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.
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.
Photo Credit Anna Winstone
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
Healing Poet Fran Smith-Photo Credit-Anna Winstone
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.
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 from the cuff, 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 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.
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.
Wales’ second Mental Health Arts Festival ‘Walls:Muriau’ is under way and it’s just lovely to be asked back to take part in the Cardiff festivities, thankyou Disability Arts Cymru and Making Minds.
I am passionate about the role of creatvity, so its means alot to play at the WMC, although I am very nervous,thankfully I will be accompanied by Kevs Ford and Andy, playing at 4.55pm on the Glanfa Stage at The Wales Millennium Centre on Monday 21st November as part of the free daytime performances happening on 21st Nov at “Walls:Muriau” Wales’ Mental Health Arts Festival 2016.
The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Walls:Muriau’. Out of the creative minds of those with and without lived experience of mental ill-health, the festival will explore the walls put up and the barriers, both physical and attitudinal, that exist for those affected by mental illness.
For a complete listing and further information of all the Festival Events please visit mhaf.wales
There are workshops from Gwyneth Lewis, Cai Tomos, speed networking, songs from To Bear Sir, Only Boys Aloud, American Mustard, and ticketed performances, details below.
Bel Blue’s Wild Dog Rose from her debut album “Our Places” is one of the tracks featured in the latest Fatea MagazineFatea Showcases Winter 2016 session – Mirror It was released on Nov 1st, with a playlist of 18 exceptional artists. It’s a free download and only available for three months. These sessions are a great way to discover new music. download it. You won’t be disappointed. http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/news/WinterMirror/
Chosen by the FATEA team, it’s an eclectic mix of some of the best rising names across the acoustic spectrum for your enjoyment. Thankyou Neil King.
The download comes to you at no charge, please support the artists involved. The 2016 Fatea Showcase Session Front Covers are artworked by Daria Kulesh
01. Ange Hardy & Lukas Drinkwater – Daughters Of Watchet
02. Georgia Shackleton Trio – Endurance
03. Kizzy Crawford – Gerridae
04. Jack Cookson – Old Chapels O’ Stone
05. The Leylines – Let It Go
06. Plu – Gollwng Gafael
07. Ruth Theodore – Buffalo
08. Matt Cudby & Erin Brown – P Stands For Paddy
09. Fara – Games People Play
10. Granny’s Attic – Away To The South’ard
11. The Barber Sisters – The Ox
12. The FB Pocket Orchestra – I Lost My Girl From Memphis
13. The Brewer’s Daughter – Home, Sweet Home
14. Bel Blue – Wild Dog Rose
15. The Amazing Devil – Not Yet/Love Run (Reprise)
16. Carrie Martin – What If
17. Anne Sumner – Tide Will Turn
18. Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage – Lady Margaret
Wild Dog Rose
from Our Places, released August 1, 2016
Bel Blue: vocal, guitar Jamie Nemeth: Violin
Ben Steer: Mandolin
Kevs Ford: Harmonium
AJ Constable: Percussion
In Its Time from my debut album “Our Places” had its first BBC Radio Wales play on Frank Hennessey’s Celtic Heartbeat, 7.00pm Sunday 23rd Oct. Thankyou so much Frank. I really can’t tell you what that means to me and eveyone involved.
Celtic Heartbeat is available on listen again on BBC Radio iplayer until 21st November 2016. This episode features Amy Goddard, Steve Pledger, Luke Jackson, Fernhill and many more. Follow the link below.
Radio Wigwam played Waterfall from Bel Blue “Our Places” on its fabulous Bandwagon special on Welsh Artists, first broadcast 10pm Friday eve 21st Oct, thankyou Mike Green. www.radiowigwam.co.uk
Holy Moly, on Saturday night 22nd Oct, Bel Blue and Kevs Ford opened up for Ange Hardy and Lukas Drinkwater on the Welsh leg of the Findings tour at Barry West End Club. The inspirational Ange Hardy and talented Lukas Drinkwater, made it a night to remember. Thanks Mike Duggan for putting on the night and for asking us along to play. Thanks Ange Hardy and Lukas for your kind words, as I was so nervous and for everyone who came along to make it such a special night. Thankyou so much folks, djs, and friends for supporting the music, and fab to meet music blogger macwoodfleet . So lovley to have”Our Places” taken to new places.
Last August Kevs Ford and I headed up to Penywaun in the Welsh Valleys, where we had the pleasure of being guests on David Chamberlain’s “Acoustic Routes” Radio Show on Dapper Fm. It was the first time I had been on a radio show, so I was more than a little nervous 🙂 It’s a weekly show that is also broadcast on Blues and Roots Radio, and an excellent place to discover new acoustic music, and that’s exactly how Neil King came across us, playing a live session of songs from Our Places on the show.
Neil King also hosts Along The Tracks, on Blues and Roots Radio every Frday eve, another great show for new music and a mix of blues, folk, country and beyond, and last month he played Wild Dog Rose from “Our Places” on the show. I was delighted to hear Wild Dog Rose is included on the next FATEA Winter Showcase Session- Mirror – released 1st Nov 2016, and available for download with 18 excellent artists, a great way to discover new music.
Thankyou David Chamberlain and Neil King, for all the support you have given us and many other independent artists. Both shows are availabe for listen back on Mixcloud.
Guitarist and producer Kevs Ford in the Dapper FM studio with host David Chamberlain.
