Welsh Music Podcast / Podlediad Miwsig Cymreig

22/10/2025

Had a blast chatting about International Velvet and Cool Cymru at Neath Arts Festival last weekend.

Great to meet Gruff Rhys, Lord Peter Hain, Joe Dunthorne and Neath artist Neale Howells, who provided the artwork for the Manics’ Know Your Enemy album in 2001.

Big thanks to Roger Williams for a brilliant interview and to Neil Davies for the invite. Hats off to the dedicated team of volunteers for putting together a fab festival. Llongyfarchiadau!

17/10/2025

Tomorrow!👇🏻

07/10/2025

Llongyfarchiadau / congratulations to Don Leisure on winning the Welsh Music Prize 2025 last night for his brilliant album, Tyrchu Sain (Digging Sain).

Cardiff-based producer, Aly Jamal delved deep into the archives of Wales’ iconic label Recordiau Sain (Sain Records), uncovering long-forgotten gems and reinventing them with a fresh perspective.

The album pays tribute to the rich heritage of Welsh music, while reimagining it for a new generation.

05/10/2025

Here’s a shout-out to some of our favourite Welsh albums of the last year that weren’t nominated for the Welsh Music Prize.

Support these great artists by buying their music and merch, and attending their gigs!👇🏻

HIMALAYAS - Bad Star
James And The Cold Gun - Face in the Mirror
Pastel - Souls in Motion
Melys - Second Wind
Me Against Misery - Fire in the Den of Thieves
Sonic Coins & Icons - Sohar
Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 - Fontana Rosa
Bronwen - Finding Me
Yws Gwynedd - Tra Dwi'n Cysgu
Ethan Jones - The Ontology
The Bug Club - On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System
The Eggmen Whoooooo! - Fuzzy Eggs, Please
John MOuse - Back to the Clubhouse
Nia Wyn - A Pleasure to Have in Class
Eve Goodman - Summer Sun, Winter Trees
Derrero - Breezing Up
Bwncath - Bwncath III
Tom Emlyn - Rehearsal for the Rain: Scaredycat Vol. 2
Red Telephone - Delay the New Day
Roughion - Wired & Wonderful

05/10/2025

The winner of the Welsh Music Prize will be announced tomorrow (Mon 6 Oct)!

Join all 15 brilliant nominees from 6.30pm at the Wales Millennium Centre at the 15th anniversary celebration of the awards. Pob lwc pawb!

🎟️🎟️🎟️ £10 https://bit.ly/48IZ6Sn

In the meantime, check out these classic albums from the previous winners👇🏻🎧

2011: Gruff Rhys - Hotel Shampoo
2012: Future of the Left - The Plot Against Common Sense
2013: Georgia Ruth - Week of Pines
2014: Joanna Gruesome - Weird Sister
2015: Gwenno - Y Dydd Olaf
2016: Meilyr Jones - 2013
2017: The Gentle Good - Ruins / Adfeilion
2018: Boy Azooga - 1, 2, Kung Fu!
2019: Adwaith - Melyn
2020: Deyah. - Care City
2021: Kelly Lee Owens - Inner Song
2022: Adwaith - Bato Mato
2023: Rogue Jones - Dos Bebés
2024: L E M F R E C K - Blood, Sweat & Fears

03/10/2025

In two weeks, I’ll be chatting at the Neath Arts Festival about Cool Cymru on Saturday 18 October at 4.15pm in Neath Town Hall.

Booking isn’t required, but donations are appreciated. Signed copies of International Velvet will be available.

Curated by a dedicated team of voluntary organisers, the fab five-day festival (Weds 15 - Sun 19 Oct) includes Dame Siân Phillips, Academy Award winner Ray Milland, Lord Peter Hain, ‘Submarine’ author Joe Dunthorne, a one-man play featuring Keiron Self; plus music from Gruff Rhys, The Eggmen Whoooooo, Cursive Youth and much more.

Full programme: http://bit.ly/4mLdeOA

Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot Literature Wales

02/10/2025

While it wasn’t the reformation and new album Super Furries fans were dreaming of, the first live dates in 10 years will be amazing!

Congrats to everyone who secured tickets in the pre-sale, and good luck to everyone else tomorrow morning.

Here’s my interview on BBC Radio Wales earlier this week chatting about the genius of Super Furry Animals, SFA.

02/10/2025

Not long to go now until the Welsh Music Prize! Who will win? Find out at the Wales Millennium Centre from 6.30pm this Monday (6 October!)

Well done to all 15 brilliant nominees and good luck to the Triskel Award winners Nancy Williams, Source and MORN. Huge congratulations to Cardiff legend Pino Palladino, who is the recipient of this year’s Welsh Music Inspiration Award.

Hosted by Sian Eleri, the evening also features live performances from Gwenno, Panic Shack, Sage Todz and Melin Melyn.

🎟️🎟️🎟️ £10 https://bit.ly/48IZ6Sn

29/09/2025

What will today’s big news be with Super Furry Animals, SFA?

Live dates? An anniversary album? A full reformation with new music?🙏🏻

I’ll be chatting on BBC Radio Wales at 8.50am ahead of the announcement!

26/07/2025

David Owens In 2025 music has become such an escapist pleasure for so many. With the news agenda continuing to resemble the end of days, for many of us music provides sanctuary – a dopamine fix for our mental well-being, a joy-bringing shot-in-the-arm. Never have we needed its transformative and t...

25/07/2025

Happy 1st Birthday to International Velvet: How Wales Conquered the ‘90s Charts!🥳

Launched at Waterstones Cardiff, it’s been all over the country on tour since then and it’s been amazing seeing the book in shops and so many people enjoying it.

Huge thanks to everyone who has a bought a copy or attended the live events including all the special guests and anyone who has arranged media coverage. Massive thanks as ever to Calon / University of Wales Press.

Following great events at Cardiff Central Library and Grinning Soul Records over the last week, the next one will be at Neath Arts Festival on Saturday 18 October. Please drop me a message if you would like to arrange any events, interviews or podcasts.

Lastly, please spread the word about International Velvet and any reviews on Amazon or Goodreads would be much appreciated!

Copies available here: linktr.ee/neilcollins123

23/07/2025

TOMORROW - £5 tickets on the door!👇🏻

After a great chat earlier at Newport Festival of Words, I’ll be joining forces for another International Velvet event with Gary Raymond at at Grinning Soul Records on Thursday 24 July at 7pm.

Based in the beautiful Wye Valley, Gary opened the independent record shop in October 2024 with school friend Graham “The Bear” Taylor of Goldie Lookin Chain - make sure to pop in if you’re in Monmouth!

Tickets are £5 on the door.