Georgian Ensemble Amer-Imeri Concert
2024-05-16 19:00 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
Amer-Imeri ensemble from the Republic of Georgia, UK tour
Twelve singers drawn from Amer-Imeri and Mtiebi ensembles are touring the UK during May 2024, teaching and performing beautiful polyphonic songs from the rich and ancient, UNESCO listed tradition of the Republic of Georgia.
Recognised by numerous national and international awards over three decades, Amer-Imeri are dedicated to teaching and performing these unique songs alongside the costumes, dances, rituals and folklore that they traditionally accompanied. Much more than just entertainment, their workshops and performances give a deep and engaging insight into the history and culture of Georgia.
The concert will begin with a support set from Borjghali, Bristol Georgian Choir.
This concert is part of a UK tour, including a residential weekend event, at which singers from across the UK will gather to learn and sing together, and to share a supra, or Georgian feast. Further information and tickets: here

THE ALCHEMIST by Ben Jonson
2024-05-23 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-05-24 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-05-25 19:30 - 21:30 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
Abergavenny’s Suitcase Theatre Company presents a zany, 1960s version of Ben Jonson’s classic comedy, The Alchemist. When a pandemic strikes London, upper-class twit Fabien Lovewit flees the city, leaving his Blackfriars town house in the care of his butler, Jeremy. Immediately, Jeremy changes his identity to Captain Face, and invites two notorious con-artists – Doll and Subtle – to join him in a hilarious campaign to fleece a series of local nitwits: Dapper (who wants to become a high-rolling gambler), Drugger (who wants to open a spanking new mini-market), Sir Epicure Mammon (whose lust for food, drink and loose women knows no bounds), as well as a pair of naughty nuns and a high class lady with a rich niece in tow. The result is sheer mayhem. All of the action and all of the laughs are played out to a soundtrack of the best music from the 1960s. Come along in your psychedelic shirts and tight jeans, with flowers in your hair, to enjoy the full experience!

All you need is Love…

Tickets: £11 (u18s £6). Entry by pre-booked tickets only.
Get tickets@www.suitcasetheatrecompany.com

Myths, Scars & Wanderings
2024-06-08 19:30 - 21:30 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
Myths Scars and Wanderings
This collection of new work, explores the themes of Greek Myths, the Sea, Human Resilience and Strength. The group have developed this original work together over the past three months, through an exciting creative process, facilitated by Liz Pearce.
Join us for the group’s performance of their own writing, poetry and prose – infused with pathos and humour.
Saturday 8th June at 7.30.
Tickets £12 (including a printed copy of the work)

Just Songs Tour 2024
2024-06-10 20:00 - 22:00 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
Bike to The Future II – ‘Just Songs’
• A Band Named Brian’s Carbon-Free Song Cycle
• 11 Venues
• 585 Miles
Bath, UK – 24/04/2024. Following their hugely successful tour last year, folk-pop duo ‘a Band named
Brian’ is this year going even further in a bid to spread the word on climate change through songs,
stories, dance and laughter.
Singer-songwriter Brian Madigan doesn’t just write songs: he writes ‘just’ songs: full of passion, comment
and exhortation to strive for better. Accompanied by violinist, bass player and vocalist Rob Whale, Brian
weave’s a narrative through stories and songs, taking his audience on a unique journey into their own
conscience. The style is two-parts Billy Bragg, to one part Levellers, with a hint of Johnny Cash and
perhaps a dusting of Tom Lehrer.
Last summer, the pair cycled from Bath, down to Shindig Festival near Ilminster in Somerset, then out to
Pembrokeshire. Unfortunately – due to a bereavement – the tour had to be cut short mid-way, before
resuming with a further Bath gig and a glorious finale at Glastonbury Festival. Highlights included a
wonderful night at The Pembroke Yeoman in Haverfordwest, the revival of Trehale Farm’s amazing barn
venue (supported by local talent Abbie Jebbers) and a very warm welcome at The Cellar in cardigan.
Once again, Brian will be talking with local deejay B B Skone on Pure West radio, ahead of the
Pembrokeshire gigs, on Sunday 2nd June. That same date sees the pair perform at The Whitehall in
Llandovery, one of the venues missed due to the sad interruption last year. Another was Cwrw in
Carmarthen, where they will appear on Tuesday June 4th. Naturally, both Trehale Farm and The Cellar
insisted a Band named Brian return once again, with gigs on Friday June 7th and Saturday June 8th
respectively.
But Brian and Rob don’t just song about change: they embody it. Both are keen cyclists and are
determined to demonstrate this is a viable and enjoyable way of getting about without burning fossil fuel.
The tour will cover some 585 miles and take in hefty climbs along the way. The duo will be carrying
everything they need with them, instruments included, and are grateful that most venues are either
providing or sponsoring overnight accommodation.
“When you travel by bike” says Brian “You really experience the journey. Going by vehicle can sometimes
feel like time-travel, in that you get in a box in one space and time, then leave it at another – more or less
oblivious of what lies in between.”
To catch a Band named Brian live, checkout tour dates on the web site at: www.thinkofasong.com or find
them in your local event listing.
www.thinkofasong.com info@madfmusik.co.uk +44 1225 313082

Blues Central
2024-06-14 20:00 - 22:00 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
BLUES CENTRAL are a four piece electric, Rhythm & Blues band, formed in 2001 by former RCA records recording artist and studio session musician Pete Hughes.
Since their formation, the band has played on the national blues club and festival circuit, sharing a stage with artists including Nina Simone, Booker T and the MGs, Gary Moore, Chicken Shack and several other global blues luminaries.
The band has also appeared live on the Paul Jones Blues show on BBC Radio 2.
BLUES CENTRAL play an eclectic mix of urban blues from Chicago, Texas and the American “Deep South” all with their unique British interpretation.
A good time is guaranteed for all…..

Daughter of Bala
2024-06-15 19:30 - 21:30 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
Daughter of Bala
by Adele Cordner

Dive into the remarkable tale of Betsi Cadwaladr, a name lost in the annals of history but not forgotten on the stage! In this gripping new play, written by Newport playwright Adele Cordner, witness the extraordinary life of a 19th-century Welsh woman whose adventures spanned continents and whose bravery helped reshape the course of wartime nursing history.
Join Her Story Theatre Company as we journey through Betsi’s captivating life story: from her humble beginnings in Wales to her globetrotting escapades in service, where she encountered fellow Welsh souls in the most unexpected corners of the world. But it was in her sixties, against all odds, that Betsi embarked on her most daring venture yet.
Journey alongside Betsi as she defies conventions and expectations, setting sail for the Crimean battlefield to heed the call of duty as a nurse. Along the way, she finds herself at odds with none other than Florence Nightingale herself, in a clash of wills that reverberates through the corridors of history.
Prepare to laugh, cry, and be swept away as Betsi’s indomitable spirit shines through in every scene. Through a tapestry of flashbacks and poignant interviews with her biographer, Betsi’s tale unfolds with heart-stopping excitement and tender humanity.
Don’t miss your chance to experience the triumphs and tribulations of a true trailblazer. Daughter of Bala promises an unforgettable theatrical experience that will leave you inspired and uplifted.
Book your tickets now and join us on this unforgettable odyssey through the life of a woman whose indomitable, independent spirit cannot fail to inspire.

Tickets: £15/£12 for under 25s and NHS employees

Flamenco Trio - Matinee Show
2024-06-22 14:00 - 16:00 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
Members:
Jose Almarcha: Guitar
Lucia Ruibal: Dancer,Palmas
Demi Garcia Sabat: Percussion
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see these incredible flamenco artists from Spain.
Part of Jose Almarcha’s Flamenco Trio UK 2024 Summer Tour.
José Almarcha is a superb guitarist and composer from Ciudad Real. José studied flamenco at Córdoba Conservatory of Music in 2009 and with great flamenco masters such as Paco Serrano and Niño de Pura. He has accompanied dancers such as Olga Pericet, Marco Flores and Antonio Canales. After the excellent reception of his first album, Vejézate, he has just released his new album, Alejandra, which will be showcased in Cambridge.
https://josealmarcha.com/
Lucía Ruibal is an accomplished dancer from El Puerto de Santa María near Cádiz. She often performs with her father, Javier Ruibal, the popular singer-songwriter. Lucía studied flamenco dance with La Lupi and Mercedes Ruíz and performs in Madrid with major flamenco groups such as those of Rafael Amargo and Juan de Juan.
https://luciaruibal.com/
Demi García Sabat is a versatile percussionist who performs with flamenco, jazz, Latin and Arabic groups around the UK and Europe. Demi studied at the London College of Music.

Flamenco Trio
2024-06-22 19:30 - 22:30 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom

Poetry Upstairs - June 2024
2024-06-25 18:30 - 21:30 | Melville Centre Cafe-Bar, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
Robert Sheppard has been publishing poetry since 1979, and he has two retrospective collections, Twentieth Century Blues (Salt 2008) and a selected poems History or Sleep (Shearsman 2015).He has published collaborative work with Bob Cobbing, Patricia Farrell, Pete Clarke. Robert is also a critic and an editor. Robert Sheppard lives in Liverpool.
Abigail Parry’s poems have been set to music, translated into Spanish and Japanese. She has won the Ballymaloe Prize, the Troubadour Prize, and an Eric Gregory Award. Her first collection, Jinx (Bloodaxe) was shortlisted for the Forward Prize and the Seamus Heaney Centre First Collection Poetry Prize. Her second collection, I Think We’re Alone Now, is also published by Bloodaxe Books.
Gareth Writer-Davies was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize (2014 and 2017); commended in the Prole Laureate Competition (2015 and 2021) and Prole Laureate for 2017. He is a winner of the Wirral Festival Poetry Competition (2023) and publications include: Bodies (Indigo Dreams) The Lover’s Pinch( Arenig Press) He was a Hawthornden Fellow.

ALBINO FROGS
2024-09-06 19:30 - 21:30 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
SIMPLY KNOWN AS
“THE FROGS”
THEY WRITE AND PERFORM THEIR OWN TUNES, DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM SUCH
GREATS AS STEELYE DAN, AVERAGE WHITE BAND, HEW AND CRY, TO NAME A FEW OF
THAT MUSICAL JANRE’.
THEY PUNCH OUT SWING FILLED FUNKY GROOVES WITH CATCHY HOOKS AND
HUMMERBLE MELODIES, WHICH GET YER FOOT TAPPING AND EARS LISTENING. FOR
A FOUR PIECE BAND CONSISTING OF DRUMS, BASS GUITAR AND SAXAPHONE
THEY MAKE A SURPRISINGLY POWERFULL AND TIGHT SOUND.

The Taste of Things
2024-09-20 19:30 - 22:00 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
Abergavenny Film Society presents
The Taste of Things
Friday 20th September 2024
France 2023 136 minutes
Director: Tràn Anh Hùng
Juliette Binoche Benoît Magimel

In the Loire Valley in 1885, celebrated gourmet Dodin lives on an idyllic estate alongside Eugénie, his cook and cooking collaborator of over 20 years. Normally, Dodin devises the dishes while Eugénie executes them to perfection and when she finally allows him to cook for her, their carefully calibrated relationship takes an unexpected turn.
Adapted from the novel by Marcel Rouff, this is a story about love and food, emotional connection and shared obsession. With lavish scenes of food preparation that are sensual, detailed and moving, The Taste of Things is a tender and romantic true visual feast.
French language with English subtitles.
The film will be screened without an intermission.
Ticket prices: £7.00 (£5.00 for people aged 25 and under)
Tickets may be available on the door (Cash or Card) if not sold out online.
Please check Melville Centre for The Arts website or Abergavenny Film Society website on the day of screening. https://thefilmsociety.co.uk/
Doors open 6.30pm.

Rona Mac ~Album Release Tour
2024-10-12 19:00 - 21:00 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
Having recently played support for Willy Mason, Billie Marten, Katy J Pearson, Bess Atwell and Dan Mangan, Rona Mac is beginning to get the recognition she deserves. A truly independent DIY, grass-roots artist from the most westerly tip of Wales, Mac is a prolific songwriter carving her own pathway as a queer alt-folk artist. For 4 years she swings seamlessly between stripped back sounds of Elliott Smith and Laura Marling, to the textures, rhythm and overdrive of Ben Howard or Phoebe Bridge. Recorded, produced and mixed by Mac in a caravan-studio, her music comes raw and unfiltered, aching with nostalgia that comes with rural, rugged places.

Funded by PRS foundation, Help Musicians and Horizons Launchpad (Arts Council Wales), upcoming album ‘Honeymilk and Heavy Weather’ is tenderly written for a lost friend, and her best work to date. For 3 years she has carved these 11 tracks with love, grief and determination, pulling everything into alignment with what lies at it’s core. There’s a dense and heavy story behind this Album, intertwined with themes of love, loss, mental illness, suicide and water. Mac uses the sounds of fire, rivers, ocean and wind amongst these tracks, as well as voice notes, spoken word, and all manner of strange and satisfying sounds. Always in-keeping with honest lyrics, strong melodies, harmonies and riffs that are a trademark of her work, getting her recognition on BBC’s Radio 1, 6 and Wales.
Mac’s grass-roots approach to music is tangible and real, and her live performance is both impressive and transformative.
She will be touring this album around 13 decentralised locations around the UK to move music away from big cities, as well as connecting with like-minded people. Could that be you?

An evening of James Taylor
2024-10-25 19:30 - 21:30 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
James Taylor is the encapsulation of the best of American songwriting.
His music has touched millions worldwide over his ongoing 55 year
strong career and his music still stands up to the test of time.
‘How Sweet It Is’ focuses more on Taylor’s early songwriting career,
featuring much loved songs, such as ‘Sweet Baby James’, ‘Something
In The Way She Moves’, ‘Fire and Rain’ but also includes more recent
classics like the evocative ‘Frozen Man’. Vernon James performs the
songs true to how they were written and in the spirit of James Taylor
himself, with a soulful lilt. During this two hour show, you will be taken
on journey back to simpler times and happily lose yourself in the dulcet
tones and sweet melodies of the finest songs written in the last half a
century.

HOWLIN MAT
2024-11-09 19:30 - 22:00 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
Howlin’ Mat is a BLUES musician who has performed everywhere from the Arctic Circle to
the Sahara Desert. He performs up to 200 shows a year and his escapades include him
opening for the Happy Mondays, spending an evening with Led Zeppelin legend John Paul
Jones on an Island 130 miles inside the Arctic Circle in the middle of winter and having a
birthday party being thrown by a notorious biker gang.
Armed with his guitars and a slide on his finger, Mat follows in the footsteps of his musical
heroes such as Mississippi Fred McDowell and Muddy Waters and onstage he combines
his musical talents with hilarious tales of his time on the road.
The blues has made a deep and everlasting impression on Mat’s life.
Mat recalled: “Elmore James – Dust My Broom was the first blues track I heard. I had
never heard anything like it in my life – the hairs on my arms stood up and I was hooked.”
In addition to his admiration for other blues legends such as John Lee Hooker and Hound
Dog Taylor, Mat’s style is as much developed from the trance-like style of Mississippi Hill
Country players – particularly R L Burnside. He added: “As I have grown older, hypnotic
rhythms have taken precedence over flashy guitar playing. The music of the North
Mississippi Hill Country is the coolest of all the blues forms and R. L is the daddy of it all.”
Very early on in his professional career, Mat was introduced to the Cigar Box guitar. It was
love at first sight and has now become a staple of all his shows. And he is proud to be
acknowledged as one of the UK’s foremost performers of this amazing instrument.
Mat’s been touring for 17 years now. His great guitar playing and singing combined with
his sense of humour and storytelling make his shows a unique experience that truly
entertains audiences worldwide.

GROTTO
2024-11-16 19:30 - 21:30 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
A legendary figure has signed into the GROTTO for some out-of-season rehab. Is he the real thing, or another otherwise unemployed actor between Santa gigs? That’s the set up for a brand-new award-winning character stand-up by the critically acclaimed, Monmouthshire writer and performer Terry Victor – a jolly, white-bearded, fat man who has definitely seen the GROTTO from the dark side.
At heart GROTTO is a powerful, comic celebration of diversity; a stockingful of juicy namedrops, super-salacious Santa secrets and Xmas rapping, dragged up with a bijou touch of gorgeous zhoush. We all know that there can only be one Santa but as more and more diverse personalities escape into the GROTTO it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas will never be the same again.
Grotto is UNSEASONABLE UNREASONABLE AND UNSUITABLE FOR BRATS.
Some review quotes from X and Facebook:
“This is truly what the Fringe was created for, a creative and wonderfully
batsh*t performance that I will struggle to forget any time soon. A must see!”
“so much gayer than I expected”
“hilarious and twisted”
“mad but funny and brilliant”
“Some very clever jokes interwoven throughout ”
Grotto was winner of the Show Chugger Award at the Edinburgh Fringe 2023 & Starburst Magazine’s pick of the Greater Manchester Fringe 2024

David Grubb - CIRCADIA TOUR
2024-11-22 19:00 - 21:30 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
David Grubb
Artist, string arranger, composer, performer.
David Grubb has become a sought-after musician, renowned for his ability to seamlessly blend musical styles. Primarily a violinist, he has shared the stage and studio with notable acts including Novo Amor, Jim Ghedi, Hailaker, Toby Hay, and collaborated with producers Ali Chant, Neil Davidge, and Ed Tullett. His work has taken him to North America, Europe, Asia, and New Zealand, performing in iconic venues such as The Barbican Centre (London) and Bowery Ballroom (NYC).
Perched on the Firth of Forth overlooking Edinburgh and East Lothian, David grew up in the small village of East Wemyss on the east coast of Scotland. It was here where he first picked up his grandad’s old fiddle and discovered his passion for music. Influenced by the Scottish traditional scene, his classical training, and his parent’s eclectic musical palette, he found inspiration in musical experimentation and sonic innovation. Now, firmly rooted in Cardiff, Wales where he has proudly called home for 15 years, David has become an integral part of the vibrant UK music scene, leaving an indelible mark on a multitude of projects.
An instrumental story teller, David’s musical prowess goes beyond traditional boundaries, crafting compositions that weave together seemingly disparate musical elements into conceptual journeys. His original offerings challenge the conventional perceptions of genre, inviting audiences into immersive sonic landscapes where each note tells a story. David’s upcoming release Circadia explores the human subconscious, leading listeners through a typical sleep cycle and encountering weird and wonderful phenomena along the way.
True to his genre hopping credentials, David’s musical endeavours extend to diverse projects, including his membership in the Welsh trash-trad ensemble, NoGood Boyo, and his role as a founding member of the burgeoning bluegrass sensation, Taff Rapids.

ROPE
2024-11-28 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-11-29 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-11-30 19:30 - 21:30 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
Tickets are now on sale for our next production, Patrick Hamilton’s “Rope”, a psychological thriller full of twists and turns that promises to keep you on the edge of your seat. Secure your tickets now: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/suitcase-theatre-company

Keith James - The Songs of Nick Drake
2024-12-06 19:30 - 22:00 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
IMPORTANT NOTICE: THE PERFORMANCE IS UNFORTUNATELY CANCELLED DUE TO SUDDEN ILLNESS OF PERFORMER.

Keith James
A haunting and immaculately crafted concert
The Songs of Nick Drake
Nick Drake is the most revered and loved of all this country’s Singer-
Songwriters. He has given us timeless songs that shed all the tears of life
within their fragile yet perfect lines. He recorded three cherished Albums
between 1969 and 1972 but was almost entirely unknown in his day. After
his tragic death in 1974 aged only 26 his music almost disappeared into
obscurity. Now, thanks to a massive resurgence of interest and a worldwide
re-evaluation of his genius Nick Drake has become a national treasure.
Several meticulously compiled Biographies look at every aspect of Nick’s life
and music, throwing light on many shadowy corners of mystery and
supposition.
Two decades have now passed since Singer/Guitarist Keith James first
paralysed the whole Country with his stunningly beautiful series of concerts.
He was the first artist ever to bring this intriguingly fragile music to Theatres
and Arts Venues across the UK in its pure live concert form. The result was
six years of highly acclaimed tours amounting to over 1000 concerts in
venues across the UK, Ireland, Holland, France, Italy and Spain including all of
Nick’s Schools and Colleges – even Glastonbury Festival.
‘Musicians brave enough to make the music they really believe in. Keith James is one of these’
Bob Harris
‘Some of the most atmospheric and emotive music you will ever hear’
The Independent
‘A fresh and powerful approach to these wonderful songs’
Patrick Humphries – Nick Drake biographer
“An absolute must” Mark Radcliffe – BBC Radio
www.keith-james.com

A Christmas Catalogue
2024-12-13 19:30 - 21:00 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
What is included in the price of your ticket for “A Christmas Catalogue”?

1. A full evening of comic entertainment on a Christmas theme.
2. A GOODY BAG for every audience member.
3. A smug sense of self satisfaction from the knowledge that you’ve done your bit for charity. ALL profits will be donated to Velindre Cancer Care.
4. A chance to hear some unusually rude Christmas songs.
5. An aching face from the smiling and laughing.

Not bad for £15! Get your tickets now from www.theplaygroupabergavenny.co.uk

(This performance includes some swearing, therefore we suggest an age suitability of 16+)

Louby Lou Stories - A Snow Dream
2024-12-21 11:00 - 15:30 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
You can now purchase your seats to our festive show ‘A Snow Dream’ at the lovely little Melville Centre-Abergavenny on Saturday 21st December.

Book: www.ticketsource.co.uk/loubyloustories

Tickets are all priced at £10 per seat for both adults & children as there is only a limited capacity within the theatre itself.

The recommended age is 3 to 10 years.

Running time is approximately 45/50 minutes.

BMJ Collective and guest Gethin Liddington celebrate
2025-02-09 19:00 - 21:00 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
BMJ Collective and guest Gethin LiddingtonSunday 9th February 2025: 7pmMelville Centre, Abergavenny

Our mid-month early start event sees BMJ Collective welcome special guest Gethin Liddington on trumpet, with a Gerry Mulligan/Chet Baker set.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVLfFXbgsy4
The Gerry Mulligan-Chet Baker Quartet revolutionized jazz in 1952 with its piano-less, counterpoint-driven style. Mulligan’s compositions and Baker’s natural interplay created the foundation of the West Coast sound. Their recordings, like “Bernie’s Tune,” showcased simplicity, subtlety, and innovation, defining cool jazz.
This exciting session includes guest Gethin Liddington who studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama between 1989 and 1993 and now teaches trumpet there.
His versatility and wide experience has seen him working with a number of top musicians, including (to name a few) the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Pasadena Roof Orchestra, Blue Harlem, Keith Tippett, Paula Gardiner Katherine Jenkins and the Welsh National Opera.
He has also performed on radio and TV sessions, as well as featuring on film soundtracks.
This event will be an exciting an interesting collaboration.
Jack Mac – sax and vocalsRyan Thrupp – drumsNick Kacal – bassGethin Liddington – trumpet

BMJ presents : Eddie Gripper & Alex Clarke Quartet
2025-02-16 20:00 - 22:00 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
A date for your diaryMusic link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tizKFYvY7tE

After a short stint of gigs in 2023, the quartet reunites for a swift, heavy hitting UK tour of hard-bop and feel good swing.
BMJ are delighted to welcome two rising stars back to Abergavenny and the club where these two fine musicians first met.
As a finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020, winner of the Rising Star category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards and nominee in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2021 & 2022, Alex Clarke is known to be one of the most in-demand and versatile saxophonists to have emerged on the British jazz scene. Praised for her intelligent ear for harmony and a deep knowledge of repertoire across a variety of styles, Alex’s sound is steeped in the tradition of swing and bebop, “leaving the listener captivated by every phrase and nuance” (Jazz Views).
Having “already garnered comparisons with the greats” (Jazzwise) after the release of his debut album ‘Home’, Eddie Gripper has been rapidly establishing himself as another young contender on the national jazz circuit. He has worked as a performer, promoter and producer alongside top musicians in his field, including Huw Warren, Iain Ballamy, Laura Jurd, Alex Merritt and Yuri Golubev. As a composer, he has collaborated with Welsh folk artist Angharad Jenkins in a handful of projects, exploring the various aspects of folk, jazz and contemporary classical traditions.
The quartet itself also features Nick Kacal (Double Bass) and Partrick Barrett-Donlon (Kit).

Benefit night featuring Skylark, The Quiet Ranters & The Bodhi Medlars
2025-02-23 19:00 - 22:00 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
This is a Benefit Gig for the Welsh Refugee Council.
Having fled devastating and dangerous conditions in their own countries, refugees often face hostility and hardship in the countries they hoped to find sanctuary in.
The Welsh Refugee Council works to support Asylum seekers and Refugees in Wales to build their lives here.
“Welsh Refugee Council is the beginning of the end of the trauma. It is where the running stops and recovery starts”
WRC help people to find a place to stay, work to support themselves, access to English classes, legal advice and so forth.

Performances by:

The Quiet Ranters

The Quiet Ranters are a 4 piece acappella group blending styles and languages.
They sing songs of Revolution, Hope, Peace and Humour in an engaging and uplifting performance .

The Bodhi Medlars

The Bodhi Medlars are a saxophone, fiddle and accordion Trio playing Eastern European songs from Hungary to Turkey and Greece. Fast, furious and fun!

Skylark

Skylark are sax, vocals and guitar playing jazz and world music grooves, including Latin and African.

Grandma's Gingerbread Tale
2025-02-25 11:30 - 15:30 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
Think you know the story of the Gingerbread Man? Well think again, as we bring you a brand new twist on this classic tale. Grandma is busily baking in her kitchen, when one of her Gingerbread unexpectedly springs to life. After chasing it down, the pair form an unlikely friendship and work together to outsmart the cunning Mr Fox.

Tickets will be available to purchase via our ticket website…

www.ticketsource.co.uk/loubyloustories

St David's Day Tour with Aidan Thorne & Jason Ball
2025-03-08 19:30 - 21:30 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
Aidan Thorne – Double bass/ambience machine

Jason Ball – Guitars /ambience machine

Jason and Aidan have worked together in different settings for over 15 years. To celebrate St. Davids Day this year they are releasing their first album together ‘Expanding upon Tradition : Ehangu’r Traddodiad’ on Cambrian Record. The music is en exploration of Welsh folk tunes using elements of improvisation, jazz and minimalism under an ambient backdrop.

“Aidan Thorne’s cascading notes on the bass were enough to give you pause, make you hold your breath. ”
Nation Cymru

“A versatile and imaginative soloist with a contemporary jazz guitar style that is very much his own” Ian Mann

The BMJazz Collective and Guest jazz pianist/vocalist Hilary Cameron
2025-03-09 19:00 - 21:00 | The Melville Theatre, The Melville Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, United Kingdom
Singer, pianist, and Manhattan School of Music, New York graduate Hilary Cameron blends Latin jazz with the soulful style of Joni Mitchell. In-demand across London and the US, Hilary has performed at top venues like Ronnie Scott’s and Smalls NYC. Known for her role as an accompanist, this rare performance with the BMJazz Collective at Black Mountain Jazz gives audiences a chance to see her shine as the featured guest. Don’t miss this special opportunity to hear why Hilary is so highly regarded in the jazz world!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRMaF78B6Jo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6ncFh2Ap1c
