Buzz Magazine June 2013 | Page 48

live

KENNY ROGERS Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff Sat 29 June He’ s one of the most popular musicians in history( over 100 million records sold). He’ s had 24 number one singles, and 12 number one albums. He’ s worked with Lionel Ritchie, Dolly Parton and the Bee Gees; he’ s had hits in every decade since the 1950s, and now he’ s coming to Cardiff. Readers of this magazine may well be familiar with Kenny Rogers from his performance as the titular high-roller in the Gambler series of TV movies( including Gambler V: Playing For Keeps), or because of his eponymous roasted chicken franchise, which featured in an episode of Seinfeld; but there are many strings to Kenny’ s bow. Rogers has always aimed quite squarely and unapologetically for the middle of the road. He first came to prominence in the 1960s leading the First Edition, who had big hits with I Just Dropped In( To See What Condition My Condition Is In), famously used on the soundtrack for The Big Lebowski, and Ruby, Don’ t Take Your Love To Town, a massive-selling hit that manages to be musically upbeat to the point of jaunty while featuring some of the most distressing lyrics about the effects of war and cuckoldry ever recorded( sample lyric:“ It’ s hard to love a man whose legs are so bent and paralysed”). In the 1970s he went solo and had more hits with The Gambler, and Coward Of The County. In the 1980s he recorded the album Eyes That See In The Dark, with the Bee Gees writing and producing, and which produced another number one hit, his duet with Dolly Parton on Islands In The Stream. It’ s a dead cert that at least some of these famous songs will feature in Kenny’ s performance at the Motorpoint Arena. Now approaching his 75th birthday, Kenny has kept exploring new musical pastures. His last album, The Love Of God, a collection of spiritual and gospel numbers, reflects a sincere love of old-time music as well as a need to appeal to his increasingly aging fans. Which Kenny Rogers we get to see on Sat 29 – the earnest singer of spirituals, or the roguish Gambler – remains to be seen, but either way it’ s sure to be entertaining. Tickets: £ 44. Info: 029 2022 4488 DAVID GRIFFITHS
CARDIFF PSYCH FEST
The Moon Club, Cardiff Sat 8 June From 4pm-3am, the inaugural Cardiff Psych Fest will take over The Moon Club. Organiser Owen Griffiths lays out what you can expect:“ Some of the most intense yet uplifting music this country has to offer, plus projections and lights, poster art, hair, dancing, pseudo-religious psychedelic ecstacy... and‘ classic’ Sean Connery sci-fi film Zardoz on a constant loop”. Owen was inspired to start Psych Fest after witnessing the increase in popularity of psychedelic music in the US. He couldn’ t stand to see South Wales missing out – especially when he believes that the scene is currently becoming stagnant. Even though Psych Fest is in its infancy Owen has had no problem recruiting bands.“ I have reservations about what the internet has done to some aspects of music, but as far as organizing and promoting a DIY event like this it’ s invaluable. And I formed a band, The Cosmic Nod, just to play the festival.” Currently the event is in one venue on one day; however, Owen hopes that as the festival grows, so will the need for more venues and days. The lineup, from the top as follows: Glaswegian headliners The Cosmic Dead [ pictured ], audienceinvolving improv sorts from Basingstoke Sly & The Family Drone, the garage / surfinflected Los Tentakills, The Cosmic Nod, Mum’ s Brain and Bee To The Itch – plus DJs, films and art.( LEJ)
RIHANNA / DAVID GUETTA
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Mon 10 June A diamond in the rough? No more! The Barbadian beauty and Grammy winner, Rihanna, will bring her Diamonds World Tour to Cardiff – a two-hour barrage of hits and glossy, sex-driven production. RiRi’ s tour reveals a lot of what fans already know about Rihanna: amidst the evolution of her music, she’ s a dynamic person with as many personalities as there are days in the week. Her several sets will focus on chart-topping singles, undoubtedly breezing though We Found Love, segueing into S & M and Only Girl( In The World), before Don’ t Stop The Music climaxes on an exuberant rendition of Where Have You Been – while occasionally unearthing a reggae cut that nods to her roots. Equally as impressive is her stage production: including a Greek vignette, a slew of large screens, a rock scene complete with leaping flames and a descending platform. Tour support, globally famous DJ David Guetta, will play sparkling house music with a pinch of electroclash’ s punch and chart-toppers Love Is Gone, Titanium and When Love Takes Over. As for the headliner, be sure to expect an artist selling libido-inducing hooks, with more costume changes than Mr Benn. Come the end of the night it’ ll be near impossible to remember anything but the buoyant pop spectacular enveloping all. Tickets: £ 35- £ 75. Info: 08442 777888( ZB)
CARA LUFT
Muni Arts Centre, Pontypridd, Thurs 27 June Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, Fri 28 June Optimism spits in the face of pessimism in award-winning singer, songwriter and guitarist Cara Luft’ s songs. Watching the news these days feels like being force-fed a Philip K Dick style sci-fi nightmare novel that he co-wrote with George Orwell – so, many of us could do with an intravenous drip feed of optimism these days to counteract the doom and gloom. Cara Luft spent three years with the Wailin’ Jennys( who sound quite similar to The Staves) before going it alone. She is coming to Pontypridd to play songs from her new album Darlingford, that relate to the end of a close relationship; it can by no means be described as a breakup album in the same angry sarcastic style of Marvin Gaye’ s Here, My Dear. Neither does it hide bitter feelings with subtle ambiguity as heard on Rumours by Fleetwood Mac. Darlingford offers redemption and closure that listeners can easily empathise with. There are no twee faux moments, nor is there any preachy and screechy phoned-in angst to be found in Luft’ s songs or performance: just a heartfelt sincerity with a dose of dry humour – accompanied by a musical backdrop that is influenced by pop, folk and Led Zeppelin. South Wales is blessed by Cara shining her ray of bright light on us. Tickets: £ 10( Ponty)/£ 11.50( Porthcawl). Info: 0800 0147111( Ponty)/ 01656 815995( Porthcawl)( DN)
OLD TOWN FESTIVAL
Town centre, Carmarthen Sat 23 June Music fans of Carmarthen, listen up: on Sat 23 June, you need to make sure you’ re in town. There’ s no need to go further afield. No point pedalling to Port Talbot. No reason to swim across to Swansea. And you know what, you needn’ t take the car to Cardiff( don’ t even think of taking the train down to Tenby). Why? Because all your entertainment needs, on that one day at least, will be taken care of in-house, with the second annual Old Town Festival. The festival, put together by The Parrot Music Bar, Y Glyndwr pub, Carmarthen’ s two shopping centres and Carmarthen Town Council, will be taking place throughout the day at five stages across the town. A whole host of Welsh bands are set to perform, including a showpiece gig at St Peter’ s Hall with Islet, Sweet Baboo, Alex Dingley and Trwbador [ pictured ], in a run of performances that the festival’ s creators hope will emulate the successes of last year. Visit different parts of the town at different points in the day, and you’ ll be able to hear some great live music and see some truly vibrant live performances. And if words are more your scene, you can pay a visit to the spoken word stage of the Coffi Bar, which this year includes the intriguingly-named likes of Cellar Bards, Haiku And Hipflasks, and Canadian Composers Of Creativity. Admission: free(£ 12 /£ 10 adv for St. Peter’ s Hall gig). Info: 01267 235511( BK)
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