Merthyr Express column

29th Oct 09
Welsh Youth Gig
Y Ganolfan Gymraeg (The Welsh Centre) will be hosting a youth gig, at their Pontmorlais centre, with live rock music from young local musicians at 1pm – 4pm on Sunday, 1st November. The event is free, contact 01685 722176, Jamie@merthyrtudful.com or Sion@urdd.org for further information.

Young Writers Book
Memebers of Merthyr Tydfil’s two young writing squads (one in English and one in Welsh) have contributed to a collection of creative writing titled Journey To Other Places, which is officially published today. The book is priced £3.99, available from the Tourist Information Shop, Cyfarthfa Castle and online at http://www.gwales.com/ or Amazon.

Talented Merthyr
The Merthyr’s Got Talent showcase event will take place at The Myfanwy Theatre, Merthyr College a week Friday, the 6th November 2009. The show starts at 6.30pm and finishes at around 10.00pm. Merthyr’s Got Talent will give young people the opportunity to showcase their talents to a large audience that they otherwise may not get the opportunity to do. For any further information please contact Lee Davies on 01685 385303 or Catherine Downs on 01443 692198.

Merthyr Pictures
The next couple of days will be your last chance to catch Once Upon a Time in Wales;
an exhibition of photographs by Robert Haines at Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery. The exhibition, captures some of the characters from Heolgerrig and Merthyr Tydfil in the 1970s, including hard man, Melvin Webber and ‘Mad’ Malcolm. The book of photographs is available to order from all bookshops priced £14.99. It is also available online from Amazon. The exhibition is free entry and runs until 31st October 2009. Contact the museum for details on 01685 723112 or email museum@merthyr.gov.uk

Patrick Jones
Not for the faint hearted, the sometimes controversial poet and playwright Patrick Jones comes to Merthyr Tydfil accompanied by a guitarist and drummer, to showcase his new CD "Tongues For A Stammering Time", which is a hard hitting collection of politically charged poetry fused with music. The CD features a genre crossing selection of guest musicians and singers including Patrick’s brother Nicky Wire and James Dean Bradfield from the Manic Street Preachers, Billy Bragg, Amy Wadge, Martyn Joseph and Beverley Humphries to name but a few. Patrick will be performing live upstairs at The Belle Vue, Merthyr Tydfil on Tuesday, 10th November. The night is free entry and will also have an open mike section for members of the audience to paricipate.