Gareth Williams

The Blues Show – A New Era Begins

14th March 2018. The first day of a new look BBC Radio 2. Clearly, it’s going to take some time for Jo Whiley and Simon Mayo to bed in. But the new host of The Blues Show, Cerys Matthews, seemed to have a much smoother introduction. Yes, there were a couple of nervy moments –Continue reading “The Blues Show – A New Era Begins”

Emily Faye – Here I Am EP

If you want to ease yourself into the summer, then listen to Here I Am, the debut EP of singer-songwriter Emily Faye. With a voice like candyfloss, this is easy listening country at its finest. The four tracks all differ slightly in tone and style. But there remains a sweetness to her vocal tone throughoutContinue reading “Emily Faye – Here I Am EP”

Hairspray – Venue Cymru

Before the curtain even goes up on Hairspray, you know that you’re in for a good time. The colourful lights, the upbeat music, the buzz of audience chatter. And when Good Morning Baltimore kicks in and the curtain flings up, the party well and truly begins. For this opening number, the stage is full ofContinue reading “Hairspray – Venue Cymru”

Parch – Series Review

Last Sunday evening, I spent a good ten minutes with my hand firmly placed over my mouth. In the final episode of S4C drama series Parch, there was such an unexpected twist that I simply hadn’t seen coming. In my own words, ‘Well, that was a bombshell and a half’. To think that this isContinue reading “Parch – Series Review”

The Shires – Accidentally On Purpose: A Personal Review

Disclosure: I am a huge fan of The Shires. Warning: As a fan, expect the following review to be totally subjective and written with love. I have waited with a mixture of excitement and quiet trepidation for the release of Accidentally On Purpose, the third installment in the The Shires‘ musical journey. Much like waitingContinue reading “The Shires – Accidentally On Purpose: A Personal Review”

Geoff Evans – Paper Planes

I’m stepping rather close to home this week in recommending a listen to a North Wales-based singer-songwriter. His name is Geoff Evans and he has just released his new EP Paper Planes. For someone who is still a relative unknown outside of his immediate locality, this four-track collection could be the one that takes himContinue reading “Geoff Evans – Paper Planes”

Keeping Faith – Part of a Golden Age for Welsh TV Drama?

Having just watched the final episode of Keeping Faith on BBC Wales, I’m asking myself: Is this a golden age for Welsh television drama? Hinterland was critically-acclaimed. Bang featured in the national press. Gwaith/Cartref continues to be a marker for quality Welsh-language drama. Parch has just entered its third series. And Craith will be broadcastContinue reading “Keeping Faith – Part of a Golden Age for Welsh TV Drama?”

C2C: Country to Country Festival 2018: 5 UK Country Artists to Watch

For most people, country music evokes images of Stetsons, cowboy boots and the deserts of the Deep South. And though these are perfectly legitimate symbols, this increasingly popular genre is a whole lot more diverse than one might ordinarily assume. To gain some understanding of how broad a church this music really is, I wouldContinue reading “C2C: Country to Country Festival 2018: 5 UK Country Artists to Watch”

Hold the Sunset – Raising a Smile, but not a Laugh

It seems that most new sitcoms should be given time to grow. Look back at early episodes of Blackadder and Dad’s Army for instance, and they don’t really compare to later series. Sometimes, it takes a while for the cast to gel, the writers to really know their characters, and the public to really takeContinue reading “Hold the Sunset – Raising a Smile, but not a Laugh”