It was great, and uplifting, to see so much local talent backing the anti-fracking movement in South Wales.

Yesterday’s “Vale Not For Shale” gig was effectively a one day festival that brought all the ant-fracking groups in the region together in party mood.
As such, is was a great bonding exercise and will, I am sure, build ever greater solidarity and determination to see this battle through to a successful conclusion.
Special mention to Donal Whelan, who brought together such an outstanding line up.

For those that missed out, here are a just a few of my personal favourites (I missed a few gems on door duty it seems):

Vinna Bee
“Thank you for the review of Sat and brilliant you chose Bears Under Decks with my lyrics about Capitalism, corporate etc fitting nicely with the event …Nice one Andy!” Vinna Bee

The Rumble-O’s

http://stiwdiogwellt.com/album/my-tree
Megan Ambrose

Trwbador

Justin Lewis Preece (of Climbing Trees – nearest camera at start of this video)

This cause seems to resonate with musicians like no other. An ant-fracking summer festival has to be worth exploring.

There have been many others very prominent in the campaign in South Wales, most notably perhaps, the founder of Frack-Free Wales (and one of the Balcombe 16 – alongside Justin Lewis Preece above), Frances Jenkins. As well as teaching music, running a studio with her husband, Ben, and composing, she has appeared with various local bands:

Bronwen ‘Little Eris’ Davies has also been a prominent Frack-Free Wales supporter:

Catrin O’Neill was a key player in in the early successes of the Vales Says No! group:
http://stiwdiogwellt.com/track/ar-lan-y-m-r

And alongside Vinna Bee, the other star turn at the Fracking benefit gig at O’Callaghans was the Bones of St James:

With so much talent on our side, how can we not succeed!!!