News

I’m thrilled to tell you that my new BBC World Service programme starts tomorrow. Each month I’ll take a legend from the music world and let them take us on a journey…and for this first show, I’m talking to Tom Jones about the emergence of rock and roll, and he will reveal the age at which he started singing. The second show, which airs a month after, is a tribute to Allen Toussaint.

Find out more here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p037kmj1

A quick note to say for the next 48 hours, all items in my shop are currently on sale!

If you’d like your album signed, or a personalised message, then just type it in the ‘extra notes’ section as you check out.

And click this link to see the selection that make ideal Christmas gifts

http://cerysmatthews.co.uk/product-category/christmas/

I was honoured to be invited by the Western Front Association to read at the Cenotaph for Armistice Day.

Last year I read In Flanders Fields by John Mc Crae,  this year it was the desperate poem written by Rudyard Kipling on the loss of his only son John, known as Jack.

Jack perished in World War 1 aged 18 years old. He was shot a mere 20 minutes after joining the fighting at the front during the Battle of Loos, with the 2nd Battalion , Irish guards.

All the more harrowing, for Kipling had pulled some strings to enable his severely short sighted child to join the war effort.

My Boy Jack 

“Have you news of my boy Jack?”
Not this tide.
“When d’you think that he’ll come back?”
Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.

“Has any one else had word of him?”
Not this tide.
For what is sunk will hardly swim,
Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.

“Oh, dear, what comfort can I find?”
None this tide,
Nor any tide,
Except he did not shame his kind —
Not even with that wind blowing, and that tide.

Then hold your head up all the more,
This tide,
And every tide;
Because he was the son you bore,
And gave to that wind blowing and that tide!

Please share, so as to remember the fallen,  and pay tribute to all those who work for peace or continue to risk their lives to protect our civil rights.

New Rajars have been announced and the results are stunning.

Over half a million listeners tune into my Sunday show each week (10am-1pm on BBC 6 music) – making it the biggest single digital radio show in Britain.

It’s all the more surprising and heartwarming since it breaks all the radio programming rules ( I always did like to rebel 😉 : I pack the three hours with a totally unpredictable mix of songs.

My philosophy is simple: I play great recordings: no matter the age, style , language nor origin. If you already join me- a massive , sincere thanks for doing so, if you don’t, try it out..especially if you are a music , poetry or history fan , I don’t think you’ll be disappointed- you’ll hear Cuban love songs, Congolese Rumbas, French Chanson and tracks by  John Lee Hooker, Louis Armstrong, JJ Cale, Frazey Ford,the Groundhogs…

In short, some of the best recordings ever made.

See you Sunday?

With love, as ever,

Cerys x

Last week saw the back of Dr Crotchety, who is off to warmer climes and better music away from X Factor and Sonos selections ..mwa ha ha…

Actually, the truth is, Dr needs to dedicate more time to my festival The Good Life Experience-selecting great emerging artists and established legends and enticing them to come and entertain us at the Hawarden Estate for 2016.

I enjoyed being a columnist with the Guardian and want to thank them for such a wonderful ride.