Allan Jones First episode this Sunday!

We are very proud to announce the upcoming series of Vodcast for KCL with Allan Jones the legendary journalist.

He has released his second book and it’s a cracker full of fantastic Rock n Roll stories.

Our intrepid interviewer Steve Johnson caught up with Allan in a not to be missed 6 part series of revelations and fun. Check out our new trailer to glimpse what’s in store!

A new episode will be released on the next 6 Sundays, six of the best!

Too Late To Stop Now is available at all book stores good and Bad!

New Vodcast Trailer. First Episode coming soon!

Our correspondent, Steve Johnson, described ‘Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down’ as one of the best music books he’s ever read and was chuffed to beans, to interview the author, Allan Jones for KCL. Allan’s follow-up, ‘Too Late To Stop Now’ has just been released by Bloomsbury Publishing. Steve was again delighted to secure an interview with Allan about the new publication. It was again a fascinating and very funny conversation. If you love music, you’ll love this interview. Prepare for stories about Sting, Bryan Ferry, Elvis Costello, The Clash, Nick Lowe, Lou Reed, Emmylou Harris and many more!! ‘Too Late To Stop Now’, published by Bloomsbury Publishing is now available from all good book stores.

Martyn Joseph Interview

It’s been a while since we had a chat with our good friend and long-time supporter of this website, Martyn Joseph. Martyn’s just back from a 120-date tour, including an emotional homecoming gig, at St David’s Hall. We sat down on the cosy leather settee, at Moto Music, to catch up, on all that’s happened since our last meeting and to hear Martyn play a couple of songs (including ‘Albert’s Place’) exclusively for Keep Cardiff Live. Many Thanks to Moto Music https://motomusic.co.uk/

Cardiff City Phone In Interview - 20 years and Still going strong.

The Cardiff City Phone In (CCPI) is nearing the end of its 20th year! The show launched in the season that Andy Campbell famously got the goal that elevated Cardiff City into the Championship.

The series producer is Steve Johnson, senior lecturer, at the University of South Wales. Steve has involved a high number of his students, as presenters, contributors, and production staff, over the years. Originally broadcast from the Treforest campus, it then moved to the Atrium, Cardiff and now goes out as a Facebook live stream, on Monday evenings from 7-8 pm.

Guests have included many current and former Cardiff City players and senior staff such as Dave Jones, Lennie Lawrence, Peter Ridsdale, Sam Hammam and many others. The show also goes out on three local community radio stations and has been sponsored by significant companies, such as Betfred, Mooneerams Solicitors and Hafren Roofing, in the past. In this interview, Steve, is interviewed in a USW teaching room by final year, BA Sports Journalism student, Chris Stonadge.

Martyn Joseph Interview Clip

The full Interview coming up this weekend but here is a little taster clip.

Our thanks to Motomusic.

Erin Bode Interview

Steve caught up with Erin Bode, American Singer/Songwriter and Italian Guitarist Marco Grillo at Motomusic for our regular interviews on The Couch.

Many thanks To Erin and Marco and of course Mike at Motomusic

In the decade-plus since Erin Bode began her professional recording career, she has garnered much critical praise for her pure voice and impressive phrasing and style. It is this talent, coupled with her reluctance to accept classification as a purely jazz vocalist that has led to reviews hailing her as “someone you won’t forget” and comparing her sound to the likes of Eva Cassidy and Norah Jones. A Minnesota native, Bode was first introduced to music by her parents, who emphasized music in daily life and encouraged her to join the church choir. She studied music as well as foreign languages at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities and graduated from Webster University in St. Louis. It is at Webster where Erin studied vocal jazz with Christine Hitt who helped to launch her career as a vocalist. Shortly after graduating college, Bode produced her first record, Requests. The album was successful in gaining Bode local attention and secured her a recording contract with jazz label, Maxjazz. Bode gained exposure through appearances on various national broadcasts including CBS’s Second Cup Café and Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. To date, Bode and her band have released eight albums and have toured the United States, as well as Italy, Asia, and Africa. The Erin Bode Group creates music forged from the Americana of its members’ Midwestern roots, infused with jazz grooves and made magic by Bode’s bell-like voice. Sophisticated arrangements and attention to phrasing, both vocal and instrumental, further distinguish the band’s fresh sound. Bode’s recorded works run the gamut between standard jazz and decidedly more pop-based pieces. 2008’s Little Garden and 2010’s Photograph feature all original material by Bode, and showcase her love of poetry with songs that are rich in harmonic and timbral texture. Erin’s latest project, YourSong is a collaboration between her listeners and herself in which she curates personalized compositions for any occasion or inspiration. These songs are given as gifts, kept as keepsakes and have become some of the most rewarding experiences of Erin’s life and career. A collection of some of these first projects and the stories behind them can be heard on Erin’s new album, YourSong, Volume 1.

Vodcast with Benn Willis - Finale, Part 4- Gigging

Benn Willis is a Cardiff based singer-songwriter/Vocal coach. He's toured extensively, taking in appearances, at the Royal Festival Hall and the Isle of Wight Festival, recorded at Abbey Road Studios, co-written and performed with Grammy Award Winner, Amy Wadge and is currently working on new material with 'Lunar Rescue', set for release in 2023. Benn is also a professional voice coach, providing singing and songwriting expertise via https://www.melodymatters.co.uk/. We chatted with Benn, in his Cardiff studio, to discuss touring, songwriting, vocal techniques and to hear a few tales of his adventures and people met along the way, such as Little Richard, David Gray, Steve LillyWhite and others...

Vodcast with Benn Willis - Part 3 - Cardiff, Guitars and Venues.

Benn Willis is a Cardiff based singer-songwriter/Vocal coach. He's toured extensively, taking in appearances, at the Royal Festival Hall and the Isle of Wight Festival, recorded at Abbey Road Studios, co-written and performed with Grammy Award Winner, Amy Wadge and is currently working on new material with 'Lunar Rescue', set for release in 2023. Benn is also a professional voice coach, providing singing and songwriting expertise via https://www.melodymatters.co.uk/. We chatted with Benn, in his Cardiff studio, to discuss touring, songwriting, vocal techniques and to hear a few tales of his adventures and people met along the way, such as Little Richard, David Gray, Steve LillyWhite and others...