Welsh Language Music Day, Y Lle & ‘Indoor Busking’ for Save Nicola.’
With Trudi Goldsmith
First published in the Llanelli Herald & The Carmarthen Herald 10/02/17
This week Owain Glenister tells me about his Y Lle project in Old Castle Road, Llanelli & the gigs he has arranged for Welsh Language Music Day in aid of the Save Nicola’ campaign.
Can you tell me about Y Lle and the music project?
I bought Y Lle (The Old Moose Hall) a few years ago because I kept driving past it and it looked really ugly and run down and I thought I might be able to turn it into flats. Once I got inside the cogs started turning and I remember a few of us talking about creating a Welsh language centre or a community space that people could develop and contribute towards...so I put in a cheeky offer and got it!! It was a time before the Eisteddfod was here and I remember thinking that the town looked depleted and I'd been to a few meetings and people were negative about Llanelli and I thought 'sod the lot of you' I love that place!! So I bought the building and then we started collecting stuff and doing the building up slowly - we used left over paint and I remember going to Brecon to get an old drum kit that fell apart on the way home...it was cool though trying to make something from nothing. Then I got wind that there were grants coming out for buildings and I thought right if we get this it'll be a hell of a lot better than the leftover paint, so we started writing grants and we started getting bits of money in for kit...so we started buying stuff from Cadno Music, guitars, pains etc it was always important to buy local and support local businesses and Alun has been amazing.
One of the first projects we started was a Welsh youth club to get people talking Welsh outside of school and we ran rock workshops and I remember putting on a regional BBC Battle of the Bands at the Masons and it was brilliant – Kris( landlord) was really supportive and the sound guy - Scott started speaking Welsh...it was really weird but fun! So now we are developing Y Lle to be a real asset for people living in Llanelli, we're doing a herb garden now! So kids can play guitar and then go out and do some weeding! The music is a big part of it and it something I've always loved. The place we have allows kids to pick up a guitar (perhaps for the first time ever) and play it loud, and to play with a drummer or a bassist or another guitar player. We try to feed Cadno Music school if we can, get them in, get them hooked on music, then send them over to the tutors for lessons and hopefully in a few years they'll be gigging in the Masons or the Cat! It's all about fitting in to what we've got already and rather than duplicating, adding to what others are doing and putting a Welsh spin on it! Music is a big part of it and hopefully Llanelli can really start feeding the Welsh music scene and dragging it West of Cardiff and the areas of North Wales that are keeping it alive!
I noticed Y Lle are promoting a Welsh language Music day on 10th February, how did that come about?
The project stems from my work. I run a Welsh language initiative in Neath and Port Talbot and I've been working with young bands for around 14 years - trying to develop them and get them practicing together. I've also seen how some kids who are written off in school use things like music as a creative channel and a way of expression that isn't really done in the traditional education system. With us they aren't treated as pupils, we treat them the same as we treat each other, we have banter and they respond well to it, and we've got some cracking musicians coming through the doors! With the gigs I helped organise the Eisteddfod gigs in the Thomas Arms, Kilkenny Cat, and Furnace rugby club and they were very successful and my sister and her friends organise some things down in the Vista Lounge so we're used to doing it.
Where did the funding for the ‘Welsh Language Music Day’ and the other projects come from?
With this weeks gigs we've had some funding from Ymlaen Llanelli (BID) and Welsh Government but because they were free we thought we'd raise some money towards a local cause 'Save Nicola'. My cousin is married to Nicola's brother so I thought it would be a good thing. To promote Welsh Language Music Day but also to raise awareness and funds towards this cause. We also wanted something we can develop year on year and so I always try to find a hook - this time it was indoor busking! Getting the bands to raise money and getting people to put money into a bucket rather go out jangling!! I also wanted to support the businesses -it's massively important so hopefully if all goes well -we'll put Welsh music Day on the map, make some money for a good cause and hopefully the businesses will make some money! Next year I'd love to see more pubs involved and get some buskers on a stage in town!
Can you give me a run down of this weeks Indoor Busking events in Llanelli?
Beat boxer Ed Holden will be going to the open mic night on Wednesday where he'll be beat boxing in Welsh as will singer Llew Davies. Friday 10th February - local band Oblong will play at the Masons Arms; Newcastle Emlyn band Platform 1 will play in the Thomas Arms bar and Gwendraeth Valleys Neil Maliphant will play at the Kilkenny Cat on Friday...so hopefully I'll have several pints in each pub!!
You can catch Platform 1 at 8pm in the Thomas Arms
MAL & Llew Davies at 9pm in The Kilkenny Cat &
Oblong at 10pm in The Masons Arms.
Come out and support you Welsh live music scene whilst showing your support for ‘Save Nicola.’
You can find more info about Y Lle & Save Nicola by searching for them on Facebook!
Support Your Local Music Scene!
