02 August 2007
Rhythm is the name of the 2007 Flintshire National Eisteddfod’s opening concert, a toe-tapping show featuring performances by the multi-talented singer Caryl Parry Jones and a host of other well-known faces from the area.
Joining Caryl and her band on the pavilion’s stage will be musical duet, Piantel, percussion soloist Dewi Ellis Jones, Flintshire Senior County Youth Choir, male voice choir Cantorion Colin Jones and folk dancing group, Dawnswyr Nantgarw.
Huw Llywelyn Davies, Alwyn Humphreys and Sara Gibson will be presenting the night’s festivities, with S4C showing the concert live on Friday, 3 August as part of its extensive coverage of the festival.
Caryl, originally from the village of Ffynnongroyw and also a household name as an actress and presenter, is looking forward to performing on home ground.
“It’s always a pleasure for me to come back to my roots for two reasons,” she says. “The area and its people are close to my heart and the audience always responds with enthusiasm and energy to the performances.
“I also think it’s great that the Eisteddfod is coming to Flint because it’s an area that can be overlooked because it’s often considered Anglicised. This is not the case – Welsh as a language is still going strong and the humour and closeness of the colliery industry remains – even though the pits have long disappeared!”
Caryl has released a total of six albums during her successful career as a singer, and she continues to sing, produce and give advice and vocal coaching to competitors on shows such as WawFfactor.
Also this year, Caryl was named Wales’ Children’s Poet Laureate 2007-8 at the Carmarthenshire Urdd Eisteddfod, a role which aims to raise the profile of poetry among children and encourage them to write and enjoy poems.
As well as performing at the concert, Caryl has many other projects on the go during Eisteddfod week.
“I’m adjudicating the solo from a musical competition with Robert Alwyn and I’m very much looking forward to seeing the array of talent at this year’s competition. I’ll be in the learners’ tent with actor Llŷr Evans adjudicating a range of competitions, from sketches to recitation and singing. At the end of the week I’ll be performing at Maes C, entertainment aimed at Eisteddfod-goers in their 30s and 40s. I had lots of fun last year at the Swansea Eisteddfod when I appeared in Maes C and I’m sure this year will be just as much fun,” said Caryl.
Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Sir Fflint a’r Cyffiniau: Cyngerdd Agoriadol
Friday, 3 August, 8.00pm, S4C
English subtitles available
BBC Cymru Wales production for S4C
