open.spotify.com/user/ccy6vz32v2229oxqm1y8kkpts/playlist/2UielGy9UjS68JwmnYQt2w
Lovely to have a track included in this fab playlist for the #Hubfest 2018.
Have a listen and discover some great music, come along to the festival weekend to catch these acts performing. I will be playing a few songs on Saturday 25th August. For more info on the 150 acts and the festival check out the HUBFest 18 website http://www.hubfestcardiff.co.uk/ #HUBFESTCARDIFF
Its been two years since the release of ‘Our Places’ my debut album and I finally had a go at making a wee video using original video footage from the recording of ‘Wild Dog Rose’.
Its all made in an imovie app, and I have done my best to sync the footage where I can. It features Pearl River the little Welsh portable harmonium, that we had here on loan from Kevs Ford.
Thanks to all the amazing musicians, family and folk who have made this journey possible. xx
I’m sure I’ve tried my best
sure I’ve worked harder than the rest
just to find
Oh to find some peace of mind
Just to find
Oh to find some peace of mind
I’m trying harder every day
how many times have I
got down on my knees
oh and asked for some grace please
down on my knees
Oh and asked for some grace place.
Can I just stay for a rest
lay my head down to the West
and look up at the stars
oh and remember who we are
oh look up at the stars
and remember who we are.
Please don’t give yourself away
have faith in what you know
and that faith will surely grow
like a Wild Dog Rose
Oh that faith will surely grow
like a Wild Dog Rose
Oh that faith will surely grow
like a Wild Dog Rose
oh like a Wild Dog Rose x 3
It was dreamy to sing as the sunset over Cardiff Bay, loved playing music with Rufus Mufasa and Kevs Ford at The Look Out Cafe Bar. A beautiful setting to perform our freshly workshopped collaboration material, a fusion of acoustic folk jazz hip hop. Thanks to host Alix Edwards for the fabulous evening, inviting us to play, and this atmospheric photo, at her Company Of Words Summer Sizzler.
The night included a reading from guest poet Rhys Milsom, and fabulous open mic of poetry and song.
A collection was taken for Papyrus
It’s lovely to be invited along to share my songs at Cardiff’s Company of Words summer special open air, open mic event. Taking place in beautiful Cardiff Bay at The Look Out Cafe Bar, July 25th 6-9pm.
Set up by the vibrant Alix Edwards, visual artist and writer, the night promises a sizzling array of guest performances and Open Mic Performance, poetry, song, prose.
Guest performers for the night are the amazing Welsh Hip Hop literary artist Rufus Mufasa, myself Bel Blue-Singer-Songwriter and Poet Rhys Milsom.
Rufus Mufasa and myself will be joining forces to perform a recently workshopped collaboration.
If you want to come along and share your words, sign-ups are from 5.30pm. Event time 6-9pm. donations for papyrus
There will be a collection for Papyrus
Event information here:
Company Of Words Summer Sizzler
Alix Edwards Visual Artist and Writer
Links to guest performers:
Debut Album ‘Fur Coats From The Lions Den’
Bel Blue
belblue.bandcamp.com/album/our-places
Great to be included in Mind Your Head Radio’s – Show 6 Part 1 all Female/Women Artists. Thanks to Chas (aka Captain Paranoid ) who gave an exclusive play to an acoustic version of my ‘White Poppies’ song, recorded for a video soundtrack, of banner making for Processions 2018 Cardiff.
The show is available to listen back on www.mixcloud.com/chas-mulcock/
Playing a wide selection of uptown world influenced organic roots grooves and timeless razor sharp punky funky country blues, the show goes out on live on mixlr.com/captain-paranoid
Part 1 of Women Artists on Mind Your Head Radio also included tracks from Patti Smith, Lucinda Williams and more – Chas is also giving air time and support to local Wales based musicians and emerging talent- Holidays in The Mind, Rufus Mufasa Gwenifer Raymond, Sarah McCreadie and more.
It was an incredible day at Processions 2018 Cardiff and an honour to have ‘White Poppies’ used in the soundtrack to the banner making. Below is a photo of the banner – made by Inroads Stitch Group ( Mel Hobday ) and myself at Processions 2018, amazing women, amazing day.
Thanks Cardiff Music Women for including my song ‘Wild Dog Rose’ on Playlist Two of CARDIFF MUSIC WOMEN on Soundcloud. Cardiff Music Women is a project by non-profit organisation Creative Republic of Cardiff, who also run live music venue The Moon.
Currently only 16% of UK songwriters are women and only 5% of the audio industry are women, Cardiff Music Women aims to help get (and keep) more women and non-binary people into our local music industry in Cardiff & surrounding areas.
Have a listen to the playlists and discover some great music. To submit a track visit the soundcloud page for further info visit www.cardiffmusicwomen.com
What an inspiring night to listen and play at the second International Women’s Days Event at The Moon Cardiff, hosted by the fabulous Ffion Wyn and brought to us by Creative Republic of Cardiff.
The evening was a wonderfully rich and diverse mix of spoken word, art from Unity and music from: ALEIGHCIA SCOTT ADWAITHBEL BLUE SELENA CAEMAWRSARAH MCCREADIE JAFFRIN KHAN EADYTHROSIE BUF
To celebrate IWD2018 I was joined by Philipa Iriving on vocals, we sang afew sonsg and a version of my new song ‘Brave and Fearless Love’. I also put Healing Poet Fran Smith’s poem ‘Peace One Day’ to music, and she joined us to perform. It was a special gig, and my family came along to support us.
Thanks to everyone who came along to celebrate and to the organisers for inviting me to play and to Anna for taking photos.
Cardiff Music Women is a project by non-profit organisation Creative Republic of Cardiff, who also run live music venue The Moon. Currently only 16% of UK songwriters are women and only 5% of the audio industry are women, Cardiff Music Women aims to help get (and keep) more women and non-binary people into our local music industry in Cardiff & surrounding areas. More info in my next blog www.cardiffmusicwomen.com
Thanks so much to Michael Kennedy and the team Dave and Mel at Welsh Connections for a lush review of my debut album Bel Blue ‘Our Places’.
“a stunningly beautiful voice and an immense talent for songwriting” Welsh Connections
Welsh Connections are passionate about promoting the arts in Wales and keeping music alive in communities. An on-line magazine to promote and celebrate everything about the great music that has come, and still is coming, out of Wales. You can keep up to date with the team and gigs, album reviews, CD releases on their website, FacebookTwitter and listen in on Drivetime on Radio Tircoed. www.welshconnectionsmusic.com
Here’s a copy of the review and hopefully myself & the boys will be doing a spot on the Welsh Connections radio show late spring, early summer. Thanks again x Diolch yn fawr.
I’m shaking off my winter blues to join Rufus Mufasa and Friends, Tuesday 16th January, The Moon, The Free For All Festival, Cardiff 2018.
Rufus Mufasa, musician and poet, whose debut album, Fur Coats from the Lion’s Den, was released on December 1st from Dope Biscuits Records, is joined by a host of musicians, poets, creatives, in a night of collaboration and cross art forms. Artists supporting Rufus Mufasa, include Eric Ngalle Charles, Dope Biscuits, Beatbox Tangent, Wounded Healers, Bel Blue and more.
Rufus Mufasa’s amazing debut album Fur Coats from the Lion’s Den, was voted Welsh Album of The Year 2017 by Wales Art Review, and is getting lots of love, fab reviews and airplay, so check it out “An album that’s adventurous, cliché defying, empowering, honest, and such an excellent listen… The whole album is suffused with truth and it gives it such an inspirational sound…” Adam Walton, BBC.
Sounds good, so come on down, and its all free, as part of the Free For All Festival which sees The Moon Cardiff host a great array of local and touring bands performing every day in January. Rufus Mufasa & Friends gig at The Moon is featured in Minty’s Gig Guides Cardiff top picks for the week, here’s a link to his podcast, with a track from ‘Fur Coats From The Lions Den’
So how did a little folky like me come to be joining in with hiphop rapper Rufus, well ….. life can pick you up when you least expect it. Last November I went along to the wonderful The Workers Gallery Ynyshir, third birthday celebrations, to my absolute joy, I had a jam with the enigmatic Rufus Mufasa, spontaneous creativity with AJ Constable on percussion. It’s truly lovely to come across such a warm celtic eclectic musician and I am made up to be invited to be amongst the supporting artists at The Moon gig. #Folkhop
I will be joined by Kevs Ford and AJ Constable at The Moon. In her own words, ‘Dont miss this’ Rufus Mufasa and friends, Tuesday 16th January, The Moon, The Free For All Festival, Cardiff.
Photo Credit: Thanks to HuwDale Photography http://www.huwdale.co.uk
Weaver Fish by Bel Blue
Words , Vocals, Guitar, Bel Blue, Sea Sounds, Ogmore Beach
A little song-poem project ruff, I recorded on an mini ipad in 2015, with mobile video taken this summer at Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. Playing my big old acoustic on this song poem, all recordings and video made on mobile apps. I enjoyed this project and given the opportunity would like to explore more in collaboration and better technology. I collected the wave sounds at Ogmore beach, vale of Glamorgan, and the chimes from a bedroom mobile. Weaver Fish are found much further down the estuary, in the Bristol Channel at very low tide, thankfully as a family, we have only ever had one encounter, in the Gower many years ago.
Weaver Fish
There is a moment
when I’m not pushing
and you’re not pulling
when the ebb and flow has peaked
a moment when high water
sits still before she turns
a pause when she sets low
and the weaver fish returns
returns
and the weaver fish returns
Buried beneath the sands
he lies in wait and my love
we tread slow and my love
we tread low
careful of the spikes
the spikes below
careful of the moment
the moment when
love speaks
when love speaks
In this moment
Is this love
is this love
is this love
In this moment
when we speak
Is this love
Is this love
Is this love (repeat)
When we speak Is this love.
Bel Blue © 2015 All Rights Reserved
