Llanelli Star - Cut Ribbons Feature - by Chris Carra

1. LSA-E01-S2 Wednesday, April 17, 2013, www.thisissouthwales.co.uk44 ENTERTAINMENT
Cadno’sPick
Llanelli’s Mr
Music
ALUN REES
casts an
expert eye
over the
local scene
Plenty of choice
for everyone
DID you know our little town has a
thriving music scene?
In my opinion, Llanelli’s music
world is flourishing — with something
for everyone, every night of the week!
We have a number of music venues
which cater for the needs of young
people — especially as their tastes are
so diverse.
Firstly, we have two places
exclusively for under-18s — the Sound
Garden and The Vestry, run by their
respective churches.
The Sound Garden runs at North
Dock on selected Saturdays, whereas
The Vestry runs from the town centre
every Saturday afternoon from 2pm to
5pm.
And for adults, The Mason’s Arms
on Thomas Street — which operates a
strictly over-18 policy — has live bands
performing every Friday and Saturday
night.
The Mason’s caters for the heavier
music that is currently around.
This venue is great for bands,
having the added bonus of its own PA
system — so performers only have to
take minimal equipment.
Metal and rock fans can also check
out The Kazbar rock club in Market
Street.
With their own resident DJs, the
club rocks till the early hours every
Saturday night, hosting live music for
a range of genres on selected
Saturdays.
But it’s for over-18s again, sorry
music lovers!
Not a rocker? The Queen Victoria
Club holds band nights on various
Fridays and Saturdays — with the
Llanelli Folk Club and newly-formed
Llanelli Ukulele Club meeting on
selected Wednesdays.
And if you fancy checking out some
of the town’s raw talent, head down to
The Kilkenny Cat, which continues to
host its popular open mic night on a
Thursday, with the floor open to
performances from live bands on
Friday and Saturday.
The Metropolitan Bar has live music
on Friday and Saturday evenings, and
Ej’s Bar and Restaurant holds an open
mic night on a Tuesday evening.
Check out these venues’ Facebook
pages for the latest information and
gigs.
OnSong with Robert Lloyd
StarGuide: Music
IT was a case of young and old
celebrating at the Centenary concert
staged by Halfway Primary School.
The stars of the show were the
young singers from Halfway.
But they received a helping hand
from the older generation in the shape
of Côr Meibion Llanelli (Llanelli Male
Voice Choir).
The concert marked a special
occasion for Côr Meibion Llanelli
musical director Eifion Thomas, as he
was headmaster of Halfway school
until his retirement eight years ago
after completing more than 20 years
teaching there.
He said: “It was a great treat and an
honour for me to be taking the stage
with Côr Meibion Llanelli as I have
such very fond memories of my time
at Halfway school.”
The stage was also shared by
former Halfway pupil Laura Morris, a
soprano who currently works as a
music teacher at Penyrheol School,
Gorseinon.
“It was wonderful to hear Laura
singing,” Mr Thomas said.
“She was excellent, and her singing
was greatly appreciated by the
audience at the main hall of Halfway’s
neighbouring school of St John
Lloyd.
“The children were very much the
stars of the show, serving up many
musical treats including a Disney
medley.
“We had groups from Years 1 and 2,
Years 3 and 4, then Years 5 and 6 on
stage, before the whole school took
centre-stage for a finale.”
Côr Meibion Llanelli’s
performance saw the choir sing a
varied programme of traditional and
contemporary songs.
For The Lily of the Valley, they were
joined on stage by Halfway School
governor Adrian Morris, the nephew
of chorister John ‘‘Bach’’ Morris.
Adrian is a former pupil of Halfway
School and sang with the school in a
memorable 1984 concert at Theatr
Elli. Mr Thomas added: “It was a
wonderful evening and the children
were exceptionally well behaved and a
great credit to their school, their
teachers and their parents.”
BRIEFLY ...
IT was great to Cantata on TV the
other night. They battled it out in the
Female Voice category of S4C’s Côr
Cymru against three other choirs.
They didn’t win — a decision which
would have left their legion of Llanelli
fans baffled. But hats off to musical
director Catrin Hughes for another
stunning performance.
CÔR Curiad will be heading into
England again at the end of the year.
They have just booked a weekend in
Tamworth, from November 15 to 17, as
guests of Tamworth Male voice choir.
G If you have any news about the choral
scene in Llanelli, contact Robert on
07777 683637 or email
rlloydpr@btinternet.com
In this new column, Robert Lloyd gives the
lowdown on the town’s choral scene
I Llanelli band Cut Ribbons, who have released their new single, Luna.
THINGS are moving in the right
direction for Llanelli indie outfit Cut
Ribbons, according to guitarist and
vocalist Aled Rees.
The five-piece — who made a big
impression on BBC’s Introducing
stage at the Reading and Leeds
festivals last summer — have just
returned from their UK tour and last
week released a brand new single.
The two-week tour saw them play
venues in London, Cardiff, Notting-
ham, Glasgow and Manchester, along
with four-piece band Holland, from
Brighton.
And Aled said it couldn’t have gone
better.
“It was incredible,” he said. “We
were really well received.
“We lucked out a little bit because
we hadn’t met Holland before, but we
got on really well with them.
“It is a massive factor because you
share the stage and sometimes the
accommodation, so it’s important.”
Aled plays alongside guitarist
Chris James, bassist Shane Lee,
drummer Caio Griffiths and vocalist
Anna Griffiths in the band, which
formed in 2009.
Since then they’ve supported The
Joy Formidable and Dry the River,
and have released an array of tracks,
including their newest single, Luna.
Aled explained that the music
video for Luna — filmed in and
around Llanelli — tells the real story
of the song.
He said: “It’s about a couple
who are most definitely in love
but there is a distance between
them which is growing into
resentment.
“It follows them through their
routine of going to bed, but instead of
dressing down they are dressing into
their best clothes.
“As the song goes on, it suggests
that they know that going down this
path will eventually lead to their
break-up, so instead they are going to
take their own lives.”
He added: “It was filmed around
Dylan Thomas’s Boat House in
Laugharne and the interior was
filmed in Llanelli.
“It was nice to include that as
I’m a big fan of Dylan Thomas and it is
nice to show some Welsh heritage in
the video.
“Feedback has been incredibly
positive,” he added.
The video premiered on Topman’s
website and the band performed an
acoustic set in the legendary Spillers
Records in Cardiff to celebrate the
launch.
Aled added: “I think we are about to
hear about the summer festivals.
There are going to be quite a few this
year.
“We are also in the process of
organising a European tour.
“Everything is going in the right
direction.”
Cut Ribbons will be playing closer
to home in Swansea’s two-day Pili
Pala Festival at Sin City on May 18,
with Masters in France and The
Tax.
G To check out the video for Luna, visit
www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/llanellinews
BAND’S LUNA LAUNCH
GETS THINGS MOVING
By Chris Carra
@ForzaSwansea
chris.carra@swwmedia.co.uk
01554 745321
Chad’sChoice
This week’s top night out:
ON Friday night, The Mason’s Arms in
Thomas Street, Llanelli, hosts its
famous open-mic night.
Usually rammed with punters, this
free night can throw up captivating
gems of talent that silence the room.
Then again — sometimes the acts
don’t quite hit the mark.
Regardless, it’s a great atmosphere.
Contact Star reporter CHAD WELCH on 01554
745305 or chad.welch@swwmedia.co.uk
VIEW ON VIDEO
See Cut Ribbons in action at
www.thisissouthwales.co.uk