I think I was hoping to have a little more time in the New Year to take stock, but I was wrong. I knew December was going to be busy. The preparations for ‘Everyone Deserves A Christmas’ start early in January. Throughout the year there are lots of planning meetings. I have to ensure we have scheduled the recording and filming of our music video to help promote the charity which we release about 6 weeks before the big day.
Once November comes things really start to ramp up. That’s when the invitations start to arrive for us to collect cheques, or gifts or in my case sing at various carol services and events as we try our best to make the most of every opportunity. There’s always a balance to be struck between doing our ‘day jobs’ and maximising the reach of the charity. That is something that doesn’t always sit well with the family, especially as this might be the only time we all get together. Thankfully my lot understand as best they can and don’t give me too much grief if I suddenly disappear with my guitar as they sit down for a family meal.
Of course in this age of ‘free speech’ everyone feels they know best and have some special insight and with so many platforms they also feel a great urge to share their wisdom and usually their personal criticism with the whole world. I still sit here totally surprised at the reactions we have had over the past 6 weeks. What I do know is we did our best and did everything we could to make life better for others in our community who are struggling.
The day job meant fitting in lots of radio shows before, during and after Christmas. I think the one that hurt the most physically was 7-9am on Boxing Day. As I’m trying to be positive in 2025, at least it meant I went to bed at a reasonable hour on Christmas Night. It also focused my mind on my intake of trifle and sherry that evening to make sure I got to the studio on time and in a fit state.
I have to say the evening ended in ‘tears before bedtime’, not because of any family disputes but because of the ‘Gavin and Stacey’ Finale. I had bumped into ‘Dave Coaches’ in Mumbles on Christmas Eve but whilst confirming he was in the show there were no spoilers asked for nor given. The show didn’t disappoint, and it was good to see 2 Swansea Stalwarts, Gwen and Dave Coaches play such a pivotal role.
Boxing Day was marked by another Christmas Dinner and 3 points from the Swans in one of the best performances in recent times. Radio in a much more reasonable mid-morning slot took over most of ‘Twixtmas’ before another 3 points and a battling display at the Swansea dot com on New Year’s Day.
By the evening of 3rd January I must admit I was a little tired. I was excited that the final members of the family who had spent Christmas abroad were headed home for what was being dubbed ‘Christmas point 2 zero’. Of course I had totally filled the day weeks in advance with a Radio show from 10-1pm, a meeting in the afternoon at St Mary’s Church in town to help plan the service to celebrate it becoming the first Minster for Wales. I had also agreed to a gig in the evening.
I’ve known Alex Owens for years. Nice lad Alex. I think every time I’ve ever met him he’s offered me a cup of tea. Since being a teenager Alex has helped out at Sonic One Studios in Llangennech. The studio is owned and run by one of my oldest Friends Tim Hamill and having worked in some of the best studios in the world I can tell you Tim’s studio is the equal of them all.
Having seen first hand what it takes to be a studio engineer Alex decided to go to University of Wales Trinity St David to study for a BA in Creative Music Technology. As well as learning about the physics of sound and the creative process in writing and performing, the course also seeks to prepare students for work in the industry including running events.
Alex had the idea for ‘Sessions’ a live event which is recorded and filmed which will hopefully become self-sustaining whilst also giving a platform to artistes to share their music. As the BA course is practical as well as academic Alex needed to see if his idea would work and needed some Guinea pigs!!
Having made me so many cups of tea it would have been churlish for me to refuse Alex’s invitation to be a part of the evening. I wasn’t the only musician Alex had made beverages for over the years at Sonic One Studios. It wasn’t long before Steve Balsamo and Tim Hamill had also been ‘volunteered’ as well.
It was decided that the event would be held at the Elysium on Swansea High Street on 3rd January. Alex was responsible for advertising, putting the event together with ticketing etc and also making sure technically we had the right gear. The Elysium is pretty well kitted out for sound, but it soon became clear that with Steve and my chequered past it would be good to make this a multimedia event. A call to Ian Parsons, the man who has given his time freely to events from the Maggies Arena Concert to local film societies meant we were kitted out. As usual no fee but I guaranteed him there would now be even more ‘treasure in heaven’.
Not just the old guys. Here’s Brook Fox!
I arrived at the Elysium a little later than the others. I had also roped Ian Parsons into the St Mary’s Minster Event. He went straight from a planning meeting there to set up at the Elysium. I thought it best to at least return home have a quick cup of tea with the family before disappearing again.
If I’m honest I wasn’t sure if it would just be me Alex, Steve, Tim and Ian at the show. I mean it was a dark cold Friday just after Christmas and whilst only being a tenner to get in, well, money is tight.
By 7.30pm the place was rammed. Steve and Tim had sound checked the gear and Ian had set up his projector and was ready with lots of photos and clips to play in when prompted.
The idea for the evening was that Steve would do a song and tell some stories and then I would answer with one of mine. As Tim has recorded the both of us for years he would ‘sprinkle a little fairy dust’ with his electric guitar.
Over the past year or so I’ve spent many hours travelling across the country with Steve Balsamo. I thought I’d heard all of his stories and I’m sure he’s heard all of mine. To start the ball rolling I mentioned to the audience that there would be prodigious amounts of name dropping throughout the evening.
Cue Steve Balsamo…
Steve has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, from Andrew Lloyd Webber to Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant. I was expecting one of those stories. He then went on to tell a tale I’d never heard before. I was left dumbfounded. It made me think what a special place we live in where this lad from Swansea with the most amazing, world class voice had given his time for free on a Friday night to support Alex from Trinity St David and to raise money for the Elysium on Swansea High Street
Our thanks to all who attended, and we wish Alex and the Elysium the best for the future. I also think we might take the show on the road so keep your eyes peeled for an Evening with Balsamo and The Pope…
All the very best for that to Alex and Well Done to you all.
Wishing you all continued success & lots of really good times this year! 2025!