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The Rotanas

The Rotanas are a gritpop group from Cardiff, South Wales. Much like many other music artists the pandemic has affected them in both positive and negative ways.

"We hugely benefited because it's given us a chance to slow down and write new material which we really needed. We needed time to discover ourselves and mature musically and the pandemic has given us time to do so.

"Hopefully attendance will go up across the board for bands at a grassroots level and not just for the first week that gigs are allowed back but at a sustained level for years to come. Going to gigs is really good for you too, so it's a no brainer!

I think gigs will be really emotional. Hopefully the industry as whole profits from people's newfound love and appreciation for the return of artists to techies to roadies to photographers"
Many artists have found it quite difficult to book gigs, especially as venues will look to prioritise the "bigger" acts and try to make their profits back.

"Not as such for us no because I think we had stuff that's carried over, but I can appreciate that it must be very difficult for bands just starting out because everything's getting rescheduled. If any bands that have started out during the pandemic and are finding it hard, drop us a message and we might be able to get some bands on support.

"The jealousy of seeing some bands get priority I think is firepower that should be used for good. Use that emotion to your advantage and punch above your weight. That's what we have always done"

Cardiff City Phone In Prize Giveaway!

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We are running a competition in conjunction with The Cardiff City Phone In. To coincide with the recent appearance of City legend, Dave Carver on the Phone-In, we're giving away one of our lovely 'CCFC 1927' tee shirts, hurrah!

All you have to do, to be in with a chance to win, is

•Like our Facebook page

• Tell us how many times Cardiff City won the Welsh Cup during Dave Carver's time with the Bluebirds (1968-1973).

Just tell us the answer and like our page and you might win one of these shirts. Imagine how cool you'd be when you hit the beach! Go on, you know you want one...

Up the City!!

Please Check Out our Retrovybe store for more T-Shirts and Products.

All sales help us Run KCL

Please Click the Button Below for Link

The Dark Side of the Media

This week we’re mixing things up a bit and taking a look at a slightly different topic. but one that’s relevancy grows over the years.

Whilst the media can provide endless hours of entertainment as well as news, it can prove to have a dark side. Some of us forget that these stories we’re reading merely to entertain and distract ourselves from our own lives, are about real people, with real feelings and emotions.

The media can all too often forget about how negative press and intrusive stories can affect a person’s mental well-being, and there can be a lack of consideration for how mental health is portrayed in the news. 

It tends to start with media outlets wanting the most clickbait-worthy stories gracing the front pages, doing everything in their power to draw readers in, even if what they’re writing may not be 100% accurate.

This is the damage caused by sensationalist media, and ‘has been implicated in the rapid spread of rumour and misinformation online’, (Chen, Conroy, Rubin:15-19). Stories are exaggerated, people are made to look worse than they are and then come under the scrutiny of the public, who are left to judge.

This not only goes against a journalists duty to report truthful and accurate news, but leaves celebrities feeling used and deceived. Well, if you’ve read one of my previous blog posts *ahem* you’ll know my views on sensationalist media.

This issue was sadly brought into light when Caroline Flack took her own life in February 2020, after being bombarded by the media as she battled a court case.

For the public, a court battle is a private affair for a person or family to deal with, and it may get news coverage but that would be based on neutral grounds and would simply state facts. However, when it’s someone well know, it’s very different. 

She was under intense press scrutiny for around six months before she passed away due to an ongoing case regarding an incident with her boyfriend- something that was never our business to begin with, people forget.

An event that occurs in the privacy of someone’s house involving personal matters and issues is not something that should be spread blatantly across the front pages and morning headlines

A Guardian analysis showed that the Sun published the most articles about her, with a quarter of them taking a negative tone as they included graphic references to her alleged assault. 

However, it is hard to say for sure if the attention she received from the media and the negative press was to blame. There’s no denying that it didn’t help, and may have been the final straw, but the probability is that it can’t bear the sole blame. 

A lot can build up in a persons life that drives them to a place of such sadness and despair that we never truly know the reasons behind such tragic event. Even if the media aren’t solely to blame, they didn’t aide the situation. They were yet another weight mounting on her mind. 

Yes, the press should be allowed to publish that which is in the publics interest, but not when it is something which risks causing damage to someone mentally and lead them to such a dark place. It is a clear indication as to how one may be affected by a story, due to how they’ve been portrayed in the media.

Vilifying a person of half-truths and hurtful lies causes detrimental damage to a persons wellbeing, and surprise surprise, celebrities are people too!

The lesson that the media can take from this is to only publish facts, not speculation. Think about what damage a story can cause to a person, who may be vulnerable. Celebrities aren’t invincible, no matter what we think, they are still people, who can be left hurt by what is written about them. The ‘Be Kind’ message shared on social media after Caroline’s death is an important one, and the media should work on being fair and accurate, not just click-bait central.

It seems, however, that as time has gone on the media still hasn’t learned (will it ever?). 

The  Jonny Depp and Amber Heard court case has produced an uproar of outrage from many, after the UK courts declared him guilty of being a “wife-beater”. He was slandered all over the front pages of newspapers for allegedly abusing his ex-wife, with a media circus causing chaos outside the courts throughout the trial. 

Now it can only be judged through assumption that Depp’s state may be different to Flack’s, but how are any of us to know? Why when it comes to reporting we don’t just dictate the facts in which the publics interest lies and leave everyone to decipher it and judge for themselves how they feel?

Turning such a large audience against one person, especially before hard-evidence and facts are confirmed, is a perilous action that can result in the downfall of said person.

New Feature - Venues - Cardiff

The Capitol

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Over the months our On This Day feature listed many venues that had featured some of the greatest bands and performers in popular music history.

Nearly all the venues from the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies have gone, though the memories very much remain.

Top of the Pops for any music loving fans in the Capital and surrounding area was…The Capitol Theatre, a feature on most bands tour itinerary, it’s hallowed boards were trod on by the biggest and the best including The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Elton John.

Opened in December 1921, it was a purpose built entertainment centre not only with the auditorium, but also a ballroom, three restaurants and a bar.

The theatre had a seating capacity of 3,158 in the stalls, circle and balcony, which at the time, was the largest purpose-built cinema in Europe.

It was originally owned by Tilney Kinema Company,but in 1931 it was leased to Paramount Cinemas.
In 1941 the Rank Organisation took over the lease, and in 1964 they purchased the theatre from the Tilney Kinema Company.

The Beatles' last live UK tour concluded with two performances at the theatre on 12 December 1965.
The Rank Organisation closed the theatre in 1978 and it was demolished in 1983.The Capitol Centre now occupies the site.

Foxxglove

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Foxxglove is a singer/songwriter from Wales. She spoke to me about her experience as a music artist throughout the Pandemic and how she has been able to book gigs for when concerts are allowed to go ahead again.

"Like everyone else, the Pandemic had quite a negative impact on me as an artist. Before I was gigging at least once or twice a month which is the main source of income for many DIY artists like myself, playing gigs is one of the most effective ways of earning money and meeting new people in the industry and getting new fans.

I had to adjust being online more and making the best out of social media to help reach new people and create content that would keep people engaged.

I've learnt a lot from it all though and I think a lot of us adjusted quite quickly to this new way of living and there's been lots of support.

"I think the main thing will probably be the fact that it will still be sitting down and less people in the venues, at least for a little while. But overall, I think it's going to be so good and I can't wait to get back to it"
Throughout the pandemic many artists have found it difficult to book gigs due to the uncertainty and restrictions that has been put on concerts.

"I applied for a couple of festivals, one for which I'll be performing at in October if it can go ahead.

I haven't tried too much though as I just assumed that gigs weren't allowed to happen with the restrictions. I have been asked to play gigs though, some have been online and pre-recorded and others are for when venues are open again and gigs are able to go ahead"

Bob Marley Tribute

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40 Years on from Bob Marleys Passing KCL have put together this little tribute to the Man known as a Legend.

In the summer of 2008, Cardiff City played Ajax FC in their final pre-season friendly. After the game, Ajax fans were kept seated in the away stand until the Cardiff fans had left the surrounding area.

Ky-Mani Marley Singing 3 Little Birds for Ajax Fans

The announcer at the now-demolished Ninian Park Stadium, Ali Yassine, was instructed to play music to help keep Ajax fans calm, and being a huge reggae fan, chose "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley..

The story goes that Ajax fans started dancing, clapping, and chanting the songs' lyrics; and it became Ajax's anthem.

In 2018, Bob Marley's son Ky-Mani Marley attended an Ajax game and was given the honour to perform "Three Little Birds" at the Johan Cruyff Arena at half time - with the home crowd fans singing along with him

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On the 19th June 1976, Bob Marley & the Wailers took centre stage at Ninian Park, former home of Cardiff City, in what would be a memorable occasion for attendees in the Welsh capital. 

 Despite his undeniable influence on the world of music, at the time of his gig in Cardiff he was up-and-coming; only just beginning to cross over into the mainstream. In fact, Marley was not a first-choice headliner for the concert, but when Stephen Stills pulled out, the promoters, who weren’t well known in the area, had to work against the clock to find a new headliner. Luckily, Bob Marley was touring the UK, and seemed the perfect choice to fill Ninian Park’s headline slot that night.

 Although only around 4000 filled the 20,000 capacity, many who were in the crowd that night spoke of Marley’s brilliance. One attendee, Leigh Bailey, reported his enjoyment at Marley’s show. His experiences were life-changing, ultimately influencing his musical tastes, so much so that he is now the frontman of tribute band ‘Bob Marley And The Jailers’. That inspirational night marked Bob Marley’s first concert in Wales.

 Marley’s discography included timeless classics such as ‘Three Little Birds’, ‘Jammin’, and ‘Waiting in Vain’, as well as Marley’s world-renowned album ‘Exodus’; a record that was hugely respected among the alienated punk generation across the UK in the 70s. 

 Using his music and live performances to spread the notions of Rastafarianism, Marley’s legacy across the world will live on, and that night in 1976 will be celebrated for years to come. 

Setlist: 

1. Trenchtown Rock (The Wailers cover)

2. Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)

3. Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock)

4. I Shot the Sheriff (The Wailers cover)

5. Crazy Baldhead

6. Want More

7. No Woman, No Cry

8. Lively Up Yourself

9. Roots, Rock, Reggae

10. Encore: Get Up, Stand Up

Here are some Quotes from the wise man.

“Don’t trust people whose feelings change with time. Trust people whose feelings remain the same, even when the time changes.”

“Live for yourself and you will live in vain; live for others, and you will live again.”

“Love the life you live, live the life you love.”

“Me only have one ambition, y’know. I only have one thing I really like to see happen. I like to see mankind live together – black, white, Chinese, everyone – that’s all.”

“The trust is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for.”

“Just because you are happy it does not mean that the day is perfect but that you have looked beyond its imperfections.”

“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.”

“One good thing about music—when it hits you, you feel no pain.”

“None but ourselves can free our minds.”

Book Review

With Summer almost upon us (some would say it’s already been and gone!) thoughts of holidays, sun, sea, and a good book, are very much in our thoughts.

Whilst the possibility of lounging by the Mediterranean with cocktail and a good book sounds idyllic, our options seem more likely to be a deckchair in the garden, a mug of tea, whilst dodging showers. The thought of a good book does brighten the scenario somewhat.

So, deckchair, tea and umbrella in readiness, what to read ?

Fortunately, from a very early age I’ve read, devouring school and local libraries, leaving only cornflake packets and sauce bottles unread.

Lucky enough to get a steady supply from family and friends here’s a few recent purchases that may help your leisurely days be more interesting and hopefully informative.

Book one is One,Two, Three, Four by Craig Brown.
It’s a Beatle book and some would say do we need another one? Plenty of good and not so good books on the Fab Four out there but this is something of a gem amongst the diamanté’s.
For one it’s original, witty and sad all at the same time. Fascinating and unique, it documents the boys career but in a more endearing way using stories and anecdotes, similarities and unusual back stories behind some of the more well-known Beatle tales.

You don’t have to be a fan to enjoy the book, though it obviously helps, but guarantee you will find the stories charming, unusual and thoroughly entertaining.

Book two is Remain In Love by Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club drummer Chris Frantz. Whilst former bandmate David Byrne collects all the accolades and in many ways deservedly so, the real heartbeat of any band is the rhythm section and in Frantz and his wife Tina Weymouth, the band possessed a truly inspirational and exciting partnership.
The importance of Frantz, Weymouth and guitarist/keyboardist Jerry Harrison never seemed to get the credit they deserved with the focus being frontman Byrne but thankfully this book sets the record straight and a truly fascinating insight into one of music’s most inspirational and much admired bands.
Frantz tells of the bands formative years and his life long relationship with his wife Tina.
In many ways his story is bittersweet, obviously proud of his/their achievements yet a sadness in the band’s demise and lack of both interest and acknowledgement from Byrne. The references to CBGB’s and the early New York scene is true rock folklore and engrossing whilst insight into the birth of songs like the iconic Psychokiller is certainly compelling.
The book is definitely worth reading even if just to let Frantz even up the score and tell is how it was.

My third recent purchase is the epic The Worst Band In The World, the only authorised 10cc biography, and to my mind one of the best written and researched books on a band ever written, in this instance, being one of popular music’s most innovative and respected units that sadly never got the proper credit their stunning music deserved.

From their early days as members and songwriters of note to some of the Sixties finest bands to the creative hub that was Strawberry Studios, where they could let fly their many ideas, from the bubblegum rock of Rubber Bullets to the multi-layered epic of I’m Not In Love, their music was impossible to pigeon hole in its complexity and versatility.

It’s a real labour of love from fan and writer Liam Newton with no stone unturned in a well crafted and riveting read.

Last but not least is Hey Hi Hello by legendary DJ Annie Nightingale.
Published to mark the fiftieth anniversary of her first broadcast on Radio One, and, unlike her more autobiographical Wicked Speed, this book delves into meetings and interviews with musicians and friends like Underworld’s Karl Hyde and pop’s latest shining light, Billie Eilish.
Littered with anecdotes it’s light reading compared to the previous books mentioned yet it’s an entertaining and absorbing book by a real groundbreaking, trailblazing, DJ who stood her ground in an era that gave women little opportunity in the all-male institution that was Radio One.

New Music Feature

Bandicoot

Bandicoot are a band from South Wales. I interviewed them about their experience throughout the pandemic.
How were you affected as a music artist by the pandemic?

"We were quite lucky in many ways; the pandemic meant that we had a lot of time to write more songs, and we ended up coming out of lockdown with lots and lots of demos. We were also lucky in that we were already moving in together in August, which meant we could continue working together in the same space, which we're so grateful for.

Obviously, we've missed gigs like everybody, but it's been an amazing time for us in terms of finding our direction, finishing off our recordings, and planning ahead with our label"

What do you think will change with live music when concerts are allowed again?

"I personally will appreciate live music a lot more and never take it for granted! I think the live industry will come back with a lot of energy, and hopefully attention will have been drawn to important issues within the industry, like the problem of inclusivity, or sexual assault at live gigs- I hope those things are resigned to the past.

Has it been difficult to book gigs for when concerts open again?

"Thankfully our diaries are already filling up nicely for when things start back again! We're trying not to get our hopes up, but we've been invited to a showcase festival in Sweden, as well as headline shows closer to home in Le Pub, Newport in July"

What is your opinion on "bigger artists" being prioritised by venues?

"Whatever gigs are happening, big or small, that can only be a good thing. I think venues have to do what they need to do to bring crowds, sell tickets, make themselves financially secure. We've never personally had a problem with venues booking bigger artists, and if it means that smaller bands get support slots then that's even better.

As long as gigs are happening, then that's all that matters"