Gearing Up For Ty Hafan
ABER JAZZ
roundup WHAT ’ S ON OUR RADAR THIS MONTH .
EVENT
Gearing Up For Ty Hafan
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ABER JAZZ
The AberJazz festival returns to Fishguard this month with another eclectic collection of contemporary blues and jazz alongside a fantastic array of musical workshops . With gigs hosted all over Fishguard , there ’ s plenty of live music to be enjoyed in a number of different venues across the Bank Holiday
SOUTH WALES SECRETS # 35 :
Musicbox Studios
Swn Festival co-founder John Rostron shares his South Wales Secret .
“ Two of the nicest people in the music industry in Cardiff , indeed Wales , run the Musicbox Rehearsal Rooms and Practice Studios . Musicbox is one of those places you don ’ t know is there unless you really need to know , but once you ’ ve been , you realise it ’ s at the heart of the music community . Musicbox is on the trading estate on Penarth Road . From the outside it looks like any other industrial unit , but inside there ’ s a small reception where , most likely , owners Mark or Bernie will be sat listening to football , discussing football , talking to bands or offering a brew . There ’ s a central corridor with a bundle of double doors leading left and right . It ’ s from these rooms that musicians spill – new bands , signed bands , unsigned bands ,
weekend . Among the highlights , Hideaway Trio tops Friday ’ s lineup whilst Inc . A , Tacsi and Steelyard Blues team up on Saturday evening at St Mary ’ s Hall . Blues performer Adam Franklin ( also at St Mary ’ s Hall ) will bring an energetic blues and ragtime flavour to the festival on Sunday , Lowri Evans offers off some original folk music in the afternoon , and in between all the great live
cover bands – all hiring rooms for a few hours to practice songs at full volume . I ’ ve known Musicbox since their days in Daisy Street , Canton . As that lease ended and they moved to bigger premises I spent a Christmas helping Mark and Bernie build the roof to the first rehearsal room . Many , many local musicians and friends volunteered and put time in building walls , laying floors , wiring electrics . There was , and is , so much love for the work they do . I ’ d suggest it ’ s worth starting a band just to have an excuse to go there and breathe it all in .”
Info : www . musicboxstudios . co . uk
shows , there ’ ll also be opportunities to enjoy an African drumming workshop with Emmanuel Okuni Annang or the chance to learn how to make music with recycled materials with Inc . A amongst much more . Tickets for the festival can be purchased online through the festival website or from Pepper ’ s Jazz Club which is the main hub of the event .
Aber Jazz festival , Thurs 22-Mon 26 Aug , various Fishguard venues , tickets : events priced separately . Info : www . aberjazz . com
The time has come to get on your bikes and take on the annual Taff Trail Cycle Challenge in aid of Welsh children ’ s charity Ty Hafan . On Sun 1 Sept , riders will take to their saddles to cycle the 52-mile route from Brecon to Cardiff through some of the most stunning countryside on offer . Alternatively , for those feeling a little less fit , a new six-mile route from Castell Coch to Cardiff Castle can be attempted . With the cost of Ty Hafan multiple support services – from short break care and complementary therapy to complete family support – being more than £ 3 million every year , fundraising events are essential . Sali Thomas , Event Organiser at Ty Hafan , explains that The Taff Trail is the perfect excuse to explore beautiful Welsh scenery whilst raising much-needed funds for the charity . By getting on your bikes , you ’ ll be helping to ensure we ’ re on hand to care for life-limited children and their families through their most difficult times .” Whether you take the grand challenge , volunteer as a steward , or just give a small donation , you ’ re making sure Ty Hafan can continue to provide invaluable care and support to life-limited children and their families .
Ty Hafan Taff Trail Cycle Challenge , Sun 1 Sept . Info : www . thetafftrail . co . uk
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