#swanseaarena — Public Fediverse posts

SWANSEA: Brian Aldridge, Lilian and Jazzer bring The Archers to the arena for its 75th birthday

Four of The Archers’ best-known voices are coming to Swansea next month, as the programme the BBC bills as the world’s longest-running radio drama takes its 75th birthday on the road.

The Archers: Live at 75 plays Swansea Building Society Arena on Wednesday 4 November at 7.30pm. It is the only Welsh date on the 30-stop tour.

The nights either side, at Exeter’s Great Hall on 3 November and Bath’s Forum on 5 November, have sold out and are running waiting lists, according to the tour’s ticket site. Bath had already had an extra night added in October.

Swansea tickets are still on sale, from £37 to £64.50.

Brian Aldridge, Lilian Bellamy, Jazzer and Tracy Horrobin on the Swansea stage

Charles Collingwood, who has played Brian Aldridge since 1975, leads the cast.

Collingwood said his character would not have approved of the trip. “My character Brian would never want to go on tour; he would find it a distraction from the ongoing problems at Home Farm,” he said.

He, on the other hand, is “longing to celebrate the Archers 75th anniversary with enthusiastic vigour”.

He added: “May The Produce Show produce the goods in every way, a show full of fun, laughter and surprises! Roll up, roll up!”

He is joined by Sunny Ormonde, the voice of Lilian Bellamy for more than 25 years, and Ryan Kelly, who has been Jazzer McCreary since 2000.

Kelly is a lifelong listener himself, having followed the programme since the age of eleven, the tour says.

Susie Riddell completes the line-up as Tracy Horrobin, a part she took on in 2011. She first joined the programme as a child, playing Kate Aldridge from 1989 to 1994.

The tour runs with two casts of four, according to Fane Productions, which produces it. Swansea gets the Produce cast, while the Flower cast, led by Timothy Bentinck’s David Archer, plays the Midlands and south-east dates.

Cast appearances are subject to availability, Fane adds.

A flower and produce show, a pub quiz from The Bull and a sing-along to the theme

The show is set at the Ambridge Flower & Produce Show, hosted by comedian Angela Barnes, a regular on Radio 4‘s The News Quiz.

Barnes said: “I am not just an Archers superfan, I am obsessed with all things Ambridge.”

Hosting the show, she said, “is like winning a prize at the Flower and Produce Show and being cast as the lead in a Lynda Snell production, all rolled into one”.

She added: “I can’t wait to hang out with all of my favourite characters and really immerse myself in Borsetshire life.”

The cast perform scenes written specially for the tour, with Vanessa Nuttall, who has been on the show’s technical team for ten years, making the sound effects live on stage from what the producers call “surprisingly unlikely props”.

There are clips from the BBC archive, behind-the-scenes stories, a pub quiz in the style of The Bull and an audience Q&A.

The night ends with the audience singing Barwick Green, the theme that has opened the programme since 1951.

The show is recommended for ages 14 and over.

75 years, 20,000 episodes and six nights a week on Radio 4

The Archers was first broadcast on 1 January 1951 and has passed 20,000 episodes, going out six nights a week on BBC Radio 4.

It is currently the most-listened-to on-demand programme on BBC Sounds across all ages, according to the BBC.

Alison Hindell, BBC Radio 4’s drama and fiction commissioner, said the corporation was “tremendously proud” of the programme as it reaches its 75th year.

She added: “We hope that the live show will give fans even more of what they love, joining in the celebrations with an extra slice of Ambridge life.”

The tour is a commercial production licensed by the BBC. It has been on the road since June, and the last date on the tour list is Wolverhampton on 26 November.

Tickets for The Archers: Live at 75 at Swansea Arena on 4 November

Tickets are on sale through fane.co.uk/the-archers. A souvenir programme and an Ambridge tea towel can be pre-ordered at the checkout for collection on the night.

Fane is the company behind Harry Enfield’s first solo tour, which played the arena on Monday.

It is the latest touring show to pick Swansea as its Welsh stop. Love Actually Live in Concert has its only Welsh date at the arena on 6 December.

Earlier this month, five former Strictly professionals brought Vegas: After Hours to the arena.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

SWANSEA: Love Actually is coming to the arena with a full live orchestra this Christmas
The only Welsh night of the tour, on Sunday 6 December.

SWANSEA: Five Strictly legends are bringing Las Vegas to the arena this Friday
Brendan Cole, James Jordan, Pasha Kovalev, Vincent Simone and Ian Waite on one stage.

SWANSEA: Harry Enfield to unleash the character the BBC banned at his arena show
The first solo tour from the comedy legend, another Fane production.

More from Swansea Arena
Every show and announcement from the waterfront venue.

SWANSEA: British judo champion Zac, 14, wanted to quit when his mum was diagnosed with cancer

When Zac Thomas found out his mum had breast cancer, the Swansea teenager wanted to give up and stay at home with her.

The news “shocked me a bit”, the 14-year-old said. “I wanted to quit and stay home with my mum, but I thought that I just had to push through it.”

He didn’t quit. In the past 10 months he has become British Judo champion and British School Judo champion, the awards say.

On Friday night he won the Young Sporting Hero award for over-13s at the Child of Wales Awards.

The ceremony at Swansea Building Society Arena marked the awards’ fifth anniversary, with 700 guests.

The only Welsh child picked for the British squad in Japan

Only one Welsh child was picked to go to Japan with the British squad, and it was Zac. He is also a three-time Welsh jujitsu champion and a member of the Welsh Jujitsu Squad.

His family say he has been invited to South Africa and has trained in other countries. He “went to Malta for the Commonwealth Games” and came home with a bronze, they said.

At one competition he won three gold medals in three different weight categories, they added.

Zac lives with autism and the attention deficit conditions ADHD and ADD, the awards say. He also passes on what he knows about judo to other young people.

Judo started when he watched his brother

Football came first, when he was four or five, and he played for Cardiff City, he said. Then came rugby, which he loved, but he wanted another sport.

Judo came from watching his brother. “I watched my brother do it for like a month. Then I really wanted to start doing it,” he said.

His coach told his dad he was ready. After his first training session, Zac said, he “loved it”.

Football and rugby have not gone anywhere. He helped Penlan Football Club win the league, cup and Champions Cup, and was part of Dunvant Rugby’s Ospreys Cup win.

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Christmas morning, serving dinner to people who are homeless

Every Christmas morning he gives up to six hours to serve a three-course meal to people experiencing homelessness, the awards say.

He and his brother have done it for “a good few years now”, his family said, going down to “cook, and give out the food”.

“I can stick up for myself now”

Everybody loves him, his family said, “but he is the lovable rogue in school, out of school, in judo”.

They were “gobsmacked” by the award. “He deserves this, especially all that he’s been through,” they said.

Zac has plans of his own. When he finishes school, he said, he might start his own company, called Zac Thomas Club.

The reason is what judo has given him. “I can stick up for myself now, which I’m very happy,” he said.

He wants to pass that on to others, “so they can feel the way how I feel now”.

BBC Morning Live presenter Gethin Jones hosted the awards for a fifth year. The night raised money for Wales Air Ambulance and the mental health charity Big Moose.

Neath dad John Jenkins, who carried his daughter Leah to the top of Pen y Fan, also won on the night.

So did Pontardawe’s Cian Evans, 11, who plans to walk up it 10 times in 24 hours.

Llandovery firefighter Cathryn Moore, 19, was named Young Leader.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

PONTARDAWE: Crash survivor Cian, 11, plans to walk up Pen y Fan 10 times in 24 hours
Young Fundraiser at this year’s Child of Wales Awards.

LLANDOVERY: Firefighter Cathryn, 19, got thank-you cards from her swimming pupils after the wildfires
Cathryn Moore, Young Leader winner.

NEATH: Dad ran 27 miles to Pen y Fan, carried his daughter to the top, then ran home
John Jenkins, Above & Beyond winner.

More on the Child of Wales Awards
Every story from the awards for Wales’ young people.

LLANDOVERY: Firefighter Cathryn, 19, got thank-you cards from her swimming pupils after the wildfires

When Llandovery firefighter Cathryn Moore went back to work after this summer’s wildfires, there were cards waiting from the children she teaches to swim.

The message on them, she said, was “thank you for saving our community”.

On Friday night the 19-year-old won the Young Leader award at the Child of Wales Awards.

The ceremony at Swansea Building Society Arena marked the awards’ fifth anniversary, with 700 guests.

Alongside her other jobs, she answers emergency calls as an on-call firefighter with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

The awards say she is the youngest female on-call firefighter in Llandovery, and one of the youngest female firefighters in Wales.

She is not the only teenager on call in Carmarthenshire: Newcastle Emlyn’s Bobi Jones can leave his free periods at school when the alerter goes.

“That was the evening I learned women could be firefighters”

It started at six, when she went with the Rainbows to an evening at the fire station. “That was the evening I learned women could be firefighters. And ever since that day, that is all I wanted to ever do,” she said.

She joined at 18, and for a short time was the youngest female firefighter in Wales, she said.

More young women should follow, she believes, because “there’s not many young girls joining the brigade at the minute”.

As a little girl, she said, she “never thought a girl could help the community by being a firefighter”. Once she found out she could, “of course I’d want to be that and help my community in any way I can”.

Her first fatal call, within a month of joining

Within a month of starting, her crew was called to a cardiac arrest. The person did not survive, she said.

She had only just turned 18. “It was difficult, but in a way you kind of just work through it and you find a different kind of strength,” she said.

What helps, she said, is this: “You remember you gave them the best chance of life.”

Wildfires, the swimming pool and Llandovery Netball Club

This summer she supported the fire service through the wildfires, the awards say. In August a wildfire at Rhandirmwyn was declared a major incident, with Llandovery’s crew among those on the mountain.

Growing up in the town helps, she said: “I know everyone and I tend to know all the kids I teach.”

She is also a lifeguard, and plays for and coaches younger teams at Llandovery Netball Club, the awards say.

With her female teammates she recently came second in the tug of war at the Royal Welsh Show.

Dyslexia did not stop her passing the written exams needed to become a firefighter, the awards say.

“Work hard, be happy, and inspire others”

The award came as a shock because she did not know she had been nominated, she said, and she thinks her mum burst into tears.

She knows others could have won. “I’m very privileged to win this award. I’m sure there’s many others out there that would deserve to win it, too,” she said.

Her motto came from her own swimming teacher: “Work hard, be happy, and inspire others.”

BBC Morning Live presenter Gethin Jones hosted the awards for a fifth year. The night raised money for Wales Air Ambulance and the mental health charity Big Moose.

Neath dad John Jenkins, who carried his daughter Leah to the top of Pen y Fan, also won on the night.

So did Pontardawe’s Cian Evans, 11, who plans to walk up it 10 times in 24 hours.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

RHANDIRMWYN: “The worst is behind us” after six days of wildfire on the mountain
The August major incident Llandovery’s crew helped fight.

He’s 18, he’s doing his A-Levels, and his school lets him leave class to fight fires
Another of the service’s youngest on-call firefighters.

PONTARDAWE: Crash survivor Cian, 11, plans to walk up Pen y Fan 10 times in 24 hours
Young Fundraiser at this year’s Child of Wales Awards.

NEATH: Dad ran 27 miles to Pen y Fan, carried his daughter to the top, then ran home
John Jenkins, Above & Beyond winner.

More on the Child of Wales Awards
Every story from the awards for Wales’ young people.

PONTARDAWE: Crash survivor Cian, 11, plans to walk up Pen y Fan 10 times in 24 hours

Cian Evans from Pontardawe was two when a car crash killed his mum, Rebecca, and his unborn sister, Cari. Rebecca was eight months pregnant, his dad, Alex, said.

This month the 11-year-old and his dad plan to walk up and down Pen y Fan 10 times in 24 hours. They will do it during Baby Loss Awareness Week, the week that remembers babies lost in pregnancy and infancy.

On Friday night, the fundraising Cian has done for the people who helped him won him the Young Fundraiser award at the Child of Wales Awards.

The ceremony at Swansea Building Society Arena marked the awards’ fifth anniversary, with 700 guests.

Fractured skull, collapsed lung and two broken legs at the age of two

The crash happened in 2016. Cian fractured his skull, his lung collapsed and he broke both legs, and the awards say he also suffered multiple facial injuries.

He spent five days at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital, whose staff his dad calls “absolutely brilliant”.

Alex is in no doubt what saved his son. “Without Noah’s Ark and the Wales Air Ambulance, I don’t think he’d be with us today,” he said.

Nine years on, he still needs physical and emotional support, the awards say.

£10,000 for Harry’s Fund, the charity that gave him counselling

Years later, bereavement counselling came from Harry’s Fund, a charity that supports children and families affected by trauma.

He took on the Welsh Three Peaks because the charity had helped him, Cian said, and “I just wanted to give something back to them”.

Last year he and his dad climbed Yr Wyddfa, Cadair Idris and Pen y Fan, raising £10,000 for Harry’s Fund, the awards say.

Cadair Idris was the hardest of the three because of the heat, he recalled. After that, “we did Pen y Fan and then we went home and slept”.

Before that he raised £1,500 for the Wales Air Ambulance by walking 100km in the Walk Wales challenge, according to the awards.

For Alex, giving back was the point. It was “really important to us that we were able to do something to give back to them so they could continue their services”, he said.

“A lot of people are going through the same things as me”

Cian knows other children are where he was, without the help he had. “I understand that a lot of people are going through the same things as me and they don’t have the support that I did,” he said.

In February he won the Young Person award at the St David Awards, Wales’ national honours.

Friday’s award left him “really happy and excited”, he said. “I also feel very proud of myself, because I don’t do the fundraising for things to come back to me, but they always do come back.”

10 times up Pen y Fan in 24 hours, and no training yet

Baby Loss Awareness Week runs from 9 to 15 October. It ends with a Wave of Light on the 15th, when families light a candle at 7pm for the babies they have lost.

Cian and his dad have one snag, Alex admitted: “We haven’t trained yet.”

BBC Morning Live presenter Gethin Jones hosted the awards for a fifth year. This year the night raised money for Wales Air Ambulance and the mental health charity Big Moose.

Neath dad John Jenkins, who carried his daughter Leah to the top of Pen y Fan, also won on the night.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Max Boyce and local heroes celebrated at St David Awards
Cian among the local winners at Wales’ national honours in February.

NEATH: Dad ran 27 miles to Pen y Fan, carried his daughter to the top, then ran home
John Jenkins, another Child of Wales winner this year.

CHILD OF WALES: Doctors told her mum she might be paralysed. Gracie, seven, has now raised £65,000 for the crew who saved her
The seven-year-old who raised £65,000 for Wales Air Ambulance after a collision left her with a collapsed lung.

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Every story from the awards for Wales’ young people.

SWANSEA: Five Strictly legends are bringing Las Vegas to the arena this Friday

Five former Strictly Come Dancing professionals are bringing a Las Vegas dance show to Swansea this Friday.

Brendan Cole, James Jordan, Pasha Kovalev, Vincent Simone and Ian Waite play Swansea Building Society Arena on 9 October with Vegas: After Hours.

Between them they have two Glitterballs: Cole won the very first series in 2004 with Natasha Kaplinsky, and Kovalev lifted the trophy in 2014.

They arrive with Strictly back on BBC One, and this year’s series brought a Swansea name to the ballroom.

Melanie Walters, Gwen in Gavin & Stacey, was paired with Aljaž Škorjanec at the launch.

From Celine Dion to Sinatra, with James Bond themes thrown in

The show runs for two and a half hours, Kovalev said, set to the music of stars who have played Las Vegas, Celine Dion and Elton John to Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra.

Cole will dance the rumba and the paso doble, and he hinted at the soundtrack: “Let’s just say that a few epic James Bond film themes might be involved.”

He went further than that. “This tour promises to be the raunchiest yet,” he said.

Waite has a solo spot to the music of Sammy Davis Jr, dancing “a quickstep and a slow dramatic waltz”. “No jiving for me!” he said.

For Simone, it is the Argentine tango, which he called his speciality.

“They wish we were still on Strictly”: why the fans keep coming back

This is their third tour in three years, after Legends of The Dance Floor in 2024 and The Return of The Legends in 2025.

Jordan, who finished runner-up with Denise Van Outen in 2012, puts it down to nostalgia.

Fans tell them so all the time, he said: “I can’t count the number of times people say to me, and the others, that they wish we were still on Strictly.”

That, he believes, is “why they keep coming back to see us”.

All five are “either side of 50 now”, he said, and he feels it: “I struggle with my body and particularly my back, my shoulder, my hips, my knees.”

Waite, in his mid-50s, thought he would “be sitting on a beach somewhere by this stage”, he said.

Instead he points to one of this year’s Strictly judges: “Anton Du Beke is five years older than me and he’s still dancing. He’s such a legend, and an inspiration, too.”

Kovalev met his wife, Countdown’s Rachel Riley, on Strictly, and said she and their two daughters will be in the audience for one of the shows.

Tickets for Swansea Arena on Friday 9 October

Swansea is the sixth night of a 31-date tour that opened in Fareham on Saturday and finishes at Cardiff’s New Theatre on 8 November.

Tickets start at £35.20, plus a £3.95 transaction fee, through the arena.

Three days later, Harry Enfield brings his first solo tour to the arena.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

STRICTLY: Gavin & Stacey’s Melanie Walters completes the 2026 line-up, and Gower will all be watching
The Swansea-born actress in this year’s series.

SWANSEA: Harry Enfield to unleash the character the BBC banned at his arena show
Enfield brings his first solo tour to the arena on Monday 12 October.

SWANSEA: Love Actually is coming to the arena with a full live orchestra this Christmas
The only Welsh night of the tour, on Sunday 6 December.

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SWANSEA: Love Actually is coming to the arena with a full live orchestra this Christmas

Love Actually is coming to Swansea this Christmas, with a full orchestra playing the soundtrack live as the film runs on a huge screen.

The show, Love Actually Live in Concert, plays Swansea Building Society Arena on Sunday 6 December, for one night only.

It is the only Welsh date on a 14-stop UK tour that opens at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall on 30 November and finishes at Portsmouth’s Guildhall on 22 December.

Outside Wales, the nearest stops are Bath’s Forum on 4 December and Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on 14 December.

Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman and Bill Nighy on the big screen

Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Alan Rickman and Bill Nighy lead the cast.

Laura Linney, Martine McCutcheon, Rowan Atkinson and Martin Freeman also star.

Grant plays a Prime Minister who falls for a junior member of his Downing Street staff, played by McCutcheon.

Nighy is an ageing rock star chasing the Christmas number one, while Neeson plays a widower helping his stepson through his first crush.

Richard Curtis wrote and directed the 2003 film, a set of linked stories about love, friendship, family and heartbreak in London in the weeks before Christmas.

Craig Armstrong’s score, played live in time with the film

The whole film is shown in high definition while the orchestra plays Craig Armstrong’s score in sync with the action on screen, organisers say.

More than two decades on, the film is back on television every year and has become a Christmas tradition for millions, according to the promoters.

Tickets for the Swansea Arena night on 6 December

Tickets are available through the tour website, loveactuallyinconcert.com.

Our reviewer Jonathan Marshall will be at the arena on the night, and his verdict will follow.

Last month he reviewed Q The Music’s James Bond Concert Spectacular at the Grand, and called it “a wonderful night out”.

Before then, Harry Enfield brings his first solo tour to the arena on Monday 12 October.

The tour is promoted by JOY. Concerts, a Brighton promoter that has been putting on shows since 2008.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

SWANSEA: Harry Enfield to unleash the character the BBC banned at his arena show
Enfield brings his first solo tour to the arena on Monday 12 October.

SWANSEA: Gregory Porter opens his 2027 UK tour at the Arena
The two-time Grammy winner starts his summer tour in Swansea on 24 June 2027.

LIVE MUSIC REVIEW: ‘Stirred rather than shaken’, Q The Music’s James Bond Concert Spectacular at the Grand
Jonathan Marshall on a night of Bond themes at Swansea Grand Theatre.

More from Swansea Arena
Every show and announcement from the waterfront venue.

NEATH: Dad ran 27 miles to Pen y Fan, carried his daughter to the top, then ran home

John Jenkins set off running from his home in Neath. At the foot of Pen y Fan he lifted his daughter Leah onto his back, carried her to the summit, then ran all the way home again.

It was about 27 miles each way, he says, though he admits taking a short cut over another mountain to knock a couple of miles off.

On Friday night it won him the Above & Beyond award at the Child of Wales Awards. The ceremony at Swansea Building Society Arena marked the awards’ fifth anniversary, with 700 guests.

PURA syndrome: doing “the same as every other child”

Leah has an extremely rare genetic condition that affects how the nerves and brain develop, called PURA syndrome. John says about 800 people in the world have it.

When Leah was little, he and his wife Caroline decided she would do “the same as every other child”.

She rides horses, skis, surfs and skateboards, and is part of the Welsh Judo squad’s adaptive side.

The climb was his way “to try and raise awareness of these fantastic groups we’re part of”, he said. The awards say it also raised money for the four charities behind her skiing, surfing, skateboarding and judo.

Training for Pen y Fan with bags of coal and kettlebells

Caroline thought the idea “absolutely horrendous”, John said, and most people agreed.

Friends and family say he’s mad, and that once he gets an idea in his head there is no getting it out.

He bought the biggest baby carrier he could find, and Caroline adapted it to fit Leah. Then he ran the streets of Neath carrying bags of coal and kettlebells to get used to the weight.

Carrying her up the mountain was not enough on its own. “I didn’t think that was quite hard enough, so I decided I’d run to Pen y Fan first, carry Leah, and then run home,” he said.

He also helped Leah walk part of the route herself, the awards say.

Leah’s brother Macsen was his “wingman” on the mountain

Leah’s younger brother Macsen carried the safety gear beside them. “Every time we stopped for a break, he was giving Leah a drink, giving me a drink, helping me back up,” John said.

Macsen said it was good to help, “especially since he’s run 27 miles beforehand”.

That is why John calls it a family effort rather than his. “If it wasn’t for Caroline, we wouldn’t be doing this,” he said.

When they first met, he recalls, Caroline told him that if he couldn’t make her life easier, he could do one. “What I’ve actually done is made it more difficult,” he said.

31 marathons in 31 days: not John’s first challenge

Five or six years ago he ran 31 marathons in 31 days to raise money for a ski trip to France for the children in their ski group.

The family is also part of Surfability, the inclusive surf school that took blind and partially sighted people onto the waves at Caswell Bay in 2024. Its offshoot Boardability does adaptive skateboarding and other wheeled sports.

BBC Morning Live presenter Gethin Jones hosted the awards for a fifth year. This year they raised money for Wales Air Ambulance and the mental health charity Big Moose.

In August the awards gave a certificate of merit to Gracie Kinnear, the seven-year-old who raised £65,000 for the air ambulance.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

CHILD OF WALES: Doctors told her mum she might be paralysed. Gracie, seven, has now raised £65,000 for the crew who saved her
The seven-year-old honoured by the awards in August.

Blind surfers take to waves in first-of-its kind event
Surfability’s taster day at Caswell Bay.

More on the Child of Wales Awards
Every story from the awards for Wales’ young people.

More from Pen y Fan
Every Pen y Fan story in one place.

Harry Enfield interviewed: mischief, no malice and mucking about

After more than 40 years of creating some of British comedy’s most memorable characters, Harry Enfield is heading…
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https://www.europesays.com/gbr/london/33994/

https://www.europesays.com/gbr/london/33994/ Harry Enfield interviewed: mischief, no malice and mucking about #AntoniaLevay #BuzzComedyInterview #CorinneCumming #Enfield #HarryEnfield #SwanseaArena #SwanseaComedyInterview #WestWalesComedyInterview

SWANSEA: ‘Honour of my life’ — standing ovation as Kev Johns awarded honorary doctorate

Kev Johns brought Swansea Arena to its feet on Thursday, as the city’s best-loved entertainer was made an honorary doctor — with the therapists who helped him walk and talk again watching from the audience.

Swansea University awarded Kev Johns MBE an Honorary Doctor of Letters at its graduation ceremony, celebrating alongside hundreds of new graduates.

His speech left few dry eyes in the house. “Sharing the stage with you today has been the honour of my life,” he told the graduates. “Whatever I have done in the past, and whatever I will do in the future, nothing will match today — because you people are the best.”

The physiotherapists and speech therapists who supported his recovery were in the audience to hear him thank them, and the Arena answered his address with a standing ovation.

Kev has fought illness in public before: in 2023 he thanked the NHS after cancer treatment, vowing to make the show go on. He has been diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer — and in February came a stroke, announced by Swansea City as the club wished “our very own Kev Johns” all the best, prompting tributes from fans who called him the voice of the stadium and part of the fabric of the city.

Friends rallied round. A fundraiser launched to support Kev and his wife Rosie — by his side “day and night” — while he was unable to work carried a promise Swansea has watched him keep: “We want Kev back doing what Kev does best — and he absolutely will be.”

By May he was back, cutting the ribbon at the new CK Foodstores in Bynea in an emotional first public appearance. Earlier this month came more welcome news: he will be part of the Grand’s panto this Christmas after all — returning virtually as the Dame in the Mirror in Snow White, a specially created digital role he called “the next best thing” to being on stage.

Reflecting after the ceremony, Kev said he had never been so proud of anything in his life, and that watching the young people collect their degrees and start their journey “was amazing”.

The university holds a personal place in his recovery too. “I’ve had cancer, and I’ve had a stroke, and so many of the wonderful nurses and people that have looked after me have trained at Swansea University,” he said, pointing to the university’s reach into Swansea life — from Technocamps to its connection with the Swans and the Taliesin theatre, where he has performed many times.

Born in Swansea in 1961 and raised in Plasmarl, Kev started out as a children’s entertainer and comedian — Clown Kev, to those with long memories.

He is best known for more than 30 years as the Grand’s panto dame, a run stretching back to 1992 — at the theatre he grew up watching panto in, which he has said still makes stepping out there feel like a dream come true.

The dame’s trade has its rules, fiercely kept: a make-up kit he says is bigger than his wife and daughters’ put together, and a firm belief that “you can’t be a Welsh dame unless you enjoy cockles and lava bread”. His stage maxim has carried him through three decades: “It might be your last show of the season, but for the audience, it’s their first.”

At Swansea City he is woven into matchday itself, serving as both club chaplain and the stadium announcer whose voice supporters know by heart — drawing on his ministerial background to provide pastoral support and represent the club at community and remembrance events.

His broadcasting years at The Wave and Swansea Sound made him a fixture of the city’s airwaves along the way.

The honours have stacked up: an MBE in 2013 for services to charity, and in 2022 the Honorary Freedom of the City of Swansea.

The university said the doctorate recognises his outstanding contribution to Welsh entertainment and community life, and his dedication to the city.

Swansea still gets to see him in a dress this year, just as he promised — beaming from the magic mirror when Snow White opens at the Grand this Christmas.

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‘Swansea still gets to see me in a dress this year’ — Kev Johns returns to Grand panto as the Dame in the Mirror
The digital role keeping Kev in this Christmas’s Snow White.

Kev Johns makes emotional first public appearance since stroke
The moment Swansea had been waiting for, at the opening of CK Foodstores in Bynea.

Kev Johns on life as Swansea’s panto dame — 30 years of sparkle at the Grand
Three decades of quick changes, cockles and lava bread.

SWANSEA: City rallies for ‘our Kev’ as fundraiser launched after stroke
How friends and fans backed Kev and Rosie through his recovery.

COPR BAY: Opening day named for long-delayed car park — with 628 spaces, £1-an-hour parking and a city centre car park closing the same day

Swansea’s long-delayed Copr Bay North car park finally has an opening day — Monday 13 July.

The seven-storey multi-storey beside the Oystermouth Road bridge will bring 628 spaces to the city centre, more than four years after the rest of the Copr Bay district opened — and years behind schedule after its original contractor collapsed mid-build.

The car park entrance will be on Albert Row.

Parking will be part of Swansea Council’s 1-2-3-4-5 offer: £1 an hour for up to five hours, with a maximum charge of £5 for up to 24 hours from Monday to Saturday.

On Sundays, parking costs £2 all day regardless of length of stay.

The car park includes standard bays, accessible parking, electric vehicle charging bays and motorcycle spaces.

But the opening comes with a closure. The St David’s multi-storey car park — 375 spaces — shuts for good the same day.

That car park will then be demolished to make way for the next phase of regeneration on the former St David’s Shopping Centre site, where ground investigation works for a landmark office scheme began last autumn.

Taken together, the council says the change amounts to a net increase of more than 250 city centre parking spaces.

Season ticket holders at St David’s will be relocated to Copr Bay North from opening day, while LC permit holders at the Copr Bay South car park move over on Monday 3 August. All permit holders will be contacted directly.

Cllr Andrew Stevens, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said residents, visitors and businesses wanted more city centre parking at affordable prices.

“That’s why we’ve invested in this new facility, creating even more parking spaces than were previously available while ensuring prices remain highly competitive compared with other towns and cities across the UK,” he said, adding the council would continue with what it describes as some of the cheapest city centre parking in the country.

The five retail units on Cupid Way beneath the car park — which have stood empty since the district opened, after the traders first announced for them never moved in — are being marketed to prospective shop, restaurant and café operators.

Council leader Cllr Rob Stewart said the ambition was “to create a vibrant link between the city centre, the bridge and Swansea Arena”, calling the car park’s completion another step towards that vision.

He said further announcements would be made in the coming weeks about plans for the former shopping centre site — plans he said would “bring significantly more people into the area, helping to create the footfall needed to attract new shops and other businesses”.

The development was delivered by Swansea Council with RivingtonHark as development manager, and Andrew Scott Ltd completing the finishing works after the original contractor went into administration.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

COPR BAY: Long-delayed car park to open within weeks — but four years on, its shops still stand empty
Our report from June on the car park’s delays and the empty Cupid Way units.

Swansea’s half-finished Copr Bay car park finally shows progress as scaffolding comes down
How the structure was left in limbo after its original contractor collapsed mid-build.

Site investigation works begin ahead of new Swansea city office development
The plans taking shape on the former St David’s Shopping Centre site.

COPR BAY: Long-delayed car park to open within weeks — but four years on, its shops still stand empty

Councillors on a scrutiny panel were told this week that an opening date for the car park, behind the Tesco superstore off Oystermouth Road, would be announced shortly.

It brings an end in sight to one of the more frustrating chapters of Swansea’s recent regeneration.

A four-year wait

The car park is part of the council’s £135m Copr Bay scheme, which delivered the Swansea Arena, a block of flats, a coastal park and the landmark bridge over Oystermouth Road when it opened in March 2022.

The district has not been without parking in the meantime. The Copr Bay South car park, next to the Arena and beneath Amy Dillwyn Park, opened alongside the venue in 2022. It is the larger Copr Bay North multi-storey, on the other side of Oystermouth Road, that has been held up.

It was meant to follow soon after the rest of the scheme. But the original contractor, Buckingham Group, went into administration in 2023, leaving the half-finished structure in limbo.

Progress since then has been slow, with contractor Andrew Scott brought in to complete the work left unfinished.

Council leader Rob Stewart told the meeting that money held back within the original Copr Bay contract — set aside in an escrow account to cover the risk of exactly this kind of contractor failure — “remains sufficient” to cover the cost of finishing the job.

The council says it has also secured a £4.8m Welsh Government grant towards the car park and its retail units.

Scaffolding finally came off the building earlier this year, and the council now expects it to be finished next month.

Officers told the meeting that once the opening date is confirmed — expected “very, very shortly” — the council will move quickly to demolish the neighbouring St David’s multi-storey car park, which has remained in use throughout and sits right beside the new building, separated only by Cupid Way.

The ageing structure is to come down once Copr Bay North takes over — part of the wider regeneration of that site, which we will look at separately.

The shops that never came

Built into the car park are five retail units along Cupid Way — and their story has been a frustrating one.

When the units were first marketed, the council announced a line-up of mostly local food and drink traders, including Ammanford-based Coaltown Coffee, alongside FrozziYo Frozen Yoghurt and KoKoDoo Korean Fried Chicken, as well as Imperial Candy.

In the end, none took up their Cupid Way unit.

Coaltown Coffee did not open in the city centre, though it continues to trade at its sites in Ammanford and Pontarddulais.

FrozziYo instead opened on the Kingsway, while KoKoDoo Korean Fried Chicken opened on Wind Street.

Imperial Candy — a sister brand to Imperial Desserts on High Street, run by local businessman Ammar Alabtah — did not open.

Cupid Way itself carries a piece of local history: it is named after Cyril Cupid, a record-breaking Swansea sprinter of the 1930s.

The council’s regeneration strategic manager, Lee Richards, told the panel that marketing of the units had restarted now an opening date was in sight, and that there were already “two very strong interests” for two of them.

He said it was “quite a positive position”, with the council hopeful of securing tenants for the rest “quite quickly”.

What happens next

For now, the milestone residents have waited years for is the car park itself, with an opening date expected within weeks.

Whether the shop units below it finally come to life is the next test for a corner of the city centre that has promised much, but so far delivered slowly.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Scaffolding comes down on stalled Copr Bay car park
The half-finished multi-storey began to take shape again earlier this year after its contractor collapsed.

Opening date set for Swansea’s £135m Copr Bay district
The arena, coastal park and bridge over Oystermouth Road opened to the public in March 2022.

The traders lined up for Cupid Way
Coaltown Coffee was among the local food and drink names announced for the new units.

Food and drink chalets open at Copr Bay
FrozziYo and KoKoDoo were among the early arrivals on the Arena side of the bridge.

SWANSEA: Queen legend Roger Taylor picks city arena to close his only UK tour of 2026

Queen legend Roger Taylor is coming to Swansea — and he’s picked the city to close his only UK tour of 2026.

The drummer, songwriter and singer will end his six-date autumn tour at the Swansea Building Society Arena on Tuesday 29 September, in his only Welsh show of the year.

The tour celebrates new album Violence Insane in a Beautiful World, released on 18 September on Columbia — his seventh solo record, and his first since 2021’s top-three album Outsider.

Before the Swansea finale, the tour visits Newcastle, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester and London’s Roundhouse, where Taylor performed as a guest of Foo Fighters in 2011.

He will be joined on stage by his touring band, featuring keyboardist Spike Edney, supporting drummer Tyler Warren, multi-instrumentalist Tina Keys, bassist Neil Fairclough and guitarist Christian Mendoza.

The 3,500-capacity Copr Bay venue has pulled in a string of big names since opening in 2022, and was closing in on a million visitors at the end of last year.

The album announcement comes with a new single out today — Come On Summer (It’s Party Time) — featuring the Ndlovu Youth Choir from Limpopo, South Africa.

The choir first found global fame with a Zulu-language version of Bohemian Rhapsody, and feature on three of the new album’s tracks.

“They did the most incredible cover version of Bohemian Rhapsody, and it’s fabulous,” Taylor said. “We suddenly had the bright idea of asking them to sing on some of the tracks, which they did, and I think it’s transformed those songs.”

The 76-year-old said the album reflects on the violence and insanity of the modern world — but insists its tone is a hopeful one.

“It’s a beautiful world, you know,” he said. “And kindness is very important, I think, it seems to be forgotten quite a lot. So, that is basically the sort of underlying theme.”

Taylor wrote, produced, sang and performed almost everything on the album himself — the exception being a cover of John Lennon’s Jealous Guy, which he calls “one of the greatest ballads ever written”.

With Queen, Taylor has sold more than 300 million albums, writing hits including Radio Ga Ga, A Kind of Magic and These Are the Days of Our Lives. He was awarded an OBE for services to music in 2020.

On returning to the road, he was typically modest: “I mean, do people want to see me live? I would hope some would. I thought I’d put a toe in the water.”

Fans who pre-order the album from the official store between 11am today and 11.59pm on Saturday 13 June will get exclusive access to the ticket pre-sale, with codes emailed out on Sunday 14 June.

The pre-sale runs from 10am on Monday 15 June until 11.59pm on Tuesday 16 June, before tickets go on general sale at 10am on Wednesday 17 June.

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Jack Whitehall announces Swansea date on huge 2027 arena tour
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Swansea arena nears million milestone as star acts line up
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SWANSEA: Aspiring stage stars invited to audition for hit musical production on huge stage

A cast of up to 200 performers aged 8-25 will present a three-show run of the smash musical ‘Bring It On’ as part of the Beyond Broadway Experience at the Swansea Building Society Arena on August 13 & 14, and local talent is being invited to put themselves forward for auditions.

Beyond Broadway Experience is staged across the UK and allows performers aged 8-25 to work with a professional team on a production staged in prestigious venues.

Andrew Simeon, whose production credits include We Will Rock You, Starlight Express and Legally Blonde, will be joining the show’s creative team of international directors, choreographers and musical directors.

Simeon started his stage training in Swansea and has enjoyed a successful stage career spanning 23 years in London’s West End and on international tours.

Speaking about Beyond Broadway Experience debuting in Swansea Simeon said:

“Opportunities for aspiring performers on this scale and level are incredibly rare, and this is exactly the kind of experience I would have loved to be part of when I was younger.

“It’s amazing to see young people in the area now getting access to something so big and impactful, and I genuinely believe it will make a huge difference for them.

“I am always blown away by the talent I see in South Wales.

“There are some brilliant tutors and professionals across the area who create amazing opportunities for students at all the different schools.

“For me, the reason Beyond Broadway is so special is that it allows everyone – no matter their school – to come together to experience what it’s like to audition for, then rehearse for, a professional production supported by a professional band and creatives. To be part of a three-show run at a huge arena in Swansea will be truly unforgettable.”

As an aspiring performer from Pontardawe, Andrew studied performing arts at Gorseinon College (now Gower College) before gaining a scholarship at the prestigious Bird College in London. He now gives back by running workshops and directing shows in and around Swansea. His West End At Christmas production is a staple in the South Wales festive calendar each year.

Sarah Jane Price, the casting director from the West End production of Bring It On, will be among the panel running the rule over audition candidates in Swansea.

Young performers need to register online to audition for the show. Auditions are in-person and will take place on Sunday, 3 May at the Brangwyn Hall.

The Beyond Broadway Experience production of ‘Bring It On’ rehearses in Swansea from August 2-12 inclusive.

Performances at the Swansea Building Society Arena are on Thursday 13 August (evening) and Friday 14 August (matinée and evening).

⏹ For more information and to register for auditions, click here.

One Million Cheers! Arena smashes visitor record as stars flock to city

The milestone highlights the arena’s rapid rise as a major draw for live events, conferences, and community gatherings, contributing significantly to the city’s ongoing regeneration efforts.

The venue, a central component of the Copr Bay development, was built by Swansea Council and received part-funding from the Swansea Bay City Deal. It is operated by ATG Entertainment.

Swansea Council Leader Cllr Rob Stewart commented on the achievement: “Welcoming one million visitors in just a few years is a fantastic milestone for the Swansea Building Society Arena.”

He added that the arena has “quickly established itself as one of the most important cultural and economic assets in our city, attracting audiences from across Wales and beyond.”

Beyond the headline acts, the arena also hosts a variety of other events, including exhibitions, graduations, and local community activities, which are credited with increasing footfall and activity in the Copr Bay area.

Matt Blackhouse, Venue Director at the Swansea Building Society Arena, acknowledged the diverse programming: “Reaching the one million visitor mark is a huge moment for the arena which reflects the wide range of events that have taken place here since opening.”

He noted that the venue has hosted “live music, comedy, theatre, conferences, banquets and graduations, as well as creative learning activities and community events.”

Since its opening, the arena has attracted numerous high-profile performers, including The Manic Street Preachers, Bob Dylan, and Wet Wet Wet. Comedians such as John Bishop have also performed, alongside touring productions like Riverdance and Mamma Mia.

Upcoming events for 2026 and beyond include performances by 10cc, comedian Russell Howard, and Ocean Colour Scene, indicating a continued busy schedule for the venue.

The arena’s success is frequently cited by the local authority as evidence of the positive impact of investment in cultural infrastructure on the city’s economy and reputation.

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Jack Whitehall announces Swansea date on huge 2027 arena tour
Another major name added to the growing list of acts choosing Swansea for big‑ticket shows.

Swansea Arena nears million milestone as star acts line up
The venue edges towards a landmark year as more high‑profile performers head to the city.

Squeeze set for Swansea Arena date on 2026 UK tour
The latest addition to a packed touring calendar bringing big‑name music back to Swansea.

Swansea events venue changes name in multi‑year partnership
A major rebrand for the city’s flagship venue as it strengthens its long‑term future.

Jack Whitehall announces Swansea date on huge 2027 arena tour

Whitehall, who returns as BRIT Awards host in 2026, is heading back on the road for the first time in years. The new tour promises sharp new material, chaotic stories and the mischievous energy that’s made him one of the UK’s biggest comedy names.

He said he was ready to get back in front of crowds after a hectic few years: “Toddlers, planning a wedding – it’s been a busy few years for me, life‑wise, so I think it’s high time I got back onstage and vented to my fans. I can’t wait to hit the road again.”

Tickets go on general sale at 10am on Friday 20 February via jackwhitehall.com, with a pre‑sale opening at 10am on Wednesday 18 February for fans who sign up in advance.

The Swansea date sits in the middle of a major UK arena run that includes Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Cardiff and a night at London’s O2. His last tours sold out arenas across the country and later became Netflix specials.

Whitehall has been busy on screen too, starring in Prime Video thriller Malice, fronting Peacock comedy The Burbs and preparing to host the BRITs again next year. His travel series Travels With My Father and his stand‑up specials have made him a familiar face to millions.

Bad Influence marks his first full arena tour since 2025 and is expected to be one of the fastest‑selling comedy shows of 2027 — with Swansea fans among the first to see it.

https://www.europesays.com/uk/667022/ Wales’ biggest events of 2026 #BlackweirFields #BrianSweeney #Britain #BuzzEvents2026 #CardifCastle #CharlieDenis #ClaireMarieVogel #DarylHannah #DepotLive #DollieKyarn #GreatBritain #HugoGlendinning #JimmyFontaine #LeonChew #NewTheatreCardiff #NoelGardner #ShervinLainez #SwanseaArena #TomPallant #UK #UnitedKingdom #UtilitaArenaCardiff #Wales #WalesMillenniumCentre #WelshEvents2026

Swansea arena nears million milestone as star acts line up

Packed crowds and star power

Figures released this week show the arena has already drawn over 245,000 visits in 2025 alone, with audiences flocking to see the likes of the Manic Street Preachers, Wet Wet Wet, John Bishop, Riverdance and even a nostalgic night with The Fast Show.

The venue, developed by Swansea Council and part‑funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal, is run by ATG Entertainment. As well as concerts, it has become a hub for conferences, banquets, graduations and creative learning events.

What’s next

The line‑up for 2026 is already turning heads. Kaiser Chiefs, 10cc and Russell Howard are all booked, while UB40 and Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals will bring more variety to the stage.

But the biggest buzz surrounds Mamma Mia, which lands in January with 15 performances and the highest predicted ticket sales for any single show at the arena to date. Fans of Gavin & Stacey will also get their fix when James Corden and Ruth Jones appear in When Gavin Met Stacey, sharing behind‑the‑scenes secrets from Barry Island to Billericay.

Civic pride

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said:

“The Swansea Building Society Arena has quickly established itself as one of the city’s most significant cultural and economic assets. Since opening, it has played a vital role in transforming the Copr Bay district into a vibrant destination, drawing audiences from across Wales and beyond.”

He added that the arena has strengthened Swansea’s reputation as a home for major touring acts while also providing a platform for local artists and community events.

Venue director’s view

Matt Blackhouse, Venue Director, said:

“Since joining the arena team in June this year, it’s been great to see the variety of shows and events we’ve hosted — from three sold‑out nights with Bob Dylan to multi‑day conferences and banquets for over 600 people. With plenty more acts still to be announced, we’re excited to continue bringing top class entertainment to the region and putting Swansea firmly on the map.”

From opening night to cultural hub

Since its launch in March 2022, the arena has been hailed as a catalyst for Copr Bay’s regeneration, shortlisted for architecture awards and praised as a test bed for digital innovation. With visitor numbers now closing in on the million mark, the venue is proving to be both a cultural powerhouse and an economic boost for the city.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Swansea events venue changes name in multi-year partnership
The arena became the Swansea Building Society Arena under a new naming deal.

Figures show arena success since opening
Visitor numbers exceeded projections in the first year of operation.

Swansea Arena shortlisted for top architecture award
The venue’s striking design earned national recognition.

Arena generates visitor and jobs boost for city
Figures showed the arena’s impact on Swansea’s economy and employment.

#ATG #CllrRobStewart #comedy #concerts #Conferences #CoprBay #KaiserChiefs #MammaMia #ManicStreetPreachers #Music #RussellHoward #Swansea #SwanseaArena #SwanseaBuildingSocietyArena #UB40 #WetWetWet

Squeeze set for Swansea Arena date on 2026 UK tour – with Billy Bragg joining the bill

The band, founded in 1973 by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, will play the Swansea Building Society Arena on Monday 30 November 2026 as part of their 16‑date Tried, Tested and Trixies Tour.

The show comes hot on the heels of their new album Trixies, due out in March 2026, and promises a set packed with classics like Up The Junction, Tempted, Cool For Cats and Labelled With Love.

Arena debut for Squeeze

The Swansea date marks one of several arena debuts for the band, who will also headline London’s O2 Arena for the first time. Tilbrook said:

“The reaction to the 50th anniversary tour in 2024 was amazing. We have never sounded better and it feels really special to be looking forward to playing the biggest headline shows of our career. And having Billy Bragg on the same bill, what’s not to love!”

Difford added:

“It’s going to be amazing to show off songs from our album Trixies and, of course, all the hits and some surprises. I’m also excited that Billy Bragg will be joining us for all the shows.”

Supporting grassroots and tackling poverty

As with previous tours, Squeeze will use their shows to support good causes. Fans attending Swansea Arena are invited to bring food donations for the Trussell Trust, which runs food banks across the UK. Collection points and buckets will be available inside the venue.

In addition, £1 from every ticket sold will go to support grassroots music venues, artists and promoters. Tilbrook has recently become a patron of the Music Venue Trust, saying:

“The grassroots is where it all starts for so many musicians and where local communities can access affordable and exciting live music. We need to protect these venues and nurture the artists so that our great culture can thrive for generations to come.”

Tickets and album release

• Tickets go on general sale Friday 28 November 2025 at 9.30am via bio.to/SQUEEZE.
• New album Trixies is released on 6 March 2026 via BMG.

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Over 750,000 people have visited Swansea Arena in just three years.

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Bob Dylan expert to host Swansea talks as legend’s arena shows sell out

Talks at Elysium Gallery and Dylan Thomas Centre

Author and cultural commentator Chris Gregory will host two book presentations in Swansea:

• Sunday 9 November, 2pm – Elysium Gallery
• Wednesday 12 November, 2.30pm – Dylan Thomas Centre

The events coincide with Dylan’s Rough and Rowdy Ways world tour, which includes three nights at the Swansea Building Society Arena from 9–11 November.

New book explores Dylan’s metamorphoses

Gregory’s latest work, Minstrel Boy: The Metamorphoses of Bob Dylan, is the second volume in his ambitious Picasso of Song trilogy. Released in October 2025, the book examines Dylan’s creative journey between 1967 and 1990 — a period marked by retreat, resurgence and rebirth.

The study explores Dylan’s influences from folk, blues, country, gospel and rock and roll, while weaving in cultural references from William Blake to American gospel traditions. Gregory says the book is written to be “accessible and enjoyable to fans and general readers alike,” balancing scholarly analysis with lively accounts of Dylan’s many live performances.

A definitive trilogy in progress

The trilogy is being written in reverse chronological order. Gregory’s first volume, Determined to Stand: The Reinvention of Bob Dylan, explored Dylan’s later career. Minstrel Boy now turns to the middle years, while a third volume will cover Dylan’s early rise.

Gregory is also known for his long‑running website From the Pen of Chris Gregory, which has attracted more than 100,000 visits, and his podcast Bob Dylan: A Headful of Ideas, praised internationally for its depth and insight.

Dylan in Swansea

Dylan’s own concerts at the Swansea Arena sold out rapidly, with fans eager to see the Nobel Prize‑winning songwriter perform tracks from his acclaimed 2020 album Rough and Rowdy Ways. The shows will be staged as “phone‑free” events, with audiences asked to lock away their devices to create a more immersive experience.

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Ocean Colour Scene to play Swansea as part of 30th anniversary tour

The band’s 13-date anniversary tour will include arena shows in Cardiff, Manchester, London and Birmingham, with Swansea confirmed for Tuesday 3 December — one of only two Welsh dates.

Swansea joins national tour for Britpop milestone

Released in April 1996, Moseley Shoals became a defining album of the Britpop era, featuring hit singles such as The Riverboat Song, The Day We Caught The Train, and You’ve Got It Bad. The album spent 92 weeks on the UK charts and was certified triple platinum.

Ocean Colour Scene’s 2026 tour will feature a full performance of Moseley Shoals alongside fan favourites from across their career, including Hundred Mile High City, Travellers Tune, and Profit In Peace.

Band promises “special” show for fans

Simon Fowler, lead singer, said:

“It’s hard to believe that Moseley Shoals turns 30 in 2026. We owe so much to that album, so it’s exciting to be able to celebrate with our amazing fans at some of the UK’s most prestigious venues.”

Steve Cradock, guitarist, added:

“This will be a peak for us as a group. Thanks for the support. See you all in 2026.”

Oscar Harrison, drummer, said the tour would be “celebrated in a very big way,” with his son Leon and Cradock’s son Cass joining the band on stage to deliver the full Ocean Colour Scene sound.

The Enemy to support Swansea show

Joining Ocean Colour Scene on tour will be Coventry band The Enemy, whose debut album We’ll Live and Die in These Towns went straight to number one in 2007.

Lead singer Tom Clarke said:

“The first song I ever learned on guitar was The Day We Caught The Train. Every time we share a stage with Ocean Colour Scene it’s a childhood dream come true.”

Ticket details

• Artist pre-sale: Wednesday 15 October, 9am
• Venue pre-sale: Thursday 16 October, 9am
• General sale: Friday 17 October, 9am via oceancolourscene.com

Ocean Colour Scene last played Swansea in 2016 at the Brangwyn Hall. Their return to the city comes as part of their biggest tour in three decades.

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Mal Pope’s homecoming show to help families stay close to their babies in hospital

On Wednesday 8 October, Mal will take to the stage at Swansea Arena for his Homecoming show — and 10% of the profits will go towards finishing a £160,000 appeal to refurbish five small houses next to Singleton Hospital. The homes give families somewhere to stay while their baby is being cared for in the hospital’s specialist baby unit.

For Mal, it’s personal.

“My little grandson, Gulliver, was born at 21 weeks and taken straight into the unit,” he said. “They were wonderful with him… and they looked after the whole family. I said, ‘If there’s ever anything I can do to help, just ask.’ A couple of weeks later they called and told me about the fundraising — and we’ve been on this journey ever since.”

Turning grief into action

Mal admits it’s not easy to talk about.

“Every time I mention Gulliver, it brings back all those memories. I always tell people, ‘Don’t worry about the tears — the more tears I shed, the more money we make.’”

He’s called on friends from the worlds of music and sport to back the appeal. Swansea City AFC, where Mal is a Vice President, made it their charity of the year and even named one of the houses Ty Gulliver — Gulliver’s House — in his grandson’s memory.

“The first thing I did was burst into tears,” Mal said. “The family were delighted.”

A night to remember

The concert will feature special guests and songs from across Mal’s career, including his new single Best of Times. He hopes the night will raise the final £15,000 needed to complete the project.

“It’s a celebration of something that’s been really sad, but something unique has come out of it,” he said. “Out of great sadness, great things can happen. We’re hoping to hand over a cheque for the full amount on stage.”

Lewis Bradley, from Swansea Bay Health Charity, said: “Mal’s story has touched so many people. Every ticket sold brings us closer to giving families a warm, private place to stay while their baby is in hospital. The difference this will make for years to come is huge.”

Tickets for Mal Pope’s Homecoming Concert are on sale now: bit.ly/MalPopeSwanseaArena2025

#babyUnit #Charity #CwtshClos #fundraising #MalPope #maternity #SingletonHospital #specialCareBabyUnit #Swansea #SwanseaArena #SwanseaBayNHS

City centre amphitheatre set for dramatic makeover with new stage canopy

Located opposite the LC and nestled between Swansea Arena and the National Waterfront Museum, the much-loved amphitheatre has already seen upgrades to its steps, handrails and mains power supply this summer.

Now, Swansea Council has announced plans to install a sail-style canopy over the stage and first six rows of seating, offering shelter for performers while preserving the venue’s open-air charm.

Work is scheduled to begin after the summer season wraps up, which includes the return of the Amplitude free music festival next month.

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration, Events and Tourism, said:

“This upgrade is part of our ongoing commitment to bring top-quality cultural, music and creative events to Swansea. It will turn heads and breathe new life into a space that’s already a key part of our city’s cultural infrastructure.”

The canopy is designed to extend the amphitheatre’s usability throughout the year, supporting a wider range of community and cultural events. It complements Swansea’s growing network of performance spaces, from Singleton Park and Grand Theatre to the state-of-the-art Swansea Arena.

Cllr Francis-Davies added:

“The amphitheatre is one of the city’s key assets — an iconic space that plays an important role in our public realm. These improvements will help ensure it remains vibrant, safe and welcoming for residents and visitors alike.”

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Who’s Molly to headline free two-day Amplitude music festival in Swansea this August
Welsh indie band confirmed for the city’s vibrant summer music celebration at the outdoor amphitheatre.

New music festival at revamped Swansea amphitheatre
City’s revitalised cultural hub will host music and film events, adding fresh energy to the area.

Forgotten Swansea amphitheatre to get revamp
£180,000 investment set to transform once-neglected venue into year-round performance space.

#Amphitheatre #arts #canopy #CllrRobertFrancisDavies #culture #LCSwansea #NationalWaterfrontMuseum #sailCanopy #Swansea #SwanseaArena #SwanseaCouncil

Swansea celebrates being Wales’ green roof pioneer on World Green Roof Day

Swansea has over 10 green roofs in the city centre alone with many more across the county. They were celebrated at an event on Wednesday (4 June) organised to shine a spotlight on the importance of green roofs.   

Green roofs help by soaking up stormwater to reduce flooding, keeping buildings energy-efficient, cleaning the air, and creating vital homes for urban wildlife. They even extend roof life by up to three times.

Fran Rolfe, Wales Ambassador for World Green Roof Day and Green Infrastructure Specialist for Natural Resources Wales (NRW), said:

“Green roofs aren’t just a trend; they’re part of the future. Swansea is proud to be leading the way in Wales and showing how cities can thrive with nature. Green roofs are a simple yet powerful way to bring nature back into the everyday fabric of urban areas, creating healthier spaces for people and nature to thrive together.”

Rob Stewart, Swansea Council leader, said:

“Swansea’s becoming a greener city, helped by the council’s work tackling the climate crisis and nature emergency – and we were pleased to support this event. We all have a part to play in helping our local environment.”

Urban Foundry, the urban regeneration organisation involved in the project, also emphasised the importance of embedding green infrastructure into the city’s future.

Dr Ben Reynolds, of Urban Foundry, said:

“We’ve been working with Swansea Council and Natural Resources Wales to grow Swansea’s green economy. Since 2021, nearly 100 local people have trained in green roofing with us – gaining the skills and qualifications to build and maintain green infrastructure across the city. Investing in local training means the work stays in the community and has a real, long-term impact.”

NRW say they are helping to drive green infrastructure efforts across Wales by supporting innovative projects that make urban spaces more nature-friendly and resilient to climate change.

The environmental body say the work in Swansea connects with wider green infrastructure programmes happening across the country, including the Green Infrastructure Forum and nature-based solutions being implemented in the heart of Cardiff through the Nature Networks Fund and the Urban Resilient Ecological Network.

NRW say that these efforts aim to make urban spaces more nature-friendly and resilient to climate change.

#AmyDillwynPark #Environment #greenRoof #NaturalResourcesWales #Swansea #SwanseaArena #SwanseaCouncil #UrbanFoundry

Swansea Valley quarry secures future with £1.4m funding

A stone quarry in the Black Mountains near Pontardawe and Ystalyfera has significantly expanded its operations thanks to a £1.45 million joint funding from HSBC UK and the Development Bank of Wales. 

Gwrhyd Quarry – which has been operational for over a decade – produces Gwrhyd Pennant sandstone used in significant Welsh landmarks, including the Swansea Arena, Senedd building in Cardiff Bay, and many more developments across South Wales. 

The funding has enabled the Walton family, who previously managed the operations of the quarry, to purchase Gwrhyd Quarry and take into full ownership. The business is also looking to invest in new machinery and infrastructure, as part of the quarry’s broader sustainability initiatives, which aim to make it the most sustainable quarry in the UK. 

Michael Walton, Director at Gwrhyd Quarry said: “This funding is a significant milestone for us. It not only secures the future of the quarry but also allows us to invest in sustainable practices such as investing in solar panels to power the site which will benefit the environment and our community. We are grateful for the support from HSBC UK.” 

Ben Youde, Relationship Manager at HSBC UK said: “Having worked with the team for the last two years, we are thrilled to support Gwrhyd Quarry in their journey toward growth. We look forward to seeing its continued success.” 

#Business #construction #GwrhydQuarry #Pontardawe #Quarry #SwanseaArena #Ystalyfera

New murals greet city arena visitors

Two large-scale murals have been added to the interior walls of the Copr Bay South car park, used by thousands who enjoy visiting the Amy Dillwyn Park and events at the Swansea Building Society Arena.

One depicts rock duo Royal Blood, the first paid-for ticketed band to play in the arena after its 2022 opening had been celebrated with the Housewarming, starring Welsh emerging and established bands. The House Party is now an annual event to raise monies for Music Venue Trust, celebrate grassroots music in the city, as well as the anniversary of the venue’s test events.

The other celebrates former Swansea novelist, social benefactor and industrialist Amy Dillwyn. The popular park on top of the car park is named after her.

The works – each more than 2.5m tall and around 8.5m long – were designed and painted by South Wales-based graffiti artist RMER in conjunction with Swansea business Oner Signs and Swansea Council.

The aim of the work is to improve the car park’s appearance, enhancing the experience of car park users and to create art that reflect the immediate area.

It’s designed to create a sense of excitement and anticipation for visitors to Swansea’s new and established visitor attractions.

Council cabinet member Elliott King said: “These eye-catching new pieces of public art make a visit to the park, arena and city centre even more enjoyable.

“They’re striking, attractive and reflect old and new Swansea in an engaging, creative manner.”

RMER said: “I loved working with Oner Signs and the council on this exciting commission.

“We came together to create something site-specific for the arena and park, both really great additions to the city.”

Ronny Oner, of Oner Signs, said: “We featured Royal Blood because their performance was the first paid-for ticketed event in the arena.

“So many people who park here will be going to a gig here so we thought they’d be excited by this image. It’s also a lasting reminder of the first headliner of many great gigs at the venue.

“Our painting of a modern actress playing Amy Dillwyn also works really well – and is a reminder that there’s a Purple Plaque in Amy’s honour in the park.

“We hope that our art helps to make arriving here – to visit the park or an event – a memorable part of the day.”

Elsewhere in the Copr Bay development, the council says it is working alongside contractors to complete the Copr Bay North car park and other finishing works. This follows the scheme’s original contractor going into administration.

#AmyDillwynPark #CllrElliottKing #CoprBay #mural #RMER #Swansea #SwanseaArena #SwanseaCouncil

Figures show arena success since opening

The arena – which opened in March 2022 – has hosted a huge number of ticketed events, conferences, exhibitions and university graduation ceremonies.

Stars to have taken to the stage there include Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper with The Hollywood Vampires, Gladys Knight and Michael McIntyre.

Forthcoming events there include The Manic Street Preachers, Ocean Colour Scene and Greg Davies.

Visitor figures are outperforming initial projections, along with ticket sales with an average of more than 80 per cent attendance for concerts.

Developed by Swansea Council and part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal, the arena is being run by the ATG Entertainment Group.

The council says work on the glass lift is due to be completed in the summer, along with other finishing works at the Copr Bay site.

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said: “It was identified several years ago that an arena would be an excellent option for Swansea to boost regeneration here and complement facilities like the Grand Theatre and the Brangwyn Hall.

“These figures show our decision to construct the venue was right and that the arena continues to go from strength to strength.

“It’s one feature of a regeneration programme worth over £1bn that’s ongoing in Swansea to create one of the UK’s best destinations to live, work, study, enjoy, visit and invest.

“This is part of our commitment to boost our local economy, create jobs for local people and transform our city centre for the benefit of local residents and local businesses.”

Lara Caple-Harding, General Manager of Swansea Building Society Arena, said: “During our first three years, we’ve put the capabilities of our venue to the test by welcoming rock gigs, exhibitions, graduations, musicals, snooker tournaments, TV productions, and plenty more through our doors.

“Working collaboratively with Swansea Council, grassroots music venues, hospitality partners, and local institutions across the region has allowed us to support the city’s already exceptional efforts in firmly placing South West Wales on the entertainment and events map. 

“Bringing a variety of entertainment to the region has been our aim since opening, and we’re looking forward to continuing playing a part in the exciting future of the city for years to come. “

Other concerts and events taking place at Swansea Building Society Arena in the coming months include Rob Beckett, Level 42 and Wet Wet Wet with Heather Small.

(Lead image: ACME / Hufton+Crow)

#Swansea #SwanseaArena #SwanseaCouncil

Speaker line-up for Swansea conference revealed

Swansea-based businesses, organisations and individuals are being encouraged to book their free place at 4theRegion’s It’s Your Swansea event, which boasts an impressive line-up of speakers.

Cllr Rob Stewart, the leader of Swansea Council, will deliver a keynote speech to give an update on local investments. From the redevelopment of the Civic Centre site and other central projects through to wider retail, leisure and housing schemes throughout the city, Cllr Rob Stewart will cover the ambitious developments planned for Swansea now and in the future.

Throughout the day, a series of panel discussions will cover topics including Swansea’s vibrant music, culture and night-time economy, the promotion of Swansea’s retail and leisure offering, and innovation in sport and wellbeing throughout the city. Speakers include Lisa Mart, venue director of the Swansea Building Society Arena, Jane White, operations director of Centurion, the new owners of Swansea’s Quadrant Shopping Centre, and Alun Wyn Jones, former Wales rugby captain and strategic advisor for the National Network for Innovation in Sport and Health.

There will also be a discussion around how Swansea’s economic development funding has enabled local, cross-sector partnerships to form. Julie James MS, Minister for Delivery at Welsh Government, and David Warburton from regeneration specialists, Urban Splash, will be part of this conversation.

Dawn Lyle, Director of 4theRegion, the organisers of It’s Your Swansea, comments: “It’s Your Swansea has become an important event in Swansea’s calendar. As we move into our fifth year, we’re excited to welcome people and businesses as they learn more about what’s happening in the city and take the opportunity to make meaningful connections. 4theRegion’s mission is to facilitate collaborations that address issues facing south west Wales and we’ve built a programme of discussions and workshops that look at everything from local food partnerships, sustainability, creative industries and leadership strategies. The varied line-up has been designed to appeal to a broad audience, whether you’re new to the city and looking for ways to connect with others or you’re in need of some inspiration and advice, there’s something for everyone at It’s Your Swansea.”

Organisers say that alongside the speakers and workshops will be a dedicated exhibition and networking area with more that 100 businesses already signed up to exhibit. The event is being run in partnership with Swansea Council and Circular Economy Innovation Communities (CEIC) and being sponsored by Gower College Swansea, Urban Foundry, Creative Swansea, Swansea Building Society Arena and Swansea Public Services Board.

(Lead image: Adam Davies)

#4theRegion #Business #CllrRobStewart #conference #DawnLyle #Swansea #SwanseaArena #SwanseaConference

Swansea events venue changes name in multi-year partnership

Swansea Building Society and Swansea Arena have partnered over a five-year period.

The change comes as Swansea’s arena enters a new era, with both brands working in conjunction to place the city firmly on the entertainment map. 

As well as the venue’s new name, the naming rights partnership will see physical branding installed across the arena. There will also be digital branding on the venue’s LED façade, social media and website.  

The businesses will work towards expanding the city’s thriving arts and culture scene for the next five years through the annual House Party, Coffee Shop Sessions and the venue’s in-house Creative Learning programme. 

Lisa Mart, venue director of Swansea Building Society Arena, said:

“It has been extremely important to us to make sure our naming rights partner fitted with our values, and we feel that Swansea Building Society is the perfect fit for us. We’re all collectively looking forward to seeing what the next five years will bring for the Arena and the city.” 

Alun Williams, chief executive of Swansea Building Society said:

“Together, we share a vision of Swansea as a thriving hub of creativity and community. By supporting the venue, we aim to enrich the lives of residents and visitors alike, ensuring Swansea’s cultural legacy continues to shine brightly on both a local and global stage.”

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said:

“It’s a facility that’s benefitted so many local people, so it’s very fitting that Swansea Building Society – a local business – will be sponsoring the venue. This will help even further raise the profile of the business at a time when a regeneration programme worth over £1bn is ongoing to boost the city centre.”

Opened in March 2022, Swansea Building Society Arena is a 3,500-capacity live entertainment, conferencing and events venue.

The arena welcomes up to 250,000 people every year, with recognisable names across music and comedy such as Alice Cooper, Michael McIntyre, Paloma Faith, Gladys Knight, Hollywood Vampires and Corey Taylor, performing there.  

[Lead image: Swansea Building Society Arena]

#Business #SwanseaArena #SwanseaBuildingSociety

Great #fontainesdc gig at #swanseaarena last night. Brilliant venue. Not your typical Arena - didn’t feel too big at all .