Newsoundwales selected for Welsh Music Prize Jury

Francis Brown from newsoundwales has been selected to join the jury for the Welsh Music Prize 2012. The prize, which is awarded to the best album of the year, began in 2011 when Gruff Rhys was selected for "Hotel Shampoo". Other jurors selected to take part include Neil Cocker from Dizzyjam and Welsh promoter Fiona Allan. More info at:

http://welshmusicprize.com/

Justice for Hillsborough

The Justice Tonight campaign bring their message to Cardiff on Thursday 1st December when they play Cardiff University. The show will feature Mick Jones performing Clash songs for the first time in 30 yerars, Pete Wylie and James Dean Bradfield from the Manics.

Going Wild in the Country

The Wild Beasts return to Cardiff with their first appearance since performing at the SWN Festival 2 years ago. They play Cardiff's Coal Exchange March 16th. Tickets are on sale now at:


http://www.wegottickets.com/event/145505

Flying High

Noel Gallagher will be touring the UK next year following the success of his debut album High Flying Birds. He appears at the Motorpoint Arena 9th September.

Ben's Back Already

Having recently played a hugely successful sold out show at this year's SWN festival Benjamin Francis Leftwich will be back in Cardiff early in 2012 when he plays the Globe 20th February.

Flo hits the big time

Florence & the Machine are undertaking their biggest tour to date including the Motorpoint Arena 5th March. The bands' 2nd album "Ceremonials" has just been released.

He's Gorgeous

Stephen Jones aka Babybird will be playing a rare date in Wales when he appears at the Globe, Cardiff 26th January. Best known for his classic hit single 'You're Gorgeous' Babybird's most recent release was "Ex-Maniac"in 2009. Tickets are on sale now at:


http://www.wegottickets.com/event/143858

Greenman 2012 Early Bird Tickets go on sale

Next year's Greenman Festival will be celebrating it's 10th anniversary and early bird tickets go on sale next Tuesday (November 15th). Adult tickets are piced at £130 so we are slightly worried what the full priced ones will be! Full details:


· Adult ticket = £130
· Student ticket = £115
· Teen ticket (13-17) = £60
· Children (5-12) = £5
· Holiday ticket = £40
· Live-in vehicle ticket = £50
· Car parking ticket £5

http://www.greenman.net/

Crunch Time @ Hay

The Crunch arts festival is taking place at Hay on Wye 18th - 20th November and as well as numerous literary and comedy guests there will be some excellent live music from the likes of British Sea Power and rising Welsh singer Sion Russell Jones. More information at:

http://www.artfestivalathay.org/

Gruff Rhys Wins the Inaugural Welsh Music Prize

Gruff Rhys has won the Welsh Music Prize album of the year for his album "Hotel Shampoo".

Held at Cardiff's Kuku Club, the announcement was made at an exclusive ceremony hosted by BBC Radio Wales DJ Adam Walton, in Cardiff on Friday night during this year's SWN Festival.

Addressing those in attendance, a surprised Gruff Rhys spoke of his achievement:"Everyone on the list deserved to win, so I am very grateful. "I really didn't expect to win, so I didn't prepare anything," admitted the winner of the first-ever Welsh Music Prize.

"To have all of the shortlisted acts attend this inaugural Welsh Music Prize speaks volumes of the interest that this idea has generated, as did Gruff's obviously emotional response to winning the Prize," commented Welsh Music Prize co-founder and SWN Festival organiser John Rostron.

He continued: "I didn't envy the judges having to pick a winner - the shortlist was incredibly strong - but then that's why we started the Prize. Such great music emerges from Wales which myself and Huw Stephens feel deserves wider recognition. I'm delighted that this first event has achieved that."

The decision was made by a select panel of judges, which included Booker of Reading Festival Neil Pengelly, Deputy Editor of NME Mike Williams, BBC Radio Wales and 6 Music DJ Bethan Elfyn, and owner of Spillers Records Ashli Todd.

Folk Legend at WMC

Joan Baez has announced a UK tour for 2012 including a date at the Wales Millennium Centre 22nd March. Tickets will be on sale from 7th October.

Cardiff goes global in 2013

In 2013, WOMEX will be exploring Celtic grounds: Cardiff has won the international bid to host WOMEX in 2013.

WOMEX received proposals from nine cities within Europe for the 2013 edition. The 'WOMEX 13 Official Host City Candidates' shortlist included Cardiff and Glasgow, United Kingdom, plus Dublin, Ireland. A complex selection process, including a round of site visits to the three cities and in-depth talks with all parties involved, preceded the final decision for the Welsh candidate.

Daniela Teuber, WOMEX Director of Production states: "We're very happy that Cardiff will be hosting WOMEX in 2013. The city offers a most favourable setting for our complex event and its 2500 delegates and many artists from all over the globe: truly professional, highly motivated local production partners; wonderful venues matching our multifaceted needs in close proximity; and Wales' outstanding cultural wealth, hospitality and scenic beauty."

Los Campesinos have announced a home town gig at the Globe in Cardiff on Wednesday 9th November. The band will be releasing their 4th album entitled "Hello Sadness" 14th November.

Ghostpoet moves venue

Ghospoet's appearance at the Cardiff Arts Institue (CAI)scheduled for 22nd September has been moved to Clwb Ifor Bach. Reason being that the CAI is undergoing a refurbishment.

Welsh Music Prize Short list announced

The shortlist of 12 albums selected for this year's inaugral Welsh Music Prize has been announced. It is particularly gratifying to see Al Lewis, Colorama and Sweet Baboo have made it to the final. Full list is:


Al Lewis - In The Wake [Al Lewis Music]
Colorama - Box [See Monkey Do Monkey Records]
Funeral For A Friend - Welcome Home Armageddon [Distiller Records]
Gruff Rhys - Hotel Shampoo [Turnstile Music]
Lleuwen - Tan [Gwymon]
Manic Street Preachers - Postcards from a Young Man [Columbia]
Stagga - The Warm Air Room [Rag and Bone]
Sweet Baboo - I’m a Dancer/Songs About Sleepin’ [Shape Records]
The Blackout - Hope [Cooking Vinyl]
The Gentle Good - Tethered for the Storm [Gwymon]
The Joy Formidable - Big Roar [Atlantic]
Y Niwl - Y Niwl [Aderyn Papur]


Huw Stephens, Radio 1 presenter and co-organiser of Welsh Music Prize said: “We are very pleased to launch the Welsh Music Prize with twelve strong albums from Welsh artists. The shortlist is but a reflection on the quality music made in Wales and released internationally. We hope the Prize brings these collections of work to a new audience, and we are looking forward to announcing an overall winner on October 21st.”

http://welshmusicprize.com
http://swnfest.com

New album for Campesinos!

Los Campesinos will be releasing their 4th album entitled "Hello Sadness" 14th November.

The Angry Mob in Llandudno

The Kaiser Chiefs will be appearing at the Venue Cymru in Llandudno 27th January. The tour is in support of their 4th album "The Future is Medieval" which was released in June.

Kasabian overtake the Asylum

Kasabian have announced a UK tour to promote their new album "Velociraptor!" due for release 19th September. The album will be their fourth and is the follow up to the award winning 'West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum'. The band play Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena November 30th.

4AD Legends at the Gate

Legendary band Throwing Muses will be playing at the Gate in Cardiff 8th November. The band who formed in Newport, Rhode Island in the early 1980s and have reformed for a European tour to conicide with a new compilation on 4AD Records entitled 'Anthology'. Tickets priced at £20 are on sale now:

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/130397

Globe closes with immediate effect

One of Cardiff's leading venues has made a shock announcement this week and looks set to close. A statement on the Globe website states:

"It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce that The Globe in its current form is no more. Due to ongoing conflict with the venue landlord Alan Jones (The Globe owner) who created and operated the venue has been forced to withdraw from the premises. All shows will be honoured, relocated or refunded from point of ticket purchase."

Welsh Music Prize Launched

Ireland has the Choice Music Prize, Canada has Polaris and now Wales has its very own music award; The Welsh Music Prize. The prize, an initiative of SWN Festival and co-founders Huw Stephens and John Rostron, will be selected and judged by a panel of industry figures and music experts. A shortlist of 12 albums released between 1 August 2010 and 31 July 2011 will be announced very soon with the winner to be announced at SWN Festival 2011.

http://welshmusicprize.com

Cleared and Ready for Take Off

Paper Aeroplanes, one of Wales brightest hopes, have announced a 16 date tour UK tour in September & October. To co-incide with the tour the band will be releasing a new 4 track EP 'A Comfortable Sleep' on "My First Records" in September.

Tour Dates are as follows:


Fri 16th Sept - Clwb lfor Bach, Cardiff
Sat 17th Sept - Southsea Festival, Southsea
Fri 23rd Sept - Bristol Folk House, Bristol
Sat 24th Sept - The Chattery, Swansea
Sun 25th Sept - The Old Deli, Milford Haven
Thurs 29th Sept - The Frog And Fiddle, Cheltenham
Fri 30th Sept - Anvil, Basingstoke
Sat 1st Oct - The Book Barge, Manchester
Sat 1st Oct- House Concerts, York,
Sun 2nd Oct - Leaf, Liverpool
Tues 4th Oct - The Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham
Wed 5th Oct - Riverside Studios, London
Thurs 6th Oct - Prince albert, Rodborough, Nr. Stroud
Fri 7th Oct - Beach and Barnicott, Bridport
Sat 8th Oct - Miss Peabod's, Cornwall
Sun 9th Oct - The Musician, Leicester
Mon 10th Oct - The Bicycle Shop, Norwich

More acts announced for SWN 2011

An additional 30 acts have been added to this year's line up for SWN 2011. Including newsoundwales hot tip Ivan Moult(above).

Tickets are on sale now priced £49.50: Acts added today are:

Aidan Moffat & Bill Wells
Brandyman
Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog
Cymbals
Deaf Club
Esben & The Witch
Fixers
Ivan Moult
Iwan Huws
Hail! The Planes
Holland
Jodie Marie
Joshua Caole
LA2019
Lewis Floyd Henry
Melodica, Melody & Me
Monument Valley
Sam Duckworth
Sen Segur
Strange News From Another Star
The Nightingales
The Skull Defekts
Three Trapped Tigers
Truckers of Husk
Ugly Duckling
Veronica Falls
Winter Villains
Violas
Y Niwl
Zun Zun Egui

http://www.swnfest.com/tickets/

Quiet Please!

Jam with Robina will be performing a special lunch time performance at Cardiff Library on Saturday 6th August at 1pm with free admission. The band released their highly acclaimed 2nd album "Dark Recollections" earlier this year.

Miniature Music Press back on the streets

Cardiff's music listing and review magazine is returning to producing a printed copy once again from August. The magazine went digital earlier this year but has decided to return to printing a hard copy which will be distributed throughout Cardiff.

Ghostpoet UK Tour launched in Cardiff

Ghostpoet has announced a UK tour opening in Cardiff September 22nd at the Cardiff Arts Institute. Ghostpoet has been nominated for this year's Mercury Prize for his album "Peanut Butter & Melancholy Jam".

The Pierces at the Glee Club

New York sister act The Pierces have announced a Cardiff date at the Glee Club 17th October. The band will be featuring their recent album produced by Coldplay's Guy Berryman.

Dee-lightful

Legendary performer Baby Dee will be playing a special show presented by SWN & Newsoundwales at the Globe in Cardiff 25th October.

Tickets are on sale now at:

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/127097

Here Come the Girls

Girls the indie rock band from San Fransisco will be playing the Globe in Cardiff 8th November. The band are also due to release their 2nd album "Father,Son, Holy Ghost" in September.

Tickets are on sale now at:

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/126956

Dylan & Knopfler - Brothers in Arms

Bob Dylan brings his never ending tour back to Cardiff 13th October with a show at the Motorpoint Arena with special guest Mark Knopfler who also produced Dylan's acclaimed "Infidels" album in 1983.

Doin it Doggy Style at the Arena

Snoop Dogg will be undertaking an arena tour later this year including a date at Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena 8th October. Snoop, who turns 40 later this year, released his 11th studio album "Doggumentary" in 2011.

Total Pop at St David's

Erasure are back on tour and will be releasing their first album for four years. The album "Tomorrow's World" is released 3rd October and they will be playing later that month at St David's Hall in Cardiff 30th October. Tickets wil be on sale
9th July.

Stand Up it's James

James will be performing at the Wales Millennium Centre 23rd October. They will be backed by a 22 piece orchestra and a 16 piece choir. Tickets range from £22.50 to a hefty £45 and are on sale now.

www.wmc.org.uk

Spillers Photoshoot

Spillers Records in Cardiff will be holding their annual photoshoot for next year's calendar. If you want to take part be at the National Museum on Sunday 3rd July at 3pm.

The Subways head out in search of money & celebrity

The Subways will be touring the UK later this year in support of their new album "Money & Celebrity" which is due out in September. As part of the tour the band will be playing Swansea's Sin City 30th September.

Lostprophets in Festivals warm up

The Lostprophets will be heading out on a short tour in August ahead of their 2011 Festival appearances. The band who are curently working on the follow up to their 2010 album "The Betrayed" will be playing Cardiff University August 17th.

SWN 2011 - first batch of artists announced

SWN 2011 take splace in Cardiff 20th - 23rd October. Always a highlight of Wales' musical calender the first acts to be announced are:

And So I Watch You From Afar
Apostles
Ashtray Navigations
Al Lewis
Barefoot Dance of the Sea
Battlekat
Ben Howard
Bejamin Francis Leftwich
Bleeding Heart Narrative
Chailo Sim
Colorama
Creatures of Love
Daughter
Dots.filmband
Eagulls
Echo Lake
Effort
Elephant
Elephant Stone
Gavin Osborn
Herman Dune
H Hawkline
Houdini Dax
Jen Jeniro
Joseph & David
Lets Buy Happiness
Mammal Club
Masters In France
Mowbird
Olympians
Pandas and People
Patterns
Rapids!
Red City Radio
Right Hand Left Hand
Samoans
Team Sports
The Cut Ups
The Fall
The Joy Formidable
The Victorian English Gentleman's Club
The History of Apple Pie
The Keys
The Method
Theo
Town
Trwbador
Ultrahumanitarian
Zervas & Pepper

Shikari Shikari!

Enter Shikari will be appearing at the Coal Exchange in Cardiff 24th October as part of their forthcoming UK tour. The band recently recorded their 3rd album in Thailand.

Sample & Hold

Influential experimental Hip Hop DJ Shadow will be playing Cardiff University 3rd September. Apparently DJ Shadow owns 60,000 records....

More than a Feeling

The Feeling will be headlining this year's Big Weekend taking place in Cardiff 5-7th August. Other acts appearing include Dodgy and as last year SWN will be curating the Friday evening.

Great @ the Globe

Emmy the Great will be playing the Globe in Cardiff 13th October. Her latest critically acclaimed album "Virtue" is out now.

Tickets are on sale now at:

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/122729

A Different Kind of Gig

The Bombay Bicycle Club will be playing the Cardiff University Great Hall 14th October in support of their 2nd album "A Different Kind of Fix" due out 29th August.

Mr T at the Globe

Josh T. Pearson has announced he will be playing the Globe in Cardiff 24th November as part of his 2011 UK tour.

Arctic Monkeys Suck

Arctic Monkeys will be playing the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff 1st November as part of their "Suck It and See" tour.

Patrick Wolf returns

Patrick Wolf has announcd a UK tour later this year to promote his new album "Lupercali" which is released 20th June. Wolf is due to play the Millennium Music Hall 30th October. However, with all the uncertainty surrounding this venue the actual location of the gig is presumably yet to be determined.

Cream Legend at St David's

Cream bass player Jack Bruce will be playing a solo show at St David's hall in Cardiff 23rd March 2012. As well as playing with Cream, Jack Bruce has played with the likes of Lou Reed and Frank Zappa.

Shonen Knife are back

Japanese legends Shonen Knife will be playing at Buffalo Bar in Cardiff 21st August.

"When I finally got to see them live I was transformed into a hysterical nine-year-old girl at a Beatles concert" - KURT COBAIN



Tickets are on sale now:

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/120530

Believe the Hype

Public Enemy will be performing their classic album 'Fear of a Black Planet' when they play Cardiff University 8th September. The album was released in 1990 and is considered by many to be one of the greatest rap albums of all time.

Leading by Example

Example has announced a UK winter tour including a date at Cardiff University 8th December. Example will be releasing his 3rd album 'Playing in the Shadows' in September.

Jessie J does it like a dude

Jessie J has announced a UK tour for the autumn including a date at the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena 29th October. This is an ambitious step up in venue size for the winnner of the sound of 2011 who released her debut album "Who You Are" earlier this year.