SleeveNotes # with Mike Kennedy

World renowned jazz pianist, Dave Jones joins Mike to talk about his early influences and musical choices in this fascinating third instalment of a three part interview.

World renowned jazz pianist, Dave Jones joins Mike to talk about his early influences and musical choices in this fascinating second instalment of a three part interview.

World renowned jazz pianist, Dave Jones joins Mike to talk about his early influences and musical choices in this fascinating first instalment of a three part interview...

Dropping Like Flies were formed from the breakup of Welsh punk legends 100000 Bodybags, during the Covid-19 lockdowns the band called it a day after 29 years and founding members Simon Cullen and Craig “Brewer” Bruzas continued to write, sneaking time together illegally during lockdown in a kitchen or garage, hiding from nosey neighbours, Covid wardens and hyper alert dog walkers in order to write and rehearse a set of new original material. With bass and drums recorded on twelve new songs in November 2020, during a brief break in totalitarianism, a new guitarist was recruited with Brian Meade, an old school friend who had never played in a band before, joining as the final member of the band. (Edited)

The Rogues are a five-piece band from Newport, South Wales, made up of Andrew Flannelly (lead vocals & acoustic guitar), Rhodri Eley (lead guitar & backing vocals), Ben Slade (bass), Alex Ainsworth (lead guitar), and James Mundy (drums). Mike caught up with them to chat about their current success and future plans. 

Mike caught up with, Mwnci Studios owner, Jethro Chaplin to talk about the iconic Welsh recording studio and the trials and tribulations of working with bands in a rural location - still managing to make some amazing and award winning music ! 

From Welsh Rock’n’Roll royalty, Femmebug comes from a rich and varied music background but she’s very much her own person - writing and recording cutting edge indie music. Mike caught up with her one summer’s afternoon to talk music. 

The 8th September 2014 saw the release of the debut album 'Life In The Slow Lane' from 3MPH. Mike chats with Huw James, Pete O’Brien & Mike Trigg about the release and future plans. 

In a music career spanning more than 40 years, Chaz Jankel came to prominence in the late 1970s as the guitarist and keyboardist of the rock band Ian Dury and the Blockheads. With Dury, Jankel co-wrote some of the band's best-known songs including "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll", "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" and "Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3".In this episode Chaz talks to Mike about his recently re-released soundtrack to DOA.

Mike caught up with Welsh AM Bethan Jenkins to talk politics and music - did you know that she was in the Welsh indie band Gilasby ? 

Mike sat down with renowned jazz guitarist James Chadwick to talk about his latest album, Inside Out. On the way the pair chat about James’ love of music and how he immersed himself into the jazz scene from an early age. 

Mike chats with Craig Mapstone, of Secret Postal Society, about his latest release - a collaboration with Swansea musician Guy Challenger to raise funds for Papyrus. 

Tom Killner is an incendiary UK award-winning singer/songwriter/guitarist who straddles the line between genres with soulfully infused blues, southern rock, country, and Americana. Mike caught up with him to talk about his highly acclaimed new album ‘Borrowed Time’.

Mike catches up with Simon John Court and Pete Moore of Soundwire to discuss the writing and recording of their second album, Collider, due out in March 2025. 

In this interview Mike catches up with Swansea based singer-songwriter Ben Tidy to talk about his influences and future plans. 

Andy Berry was our guest back in 2015. The former Iona guitarist chatted to Mike about his time in the band and discussed his solo career and time with Tres Hombres.

Alex Donnini was the Olympic team's head coach in Tokyo, after being the personal coach to Keegan Palmer and Poppy Olsen for many years prior to the event. Mike caught up with Alex just after Keegan’s success at the Olympics

Another early interview from the Welsh Connections archive - Mike with comedian Ali Hancock. When this was originally aired on Oystermouth Radio it was the first show to receive a complaint ! 

Mike catches up with Al Steele and John Baker of The Korgis to chat about their latest album. 

One of the earliest shows in the Welsh Connections archive - Mike interviews Swansea singer/songwriter Aislinn about her music, influences and future plans.

Aisha and the Astronauts were a female Swansea based 3 piece acoustic band featuring Aislinn Peters, Kate Jones and Rhiannon Lord. Mike interviewed them about their debut album ‘Between The Walls’.

One from the archives ! Mike chats with former Swansea multi-instrumentalist, and broadcaster, Adam Croucher about his love of music. 

Originally from Liverpool, Lewis Evans has lived in France since his teens and is one of the most successful musicians in the country. Finding fame with his band The Lanskies, Lewis has also written for many top French artists, worked on soundtracks and now as a solo artist. Join Mike as he chats with Lewis about his career to date and plans to tour the UK. 

Andy McCrorie-Shand and Gitika Partington are 3 Bucket Jones - often described as a smart pop collective they met and formed at a songwriting retreat in Monmouthshire discovering a shared love for melody and lyrics. Mike Sat down with them one afternoon to talk about their career, music and plans for the future.

Andy McCrorie-Shand and Gitika Partington are 3 Bucket Jones - often described as a smart pop collective they met and formed at a songwriting retreat in Monmouthshire discovering a shared love for melody and lyrics. Mike Sat down with them one afternoon to talk about their career, music and plans for the future. (Part one of a two part interview).

US singer songwriter, H Jack Williams is probably best known right now for his work with Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone TV series but Jack has been writing ‘honest’ songs since he was a teenager - working with Pete Townshend (The Who), Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep), Dicky Betts & Duane Allman (Allman Brothers Band) and Richie Havens. Now, at 72, he’s releasing his debut solo album. Find out why as he chats with Mike about his career. 

Mike chats with Katherine Blake about Mydwynter the, second, Christmas album from the Medieval Baebes and their current UK tour. 

The longest serving member of Dr Feelgood joins Mike to talk about their 2024 tour and popularity of the much loved R&B band. 

Film-maker, Gav Crumpton and, Son Of Man’s, George Jones join Mike to talk about the new five part, 9hr documentary, on Welsh group Man. 

Transatlantic songwriting team, The Grand Cru have a new release out. Sung by Darren Parry - “17” is a song about first love and Darren, with Steve Balsamo, chat to Mike about the song and how the team work together as well as discussing the songwriting merits of the others in the team - Bonnie Skop & Lee Gilbert. 

In a rare interview, Spiritualized frontman, Jason Pierce joins Mike to talk about the history of the band and plans for the future. *originally featured in print in TIWN’s Focus Wales magazine

Jeff Wayne joins Mike to talk about his much loved musical version of War Of The Worlds. In this fascinating interview we find out what inspired Jeff to develop the project, how he convinced some of the biggest names in music to take part and just why the listening public’s love for it has lasted for over 40 years ! 

Legendary broadcaster, author and passionate advocate for live music, BB Skone joins Mike to talk about the Tenby Blues Festival - now in its 19th year - which he co founded in the West Wales seaside town. 

Jimi Griffin and Nigel Mervyn join Grant Eden to chat about their band Caduseus. 

Two former West End stars, Nia Fisher & Steve Balsamo join Mike to chat about the new single that they’ve co-written, ‘Signal In The Noise’. In this Sleeve Notes interview they talk about songwriting and where their inspiration comes from, how the song can change over time and why they have to write. An indepth look at the inner workings of the creative mind. 

Betty Boo, the singer, songwriter and rapper first came to mainstream prominence in the late 1980s following a collaboration with the Beatmasters on the song "Hey DJ/I Can't Dance (To That Music You're Playing)". Between 1990 and 1992 she had a successful solo career, which spawned a number of chart-placing singles, most notably "Doin' the Do", "Where Are You Baby?", and "Let Me Take You There". Now she’s back with a critically acclaimed album. Mike caught up with her to talk about her career and return to music.

The band from Bristol have established themselves as mainstays of the current original hard rock scene. With a reputation built on extensive touring, blistering live performances and a passion for creating exceptional new rock music the band's trajectory has been extraordinary. Mike caught up with them to chat about their latest critically acclaimed album and tour plans. Sons of Liberty are Russ Grimmett (Vocals), Fred Hale and Andy Muse (Guitars), Mark Thomas (Bass) and Steve Byrne (Drums). 

William’s sound bridges the gap between Bob Dylan and The Japanese House, capturing a melancholy vibe alongside his strong vocals. Mike chats with Will to talk about his music that has had millions of streams and gained him half a million followers 

The evolution of 3 Bucket Jones started at a song writing retreat at Monnow Valley Studio in Sept 2013 when Gitika Partington, Andy McCrorie-Shand and Garry Hughes met for the first time. Now a duo, Andy & Gitika’s music has been described as 'Bjork and Kate Bush meets Sgt Pepper’ – acoustic folk, smart pop – with radio tracks segued next to Dave Gilmore, Kate Bush and Antony And The Johnsons which can be heard on Radio 6 (other stations are available).   

Billy J. Kramer, is back with a brand new album called ‘Are You With Me’ and it’s full of new songs - some of which pay tribute to those that helped him with his career including Brian Epstein, George Martin & The Beatles. In this episode he talks to Mike about the early days of Rock’n’Roll in Liverpool, Abbey Road and how he coped with fame as well as tales of the Fab Four !

Vibrant and attention grabbing rockers The Now have just released their much awaited and highly dynamic debut album ‘Too Hot To Handle’. Four of the five members join Mike to chat about the new album - Shane Callaghan, Callum Bromage, Jay Evans & Will Scott. 

Brick Briscoe is an American songwriter, composer, performer, filmmaker, television and radio producer. He has spent over thirty years in show business on virtually every level from New York to Los Angeles as well as Petersburg and Indiana to name but a few, doing music, TV and film. In this interview he chats with Mike about a forthcoming new album plus the recently released retrospective collection. 

Death Monkey Records record and promote Underground music from South-Wales and beyond and have been part of the Alternative and Indie music scene in Swansea since 2010.Mike chats with Dave Milsom and the late Adam Burse about the origins of the label and their, then, future plans. 

Raised in Ukraine, Eduard Shyfrin was classically trained on piano before becoming an award-winning mathematician, physicist, and businessman. A crisis led him to begin a search for meaning and purpose, and to research and write the Amazon bestseller ‘From Infinity to Man: The Fundamental Ideas of Kabbalah Within the Framework of Information Theory and Quantum Physics’.But Eduard’s passion for music never left him, and his musicianship and profound life experience have now led to his debut album, Shyfrin Alliance. This intoxicating mix of rock, blues and romantic balladry brims with messages of unconditional love and antiwar – and the effortlessly rich voice of this singular talent.

Ian's sometimes brutal, sometimes apocalyptic and at all times personal lyrics are known for knocking down doors. Together with a live show that ensures all that see it are left with a feeling tomorrow will be a better day for the night out they have just had. Never one to shy away from his many addictions and demons, when all is said and done Ian's drug of choice is life.The Sunday Times Magazine described Ian as the 'Ian Dury of the 21st Century'.Part 2 of Mike’s interview with Ian Wills. 

Ian's sometimes brutal, sometimes apocalyptic and at all times personal lyrics are known for knocking down doors. Together with a live show that ensures all that see it are left with a feeling tomorrow will be a better day for the night out they have just had. Never one to shy away from his many addictions and demons, when all is said and done Ian's drug of choice is life.The Sunday Times Magazine described Ian as the 'Ian Dury of the 21st Century'.

Coolhand’s debut self titled album was released in 2014 and received rave reviews from critics and the public alike and even peaked at number 15 in the IBBA monthly chart !Luke & Darren join Mike to talk about the album, their influences and future plans.

Nashville’s Dirty Proper, Trey Call & Natalie Aulvin Thomas, are with Mike in the studio talking about their UK your and album release. 

Hard rock valleys band, Crashin Clouds join Mike to talk about their acclaimed album. 

Following 2021's very warmly received debut album "Villains In MyHead", National Milk Bar have followed up with the bigger, moreaccomplished-sounding album 'ELECTRO/CUTE'.The album explores new territory for the duo with a handful of Welshlanguage tracks such as the recent single 'Dwi'n Poeni Dim' and 'MoogDrwg' which have both received airplay on BBC Radio Cymru.Another track featured on the new album called 'Five More Minutes'has been arranged with the help of JJ Jeczalik, the legendary cofounder of The Art Of Noise.Formed during the pandemic, the Welsh duo of Chuzz and Sash delivera sublime, driving slice of electronic pop, drawing on the sounds oforiginators such as Depeche Mode, The Human League, or Yazoo but ultimately with their own unique sound.