Merthyr Express column

24th June 10

NEWiD

The eastern heads of the valleys bilingual community play; NEWiD (Which can be read as “New Identity” in English or “Newid”, meaning change, in Welsh) will be performed at the National Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale on Thursday, 29th July, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 or £3 concessions, available from 01495 355 800. Workshops leading to the performance are currently being held through the region, which covers Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent and the northern ends of Caerphilly and Torfaen by Head for Arts. For further information visit www.head4arts.org.uk or www.stwnsh.com/newid or contact Head for Arts directly on 01495 357816 or info@head4arts.org.uk.

Art & Craft Exhibition

The free entry Art and Craft exhibition in All Saints Church and Hall, Dowlais, continues until Saturday 26th June with paintings, embroidery, ceramics, photography, woodwork and other arts and crafts by local artists, from 10.30am – 4.30pm. Refreshments will also be available. For further information, please contact Mairwen Hagerty on 01685 384889

The Amigos

The Amigos return to the Myfanwy Theatre next Thursday, 1sth July with a live music performance. 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

Just Dance

The Willows Centre presents the Troedyrhiw Dance Festival 2010 this coming Wednesday, 30th June from 6.30 – 9.30pm at the Willows, Bridge Street, Troedyrhiw. Entry for spectators is only £1, with refreshments and drinks available and a raffle. Also look out for the Junior Dance Festival coming soon to Troedyrhiw.

For further information, please contact The Willows on 01443 692198

Merthyr Art on Show
After recently exhibiting successfully in New York’s Robert Steele Gallery again, Merthyr Tydfil College lecturer Martyn Jones is currently exhibiting back home in south Wales with some of his new work being shown in Llandaff’s Off The Wall Gallery. Other exhibitions in the Cardiff area this month also include the annual Welsh Artist of the Year exhibition in Saint David’s Hall, with over a hundred artworks including painting, sculpture, photography, applied arts, printmaking and drawing by artists from, or with close associations to Wales, including Michael G Payne from Dowlais.