Centrestage Cymru return to the stage of Newport’s Dolman Theatre this week to present their latest show Singin’ In The Rain.
The cast are currently putting the finishing touches to their show and today we take a final sneak peek at rehearsals by viewing video of the cast and chorus at work on the show.
Today's video features Matthew Bryant who plays Cosmo Brown, a role originally played by Donald O'Connor on the big screen version of Singin' in The Rain.
Centrestage Cymru return to the stage of Newport’s Dolman Theatre this week to present their latest show Singin’ In The Rain.
The cast are currently putting the finishing touches to their show and today we continue our sneak peek at rehearsals by viewing video featuring the cast working on the show.
Today's video features Ciara Doyle who discusses been a member of the chorus and her role as the interviewer.
Centrestage Cymru's presentation of Singin' In The Rain runs at The Dolman Theatre from April 27-30. Visit the official website to book tickets. Check back tomorrow to see the final video in this series.
Centrestage Cymru return to the stage of Newport’s Dolman Theatre this week to present their latest show Singin’ In The Rain.
The cast are currently putting the finishing touches to their show and today we continue our sneak peek at rehearsals by viewing video featuring the cast at work on the show.
Today's video features Rebecca Hartland who plays the role of Zelda.
Centrestage Cymru's presentation of Singin' In The Rain runs at The Dolman Theatre, Newport from April 27-30. Visit The Dolman Theatre Website to order tickets. Check back tomorrow for another interview.
Centrestage Cymru return to the stage of Newport’s Dolman Theatre next week to present their latest show Singin’ In The Rain.
The cast are currently putting the finishing touches to their show and today we continue our sneak peek at rehearsals by viewing video featuring the cast members at work on the show.
Today's video features Nico Dowsell who plays the role of Rob.
Singin' In The Rain is at Newport's Dolman Theatre from April 27-30. You can book tickets at the official website. Check back tomorrow for another video interview.
Centrestage Cymru return to the stage of Newport’s Dolman Theatre next week to present their latest show Singin’ In The Rain.
Featuring hilarious situations, snappy dialogue, and a hit-parade score of Hollywood standards, the show is set to make a perfect evening of entertainment for any fan of the golden age of movie musicals.
The cast are currently putting the finishing touches to their show and there is a chance to have a sneak peek at rehearsals by viewing video showing the cast at work on the show.
Today's video features chorus member Michelle Meano.
Centrestage Cymru’s Singin' In The Rain takes to the stage of The Dolman Theatre, from April 27-30. For booking details call 01633 263670 or visit dolmantheatre.co.uk Check back tomorrow for another video interview.
2016 marks a full fifty four years of non stop touring for The Searchers and the 60s favourites that still comprise 60s line-up members John McNally and Frank Allen will return to South Wales next week with a date at Cwmbran's Congress Theatre .
When the incredible beat boom of the mid sixties that saw so many bands riding on the crest of a seemingly unstoppable wave of success subsided many simply disbanded and got on with their lives as best they could. Not The Searchers.
They stayed firmly in place, a constant unit riding out the bad times putting the twilight years of the cabaret clubs, looked on as anathema by some, to good use as they diligently honed their stage craft and upgraded the quality of their shows to please the more mature audience who had replaced the screaming teenage girls who had mobbed them in those years of chart topping glory. Such dogged determination was to stand them in good stead for the momentous nostalgia revival which was to lift them once again to national and international prominence.
With a regular touring schedule of two hundred plus shows a year The Searchers seem to be both unstoppable and indestructible. They are arguably the hardest working band in showbusiness and their amazing datesheet is legendary in the music industry.
Their impressive run of hits including Sweets For My Sweet, Sugar & Spice, Needles & Pins and Don`t Throw Your Love Away in those glory years from 1963 to 1966 was worldwide enabling them to travel the globe constantly.
Andy Howells recently put questions to Frank Allen who joined the band in 1964 after a stint with Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers.
Why do you think The Searchers popularity has endured over the years?
We were part of the greatest change and the most important decade in the history of British pop music and our friendly and well groomed appearance had a very wide appeal. And of course we chose our songs very well - for a time until we finally lost the knack.
The Searchers took their name from a John Wayne film of the same name – when was the last time you watched the film?
The film actually came out I believe in 1957 but the band name was probably not chosen until around `59 or `60. I saw the movie when it first came out but haven`t watched it since. I`m not a fan of Westerns. It simply provided a very catchy name for the band. But if you like the genre it is a terrific film.
Which song gets the best reaction from the audience when you perform it?
Without a doubt When You Walk In The Room.
What has been your personal highlight been a member of The Searchers?
It is difficult to choose between four memories, there's my first trip to the U.S performing with legends like Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson , The Temptations, The Supremes, The Ronettes, The Shangri Las, The Contours, Martha and The Vandellas, Little Anthony and so many others at The Fox Theatre in Brooklyn in September 1964.
There was also being presented to The Queen at the 1981 Royal Variety Performance and playing in front of 80,000 people at Wembley Stadium on each of two days in 1981 as guests of Cliff Richard who was celebrating his 30th Anniversary in Showbusiness.
Finally, playing in front of 2,000 troops in Bosnia during the war there. The lads were too young to really know who we were but they went wild. We played Chuck Berry`s Johnny B Goode and two squaddies did the duck walk from either side of the stage using machine guns instead of guitars. Unforgettable.
Do you remember the first time you ever played Wales?
Not specifically but it would have been on a package tour in 1964 for me soon after joining The Searchers. Probably one of the Odeon or Gaumont chains in the major cities/ I do remember we used to play The Sofia Gardens in Cardiff regularly.
Whats your favourite album/ record by another artist that you constantly go back to?
I really don`t play much much at all these days. I suppose the Van Morrison album Moondance would be an all time favourite and my favourite track would be Into The Mystic.
What can fans look forward to about the 2016 tour?
As complete a look over the career of The Searchers as we can mange in two hours on stage complete with anecdotes that will hopefully amuse and interest the people sitting in front of us. I would like to think that they would go home feeling they had spent the time in the company of good friends as we ourselves do after a satisfying show.
A version of this Q&A by Andy Howells appears in The South Wales Argus on April 22, 2016.
Centrestage Cymru return to the stage of Newport’s Dolman Theatre next week to present their latest show Singin’ In The Rain.
The cast are currently putting the finishing touches to their show and there is a chance to have a sneak peek at rehearsals by viewing video featuring interviews and clips of the cast and chorus at work on the show.
Today's video features Ryan Richards, who as well as been a member of the Centrestage Cymru chorus also plays the role of The Villain in the specially pre-recorded inserts of Singin' In The Rain which were recorded at Newport's Tredegar House.
Centrestage Cymru’s Singin' in the Rain takes to the stage of The Dolman Theatre, from April 27-30. For booking details call 01633 263670 or visit dolmantheatre.co.uk Check back tomorrow for another video interview.
Centrestage Cymru return to the stage of Newport’s Dolman Theatre next week to present their latest show Singin’ In The Rain.
The cast are currently putting the finishing touches to their show and today we continue our sneak peek at rehearsals by viewing a video featuring interviews and clips of the cast at work on the show.
Today's video features Rebecca Jarvis who plays the role of Kathy Seldon.
Centrestage Cymru’sSingin' in the Raintakes to the stage of The Dolman
Theatre, from April 27-30. For booking details call 01633 263670 or visitdolmantheatre.co.uk
Centrestage Cymru return to the stage of Newport’s Dolman Theatre next week to present their latest show Singin’ In The Rain.
Featuring hilarious situations, snappy dialogue, and a hit-parade score of Hollywood standards, the show is set to make a perfect evening of entertainment for any fan of the golden age of movie musicals.
Singin’ in the Rain follows hot on the heels of other sell-out Centrestage Cymru successes The Wiz, Whistle Down the Wind, Godspell, Hairspray and The Addams Family.
The cast are currently putting the finishing touches to their show and there, Entertainment South Wales presents an opportunity to have a sneak peek at rehearsals by viewing a collection of videos over the coming week featuring interviews with several of the cast members.
Today's video features Jordan Archer who plays the role of Don Lockwood which was played by the legendary Gene Kelly in the original movie.
Centrestage Cymru’s Singin' in the Rain takes to the stage of The Dolman Theatre, from April 27-30. For booking details call 01633 263670 or visit dolmantheatre.co.uk
Check back for another Singin' In The Rain interview tomorrow.
Following a blistering sold out NME Awards show at The Lexington, London-via-Seaham quartet Vant recently announced details of their new single Fly-By Alien which was named as Radio 1’s Annie Mac’s Hottest Record in the World.
Produced by the band’s regular collaborator Sam Miller, the single is a maelstrom of irrepressible melody, focused aggression and frontman Mattie Vant’s vehement vocal delivery. Blurring the lines between a contemporary update of punk and grunge, it’s a track that reiterates why many critics are drawing positive comparisons with artists such as Pixies, Manic Street Preachers, The Strokes and DFA 1975.
2016 has seen them play Radio 1’s Future Festival as one of an exclusive selection of hotly tipped new artists, and the DIY Presents: Ahoy 2016 showcase at European music platform Eurosonic Nooderslag (where 3FM named VANT the number one live act to see in 2016). Vant’s upcoming UK headline tour includes two dates in Wales, Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach (April 18) and Swansea’s Sin City (April 19).
Andy Howells recently put questions to vocalist Mattie from the band.
Who are you and how did you become an artist?
I'm Mattie from Vant and I became an artist through many years of struggle, torment and 15p noodles but ultimately persistence and belief in the music I create.
Where are you from?
Planet Earth. How would you describe your music style?
Politically engaged popular rock music.
What's been your best live experience?
Funnily enough, one of the best shows we've ever played was at Sin City in Swansea, we're looking forward to encountering even more chaotic Welsh punters this time around.
You have a new album coming soon can you tell us more about that?
Well it's all finished now but I don't want to give too much away at this point. You can have a sneak peak at how it's all sounding by coming down to the shows! You're touring shortly are you looking forward to that?
Yeah, we can't wait. Playing live is the best thing about being in a band and this is our biggest headline tour to date. It's really exciting to be getting out there soon and playing to more people then ever before!
What can people expect from your forthcoming Cardiff gig?
We're bringing Tigercub on the road with us for the Welsh leg of the tour, so two of the best new live bands around at the moment, if we do say so ourselves. Mosh pits, stage invasions, sing-a-longs, crowd surfing, the whole whack really!
Criolo is a singer, composer and urban poet who came out fighting from Sao Paulo’s hip hop scene. His voice resounds with the youth of post-slump, pre-Olympic Brazil, exploring stories of poverty, police violence and social discrimination.
Through his 2015 album, Convoque seu Buda, Criolo evolved into one of Brazil’s most acclaimed songwriter/performers. Criolo’s music draws influence from his love of samba, afro-beat and reggae and his life growing up in a favela (shanty town) in Sao Paulo. Following collaborations with the likes of Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, Yvette Sangalo and Milton Nascimento, Criolo has released two albums in the UK to great acclaim. He has also made a series of collaborations with Mulatu Astatke of The Ethiopiques.
Criolo is touring the UK later in April and ahead of his show at Bristol’s Lantern venue at Colston Hall on April 22, he answers questions from Andy Howells. Where are you from?
I am from Brazil, born in São Paulo, son of Cearenses, people born in Ceará state, on the northeast part of the country. I grew up in the suburbs of the south zone of São Paulo.
How would you describe your music style?
I grew up writing rap and this culture lead me to talk with and develop other music possibilities.
What's been your best live experience?
There are a lot of them. The tour I did with Milton Nascimento is the greatest gift of my life, to sing with Mulatu Astatke, with the friend Caetano Veloso, with Emicida, Ney Matogrosso, Mano Brown, Cézar Mendes, Gui Amabis, Rodrigo Campos, and one of the pillars of Brazilian samba, the master Riachão… Well, there are a lot of moments, with so many special people, but I can say that I will never forget the first time I sang at my neighborhood, when I was 13 years old, in a meeting of the habitants, it was a day of so many mixed emotions, because it was also the day to receive donations of food and used clothes as well. What are you working on at the moment?
Now we are dedicated to do the best tour as possible all over England. We have this good opportunity, for the first time, to visit a lot of places, with a very interesting and rich program, singing songs of our three records. In Brazil, we have two tours happening at the same time, one is of “Convoque Seu Buda”, my latest album and the other is a tour celebrating the 10 years of my first record, named “Ainda Há Tempo”.
You're touring shortly are you looking forward to that?
We are really looking forward the tour, we are happy to visit Bristol and I am sure we will have a good time with a lot of music and great energy. I was really happy to know about the concert this city has regarding climate change and its impact in the world, doing efforts to make the public transportation better, as well their attention to renewable energy. I wish I had more time to have more and better contact with the citizens that are committed in these causes. The world needs good examples. In Brazil, a lot of people dedicate their lives to important and global impact causes, but to know that the municipality of Bristol support these citizens, it was really good news. I hope this can happen soon all around the world. Maybe next time I have the opportunity to learn more about these people work and how they are connected in the construction of these ideas, such as the ones of Environmental Technology Innovation Network - Low Carbon South West (LCSW). To think about the carbon monoxide reduction and other technologies pro environment is very necessary.
What can people expect from your forthcoming Bristol gig?
Bristol people can expect a performance full of energy and rendition. We are very grateful for this opportunity and I here invite everyone so together we can add good vibes. We want you all there!
Where can people hear your music?
At the main music digital platforms.
Criolo’s album Convoque seu Buda is out now on Sterns Brasil, for further information visit criolo.net
A version of this Q&A by Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide during April 2016.
Plague Vendor will play Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff on April 17 following the release of a new song Isua from their album Bloodsweat. Co-produced with Stuart Sikes and mixed by Alan Moulder, and it vastly expands on the sonic territory explored in their debut.
During the recording process, Plague Vendor aimed to capture each track in as few takes as possible, avoiding many overdubs and embracing the same minimal production they bring to their live performances. Nearly all of the eleven songs on Bloodsweat were heavily road-tested, imagined, and re-imagined live before ever making it into the studio. The foursome spent the last two years playing endless live shows, filling everywhere from backyard parties to clubs to festivals.
Palpable tension comes from the sense that anything could happen, and certainly you feel that way when listening to Bloodsweat. But mostly Plague Vendor is interested in simplicity and the sort of expressive nakedness that can come from stripping everything away. Bloodsweat invokes its own name as it unfurls, edged with a sense of danger and vulnerability. Andy Howells recently put questions to Jay Rogers from the band.
How did you come together as a band?
Me, Luke, and Brandon got together at my lock-out studio my old band had after we broke up. Our intentions were to start a dark blues band but we decided we needed a bass so we recruited Mike because he was the best fit. So it goes..
How would you describe your music?
Dark rock n roll with a groovy twist.
Who are your musical inspirations?
We are all big fans of Liars and Underworld. Also, The Stooges and The Cramps hold a special place in our hearts.
Can you tell us about your current release?
With Bloodsweat we wanted to push the boundaries of our songwriting. Our goal was to make our songs tighter and longer with grooves that can get stuck in your head; we took inspirations from all over. A lot of the songs were written months or years apart so there are many differences between the songs but they also sound like they all came from the same session which we are all really proud of. What’s been your live show highlight so far?
This last month at SXSW we played the Fluffer Pit party sometime around midnight. It was rad because we played on the ground surrounded by a bunch of people just waiting to party! It made for a really intense show. So much fun!
What can we expect from your forthcoming Cardiff Gig?
We're going to top the Fluffer Pit party at this show that's for sure. We are way too stoked to be playing back in the U.K. There will be no disappointments!
What can we expect from you in the future?
We are currently in the process of writing our third record. It's too early to say how it's going to turn out as a whole but we're definitely keeping those dark groovy songs in there and we love to road test them so keep your ears open.
A version of this Q&A by Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on April 15, 2016.
After years of drifting aimlessly and alone, comedian Richard Herring is now settled down with a wife and a tiny baby. Is he finally Happy Now? Or does responsibility for the lives of others come with its own terrors? In his new stand up show, Richard examines whether we can ever hope to be or are meant to be truly content
Happy Now? is Richard’s twelfth stand-up tour in twelve years. The show premiered in September 2015 when he completed the mammoth task of performing each of his previous eleven consecutive stand-up shows over eleven evenings, before debuting Happy Now? on the final night. Andy Howells recently put questions to Richard about the show.
Prior to the launch of Happy Now? You revisited all eleven of your previous shows. What was it like revisiting older material and did you have to change much?
It was a very interesting experience to go back over all the stuff from the last 15 years and see the changes in myself as a person and a comedian. I tried to stay as true to the original spirit as possible and only changed stuff if the reference was too obscure/topical. I had to cut some stuff for time and there were certainly a few jokes that I wouldn’t write now, but ultimately I was impressed with how strong the shows were and how much of it stood up. The journey I had taken through depression, anger to becoming more settled and grown-up (though still resolutely childish at times) helped inform my new show and get a grasp of who I was and who I am now. It was enormous fun and the audiences seemed to get it too. So hooray!
Can you tell us about your latest show Happy Now?
It’s about whether finally being more settled and becoming a dad has made me happy at last or whether it’s just created its own new raft of problems. I talk about some of the less mentioned horrors of child birth and the dark thoughts that plague you when you’re responsible for a new human being, but also about the nature of happiness itself and whether it is its own punishment. But there’s also plenty of silly stuff about having sex with robots and deconstructing nursery rhymes.
Do you find your family life is constantly inspiring you with material for your show?
All life is inspiring for material. My daughter isn’t any more interesting than any other one year old child, but becoming a father, and later in life, is a rich source of new comedy and philosophy. I write a daily blog so my comedy has very much become about my own life, so yes being a parent is just was fecund an experience as being single and having drunken misadventures.
What do you enjoy most about been a parent?
When my strong and independent daughter occasionally needs me to be there for her and holds on to me a little tighter. It’s all good though (even the bad bits). It’s terrific making her laugh and a real honour to get to watch a new person develop and grow (and do your best to nudge her in the right direction). As I say in the show it’s unusual to experience a love that grows every day, as usually love depletes gradually until there is nothing left. So it’s mind-blowing.
What is the funniest experience you’ve ever had at a live gig?
Well hopefully it would be all the funny stuff that I say! Most of the stuff that people think will be funny, like heckles, are usually just annoying and disruptive. If you put Richard Herring + heckler into youtube you will find a good example of the frustration a drunk heckler engenders. It’s entertaining and funny in a way, but it’s mainly just annoying. I have fallen off stage at the end of the gig, which looks funny, but hurt. It’s best when something one-off happens that only exists on the night when there is a collusion between performer and audience but by their very nature these do not work written down.
Who are your comedy heroes and why?
Rik Mayall was one of my main influences growing up. I wrote an episode of Man Down that he would have featured heavily in and felt thrilled to be putting words into the mouth of my comedy hero. So his death hit me hard both as a fan and a human being, but also for the selfish reason that he’d never say my jokes. Monty Python and Pete and Dud were also huge influences on me. But so are new comedians like Sara Pascoe and Nick Helm who work hard and show you that you have to be at the top of your game to be able to compete.
If you hadn’t become a comedian what would you have been?
Almost certainly a slightly unhappy teacher. All my family are teachers and it’s a more noble profession than the one that I chose. But I am glad that I got to do this instead, though some of the desire to educate and inform remains amongst my work.
You are, of course, fondly remembered for your comedy partnership with Stewart Lee. Are you still in contact and do you ever go and see each other’s shows?
We are still in touch but thankfully don’t see each other as much as we did in the 90s when we lived in each other’s pockets, which is difficult however much you like someone. I don’t watch his shows because people are always comparing us (seemingly forgetting that we wrote together for 15 years and are bound to have similarities). He came to see Lord of the Dance Settee, but he didn’t really say much about it afterwards (though there were a couple of jokes about him in there). We are doing our own thing nowadays and whilst the shadow of the other remains in both acts, it’s for the best that we go our own way.
Do you foresee a time where Lee and Herring may perform together again?
I wouldn’t want to go back. I loved the stuff we did in the 90s, but don’t want to revisit it as old men. And you have to divide the money and I can’t see Stewart being happy doing that!
You are also filming Happy Now? for DVD in Cardiff – will there be any DVD exclusives?
It’s always fun recording the DVD, even though it’s largely just the show that I would do on any other night. We have a few fun things we put in and extras that other shows won’t have. Once due to an error in editing Chris Evans (not that one) who runs the Cardiff based independent production company Go Faster Stripe, cut to me laughing in the audience. This had actually been from a show with Tony Law recorded on the same night, but he put it in my DVD, without spotting me, which meant that I was apparently laughing at my own show. Since they we’ve put a shot of me laughing in the audience in nearly all of my DVDS, to the confusion and delight of our viewers/
Looking ahead what are you planning for the rest of the year?
I am hoping to be making a video series of my internet show “As It Occurs To Me” but we have to raise the money via kickstarter, so it all depends on whether enough people want to see it. I have also written a sitcom pilot for Channel 4 about alternate universes called Everything Happens For No Reason and I am going to be doing more interviews with top and new comedians in my Leicester Square Theatre Podcast. And in the autumn I will start a new tour of the best of my 12 previous shows called Richard Herring: The Best
Richard Herring plays St David’s Hall on April 12. Visit stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk for ticket details.
A version of this Q&A appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on April 8.
FOLLOWING the release of Brooklyn indie-rockers Lucius’ latest album Good Grief, the band are out on a UK tour taking in Bristol’s Thekla on tonight. Lucius are lead by co-founders and vocalists Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig accompanied by multi-instrumentalists Andrew Burri, Peter Lalish and Dan Molad. Wolfe and Laessig met in 2005 while attending Berklee College of Music.
Since forming, Lucius has toured extensively, playing headline shows worldwide, as well as major festival appearances including Reading and Leeds, Bonnaroo, End Of the Road, Lollapalooza, Pukklepop and Rock En Seine. Andy Howells recently put questions to Peter from the band.
How did the band form and get signed?
The band was, for a long time, in an ever evolving state with a fairly large rotating cast of characters.
It started a long time ago when the girls first met each other at school – there was a version of Lucius with many jazz musicians, a version with a lot of acoustic instruments, a version with a mandolin player – eventually the girls met Danny who engineered and produced the first EP and much of the Wildewoman record. The girls had been finding their voice together over the years but it was really around that formative time with Danny that the experimental sonic landscape was starting to really broaden with Danny’s guidance.
Not long after that I joined the band and then Andy.
It really felt like it was a unit then, not just the girls with a bunch of rotating members – every person had found a special place in the band to show their strengths and all of those could come together as one and the girls could channel that energy and project their voices through it.
We had already been touring for a good couple of years with our EP and feeling very proud of the album as well as feeling more and more confident about playing live shows. It was sort of a natural progression of finding the right members of this family to work along side us IE. our managers and booking agent and many others. It took a while to decide on the right label but it was pretty apparent when Mom & Pop, Dine Alone and PIAS approached us that these were the labels that we wanted to be associated and working together with.
Who or what has inspired you most on your musical journey?
Wow that’s a big question. We feel very fortunate to have been starting to work on this music at a time when we were living in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn where it just seemed like around every turn was just another incredibly inspiring and loving musical soul. We feel so lucky to have been in Ditmas Park and to call all of those great humans our musical peers – Lapland, Pavo Pavo, The Spring Standards, Frank Locrasto, Clara Nova, Frances Cone, San Fermin, the list goes on and on.
I think once we started touring that playing to a gracious and welcoming crowd of people every night began to fuel this bands fire, more than we could have imagined. We are always amazed when we show up to a town we’ve never been to and there are people there that know our songs – what could be better than that? The reaction from the audiences is feels so ernest that it really keeps us inspired to be a band - beyond that it really gives us a reason to be a band - writing and recording music is wonderful and we feel so lucky to be able to call this our “job”. But really, it’s playing live shows is the bread and butter of this band and the audiences are what keep us feeling inspired and fulfilled night after night.
Can you give us some background about your new album?
It came after two years of straight touring. We had been away from our home for so long that I think many of us forgot what it felt like to come home to your own bed. In fact some of us are still doing that – the lifestyle of touring had taken over our lives. I think we missed our community and saw that many people had moved on to new cities and when we got back home it felt very different.
We decided to record with our good friend Shawn Everett on the West Coast at his studio in downtown LA. By the time we got there and really started exploring what the new songs would sound like - we realized how much growing and discovery we had all done over the past two years of touring.
We finally had a moment to stop and reflect on that. I guess when you look at many bands second record the themes usually relate to those subjects. There wasn’t really any point in avoiding what we were all feeling.
Longing for a home, missing our friends and dealing with many of the personal hardships that being away from those things for a long time bring.
Are you enjoying touring?
Heck yes! Every time someone comes up to us after a concert to share how much it meant to them or how far they traveled to get there it means so much., because it’s the same on the from our perspective – We love playing for other humans, having a chance to bring this music to life onstage, but it would feel lifeless to play to an empty room, so give us a venue, some beers and a handful of supportive (or even non-supportive strangers) and we are like pigs in slop, HAPPY CAMPERS. The only downside of touring is giving up on ever getting a good night's sleep again. But it’s worth it, sleep is over rated – being a walking zombie is the way to go.
What can people expect from your Bristol gig?
Some loud songs, some quiet songs, maybe a costume change here or there. Mostly just a lot of fun.
What are you enjoying listening to at the moment?
Right at this very moment I’m listening to a record that I’ve fallen deeply in love with by Robert Stillman called Rainbows. It’s so beautiful and has a touching, heartbreaking story behind it but it is also incredibly uplifting – so so pretty.
A version of this Q&A by Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment section The Guide on April 8, 2016.
As the eponymous leader of his own Quartet, British double bassist and composer Matt Ridley is a specifically investigative musician whose artistry is derived from a desire to create a strong, meaningful and structural purpose out of each initial glint of inspiration.
Following up his 2013 debut release Thymos on Whirlwind Recordings, his new album Mettã – a title and concept referencing themes of benevolence and goodwill – finds him progressing his shared creativity again with his quartet of pianist John Turville, drummer George Hart, and soprano saxophonist Jason Yarde, who appears here in a fuller, more centrally melodic role. Captured within a single day, this is a studio recording brimming with passion and spontaneity.
Ahead of The Matt Ridley Quartet playing The Hen and Chicken, Bristol on April 17 and Swansea Jazzland on May 4, Andy Howells recently put questions to Matt about his work…
What lead you to becoming a musician?
When I started playing bass guitar aged 15 I felt like I'd found my calling. So I worked really hard, practicing different styles of music and playing in bands. This eventually led me to jazz and the double bass.
Who or what has inspired you most on your musical journey?
Ron Carter, Dave Holland, Chick Corea, Charlie Haden, Jaco Pastorius, Miroslav Vitous, Flea are some of my favourite bass players/musicians! Inspiration....I dare say that I'm still discovering new and awe-inspiring music after 20 years of constantly seeking out new music. The never ending creativity of the human mind...that's pretty inspiring!!
Can you give us some background about your latest album?
When Jason Yarde recorded with the band on our first album Thymos, his playing was inspirational and he ended up joining the band for all our gigs after that recording session. So I started writing music for quartet rather than trio. This album is the result of that process. There's quite a specific feel to the whole album which I would describe as melodic soulful epicness!
You’re touring shortly are you looking forward to that?
Yes very much so. With generous support from the Arts Council of England, we are able to do a lot of rehearsing and I'm using the time to develop new material as well as honing tunes from the two existing albums.
What can people expect from your forthcoming Swansea gig?
Memorable tunes, exciting rhythms, burning improvisations! Plus some dry wit...
What are you enjoying listening to at the moment?
Elvin Jones Quartet Live at the Lighthouse, Charlie Haden Tokyo Adagio and Nocturne, Chris Potter Imaginary Cities and Beethoven String Quartets (I just bought a boxed set of all of them)
Visitors to Tredegar House could have recently been forgiven for thinking that a new television costume drama was been filmed at the Newport landmark’s location. However, the filming that was taking place were cinematic scenes for Newport musical theatre company, Centrestage Cymru’s, forthcoming production of the classic musical Singing in the Rain recalling the early days of Hollywood.
Jordan Archer and Zoe Southcott prepare for a scene
Singing in the Rain will feature hilarious situations, snappy dialogue, and a hit-parade score of Hollywood standards making a perfect evening of entertainment for any fan of the golden age of movie musicals. Singing in the Rain has all the makings of a Tinseltown tabloid headline - the starlet, the leading man and a love affair that could change lives and make or break careers. In silent movies, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are a hot item, but behind the scenes things aren’t always as they appear on the big screen. Meanwhile, Lina’s squeaky voice might be the end of her career in “talking pictures” without the help of a talented young actress to do the talking and singing for her.
Centrestage actresses prepare for a take
CentreStage Cymru Chairperson Sharon Higgins, Stage director Peter Higgins, Vice Chairman Andre Paul Spring along with nine cast members spent a day of filming the black and white Singing in the Rain film sequences along with filming director/camera man Martin Phillips of film company, Red90.
“I’m not sure what visitors to the house thought as we arrived dressed in Period costumes, wigs and brandishing swords,” said Sharon Higgins, “many of the visitors followed us and enjoyed watching us film. Although it was cold the actors had a fabulous time and it’s an experience I am sure they will remember.”
Zoe Southcott and Jordan Archer
in period costume
The Centrestage Cymru team felt the setting of Tredegar House’s gardens were perfect for their location shoot, “I must say a huge thank you to Tredegar House for allowing us to use their beautiful grounds,” said Sharon, “also to Anwen Roberts for her help and Chris Edmunds who looked after us on the day. We’re looking forward to seeing the finished sequences in our show now.”
The location filming cast of Centrstage Cymru's
Singing In The Rain outside Tredegar House
There will be a chance for everyone to see the film sequences when Centrestage Cymru’s Singing in the Rain takes to the stage of The Dolman Theatre, from April 27-30. For booking details call 01633 263670 or visit dolmantheatre.co.uk
A version of this article appears in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on April 1, 2016. All photos are by Andy Howells.
This weekend, BBC Wales, Arts Council of Wales and What Next? are teaming up to celebrate the nation’s creativity and to celebrate, RawFfest will be running a taster day at The Riverfront, Newport. RawFfest is the exciting new national youth arts festival for Wales and it will kick off in Newport in August. Anyone aged 14 – 25 can come along to a range of free workshops on Saturday April 2 from 12 noon to 4pm.
The taster day will have workshops in dance, music, opera, theatre, art and lots more. National Dance Company Wales, Operasonic, Tin Shed Theatre Company and Pentalk Lab will help provide workshops free of charge.
April 2 will be a chance for young people to put their energy and ideas into planning and programming RawFfest.
“RawFfest/GwylGrai is a rare opportunity for young people to get involved with a project of this calibre- a project that is being put together for the benefit of young people passionate about the arts,” said Callum, 17, from Ammanford. “The fact that young people are helping make this happen, makes it even more exciting!”
For a full schedule of RawFfest’s Get Creative day on April 2 go to their Facebook page . Spaces are limited for some of workshops and booking is advised beforehand. Please contact RawFfest First Bite at Newport Riverfront on 01633 656757 or contact Naz Syed, RawFfest Administrator: naz@rawffest.wales or call: 07860 660870
