Latest news with #Treforest
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
9 indisputable reasons Tom Jones is a bloody legend
9 indisputable reasons Tom Jones is a bloody legend The King of Wales is back at Cardiff Castle for a duo of gigs this week (Image: Western Mail and Echo Copyright) All hail Wales' godfather of cool, the bonafide voice of the valleys, the one and only Tom Jones is back in his homeland for some huge open-air performances at Cardiff Castle this summer. But this isn't about what the setlist is going to be or what time the Treforest legend steps out on stage, it's a nod to the sheer epicness of the artist who's sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Born in June 1940, the now 85-year-old is famous for hits like What's New Pussycat, Green Green Grass of Home, Kiss, Sex Bomb and in recent years he's really leaned into his bluesy soul, releasing albums like Surrounded By Time and Spirit in the Room. If you do want more information on his Cardiff Castle gigs, on August 20 and 21, then we do actually have that for you, too if you click here. So while we know so much about the hitmaker from Ponty let's remind ourselves why he's such a legend. 1. That voice Or should we say 'those lungs' to be more accurate? Tom's voice is still impressively incredible and the fact he still sounds as brilliant as he did 50-odd years ago is impressive anyway, but when you think that the now octagenarian spent two years in bed as a kid recovering from tuberculosis, it's even more of a feat. Even better, it was those two years getting over the bacterial infection that affects the lungs, during which he discovered his love of music. Doctors wanted to rush the then 12-year-old to Scotland to be treated at a specialist unit but mam Freda refused, instead insisting she herself would nurse him back to health at their family home. Article continues below Over the next two years he did little else but listen to music. "The one good thing about suffering TB was that it stopped me going down the mines," Sir Tom has said. "Maybe if I had not been ill, I'd never have become a singer. I don't know what path I'd have taken. I've never known life without singing." 2. He'll give anything a pop! A cover of a sexy song by Prince - go for it! Leather trousers when they weren't cool - bring it on! Fronting his own primetime TV variety show - epic, butt! Between 1969 and 1971 he had an internationally successful television variety show titled This Is Tom Jones. The ATV-produced show, which was worth a reported $9m to Jones over three years, was broadcast by ITV in the UK and by ABC in America. He was even nominated in 1969 for a Golden Globe for "best actor"! For the past decade he's also been a coach on TV talent show, The Voice alongside and many other famous singers who have come and gone over the years. This brings Tom to a new audience and let's us see him singing something epic at the drop of a hat every week. 3. Someone, at some point, in your family saw him down the local club Tom Jones performing at the Paget Rooms in Penarth. *Tom Jones and the Squires were hemmed in by fans when they appeared in a pop spectacular at Penarth and raised more than £200 for the Cogan Crash Appeal Fund. Several local groups and singers also appeared in the show, like Tom and the Squires, giving their services for free. It was a dual spectacular for groups were playing at the Marina Ballroom and the Paget Rooms giving Penarth Round Table members, who organised the event several transport problems. The idea for the show to be shown simultaneously at two venues with Tom Jones as the star attraction came from Mrs Rose Rattenburg and Miss Martina Franklin, both employed at the Washington Cinema, Penarth. 7th July 1965. Before he became super famous and had a phonebox shipped to America to sit in his garden, Tom did the circuit in south Wales and beyond and we'll bet a pound that if you're Welsh and there was a club in your town, Tom played there. It was in 1963 Tom became lead singer of local band Tommy Scott and the Senators. It was at a gig in The Top Hat, Cwmtillery, where Gordon Mills spotted the singer and signed him up. 4. He's duetted with the best of the best He's sung with pretty much every legend in the music industry, Elvis, Janis Joplin, Elvis, Aretha Franklin, even John Denver and EMF, yes, unbelievable. And let's not forget his 1999 album, Reload. Artists such as the Cardigans, Natalie Imbruglia, Cerys Matthews, Van Morrison, Mousse T, Portishead, Stereophonics and Robbie Williams feature on the album, which went to number one in the UK and sold more than four million copies worldwide. 5. His iconic cameos This is probably our favourite entry. Aside from appearances on The Simpsons and also that brilliant scene with Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Tom made an unforgettable cameo in Tim Burton's alien B-movie-inspired film, Mars Attacks! In the 1996 film, which also stars Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close and Pierce Brosnan, Tom is seen in scenes set in Las Vegas as the people of Earth battle against UFOs which are definitely not friendly. Tom legs it from a casino - after crowbarring a shout out to 'Cardiff, Wales' into the script - and pilots his way out of danger, and then sings and dances to It's Not Unusual at a mountainside while loads of animals flocks to join him. It's frankly one of the best things we saw in the cinema.* *In the 1990s, that week... 6. His pure Welshness (Image: Media Wales) We tease him about crowbarring 'Cardiff, Wales' into his script for a Hollywood film, but, in truth, Tom's enjoyment of being Welsh is undeniable. After so long living away he still sounds like he's a regular at Treforest non-Pol club on a weekly basis. He is one of our most famous exports and proud of it. 7. His status as a Las Vegas stalwart Tom Jones would definitely lick himself (Image: Mirrorpix) In 1967 Jones struck up a 45-year romance with Las Vegas – launching his performances at The Flamingo, and scoring lucrative contracts with Caeser's Palace where his reputation as a performer women like to throw knickers at, was sealed. And up until 2011 he played at least one week in Vegas every year. 8. He was mates with Elvis Elvis Presley and Tom Jones It was in Vegas where Jones struck up a long friendship with Elvis Presley. When both stars appeared in Las Vegas – Elvis at the Hilton and Tom at Caesar's Palace – they would stay up all night singing old gospel and country songs around the piano in a hotel suite. Sir Tom said: "Elvis loved gospel music more than anything else. He would bring his vocal group up to my suite and we'd sing songs such as Why Me by Kris Kristofferson. Another favourite was Killing Me Softly by Roberta Flack. I got to know him well, but I was in awe. We would stand around the piano until 4am or 5am just singing." 9. His enduring appeal... Sir Tom Jones is sure to delight crowds at the Principality Stadium this weekend (Image: Hadyn Iball / North Wales Live) And talent, of course. Without one, there wouldn't be the other. For all the jokes about knicker throwing, all the impressions (we've all done it!), Sir Tom can still sell out in arenas across the globe and has a back catalogue that has changed and developed over his six decades in showbusiness. He loves what he does and people love him for it. When he bursts out in song on The Voice - viewers cannot believe what they are hearing, but we, and his fans, can. His voice now conveys a depth of emotion and knowledge that makes it even richer and to hear him perform live is a privilege. Can you still get tickets for Tom's 2025 Cardiff Castle gigs? Yes, you can! Tickets for Tom Jones at Cardiff Castle on Wednesday, August 20 There are no tickets left on Ticketmaster for Tom Jones at Cardiff Castle on Wednesday, August 20. SeeTickets, Live Nation and Twickets are all sold out of Tom tix for the 20th. Here are your resale options for that day: Tickets start at £276 on StubHub. Tickets start at £159 on Viagogo. Tickets start at £237 on Vividseats. Viagogo and resale tickets Sites such as viagogo, Stubhub, and Vivid Seats allow fans to buy resale tickets from other fans. However, it is important to note that ticket conditions often prohibit resale after initial purchase. Those tickets may not be valid for admittance to gigs. Fans intending to buy tickets for live events through resale websites should check the ticket terms and conditions, to confirm whether resale is prohibited, before they buy. Ticket terms and conditions can be checked with the original seller, such as Ticketmaster or Live Nation. If resale is prohibited, tickets bought second-hand could be voided and admission to the event refused. Tickets for Tom Jones at Cardiff Castle on Thursday, August 21 There are still tickets available for Tom Jones at Cardiff Castle on Thursday, August 21, on Ticketmaster. Prices start at £84. Premium viewing platform standing tickets start at £218.90. Article continues below
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Tom Jones at Cardiff Castle road closures, tickets, parking, banned items and more
Tom Jones at Cardiff Castle road closures, tickets, parking, banned items and more Fans will be able to see the legendary Treforest singer of Sexbomb and She's a Lady at Cardiff Castle on Wednesday evening, August 20, and Thursday evening, August 21 Sir Tom Jones will be joined by Stone Foundation, an R&B and soul band, for both evenings at Cardiff Castle (Image: Getty) Sir Tom coming home and is bringing his Defy Explanation tour to Cardiff ahead of the August Bank Holiday weekend at the end of the month. Fans will be able to see the legendary Treforest singer of Sexbomb and She's a Lady at Cardiff Castle on Wednesday evening, August 20, and Thursday evening, August 21. And he will be joined by Stone Foundation, an R&B and soul band, for both evenings. While it should be a spectacular night on both evenings, especially if the warm, sunny weather continues, it's important to be prepared if you are heading to Sir Tom Jones' shows at Cardiff Castle. With that in mind, we've compiled a list of everything you need to know about the upcoming gigs, including road closures, tickets parking, banned items and more. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here . READ MORE: I have been to lots of live music events lately and one thing keeps happening that has me worried LATEST: Hundreds of cyclists listening to loud dance music seen riding through Cardiff city centre Event timings for Tom Jones at Cardiff Castle General admission, premium and accessible gates will be open at 5pm, with last entry at 8.30pm. According to Depot Live, show times are always subject to change, however, entertainment is due to finish at around 10.30pm. When we have specific stage times we'll update you. Who is supporting Tom at the castle Tom Jones will be joined by Stone Foundation for his Cardiff Castle shows. The soul band are known for songs such as Deeper Love, Your Balloon is Rising and I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down. Tom Jones' setlist There is no confirmed setlist for Tom Jones, but based on his most recent gigs, we are expecting something like this: I'm Growing Old Tower of Song Not Dark Yet It's Not Unusual What's New Pussycat? Sexbomb You Can Leave Your Hat On Pop Star One More Cup of Coffee (Valley Below) Across the Borderline The Windmills of Your Mind I Won't Crumble with You If You Fall Talking Reality Television Blues This Is the Sea Delilah Lazarus Man If I Only Knew Kiss Green, Green Grass of Home One Hell of a Life Strange Things Happening Every Day Banned items Chairs, portable furniture, inflatables, or foldable furniture are not allowed into the area. Food and drink are not permitted however there are food and drink concessions within the event. One sealed water bottle is allowed per person, a maximum of 500ml. One empty reusable water bottle is permitted. There will be free water refill stations at the venue. If you have a medical condition, then a doctor's note will permit diet-specific food and drink only. Assistant dogs are permitted on site. If you are bringing a registered assistant dog, please do let Depot know in the accessible requirements form that is emailed to you by Ticketmaster after purchasing accessible tickets. Alternatively, please contact them at access@ Small bags/rucksacks are permitted. Bag searches will be in operation. The full list of banned items are: Alcohol Signs Luggage Computers, laptops, iPads and tablets Large bags over A4 Selfie sticks Professional cameras Cans Drugs Helmets Air horns Lasers Animals except guide dogs Glass bottles Spray cans Flags Umbrellas Chairs Flares or fireworks Toxic substances Weapons (including replicas) Perfumes Explosives, signalling devices, smoking devices, and very-lights Medicines without a prescription or justification Skateboards and other personal motorised and non-motorised vehicles Knives, syringes, and scalpels Can I still get tickets? Tickets to see the Welsh singer have been available since February this year. The tickets for the Wednesday show are sold out on the Depot Live website, but there are final tickets for the Thursday show on the same website - Alternatively, tickets are on still available on Ticketmaster for the Thursday evening at 'General Admission' tickets are going for £84, while the 'Premium Viewing Platform Standing' tickets are going for £218.90. How to enter Cardiff Castle General admission for Tom Jones at Cardiff Castle is via North Gate, at the back of the castle. What else do I need to know? The event is outdoors and will go ahead unless there is extreme weather so you might need to pack your sun cream or your raincoat. All under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Children aged 2 and under can attend for free and don't require a ticket. All other children must have a full-price ticket to enter the festival. There is no parking available at the Castle. The closest alternative car parks are the NCPs on Westgate Street, Cardiff Arms Park, or Sophia Gardens. Article continues below The venue is cashless, including all food concessions and bars. If available official merchandise will be available to purchase within the festival.
The Independent
02-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Justice minister ‘terrified' by actions of pro-Palestinian activists, court told
A Government minister has told a court she was 'terrified' after being confronted by two pro-Palestinian activists while campaigning in the lead-up to the general election. Alex Davies-Jones, the Labour MP for Pontypridd, gave evidence at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Monday in the trial of Ayeshah Behit, 31, and Hiba Ahmed, 26, who deny harassment. The court heard how Ms Davies-Jones, a justice minister, had arrived in the village of Treforest, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on the afternoon of June 26 last year. As she made her way to the campaign meeting place, she saw Behit and Ahmed with leaflets describing her as a 'full-blown supporter of this genocide' – referring to the Israel- Hamas conflict. Ms Davies-Jones told the court: 'I was asked a number of questions around the conflict in Israel and Palestine, and my conduct as an MP, if I had taken part in votes, membership of organisations such as Labour Friends of Israel. 'They asked me about the ceasefire and why I had abstained. I clarified I hadn't abstained, I wasn't in the country, I was paired in that vote. 'It was escalating in terms of passion and intensity. We walked off in the opposite direction. We felt scared and intimidated, and we wanted to leave the situation. 'I had a number of young members with me. They already felt uncomfortable, I didn't want them to feel more at risk. 'They began to follow us. They were shouting and bellowing down the street at us – 'why do you support genocide, why are you murdering babies, Alex Davies-Jones, do you support genocide?'' Ms Davies-Jones said her group walked into the University of South Wales campus, then continued their campaigning but saw Behit and Ahmed about 20 minutes later. She described how Labour volunteers were knocking on doors and talking to constituents, followed by the two defendants handing out leaflets and claiming she 'supported genocide and murdering babies'. The team decided to finish early but discovered one of their vehicles had been 'covered with stickers and leaflets', Ms Davies-Jones said. Later that day, Behit and Ahmed put posters on the Labour office – the base of Ms Davies-Jones' campaign for the general election – in Pontypridd that referred to politicians 'enabling genocide'. They also placed stickers in black capital letters reading 'Alex Davies-Jones how many murdered children is too many?' on the office, and a poster reading 'Alex Davies-Jones supports genocide' on a bus stop. When asked about how their actions made her feel, Ms Davies-Jones told the court: 'I was terrified. 'I was worried because of the risk to my team and supporters, and my reputation given it was the general election and what that would mean. 'I was scared about what things they were going to do and what they were doing.' A video of the confrontation was then uploaded onto social media, with the caption describing Ms Davies-Jones as racist. She added: 'The abuse was endless. It was awful. It was relentless. I felt under attack. The video was clipped and manipulated in a way that made it seem I had lied.' Ms Davies-Jones said that as a result of the incident, she reduced campaigning sessions and had to be accompanied by close protection officers. The politician, who was first elected as MP for Pontypridd in 2019, described the murders of fellow MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess as 'devastating'. 'They have an impact on all of us,' Ms Davies-Jones said. 'They have changed our lives fundamentally in how we live and work.' Giving evidence, Ahmed said she and Behit lived in Treforest and had wanted to raise awareness of Ms Davies-Jones' actions on Palestine ahead of the election. She said the defendants, both of Treforest, had planned to hand out and post leaflets that afternoon when they saw their MP coming towards them. Ahmed said: 'I was genuinely really surprised when I saw her. I've lived in Treforest for a couple of years, I've never seen her. 'It was like seeing a celebrity almost, like a unicorn in the wild. 'I took the video because I thought nobody would believe me. It was a surprise when she approached us and said hi and she was willing to have a conversation. 'It felt like a really normal conversation between people who don't agree on something. 'Have you ever seen MPs talk to each other in the House of Commons? They can be quite brutal to each other.' Ahmed said it was her first time leafleting, having previously emailed Ms Davies-Jones and taken part in peaceful protest. 'This wasn't really about her, it was about Palestine,' she said. Behit told the court: 'She was running for MP and where I lived there were posters everywhere. It was constant, everywhere you looked was pro-Alex. 'My intention was to show a different perspective, to get people to do their own research. It was never about Alex as a person. 'Part of her job as an MP is having people look at her policies, her opinions and how she voted.' Both defendants deny that their actions amounted to harassment. Their trial continues.
