Welsh popular music
A couple of things you didn’t know about music from Wales…
We held a party recently in NYC and decided we would put together four hours worth of Welsh music. Worried we wouldn’t find enough we scoured our music collections and the internet and were amazed by what we found. Tracks that even we hadn’t even dreamed were Welsh. We can all name at least a couple of Welsh artists, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Charlotte Church and Aled Jones.
After the surprise from our American (and British) friends, we decided to try and educate them and undertook a little bit of research, both on the history of popular music that is Welsh and popular in North America. We’ve also given you some up and coming bands and artists to look out for.
To start with we wanted to touch on why Wales is known as the ‘Land of Song’. Music is instilled in all children in Wales and we’re brought up singing at home and at school.
Wales has been known as the ‘Land of Song’ for centuries, initially this was based on the eisteddfod and choral traditions. Welsh children are brought up performing. Even I won a plaque at our local eisteddfod for singing a hymn when I was eight. I’m sure they felt sorry for me having sung without accompaniment, my Dutch mother had forgotten to photocopy the music for the pianist!
So onto some famous Welsh stars and their music. Did you know where Bonnie Tyler, famed for ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’ and Shakin’ Stevens, whose well known classic ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ hit the charts in the 80s, are from? Both are from South Wales and sang duet ‘A Rockin’ Good Way' in 1985.
Remember the nineties, which brought the “devastatingly catchy” song ‘I Love You Always Forever’ by Donna Lewis? The song spent nine weeks in the US charts at number two. Donna hails from Cardiff. The ninetiess also brought a steady stream of Welsh rock groups such as Manic Street Preachers, Feeder, Super Furry Animals, Pooh Sticks, 60ft Dolls,Stereophonics and Catatonia
In 2004, Jem, from Penarth in south Wales, was named America’s biggest British female debut artist and wowed US audiences before hitting UK charts in 2005. Her music has featured on a number of famous US movies and TV shows including ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘The OC’, ‘Sex and the City: The Movie’, and ‘Gossip Girl’.
2008 brought Duffy’s album ‘Rockferry’, certified several times Platinum and sold over 6 million copies worldwide. She won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album and was nominated for two other Grammy awards. The same year she also won three BRIT awards, British Breakthrough, Best Female Solo and Best British Album. Her songs have also featured on US movies and TV dramas including ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Sex in the City: The Movie’.
But what about some recent new bands, we’ve mentioned most of the recognized artists in Wales, have you heard of any of these 21st century stars: Lostprophets, Los Campesinos, who recently toured the US, The Automatic, Warnings, Funeral for a Friend, Kids in Glass Houses, The Blackout, Bullet for My Valentine?
Culprit One is emerging in the top league of electronic music in the UK. He is most popular in Japan and Germany and was originally discovered and signed by BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens. His latest album Screamer will be launched at the popular Welsh music venue, Clwb Ifor Bach, in Cardiff.
If you’re a dance music fanatic then you must buy tickets for Escape into the Park, Wales’ largest electronic music festival. It take place in Singleton Park in Swansea and features the crème de la crème of artists from around the world. The event will take place on June 12, 2010 and tickets can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.co.uk
Other notable music festivals in Wales:
July 2-4, 2010 Wakestock, Europe’s larges wakeboard music festival.
July, dates tbc Cardiff Big Weekend: The UK’s biggest free outdoor music festival.
August 6-8, 2010 Brecon Jazz. World renowned Jazz festival, managed by Peter Florence, who manages the Hay Literary Festival.
August 8, 2010 Cardiff Multicultural Mela: Music joins dance, cookery, art and
fashion in Cardiff’s Roald Dahl Plass.
August 20-22, 2010 The Green Man Festival, Brecon Beacons: Music is at the heart of the festival, but aspects of culture, sustainable living and environmental consciousness have become central to Green Man too. Flaming Lips, Oklahoma psychedelic alternative rock band, are due to headline the event this year.
August, 2010, tbc Faenol Festival, North Wales: Music extravaganza set up by opera
star Bryn Terfel showcasing the best of classical, opera and pop .
October, 2010, tbc Swn Festival, Cardiff: music festival curated by BBC 1 DJ Huw Stephens