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live review PRAXIS MAKES PERFECT
Secret location, Cardiff, Thurs 2 May words SHARON MORSE“ We’ re going to subvert the idea of a rock gig,” Neon Neon frontman Gruff Rhys is recently quoted as saying about Praxis Makes Perfect, based on the band’ s recently released concept album. A bold statement to make, but happily one that is lived up to. From the moment you, the audience, receive your‘ instructions’( disclose your location to no-one, wear something red, bring a favourite book) you are included and immersed in a fascinating, surreal and, somewhat surprisingly considering the subject matter, extremely fun show. Praxis Makes Perfect is inspired by the life and death of wealthy Italian left-wing political activist, alleged terrorist and – somewhat less dramatically – publisher Giangiacomo Feltrinelli. Against the‘ advice’ of his party he published Boris Pasternak’ s notorious Dr. Zhivago, and his political leanings and interests led to meetings with Bolivia’ s Regis Dubray, and inevitably Fidel Castro and Che Guevara( publishing works by both) forever marked him as a target for the CIA and other interested parties. Feltrinelli seems to be a contradictory figure: dying a mysterious death whilst allegedly attempting to blow up the electricity supply in Milan, yet advocating the more passive approach of“ Reading Is Resisting”, you somehow manage to feel a detached kind of sympathy at his ultimate downfall. The whole performance is played out quite literally amongst the audience by the talented and enthusiastic performers from National Theatre Wales, who pop out of filing cabinets, scale ladders, worm their way through the crowd carrying placards and pinning fellow‘ anti-establishment sympathisers’ with badges, with the politics and story relayed to us through comedy( the Castro scenes are a particular highlight), music, visual imagery and drama. Musically, Gruff Rhys, producer Boom Bip and the excellent Neon Neon band are as equally enthusiastic as the actors, and somehow manage to make their collection of extremely catchy synth-pop songs work seamlessly with the story itself. A thoroughly entertaining evening of music, theatre and political storytelling, Praxis Makes Perfect is an absolute must-see.
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Miss May Duo The North Star, Cardiff. 1-3pm, free. Info 029 2062 4050. Old Town Festival Town centre + Coffi Bar, Carmarthen. Free. Info 01267 235511. Oui Legionnaires + I, The Lion + We Are The Afterglow The Moon Club, Cardiff. 8pm, £ 4 /£ 3 with Cardiff Mini Film Festival wristband. Info info @ thefullmooncardiff. com. Sonic Rock Solstice Penmaenau Farm, Builth Wells. £ 70( three days). Info www. sonicrocksolstice. com.( Finishes today) The Larry Carlton Quartet
The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £ 25 adv. Info theglobevenue @ gmail. com. Guitarist who’ s played a quiet role in megaselling albums by Jacko and Steely Dan among many others, without much fanfare. Apart from all the Grammys he won. The Tallis Scholars Montgomery Church, Powys. 2.30pm, £ 25 /£ 12.50 under-18s. Info 01686 207100. Brubecks Play Brubeck Rhos Y Gilwen, Pembrokeshire. 7.30pm, £ 17 adv. Info 01239 841387. Jazz from a band comprising three of Dave Brubeck’ s sons plus a sax man with the
jazz-oik surname of O’ Higgins.
MONDAY 24 Bassplayers Jam Night Gwdihw, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2039 7933. The Mellstock Band Kerry Church, Powys. 7.30pm, £ 10 /£ 5 under-18s. Info 01686 207100. Country song and story depicting the era of Thomas Hardy.
TUESDAY 25 Escher Quartet Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 6pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464. A Gregynog Festival event.
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Gwenllian Llyr Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £ 10 /£ 8. Info 029 2039 1391. Harpist. Jazz Jam Session Jazzland, Swansea. 8.30-11pm. Info 07802 912789. Kickback Open Mic Night The Old Library, Cardiff. 8pm- 12am, free. Info 029 2066 6566. Lyric Ensemble: Michael Garrick Compositions Dempseys, Cardiff. 9pm, £ 7 /£ 5. Info 029 2023 9253. Monthly Acoustic Showcase 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free. Info 029 2022 8883. Room Service + The Moon Birds + 28 Boulevard The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £ 3. Info info @ thefullmooncardiff. com. The Who Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 7pm, £ 60. Info 029 2022 4488. They’ re doing all of Quadrophenia on this tour. This has probably helped to sell it out. Third Party Gwdihw, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2039 7933. Playing as part of a mod / 60s night, celebrating The Who being in town.
WEDNESDAY 26 Community Samba Band – Practise Dates Felindre Village Hall, Powys. 7-9pm, £ 4 /£ 2 under-16s. Info sambabrecon @ yahoo. co. uk. Crispian Steele-Perkins: Brass Masterclass The Riverfront, Newport. 2.30pm, free. Info 01633 656757. Part of the Lower Machen Festival. Dave Smyth’ s Timecraft Dempseys, Cardiff. 9pm, £ 7 /£ 5. Info 029 2023 9253. Escher Quartet National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 6pm, £ 10 /£ 5 kids. Info 029 2039 7951. Gregynog Festival event. Glasnost Festival The Moon Club, Cardiff. Info info @ thefullmooncardiff. com. Back again for those who aren’ t going to cool underground free festival Glastonbury, this will have five days of bands, art, DJs and performance, names to be announced soon I’ m sure.( Until Sun 30) Global Music Maker Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 11am, free. Info 029 2063 6464. James Kennedy Open Mic The North Star, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2062 4050. Laura Van Der Heidjen The Riverfront, Newport. 1pm, £ 5 /£ 4.25. Info 01633 656757. Cello recital as part of the Lower Machen Festival. MK1 Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7pm, £ 10. Info 029 2023 2199. Royal Welsh College Symphony Orchestra St David’ s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £ 10. Info 029 2087 8444. Performing various Elgar works. Simon Townshend The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £ 10 adv. Info theglobevenue @ gmail. com. Pete’ s son. Song And Tune Nights The Windsor Hotel, Pontyclun. 7.30pm, free. Info 01443 226892. Every Wednesday except when there’ s a gig on. The Lyric Quartet Jazzland, Swansea. 8.30-11pm. Info 07802 912789. Vintage Trouble Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £ 13 adv. Info 0871 4720400.
THURSDAY 27 2 Piece Sweet The Yard, Cardiff. 9.30pm, free. Info 029
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2022 7577. Aarom Cooper Presents Porter’ s, Cardiff. Info info @ porterscardiff. com. With bands TBC. Cara Luft Muni Arts Centre, Pontypridd. 8pm, £ 12.50 /£ 10 adv. Info 0800 0147111. See Music. In Porthcawl tomorrow. George Thorogood & The Destroyers St David’ s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £ 28.50. Info 029 2087 8444. Glasnost Festival The Moon Club, Cardiff. Info info @ thefullmooncardiff. com.( Until Sun 30) Guy Johnston Manafon Church, Powys. 7.30pm, £ 15 /£ 7.50 under-18s. Info 01686 207100. Cello recital. Ian Michael Thomas Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 6.15pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464. Jimjam Open Mic Session The Claude Hotel, Albany Road, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2041 8741. John Paul Gard The North Star, Cardiff. 7pm, free. Info 029 2062 4050. Organist, joined by Dan Messore and Gethin Jones. Matt Cook Tempus Bar, St David’ s Hotel, Cardiff. 7pm, free. Info 0844 8246171. Open Mic Night Lyceum Tavern, Newport. 8.30pm. Info 01633 858636. Redmoth + Everknown Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £ 4. Info 029 2023 9253. Stars & Flights Undertone, Cardiff. 8pm, £ 4. Info 029 2022 8883. The Hip Priests + The Sick Livers + Trigger Mcpoopshute + St Pierre Snake Invasion Le Pub, Newport. 8pm. Info 01633 221477. The Orb The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £ 15 adv. Info theglobevenue @ gmail. com. This is going to be a live performance as opposed to a club night, by the sounds, but I’ ve put it in Clubs cos, you know, it’ s The Orb. Warmup gig before Glastonbury.
FRIDAY 28 Abi & The Bomb The Yard, Cardiff. 9.30pm, free. Info 029 2022 7577. Afro Cluster Gwdihw, Cardiff. 9pm, £ 3. Info 029 2039 7933. EP launch gig Amigos Small World Theatre, Cardigan. 6.45pm, £ 10 adv. Info 01239 615952. Calypso cabaret night led by this local jazz band. Gary from the Amigos will also be performing another calypso set as Lord Elpus, which he does with his brother Nobbsta Nutz, who used to be in the Headcase Ladz. BBC NOW St David’ s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £ 10- £ 27.50. Info 029 2087 8444. Thomas Søndergård conducts a programme of Huw Watkins and Mahler. Britten Oboe Quartet The Music Room, Gregynog, Newtown, Powys. 7.30pm, £ 15 /£ 7.50 under-18s. Info 01686 207100. Bruise The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, £ 4- £ 8. Info 01497 821762. Folk-rock. Cara Luft Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 8pm, £ 11.50 adv. Info 01656 815995. Freeman Street Kiwis, Cardiff. 9.30pm, free. Info 029 2039 8965. Glas The Old Library, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2066 6566.
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Glasnost Festival The Moon Club, Cardiff. Info info @ thefullmooncardiff. com.( Until Sun 30) Kristian Diable + Ruby Parfitt Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £ 4. Info 029 2023 9253. Miss May & The Magic The North Star, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2062 4050. Monkjack Park Inn Hotel, Cardiff. 7-8.30pm, free. Info 029 2034 1441. Organ Recital National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2039 7951. With Relf Clark. Pick Floyd Savoy Theatre, Monmouth. 7.30pm, £ 15. Info 01600 772467. Floyd tribute who will be playing all of Wish You Were Here. Steve Howe The Riverfront, Newport. 7.30pm, £ 22 /£ 20. Info 01633 656757. The Magnets Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 7.30pm, £ 17.50 /£ 16.50. Info 01874 611622. A capella pop hits. Trackstar / Pornstar + Nineplanfailed + A Sudden Vengeance Waits + Tall Men Buffalo, Cardiff. 7-10pm, £ 4 /£ 3 adv. Info 029 2031 0312. Fundraising gig for men’ s roller derby( the White History Month of sports) team South Wales Silures. There’ ll be a raffle, auction and cupcakes too. Urban Blues & Roots Festival Green Valley Arts, Upper Cwmtwrch, Brecon Beacons. £ 20( weekend)/£ 10 per day. Info 0333 9000919. Featuring, over three days, Babajack, Pat Grover & The Hawks, Big Joe Bone, Blues Train, Sicknote Steve, Sisters In Grease, Guy Maile, Andrew Bazeley, Stainless Steve, Josie Lloyd, Blues Boy Dan Owen, Peasants King, Gaudy Orde, Joshua Caole, The Irascibles and Jeff Er Ee.( Until Sun 30) WNO String Orchestra Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 1.15pm, £ 8 /£ 6 adv. Info 029 2039 1391. WNO Wind & Brass Ensembles Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £ 12 /£ 10 adv. Info 029 2039 1391.
SATURDAY 29 Abergavenny Borough Youth Band Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7.30pm, £ 5. Info 01873 850805. Benji Kirkpatrick The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, £ 5- £ 10. Info 01497 821762. Fella who also plays in Bellowhead. Catrin Finch: Music For Osian Ellis The Music Room, Gregynog, Newtown, Powys. 2.30pm, £ 15 /£ 7.50 under-18s. Info 01686 207100. Harp recital. Colm Wilkinson St David’ s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £ 27.50- £ 38.50. Info 029 2087 8444. Dirty Revolution + The Dapper Cadavers + The Rude‘ Em Outs + Tattsyrup + Skalet Koko Gorilaz Cardiff. 7pm, £ 6. Info 029 2034 1767. Lots of ska bands, playing in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust. Glasnost Festival The Moon Club, Cardiff. Info info @ thefullmooncardiff. com.( Until Sun 30) Haight-Ashbury Buffalo, Cardiff. 7-10pm, £ 7 /£ 5 adv. Info 029 2031 0312. I See Hawks In LA The Mackintosh Institute, Roath, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £ 10 /£ 8 adv. Info boomswinger @ btinternet.
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