On this day, 7 August 2018, Welsh language rocker Geraint Jarman played Cardiff’s Millennium Centre.
Born 1950 in Denbigh, Jarman is a Welsh musician, poet and television producer whose career dates back to the early years of Welsh popular music. He has recorded many albums as a solo artist and with his band Geraint Jarman a'r Cynganeddwyr.Setlist
Jarman grew up in Cardiff and his career began in the 1960s as a poet and composer, writing for Heather Jones [cy]. He was a member of Y Bara Menyn [cy] with Jones and Meic Stevens before establishing himself as a solo artist. He also wrote "Y Brawd Houdini", one of Stevens' most popular recordings. He introduced genres such as reggae into Welsh music and released many albums as a solo artist and with his band as Geraint Jarman a'r Cynganneddwyr (Geraint Jarman and the Poets, referring to the cynghanedd techniques of formal Welsh poetry), his first album (Gobaith Mawr y Ganrif) released in 1976 by Sain. In the late 1970s he was championed by John Peel who introduced him to a wider audience through his BBC Radio 1 show.
Gruff Rhys, in the liner notes of the Welsh Rare Beat album, paid tribute to Jarman's influence, stating "Jarman helped to sever ties with Celtic folk and serve as a bridge to a new wave of post punk/post Sain Welsh language artists in the 1980s and beyond who had a less self-conscious relationship with their Welsh identity." The BBC described him as the "father of Welsh rock".
Setlist
Gobaith Mawr y Ganrif
Tacsi i'r Tywyllwch
Methu Dal y Pwysau
Merch Tŷ Cyngor
Siglo ar y Siglen
Tracsiwt Gwyrdd
Reggae Reggae
Hiraeth am Kylie
Ethiopia Newydd
Gwesty Cymru
NorthWalesLive Review: Geraint Jarman at the National Eisteddfod 2018 in Cardiff
By Eryl Crump
Geraint Jarman, dubbed the father of Welsh rock, featured heavily when the National Eisteddfod was staged in Cardiff 40 years ago.
His first three albums had been released and were in every music fans record collection at the time including DJ John Peel who championed his music on his late night Radio 1 show.
Like most musicians he had taken a step back by the late 1980s but the man who has influenced generations of Welsh musicians to stand by their mother tongue has never given up performing.
The decision to book the 68-year-old to headline the Eisteddfod gig was a surprise to me and others.
But it was the first of the evening programme concerts to sell out and turned out to be an inspired choice.
Jarman, backed by a band of superb musicians including guitarists Mei Gwynedd and Osian Huw Williams, may have been enough but he also had the backing of the Welsh Pops Orchestra.
This added a whole new dimension to the hour long set.
Starting with Gobaith Mawr y Ganrif he peppered his set with classic hits and musical styles that ranged from folk to heavy rock as well as ska and reggae.
Jarman also sang a few songs from his most recent albums.
The audience loved it and it was interesting to see youngsters whose parents were still youngsters back in 1978 singing along word perfect.
Jarman ended the set with Ethiopia Newydd and Gwesty Cymru.
Sitting, no make that standing, towards the rear of the Donald Gordon Theatre I could hear waves of song tumbling down from the circle and all around mobile phones were switched on and waved from side to side. We used lighters or matches back in the day.
The audience had already been suitably warmed up by an excellent and all too short set by Band Pres Llareggub. They have brought a new dimension to brass band playing in Wales.
After an instrumental introduction, which included a section sampling the Gorsedd horns calling the audience to stand for the Archdruid, the band called on soloist Lisa Jen to sing three songs and then Osian Huw Williams to play guitar.
The band ended their set with Dafydd Iwan’s anthem Yma o Hyd set against the backdrop of a new arrangement.
The stage for Jarman had been set. Dal dy Dir!
