John Peel's Sounds of the Suburbs - South Wales (1/2)

Thanks to citypoison for this !!! A 1999 Channel 4 series in which John Peel visits British towns that spawned musical trends. John Peel continues his musical foray in the valleys of South Wales. He visits Rockaway Records in Newport, where he talks with the proprietor Simon Phillips about the local music scene. Also in Newport he talks with Richard Parfitt and Mike Cole of the group 60 Foot Dolls about the economic situation in Wales. In the Welsh hillsides he meets artist and singer-songwriter Lucie Chivers, who talks about the influence of landscape on her work. In Cwmaman, he meets Jason Knott the frontman of the group Reviver Gene who talks about life in the ex-mining town. Artist David Garner talks about his work, which is made from artifacts salvaged from closed pits and forms a commentary on the resulting unemployment. Electronic musician Richard Thomas talks to John about his approach to ambient sound. The programme ends with John Peel attending a performance by Reviver Gene at the TJ's venue in Newport.

[@SynthJohn]

God, 90's Newport in all it's glory. I so miss this Newport.

[@robertdavis5107]

SynthJohn I miss it until five minutes after I'm back.

[@marcusrogers6917]

One of my favourite bands.

[@MrHimlay]

I only visited Rockaway once, in 1993. I bought The Professionals' single, Just Another Dream. Funny the things you remember.

[@Unreissued]

that sheep part was fuckin hilarious

[@JohnPeel3904]

John Peel had a Mercedez car imported from Germany, hence why the steering wheel is on the left hand side.

[@robertmunro5382]

the best band from Newport i know of is somatic responses

[@jaysmartin]

Left hand drive car and toll booths must be fun .. never having a working window on RHD cars always provided a laugh when trying to use a car park / drive through

[@DelanceyThrone]

Can anyone ID the track that Lucie Chivers plays at 7:50? Can't seem to find it anywhere.

[@Oscar301]

I've watched most of this series to only just realise he's in a left-hand drive!

[@robertdavis5107]

Newport was so gloomy that music was an escape. I know.

[@robertdavis5107]

Yay!e the Transporter Bridge Newport's secret jewell.