Author: Rhys Gregory

Kings of Leon will return to Cardiff for the first time in 18 years to headline brand-new music series Blackweir Live. Hot on the heels of the launch of the new series of outdoor live music events for summer 2025 it is revealed today that the GRAMMY award-winning, multi-platinum alternative rock band will headline on Sunday June 29 – their first show in South Wales since 2014 and their first in Cardiff since 2007. Three more headliners for the iconic green space at Blackweir Fields alongside the River Taff will be announced soon. Since their debut in 2003, Kings of…

Hay Festival Winter Weekend closed Sunday 1 December after festivalgoers enjoyed events in and around the booktown of Hay-on-Wye with more than 11,000 tickets sold, up 10% on the previous year. Over four days, more than 70 acclaimed artists took part in over 60 events, launching the best new fiction and non-fiction, exploring creative solutions to some of the biggest challenges of our time, and spreading festive joy in conversations, reflecting on 2024 and looking forward to 2025, candle-lit storytelling, comedy, music, and workshops. Bestselling books were: 1. Cerys Matthews’ Under Milk Wood by Cerys Matthews 2. Comfort Eating by…

Two inspirational Welsh educators have been announced as Gold Winners at the 2024 Pearson National Teaching Awards, considered the ‘Oscars’ of the teaching profession. Jo Wyatt, a Higher Level Teaching Assistant at Ysgol Bryn Gwalia, has been announced as the Gold Winner for Teaching Assistant of the Year. Jo’s transformative approach helps her students develop a sense of identity and self-love using unique techniques, such as using mirrors to reflect their potential and introducing them to her therapy dog Bella. Her commitment extends to sharing her knowledge with peers, educating them on trauma-informed practices, and helping to create a nurturing classroom…

This December, Cardiff’s beloved events venue DEPOT is raising the bar for festive celebrations with the Bingo Lingo ‘Christmas Craic-ker’ – a seasonal spin on the wildly popular Bingo Lingo phenomenon, featuring a custom-built Irish pub, live entertainment, and unparalleled Christmas cheer! Bingo Lingo events were born and bred in Cardiff in 2016 and have become a sensation across the UK and beyond, captivating audiences in over 50 cities with its raucous reinvention of traditional bingo. Weekly sell-out events at DEPOT attract up to 1,400 guests, and now, the Christmas Craic-ker series promises to be the crowning glory of the…

Cardiff Metropolitan University’s School of Art and Design has launched a range of new evening and weekend short courses which will start in January 2025. Open to all abilities, the short courses are an opportunity to hone skills at the university’s professionally equipped studios and workspaces. The courses are suitable for complete beginners as well as artists and designers of all abilities. There is a total of ten courses to choose from, including pottery and painting, drawing, photography and sewing courses, all set to take place during the Spring term. The following courses can now be booked onto: Introduction to…

Cardiff-based technology consultancy Stable is set to accelerate its growth and innovation with a £1.2 million equity and debt investment from the Development Bank of Wales. Founded in 2001 by Ans and David Aspden, Stable is a leading UK provider of freelance technology expertise and solutions, particularly in cloud technology, cybersecurity and digital transformation. Stable works with a wide range of organisations, including government departments and private sector clients. In 2023, Stable was recognised by The Sunday Times as one of Britain’s fastest-growing private companies. The company now employs 60 staff and its turnover is projected to exceed £19 million…

Amazon has announced a new site leader at its Swansea fulfilment centre as the site prepares for the festive shopping season. David Marcok from Bedfordshire will oversee operations at Amazon’s Swansea fulfilment centre, which opened its doors in 2007. David has worked at Amazon since 2017. He began his Amazon career at an Amazon Fresh fulfilment centre in London following a move from a store management role at a large grocery retailer. The appeal of Amazon for David was the clear progression opportunities he saw available, which have enabled him to progress to the role he has today. David worked…

AN ESTEEMED clinician warned people to seek proper medical care when exploring weight-loss injections. Sara Cheeney, founder of award-winning Pure Perfection Clinic in Rossett, says “cowboy businesses” are giving the industry a bad name and are of significant risk to customers. The renowned centre of excellence, based near Chester and Wrexham, has seen a rise in patients requesting and undergoing the treatment, notably women with menopausal symptoms. With media reporting the UK Government has suggested weight loss drugs could help obese people return to work and subsequently have a positive impact on the economy, there has been more interest than…

A disqualified driver who led police on a reckless pursuit through the streets of Cardiff has been jailed. Nathan Krishnan, 42, stole a BMW from outside a house in Princess Street, Roath, in the early hours of Sunday, September 8. The car’s owner alerted police and around 30 minutes later, officers in an unmarked police car spotted the BMW as it as it travelled along Lansdowne Road. They followed the BMW to Beechley Drive until it came to a stop. Officers pulled up alongside the car and shouted for Krishnan to shut off the engine but he sped away from…

‘You should be under no illusion if you get behind the wheel whilst under the influence you not only risk your licence, get a fine or prison sentence, but you are risking lives too’ – that is the message being driven by North Wales Police as they launch their 2024 Christmas Anti Drink and Drug Drive Campaign. The national month-long #OpLimit campaign targeting driving whilst under the influence begins on Sunday, 1st December and police forces across the country will be using intelligence-led tactics and local knowledge of hotspots to detect people who are driving under the influence of drugs…