Busy bee workshops and a Queen Bee! The Cheerful Project brought the communities of Narberth, Clarbeston Road and Maenclochog together to create brilliant bee puppets, headdresses and flowers to contribute to Narberth Carnival. Three wonderful days of creativity and a buzzing good carnival! Excellent contributions from MIND Pembrokeshire and Pembrokeshire People First. Thank you to all who came along! Photography by Jennie Caldwell and Di Ford
Written by Declan Connolly (SpanJazz programmer) Hi Guys, My name is Declan Connolly and I am a member of the bus pass club and still won’t let it go. When I say ‘it’ I really mean the mad urge to bring great musicians to play in our county, our Town and the community owned venue – The Queens Hall. Way back in time, I managed the QH and with a bunch of fabulous people, we had the vision of it as the arts and culture hub of the community. Lynne Crompton has kept a great contemporary arts gallery there. Hundreds of concerts and gigs have moved thousands of people every year since it was rebuilt in 1993, and it should have been renamed as Narberth Arts Centre long ago. These days I am most often seen introducing the bands at Spanjazz nights in the Plas Hyfryd Hotel. I recently realised that the Jazz stream of the Span Arts programme had been going for 30 years! I just love keeping the jazz flag flying here and was very proud last year to present a very good monthly programme with a premier concert in the QH with The Ronnie Scott All
Pembrokeshire witnessed some truly incredible a cappella talent for the 9th edition of the annual Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival, which once again brought hundreds of singing people into town from all over Wales and beyond. The only festival of its kind in Wales, the Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival, described by one festival goer as ‘Uplifting and Life affirming’, wowed over 500 people with its mission to experience an uplifting celebration of song. One festival goer even claimed that “We thought last year’s NAVF couldn’t be bettered but NAVF 2017 was just as good!!” Now in its ninth year, the 2017 festival presented a diverse line up of singing talent with everything from Sea Shanties to the ancient art of storytelling through song, toe tapping jazz to comic song theatre and much much more! The NAVF 2017 programme was characteristically diverse and welcoming and demonstrated a range of different genres and cultures. Programming of this year’s festival aligned with Span Arts’ remit to provide a varied cultural experience and access to internationally and nationally renowned musicians and A Cappella artists who may otherwise be unlikely to visit Pembrokeshire and was also filled with bags of community spirit. This year’s
The Festival Players Theatre Company will return to the stunning Lampeter House on Thursday 18 August to perform William Shakespeare’s’ most famous play, Hamlet, to mark the 400th anniversary of his death. A small cast of six play multiple roles demanding quick costume changes, as well as performing as singers and musicians. Presented in full costume, an all-male company brings the excitement of this great thriller: intrigue, ghostly visitations, passion, a play-within-a-play, a gripping duel, and humour, in a crystal-clear and fast-paced 2-hour production. The play takes place in the beautifully relaxed grounds of Lampeter House. Home to keen opera lovers, Mami and Julian Williams, the estate in Lampeter Velfrey has hosted events for almost 15 years, from piano recitals to opera. Arrive early to enjoy the stunning gardens with a drink or picnic from 6pm. The open-air performance starts at 7.30pm and there will be prosecco, food and other refreshments available to enjoy. There is an alternative indoor seating area in case of bad weather however the outlook is good! The perfect way to spend a summer evening this August, don’t miss out! Tickets are cheaper in advance and children go half price. Available now from spanarts.org.uk or
The Span Arts Volunteer team have had plenty to celebrate about these past few weeks! The team, who range from 12yrs to 73yrs had their efforts recognised by being nominated at the PAVS (Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services) awards ceremony, which took place in Letterston hall on 9th June 2016. The Span Arts group were nominated in the ‘Over 25+’ category, and received their certificate from Pembrokeshire County Council CEO Ian Westley. New Volunteer Manager, Nerys Craig, also launched a new rewards scheme in June to thank and acknowledge the valued Volunteer team. Two tickets on the The Seafair Haven Tall ship Voyages on the ‘Johanna Lucretia’ were awarded to a volunteer picked out of a hat. The winning volunteer, 14yr old Malachi Bailey said, “I loved everything about the trip, especially going under the Cleddau Bridge and seeing all the little boats around us.” Malachi’s Mum Theri, also a volunteer, added, “Our sail aboard the Johanna Lucretia was absolutely fantastic and a very special and memorable experience! We loved the opportunity to participate in the ‘Parade of Sails’ with so many traditional and classic boats. Thank you so much to the Seafair Haven organisers for securing funding for our
SpanJazz will kick off a summer of jazz with the world class tenor master Art Themen alongside The John Gibbon Trio on Thursday 30 June. Art Themen, the saxophone-playing orthopaedic surgeon who has been an appealing presence on the British jazz circuit for over 40 years, hasn’t lost his appetite for the lateral. Originally a Dexter Gordon and Sonny Rollins stylist, Themen has proved himself remarkably attentive to the saxophone styles of subsequent generations. In July, SpanJazz will witness the dancing exuberance of South African Township music on Thursday 21 July with the Philip Clouts Quartet. The convivial groove of gospel-influenced soul jazz, the joyful sway of Cuban guaguanco rhythms, the bluesy melodies of Middle Eastern praise songs and so much more all come together in pianist Philip Clouts’ superbly accomplished quartet. ‘Clouts’ compositions are strong and likeable…a feeling of optimism pervading the tunes with a life force of its own’ (All About Jazz). Finally, The Arcadian Collective will complete a summer of jazz on Thursday 11 August. The Arcadian Collective is a creative 6 piece jazz-funk group conceived as a collective after years of collaborating, recording and gigging under various musical identities. The focus
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