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​​Local artist of the week – Adwaith

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11924306_1633605270224410_2827830900035981505_n(1)THE HERALD spoke with the delightful all-girl Welsh-medium band Adwaith from Carmarthen this week.

Adwaith’s sound is a mixture of folk, indie and alternative with harmonies being a key element throughout their songs. The band’s main influences lyrically are The Staves, but they tell us that they take a lot of inspiration from Fleet Foxes and First Aid Kit too.

Their live shows are very chilled and relaxed, which makes them quite different from the many Welsh rock bands in the area.

The girls from Adwaith all grew up playing instruments or singing, but it was the Welsh music scene which sparked their interest in music.

“The Welsh music scene has become more popular in recent years because of events such as Maes B and Gwyl Crug Mawr. I think that’s what has really inspired us to get this band together.”

Gwenllian, Hollie and Chelsea started creating music together as a three piece last August, but the girls found their drummer, Heledd, at the first gig they played soon after.

Starting off as a three piece, Adwaith played folk instruments such as the guitar and mandolin, but they have slowly introduced some electric guitar and bass into their music over the last couple of months.

They told us that the added drums has taken their music “to the next level” and boosted their sound, too.

“We’re just having fun experimenting and finding our sound,” they said.

We asked the girls how they fit into the west Wales music scene, to which they replied: “There aren’t many bands with our sound in the area and very few all-girl bands. So I believe people are very intrigued to see what we have to offer.”

We went on to discuss the male-dominated music industry and the girls spoke about what it is like to be an all-girl band in such a heavily male field.

“We’ve had a tonne of messages saying how great it is to see an all-girl band. It’s something different that people seem to have a lot of interest in!”

We then spoke about the benefits and drawbacks of being in a Welsh-medium band.

“The Welsh music scene is very small compared to the English music scene but everyone knows each other! It sounds cliché but it’s one big community and everyone supports each other.

“The downfall is that there aren’t as many gigs because of the lack of Welsh speakers in the area but we hope by introducing Welsh music, we can change that!”

Adwaith advise that we should also be listening to Ffug, Ysgol Sul, Mellt and Cpt. Smith, who are all from west Wales.

“What’s the best advice you have been given so far?” we asked.

“The best advice we’ve been given is to not change our sound for anyone. We need to keep the originality and not lose our quirkiness or naivety.”

They added that the advice they would give to someone thinking of creating their own music would be to “do it!”

“It’s not a massive money maker and it takes a lot of your time, but it’s worth it when you get praised for your music and when you meet a load of new, awesome people.”

When we went on to ask what the most memorable response to their music has been, Adwaith said: “I guess being asked to play in Clwb Ifor Bach at the end of this month when we’ve only just started off. The response has been really great and we hope it continues to grow.”

Adwaith are playing a gig at The Parrot on Friday (Jan 15) and then they will play at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff on January 30.

They said that they are hoping to get some demos recorded soon and they may release an EP later in the year.

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Crime

Dozens of alleged litter offenders to face court in Haverfordwest

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HAVERFORDWEST MAGISTRATES’ COURT will hear a series of littering cases tomorrow, with individuals from across Pembrokeshire and beyond accused of offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The cases primarily involve cigarette butts being dropped and left in public spaces, with locations spanning Pembroke Dock, Haverfordwest, Tenby, Milford Haven, and other towns.

The following individuals are set to appear:

  1. Nathan Abbott, 30, of Hakin, Milford Haven
  2. Alex Austin, 49, of Malvern, Worcestershire
  3. Tim Benfan, 36, of Rugby, Warwickshire
  4. Anthony Bevan, 39, of Pembroke
  5. Melissa Bevan, 43, of Pembroke
  6. Arron Bridges, 23, of Crundale, Haverfordwest
  7. Daniel Brooks, 38, of Tenby
  8. Dale Brown, 38, of Milford Haven
  9. Stephen Charkes, 62, of Llanelli
  10. John Cotton, 60, of Ledbury, Herefordshire
  11. Chaves De Oliveria, 24, of London
  12. James William Gwyn Dewhurst, 38, of Haverfordwest
  13. Kevin Filer, 66, of Milford Haven
  14. Barry Frost, 64, of Bradford, West Yorkshire
  15. Andrew Griffiths, 41, of Aberdare
  16. Robert Jeffrey Hamblin, 42, of Pembroke
  17. Victoria Hodgson, 34, of Pembroke
  18. Gerald Maddocks, 40, of Haverfordwest
  19. Deana Sophia Mead, 31, of Milford Haven
  20. Jacqueline Niblett, 63, of Hengoed
  21. Micheal Raymond, 55, of Cowbridge
  22. Shaun Tuxker, 38, of Haverfordwest
  23. Liam Unsworth, 27, of Narberth
  24. Shaun Manche, 41, of Milford Haven
  25. Chelsea McLaren, 29, of Narberth
  26. Marian Radoi, 40, of Haverfordwest
  27. Leah Reynolds, 31, of Haverfordwest
  28. James Stewart, 44, of Pembroke Dock
  29. Andrew Stokes, 53, of Stourport-on-Severn
  30. Nicola Wilkins, 48, of Swansea
  31. Rhys R Williams, 24, of Tonyrefail
  32. Ryan Williams, 45, of Swansea
  33. John Wright, 41, of Pembroke Dock

Each case involves allegations of littering, primarily cigarette butts, in public places such as streets, car parks, and parks across Pembrokeshire. Offenders face maximum penalties of up to £2,500 under Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Authorities hope these proceedings will serve as a reminder to the public about the importance of maintaining clean and litter-free communities.

Pictured: Litter enforcement officer in Haverfordwest (Image: File)

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News

A475 closed as fire crews respond to west Wales house blaze

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EMERGENCY SERVICES are tackling a property fire in Ceredigion, prompting the closure of the A475 Drefach-Rhydowen road.

Dyfed-Powys Police have shut the road between the B4338 (Llanybydder turn-off) and the B4459 (Capel Dewi turn-off) to safeguard the public. Motorists are being urged to avoid the area and use alternative routes.

A police statement shared on Facebook said: “The road is currently closed due to an incident. Please avoid the area and find alternative routes for your journey.”

The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the Wales Ambulance Service are on the scene, responding to the incident. Authorities were alerted to the blaze shortly after 2:00pm.

AA Traffic reports indicate significant delays in both directions due to the closure. Drivers are advised to plan ahead and expect delays.

Further updates will follow as the situation develops.

(Image: File)

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Crime

Merthyr men accused after Pembrokeshire pub altercation

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THREE MEN from Merthyr Tydfil are facing serious charges following a violent incident at The Boathouse in Saundersfoot on Friday (Oct 28) 2022.

James O’Neill, 53, is accused of grievous bodily harm with intent. His son, Aron O’Neill, 25, and nephew, Shaun Nicholas, 24, are charged with causing actual bodily harm.

Confrontation caught on CCTV

The altercation, captured on CCTV, began after a reported dispute involving James O’Neill and the complainant, Stephen Kanauros. Witnesses testified that O’Neill struck Kanauros to the ground after an earlier confrontation with staff and an alleged incident involving Kanauros’ wife.

James O’Neill has previous convictions for actual bodily harm, dating back to 1989.

Witness accounts

Key witnesses gave evidence at Swansea Crown Court today, detailing the events leading up to the violent encounter.

Jasmine Kanauros, the victim’s daughter, recounted how her stepmother, Kate, was shoved by James O’Neill while dancing near the door. “She stumbled backwards, and that got everyone’s attention,” Jasmine said. Her father intervened, shouting, “That’s my wife,” before rushing to her defence. Jasmine described the moment their heads collided and hearing someone shout, “He’s biting him.”

Adam Bolwell, who was with Jasmine at the time, also described the escalation. “Stephen got up between Kate and the man, and then the kerfuffle happened again,” he said, adding that he later saw James O’Neill latch onto Stephen’s face during the struggle.

Harry Lewis, another witness, described the chaotic scene. “There was grappling, grabbing—so many people around him. It was like a tornado of people,” he said. Lewis also saw blood on the victim’s lip and a towel being used to stem the bleeding.

James Olliet, another onlooker, testified about seeing punches thrown and the aftermath of the fight. “I couldn’t tell if the blood on the man’s face was his or someone else’s,” he said. After the defendants walked away, shouting at staff, police arrived and reportedly recovered a piece of the victim’s lip near the pub’s entrance.

Gruesome discovery

Colin Barrett, a member of the band playing at the pub that night, testified about the gruesome discovery. “We had just started playing ‘Proud Mary’ when I noticed something going on,” Barrett said. Later, while loading equipment into a van, he found a piece of the victim’s lip outside the pub door. “I took a photo and zoomed in—it was the lip,” he told the court.

Medical testimony

Medical experts highlighted the severity of Stephen Kanauros’ injuries. A facial and plastic surgeon testified that the victim suffered a significant wound to his lower lip, a gum tear, and puncture wounds to his face and fingers. “The patient was taken to the theatre under local anaesthetic,” the surgeon said.

The trial continues.

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