 2038 7026.

Community Samba Band – Practise Dates Westenders Hall, Llanfaes, Brecon. 6-8pm, £4/£2 under-16s. Info sambabrecon@yahoo.co.uk.

Daniel Grimwood The Music Room, Gregynog, Powys.

7.30pm, £15/£7.50 under-18s.

Info 01686 207100. Recital on the Broadwood Square piano.

A Gregynog Festival event.

Gwd Jams Gwdihw, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £3/free for performers. Info 029 2039 7933.

Monthly open jam session. *Howe Gelb + Erika Wennerstrom Tramshed, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15 adv. Info 0117 9259273. Psychedelic

live music country champ Gelb is best known as frontman of the band Giant Sand, which he is winding up this year I think.

Juan Martin St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 8pm, £12£14. Info 029 2087 8444.

Roots Unearthed presented esteemed flamenco guitarist.

Junior Proms Concert 4 Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7pm, £8/£6. Info 0845 2263510.

Featuring Carmarthenshire Junior Brass, Junior Guitar Ensemble and Junior Percussion Ensemble.

Nevermind The Music Room, Gregynog, Powys.

2.30pm, £15/£7.50 under-18s.

Info 01686 207100. French early music group play 18th century arrangements of Irish tunes. A Gregynog Festival event.

Open Mic The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, free. Info 01497 821762.

Open Mic Night Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

Paul Baxter In/Out Trio Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Sarah Smith Jazz Trio Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon.

8pm, £7. Info 01874 611622.

Brecon Jazz Club gig.

Tom Martin Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 6pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464.

WEDNESDAY 22

Academy Of Ancient Music The Music Room, Gregynog, Powys. 7.30pm, £20/£10 under-18s. Info 01686 207100. Repertoire from the 18th-century Golden Age featuring music of the continental masters who lived and worked in Dublin. A Gregynog Festival event.

Acoustic Open Mic Night The Bunker, Cardiff. 7pm, free. Info james@ thebunkercardiff.com.

Being As an Ocean + Napoleon + Holding Absence Hobo’s, Bridgend.

7.30pm, £12/£10 adv. Info www.hobosmusicvenue.com.

Blue Note Bistro Sessions Café Jazz, Cardiff. 6-9pm.

Info 029 2038 7026.

David Llewellyn Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club.

7.30pm, £8/£5. Info 01443 226892. A Llantrisant Folk Club night.

Forever In Blue Jeans Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7.30pm, £17/£15. Info 01873 850805.

In Archives + Illicit + Eclipse The New Crown Inn, Merthyr Tydfil. 6.30pm, £3.

Info 01685 387925.

Jazz Wednesdays Warehouse54, Newport. 8pm.

Info 01633 259144.

John Martin Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Open Jam Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff.

8pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

Open Mic Market Street Club, Barry. 8pm. Info 01446 733863.

Royal Welsh College Symphony Orchestra St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 1pm, £9. Info 029 2087 8444.

Schools Project – Arts Council Of Wales Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 12pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464.

Summer Dreaming – Rock N’ Roll Dynamite Miners’ Institute, Blackwood. 7.30pm, £20/£10. Info 01495 227206.

Fifties tribute concert.

The Big Gig Semifinals Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £5. Info 029 2023 2199. On tomorrow also, with the final in July.

The Two Tenors Quintet Jazzland, Swansea. 8.3011pm, £10. Info 07802 912789.

Trembling Bells + Ofelia The Moon Club, Cardiff. 8pm, £8 adv. Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com.

Scottish folk-rockers whose last album was a slowburning treat.

THURSDAY 23

Ailish Tynan & Iain Burnside The Music Room, Gregynog, Powys. 7.30pm, £15/£7.50 under-18s. Info 01686 207100. Soprano and pianist. A Gregynog Festival event.

Augustines The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £13.50 adv.

Info 07590 471888.

Declan McKenna Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7 adv.

Info 029 2023 2199.

Finghin Collins The Music Room, Gregynog, Powys.

2.30pm, £15/£7.50 under18s. Info 01686 207100.

Irish piano music including Stanford, Bax, Warlock, Grainger and Gerald Barry. A Gregynog Festival event.

JimJam Open Mic Session The Claude Hotel, Albany Road, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 07557 505123. This week’s guest band is Luther.

Martyn Joseph Angel Hotel, Llandeilo. Info info@ llandeiloacoustic.com.

Oh Peas! + Palomica Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £4/£3 adv. Info 029 2039 7933. Local indiepop fave headlines, her second performance in Gwdihw this month in fact.

Open Mic Night Lyceum Tavern, Newport. 8.30pm.

Info 01633 858636.

RWCMD Friends Connect Fundraiser Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7pm, £7. Info 029 2039 1391. Student-led chamber ensemble.

Sultans Of String Queens Hall, Narberth. 7.30pm, £13/£11 adv. Info 01834 869323. Globally eclectic string band.

The Big Gig Semifinals Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £5. Info 029 2023 2199.

Tobias Robertson’s Jam Night Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

FRIDAY 24

Aubrey Parsons Tempus Bar, St David’s Hotel, Cardiff.

8pm, free. Info 0844 8246171.

Built For Comfort Café Jazz, Cardiff. 9pm, £4. Info 029 2038 7026. Blues.

Cath Jones The Windsor, Penarth. 9pm, free. Info 029 2070 8675.

Catrin Herbert Ty Tawe, Swansea. 8pm, free. Info 01792 456856.

Daz English The Hen & Chickens, Abergavenny. 9pm, free. Info 01873 853613. *Garden Centre + Vanilla + They Is They

Is They Is + Antique Castle Emporium, Cardiff.

7-10.30pm, £5. Info 07967 257529. Cool-looking gig with all (pretty) new bands.

Headliners are from Brighton and fronted by a guy called Max, also known as King Of Cats.

Glasnost Festival The Full Moon, Cardiff. 5pm, free. Info info@thefullmooncardiff. com. Annual quasi-tribute to Glastonbury, only on for two days this year though and elusive as to its precise content.

Hi-On Maiden + Motorheadache The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £11 adv. Info 07590 471888. Twin tributes.

Islands In The Stream Savoy Theatre, Monmouth.

7.30pm, £18.50. Info 01600 772467. Tributes to Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers.

Junior Bill + Mike Dennis Carnegie House, Bridgend. 8pm, £6 adv. Info 01656 815757.

Live Acoustic Music The Thomas Arms, Llanelli. 9pm, free. Info 01554 772043.

Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £14£21.50. Info 01792 475715.

New British Winds Carnegie House, Bridgend.

12pm, £4 adv. Info 01656 815757. Young, local classical musicians.

Never Found + Runoffthestatic + Scarecrow Boat Undertone, Cardiff. 6-9pm, £4. Info 029 2022 8883.

One Night Of Queen Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare.

7.30pm, £18. Info 0800 0147111. Queen tribute band.

Organ Recital National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff.

1pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951.

Peter Jagger The Phoenix, Gorslas, Llanelli. 9pm, free.

Info 01269 844438.

Rachel B The Twelve Knights, Margam. 9pm, free.

Info 01639 882381.

Penny White & Alex Valentine The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, £3. Info 01497 821762. Folk duo.

The Bug Club Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2030 4400. A ChapterLive gig.

The Cellar Bards Cellar Bar, Cardigan. 7.30pm. Info 07818 056599.

The Distributors The Vivian Arms, Swansea. 9pm, free. Info 01792 516194.

The Lushtones Kiwis, Cardiff. 10pm, free. Info 029 2039 8965.

Wright Hear Wright Now The Duke Of Wellington, Cowbridge. 9.30pm, free. Info 01446 773592.

SATURDAY 25

ACAB Kiwis, Cardiff. 10pm, free. Info 029 2039 8965.

Agrona + Orpheum + Grave Altar + Democratus Fuel Bar, Cardiff. 7pm, £4. Info 07970 063107.

Aynt Skynyrd + Pilgrim The Welfare, Ebbw Vale.

7.30pm, £12/£10 adv. Info odintickets@hotmail.com.

Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute.

Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra: Shostakovich’s Legend Symphony St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm,

£15-£35. Info 029 2087 8444.

Thomas Søndergård conducts a programme topped by Mahler’s Symphony No.1.

Also featuring soprano Nadine Koutcher.

Children Of The Gravy Rhondda Hotel, Porth. 7pm, £5. Info 01443 682388. Black Sabbath tribute.

Chris & Kellie White Pennar Hall, Pembroke Dock.

7.30pm. Info 01646 621811.

Clare Teal Rhos Y Gilwen, Pembrokeshire. 8pm, £15 adv. Info 01239 841387.

Jazz vocalist and radio personality.

Eddie’s Bedroom The Halfway, Pontcanna, Cardiff.

9pm, free. Info 029 2066 7135.

Fidelio Trio with Sinéad Morrissey The Music Room, Gregynog, Powys. 7.30pm, £15/£7.50 under-18s. Info 01686 207100. A Gregynog Festival event.

From Bach To Baby The Riverfront, Newport. 11am, £5.50/£4.50. Info 01633 656757. “The critically acclaimed classical concert for baby and you”.

Glasnost Festival The Full Moon, Cardiff. 5pm, free. Info info@thefullmooncardiff. com.

Jelly Season The Patriot, Crumlin. 9.30pm. Info 01495 247178.

Kenfig Hill & District Male Voice Choir Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 7pm, £5-£12. Info 01656 815995.

Sold out.

Madassa Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 8pm, £12.50 adv. Info 029 2089 0862.

Marie Batchelder Tempus Bar, St David’s Hotel, Cardiff.

8pm, free. Info 0844 8246171.

Midmad Festival Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

3pm. Info 01970 623232.

Annual festival of live music and family entertainment.

Resident House Band Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8-10pm, £2.

Info 029 2038 7026.

Sentenced + Tempers Fray + Murder Circuit Hobo’s, Bridgend. 7.30pm, free. Info www.hobosmusicvenue.com.

Sophie Hansen The Red Dragon, Bridgend. 9pm, free.

Info 01656 654753. *Stars In Their Eyes Le Pub, Newport. 8pm, £5. Info 01633 221477. It’s time for people to do cover sets for charity again.

The Bow Street Runners The Lounge, Newport. Free.

Info 01633 259144. Playing as part of the Live:Lounge night here.

The Southmartins The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10 adv. Info 07590 471888.

A tribute to both The Beautiful South and The Housemartins.

The Three Welsh Tenors Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 7.30pm, £20. Info 01646 695267.

The Trio Porter’s, Cardiff.

8pm, free. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

Ukelele Festival Of Wales Gower Heritage Centre, Swansea. Info 01792 371206. Two-day event based around the popular emasculated stringed instrument. Performers: Redshirts, Pete Moss, The Porthcawl Ukele Band, Michael Adcock, Percy Copley, Plucking

Fourstrings, The Ukelele Uff & Lonesome Dave Trio, Gary Phillips Amigos Trio, Captain Cat & The Sailors, Eddie Cromie and Chonkinfeckle.

Workshops: Singing and Harmony (Roland Emmanuel); Ukulele (Gary Phillips) and Strumming Techniques (Michael Adcock). On tomorrow also.

Ultimate Eagles Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £22.50/£20. Info 01792 475715.

We’re No Heroes West Coast Arts, Penally, Tenby.

Free. Info 01834 219128.

Wright Hear Wright Now The Birchgrove, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2031 1319.

SUNDAY 26

Anti-Nowhere League Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £12 adv. Info 029 2023 2199. Badly-behaved UK punks who were supposedly persona non grata in ‘the scene’ a while back due to a song they wrote called The Day The World Turned Gay. Will they play it tonight?

Maybe if you shout for it enough times.

Artephis The King’s Arms, Abergavenny. 7.45pm, £10/£8.

Info 07958 612691. A Black Mountain Jazz night.

Blitz Time Sally The Old Station, Tintern. 1-4pm. Info 01291 420241. Music On The Platform performance.

Chamber Choir Ireland The Music Room, Gregynog, Powys. 2.30pm, £20/£10 under-18s. Info 01686 207100. A Gregynog Festival event, the final one of 2016 in fact.

Folk Music & Song Session Arvon Ale House, Llandrindod Wells. 4pm. Info 07477 627267.

Moongazer Brown’s, Laugharne. 8.30pm. Info 01994 427688. Sunday Session gig.

Music Without Boarders Choir Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2.45pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464.

SaraBeth Gwdihw, Cardiff.

7pm, £13.75 adv. Info 029 2039 7933. Texan country artist, described by a UK country website as a “smart, beautiful and talented songstress”. There really needs to be more stringent laws stopping people from writing about music.

Ukelele Festival Of Wales Gower Heritage Centre, Swansea. Info 01792 371206.

MONDAY 27

Atrium Live Music Night Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm. Info 029 2038 7026.

Backtrack + Higher Power + Mind x Control + Grove Street Families + Full Strength Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12.50 adv. Info 029 2023 2199.

Moshy NYHC band headline.

This was previously in The Moon Club, sold tickets to capacity and was moved over the road a few minutes before I typed this listing in.

Gwd Mondays Open Mic Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free. Info 029 2039 7933.

Henry Marten’s Ghost The Gravity Station, Swansea.

Free. Info 07919 164467.

Live Jazz Noah’s Yard,

Swansea. 8pm. Info 01792 447360.

Live Original Music Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@porterscardiff.com.

Monday Club 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2022 8883.

Ukulele Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff.

8.30pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

TUESDAY 28

Community Samba Band – Practise Dates Westenders Hall, Llanfaes, Brecon. 6-8pm, £4/£2 under16s. Info sambabrecon@ yahoo.co.uk.

Dave Cottle Trio Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7.30pm, £8. Info 0845 2263510.

Heidi Browne Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7.30am, £2.50. Info 01686 614555.

Heidi was 2013’s winner of the Open Mic UK competition, which I wouldn’t dream of suggesting is a scam but a lot of people posting online have done. Still, Heidi must have done well out of it if she can afford to tour the UK on £2.50 tickets.

Hurray For The Riff Raff The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10 adv. Info 07590 471888.

John Scantlebury Quartet Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £4.50/£4/£2 NUS. Info 029 2038 7026.

Open Mic The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, free. Info 01497 821762.

Open Mic Night Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info@ porterscardiff.com.

REPCo: Profile Piano Moments And Miniatures Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7pm, £5/£3. Info 029 2039 1391.

Vintage Trouble + Slydigs Tramshed, Cardiff.

7-10.30pm, £18.50 adv. Info 0117 9259273.

WEDNESDAY 29

Acoustic Open Mic Night The Bunker, Cardiff. 7pm, free. Info james@thebunkercardiff.com.

Aidan’s Harmonicas Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club. 7.30pm, £3. Info 01443 226892. A Llantrisant Folk Club night.

Blue Note Bistro Sessions Café Jazz, Cardiff. 6-9pm.

Info 029 2038 7026.

Blues Night Clwb Y Bont, Pontypridd. 7pm. Info 01443 491424. Last Wednesday of every month.

Christian Kobi Noah’s Yard, Swansea. 7pm. Info 01792 447360. Swiss free improv saxophonist. Don’t have many details about this performance yet but Welsh avant-garde man Rhodri Davies seems to be putting it on.

Chroma + Hiwligang + Cadno Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5. Info 029 2023 2199. Gig of Welsh language bands which is something to do with the Tafwyl festival this coming weekend.

Constellation Big Band Jazzland, Swansea. 8.3011pm, £10. Info 07802 912789.

Hackensaw Boys + JC’s Hopeless Sinners + The Brwmys + Little Folk The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7.30pm, BUZZ 73

stage £8 adv. Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com.

Jazz Wednesdays Warehouse54, Newport. 8pm.

Info 01633 259144.

Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12 adv.

Info 07590 471888. American guitarist, a titan of quasigothic 1980s vintage rock via appearances in the Cramps, Gun Club and Bad Seeds, with his new band.

Open Jam Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff.

8pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

Open Mic Market Street Club, Barry. 8pm. Info 01446 733863.

Open Mic Night NosDa, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2037 8866. With host Tony Hands. Free drink for performers.

Rachel Head & Band + Mike Dyzngel & Band Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

RWCMD double bill.

Tcha Limberger’s Kalotaszeg Trio Borough Theatre, Abergavenny.

7.30pm, £16.50/£15. Info 01873 850805. Transylvanian violinist plus band.

THURSDAY 30

5th Spear Gwdihw, Cardiff.

8pm, £4/£3 adv. Info 029 2039 7933.

A Night In Venice By Candlelight Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 7.30pm, £18.50/£17.50. Info 01874 611622. Jonathan Ansell from G4 sings Verdi, Puccini and Donizetti operatic excerpts.

Art Themen & The John Gibbon Trio Plas Hyfryd Hotel, Narberth. 8pm, £4-£7. Info 01834 869323. A Spanjazz night.

Beyonce Principality Stadium, Cardiff. 4.30pm, £73.50/£108.50 gold circle.

Info 08442 777888. I’d pay that ticket price if the support act was a Roman-style fight to the death between people who bang on incessantly about how many producers it takes to make a Beyonce album, and people who enthuse about how much “shade” she “throws” despite never using those terms elsewhere in their life.

Coltrane Dedication Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £6/£5.

Info 029 2038 7026.

Harry Keyworth West Coast Arts, Penally, Tenby.

Free. Info 01834 219128.

JimJam Open Mic Session The Claude Hotel, Albany Road, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 07557 505123. This week’s guest band is The Bella Collins Band.

Open Mic Night Lyceum Tavern, Newport. 8.30pm.

Info 01633 858636.

The Apples Queens Hall, Narberth. 8pm, £6-£14.

Info 01834 869323. Manymembered funk band from Israel.

stage WEDNESDAY 1

Allan O Diwn Aberystwyth BUZZ 74

Arts Centre. 7.30pm, £12/£10.

Info 01970 623232. Welsh language play by Theatr Bara Caws. In Cardiff on Thurs 30.

An Evening With Gareth Bale The Full Moon, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £5. Info info@ thefullmooncardiff.com. If, like me, you’ve often wondered if the lives of Gareth Bale (the world famous Welsh footballer) and Gareth Bale (the regionally noted Welsh theatre actor) will ever interact, here you are. This is a comedy play for voices about two men attempting to get the plane to Euro 2016; it stars Boyd Clack and is directed by Gareth Bale. The theatre one.

Before I Leave Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7.50-£25. Info 029 2064 6900. Patrick Jones’ play, set in the Valleys, about a choir with dementia and Alzheimer’s. (Until Sat 11) Boxy & Sticky Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen.

2.30pm, £6/£5. Info 0845 2263510. Show presented

by Theatr Iolo and aimed at ages 3-5. In Merthyr tomorrow; Ammanford on Wed 22.

Cinderella New Theatre, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7pm, £10£23. Info 029 2087 8889.

Presented by Orbit Theatre.

(Until Sun 5) Dinosaur Zoo Grand Theatre, Swansea. 2 + 4.30pm, £15.50/£13. Info 01792 475715. Hit West End kids’ show. On tomorrow also.

Dirty Dusting Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7.45pm, £19. Info 01686 614555.

Three cleaning ladies, (past their sell by date) start up a telephone sex line!!! Not my exclamation points, but those of the press blurb. In Cwmbran on Sun 5.

Goldilocks & The Three Bears Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale. 2pm, £8/£6. Info 01495 355800. Presented by Magic Light.

King Of The Sky Miners’ Institute, Blackwood. 2pm, £4.50/£3.50. Info 01495 227206. Kids’ book adaption produced by Pontardawe Arts Centre. In Newtown on Fri 3.

Return Of The Grumpy Old Women St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 8pm, £25. Info 029 2087 8444. Featuring Jenny Eclair, Susie Blake and Kate Robbins.

Romeo A Juliet Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7.30pm, £15/£13. Info 0845 2263510.

Collaboration between Ballet Cymru, Coreo Cymru and The Riverfront.

Rough Diamonds Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea. 6pm, £3. Info 01792 602060. New theatre work by Swansea student writers.

Sarah Pascoe Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 6.45pm, £12 adv.

Info 0871 4720400.

THURSDAY 2

Before I Leave Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7.50-£25. Info 029 2064 6900. (Until Sat 11) Boxy & Sticky Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil. 1.30pm, £5/£4. Info 01685 384111.

Cinderella New Theatre, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7pm, £10£23. Info 029 2087 8889.

(Until Sun 5) Dinosaur Zoo Grand Theatre, Swansea. 2 + 4.30pm, £15.50/£13. Info 01792 475715.

Flossy & Boo’s Curiosity Shop Queens Hall, Narberth.

1.45pm, £5.50/£4.50 adv. Info 01834 869323.

Laffty Devil Comedy Night Crafty Devil Cellar Shop, Llandaff Road, Cardiff. 7pm, free. Info info@craftydevilbrewing. co.uk. Third in a series of monthly comedy nights in this Canton bottle shop.

Features a ‘comedy speakeasy’ where the audience talk about whatever the audience suggest.

Mark Steel Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 8pm, £15. Info 01686 614555. Rearranged from last month.

Miramar Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 01792 602060.

Theatre Tri Ongl present a Welsh/English-language play about an elderly woman forced to sell her house.

In Aberystwyth tomorrow; Blackwood on Tue 14; Cardiff on Thurs 16 and Fri 17; Merthyr on Sat 18; Ystradgynlais on Wed 22.

Noel James + Mike Reed + The Death Hilarious + Alex Mahoney + Drew Taylor Warehouse54, Newport. 8pm, £3. Info 01633 259144. Standup comedy night.

OMG! Theatr Soar, Merthyr Tydfil. 7pm, £9 adv. Info 01685 722176. New comedy by local writers Anthony Bunko & Paul O’Sullivan; directed by Neil Maidman.

On tomorrow also.

Pongo’s Party Parc & Dare, Treorchy. 2pm, £10. Info 0800 0147111. Singalong theatre for small kids.

The Best Thing Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 8pm, £1-£14. Info 01874 611622.

Full mask theatre set in the 60s and presented by Vamos Theatre.

The Little Mermaid Junior Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £10. Info 01633 263670. On tomorrow also.

Thursday Night Comedy Carousel Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £10/£5 NUS. Info 0871 4720400.

Featuring Robin Morgan, Dan Nightingale and Ian Smith.

Truly Yours CB Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7.30pm, £10/£8. Info 0845 2263510. One-woman show in which Alison Neil tells the story of Charlotte Brontë.

comedy lecture show by the enlightened comedienne Jeanie Rebane”.

King Of The Sky Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 10.30am, £5. Info 01686 614555.

La Voix Humaine Private residence TBC, Penarth.

8pm, £35. Info www.festivalofvoice.wales. Festival Of Voice present an innovative take on this 20th century opera favourite, commissioned by Welsh National Opera and held in, yep, someone’s apartment. (Until Sat 11) Leir & Co Grand Theatre Arts Wing, Swansea. 1 + 7.15pm, £6-£10. Info 01792 475715. Hit Fluellen present a modern twist on King Lear.

Little Red Riding Hood + Three Little Pigs Borough Theatre, Abergavenny.

7.30pm, £12. Info 01873 850805. Roald Dahl’s take on these two stories have been adapted by Ballet Cymru.

In Porthcawl on Thurs 16; Milford Haven on Wed 22.

Mike Bubbins + Bethan Roberts + Drew Taylor + Liam Schewitz + Paul James Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil. 7.30pm, £10. Info 01685 384111. Comedy. Part of the Merthyr Rising festival, although you need to get a separate ticket I think.

Miramar Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.45pm, £5-£8. Info 01970 623232.

Noel James + Adam Vincent + Ignacio Lopez

Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 8pm, £10. Info 0845 2263510.

Killforaseat comedy night.

OMG! Theatr Soar, Merthyr Tydfil. 7pm, £9 adv. Info 01685 722176.

Paul Myrehaug + Ron Vaudry + Dan Nightingale + Ian Smith Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £15/£7.50 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. On tomorrow also.

‘Stute Comedy Nights Miners’ Institute, Blackwood.

8pm, £12/£10 adv. Info 01495 227206. With standups TBC. The Chris And Pui Show Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 11am + 2pm, £12/£10. Info 0845 2263510. Cbeebies double act.

The Little Mermaid Junior Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £10. Info 01633 263670.

The Vackees Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £6-£12. Info 01656 815995. Wartime-set musical presented by Bridgend Youth Theatre. On tomorrow also.

SATURDAY 4

Before I Leave Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7.50-£25. Info 029 2064 6900. (Until Sat 11) Cavalleria Rusticana + Pagliacci Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 4 + 7.15pm, £6-£40. Info 029 2063 6464. Part of Welsh National Opera’s summer season.

Chaz Royal’s Burlesque

Ball The Globe, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £12.50 adv. Info 07590 471888.

Cinderella New Theatre, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7pm, £10£23. Info 029 2087 8889.

(Until Sun 5) Don’t Stop The Music Dolman Theatre, Newport.

7pm, £8. Info 01633 263670.

Dance spectacular performed

by The Jazz Cats.

Fashion Machine Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 2pm, £10/£8. Info 029 2030 4400.

Interactive show by Theatre Skam from Victoria, Canada, in which children aged 10-13 “dare selected audience members to step inside the Fashion Machine and have the clothes they’re wearing totally reinvented!” On tomorrow also.

John Newton + David Whitney + David Morgan Jongleurs, Cardiff. 7pm, from £16. Info 08700 111960.

La Voix Humaine Private residence TBC, Penarth. 4 + 8pm, £35. Info www.festivalofvoice.wales. Next event is on Tue 7. (Until Sat 11) Mark Thomas Theatr Soar, Merthyr Tydfil. 7.30pm, £10 adv. Info 01685 722176.

Performing his new show Trespass as part of the Merthyr Rising Festival.

Paul Myrehaug + Ron Vaudry + Dan Nightingale + Ian Smith Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £16.95/£10 NUS. Info 0871 4720400.

FRIDAY 3

Before I Leave Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7.50-£25. Info 029 2064 6900. (Until Sat 11) Cinderella New Theatre, Cardiff. 7pm, £10-£23. Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sun 5) Drones Comedy Club Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

8.30pm, £3.50. Info 029 2030 4400. Also on Fri 17.

Flossy And Boo’s Curiosity Shop Pontardawe Arts Centre. 2pm, £5/£3. Info 01792 863722.

In Parenthesis Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £5-£41. Info 029 2063 6464. WNO present Iain Bell’s opera.

Jeanie Rebane Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2030 4400. Titled Stand Up Spirituality, this is described as “where comedy meets spirituality ... a

BILLY ELLIOT Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Wed 15 June-Sat 16 July Tickets: £18.50-£65.50. Info: 029 2063 6464 / www.wmc.org.uk After 11 years in the West End, Billy Elliot the musical is finally touring the UK and Ireland. Let the show transport you back to 1984-85, when the miners’ strike was happening, and follow Billy’s mission at that difficult time to move from his unloved boxing gloves to his passion for his secret dancing shoes. His talent and journey eventually inspires the whole community. It is a powerful story about making dreams come true, and with music written by Elton John, it will surely have you falling in love with the story and get you laughing and crying. Resident in the Wales Millennium Centre’s Donald Gordon Theatre for a full month, find out how Billy ends up ‘flying like a bird’.

stage The Jungle Book Savoy Theatre, Monmouth. 2 + 7pm, £6/£4 under-16s. Info 01600 772467. Presented by the Savoy Youth Theatre Academy. On tomorrow also.

The Last Mermaid Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £18. Info 0844 8700887. Festival Of Voice event, co-created and starring Charlotte Church – who you can find Upfront. Tonight is opening night price, it’ll be £20 thereafter. (Until Sun 12) The Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen. 7.30pm, £22.

Info 0845 2263510.

The Vackees Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £6-£12. Info 01656 815995.

SUNDAY 5

Cinderella New Theatre, Cardiff. 2pm, £10-£23. Info 029 2087 8889. (Finishes today) Dirty Dusting Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 7.30pm, £21 adv. Info 01633 868239.

Fashion Machine Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 2pm, £10/£8. Info 029 2030 4400.

Fork In The Road Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 5.45pm, £8. Info 0844 8700887. One-man show featuring Benson Wereje who talks about his experiences of brutal war in the Congo.

(Until Thurs 9) Live Cabaret Market Street Club, Barry. 8.30pm. Info 01446 733863. Every Sunday.

Musical Melodies Gwyn Hall, Neath. 2pm, £8.60/£6.45. Info 0300 3656677. Musical favourites.

Paul McCaffrey + Kiri Pritchard-Mcclean Buffalo, Cardiff. 7pm, £8/£5. Info 029 2031 0312. A brace of Edinburgh preview shows, presented by Buffalo Comedy.

The Jungle Book Savoy Theatre, Monmouth. 12 + 4pm, £6/£4 under-16s. Info 01600 772467.

The Railwayman Little Man Coffee Co, Cardiff. 7pm, £8. Info 07830 381930. Kiln and the Clocktower Theatre Co present a play by Will Salter. In The Gate on Tue 7.

Tom Thumb Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 2pm, £7.50. Info 01656 815995. Kids’ theatre.

MONDAY 6

Before I Leave Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7.50-£25. Info 029 2064 6900. (Until Sat 11) Fork In The Road Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 5.45pm, £8. Info 0844 8700887. (Until Thurs 9) Lightning Path Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 6.30pm, £8/£6.

Info 0845 2263510. Familyfriendly puppet theatre show.

On tomorrow also.

The Last Mermaid Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £20. Info 0844 8700887. (Until Sun 12)

TUESDAY 7

Before I Leave Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7.50-£25. Info 029 2064 6900. (Until Sat 11) Crafty Laughs The Cambrian Tap, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2064 4952.

Free standup comedy of the night every first Tuesday of the month. This one features (deep breath) Chris Chopping, Brendan Common,

Costas Lukaris, Paul Scoble, Ant Burn, Calum Stewart, David Florentin, David Short, Sam Borthwick, Jamie D’souza and Francesco Scarpetta.

Dance Roads Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 8pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2030 4400.

Five short dance pieces. On tomorrow also.

Diwrnod Hyfryd Sali Mali Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

10am + 1pm, £6. Info 01970 623232. Welsh language kids’ show. On tomorrow also; in Cardiff on Fri 17 and Sat 18; Carmarthen on Tue 21.

Fork In The Road Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 5.45pm, £8. Info 0844 8700887. (Until Thurs 9) La Voix Humaine Private residence TBC, Penarth.

8pm, £35. Info www. festivalofvoice.wales. (Until Sat 11) Lightning Path Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 10am + 1pm, £8/£6.

Info 0845 2263510.

The Last Mermaid Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £20. Info 0844 8700887. (Until Sun 12) The Railwayman The Gate, Cardiff. 7pm, £8. Info 029 2048 3344. Ticket price includes a hot drink and a bit of cake.

WEDNESDAY 8

A Regular Little Houdini The Riverfront, Newport.

7.45pm, £12.50/£10.50. Info 01633 656757. A play, which has been here a couple of times before, about a young Edwardian-era boy who idolises Harry Houdini. (Until Fri 10) Before I Leave Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7.50-£25. Info 029 2064 6900. (Until Sat 11) Belonging Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 2 + 7.30pm, £10/£8. Info 01874 611622. New play by Re-Live, looking at experiences of people living with dementia.

Broadway! A Night At The Musicals Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 7.30pm, £15.50£23. Info 01633 868239.

West End musical hits with The Welsh Musical Theatre Orchestra.

Comedy At The Parrot The Parrot, Carmarthen. 7.30pm.

Info 01267 231012. Lineup TBC. Dance Roads Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 8pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2030 4400.

Eight Minutes Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £6. Info 01633 263670. New play by south Wales writer Chris Harris about “identity, power and violence” – and Cardiff city centre. (Until Fri 10) Fork In The Road Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 5.45pm, £8. Info 0844 8700887. (Until Thurs 9) Guys And Dolls Junior Gwyn Hall, Neath. 7pm, £8.

Info 0300 3656677.

La Voix Humaine Private residence TBC, Penarth.

8pm, £35. Info www. festivalofvoice.wales. (Until Sat 11) Nelson – The Sailor’s Story Grand Theatre Arts Wing, Swansea. 7.45pm, £10/£8. Info 01792 475715.

One-man show whose conceit is Nelson, in column form, looking down at the world as it is today.

Opera For The Unknown Woman Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8.30pm, £25. Info 0844 8700887.

Multimedia science finction opera about a group of women attempting to save the planet in 2016 before it finally collapses in 300 years’ time. Does that make sense?

I think they can see into the future somehow. (Until Sun 12) The Last Mermaid Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £20. Info 0844 8700887. (Until Sun 12)

THURSDAY 9

Alternative Routes Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £12. Info 0844 8700887. New dance pieces created in Wales and staged in the Dance House. (Until Sat 11) A Party To Murder Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £9.50-£16. Info 01792 475715. A murder mysterythemed play presented

by Talking Scarlet. (Until Sat 11) A Regular Little Houdini The Riverfront, Newport.

7.45pm, £12.50/£10.50. Info 01633 656757. (Until Fri 10) Before I Leave Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £7.50-£25. Info 029 2064 6900. The afternoon performance is a ‘relaxed’ one. (Until Sat 11) Bennett Arron + Julian Deane + Sally Anne Hayward Queens Hall, Narberth. 7pm, £8-£12. Info 01834 869323.

Eight Minutes Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £6. Info 01633 263670. (Until Fri 10) Fork In The Road Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 1 + 5.45pm, £8. Info 0844 8700887. (Finishes today) Ignacio Lopez + Jon Wagstaff + Charlie Smith + Liam Schewitz + Steffan Evans + Jamie McGowan Chapel 1877, Cardiff. 8pm, £5 adv. Info 029 2022 2020. Standup night presented by Masa Comedia.

La Voix Humaine Private residence TBC, Penarth.

4 + 8pm, £35. Info www. festivalofvoice.wales. (Until Sat 11) One O’Clock From The House Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7.30pm, £8.50/£7.50. Info 01873 850805. Amateur production of a Frank Vickety play from the Abergavenny Theatre Group. (Until Sat 11) Opera For The Unknown Woman Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8.30pm, £25. Info 0844 8700887.

(Until Sun 12) The Last Mermaid Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £20. Info 0844 8700887. (Until Sun 12) Thursday Night Comedy Carousel Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £10/£5 NUS. Info 0871 4720400.

Featuring Clint Edwards, The Noise Next Door and Dane Baptiste.

FRIDAY 10

Alternative Routes Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £12. Info 0844 8700887. (Until Sat 11) A Party To Murder Grand

Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £9.50-£16. Info 01792 475715. (Until Sat 11) A Regular Little Houdini The Riverfront, Newport.

7.45pm, £12.50/£10.50. Info 01633 656757. (Finishes today) Before I Leave Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7.50-£25. Info 029 2064 6900. (Until Sat 11) Caitlin Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 6 + 8pm, £10/£8.

Info 01970 623232. Onewoman show about the life of Dylan Thomas’ wife. Enjoyed

Bay. 7.30pm, £17-£32. Info 0844 8700887. Musical based on the life of Edith Piaf.

Stuart Goldsmith + Julian Deane + The Noise Next Door + Dane Baptiste Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £15/£7.50 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. On tomorrow also.

The Last Mermaid Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £20. Info 0844 8700887. (Until Sun 12) The Tempest Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.45pm, £8/£6.

Info 01970 623232. Presented

The Wallich homeless shelter in Cardiff does invaluable work, especially around the winter months. Wed 22 June may be the very height of summer, but a comedy benefit gig for the Wallich is still a hugely welcome event. It's at The Gate Arts Centre and features five comedians, including Wil Hodgson and Lloyd Langford. that story the other day that said “newly discovered documents” suggested Dylan was a lightweight and Caitlin was a nymphomaniac. On tomorrow also; in Llandridnod Wells on Sun 19.

Carmen MedwayStephens – Four Brothers Carnegie House, Bridgend.

7pm, free. Info 01656 815757.

Performance based on this artist’s two-day residency here earlier this week.

Caucasian Chalk Circle The Gate, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10/£8. Info 029 2048 3344.

Brecht play, presented here

by The Actor’s Wheel.

Eight Minutes Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £6. Info 01633 263670.

(Finishes today) Ellie Taylor + Archie Maddocks + Meryl O’Rourke The Function Room, Pontyclun. £10. Info 07510 329537. A Comedy Cow night of standup.

Guys And Dolls Youth Gwyn Hall, Neath. 7.15pm, £8. Info 0300 3656677.

La Voix Humaine Private residence TBC, Penarth.

8pm, £35. Info www.festivalofvoice.wales. (Until Sat 11) Meet The Real Maggie Thatcher Grand Theatre Arts Wing, Swansea. 8pm, £10/£8. Info 01792 475715.

Unfamiliar with this play or its creators, Gerundagula, but reading between the lines (and not caring to Google it) I suspect it’s not going to be a favourable portrait.

One O’Clock From The House Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7.30pm, £8.50/£7.50. Info 01873 850805. (Until Sat 11) Opera For The Unknown Woman Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 4.30 + 8.30pm, £25. Info 0844 8700887. (Until Sun 12) Piaf! The Show Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

by the Youth Theatre. On tomorrow also.

SATURDAY 11

Alternative Routes Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2 + 7.30pm, £12. Info 0844 8700887. (Finishes today) A Party To Murder Grand Theatre, Swansea. 2 + 7.30pm, £9.50-£16. Info 01792 475715. (Finishes today) Before I Leave Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £7.50-£25. Info 029 2064 6900. the afternoon performance is captioned and audio described. (Finishes today) Breakout Wales Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea.

6.30pm, £14. Info 01792 602060. Urban dance types.

Caitlin Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 6 + 8pm, £10/£8.

Info 01970 623232.

Chicken Licken Carnegie House, Bridgend. 2pm, £5 adv. Info 01656 815757. DNA Theatre present kids’ show.

D Festival 2016 Torch Theatre, Milford Haven.

11am, £3.50/£5 both days.

Info 01646 695267. Live performances from professional and amateur dancers and workshops across many dance disciplines. On tomorrow also.

La Voix Humaine Private residence TBC, Penarth.

8pm, £35. Info www.festivalofvoice.wales. (Finishes toay) Mmm Hmmm Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 8pm, £10/£8.

Info 029 2030 4400. A capella song theatre created by Verity Standen. A Festival Of Voice show.

One O’Clock From The House Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7.30pm, £8.50/£7.50. Info 01873 850805. (Finishes today) Opera For The Unknown Woman Wales Millennium

Centre, Cardiff Bay. 4.30 + 8.30pm, £25. Info 0844 8700887. (Until Sun 12) Sean Percival + Leo Kearse + Steve Gribbin Jongleurs, Cardiff. 7pm, from £16. Info 08700 111960.

Stuart Goldsmith + Julian Deane + The Noise Next Door + Dane Baptiste Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £16.95/£10 NUS. Info 0871 4720400.

The Last Mermaid Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 1 + 7pm, £20. Info 0844 8700887. (Until Sun 12) The Magic Doors Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 2pm, £4.50. Info 01646 695267.

Family theatre presented

by Bombastic. On tomorrow also.

The Naked Truth Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 7.30pm, £19.50/£18. Info 01874 611622. Comedy set in a village hall pole dancing class.

The Tempest Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.45pm, £8/£6.

Info 01970 623232.

SUNDAY 12

D Festival 2016 Torch Theatre, Milford Haven.

11am, £3.50/£5 both days.

Info 01646 695267.

Live Cabaret Market Street Club, Barry. 8.30pm. Info 01446 733863.

Opera For The Unknown Woman Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8.30pm, £25. Info 0844 8700887.

(Finishes today) The Last Mermaid Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 1pm, £20. Info 0844 8700887. (Finishes today) The Magic Doors Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 2pm, £4.50. Info 01646 695267.

The Voice Of Vibe Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 2 + 6pm, £15.50-£23. Info 01633 868239. Variety show.

MONDAY 13

Adam Hills Grand Theatre, Swansea. 8pm, £21.50. Info 01792 475715. Australian comedian whose writeups always mention how positive and upbeat his brand of standup is. Gag me with a spoon!

Caterpillar Comedy Gwdihw, Cardiff. 8pm, free.

Info 029 2039 7933. Open mic standup night hosted by James Dunn.

TUESDAY 14

‘Allo ‘Allo Dining Invitation Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £41. Info 01792 475715. Another of these ‘eat your dinner while a stage show based on an old BBC sitcom happens around you’ things. Vegetarians and vegans will be catered for, just like in real-life wartime France.

Billy Elliot Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £18.50-£62.50.

Info 029 2063 6464. Hit musical based on hit film arrives here for the long haul. (Until Sat 16 July) BYU Ballroom Dance Company St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8-£16.

Info 029 2087 8444.

Championship-winning Latin dance showcase.

Maurice’s Jubilee Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £12.50/£8.50 NUS. Info 01633 263670. Presented by BUZZ 75

stage Newport Playgoers Society.

(Until Sat 18) Miramar Miners’ Institute, Blackwood. 7.30pm, £14/£12.

Info 01495 227206.

The 39 Steps New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £9.50£27. Info 029 2087 8889.

Hitchcock thriller recreated for the stage. (Until Sat 18)

WEDNESDAY 15

THE FREDDIE MERCURY PROJECT Sinfonia Cymru are collaborating with composer and violinist Vlad Maistorovici to create Queen Concertante. This will include classic Queen songs like We Are The Champions, Bohemian Rhapsody, Killer Queen and Bijou. Sinfonia Cymru is an orchestra made up of young, creative and professional musicians in the early stages of their careers, and is funded by the Arts Council of Wales. The orchestra tours regularly to venues across Wales, including the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff and the Riverfront in Newport, and theatres in Llanelli and Brecon.

It will be directed by Vlad Maistorovici, who takes on an additional three roles in The Freddie Mercury Project as a conductor, violin soloist and composer.

Originally from Romania, Maistorovici performs all over the world, alongside a range of musical talents ranging from classical to modern genres. His compositions have been critically acclaimed by world-class orchestras and artists, and Maistorovici has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician at major venues, such as London’s Wigmore Hall and Cadogan Hall, New York’s Merkin Hall, and prestigious festivals like the Verbier Festival. He’s also performed as a soloist with other orchestras such as the European Union Chamber Orchestra and the London South Bank Sinfonia.

This is your chance to experience firsthand Freddie Mercury’s compositions performed by a live 23-piece chamber orchestra alongside a celebrated artist, indeed, one of the most exciting of his generation to emerge from Romania.

Inspiring and upbeat, you’ll be fixated by the sophisticated interpretation of the much loved and famous songs that so many of us adore.

LYDIA DE BLANGY Sinfonia Cymru: The Freddie Mercury Project, Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, Thurs 9 June; Theatr Ffwrnes, Llanelli, Fri 10 June; Dora Stoutzker Hall, Cardiff, Sat 11 June; The Riverfront, Newport, Sun 12 June. Tickets: £5-£16. Info: 029 2075 4556 / www. sinfoniacymru.co.uk

BUZZ 76

Billy Elliot Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £18.50-£62.50.

Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Sat 16 July) Maurice’s Jubilee Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £12.50/£8.50 NUS. Info 01633 263670. (Until Sat 18) The 39 Steps New Theatre, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £8.50-£27. Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 18) The Wizard Of Oz Gwyn Hall, Neath. 7pm, £11/£9.

Info 0300 3656677. Presented

by Stage 8 Theatre School.

Tiddler And Other Terrific Tales Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 1.30pm, £6.50.

Info 01873 850805. Kids’ production. In Swansea tomorrow.

THURSDAY 16

Billy Elliot Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £18.50£62.50. Info 029 2063 6464.

(Until Sat 16 July) Blaenau Gwent Young Stars Annual Review Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale.

7pm, £8. Info 01495 355800.

Pretty sure they mean ‘revue’ but it’s not my job to stamp out homophones. (Until Sat 18) Jamie Raven St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £18.50/£16.50. Info 029 2087 8444. Magician.

Jazz Dance Company Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon.

7.30pm, £5-£13.50. Info 01874 611622.

Little Red Riding Hood + The Three Pigs Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 7.30pm, £15/£14. Info 01656 815995.

Maurice’s Jubilee Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £12.50/£8.50 NUS. Info 01633 263670. (Until Sat 18) Miramar Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8-£12. Info 029 2030 4400.

On tomorrow also.

Romeo & Juliet Thompsons Park, Cardiff. 6.30pm, £6-£14. Info 029 2030 4400.

Presented by Taking Flight Theatre, and touring throughout Wales during June and July. Tickets are all booked through Chapter Arts Centre, whose number that is above.

(Until Sun 19) The 39 Steps New Theatre, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £8.50-£27. Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 18) Thursday Night Comedy Carousel Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £10/£5 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. Featuring Robin Morgan, Clint Edwards and one comic TBC. Tiddler & Other Terrific Tales Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea. 4.30pm, £8.50. Info 01792 602060.

FRIDAY 17

A Night At The Movies Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

7pm, £6-£10. Info 01970 623232. A Company: Arts Centre Dance School show.

On tomorrow also.

Billy Elliot Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £22.50-£65.50.

Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Sat 16 July) Blaenau Gwent Young Stars Annual Review Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale.

7pm, £8. Info 01495 355800.

(Until Sat 18) Diwrnod Hyfryd Sali Mali Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 10.30am + 1.30pm, £7. Info 029 2063 6464.

Drones Comedy Club Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

8.30pm, £3.50. Info 029 2030 4400.

Jamali Maddix + Andrew Ryan + Gary Little + Simon Bligh Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £15/£7.50 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. On tomorrow also.

Maurice’s Jubilee Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £12.50/£8.50 NUS. Info 01633 263670. (Until Sat 18) Miramar Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8-£12. Info 029 2030 4400.

Pam Ann Mary’s, Cardiff.

7pm, £15 adv. Info 029 2066 8647. Airline-themed comedian performs her second set of 2016 at Cardiff gay establishment.

Patrick Monahan The Riverfront, Newport. 7.45pm, £12.50/£10.50. Info 01633 656757. Described here as “the family’s favourite funnyman,” however this gig is only open to ages 16 and up.

Romeo & Juliet Thompsons Park, Cardiff. 12 + 6.30pm,

Bluestocking Lounge Grand Theatre Arts Wing, Swansea. 8pm, £15.50. Info 01792 475715. Burlesque night headlined by Bettsy BonBon. Diwrnod Hyfryd Sali Mali Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 11am, £7. Info 029 2063 6464.

Jamali Maddix + Andrew Ryan + Gary Little + Simon Bligh Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £16.95/£10 NUS. Info 0871 4720400.

Lou Conran + Joe Rowntree Jongleurs, Cardiff.

7pm, from £16. Info 08700 111960.

Maurice’s Jubilee Dolman Theatre, Newport. 2.30 + 7.15pm, £12.50/£8.50 NUS. Info 01633 263670. (Finishes today) Mercurial George Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 7pm, £12/£10. Info 029 2030 4400.

Dance show by Dana Michel, a Canadian choreographer who appeared at last’s year’s Cardiff Dance Festival.

Miramar Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil. 7.30pm, £8/£6. Info 01685 384111.

Monstersaurus! Miners’ Institute, Blackwood. 11am + 2pm, £4.50/£3.50. Info 01495 227206. Kids’ show.

The 2pm performance is aimed at children with learning disabilities.

Romeo & Juliet Thompsons Park, Cardiff. 6.30pm, £6-£14.

Info 029 2030 4400. (Until Sun 19) Steps In Time: The Concept Players Paget Rooms, Penarth. 7.30pm,

SATURDAY 18

A Night At The Movies Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

7pm, £6-£10. Info 01970 623232.

Billy Elliot Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £22.50£65.50. Info 029 2063 6464.

(Until Sat 16 July) Blaenau Gwent Young Stars Annual Review Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale.

7pm, £8. Info 01495 355800.

(Finishes today)

TUESDAY 21

£10. Info 029 2070 0721.

Songs from the musicals.

The 39 Steps New Theatre, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £9-£27. Info 029 2087 8889.

(Finishes today)

Bill Bailey Grand Theatre, Swansea. 8pm, £25.50. Info 01792 475715. Touring his latest show, Limboland. On tomorrow also; in Cardiff on Sat 25.

Billy Elliot Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £18.50-£62.50.

Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Sat 16 July) Bobby Davro Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot. 7.30pm, £23.11 adv. Info 01639 763214.

Diwrnod Hyfryd Sali Mali Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen.

10am + 1pm, £10/£8. Info 0845 2263510.

Door 2 Disney The Met, Abertillery. 7pm, £6. Info 01495 355800. Disney classics performed by pupils aged 4-8. On tomorrow also.

Oddity Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7. Info 029 2030 4400. Three-hand (wahey) comedy presented

by Slipstick (wahey?), set in space and progressing towards a tense climax (meh).

Service! Episode 3: Taking Stock AJ’s Coffee House, Cardiff. 6.30 + 8pm, £5. Info 029 2045 1588.

Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival event.

Shadowlands New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £9.50-£26.

Info 029 2087 8889. William Nicholson’s play, based on the life of CS Lewis. (Until Sat 25) The Dead Of Night In The Middle Of Nowhere 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 6.30pm, £4. Info 029 2022 8883.

The History Boys Torch Theatre, Milford Haven.

7.45pm, £10/£8. Info 01646 695267. Further educationbased comedy, presented here by The Green Room.

(Until Thurs 23)

SUNDAY 19

WEDNESDAY 22

The Gregynog Festival, based across a variety of venues in (mostly) Powys, is primarily geared towards classical/early music, but does also feature a drama titled Rebel Rebel in Llandinam Village Hall on Fri 24.

Based on real events, it's about two Irish actors who abandon their roles – literally – to fight in the Easter Rising of 1916. £6-£14. Info 029 2030 4400.

(Until Sun 19) Steps Through Time Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7.30pm, £10.

Info 01873 850805. Musical melange from Concept Players.

The 39 Steps New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £9.50-£27.

Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 18)

£5. Info 029 2045 1588. Play produced by The Unknown OUTCasts which is part of the Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival 2016 – running in various small venues until Sat 25.

Billy Elliot Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £18.50-£62.50.

Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Sat 16 July) I See A Different You Little Man Coffee Co, Cardiff.

7pm, £5. Info 07830 381930.

Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival event.

The Dead Of Night In The Middle Of Nowhere 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 6.30pm, £4. Info 029 2022 8883. Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival event. On tomorrow also.

Caitlin Powys Dance, Llandrindod Wells. 7.30pm, £13/£11. Info 01597 824370.

Live Cabaret Market Street Club, Barry. 8.30pm. Info 01446 733863.

Pinnochio Gwyn Hall, Neath. 3pm, £15/£12 adv.

Info 0300 3656677. Live ballet presented by Ballet Theatre UK. Romeo & Juliet Thompsons Park, Cardiff. 12 + 6.30pm, £6-£14. Info 029 2030 4400.

(Finishes today)

MONDAY 20

At First Sight AJ’s Coffee House, Cardiff. 6.30 + 8pm,

Bill Bailey Grand Theatre, Swansea. 8pm, £25.50. Info 01792 475715.

Billy Elliot Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £18.50-£62.50.

Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Sat 16 July) Boxy & Sticky Miners Theatre, Ammanford.

1.30pm, £6. Info 0845 2263510.

Cabaret Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £6-£13. Info 029 2039 1391. The Richard Burton Company with a production based on the play by John Van Druten and stories

stage

by Christopher Isherwood.

(Until Wed 30) Cefn Golau Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 1pm, £6.50. Info 01656 815995. Lunchtime theatre presented by Fluellen.

Door 2 Disney The Met, Abertillery. 7pm, £6. Info 01495 355800.

Firm Little Man Coffee Co, Cardiff. 7pm, £5. Info 07830 381930. Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival event, presented by Thirsty Bird. Also on Fri 24.

Jethro Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 7.30pm, £20. Info 01874 611622. Described here as “probably the greatest comic storyteller ever to grace the stage,” in doing so distinguishing him from the likes of Chaucer and other literary cowards who never even trod the boards.

Little Red Riding Hood + The Three Little Pigs Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 7.30pm, £8-£15.50.

Info 01646 695267.

Miramar The Welfare, Ystradgynlais. 7.30pm, £8/£6. Info 01639 843163.

Moirai Jacob’s Antiques, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5. Info 029 20389 0939. Big Loop Theatre Company’s debut production as part of the inaugural Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival. On tomorrow also.

Nansi Paget Rooms, Penarth. 7.30pm, £10-£15.

Info 029 2070 0721. Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru present Angharad Price’s play, touring Wales for the second time. It’s also in Aberaeron from Tue 28-Thurs 30. (Until Fri 24) Over By (H)’ere 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 7pm, £5. Info 029 2022 8883. Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival event, a collection of short plays inspired by the Rhondda valleys.

Rock Of Ages Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £12. Info 01633 263670.

Musical presented by Young Venture Players. (Until Sat 25) Shadowlands New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £9.50-£26.

Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 25) Simon Munnery + Jordan Brookes Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10-£12. Info 029 2030 4400.

Brace of Edinburgh Festival show previews.

The History Boys Torch Theatre, Milford Haven.

7.45pm, £10/£8. Info 01646 695267. (Until Thurs 23) *Wil Hodgson + Lloyd Langford + Dan Mitchell + Daniel Glyn + Drew Taylor + Pete A.K. + Daddy Drwg The Gate, Cardiff. 7pm, £15. Info 029 2048 3344. A night of standup (plus one performance poet and acoustic musician each), a benefit for the Wallich homeless shelter in Cardiff.

THURSDAY 23

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 7.30pm, £5-£14. Info 01874 611622. Presented

by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Applause Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 7.15pm, £8.50/£8.

Info 01633 868239. Presented by the Alison Lee Academy Of Dance. (Until Sat 25)

Billy Elliot Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £18.50-£62.50.

Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Sat 16 July) Cabaret Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £6-£13. Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Wed 30) Into The Woods Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. 8pm, £15/£13. Info 0333 6663366.

This Sondheim musical is the first outdoor theatre production by Everyman this summer; they have events here until late July. (Until Sat 2 July) Meet Fred The Other Room at Porter’s, Cardiff. 7.30pm, pay by donation. Info 029 2128 0189. Hijinx, in association with Blind Summit, present a Unity Festival event. Tonight is a pay-whatyou-can dealie, but the show tomorrow, Tue 28 and Thurs 30 isn’t.

Moirai Jacob’s Antiques, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5. Info 029 20389 0939.

Nansi Paget Rooms, Penarth.

1.30 + 7.30pm, £10-£15. Info 029 2070 0721. (Until Fri 24) Over By (H)’ere AJ’s Coffee House, Cardiff. 7pm, £5. Info 029 2045 1588. Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival event.

Peter Pan Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan. 7pm, £8.50/£7.50.

Info 01239 621200. Presented

by Dreams Dance School.

(Until Sat 25) Primary Dance Project Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea. 1 + 7pm, £2. Info 01792 602060. Over 200 children and young people work with a professional choreographer and Gower College performing arts students on an evening of contemporary dance. On tomorrow also.

Rock Of Ages Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £12. Info 01633 263670.

(Until Sat 25) Scratch Night CF24 Project, Cathays, Cardiff.

7.30pm, free. Info 029 2115 9063. Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival event giving new writers the chance to have work performed in front of an audience.

Seussical Jr Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7pm, £8/£6. Info 01970 623232. On tomorrow also.

Shadowlands New Theatre, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £8.50-£26. Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 25) The Dreamboys Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £17.50-£27.50. Info 01792 475715. Your aunt is going to go to this, get pissed and cause a scene in the foyer because she’s angry they don’t actually get their tassels out.

The History Boys Torch Theatre, Milford Haven.

7.45pm, £10/£8. Info 01646 695267. (Finishes today) Thursday Night Comedy Carousel Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £10/£5 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. Featuring Robin Morgan, Clint Edwards and one comic TBC.

FRIDAY 24

Applause Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 7.15pm, £8.50/£8.

Info 01633 868239. (Until Sat 25) Being Norwegian 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 8pm, £7. Info 029 2022 8883. Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival play by

David Greig.

Billy Elliot Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £22.50£65.50. Info 029 2063 6464.

(Until Sat 16 July) Cabaret Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £6-£13. Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Wed 30) Comedy Shed The Riverfront, Newport. 7.45pm, £12.50. Info 01633 656757.

With standups TBC. Dana Alexander + Carl Hutchinson + Jim Smallman + Ivo + Graham Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £15/£7.50 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. On tomorrow also.

Firm Little Man Coffee Co, Cardiff. 7pm, £5. Info 07830 381930.

Gareth Richards + Bilal Zafar + Dan Thomas Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl.

7.30pm, £9. Info 01656 815995. Comedy Network night of standup.

Into The Woods Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. 8pm, £15/£13. Info 0333 6663366.

(Until Sat 2 July) I See A Different You AJ’s Coffee House, Cardiff.

7pm, £5. Info 029 2045 1588. Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival event.

Meet Fred The Other Room at Porter’s, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5-£12. Info 029 2128 0189.

Nansi Paget Rooms, Penarth.

7.30pm, £10-£15. Info 029 2070 0721. (Finishes today) Peter Pan Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan. 7pm, £8.50/£7.50.

Info 01239 621200. (Until Sat 25) Primary Dance Project Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea. 1 + 7pm, £2. Info 01792 602060.

Rebel Rebel Village Hall, Llandinam, Powys. 7.30pm, £10/£5 under-18s. Info 01686 207100. Drama recreating the true story of two actors who left the stage of Dublin’s Abbey Theatre to take part in the Easter Rising. A Gregynog Festival event.

Rock Of Ages Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £12. Info 01633 263670.

(Until Sat 25) Seussical Jr Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7pm, £8/£6. Info 01970 623232.

Shadowlands New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £9.50-£26.

Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 25) Shelley And The Ratman Castell Coch, Cardiff. 1 + 7pm, £5-£10. Info 029 2039 1391. Puppet show presented by the Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama. (Until Wed 29)

SATURDAY 25

Applause Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 7.15pm, £8.50/£8.

Info 01633 868239. (Finishes today) Bill Bailey Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 7pm, from £25. Info 029 2022 4488.

Billy Elliot Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £22.50£65.50. Info 029 2063 6464.

(Until Sat 16 July) Being Norwegian Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7.

Info 029 2023 9253.

Cabaret Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £6-£13. Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Wed 30) Dana Alexander +

Carl Hutchinson + Jim Smallman + Ivo + Graham Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £16.95/£10 NUS. Info 0871 4720400.

Into The Woods Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. 3 + 8pm, £15/£13. Info 0333 6663366.

(Until Sat 2 July) Mike Bubbins + Noel James + Drew Taylor + Simon Emanuel + Chris Corcoran The Muni, Pontypridd. 7.30pm, £7.

Info 01443 490390. A Clwb Comedy night of standup.

Peter Pan Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan. 7pm, £8.50/£7.50.

Info 01239 621200. (Finishes today) Rock Of Ages Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.15pm, £12. Info 01633 263670.

(Finishes today) Russell Kane Cardigan Castle. 7.30pm, £16 adv. Info 01239 621200. Presented by Theatr Mwldan.

Service! Episode 4: Fire Walk AJ’s Coffee House, Cardiff. 6.30 + 8pm, £5. Info 029 2045 1588. Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival event.

Shadowlands New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £9-£26. Info 029 2087 8889. (Finishes today) Sliding Doors Grand Theatre Arts Wing, Swansea.

12.30pm, £6/£4.50. Info 01792 475715. Lunchtime theatre presented by Fluellen.

Staff Room Little Man Coffee Co, Cardiff. 3 + 7pm, £6.50. Info 07830 381930.

Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival event.

Windsor + Darius Davies + Jarlath Regan Jongleurs, Cardiff. 7pm, from £16. Info 08700 111960.

SUNDAY 26

Falstaff Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 2.30pm, £12-£20. Info 029 2064 6900. Verdi’s opera, conducted here by Carlo Rizzi. (Until Tue 28) Live Cabaret Market Street Club, Barry. 8.30pm. Info 01446 733863.

Shelley And The Ratman Castell Coch, Cardiff. 11am + 2pm, £5-£10. Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Tue 28)

MONDAY 27

Billy Elliot Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £18.50-£62.50.

Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Sat 16 July) Community Dance Gala Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, free.

Info 029 2063 6464. Hijinx Festival event.

Falstaff Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £12-£20.

Info 029 2064 6900. (Until Tue 28) Into The Woods Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. 8pm, £15/£13. Info 0333 6663366.

(Until Sat 2 July) Sarah Millican St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £25.

Info 029 2087 8444. On tomorrow also.

Shelley And The Ratman Castell Coch, Cardiff. 1 + 7pm, £5-£10. Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Wed 29)

TUESDAY 28

Billy Elliot Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £18.50-£62.50.

Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Sat 16 July)

Cabaret Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £6-£13. Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Wed 30) Falstaff Sherman Cymru, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £12-£20. Info 029 2064 6900. (Finishes today) Into The Woods Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. 8pm, £15/£13. Info 0333 6663366.

(Until Sat 2 July) Medea Redux + Iphigenia In Orem + A Gaggle Of Saints Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10/£8. Info 029 2030 4400.

Three dark one-act plays

by Neil Labute. (Until Sat 2 July) Meet Fred The Other Room at Porter’s, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5-£12. Info 029 2128 0189.

Nansi Memorial Hall, Aberaeron. 7.30pm, £10-£15.

Info 01545 574934. (Until Thurs 30) Oklahoma Gwyn Hall, Neath. 7pm, £12/£10. Info 0300 3656677. Musical presented by Stars Musical Theatre. (Until Sat 2 July) Sarah Millican St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £25.

Info 029 2087 8444.

Shelley And The Ratman Castell Coch, Cardiff. 4 + 7pm, £5-£10. Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Wed 29)

WEDNESDAY 29

A Dream Play Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £10/£6. Info 029 2063 6464. Hijinx Festival event presented by Moomsteatern. On tomorrow also.

Billy Elliot Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £18.50-£62.50.

Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Sat 16 July) Blithe Spirit Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £9.50-£16.

Info 01792 475715. Noel Coward’s classic comedy, presented by Talking Scarlet.

(Until Sat 2 July) Cabaret Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

2.30 + 7.30pm, £6-£13.

Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Wed 30) Cabaret Of Blood Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 9pm, £10/£6. Info 029 2063 6464. Hijinx Festival event presented by Told By An Idiot. On tomorrow also.

Comedy Club Grand Theatre Arts Wing, Swansea.

8pm, £11. Info 01792 475715.

Into The Woods Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. 8pm, £15/£13. Info 0333 6663366.

(Until Sat 2 July) Medea Redux + Iphigenia In Orem + A Gaggle Of Saints Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £10/£8. Info 029 2030 4400. (Until Sat 2 July) Nansi Memorial Hall, Aberaeron. 7.30pm, £10-£15.

Info 01545 574934. (Until Thurs 30) Oklahoma Gwyn Hall, Neath. 7pm, £12/£10. Info 0300 3656677. (Until Sat 2 July) Romeo & Juliet Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire. 7pm, £6-£14. Info 029 2030 4400.

Shelley And The Ratman Castell Coch, Cardiff. 1 + 7pm, £5-£10. Info 029 2039 1391. (Finishes today) You And I Know Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 12.30 + 6.45pm, free.

Info 029 2063 6464. Hijinx

Festival event presented by Candoco Dance Company.

THURSDAY 30

A Dream Play Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £10/£6. Info 029 2063 6464.

Allan O Diwn Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 8pm, £8-£12.

Info 029 2030 4400. Welsh language play by Theatr Bara Caws. On tomorrow also.

Billy Elliot Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £18.50£62.50. Info 029 2063 6464.

(Until Sat 16 July) Blithe Spirit Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £9.50-£16.

Info 01792 475715. (Until Sat 2 July) Bounds Of Love The Gate, Cardiff. 8pm, £7. Info 029 2048 3344. Debut production from TimeVoid, created by Cardiff Metropolitan University students. It’s about a couple who decide to get married, one of them suffereing from terminal cancer.

On tomorrow also.

Cabaret Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

7.30pm, £6-£13. Info 029 2039 1391. (Finishes today) Cabaret Of Blood Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 9pm, £10/£6. Info 029 2063 6464.

Comedy Club Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 8pm, £10. Info 01970 623232. Hosted by Little Wander.

Into The Woods Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. 8pm, £15/£13. Info 0333 6663366.

(Until Sat 2 July) Jessie Brett Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 1.45 + 6.30pm, free.

Info 029 2063 6464.

Medea Redux + Iphigenia In Orem + A Gaggle Of Saints Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10/£8. Info 029 2030 4400.

(Until Sat 2 July) Meet Fred The Other Room at Porter’s, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5-£12. Info 029 2128 0189.

Nansi Memorial Hall, Aberaeron. 1.30 + 7.30pm, £10-£15. Info 01545 574934.

(Finishes today) Oklahoma Gwyn Hall, Neath. 7pm, £12/£10. Info 0300 3656677. (Until Sat 2 July) Romeo & Juliet Cyfarthfa Castle, Merthyr Tydfil. 12 + 7pm, £6-£14. Info 029 2030 4400.

The Blues Brothers...

Approved New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £11-£20. Info 029 2087 8889. “Featuring original members from the many West End runs the production has endured,” the blurb says, sounding slightly weary itself. (Until Sat 2 July) Thursday Night Comedy Carousel Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £10/£5 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. Featuring Clint Edwards and two TBC.

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TWO TICKETS TO BILL BAILEY

Black Books legend Bill Bailey is performing at the Motorpoint Arena on Sat 25 June. Not only are his stand-up comedy skills among some of the best in the circuit today, but his musical skills will blow you away. He’s no stranger to QI or Never Mind The Buzzcocks, so if you enjoy them, answer by Wed 18 June to win: Q. What is the name of this 2016 tour?

TWO TICKETS TO THE 39 STEPS

TWO TICKETS TO BARRY MANILOW Brooklyn-born singer Barry Manilow is set to embark on his final tour, One Last Time! in the UK. Heading to the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff on Mon 20 June, you don’t want to regret missing his final appearance. For a chance to wave goodbye to Manilow, answer this question by Mon 13 June: Q. What is the name of the showgirl from Copacabana?

TWO TICKETS TO BILLY ELLIOT

The beautiful musical, Billy Elliot, returns to Cardiff, where a boy sets on making his dancing dreams come true. For your chance to win tickets to see the play at Wales Millennium Centre from Tue 14 June-Sat 16th July, answer the following question by Tue 7 June: Q. Who wrote the music to Billy Elliot The Musical?

TWO TICKETS TO ADAM HILLS

The Last Leg co-host is on tour and will be coming to the Swansea Grand Theatre on Mon 13 June. Adam Hills is an Aussie-born comedian whose spontaneous standup won him the British Comedy Awards’ Best Breakthrough Act in 2013. To win a chance to see him live, answer this question by Mon 6 June: Q: What channel is The Last Leg on?

After nine years on the West End, Olivier Awardwinning comedy The 39 Steps is on tour. The classic spy thriller features four actors who play 139 roles in 100 minutes of fast paced action. From Tues 14-Sat 18 June it will be at the New Theatre, Cardiff. Answer this by Tue 7 June to win: Q. Who wrote the book this play is adapted from?

TWO TICKETS TO BLUES BROTHERS

The Blues Brothers... Approved return to Cardiff’s New Theatre from Thurs 30 June-Sat 2 July. The boys will pour soul into your night throughout the performance, so if you want a chance to go, answer this question by Thurs 23 June: Q. What is the Welsh word for blue?

TWO TICKETS TO FEMI KUTI

Femi Kuti and Mbongwana Star are both playing in Cardiff on Thurs 9 June as part of the Festival Of Voice. The aim of their concert is to challenge and change preconceptions about African music. If you want to see them in St David’s Hall, answer the following question by Mon 6 June: Q. What is the largest country in Africa?

TWO TICKETS TO THE LAST MERMAID

Starring Charlotte Church and a company of actors, this performance has been commissioned for the Festival Of Voice and will be performed from Sat 4-Sun 12 June. Follow the story of a mermaid who finds out she’s the sole survivor of her kingdom.

With a chance to win tickets, answer the following question by Mon 6 June: Q. Where in Wales was Charlotte Church born?

Please email your answers, name, address, Twitter username (if you have one) and contact number to competitions@buzzmag.co.uk by Thurs 30 June unless another date is stated.

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