Gai Toms

Last updated

Gai Toms
Gai Toms 2009.jpg
Background information
Birth nameGareth J Thomas
Born (1976-09-14) 14 September 1976 (age 48)
Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales
Origin Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, Wales
Genres Folk, brythonicana, rock, pop
Occupation(s)Composer, producer
Instrument(s)Guitar, bass, drums, banjo
Years active1992–present
LabelsSbensh / Sain (UK)
Website www.gaitoms.com

Gareth 'Gai' J Thomas 'Toms' (born 14 September 1976 in Bangor, Wales) is a Welsh singer-songwriter, musician, producer and actor. In 1992 he co-formed the popular Welsh ska-rock band Anweledig, which developed into one of Wales' top live party bands. From 1997 to 2007 he created an 'off the road' Welsh folk outfit Mim Twm Llai, releasing three albums on Recordiau Sain. Since 2008, he dropped the Mim Twm Llai pseudonym for his own lifelong nickname Gai Toms, performing solo on guitar or with his backing band. His latest album titled 'Orig', based on the life of Welsh wrestling legend Orig Williams (El Bandito), gave us Gai Toms a'r Banditos (Gai Toms & the Banditos).

Contents

Gai Toms writes mainly in Welsh, his mother tongue, he also writes in English. Music styles vary from folk revival to indie rock, depending on album concepts and themes.

Background

Toms was raised in the Merionethshire village of Tanygrisiau near Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales. His father, Robert Meurig Thomas was an ex-quarryman, crane driver and bus driver, his mother, Margaret Gwenda Ellis, a machinist and school caretaker. His elder sister, Elaine, was an early musical influence on him, and sometimes accompanies him on backing vocals.

Praise

In March 2012, Toms won the Cân i Gymru music competition. [1] with Philip Lee Jones. Due to massive cuts in royalties for Welsh artists, he participated in the show/competition several times under different guises.

Gai Toms has won 10 BBC Cymru RAP awards, most for best songwriter.

Two of his albums have been nominated for Welsh Language Album of the Year at the National Eisteddfod: Brython Shag (with former Anweledig bandmate Ceri Cunnington) in 2015 [2] and Gwalia in 2017. [3]

Gai Toms discography

Mim Twm Llai discography

Anweledig discography

Other releases

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meic Stevens</span> Musical artist

Meic Stevens is a Welsh singer-songwriter. He has been one of the most prominent figures in the Welsh music scene for over five decades, and played a key role in establishing the popular music scene in Wales. He is described by some as "the Welsh Bob Dylan" and has also been compared favorably with musicians such as Syd Barrett. Stevens's songs are mostly sung in his native Welsh language and have a mystical, faintly psychedelic flavour. His work has influenced groups such as Gorky's Zygotic Mynci and Super Furry Animals. He is largely unknown outside Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. Llew Jones</span> Welsh childrens writer

Thomas Llewelyn Jones was a Welsh language author. Over a writing career of more than 50 years, he became one of the most prolific and popular authors of children's books in Welsh. He wrote, and was generally known, as T. Llew Jones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anweledig</span>

Anweledig are a band from Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales; their style is a mixture of funk, reggae, ska and rock. The band consists of Ceri Cunnington (vocals), Gai Toms (guitar/vocals), Iwan 'Oz' Jones (guitar), Rhys Roberts, Alwyn Evans (drums), Joe Buckley (keyboard), Edwin Humphreys (saxophone), Barri Gwilliam (trumpet) and Arwel Davies (trombone).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gwyneth Glyn</span> Welsh poet and musician

Gwyneth Glyn is a Welsh language poet and musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twm Morys</span> Welsh poet and musician

Twm Morys is a Welsh poet and musician.

Rachael Solomon is a Welsh singer, choreographer and television producer.

<i>Cân i Gymru</i> Welsh television show

Cân i Gymru is a Welsh-language television talent competition that is broadcast annually on S4C. It was first introduced in 1969 when BBC Cymru wanted to enter the Eurovision Song Contest. The winner of the contest represents Wales at the annual Pan Celtic Festival held in Ireland and is also awarded a cash prize.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog</span> Welsh folk band

Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog are a folk band consisting of three brothers from Rhos Botwnnog, between the villages of Botwnnog and Llaniestyn on the Llyn Peninsula, Gwynedd, Wales, and accompanying musicians and singers. They experiment with country, folk and rock music. Most of their lyrics are in Welsh.

Fflur Dafydd is a Welsh novelist, singer-songwriter and musician. Though mainly publishing in Welsh, she also writes in English. She contributes regularly in Welsh to Radio Cymru.

Al Lewis is a Welsh singer and songwriter. He became known in the Welsh language media after his song came second in the Cân i Gymru contest in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Bevan</span> Welsh-language activist

Gareth Jamie Bevan is a Welsh language campaigner from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales and a prominent member of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg. Bevan refused to pay fines and costs to Merthyr Tydfil Magistrate's Court for breaking into Conservative Party offices in north Cardiff the day before a visit from David Cameron in a demonstration against cuts to S4C.

Tara Bethan Williams is a Welsh actress, singer and presenter.

Myrddin ap Dafydd is a Welsh writer, publisher and chaired bard. In 2018 he was elected Archdruid of Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caryl Parry Jones</span> Welsh singer and actress

Caryl Parry Jones is a Welsh singer, actress and presenter. She was born in the Flintshire village of Ffynnongroyw and attended Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St. Asaph, but now lives in Cowbridge, in the Vale of Glamorgan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yws Gwynedd</span> Welsh musician

Yws Gwynedd is a Welsh rock band from North Wales named for its lead singer Ywain Gwynedd.

Bwncath ("buzzard") is a Welsh rock-folk or contemporary folk band from Caernarfon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mared Williams</span> Welsh singer-songwriter

Mared Williams, known professionally as Mared, is a Welsh singer-songwriter from Llannefydd, north Wales. She won the 2021 Welsh Language Album Award and has won two Y Selar Awards.

Emma Walford is a Welsh actress, singer and broadcaster. She is best known as a member of the girl group 'Eden' and as a presenter for the S4C reality show Priodas Pum Mil.

Non Parry is a Welsh singer, actress and writer. She is best known as a member of the girl group 'Eden'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dewi "Pws" Morris</span> Welsh singer, poet, actor and comedian

Dewi Grey "Pws" Morris was a Welsh musician, poet, actor, television presenter and comedian. He was known for being the lead singer of the Welsh pop band Y Tebot Piws and later for his comedy series Torri Gwynt on S4C. He held the post of Bardd Plant Cymru between 2010 and 2011.

References

  1. "Press | S4C". S4c.cymru. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  2. "Welsh Language Album of the Year shortlist revealed | National Eisteddfod". eisteddfod.wales. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  3. "Welsh Language Album of the Year shortlist published | National Eisteddfod". eisteddfod.wales. Retrieved 17 November 2020.