Merthyr Express column

3rd June 10
Rhyme Time and Story Telling
Merthyr Tydfil Libraries invite you and your children to join them for stories, rhymes and play tomorrow, Friday, 4th June. Activities will vary according to the age of the children, but will include lots of fun! Refreshments will be provided. Rhyme Time and Story Telling will be at Central Library from 10:30am until 11:30am and at Dowlais Library from 2:00pm until 3:00pm. Call 01685 723057 for further details.

Writer Returns to Merthyr

The next Open Mic Night at the Imperial Hotel welcomes invited author Meic Stephens on Thursday, 10th June at 7.30pm. Meic Stephens, born in Trefforest in 1938, was the founder of Poetry Wales 1965 and its editor until 1973. Meic stood as Plaid Cymru candidate in Merthyr Tydfil at the General Election of 1966 and was White Robe of the Gorsedd of Bards, 1976. Meic writes obituaries of eminent Welsh people for The Independent. He published a Cardiff based novel, Yeah Dai Dando (Cinnamon Press) in autumn 2008. Funny and fast-paced, it is the story of Dave Dando, a 25-year-old lad from Pontypridd working for the Gwalia Building Society in Cardiff. The book uses narrative, dialogue, internal monologue and ’stream of consciousness’ to convey Dave’s thoughts, as well as Youfspeak and internet language. The plot turns on whether Dave caused the death by drowning of an old man he befriends one boozy evening and whether he is going to make it with a young woman of his own age to whom he is attracted. Dave has strong views about Wales, the Welsh language and Plaid Cymru but they are modified by his meeting the old man and the young woman. The novel has a lot to say about post-Devolutionary Wales and was made Waterstone’s Book of the Month in September 2008. The language of Meic’s home is Welsh, which he learned as an adult. Meic will be reading in both English and Welsh. Open mic contributions from either language are warmly welcome. Open Mic Nights are free entry, so why not come along and join in or just relax and listen to the others. for further information, please contact 01685 725382 or email arts@merthyr.gov.uk.

The Amigos
The Amigos return to the Myfanwy Theatre this summer with a live music performance on Thursday 1st July. You’ll probably never hear such a wide range of music as you would at an Amigos concert, all played with virtuosity and bucketfuls of passion. The Amigos’ repertoire includes over 500 tunes and songs varying from Gypsy Jazz, Trad Gypsy and Hot Club Jazz to Hungarian, Yiddish, Russian, Musette, Latin, Spanish, Tex-Mex, Samba, Rumba, Calypso and Celtic. One of Swansea’s most popular and well-supported bands since they were founded by guitarists Gary Phillips and Andy King ten years ago, the line-up now expands to include violin, accordion, percussion and double bass. They regularly receive standing ovations at major festivals with their ability to instantly change their musical styles from all over the world. They have dazzled audiences with their spell-binding performances throughout the U.K, Europe and the U.S.A. Tickets cost £5. Contact the box office on 07570670284. Doors open at 7.30pm

Bio-Diversity Poetry and Music
In addition to the monthly open mic poetry nights at the Imperial Hotel, next month also welcomes Peter Finch for a themed poetry and music open mic night on Thursday, 17th June, focusing on bio-diversity and the environment as part of Bio-diversity Week. For further information contact
Carys Solman on 01685 726251 or carys.solman@merthyr.gov.uk.