Le Pod - Is This Goodbye?

...in short, no. But we do need to take a break (it's not you, it's me). We shall be returning in Autumn of this year, better than ever - think of it as a Summer hibernation. Please keep on listening and subscribing if there are episodes that you're yet to catch up on, and we shall catch you soon! Much love, Le Pod xXx

Yes, yes! Welcome, welcome to episode number 18 of Le Pod. As festival season finally raises its weary head after a COVID induced siesta, we decided to sit down with the co-founder of one of Wales' foremost music festivals, Focus Wales. With our guest Andy Jones at the helm, Focus Wales takes place each year across the venues of Wrexham, hosting over 250 acts and putting on numerous conferences and learning opportunities to help those bands along the road to super stardom...or something like that. As always, if you like what you hear please like and subscribe to the podcast. And if you happen to fall head over heels in love with it, pop on over to ko-fi.com/lepod and tip us as many of your hard earned pennies as you can part with. Twitter - @FocusWales Instagram - @focuswales Facebook - @focuswales Website - https://www.focuswales.com/

Yes, yes! Welcome, welcome to episode number 17 of Le Pod. This week we're joined by the singer, songwriter and guitarist of one of our genuine favourite bands of the moment, Sprints, and her name is Karla Chubb. Heralding from Dublin, Ireland the band are currently receiving critical acclaim and attention for their first single 'The Cheek', and March released first EP, 'Manifesto'. Topics tackled during the chat include the growing Irish music community, dealing with imposter syndrome within the heavy music industry, and playing The Great Escape Festival without even setting foot in Brighton! As always, if you like what you hear please like and subscribe to the podcast. And if you happen to fall head over heels in love with it, pop on over to ko-fi.com/lepod and tip us as many of your hard earned pennies as you can part with. Twitter - @sprintsmusic Instagram - @sprintsmusic Facebook - @sprintsmusic Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/27nD8P491xX8UzG3j01eIY?si=67fz24GDQw26vGmlNE120A

Yes, yes! Welcome, welcome to episode number 16 of Le Pod. After a mere 15 episodes we are graced with the presence of radio royalty. Someone with nearly 25 years at the highest levels of the industry, and to top it all off, he's straight from the promised Welsh land. Our guest today, is none other than Huw Stephens. During our time together we mulled over the health of the Welsh Language, how up and coming bands can get the most out of an interview opportunity, and blanking Steve Coogan. As always, if you like what you hear please like and subscribe to the podcast. And if you happen to fall head over heels in love with it, pop on over to ko-fi.com/lepod and tip us as many of your hard earned pennies as you can part with. Twitter - @huwstephens Instagram - @huwstephensdj The Story of Welsh Art (BBC) - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000st2g

Yes, yes! Welcome, welcome to episode number 15 of Le Pod. This week we bring you not one but two exciting young bands who are currently clawing their way up the ladder of the South Wales Music Scene. From Blackwood we are joined by Rhys and James of Alt Indie Rock 5 piece, Modern Neutrals. And from the promised land of Newport we have Sam and Luc from Garage Rock band, Finding Aurora. Between the two chats we cover topics including stumbling into a Royal Blood sound check, songwriting from the heart, and why Manic Street Preachers should be a compulsory inclusion on the national curriculum. As always, if you like what you hear please like and subscribe to the podcast. And if you happen to fall head over heels in love with it, pop on over to ko-fi.com/lepod and tip us as many of your hard earned pennies as you can part with. Facebook - @findingaurorauk - @Modernneutralsband Twitter - @findingaurorauk - @modern_neutrals Instagram - @findingaurorauk - @modernneutralsband

Yes, yes! Welcome, welcome to episode number 14 of Le Pod. Filling the guest slot with style and wit this week are 'rust-punk' (a genre coined and trademarked (TBC) during this episode) three-piece from Kent, Lady Bird. We had huge amounts of fun chatting band life after the arrival of a baby, Labour party leafletting on the Newport High Street with Eddie Izzard, and carbon monoxide alarm induced panic attacks. As always, if you like what you hear please like and subscribe to the podcast. And if you happen to fall head over heels in love with it, pop on over to ko-fi.com/lepod and tip us as many of your hard earned pennies as you can part with. Facebook - @thisisladybird Twitter - @ladybirdthisis Instagram - @thisisladybird Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/42QHDuNZVv5k4MtjjfmSWY?si=gDrVGRUnRGiamIE6bXuvPg&nd=1

Yes, yes! Welcome, welcome to episode number 13 of Le Pod. This, the luckiest of episodes, features music journalist, activist, and radio broadcaster, Minty. His award winning podcast 'Minty's Gig Guide to Cardiff' (available on all major platforms) has for several years now been informing live music lovers of the best gigs coming up in each coming week. Highlights include how he cut his teeth in the world of radio, first gig experiences, and publicly debating Axl Roses appalling lateness As always, if you like what you hear please like and subscribe to the podcast. And if you happen to fall head over heels in love with it, pop on over to ko-fi.com/lepod and tip us as many of your hard earned pennies as you can part with. Facebook - @mintysgigguide Twitter - @MintysGigGuide

Yes, yes! Welcome, welcome to episode number 12 of Le Pod. Joining us for this weeks shenanigans is none other than the debonair, witty and destined for disco greatness, Conor Latcham. Having been the front man, guitarist and song writer of Cardiff Indie Rock group, Rainbow Maniac, and with debut solo single, 'Do You Think You're In Love?' poised for imminent release (on March 26th), we had more than enough material to get through for a single episode. We touched on the pros and cons of late night, drunken productivity, transitioning from a band mentality to a solo work ethic, and pot-noodles. As always, if you like what you hear please like and subscribe to the podcast. And if you happen to fall head over heels in love with it, pop on over to ko-fi.com/lepod and tip us as many of your hard earned pennies as you can part with. Facebook - @ImConorLatcham Instagram - @conorlatcham Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/conorlatcham Spotify presaves - https://orcd.co/conorlatcham

Yes, yes! Welcome, welcome to episode number 11 of Le Pod. Filling the guest seat this episode are the boys from up and coming Cardiff, Garage rock band, Himalayas. Having just released incendiary new single, 'We Love to Hate', and as they prep for a slew of newly recorded releases as well as a nationwide UK tour, we had a lot to discuss...but instead we chose to spend most of our time talking pink gin and lemon Fanta, catching a baby Billie Eilish in Texas, and how bully-proof cool Prince was. Needless to say, we had a ball. As always, if you like what you hear please like and subscribe to the podcast. And if you happen to fall head over heels in love with it, pop on over to ko-fi.com/lepod and tip us as many of your hard earned pennies as you can part with. Facebook - @Himalayasofficial Twitter - @HimalayasBand Instagram - @himalayasofficial Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/71NBOcJ9lMeXqnbnya1z0x

Yes, yes! Welcome, welcome to episode number 10 of Le Pod - our first, and therefore most important milestone (go us...). Joining us this episode for a slightly more whimsical and trippy conversation than usual is none other than Simon Read of Cardiff band, Quiet Marauder. As we attempt to delve into the inner workings of such a unique band (i.e their debut album spanned 4 volumes and 111 tracks, and one of their most beloved songs  goes by the name of 'I Want a Moustache, Dammit') we touch upon topics including toxic masculinity, The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, and the del monte man look a like that appears from Simon's bare brick wall. As always, if you like what you hear please like and subscribe to the podcast. And if you happen to fall head over heels in love with it, pop on over to ko-fi.com/lepod and tip us as many of your hard earned pennies as you can part with. Facebook - @quietmarauder Twitter - @quietmarauder Instagram - @quietmarauder Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/0hO9WBwSpb19RrmLjyyMlN Website - www.quietmarauder.co.uk