Pretty Shitty City

Here’s a press release from the bands;

“Two of South Wales‘ finest emerging new bands will top the ‘alternative’ bill at Pontardawe festival which sees its 30th anniversary this year.

No Obligation from Swansea and Project 25 from Neath will headline a full programme featuring the best from the South Wales scene on stage in the Leisure Centre theatre on Saturday 16th August.

No Obligation hit the stage at 9.30pm

It’s no coincidence that this will be the fourth consecutive year at Pontardawe for No Obligation, leading the best of the emerging new crop of Welsh bands onto a wider stage.

And it’s been a good year for the Swansea quartet, thanks in no small measure to singer Alex Taylor’s part in the DT8 project, which received nationwide attention, not to mention several high-profile support spots.

For Project 25, this will be their first taste of the Pontardawe experience.

Pontardawe festival has a long and proud tradition of supporting up and coming local bands. In recent years, however, space for the ever-increasing audiences that they draw has been a bit of a problem; hence the decision to move them indoors, where there will be much more room for everyone - on stage and off - to breathe and generally do their thing.

For the full line up visit www.ponty2008.com
Hear No Obligation at www.noobligation.co.uk“

This is the first Love Music Hate Racism gig in Swansea, featuring;

Galanastra
Tremelo Ghosts
Complete Control
Andy Morse Band

7.30-11.30pm
23rd August
Railman’s Club, Wind Street, Swansea.
Facebook event page

Private View: 7 – 9.30pm Saturday 16th August

Exhibition Continues until 15th September
Gallery opening hours: Thursday – Sunday, 11am -5pm.

“In one sense ‘Looking for love’ is a documentary about the people of Swansea.

Using art as a pretext with which to engage people. The artist Naomi Leake, goes speed dating in a wedding dress and kerb crawling dressed as a sheep in the notorious Swansea drinking street, Wind Street. The short films shown alongside her drawings, document Naomi’s cultural interventions & employ dream like story telling to create intimate portraits while addressing social concerns. Drawings of local people revealing their everyday occupations and preoccupations are presented alongside the written narratives of Jenny Klien.

By harnessing the symbolic and emotional potential of places, people and situations the collaboration between Naomi Leake, Jenny Klein and people of Swansea has universal as well as personal resonance. ‘Looking for love’ is an exhibition poised on the boundary between fact and fiction.”

There will be two short performances on the night of the private view.

Elysium Artspace
41 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1LT.
Tel: 01792 64131
email:elysiumgallery@yahoo.co.uk
www.elysiumgallery.com
www.myspace.com/elysiumgallery

I’ve recently left my old job (at Web Media Works) to start up as a freelance designer, trading as The Colour Mill.

My main service will be graphic design, and Im already working on flyers, magazines and websites, and I also have more time to promote Pretty Shitty City and Ice Cream Social.

As you should all know, I’m interested in working on underground, grass-roots projects with creative and ethical values, especially within the local community. So if you need any design work done, please head over to my new site:

http://www.thecolourmill.co.uk/

Thanks, Benjy.

We’ve got a nice new header photo this month, from Swansea Photographer Tyron Francis.

This tasty Wimbledon-inspired image clashed a bit with the old hot pink background, so I’ve introduced a dodgy blue one instead… why not?

http://www.tfrancis.co.uk/

No Obligation + Guests,
Milkwood Jam, Swansea, June 21st 2008

After supporting awarding winning songwriter Lucie Diamond in February, No Obligation, a four piece female fronted rock band from South Wales, return to music venue ‘Milkwood Jam‘, Plymouth Street, Swansea, Saturday 21st June 2008.

The night kicks off around 8pm, Entry £3 on the door.
Supporting acts include Aggi Thomas, White Dice and Human Breed.

The band have also been confirmed as headliners on the alternative stage at Pontardawe international music festival, which sees its 30th anniversary this year.

Read the rest of this entry »

A message from Mayor at Associated Minds;

“The double A side videos taken from Metabeats’ heavyweight debut ‘Metaphysical’ LP are out now on You Tube. Check em out, enjoy and all that goodness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR7Q8vu-08c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avz_AmJdGR8

The LP is available at all good record stores or online @ HMV, iTunes, Amazon etc or direct from us nice folk at www.associatedminds.com/store

I hope it’s a sunny Saturday.

Peace
Mayor”

Heres a gallery of drawings from Samuel Jones an illustrator studying at Swansea Met.

A little late on this one, but by all accounts the gig was great and these photos are definitely worth showing.

Photos by Swansea photographer Tyron Francis of Black Lips playing at Sin City, 2nd May .

Yawn, its been a while, but Pretty Shitty City is back.

Sorry its been so long since the last update! Please check back for more updates very soon.