Welshpool: Guilsfield Singers perform at Methodist Church
The performance marked the culmination of a successful period under the leadership of musical director Paul Wardell.
The church was packed with an audience for the concert, titled The Gentle Earth of Wales.
The first half of the programme included Robat Arwyn's Benedictus and Bugeilio'r Gwenith Gwyn, alongside two pieces written for the choir: Ar lan y Mor and Si Hei Lwli Mabi.
Choir member David Thomas read three poems by R.S. Thomas, capturing the essence of farming life and the Welsh countryside.
The first half concluded with the rousing Pantyfedwen.
Mezzo-soprano Samantha Lewis performed The Water Mill and The Last Rose of Summer.
Her expressive use of British Sign Language while singing added to her performance.
Baritone Patrick Larley offered a masterful rendition of Handel's Ombra Mai Fu and Where'er You Walk.
Guest accompanist Heather Howells accompanied the pieces.
The second half began with a performance of Calon Lan by the entire audience.
This was followed by Patrick Larley's Gentle Earth of Wales, a bilingual suite featuring folk songs and Welsh poetry.
Ms Lewis and Mr Larley continued to captivate the audience with their solo performances, interwoven with the choir's versatile contributions and Nicky Dixon's piano accompaniment.
The evening was dedicated to former choir member Jill Turner.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Western Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
Aberjazz Fishguard Jazz and Blues Festival is coming to town
The 22nd Aberjazz Jazz 'n' Blues Festival 2025 is coming to Fishguard this bank holiday weekend. The festival takes place from Thursday, August 21 to Monday, August 25 . The festival takes place in Fishguard and the surrounding area and for five busy days the town comes alive with music, creative workshops, and an atmosphere of pure musical magic. 'Aberjazz would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone, locals and visitors, to our annual Jazz & Blues Festival,' said the festival's organisers. 'Once again Aberjazz is thrilled to bring you another incredible line up of jazz and blues music, celebrating homegrown Welsh talent and phenomenal musicians from across the jazz and blues spectrum. 'Whether you're a seasoned jazz enthusiast, a blues devotee, or you're simply here to soak up the vibes, we hope you'll find plenty to make you smile.' With more than twenty ticketed events, many of them double bills, an extensive free AberjazzFringe, many workshops, most of which are free plus a New Orleans style parade, with a Welsh twist, there is certainly plenty to do and see. Aberjazz Festival starts on Thursday, August 21 at 1pm with a double bill of Dave Speight, and afterwards, the Brian Rawson band in the Ffwrn. The programme includes J4, Dale Storr, Ma Bessie's Speakeasy, Gareth Evans, Cluster Funk, The Jay Azzolina Quartet, Seven Steps [music of Miles Davis], Yeti and many more. Aberjazz will also be welcoming Alice Armstrong and Cinelli Brothers as this year's headliners. The Aberjazz parade will take place on the afternoon of Sunday, August 24. It will be led by Aberjazz dragon, Idris, and the band Mr Wilson's Second Liners, who the crowd will follow through the town to the back of the market where they will join the Aberjam-open mic, workshops, street food and bar. There are workshops to suit all tastes, whether you want to dance, sing, or pick up tips on playing various instruments, come to one of the free workshops. You can even learn some Welsh through the medium of song. The free Aberjazz Fringe, will have live music popping up in the pubs, clubs, and restaurants all over town. The Connections will end the festival in style at the closing party in Ffwrn on Monday August 25. Aberjazz thanked the festival's main sponsor, the Arts Council of Wales, as well as Pembrokeshire County Council, Fishguard & Goodwick Town Council, Agritrader and all other contributors. The latest news about the festival can be found on and Tickets cost from £10 to £22.50. 'All of us at Aberjazz hope everyone, young and old, can be part of the musical magic,' said the festival's organisers. 'Enjoy the music, the company, and the spirit of Aberjazz - this festival belongs to all of us.'
Wales Online
6 hours ago
- Wales Online
34 places to hang out in Cardiff after 5pm that aren't pubs
34 places to hang out in Cardiff after 5pm that aren't pubs We're spoiled for choice for late night hangout spots in the Welsh capital (Image: John Myers) There are so many reasons to love Cardiff, with endless amounts of things to do, places to eat, drink and new things to try. But what if you just want somewhere to chill out after work where you don't need alcohol to have a good time and simply fancy a catch up with friends, a moment to scroll on your phone, catch up on some life admin or just read a book? Not every evening in the city needs to revolve around pubs and nightlife, and thankfully Cardiff makes it easy to enjoy yourself without drinking alcohol, or even having to head to restaurant and pay for an expensive meal if all you want to do is relax or see some of your friends in a setting outside of the house. Whether you're looking for a cosy spot to sink into with a hot drink, a late-night dessert place to satisfy a sweet tooth, or a café that happily lets you sit for hours with your laptop, there are plenty of options to suit different moods, so we've made a list of our favourite spots. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here Late-night hangouts The Cardiff Townhouse located on The Hayes (Image: Jillian MacMath) If you're looking for somewhere to chill after dinner or extend your evening without heading somewhere where people will be drinking alcohol, these spots stay open the latest: Tim Hortons: Open until midnight The Cardiff Townhouse: Open until 11pm Cosy Club: Open until 11pm Creams Café: Open until 11pm Heavenly Desserts: Open until 11pm Chance & Counters: Open until 11pm Article continues below Evening-friendly cafés Scaredy Cats is set to open on May 19 on Working Street, Cardiff (Image: John Myers) These spots are great if you want to squeeze in a coffee catch-up or get some laptop time in a chilled out setting before heading home: Bru: Closes at 10pm on both David Street and Queen Street Knoops: Closes at 10pm Shake Shack: Closes at 9pm Scaredy Cats Café Bar: Closes at 9pm Starbucks: Most close at 8:30pm (St Mary Street closes 8pm, Queen Street 7pm) KIN+ILK St David's: Closes at 8pm Mrs Potts Chocolate House: Closes at 8pm Black Sheep Coffee: St Mary's Street closes at 8pm and Wood Street 6pm Costa Coffee: Queen Street closes at 7pm and St David's Centre at 7:30pm Caffè Nero: St Mary's Street closes at 6pm, St David's Centre 7:30pm Pret A Manger: St David's Centre closes at 6:30pm and Central Square at 7pm Top picks for straight after work Coffee #1 has been named coffee bar chain of the year These ones are perfect for earlier catch-ups straight after you've finished work, uni or a day of shopping in the centre: Lea's Tea: Closes at 7pm Coffee Planet: Closes at 7pm 200 Degrees: Closes at 6pm Whocult Coffee + Donuts: Closes at 6pm Palette: Closes at 6pm Mcsims Pastizzeria Coffee & Pastry: Closes at 6pm Coffee #1: Closes at 5:30pm Waterstones Café: Closes at 5:30pm Article continues below If you're looking for somewhere with more to do If you prefer to socialise up on your feet, and do something fun while still being indoors- and based in the city centre, Cardiff has also got you covered with a huge range of spaces which have all kinds of activities which open late. Most of them do have bars, but all of them serve soft drinks, and a lot even hot drinks available so if you're still wanting a wholesome evening during a week night, there's nothing to stop you: Boombox Karaoke: Closes at 4am NQ64: Closes at 2am Boom Battle Bar: Closes at 2am Flight Club: Closes at midnight Par59: Closes at midnight Roxy Lanes: Closes at midnight Kongs: Closes at midnight Golf Fang: Closes at 11pm Rileys Sports Bar, Snooker and Pool Club: Closes at 11pm
North Wales Chronicle
6 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Michael Sheen ‘worried' about opportunities for young people getting into acting
At the Edinburgh TV Festival, in conversation with TV producer and chief executive of Bad Wolf, Jane Tranter, he spoke about what it was like to attend youth theatre in Port Talbot and said a lot of the opportunities he had as a young person 'have gone'. He said: 'It is quite scary. I look back on my pathway of coming through, starting with a supportive family, coming from an area, you know it was old steel town and, sort of tough place to grow up in, not the sort of place you'd expect actors to come from but because we had Richard Burton that came from there and Anthony Hopkins … 'I again, one of the things I've realised as time has gone on is how important it is to see where you come from, represented on the world stage, and to know that it's possible. 'I never questioned whether you could be successful as an actor, because Burton and Hopkins were and they came from this town.' He said: 'It does worry me that, for young people who might want to get into this, if you are relying on the bank of mum and dad or… it's really tough to even just to go and move to London, or move to wherever these places are. 'That's why it's so important to get stuff out of London and around the country.' Earlier in the year, Sheen launched a theatre company called Welsh National Theatre, which is envisioned as separate from but complementary to Theatr Cymru, which was established in 2003 as the Welsh language national company. National Theatre Wales closed its doors in its current form as a theatre company in December 2024, after funding was withdrawn in 2023. On TV, Sheen has starred in series including US period drama Masters Of Sex, sitcom 30 Rock, and fantasy show Good Omens, alongside David Tennant. He has portrayed a number of real-life public figures including former prime minister Sir Tony Blair in 2006 film The Queen, journalist David Frost in 2008's Frost/Nixon, and the Duke of York in Prime Video mini-series A Very Royal Scandal. On stage he has played Welsh Labour Party politician Aneurin 'Nye' Bevan in the show Nye, which recently finished at the National Theatre.
