Welsh language campaigners will celebrate Wrexham’s hosting of the National Eisteddfod with a unique gig on the last Saturday (6th August) of the week’s festival in partnership with local group “Deffro’r Ddraig”.
Band Cambria from the Wrexham area will march into the Central Station club to start the special gig with a local flavour.
Following them will be the local rock band “Mother of Six” performing a Welsh language set for the first time as a symbol of their pride that the Eisteddfod has come to the town.
For the first time ever in an Eisteddfod, there will be a martial arts display on stage from world-wide champion Pol Wong – originally from Wrexham and of Chinese descent who has learnt Welsh fluently. Closing the gig will be a set by Geraint Lovgreen – one of the staunchest supporters of Wrexham Football Club – and Bob Delyn, who are always a favourite on the last Saturday of the Eisteddfod.
One of the local organisers of the Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (The Welsh Language Society) gigs, Nia Lloyd said:
“Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg always works with the local community to organise entertainment during the Eisteddfod week. Saturday night’s gig is an amazing mix, and give Wrexham a chance to put its own stamp on the festival. People will remember this gig for years to come. Tickets are available for £8 from Yales cafe in town or online from cymdeithas.org/steddfod.”
Pol Wong, who’s taking part in the evening’s entertainment, said
“For the first time in an Eisteddfod, I will be performing very exciting martial arts, interpreting the story of the Red Dragon against the White Dragon. According to the tale, Brenin Gwrtheyrn’s castle was destroyed by two dragons fighting in a cave underneath the castle. The white dragon was winning the struggle, but with one last effort, and using its whole strength and spirit, the red dragon was victorious. He went back to the cave and returned to a deep sleep, ready to rise again at the call of the people of Wales. This tale, and the enormous problems which face the north east, inspired the ‘Deffro’r Ddraig’ (Awaking the Dragon) campaign. It is indeed time to wake the dragon after centuries. We are the red dragon; are we ready to wake up?”
Gig Details
Saturday, 6 August PARTY 3 IN 1! 7pm- 4am, £8
7pm-9pm : DEFFRO’R DDRAIG, Band Cambria, Mother of Six, Kung Fu a Taekwondo
9pm-11.30pm : BOB DELYN & GERAINT LØVGREEN
12am-4am : Stay for the Central Station’s normal club night
Artists
Band Cambria
The band was established 5 years ago by Adam Phillips (Balchder Cymru) and Andrew Burgess, and the main aim is to support community processions. The band meets in Chirk regularly to practise. They are ready to play anywhere in Wales, for free, receiving donations towards their costs. They have worked very closely with the local pressure group ‘Deffro’r Ddraig’ over recent years.
Pol Wong
Pol is a Welshman of Chinese descent, and originally from Wrexham. Pol has learnt Welsh fluently, and is a Shaolin monk and world champion in martial arts. He works in a Shaolin centre in Ruabon, near Wrexham and teaches kung fu through the medium of Welsh to children and adults. Pol’s drean is to open a Welsh language/martial arts centre that will promote the language and health, bringing work, opportunities and tourists to the area.
Mother of Six
Mother of Six are a local band, who have translated their whole set to Welsh for the Eisteddfod. They have a wide following in the area already, and they’ll certainly have a big following amongst Welsh speakers following this gig.
Deffro’r Ddraig
Deffro’r Ddraig campaign was started in March 2009 by members of the ‘North Wales People’s Council’ to oppose the sub-regional North East Wales, Cheshire and Merseyside strategy which was supported by Wrexham council. A plan which meant building over 20,000 houses not for local people, which would have a ruinous effect on the language, environment, heritage and Welsh identiy of the area. The Mersey Deeside Alliance have pulled out of the plan, thanks to the Deffro’r Ddraig campaign, and the struggle now is to put pressure on our local councils to re-consider their local development plans, and ensure that they are designed for the benefit of the people of Wales.
