News Archive

Join Span Arts & The Lab to celebrate the changing of the seasons at the River of Lights lantern procession on 31 October at 6.30pm. People from across the county will gather outside The Lab (old Ocky Whites building) Haverfordwest before walking in the candle-lit lantern procession, that last year saw over 1000 people taking part in.   A participant from last year’s procession described the event as ‘wonderous, magical, stunning and lovely!’ The event is becoming a must for everyone’s autumn calendar, our very own Rowan Matthiessen of Span Arts said, ‘the people of Pembrokeshire have really taken this event to their hearts. It’s delightful to see so many people getting involved in this spectacular event’.      This year the organisers are challenging the perception that when the shops shut and the sun goes down Haverfordwest becomes a ‘ghost town’; they’re unearthing the extraordinary stories from the past that lurk down each alleyway.   Time and time again Haverfordwest has been reinvigorated by ordinary people who care. Two such extraordinary, ordinary people will be joining the procession this year, carrying gifts from their own time to bestow on the present inhabitants of Pembrokeshire. The first is Joane Cheate

Busy bee workshops and a Queen Bee! The Cheerful Project brought the communities of Narberth, Clarbeston Road and Maenclochog together to create brilliant bee puppets, headdresses and flowers to contribute to Narberth Carnival. Three wonderful days of creativity and a buzzing good carnival! Excellent contributions from MIND Pembrokeshire and Pembrokeshire People First. Thank you to all who came along!     Photography by Jennie Caldwell and Di Ford

SpanJazz will kick off a summer of jazz with the world class tenor master Art Themen alongside The John Gibbon Trio on Thursday 30 June.   Art Themen, the saxophone-playing orthopaedic surgeon who has been an appealing presence on the British jazz circuit for over 40 years, hasn’t lost his appetite for the lateral. Originally a Dexter Gordon and Sonny Rollins stylist, Themen has proved himself remarkably attentive to the saxophone styles of subsequent generations. In July, SpanJazz will witness the dancing exuberance of South African Township music on Thursday 21 July with the Philip Clouts Quartet.   The convivial groove of gospel-influenced soul jazz, the joyful sway of Cuban guaguanco rhythms, the bluesy melodies of Middle Eastern praise songs and so much more all come together in pianist Philip Clouts’ superbly accomplished quartet.   ‘Clouts’ compositions are strong and likeable…a feeling of optimism pervading the tunes with a life force of its own’ (All About Jazz).   Finally, The Arcadian Collective will complete a summer of jazz on Thursday 11 August.   The Arcadian Collective is a creative 6 piece jazz-funk group conceived as a collective after years of collaborating, recording and gigging under various musical identities. The focus