12 h. ago I judged this year’s Welsh music prize – and Don Leisure’s winning album sums up the nation’s eclectic spirit

Desert blues, transcendental electronica and a concept album about a mill powered by music­ – this year’s shortlisted albums were stunningly diverse, none more so than the crate-digging on the triumphant Tyrchu SainWhat if I told you that this year’s Welsh music prize shortlist featured an eclectic mix of desert blues, weird folk, malevolent trance and indie rock? Impressed? OK, what if I told you that all this merely describes the first album on the shortlist?Such is the radical eclecticism of female trio Adwaith’s Solas, a double album, sung in Welsh and recorded in various locations including the Outer Hebrides and the drummer’s parents’ barn. How, I wondered – just 20 minutes into a playlist of 15 albums that stretched over 10 hours – was anything expected to beat this? Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Irish singer CMAT postpones UK tour because of infected wisdom tooth

The musician, whose real name is Ciara Mary‑Alice Thompson, was scheduled to start shows in October.

Politics

9 d. ago Strictly's Shirley Ballas said her 'mind boggles' as Amber Davies gives last minute performance

The judges had mixed reviews on the Welsh Love Islander's first dance of this year's season

Politics

2 w. ago Pictured: 'Little angel', two, who was 'raped and murdered' as girl's mother, 25, and a man, 21, appear in court after being charged over her death

Isabelle Rose Welsh can today be named for the first time after a judge lifted a reporting restriction barring publication of her identity.

Events

3 w. ago Scotland at the Mercury Music Prize: Here are all 18 Scottish acts to have been nominated since 1992

In 33 years it’s perhaps surprising how few Scots have been nominated for one of the biggest prizes in British music.

Politics

3 w. ago Rock acts Fontaines DC, Sam Fender and Wolf Alice shortlisted for the 2025 Mercury Prize

An Irish act could win for the first time in Mercury Prize history, with both Fontaines DC and pop singer CMAT shortlisted, while North Shields singer-songwriter Fender will be hoping for a homecoming triumph as the ceremony takes place in Newcastle

Politics

3 w. ago Pulp, CMAT and Sam Fender among artists nominated for 2025 Mercury Prize

Britpop band Pulp previously won the prize in 1996 for Different Class.

Politics

3 w. ago Cmat, Pulp and PinkPantheress among Mercury prize shortlist light on new names

Only two debut albums – including the ‘token’ jazz release – feature among this year’s list of nominations for the coveted UK and Irish music prizeA raft of familiar names fill this year’s list of Mercury prize nominations, with only two debuts among the 12 shortlisted albums. In Limerence, the first full-length by the Scottish folk songwriter Jacob Alon, and Hamstrings and Hurricanes, the first by Welsh jazz musician Joe Webb, will compete with the likes of Pulp’s comeback album More, folk godfather Martin Carthy’s Transform Me Then Into a Fish and the album with the UK’s biggest opening week of the year so far, People Watching by Sam Fender.The list is split 50/50 between male and female or mixed acts. The solo female artists on the list tend to the iconoclastic: Irish pop star Cmat’s acclaimed third album Euro-Country, Leeds jazz musician Emma-Jean Thackray’s Weirdo, FKA twigs’ Eusexua and PinkPantheress’s mixtape Fancy That. As for bands, as well as Pulp, the Irish band Fontaine...

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