Merthyr Express column

23 April 09
Open Mike
This week’s Open Mike Night welcomes poets, short story writers, singers and acoustic musicians on Thursday, 23rd April, at the Imperial hotel. Guest author for the evening will be David Hughes who was born in Bargoed in 1947. He was brought up in Llangenny, Breconshire and in Mumbles. He trained as a teacher and taught for 4+ years in Smethwick and Swansea. He moved into social work in 1975 specialising in mental health and the protection of vulnerable adults. He retired from Swansea Social Services in 2007. He has been writing (on and off!) for the last 25 years. His poems have appeared in a number of magazines and anthologies including Poetry Wales, Planet, Red Poets, Roundyhouse and Radical Wales, The Streets and the Stars, 50 Poems and Poetry 1900-2000. A collection of his poems, Tidy Boy was published by Swansea Poetry Workshop in 1998. Apart from reading and writing, his interests include sport and walking and doting on his grandson. The event is free entry. Please contact 01685 725382 or arts@merthyr.gov.uk for more details.

Elvis Is Back
Back by popular demand Elvis returns to Merthyr Tydfil tonight (Thursday, 23rd April) in the form of The Graceland Band who play the Myfanwy Theatre at Merthyr Tydfil College. For ticket bookings and further information, please contact: 01685 726000

Punk Vault
The Myfanwy Theatre at Merthyr Tydfil College are bringing us more cult punk, under the alternative name of The Vault. Following last month’s Punk Forever Festival featuring Jamie Reid, Attila The Stockbroker and last year classic punk band the UK Subs. Now Merthyr College, in association with Punky Galore presents The Vault, a regular punk and rock night, starting on Friday, 15th May, with Argy Bargy, The Warriors, Dun 2 Def and Noise Agents. Argy Bargy began life in London’s east-end in the early 1990’s. Sharing a guitarist with seminal street-punk band Cock Sparrer and with European tours, two full length albums and other releases under their belts Argy Bargy are now one of the genre’s most popular bands, together with The Warriors, who formed out of the ashes of the Last Resort. Tickets are £10. For ticket bookings and further information, please contact: 01685 726000. For information on The Vault, visit www.myspace.com/punkygalore

Dance Showcase
The first Merthyr Tydfil Schools Dance Showcase at the Myfanwy Theatre, will be held on Tuesday, 5th May, at 7pm. Merthyr Tydfil schools have been invited to produce a piece of dance to perform at the showcase evening. If you would like your school to be involved but haven’t yet received an entry form, please contact Jo Richards on 07505269523. This showcase event is hoped to become a regular annual fixture in Merthyr’s arts calander. For tickets please contact the box office on 01685 726000. Adults £3, child