Music gig to celebrate a milestone for Aberystwyth University

The band Mynediad am Ddim, formed in Aber in 1974, will be one of the bands performing at the University’s 150 anniversary celebrations.

A grand music gig will be held in Aberystwyth this October (15 October) as part of Aberystwyth University's 150th anniversary celebrations this year. Marking the occasion, the gig will also be a celebration of the University's musical heritage over the years and the line-up includes many of the artists and bands who have been students there over the years.

The gig will be held in the Great Hall of Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Saturday 15 October with the artists being divided over two stages to ensure non-stop live music on the night. There will also be a special exhibition about the connection between Aberystwyth and the Welsh music scene at the Arts Centre between 10 and 16 October.

Reflecting on the connection between Aberystwyth University and the music scene, Dr Rhodri Llwyd Morgan said, “The performers epitomise the diversity and wealth of musical talent that has been associated with the University over the years. Contemporary progressive artists like Los Blancos are sure to raise the bar. And surely one of the highlights will be a rare performance by Mynediad am Ddim, a band formed when the members were students in Aberystwyth in 1974 who went on to become one of the most popular and significant bands in Wales over the decades after that.

“Another former student of Aberystwyth University who has been extremely influential is Geraint Løvgreen who will be back performing as part of the celebration with his band yr Enw Da. One of Wales' most influential folk musicians, Linda Griffiths, will also perform together with another Aber alumni, Neil Rosser, with his latest band Pwdin Reis.”

Graham Pritchard, one of the six original Aberystwyth students who formed the band in 1974 said, “Coming back to Aberystwyth to play at the University’s 150 years celebration gig will be a tremendous and nostalgic thrill. Aberystwyth and the University hold very fond memories for the band - it is where it all started for Mynediad am Ddim.

“They were very exciting times in the context of putting Welsh folk and pop music on the map. I feel that we were very privileged to be part of that unique and special era. And within the celebrations, we will of course be fondly remembering recently departed friends and members of the original group.”

In the line-up, the gig also includes former students of Aberystwyth that have made their mark a little later - Mei Emrys and Catrin Herbert.

Mei Emrys was a member of the band Vanta when he was a student at the turn of the millennium but is now active with new music under his own name. The gig will be an opportunity to hear his recent catchy songs along with some favourites from Vanta's days.

About a decade ago Catrin Herbert was a student at Aberystwyth and had already started to make her mark musically with a few popular singles. She released her first EP, 'Y Gwir, y Gau, a Phopeth Rhwng y Ddau' when she had just started university and appeared on the cover of Y Selar magazine at the time, in December 2011.

The University's close link with the music scene has also continued over recent years and two prominent contemporary groups complete the line-up for the gig, namely Los Blancos and Bwca. The guitarist and lead singer of Los Blancos is of course Gwyn Rosser, Neil Rosser's son, so father and son will appear on stage during the celebration.

For more information and tickets for the Gig Mawr Aber 150 go to the Aberystwyth Arts Centre website https://www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk/cy/music/gig-mawr-150.

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