An interview with the lead singer of one of the Tafia's favorite bands 'Here Be Dragons'.

To quote our reprobate of a former Illinois governor,

"We've got this thing and its *bleeping* golden!"

Wales v USA
Saturday, June 6th, 1:00pm
Toyota Park
7000 S Harlem Ave
Bridgeview, Illinois
www.toyotapark.com  

Tickets start at $20 and are on sale at ticketmaster at - www.ticketmaster.com/artist/1296589?tm_link=edp_Artist_Name

Wales will also be playing Canada in Toronto on May 30.

.... 

Welsh Events in Chicago - Spring/Summer 2009

Don’t despair, Spring is nearly here which means summer and some nice 90 degree days can’t be far behind.

With concerts by Tom Jones, The Cardiff & Vale Music Service Jazz Ensemble, a visit by top Welsh author Niall Griffiths and the Wales v USA rugby it is already warming up to be another great spring and summer of Welsh events in Chicago!

APRIL

Monday April 13th, 7pm

The Cardiff & Vale Music Service Jazz Ensemble
Pete Miller's Steak and Seafood
1557 Sherman Avenue

Evanston, Illinois
The Cardiff & Vale Music Service Jazz Ensemble perform a varied Big Band programme.

Wednesday April 15th, 12pm
The Cardiff & Vale Music Service Jazz Ensemble
The Daley Centre (Foyer)

50 West Washington

Chicago, Illinois
Jazz at Noon - The Cardiff & Vale Music Service Jazz Ensemble perform a varied Big Band programme.

Friday April 24, 6:30pm
Tom Jones Tribute & Dinner
Nikos Restaurant & Lounge
7600 S Harlem Avenue

Bridgeview, Illinois
A Tom Jones Tribute Vegas Style Show & Dinner comes to Bridgeview on April 24th.  The 3 hour show includes a 3 course dinner all for only $19.95!  Call: 708 496 0301 for tickets and further details or visit: www.nikosrestaurant.com  A bunch of the Tafia are planning to go together, and this should be a fun night out!

Sunday April 26, 2:30pm

The Cambrian Benevolent Society of Chicago - Spring Gymanfa Ganu
Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church
744 Fair Oaks Avenue

Oak Park, Illinois
The annual Spring Gymanfa Ganu, sponsored by The Cambrian Benevolent Society of Chicago, will be held Sunday April 26 at 2:30 PM.The conductor this year will be Rev. Joe Corbin of Wisconsin. Te bach will be served after the Gymanfa. For further details, phone Gwilym Williams at 847-991-0870.

MAY

Friday May 29, 6:00pm
Welsh Film Night – ‘Solomon and Gaenor’
The Wilmette Library
1242 Wilmette Avenue
Wilmette, Illinois
The Cambrian Society is launching its first Welsh Film Night of 2009 on Friday evening, May 29 in the Auditorium of The Wilmette Library. The film is “Solomon and Gaenor”, starring Ioan Gruffudd.  It is the story of two lovers from different backgrounds (he is Jewish, she is Welsh) in 1911 Wales. Come at 6PM; the film will start at 6:30.Tea and Welsh cakes will be served.

JUNE

June 6th, 1:00pm
Wales v USA Rugby

Toyota Park

7000 S Harlem Ave
Bridgeview, Illinois
This is the first time Wales has played the USA in Chicago!  It’s a 20,000 seater stadium, it would be good to see at least half of it in red shirts;)  Tickets start at $20 for the cheap seats, and $30 for some good seats, further information and tickets please visit: http://www.toyotapark.com/events/details.asp?id=197 

JULY

Saturday, July 11 - 7:30 PM

Tom Jones

Ravinia

200 Ravinia Park Road

Highland Park, Illinois

$65/Lawn $22 ($27 on day of concert)

Ravinia welcomes back the man that needs no introduction, Sir Tom Jones!  Bring a picnic, a blanket and some chairs and head up to Chicago’s premier outdoor venue for a great night out. Tickets are available at: www.ravinia.org

AmeriCymru – The Social Network for the Welsh Overseas.

Sorry to push this on you again, AmeriCymru the Facebook style social network aimed at the Welsh in North America is growing into a pretty decent site, it currently has around 1,100 members so far mainly in the US, Canada & Wales, but increasingly expats in Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, China, England, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa and Uruguay with more members signing up daily.

It features a load of exclusive content, interviews, competitions, event information and a hell of a lot more.

It's honestly a pretty good site, if you have a minutes take a look at: http://americymru.ning.com to see if you think it is something worthwhile joining?

Cheers

The Chicago Tafia Welsh Society

The Chicago Tafia on Facebook (sorry)

The Tafia has been seeing Facebook behind MySpace’s back for quite a while now, but that doesn’t mean that we still can’t be friends.

If your are on the book and fancy adding the Tafia to the list of other groups you diligently visit everyday or just fancy signing up and completely forgetting about us you can find our page at: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2396007827

Hwyl

Dave from the Tafia

The Chicago Tafia's 7th annual St. David's Day Party

Come out to our 7th annual St. David's Day pub night and party, featuring Live Welsh musical entertainment with the notorious South Wales clubland act Jay Brook, Welsh dragon cocktails, free samples of The Glenlivet "the Single Malt that started it all", raffles for some quality Welsh Beers, CD's, t-shirts and much more…

Sunday March 1st, 6:00pm to whenever!
The Elephant & Castle Pub
185 North Wabash Avenue, Chicago

At 10pm we will be making our annual trip to the ABC 7 studios on State Street to get some Welsh flags on the news & get some pictures outside the Wrigley Building lit up in the Welsh colours.

A $5 on the door donation would be appreciated to cover the room rental costs and entertainment, though if you are feeling a bit more generous we wont hold it against you.

I know it's a Sunday night, but that's no excuse to sit in at home, get a babysitter, dog sitter, whatever you need and come out for the night!

If you could send us an email to say whether you are planning on going or not it would be much appreciated and save me from getting any more grey hairs for a while at least…

Cheers

Dave

10 Questions with Amy Wadge

Amy Wadge is a folk and country singer who originally came from Bristol, just over the Welsh border, but who has now crossed over and been adopted by her now-native Wales.

She is one of the most popular singer-songwriters in Wales, and has won great critical acclaim as well as a number of awards and has supported music legends such as Van Morrison, Damien Rice, and Jeff Beck.

Amy has recently been selected to perform at the prestigious SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas in March, 2009.

Q1 – What part of Wales do you live in?

I live in Church Village in Pontypridd.

Q2 – When did you cross the border to Wales and why? 

I moved here 15 years ago to study acting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and then met my husband and never went back - I love it here!!

Q3 – How would you describe your music? 

Alternative country is the most accurate description but there are folk influences too with a bit of rock thrown in for good measure.

Q4 – You have recently been selected to showcase at the legendary South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, do you have any other overseas gigs planed in the near future? 

I'm hoping to build up something in America as I'd love to tour there - I have a one year old so touring abroad is a little bit harder these days - but I can always bring her with me!!!

Q5 – You toured Australia as a Welsh Assembly Government Cultural Ambassador during the 2003, Rugby World Cup. Did that result in any interesting or odd stories to tell? 

I had a blast there.  I did some pretty bizarre gigs though - including one in the middle of a seal pool - (literally on a rock) for the president of new south wales. It was a brilliant trip though and I'll never forget the Wales/ New Zealand game it was amazing Wales played out of their skins and we drank til 5 in the morning and then had to fly home

Q6 – So far where has been you favorite place to perform?

I did play the Albert Hall with Jeff Beck for two nights and that was pretty amazing - but honestly you can't beat gigs at home - when I play Cardiff it's always really special.

Q7 – What is your favorite haunt in Wales?

I spent a lot of time in Moelfre on Anglesey recording an album and it is still the most beautiful place on earth to me - absolute paradise!

Q8 – What are your dreams and ambitions for the future? 

I just want to carry on making my living with music - I am lucky that I get to do this everyday and I hope I always will. 

Q9 –What do you think is the best way for Wales to go about raising its profile overseas? 

Just to be true to itself.  There is so much talent here that goes un-noticed - Wales needs to have a bit of confidence hopefully the likes of Duffy will pave the way for more people to get noticed.

Q10 - Do you have any messages for our MySpace readers?

Really hope to see some of you in the future at gigs - and if you are at South by southwest please come and say hello.

For more information about Amy please visit her website at: www.amywadge.com or her MySpace site at: www.myspace.com/amywadge

What the papers have to say:

'Pint sized poetess with valley quaking voice. Her songs have a raw vibrancy that suit her earthy voice and emotionally mature lyrics' - Q magazine

'The new Joni Mitchell, with her distinctive voice and well-crafted songs' – The London Evening Standard

'The Voice of her generation - a star is born' - Ouest-France