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Entertainment

An exhibition celebrating Welsh music goes on tour

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LAST MONTH a new exhibition – ‘Record: Folk, Protest and Pop’ opened at the Riverside gallery, Haverfordwest. The exhibition explores the musical tradition of Wales throughout the centuries – from the crwth to Catatonia – using various items from The Welsh Music Archive and Screen and Sound Archive located at The National Library.

‘Record’ will explore why Wales is often described as the country of song, where our musical tradition began and how it developed.

The exhibition looks at the early folk music traditions in Wales through the medium of manuscripts such as Melus-seiniau Cymru, one of the most important collections of Welsh folk songs, collected by Ifor Ceri. The influence of individuals such as Meredydd Evans and his wife Phyllis Kinney in the field of folk music and light entertainment is acknowledged, through newly acquired items from their archive. Highlights from their collection include a previously unseen letter from Richard Burton to Merêd discussing Welsh folk melodies.

‘Record’ also explores how independent labels and Welsh groups have worked to produce revolutionary protest and pop music in recent decades. Bringing the story to life are various archives, including material relating to Y Blew and Super Furry Animals. Early pop magazines such as Sŵn, an extensive collection of gig posters from the 1960s to the 1990s and Malcolm Gwyon’s pop art portrait of Dafydd Iwan are also on display in the exhibition.

Pedr ap Llwyd, Chief Executive and Librarian of the National Library of Wales said: “Record: Folk, Protest and Pop is a colourful and diverse celebration of the musical tradition in Wales. It is a pleasure to be able to share the exhibition with new audiences outside of Aberystwyth by taking the exhibition on tour to the Riverside gallery in Haverfordwest, and demonstrate the richness of our collections which represent the development of the tradition across the centuries, using a combination of the collections of The Welsh Music Archive, the Screen and Sound Archive; and items from our visual collections. There is something for everyone in this exhibition, from the past to the present, and it is sure to stimulate memories among its visitors.”

Mari Elin Jones, Curator of ‘Record: Folk, Protest and Pop’ added:
“Curating this exhibition has been a lot of fun, and it’s been great to be able to put the collections of the Welsh Music Archive and Screen and Sound Archive, which are so varied and fascinating, centre stage. I hope ‘Record’ will inspire visitors to explore the National Library of Wales’s music collections further, as well as go to their local record shop to pick up a Welsh album or two!”

Nia Mai Daniel, Head of Archives, Manuscripts and Contemporary Records Section, and The Welsh Music Archive Coordinator said:
“The exhibition is a taste of the folk and pop music collections held at the National Library of Wales, and is an opportunity to celebrate some of our recent donations, such as the Merêd and Phyllis Kinney archive and a Super Furry Animals scrapbook. If anyone has further material to donate, such as posters, photographs, or letters, then please get in touch. Our work continues to ensure that our collections reflect the history of Welsh music from its roots to the present day.”

Showing alongside the Record exhibition is Pembrokeshire: Past and Present, a permanent exhibition focusing on the history, culture, and landscape of Pembrokeshire. Both exhibitions will run until Saturday 18 February 2023.

The Riverside is a flagship cultural centre in the heart of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. Opened in December 2018, it features a 21st century library, visitor information, coffee shop and a national government indemnity gallery space which showcases collections from The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth. This high quality facility is unusual and pioneering and is already playing a central part in regenerating the town and wider area of Pembrokeshire.

For more information visit:
www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/the-riverside
• Pembrokeshire Libraries Facebook page, or
• call Glan-yr-afon/The Riverside on 01437 775244.

Entertainment

The authentic sound of The Rolling Stones… with the world’s premier Jagger lookalike

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CAPTURING the authentic sound and spirit of The Greatest Rock n’ Roll Band In The World, NOT THE ROLLING STONES have played festivals, theatres and private gigs throughout Europe, the middle east and the UK. This May, they will appear here on the Torch Stage in Pembrokeshire!

Featuring the best Mick Jagger lookalike you will ever see, truly international tribute act in demand all over Europe as well as the UK, will take you back to the Golden Age of The Stones- from Satisfaction to Sympathy for the Devil… You won’t believe it’s not Jagger!

Based on the Rolling Stones, an English rock band formed in London in 1962 and active for over six decades, they were one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the rock era and pioneered the gritty, rhythmically driven sound that came to define hard rock, and Not The Rolling Stones carry on that legacy today.

They have the unique asset of a ‘Mick and Keith’ who stagger audiences with their authenticity, also attested by the many TV and film credits they have between them.

Backed by a superb group of professional musicians that love the music they are playing; they convey their enthusiasm for the work of the world’s greatest rock and roll band.

Not the Rolling Stones will be on the Torch Theatre stage on Friday 16 May at 7.30pm. Tickets are £25. Visit the website for further details www.torchtheatre.co.uk or phone the Box Office on (01646) 695267.

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Entertainment

Radio 3 celebrates Easter with live broadcast from St Non’s Chapel

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A musical pilgrimage to one of Wales’ holiest sites

BBC RADIO 3 will mark Easter 2025 with a special series of live broadcasts exploring themes of music, landscape, and pilgrimage—culminating in a live Easter Sunday programme from St Non’s Chapel in Pembrokeshire.

The broadcast, part of Easter: A Seasonal Journey, airs live on Easter Sunday morning (April 20), with presenter Sarah Walker joined at the ancient cliffside chapel—believed to be the birthplace of St David, the patron saint of Wales—by renowned musicians including harpist Mared Pugh-Evans, the official harpist to His Majesty the King, and Filkin’s Drift, the popular Welsh folk duo.

Set just metres from the sea near St Davids, the location provides a powerful backdrop for a programme that explores the spiritual and cultural resonance of Pembrokeshire’s rugged coastal landscape. The event follows a Holy Saturday broadcast from the island of Iona in Scotland.

The live programme runs from 9:00am to 12:00pm, and will include music, interviews and reflections from this iconic Pembrokeshire site.

Other highlights of Radio 3’s Easter programming include:

Choral Evensong from Newcastle Cathedral

Sunday 20 April, 3:00pm – 4:00pm

A special Easter Day service featuring celebratory music by Howells, Paulus, and Vaughan Williams.

Record Review of the 21st Century

Monday 21 April, All day

A day-long celebration of the best classical recordings from the past 25 years. Host Andrew McGregor is joined by guest contributors, including celebrity classical fans Stephen Fry, Cathy Newman, and John Suchet. The day concludes with a full performance of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony (7:30pm).

Located on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path near St Davids, St Non’s Chapel is one of the oldest Christian sites in Wales. Tradition holds it to be the birthplace of St David, Wales’ most revered saint. Today, the chapel ruins remain a place of quiet pilgrimage, with sweeping views over St Brides Bay.

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Entertainment

Join TV and radio presenter Hester Grainger live at the Torch

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THIS June, the Torch Theatre welcomes ADHD coach, speaker and former Wright Stuff presenter Hester Grainger to the stage with her powerful and uplifting show, ADHD: Unmasked.

Expect an evening of open conversation, laughter, and refreshingly honest insights into life with ADHD. In a supportive and inclusive space, Hester invites everyone—whether living with ADHD, supporting someone who is, or simply curious—to share stories, connect, and feel seen.

A well-known voice in the neurodivergent community, Hester is a regular podcast guest and media contributor. Her appearance on ADHD Chatter with Alex Partridge went viral, with clips from the episode racking up over 22 million views.

ADHD: Unmasked is an interactive, dopamine-filled evening where Hester shares how to embrace a fast-paced mind, practise self-compassion, and tap into the strengths of neurodiversity. She’ll also speak candidly about family life—raising two autistic/ADHD teenagers and living with her autistic/ADHD husband—as well as navigating ADHD in the workplace, friendships, relationships, and late diagnosis.

Audience participation is welcome, with opportunities to ask questions throughout. Whether you’ve received a diagnosis or are just starting your journey, this event offers connection, laughter, and a sense of belonging. You’ll leave feeling empowered, informed—and most importantly—reminded that you are not alone.

Hester began her media career on Channel 5’s The Wright Stuff, going on to work with Loose Women and Today with Des and Mel. She has featured on BBC Radio 2, Radio 4, Radio 5 Live, and hosted her own show on BBC Radio Berkshire.

She has appeared on leading podcasts such as ADHD Chatter, The Hidden 20%, and ADHD Women’s Wellbeing Podcast, and her writing has been published by HuffPost, Evening Standard, Reader’s Digest, and Arabian Business.

Alongside her husband Kelly, Hester co-founded Perfectly Autistic, a neurodiversity consultancy providing training, talks, and coaching to support neurodivergent employees. Both were diagnosed with ADHD in their forties, after Kelly’s earlier autism diagnosis.

Hester says: “I’m so excited to tour the UK talking about ADHD—something I’m truly passionate about. Being diagnosed in my forties finally gave me the answers I’d been searching for my whole life. With growing awareness, so many people have questions and want to understand more. This evening will be fun, entertaining, and honest—and nothing’s off limits.”

ADHD: Unmasked comes to the Torch Theatre on Friday 6 June at 7:30pm.
Tickets: £26
Book online at www.torchtheatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on (01646) 695267.

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