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
BUZZ 08