Welsh Music Podcast | Podlediad Miwsig Cymreig

To celebrate Dydd Miwsig Cymru, Neil and James share their top 10 favourite Welsh language albums. Featuring Izzy Rabey – Gwaed. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

Following the release of his book Brittle with Relics: A History of Wales, 1962–97 we talk to author Richard King about his oral history and the importance of music during that time. He also talks about founding the Bristol-based record label Planet Records before moving to London to work for Domino Records. Richard chose the Gorky's Zygotic Mycnci 2007 album Bwyd Time as his favourite Welsh album and inducts it in to the Welsh Music Hall of Fame. Featuring Sage Todz – Rownd a Rownd. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

With no guest this week, Neil and James talk about the latest news in Welsh music. Featuring Armstrong – Disinformation Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

To coincide with the 30th anniversary of the release of Manic Street Preachers' ambitious debut album, we talk to Terri Hall who chose Generation Terrorists as her favourite Welsh album and inducts it in to the Welsh Music Hall of Fame. She also talks about her career working alongside some of the biggest names in music, how she and her late husband shared their home with the Manics in their early days as well as the heartbreaking period surrounding Richey's disappearance. Featuring Himalayas – Thank God I'm Not You. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

As part of Dydd Miwsig Cymru, we talk to Pat Morgan - one half of the legendary Welsh language band Datblygu - who talks about growing up in a vicarage, starting a pop group with her sister before moving away to university and feeling like she lost her Welsh. She also talks about being introduced to Datblygu's music before joining them with a shared frustration at the state of Welsh language music and wanting things that held a mirror of the welsh life they knew. Pat also chose Swci Boscawen's 2007 debut album Couture C'ching as her favourite Welsh album and inducts it in to the Welsh Music Hall of Fame. Featuring Tacsidermi & Sister Wives – A Oes Heddwch. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase. Show notes Dydd Miwsig Cymru - llyw.cymru/dydd-miwsig-cymru

We talk to Lucy Squire, head of music and sound at University of South Wales, who also ran the legendary Cardiff record shop and label, Catapult. Lucy talks about growing up in England, moving to Wales, setting up Catapult before moving into education. Featuring new music from Adwaith, who recently covered Super Furry Animals' Demons for Corona Logic, a compilation album of Furries songs covered by Welsh musicians. Corona Logic, featuring artwork by Pete Fowler, is completely free to download but It’s completely free to stream and download, but we strongly encourage you, if you have the means, to donate to Llamau whose mission is to eradicate homelessness for young people and vulnerable women. Please donate here referencing ’SFA’: www.llamau.org.uk Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

We talk to novelist and podcaster Llwyd Owen in his 'shed' about his contribution to Welsh language culture including his award-winning novels, hilarious podcast 'Does Dim Gaer Cymraeg Am Random', the Welsh Music Prize-nominated collaboration with Yr Ods and the growing Welsh independence movement. Featuring new music from Eädyth, Cait (from Mawpit) and Foxxglove. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

As part of Dydd Miwsig Cymru, we talk to musician Laura Nunez aka She's Got Spies about learning Welsh due to her obsession with Welsh language bands, despite being brought up in London which led to her moving to Wales and producing her debut album Wedi in the Welsh language. Laura also chooses Gorky's Zygotic Mynci 1994 classic Tatay as her favourite Welsh album and inducts it in to the Welsh Music Hall of Fame. Featuring El Goodo's Fi'n Flin, their first Welsh language track taken from their latest album Zombie. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase. Show notes Dydd Miwsig Cymru - llyw.cymru/dydd-miwsig-cymru

We talk to Welsh music icon Mark Roberts about his time in seminal Welsh bands like Cyrff, Catatonia and his solo project MR. Featuring new music from She's Got Spies. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

On 15 May 2000, Super Furry Animals released Mwng and to celebrate 20 years of the most successful and pioneering Welsh language album ever, we’ve released this special documentary episode. In contrast to the previous three albums, Mwng possessed a starker, lo-fi sound, which could have backfired especially after the demise of Creation Records. Undeterred, the band released Mwng via their own Placid Casual label and it reached No.11 in the UK charts - the first Welsh language album ever to hit the Top 20. Mwng was even praised in the House of Commons of all places with Elfyn Llwyd MP lauding the record as a “new wave of confidence in the Welsh nation.” The documentary features Gruff Rhys and Guto Pryce of the Super Furries, producers Gorwel Owen and Greg Haver and lots of special guests. Recorded, produced and edited by James Cuff and Neil Collins for Welsh Music Podcast. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

We talk to drummer and producer Greg Haver about making the move from drumming for the likes of Corey Hart to production after embracing technology. Greg also talks about working with the Manics and how working with James Dean Bradfield, the hardest working person he’s worked with, gave him an understanding of what’s needed before you start any production. We talk about the artist and producer relationship and how Greg thinks making a record is like ‘a holiday romance’ . He recalls how not going to bed at 1am because he was ‘shit-scared’ of JDB ended up with them creating There By The Grace Of God, his first top 10 single, He talks about setting up Big Noise studios and how, within two and a half years it racked up 3 million record sales and two Brit-nominations for Best Album. Greg also reveals how a breakdown after the pressures of back-to-back big studio albums led to him moving to New Zealand. The New Zealand music scene and the parallels with Wales, including Echo Park named after the Feeder song who he arranged for his former bandmate Grant Nicholas to sing on a song with. Featuring new music from Derrero. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

We talk to musician Yws Gwynedd about the influence of his Dad, who set up the famous Cob Records, on his love for music and getting his passion back for music after listenintg to Gaz Coombes’ and Sŵnami. We also talk about him clearing up at the 2015 Y Selar Awards after releasing Codi / Cysgu and going from setting up Côsh to put his own stuff out to becoming a home for amazing young artists like Alffa, Gwilym and Lewys. Yws also talks about how he approaches writing songs in Welsh to make them more accessible and how, with Sebona Fi, he wanted to write the happiest song ever to help him get out of a sad time. And his time playing football for Crewe with the Abergele Pele, David Vaughan and his plans for a Wales Euros song. Not to mention having the Gareth the orangutan treatment, twice, and getting jealous whenever Gareth talks with Owain Arthur. Featuring new music from BOI. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

We talk to Newport-based singer-songwriter Jack Perrett on choosing music over sport after being inspired by Oasis, busking outside Kasabian and Liam Gallagher gigs, playing the famous Cavern Club, the invaluable support from Janice Long and his love for Newport. He also talks about being selected as one of the Horizons/Gorwelion 12 in 2019, working with producer Steffan Pringle, This Feeling and being recognised by Miles Kane at the IOW festival. Jack also chooses Goldie Lookin Chain's debut album, Greatest Hits, as his favourite Welsh album and inducts it in to the Welsh Music Hall of Fame. Featuring new music from Dan Burridge. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

We talk to the ridiculously talented multi-instrumentalist Gavin Fitzjohn about the musical education his mother gave him, his ‘uni days’ in Adequate 7, joining Get Cape Wear Cape Fly’s live band and getting the call from Paolo Nutini to meet him at Wembley to play. He also talks about his time working, and playing, with the Manics, Super Furry Animals, Stereophonics, Gruff Rhys and an unforgettable at Euro 2016 with The Barry Horns. Gavin also chooses Straight Up, the third album from Badfinger, who he was turned on to by James Dean Bradfield, as his favourite Welsh album and inducts it in to the Welsh Music Hall of Fame. Featuring new music from Dan Burridge. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase. Show notes: Gavin playing with Paolo Nutini at Live Earth - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AJ4scFg4QI AM - https://www.amam.cymru/

We talk to broadcaster Sue Charles about her love of music, her career as a journalist in radio and television and the infamous rugby tackle in Margam Park. Sue also chooses the Super Furry Animals' classic debut album Fuzzy Logic as her favourite Welsh album and inducts it in to the Welsh Music Hall of Fame. Featuring the new single Morning Jazz from Surreal Kinnock. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

We talk to Welsh music legend Rhys Mwyn about how hearing the Sex Pistols changed his life, the importance of relentless gigging, managing Catatonia in their early days and how the likes of Anhrefn, Y Cyrff and Datblygu paved the way for the future generations of Welsh bands, especially Welsh language bands. Rhys also chooses Young Marble Giants' only studio album Colossal Youth as his favourite Welsh album and inducts it in to the Welsh Music Hall of Fame. Featuring the new single O Nefoedd! (Oh Heavens!) from Swansea band Bandicoot. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

As part of Dydd Miwsig Cymru, we talk to comedian and broadcaster Elis James about how the success of his schoolmates, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, gave him a new life perspective, the current golden generation of Welsh music, working with musicians at Cafe Europa, his comedic partnership and friendship with John Robins and the challenges of bringing his children up with the Welsh language in London. Elis also chooses Datblygu’s 1990 masterpiece Pyst as his favourite Welsh album and inducts it in to the Welsh Music Hall of Fame. Featuring the new folk music collaboration ‘Eve and Sera’ with Gaeafgwsg (Hibernation), the first song from their upcoming EP - a collection of Welsh language songs inspired by nature. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase. Show notes Dydd Miwsig Cymru - https://llyw.cymru/dydd-miwsig-cymru

Music journalist and author of the book Welsh Mod Claire Mahoney talks about growing up as a mod, meeting her idol Paul Weller and researching the Welsh Mod Scene for her book, Welsh Mod. Claire also chooses Amen Corner's 1968 debut album Round Amen Corner as her favourite Welsh album and inducts it in to the Welsh Music Hall of Fame. Featuring a cover of Amen Corner's (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice by The Debutantes, with Andy Fairweather Low. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase. Show notes Pop Hack: Selected Reviews And Interviews From The Beach Boys To Boy Azooga by Kevin McGrath - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pop-Hack-Selected-Reviews-Interviews-ebook/dp/B07NMCDM5V

Music journalist and Cardiff Music Board member Helia Phoenix talks about working in a record store, DJing, writing for the infamous Kruger Magazine and writing Lady Gaga's biography. Helia also chooses drum and bass producer High Contrast's debut album True Colours as her favourite Welsh album and inducts it in to the Welsh Music Hall of Fame. Featuring new music from Mace The Great. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

We sit down with music journalist, and 'friend of the pod', David Owens to revisit an iconic gig and the culmination of a wonderful decade of Welsh music and culture. Twenty years ago today the Manic Street Preachers played the biggest gig of the lives, selling out the then newly-built Millennium Stadium with fellow Welsh acts Super Furry Animals, Feeder and Patrick Jones. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

The Tourist Trap director Keri Collins talks about his career including directing music videos for Georgia Ruth and, his brother's band, Rusty Shackle. He also talks about his Welsh identity, being mentored by Sir Kenneth Branagh and the importance of music in film. Keri also chooses Stereophonics' debut album Word Gets Around as his favourite Welsh album and inducts it in to the Welsh Music Hall of Fame. Featuring new music from Caffeine Kiss. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

We sit down with BBC presenter, producer and Horizons project manager Bethan Elfyn and music journalist David Owens to talk about a wonderful year in Welsh music. We also all share our top three albums of 2019. Featuring new music from Lowri Evans. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

Zabrinski vocalist and guitarist Matt Durbridge talks about the origins of the band, his school's illustrious alumni, touring with Gorky's and Super Furry Animals and his plans for the band's future. Matt also chooses Gorky's seventh full-length studio album How I Long to Feel That Summer in My Heart as his favourite Welsh album and inducts it in to the Welsh Music Hall of Fame. Featuring new music from Ethan Jones. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

Welsh Music Prize and Sŵn Festival co-founder John Rostron talks about his wide-ranging career in music; from launching a plugging company to creating an internet sensation to being recently appointed Making Music's Wales Manager. John also chooses Cate Le Bon's debut album Me Oh My as his favourite Welsh album and inducts it in to the Welsh Music Hall of Fame. Featuring new music from Clwb Fuzz. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

We sit down with Huw Stephens, the broadcaster and Welsh Music Prize co-founder, to talk through the shortlist for the 2019 Welsh Music Prize. Neil and James also give their picks from the 12 artists and albums that are a wonderful showcase of contemporary Welsh music. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

Welsh poet and playwright Patrick Jones talks about how moving from the Valleys to Swansea for university liberated him, tackling difficult but important issues, and being Nicky Wire's older brother. Patrick also chooses The Alarm's debut album Declaration as his favourite Welsh album and inducts it in to the Welsh Music Hall of Fame. Featuring new music from Me Against Misery (https://soundcloud.com/user-596839018). Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.

Welsh music journalist David Owens (@asoundreaction) talks about how his sister’s mod boyfriend turning him into a mini-mod led him on his musical journey from creating fanzines, writing a book about Cool Cymru and interviewing the Manics in a burger bar. David also chooses 60ft Dolls' rip-roaring debut album The Big 3 as his favourite Welsh album and induct it into the Welsh Music Hall of Fame. Featuring new music from North Wales' finest The Montagues' Calibrate EP. Follow us on Twitter @welshmusicpod and visit www.welshmusicpodcast.co.uk for more information and to submit a track to showcase.