Find out what’s on in South Wales this week
British singer, songwriter and guitarist, Richard Thompson (St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Tue 15 Sept, 7.30pm, tickets from £25), is heading to Cardiff this week as part of the Electric Trio with Michael Jerome and Davey Faragher. Folk rock band, The Rails will join as the support act.
Not Safe For Work (Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, Tue 15-Sat 26 Sept, tickets from £10) will feature in the Chapter Arts Centre throughout the week, as Waking Exploits presents a comedy focussing on subjects such as the downfall of lad magazines and the ongoing debates on privacy.
Dive head first into the International Ocean Film Festival (Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, Sat 19 Sept, 7:30pm, tickets £12 / £10.50 conc / £10.80 group), as they continue their world tour in Porthcawl. The film festival will showcase a number of short films focussing on the deep blue ocean, from jaw dropping surfing to the beautiful wildlife down below.
Tickle your funny bone by going to see Carmarthen born comedian, Elis James (The Parrott Music Bar, Carmarthen / Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff, Wed 16-Thurs 17 Sept, tickets £8.80/£10) as he takes up the challenge of hosting his first Welsh language tour.
Doctor Who (BBC One, Sat 19 Sept, 7.40pm) is set to return to our screen this Saturday as Peter Capaldi will reprise his role as the mysterious Time Lord. Season nine looks promising, with guest stars such as Rufus Hound and Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams set to feature.
Jimi Hendrix fans will be delighted to hear that Benji Kirkpatrick (Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan / Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells, Wed 16-Thurs 17 Sept, tickets £13 / £11 conc) will be performing in his new tour titled Bendrix where he play various interpretations of Jimi Hendrix songs.
The Welsh National Opera have their mind set on the theme of madness this autumn, as they begin the new season with Bellini’s I Puritani (Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Sat 19 Sept, tickets £5 – £41). The opera will follow Elvira’s struggle with insanity during the English civil war.
Not all festivals are about rock and roll as Wales welcomes the Abergavenny Food Festival (Various venues, Abergavenny, 18-20 Sept, tickets £9-£12 day / £14-18 weekend / under-16s go free with paying adult). Headliners include Raymond Blanc, Tom Kerridge and Olia Hercules.
Cerys Matthews’ very own festival, The Good Life Experience (Hawarden Estate, Flintshire, Fri 18 – Sun 20 Sept, tickets £45 / under 16s £22.50 / under 8s free / £100 family) may be based in the north end of Wales, but it looks to be worth the journey.
The Rugby World Cup is looming as Wales prepare to play against Uruguay and so the Rugby World Cup Fanzone (Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, Fri 18 Sept – Mon 18 Oct, admission free) offers the chance to watch the game and build-up while taking part in various fun activities.
words RYAN JONES