showcase - Wales by Mary Harvey

an artistic outlook on travel

UK WALES WHY VISIT CARDIFF? ARTS OF THE WORLD CARDIFF FILM FESTIVAL THIS THIS SCENE SCENE IS IS MORE MORE ALIVE ALIVE THAN THAN EVER EVER

TAB 2

BLE OF CONTENTS

WHY TRAVEL TO CARDIFF?

5 MUST DO’S IN CARDIFF

5 TIPS TO CONQUERING JETLAG

ARTS OF THE WORLD

5 BASIC WELSH PHRASES

CARDIFF FILM FESTIVAL

5 TIPS TO TRAVELING ABROAD

THIS SCENE IS MORE ALIVE THAN EVER 5 TOP WELSH BANDS TO KNOW

AN ART AR

RTISTIC OUTLOOK ON TRAVEL

WHY TRAVEL TO

CARDIFF 6

Artes Artes Mundi Mundi isis an an international international art art exhibtion exhibtion and and prize prize that that celebrates celebrates emerging emerging artists artists from from around around the the world world who who discuss discuss the the human human condition. condition. BY: PATRICK E. TYLER

WHY TRAVEL TO

CARDIFF BY: PATRICK E. TYLER

ohn Wake worked the streets of Cardiff for 27 years as a Welsh policeman, and he looks out at the world from a face that has taken a few bare-fisted punches. Not that he didn’t give back as good as he got, he says, displaying a well-scarred fist. Back then, in the 1960’s and 70’s, the beat cop was the law, working without radio or supervision, and his domain was known as Tiger Bay, a bleak warren of tenements, brothels and bars strewn around the dilapidated port of Cardiff. Since then, almost everything has changed, including Mr. Wake. He got out of police work in 1994 because he didn’t want to become a “right-wing bigot.” He wrote a play, but there was no money for him in literature, even in the land of Dylan Thomas. So he bought a double-decker tour bus, and now runs a business inventing and designing tartans and kilts for the Welsh, expropriating a Scottish tradition because, he says, the Welsh could use the money and a national dress. At 59, Mr. Wake speaks with a raw sense of history about this land of mists on the western edge of Britain. Mostly, he can testify to the transformation of Cardiff’s old waterfront from crumbling, coal-era hasbeen, to the gleaming and cool cultural capital of the Welsh. The waterfront used to be a sea of mud, ship channels and cranes. Now it is a near-continuous crescent of hotels, apartments and commercial buildings staggered among the concrete piers, ship basins and boardwalks that overlook the 500-acre freshwater bay impounded behind a low-slung dam, or barrage. The barrage was constructed in the 1990’s to stop a 35-foot daily tidal swing from turning the whole estuary of the Taff River into mud flats twice a day. Now it looks a bit like Lake Geneva, without the fountain.

Cardiff will reach a new milestone in its strategy to become a modern capital and the locus of Welsh culture and industry this month with the opening of the Wales Millennium Center, a $180 million performing arts arena. The first program, honoring renowned Welsh artists, was scheduled for last Friday. The Welsh National Opera and other national troupes were also scheduled this weekend. Tickets to the opening performances are being distributed in a national lottery, but a full musical season will follow. The Millennium Center is no ordinary place for symphony, opera and theatrical drama. The architect Jonathan Adams says he was quite conscious that the volume of the theater (it is 140 feet high to accommodate the fly tower that carries a load of 90 backdrops above the stage) would make it the largest structure on Cardiff Bay. “We wanted the building to have a confidence - not to be a timid structure - confidence in its presence,” Mr. Adams said. So he put the theater under a sloping roof of bronze-colored steel. It is not a dome, but an asymmetrical humpback pulled down on one side to greet the public with a massive flattened expanse where a marquee might hover. There he has carved the words of the poet Gwyneth Lewis - in Welsh, “Creating truth like glass from inspiration’s furnace,” and alongside, in English: “In these stones horizons sing.”

CROESO!

MUST DO’S IN CARDIFF... 1. Discover Cardiff Castle: inspiring and flamboyant in the centre of the city. 2. Take a tour of the stunning, and the magnificent Millennium Stadium located in the very centre of the city. 3. Enjoy the panoramic views across Cardiff Bay at the Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre, and discover the behindthe-scenes locations of hit television shows ‘Torchwood’ and ‘Doctor Who’. 4. Experience the culture of the Chapter Arts Centre – a gallery, museum and cinema where you can view all kinds of art work displayed by locals, and others from around the world. 5. Discover the top music locations in Cardiff, the city having an extremely active social life, ranging from venues where bands play, and clubs where you can drink and dance up until 3 A.M.

TIPS TO RID YOUR JETLAG 1. Take advantage of night flights: If you’re one of the lucky ones who can sleep on planes, DO! When you get on board, let the flight attendants know you don’t want to be disturbed for movies or meals. Then slip off your shoes, get comfortable and sleep as long as you can. You’ll feel much better when you arrive at your destination. Make sure there are no layovers or changeovers en route, so your sleep patterns aren’t disturbed. 2. Switch to local time: As soon as you land, switch to local time immediately since this will help you adjust quicker. For instance, if you arrive in Rome at 8 a.m. feeling sleepy since it’s only 2 a.m. at home, try not to take a snooze. Instead take a stroll, have a cup of java, visit the Coliseum and do anything to stay awake for the day. 3. Herbal tricks: Our bodies secrete a natural hormone into our bloodstreams at night to help us sleep. The drug Melatonin acts as this hormone and fools your body into believing it’s evening. Melatonin is now available (though not yet FDA approved) in pill form, over-the-counter and at health food stores. Take it before boarding the plane for night flights or at bedtime when you reach your destination. 4. Aromatherapy to the rescue: Lavender and geranium (in oils and body creams) help some people sleep. If, on the other hand, you need something to keep you energized, try rosemary and eucalyptus oils. Shops specializing in aromatherapy products also offer a variety of blends. 5. Food for thought: Avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks and big, heavy meals in flight. If you’re traveling at night, eat a highprotein breakfast (bran cereal) and lunch (tuna fish) to keep your energy level up during the day, and have a high-carbohydrate meal for dinner (pasta, meat).This may help you sleep solidly the night of your flight.

ARTS OF THE

WORLD

ARTS OF THE

WORLD BY: ADRIAN PACI

rtes Mundi is an international art exhibition and prize that celebrates emerging artists from around the world who discuss the human condition. This exhibition presents art that questions who we are and the societies we live in. From fresco and drawing to photography and film,Artes Mundi 4 explores different worlds and experiences through contemporary art. Eight artists have been shortlisted from research and more than 500 nominations. One of them will be awarded the Artes Mundi Prize in mid-May. At £40,000, it is the UK’s largest prize of its kind. Live Guides, who have met all the artists, are on hand to answer questions, lead tours, provide school and educational group visits and present activities for families and during the holidays.

Artes Mundi is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, Cardiff Council and the Arts Council of Wales and through a partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales. The principal supporters of Artes Mundi 4 are Bank of America Merrill Lynch and St David’s Dewi Sant. Other support comes from Sky Arts, Western Mail, Admiral, Legal & General, Confused.com, Starbucks, First Great Western, FBA, UWIC, Arts & Business Cymru, University of Glamorgan, Colwinston Charitable Trust, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Foyle Foundation, Waterloo Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Derek Williams Trust, Derek Hill Foundation, Gwendoline and Margaret Davies Charity, CASW and Wales Arts International.

BASIC WELSH PHRASES WHEN TRAVELING.... 1. PLEASE TO MEET YOU:

Mae’n dda gen i gwrdd â chi

2. EXCUSE ME:

Esgusodwch fi

3. WHERE’S THE TOILET?

Ble mae’r toiled?

4. WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

Be(th) ydy dy enw di?

5. MY HOVERCRAFT IS FULL OF EELS

Mae fy hofrenfad yn llawn llyswennod

The The13th 13thannual annualInternational InternationalFilm FilmFestival Festivalof ofWales Wales promises promises aa showcase showcase of of 50 50 films films from from around around the the world world over over an an eight-day eight-day celebration celebration in in Cardiff. Cardiff. Beginning Beginning on on 22 22 November, November, the the event event also also aims aims to to promote promote the the “wealth “wealth of of talent” talent” in in Wales Wales from from new new directors directors and and filmmakers. filmmakers.

CARDIFF

BY: PAUL BRANNIGAN

FILM FEST

CARDIFF

FILM FEST BY: PAUL BRANNIGAN

he 13th annual International Film Festival of Wales promises a showcase of 50 films from around the world over an eight-day celebration in Cardiff. Beginning on 22 November, the event also aims to promote the “wealth of talent” in Wales from new directors and filmmakers. Speaking at the media launch on Tuesday, event producer Mari Beynon Owen said: “It’s very important to have the festival in Cardiff because it gives the film industry in Wales a platform for promoting their work.” Opening the festival is Happy Now?, a black comedy set in fictional Welsh town and starring Ioan Gruffudd. Director Phillipa Collie-Cousins said: “The festival is very important for me personally as I am from Cardiff, and it is important for the film as well. “Festivals are vital for a film like this as they breathe life into it and give it a platform to be released from.” “I am particularly keen for the film to do well at Cardiff and, if it does, I think we know we have something that other people will want to see.” The event was also praised by Paul Brannigan, the writer/director of quirky comedy Labrats, which will be premiered at the festival “The film was shot mainly in north east Wales, and it is great for us that the first showing of it is inWales, especially since a lot of Welsh talent was used during its making.” “Cardiff is a great place,” he said, “and I like the idea of members of the public coming off the street and watching the film, because that is who it is aimed at.”

Alongside the films, young filmmakers and students can enjoy a series of events including masterclasses, seminars and workshops as part of the Future Creative programme. Paul Brannigan, Director of Labrats “Future Creative is a great meeting-place for people to be inspired by the filmmakers, the directors and producers,” said Ms Owen. The festival also seeks to establish Cardiff as a centre of animation, with a “spectacular” programme which includes three European premieres of major animated feature films. “We have people from outside Wales coming just for the animation festival and that’s something we want to develop.” said Ms Owen. One film will also scoop the DM Davies Award, which has been described as a “massive stepping stone” for directors.The UGC cinema is partly hosting the festival Previous winners of the award include Justin Kerrigan (Human Traffic) and Sara Sugarman (Very Annie Mary). It is the first year that the festival has been held at the UGC, as well as at Chapter, and it is hoped that the city centre location will help to encourage more young people to the festival. “We are aiming to expand, and possibly have a longer festival, but you have to grow these things gradually,” said Ms Owen. “The film distributors now see Cardiff as a place where they want to try out new films and new directors,” she added.

TIPS WHILE TRAVELING... 1. Register so the State Department can better assist you in an emergency: Register your travel plans with the State Department through a free online service at https://travelregistration.state.gov. This will help us contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or if there is a crisis where you are traveling. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts will not be released to others without your express authorization. 2. Sign passport, and fill in the emergency information: Make sure you have a signed, valid passport, and a visa, if required, and fill in the emergency information page of your passport. 3. Leave copies of itinerary and passport data page: Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends, so you can be contacted in case of an emergency. 4. Check your overseas medical insurance coverage: Ask your medical insurance company if your policy applies overseas, and if it covers emergency expenses such as medical evacuation. If it does not, consider supplemental insurance. 5. Familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws: While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. The State Department web site at http://travel. state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765. html has useful safety and other information about the countries you will visit.

A Anew newsound soundisisshaking shakingthe thevalleys, valleys,says saysChris ChrisMugan Mugan With With its its revitalised revitalised docks, docks, the the impressive impressive MillenMillennium nium Centre Centre and and aa sports sports stadium stadium that that has has played played host hostto tothe theFA FACup Cupfinal, final,Cardiff Cardiffisisno nodoubt doubton onaaroll. roll. BY: CHRIS MUGAN

THIS SCENE IS MORE ALIVE THAN

EVER

THIS SCENE IS MORE ALIVE THAN

EVER

BY: CHRIS MUGAN

new sound is shaking the valleys, says Chris Mugan With its revitalised docks, the impressive Millennium Centre and a sports stadium that has played host to the FA Cup final, Cardiff is no doubt on a roll. But what about its music scene, which fared well when its scruffy port was better known for ladies of the night than opera divas? Ten years ago, the Welsh capital was the buzzing centre of a vibrant music scene led by Manic Street Preachers, Super Furry Animals and Catatonia. Now there is a more steely edge to the sound of the valleys, dominated as it is by a vibrant hardcore set. Most prominent are Bullet For My Valentine, Funeral For A Friend and Lostprophets, who enjoyed a number one hit earlier this year with current album Liberation Transmission on indie rock imprint Visible Noise. Even cuddly pop rockers, The Automatic, grew out of this scene, playing underage gigs in Cardiff and becoming mates with infamous screamo merchants Jarcrew. However, it’s Lostprophets who are currently winning teen hearts in the States, before they embark on an arena tour next year in the UK. And while the earlier generation of Welsh bands have moved on to major labels, they still use indie labels for side projects. Super Furries frontman Gruff Rhys is set to release his sweet solo single “Candylion” next month on Rough Trade, ahead of the release of an album next year of more experimental, though still melodic, material than his usual output.

Another long-established outfit, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci have now disbanded, though their former members continue to work in and around Cardiff. Earlier this year, Euros Childs stuck to his quirky pop guns with solo album Chops, while former sidekick Richard James embarked on a more folk ‘n’ country-influenced direction with The Seven Sleepers Den. His album was put out on Cardiff’s Boobytrap Records, originally set up as a monthly singles club by Booby Baz and Huw Stephens. The latter now promotes Welsh music as a Radio One presenter, so Baz has been joined by Dean Proctor, a mouthy south Welshman happy to cash in on the fame of the last wave of famous Welsh bands, though he sees it as something of a mixed legacy. “The scene is definitely more vibrant and alive now than ever. There has never been a shortage of amazing bands in Cardiff, making running a singles club a piece of piss. There are more promoters, venues and bands than I’ve ever known, though on the downside, if I hear one more Stereophonics soundalike I may top myself.” Boobytrap is set to release “Wanna See You Die” from the Richard James album as a single in the new year, while its latest signing is Frommar, a typically intense outfit from nearby Newport. Proctor, though, still gnashes his teeth over missing out on the hotly-tipped Los Campesinos!, a jangle pop group made up of Cardiff University students.

Los Campesinos! are set to feature on Twisted By Design’s This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The 22 Of Us, a showcase of local talent out at the end of the month. On the bright side for Boobytrap, in a pleasing spirit of cooperation, the larger My Kung Fu label is set to release Seven Sleepers around the world next year and put out a vinyl version in the UK, around the same time as Proctor puts out the single. Kung Fu is part of the Plug Two organisation, a radical departure for the Welsh music scene as the region’s first press and plugging agency. Since it was set up three years ago, the firm has expanded into club promotion and band management. Founder John Rostron believes Plug Two’s unique position is in part due to the sudden success of so many Welsh acts 10 years ago. “Back then, there was no label that could put out a record worldwide and nobody had a chance to do it. By the time bands had thought of it, they were already in London. And it has cast a shadow. After a sunny period it always feels like there’s a vacuum even when there’s still things going on.” Local talent was supported by the likes of the iconic Ankst Records, which specialised in Welsh language recordings, though its ambitions were limited in scope. Now Plug Two is set to put out the intriguingly downbeat colourformoney selection from Drone, alter ego of Cassidy Phillips. This Swansea native, again currently a student at Cardiff, is part of the area’s small but vibrant electronica scene that Rostron tapped into by promoting venues and supporting club promoters around Cardiff.

“There is a growing number of bedroom producers and nights in Cardiff that we support,” Rostron explains. “When we met Cassidy, we were promoting the venue as well as the club promoter.” This particular night was run by Machine Records, another local label with a definite electronic bias. When the label started, there was no scene to connect with, though gradually it has built up a formidable roster of artists that have started to come out of the studio and now perform live at regular Cardiff showcases. Plug Two, meanwhile, has benefited from the support of the Welsh Music Foundation (WMF), an organisation set up to support the country’s creative industry. Its prime mover is Huw Williams, once a member of Eighties indie staples The Pooh Sticks and former manager of Newport’s 60 Ft Dolls. Rostron has been on a music management course, though also praises the WMF for supporting Welsh music. “It’s great having people fighting your corner,” Rostron says. “When we couldn’t go to music conferences, or didn’t need to, the WMF would be there spreading the word. And they take a strategic view, looking at the problems we face like the lack of venues of a certain size here in Cardiff.” His label may not be in a position yet to challenge the majors that snapped up bands such as Catatonia and Gorky’s, but at least Richard James can release a record that fans around the world can snap up. Beyond the shiny new buildings, Cardiff is as industrious as ever.

CARDIFF IS AS INDUSTRIOUS AS EVER.... 31

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TOP WELSH BANDS TO CHECK OUT... 1. Funeral For A Friend: Arguably the UK’s finest band, FFAF, hailing from all over the South Wales valleys have had a very good ride so far. ‘’Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation’’ was released in 2003 to critical acclaim, and the follow up ‘’Hours’’ (2005) carried on the tradition. Their third album is expected to be released this Summer. FFAF have headlined the Reading and Leeds Festivals, and received a Kerrang Award for Best British Band in 2005. FFAF are one of my favourite bands. I’ve seen them live twice, and strangely sound even better live than what they do on the albums!’ 2. Lostprophets: From the town of Pontypridd in the South Wales Valleys comes the rock sound of lostprophets. Voted ‘’Best British Band’’ and ‘’Best Album’’ by Kerrang in 2006 has increased sales of their latest release, ‘’Liberation Transmission’’ through the roof. The band have wriiten heavy, melodic and poppy music in all three of their studio albums, and are argued by many as the Best British Band at this moment in time. Are partly responsible for the increase in fringes you see everywhere. They will also be headlining this years The Full Ponty on the Saturday, in their home town of Pontypridd.

4. The Blackout: A screamo band from Merthyr Tudfyl, formed out of boredom. They’ve shared the stage with the likes of Funeral For A Friend, Fightstar, Lostprophets and Biffy Clyro. Their mini-album, ‘’The Blackout! The Blackout! The Blackout!’’ is a brilliant collection of riffs and screaming. Were niminated at last years Kerrang Awards for the Best New British Band, but lost out to Enter Shikari. Another of my favourite bands, and due for a big year in 2007. Also apperared on Kerrangs New Breed Album. Definitely one to watch this year! 5. Bullet For My Valentine: These Bridgend boys have been described as the ‘’best British Metal band in years’’. Their mix of shouting, meaty riffs, rifle like drum work, and guitar solos to match the best of them have earned them the respect and praise from contempories and fans alike. Their mini-album, ‘’Bullet For My Valentine’’ was a great success, and paved the way for their first full length album, titled ‘’The Poison’’. Incorporating Heavy, Thrash and Melodic Metal into their music, has granted them an unique sound. Their new album, due for release later this year has been described by Matt Tuck, lead singer, as being as ‘’heavy as Slayer’’. Needless to say, I’m excited!

3. Kids In Glass Houses: KIGH are a Powerpop fivesome from Cardiff. Their melodic pop rock is great fun to listen to, and to dance to also! Like the others, apperared on Kerrangs New Breed album last year. Are currently supporting Hundred Reasons on their UK Tour.

EDITED: MARY HARVEY DESIGNED: MARY HARVEY PHOTOGRAPHY: MARY HARVEY