Magnificent Meinir kicks of "An evening with...." in style. Picture: "Christian Feature"

As part of the LWC Entertainment Committee’s effort to establish the Centre as a major venue on the Welsh music scene, the LWC introduced ‘An evening with Meinir Gwilym’ in October.  The evening was an outstanding success with the bar full to the brim of members and international guests.  Meinir, an acclaimed singer-songwriter from Anglesey, is established as one of the best selling Welsh language artists and the LWC bar proved a perfect setting for her inspired compositions and her unique voice.

Meinir’s punchy lyrics, catchy melodies and command of the guitar (which has earned her an international endorsement from Yamaha) made for a very entertaining set.  She composes all of her own songs and she is able to deliver the intensity of her words with tenderness, emotion and comedy in equal measure.  Meinir’s previous albums have seen her being awarded BBC Radio Cymru’s ‘Composer of the Year’ and ‘Best Female Artist’, and her latest album ‘Tombola’ features Bryn Terfel.  Meinir’s set included a touching rendition of ‘Hâf’’ (‘Summer’) a song about a summer full of hope but one that brings nothing but rain, ‘Siglo dy Sail’ (‘Shaky foundations’) a gritty song about the cyclicality of destructive relationships and a couple of English numbers including Meinir’s own called ‘Land’, about the simplicity of life, and a beautiful cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘You’re gonna make me lonesome’.

Meinir Gwilym at a packed London Welsh Centre

Meinir, who is also a roaming reporter for Welsh daily magazine show “Wedi 7” had spent the day interviewing LWC members. The show also featured the first ever performance by a new young choir recruited by LWC member, Mike Williams and conducted by Dr. Haydn James.  The choir, mostly composed of singers under 30, produce a very special sound, and all the choir is lacking is a name!  Suggestions range from “Only Well Endowed” to “Boyos in Black”.  Members of the LWC are welcome to participate in the name-quest by sending suggestions to: pencerdd@hotmail.com.

Keep your eyes peeled for the next instalment of the “An Evening With…” / “Noson Yng Nghwmni…” which should continue in December! All of Meinir’s albums, including “Tombola” can be purchased via ITunes or www.cerddystwyth.co.uk.