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. Bel Blue will be playing 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 and this atmospheric photo, at her Company Of Words Summer Sizzler.
More music fusion when we all get together again for Hub Festival, Cardiff.
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. £3+ donation for the night.
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.
I was inspired to write ‘White Poppies’ after seeing 100 Years of Women’s Banners at Abergavenny Museum. I have had the absolute joy of performing a live collaboration version of the song with Welsh Literary Hip Hop Activist Rufus Mufasa’s album launch and last week at an event at Chapter Art’s Centre Fur Coats from the Lion’s Den.
We will be work-shoping the song to take it to studio.. so watch this space. Check out her amazing award-winning album
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.
We had a great day out at Devauden Festival last year and are delighted to be going back to play on the acoustic stage at 3pm Saturday 19th May. There are lots of fabulous acts and entertainment, over the two day festival family friendly event in the heart of Monmouthshire, which is in its 9th year. For more info check out www.facebook.com/DevaudenFestival
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 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.
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.
Its good to be going west this spring to play Friday 2nd February with Rufus Mufasa and friends, at the LP Launch of her award winning debut album ‘Fur Coats From The Lions Den’at The Parrot Carmarthen. A night of celebration, music, arts, poetry, dance. I’m looking forward to a live collaboration with Rufus Mufasa, on ‘White Poppies’ a song in progress that I began writing after visiting ‘One Hundred Years of Women’s Banners’ exhibition in Abergavenny Museum, last autumn, it was very emotive. More on celebrating 100 years of suffrage and #TheProcessions in another blog.
Artists taking part in the eve at The Parrot include Culture VulturesBeatbox TangentWounded Healers Ferny Mac Jordan Da-Cruz Dope Biscuits Jamey P Healing Poems for Positive Love by Fran SmithRachel Pedley and Tommy Boost@jdc_offical_artist Unity@artbymillimagicChew and Bel Blue with AJ Constable on percussion.
Its also the start of spring Imbolic, Candlemas, crocus, snowdrops and birdsong, wonderful.
