All film and music buffs get ready for a week of sheer bliss as Soundtrack International Film and Music Festival takes over Cardiff for 5 days.
It’s going to be hard to top last year’s bill which included such high profile guests as Slumdog Millionaire Director, Danny Boyle and renowned Welsh actor, Jonathan Pryce but they’ve done it again! From Wednesday 18 November to Sunday 22 November, the festival, which takes place in various venues around Cardiff and the Bay area will be welcoming some very special guests…
2009’s event will see musical legend, composer and artist, John Cale return once more to Wales. Cale, who was born in Garnant near Ammanford, made his name as the co-founder of iconic New York art-rock group, The Velvet Underground in the 1960s before forging a highly successful solo career as a producer and performer, before making the leap into the world of composition for film.
Cale who represented Wales at the Venice Biennale earlier this year, returns to the Captial to celebrate his career as both a composer and solo musician through two very special events. On the 20th November, John Cale will take part in an ‘In Conversation’ event where he will discuss his film work before a screening of the cult favourite, ‘American Psycho’ (for which he provided the score) at Cardiff Cineworld.
The following evening, November 21, Cale will perform a special concert at the newly reopened Coal Exchange venue in Cardiff Bay. For the first time ever, Cale will perform his seminal solo album, ‘Paris 1919’ in its entirety, backed by his LA based band and a large compliment of backing musicans.
Also appearing live at Soundtrack ’09 will be Cardiff psych-rockers, Super Furry Animals, who will perform at the Coal Exchange as part of a special series of events celebrating the 25th anniversary of the iconic Creation Records label. The band will perform tracks from their years on the label on the 20 November.
Gruff Rhys, SFA’s frontman will also be making his debut as a film-maker with the premiere of his new film, ‘Separado’ at Cineworld, Cardiff on November 19. Separado is a psychedelic western musical in which Gruff takes us on a pan continental road trip in search of his long lost Patagonian uncle, the poncho wearing guitarist, Rene Griffiths. The film will be followed by a Q and A session with Gruff, his co-director Dyl ‘Goch’ Jones and the Guardian Journalist and author, Will Hodgkinson.
This is just a taster of the great events on offer at this year’s Soundtrack Festival. For more information, please visit the website: www.soundtrackfilmfestival.com
Film Agency Wales, which organises the festival, is supported by Arts Council of Wales.
Photograph: John Cale at the Venice Biennale (c) British Council
