Waitrose Community Matters is a new scheme. Each month the Barry Branch donates £1000 between three local good causes chosen by their customers!
When you purchase your groceries, etc., at Waitrose Barry, at the checkout you’ll receive tokens which you can then be place in the box of the good cause you’d most like to support. the more tokens a cause gets, the bigger donation they receive,……..simple!!!
Guys, spread the word and tell your relatives, neighbours, friends, whoever, to get down to Waitrose Barry during July and ‘do the business’!!!

Born in Cardiff, from a very early age Lynise has always had a fascination for electronic sounds and made up his mind that electronics and music was where his future laid. Lynise went on to study electronics at Llandaff Tech in 1980 before deciding to forge a career in music Technology.  “I started working in small project studios programming music using early sequencers and this led to me becoming a session musician working along side such producers as Tim Lewis and Greg Haver who went on to produce the Manics”. Eventually I opened my own studio in Cardiff Bay and worked with a lot of famous clients at the time, playing and programming all the music for clients. After owning my own studio I decided that I wanted to move on and work with young people and pass on the  knowledge that I had gained through the music industry, this led me to working for Immtech in Cardiff and then eventually been asked to work for Vibe in Barry. However coming to Major Music is a great challenge and opportunity to build on and expand the music workshops that are currently running. I hope to bring a lot of experience to the role and there some exciting plans for Major Music in the not too distant future.

Also for those who haven’t brought back their ‘Parental Consent Forms’  for this event to bring back on the Thursday – before we go over to St Athan!

It’s Bank Holiday ‘Plug & Play Night’ at The Blacksmiths Arms, Llanmaes on Sunday 30th May. Here’s another opportunity for all parents and friends of Major Music to relax and enjoy an evening of live music. Its also a chance for the music maestros amongst you to air your talents in the friendly atmosphere of the local pub whilst raising much needed funds for Major Music. The evening kicks off around 7.30 with each act performing 20 minute slots, so get there early to get your name on the list for the evening. Normal licensing laws apply.

The evening was attended by the family and friends of those young people performing, in addition to a number of sponsors and supporters of Major Music, local Councillors, Vale Officers and Jane Hutt –AM.

Trustee of Major Music, and compere for the evening Chris Williams took the opportunity of welcoming all those attending and commending the efforts of those young people who had been working hard practicing over the past weeks to perform at tonight’s event, and which included in each set a Beatles number. Chris also made reference to the achievements and success of this innovative project over the past ten years and to the two co-founders, Dave Roberts and Phil Kirkham who had the vision, tenacity and commitment in setting up Major Music. As Chris further outlined, ‘ ….the success of Major Music would not have been possible without the ongoing support received from a number of businesses, organisations and individuals and in particular the Vale of Glamorgan Council and Roland (UK)…..’.

In attendance also at the event was Mark Davies, Officer from the Vale’s Children and Young People’s Partnership  who commented, ‘…..throughout it’s ten years Major Music continues to provide an important service to young people, it is a privilege to be involved and help celebrate young people’s skills, abilities and achievements….’.
Alyson Jones, the mother of two young people involved with Major Music made reference to the fact, ‘……Major Music is giving children and young adults confidence they may not have in other areas of their life. It also gives them a focus and builds on the talent they already have. Major Music has supported both my children and enabled them to perform music they enjoy…..’.
Acts performing throughout the evening included The Resistance, Lucy Atkins, Gareth Jones, Red, Turf – with Davey, Breaking the Silence and Skate Ketchup. There was also a surprise in store at the end of the evenings performance, and which saw a number of the mentors and volunteers involved with Major Music take to the stage themselves and do a couple of songs including the Beatles hit – Hey Jude!
Appreciation was also given to all of the staff at the Arts Centre who’s support had been invaluable in promoting this and other Major Music events.
Major Music continues to hold it’s weekly workshops at the Llantwit Major Youth Centre on a Tuesday evening, and where young people also have the opportunity to access the state of the art recording studio. There are plans to hold workshops during the school holidays and other innovative events – watch this space!
If you would like to know more about Major Music; to volunteer at the weekly workshops, offer sponsorship or support, or wish to attend the workshops then contact Phil on 01446-792543.

Photographs by Derek Naylor, ifotoevents.

It’s Bank Holiday ‘Plug & Play Night’ at The Blacksmiths Arms, Llanmaes on Sunday 2nd May. Here’s another opportunity for all parents and friends of Major Music to relax and enjoy an evening of live music. Its also a chance for the music maestros amongst you to air your talents in the friendly atmosphere of the local pub whilst raising much needed funds for Major Music. The evening kicks off around 7.30 with each act performing 20 minute slots, so get there early to get your name on the list for the evening. Normal licensing laws apply.