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.