AAA Display options

The new force combining Age Concern Wales logo & Help the Aged in Wales logo

For One Night Only


Published on 11 January 2011 02:30 PM

1950s, 1960s and 1970s bands to reunite “for one night only”

“Show the world you’ve still got it”, say arts festival organisers

  

WALES’ pubs and clubs used to ‘shake rattle and roll’ to the sound of young bands trying to be the next Beatles or Rolling Stones.

Now they have a chance to do it again.

Budding John, Paul, George and Ringos, Jimmy Pages and Jimi Hendrixes, Sandy Shaws and Helen Shapiros will be able to strut their stuff in May thanks to an arts festival for over 50s.

The Gwanwyn Festival from Age Cymru is urging music fans from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s to get their favourite bands to reform and show the world they’ve still got it.

Gwanwyn Organiser Phil Thomas says:

“Imagine, it’s the 1950s, 1960s or 1970s.

“It’s a Saturday night and you’re going to your local youth club, dance hall or club to see your favourite local group of wannabe rock ‘n’ roll or pop stars.

“What would you give to re-live those Saturday nights?

“The Gwanwyn Festival wants to recreate the sounds, the sights and the smells of those early days of rock n' roll for over 50s across Wales

“This is why we are organising ‘Together Again - For One Night Only’”

‘Together Again - For One Night Only’ aims to get bands back together again and reunite for one night only to perform to their fans. 

Phil Thomas explains:

“We need music fans from across Wales to encourage some of the groups and bands from the early days of rock n’roll to get together again for one night only.

“We’re not necessarily talking about the big names, but perhaps the less well-known bands that were so much a part of the way our older people grew up in Wales.

“We want these bands blow the dust off those old instruments and show the world they’ve still got what it takes.

“Gwanwyn wants music fans to find musicians from those days and let them be a part of a series of fun events taking place during the Gwanwyn Festival in May 2011. “

If you are a music fan, or a musician and you would like to be a part of ‘Together Again - For One Night Only’, please contact the Gwanwyn Festival team on 02920 431555 before 28 February 2011 to discuss how you can help.

ENDS

CONTACT

For all media enquiries, please contact Iwan Rhys Roberts, Communications Officer – Age Cymru , 029 2043 1562, 07739 894 923, iwan.roberts@agecymru.org.uk

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

Gwanwyn is a month-long national festival held across Wales in May each year celebrating creativity in older age.

The aim of the festival is to:

  • Celebrate the opportunity of older age for renewal, growth and creativity, hence the connotations of new-life in the name ‘Gwanwyn’ meaning ‘springtime’ in the Welsh language.
  • Promote the benefits of exploring creativity, developing a critical voice and participating fully in the artistic and cultural life of local communities and Wales as a whole.
  • Offer opportunities for greater participation by older people in the arts, such as painting, photography, music, drama, storytelling, literature, dance or film during the month of May.
  • Highlight existing artistic work and creativity of groups and individuals who are older people themselves or whose work revolves around the concepts of older people and creativity.
  • Promote the participation of older people in the arts throughout the year and highlight existing or new opportunities available locally.
  • Gwanwyn is a collaborative initiative between key national organisations lead by Age Cymru, the Arts Council of Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government; working closely with local arts groups, active retirement and community groups, public libraries, museums, schools and care centres.

Your Age Cymru

Set your location to see what Age Cymru offers in your local area.

Age UK Advice:
0800 169 6565

Media enquiries

For all media enquiries about Age Cymru, please contact our Communications Officer, Iwan Rhys Roberts.

07739 894 923 

Close window
Display options

Set the appearance of this website so you can read it more easily

Text size

Background/foreground


To see information relating to England, Northern Ireland or Scotland set your preference below: