On This Day 10/01/1895 Ignacy Jan Paderewski

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On this day, 10 January 1895, Polish pianist, composer and statesman Ignacy Jan Paderewski, who was a spokesman for Polish independence, played at Cardiff’s Park Hall

Park Hall, Cardiff

In 1919, he was the nation's prime minister and foreign minister during which he signed the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War.

A favorite of concert audiences around the world, his musical fame opened access to diplomacy and the media, as possibly did his status as a freemason, and charitable work of his second wife, Helena Paderewska.

During World War I, Paderewski advocated an independent Poland, including by touring the United States, where he met with President Woodrow Wilson, who came to support the creation of an independent Poland in his Fourteen Points at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, which led to the Treaty of Versailles.

Shortly after his resignations from office, Paderewski resumed his concert career to recoup his finances and rarely visited the politically chaotic Poland thereafter, the last time being in 1924.

Audiences responded to his brilliant playing with almost extravagant displays of admiration, and Paderewski also gained access to the halls of power. In 1891, Paderewski repeated his triumphs on an American tour; he would tour the country more than 30 times for the next five decades, and it would become his second home.

His stage presence, striking looks, and immense charisma contributed to his stage success, which later proved important in his political and charitable activities. His name became synonymous with the highest level of piano virtuosity.

Setlist

Variations in F minor, Hob.XVII:6

(Joseph Haydn cover)

Piano Sonata no. 3 in C major, op. 2, no. 3

(Ludwig van Beethoven cover)

(Unknown)

(Felix Mendelssohn cover) (Unknown Lieder ohne Worte.)

Études symphoniques, op. 13

(Robert Schumann cover)

(Unknown)

(Fryderyk Chopin cover) (Nocture, Étude & Valse)

Miscellanea, op. 16: 4. Nocturne

6 Humoresques de concert, op. 14: 6. Cracovienne fantastique

Réminiscences de Don Juan, S. 418

(Franz Liszt cover)

On This Day 09/01/1987 Human League

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On this day, 9 January 1987, synth-pop band Human League played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall on the band’s Crash tour. Support was provided by Drum Theatre.

The band was promoting their fifth studio album Crash, released on 8 September 1986 by Virgin Records. The album would provide the band with their second US number-one single, "Human", the same year. It was produced by the American production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who also wrote several tracks.

The album name was taken from a moment in the studio during the recording. Oakey described it thus:

It's from a crash cymbal, because it's a disco album again with lots of cymbals. One day somebody said "what sorts of cymbals do you want, a ride or a crash?", and we thought, "what a great title!"

The album quickly became an unexpected success. One of Jam and Lewis's compositions, "Human", became the Human League's second number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 and their first UK top 10 single in over three years, peaking at number eight.

Follow-ups "I Need Your Loving" and the 1988 release "Love Is All That Matters" were less successful, failing to reach the UK top 40. The album itself peaked at number seven in the UK (where it has been certified Gold for shipments in excess of 100,000 copies) and number 24 on the US Billboard 200.

Oakey stated his discomfort with the record in 1995, saying: "The Jam and Lewis album [Crash] was just like being a puppet for four months. It was interesting to pick yourself out of the industrial north of England and dump yourself in Minneapolis. Great experience, but it just wasn't our album.

LIVE LINE UP:

Philip Oakey - vocals

Joanne Catherall - vocals

Susan Sulley - vocals

Ian Burden - bass & vocals

Neil Sutton - synthesizer

Russel Dennett - syntesizer, guitar, vocals

Jim Russell - drums

Meyrick - guitar, vocals

David Beevers - technical

SETLIST:

Hard Times

Money

The Things That Dreams Are Made Of

The Real Thing or I Need Your Loving

Do Or Die

Human

The Sound Of The Crowd

Love Action (I Believe In Love)

Jam

Love On The Run

Seconds

The Lebanon

Together In Electric Dreams

Party or I Need Your Loving

Mirror Man

Don't You Want Me

(Keep Feeling) Fascination

Rock'n'Roll

On This Day 08/01/1993 Headswim

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On this day, 8 January 1993, alternative rock band Headswim played Cardiff Bogey’s.

The band originally formed in 1989 in Essex, England under the name Blinder. The initial line-up was Daniel Glendining (guitar/vocals), his brother Tom Glendining (drums), Nick Watts (keyboards/backing vocals) and Matt Pegg (bass guitar).

The band's main influences were grunge and progressive rock and their most successful concerts were two support slots for It Bites in 1989 (one of which was to a capacity audience at the Hammersmith Odeon).

Following Pegg's departure Blinder rethought their approach, reducing the progressive rock elements in their music. Pegg was replaced as bass player by a friend of the band, Clovis Taylor and, by 1992, Blinder had changed their name to Headswim.

Headswim's first releases were two four-track EPs, Tense Nervous Head and Moment of Union, on their own Crush Records label (the eight songs from the two EPs would later be compiled and released as the mini-album Tense Moments). The EPs made enough of an impression for them to be signed by the Sony Music subsidiary Epic Records in an eight-album deal and they released their debut album Flood in 1994.

The album's third single "Crawl" made the UK Singles Chart and the band embarked on their first extensive tour of the UK and Europe. However, the death later that year of Dan and Tom's brother Matthew (who had created all of the band's album artwork up to this point) after a long battle with leukaemia had a profound effect on the group, who took time off to regroup.

On This Day 07/01/2007 Bullet For My Valentine

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On this day, 7 January 2007, Welsh heavy metal rock band Bullet For My Valentine played Cardiff University.

From Bridgend, formed in 1998. The band is currently composed of Matthew Tuck (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Michael Paget (lead guitar, backing vocals), Jason Bowld (drums) and Jamie Mathias (bass guitar, backing vocals). Former members include Michael Thomas, Jason James and Nick Crandle; the latter were on bass.

They were formed under the name Jeff Killed John and started their music career by covering songs by Metallica and Nirvana. Jeff Killed John recorded six songs which were not released; two of these tracks were reworked later in their career as Bullet for My Valentine. A change of style from that of Jeff Killed John led the band to change their name.

In 2002, the band secured a five-album deal with Sony BMG. The band has stated that their music is influenced by classic metal acts such as Metallica, Iron Maiden and Slayer. The band is part of the Cardiff music scene.

Setlist

"The Poison" Intro

Her Voice Resides

Hand of Blood

Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow (What Can I Do)

All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)

4 Words (to Choke Upon)

Room 409

Cries in Vain

Creeping Death

(Metallica cover)

The End

Spit You Out

Tears Don't Fall

On This Day 06/01/1981 Boomtown Rats

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On this day, 6 Jan 1981, Irish Punk rockers The Boomtown Rats played Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens supported by fellow Irish band, The Atrix.

Formed in Dublin in 1975.Between 1977 and 1985, they had a series of Irish and UK hits including "Like Clockwork", "Rat Trap", "I Don't Like Mondays" and "Banana Republic".

The original line-up comprised six musicians; five from Dún Laoghaire in County Dublin; Gerry Cott (rhythm guitar), Simon Crowe (drums), Johnnie Fingers (keyboards), Bob Geldof (vocals) and Garry Roberts (lead guitar), plus Fingers' cousin Pete Briquette (bass).

The tour Bongos Over Britain was to help promote their fifth album Mondo Bongo, produced by Tony Visconti and released the same month. The album peaked at No 6 in the UK album charts and included the singles Banana Republic and Elephants Graveyard.

The Boomtown Rats

Bob Geldof - lead and backing vocals

Johnnie Fingers - keyboards, backing vocals

Gerry Cott - guitar

Garry Roberts - guitar, backing vocals

Pete Briquette - bass, keyboards, backing vocals

Simon Crowe - drums, backing vocals

Setlist

Mood Mambo

Straight Up

(I Never Loved) Eva Braun

Me and Howard Hughes

This is My Room

Banana Republic

The Elephant's Graveyard

Nothing Happened Today

Having My Picture Taken

I Don't Like Mondays

Someone's Looking at You

Keep It Up

Rat Trap

Encore:

Under Their Thumb Is Under My Thumb

Looking After No. 1

Encore 2:

Diamond Smiles

On This Day 05/01/2003 Van Morrison

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On this day, 5 January 2003, Irish singing legend Van Morrison played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall

Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison OBE (born 31 August 1945) from Northern Ireland has a recording career spanning seven decades.

Much of Morrison's music is structured around the conventions of soul music and early rhythm and blues. An equal part of his catalogue consists of lengthy, spiritually inspired musical journeys that show the influence of Celtic tradition, jazz and stream of consciousness narrative, such as the album Astral Weeks. The two strains together are sometimes referred to as "Celtic soul", and his music has been described as attaining "a kind of violent transcendence".

Morrison's albums have performed well in the UK and Ireland, with more than 40 reaching the UK top 40. He has scored top ten albums in the UK in four consecutive decades.

Setlist

Inarticulate Speech of the Heart No. 1

I Will Be There

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Once in a Blue Moon

Foggy Mountain Top

All Work and No Play

In the Midnight

I Don't Worry About a Thing

(Mose Allison cover)

Early in the Mornin' / Goldfish Bowl

I Like It Like That / Kansas City

Carrying a Torch

Days Like This

Whinin' Boy Moan

Have I Told You Lately

Streets of Arklow / You Don't Pull No Punches But You Don't Push the River

Northern Muse (Solid Ground) / When Heart Is Open

(w/ No Prima Donna)

Stop Drinking

Precious Time

It's All in the Game / You Know What They're Writing About

(Love Is a Many Splendoured… more )

Encore:

Brown Eyed Girl

Gloria

(Them song)

On This Day 03/01/2011 JLS

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On this day, 3 January 2011, British boy band JLS played the Cardiff International Arena on their Outta This World Tour. Support was provided by Starboy Nathan and Six D.

JLS (an initialism of Jack the Lad Swing) consisted of members Aston Merrygold, Oritsé Williams, Marvin Humes, and JB Gill, originally formed by Williams. They initially signed to Tracklacers production company New Track City and then went on to become runners-up of the fifth series of the ITV reality talent show The X Factor in 2008, coming second to Alexandra Burke. Following their appearance on The X Factor, JLS signed to Epic Records. Their first two singles "Beat Again" and "Everybody in Love" both went to number one on the UK Singles Chart.

Setlist

Outta This World

That's My Girl

Eyes Wide Shut

One Shot

Heal This Heartbreak

Beat Again

Work

Umbrella

(Rihanna cover)

Other Side of the World

I Know What She Likes

Somebody to Love

(Justin Bieber cover)

Love You More

Everybody (Backstreet's Back)

(Backstreet Boys cover)

Girlfriend

(*NSYNC cover)

I Want It That Way

(Backstreet Boys cover)

Pop

(*NSYNC cover)

Better for You

Superhero

Encore:

The Club Is Alive

Everybody in Love

On This Day 31/12/1999 Manic Street Preachers

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On this day, 31 December 1999, Manic Street Preachers played Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium with support provided by a Welsh lineup of Super Furry Animals, Feeder plus Shack.

For the Manic Street Preachers it was the biggest gig of their career when they heralded in a new century at the Millennium Stadium in front of a sellout crowd.

Bassist Nicky Wire said of the importance of the gig: “Ten years ago we did a gig in Cardiff to two people. Today we’re playing in front of 60,000 people. I think that shows how far we’ve come, how far we have grown and how much Wales has grown.”

Setlist

Part 1: 1999

You Stole the Sun From My Heart

Faster

Everything Must Go

Tsunami

The Masses Against the Classes

The Everlasting

Kevin Carter

La tristesse durera (Scream to a Sigh)

Rock and Roll Music

(Chuck Berry cover)

Ready for Drowning

Of Walking Abortion

No Surface All Feeling

Motown Junk

(Baby Love Intro)

Motorcycle Emptiness

Part 2: 2000

Can't Take My Eyes Off You

(Frankie Valli cover) (Acoustic)

Small Black Flowers That Grow in the Sky

(Acoustic)

Australia

Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier

You Love Us

Stay Beautiful

If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

A Design for Life