Pobl Y Bryn, whose members hail from Llanfyllin, Wrexham and Penymynydd, will support the mighty Status Quo when they take to the Eisteddfod stage for the closing night of the event celebrating Welsh culture on July 13th.

The date with the Quo is the latest highlight in the career of Pobl Y Bryn's guitarist Matt Deighton, who has played with Paul Weller, Oasis and Dr John to name just a few legendary music acts.

We caught up with the band and chatted about Lullaby singing canines, Hendrix and women scrapping in kebab joints.....here's how we got on!

 

 

Please introduce the band and your music in one sentence....

Chris, Amos, Matt, Ian, Clêr Fach - the best rock tunes you've never heard yet

 

You’re called Pobl y Bryn, what does this mean and how did you come about choosing this name?

It means 'hill people' - it's where we live

 

You are supporting Status Quo at the last night of the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen on July 13th, how did this come about?

Eisteddfod wanted the support for Quo to be a classic Welsh rock band... which is us

 

Your debut EP is being released via CLÊN (Welsh Record Label) what is to be expected from the EP and when will it be released?

The EP provides a taste of what's to come later this year with the release of the album,  hence the title: BLAS  (Flavour). Classic rock anthems, rich lyrical vocals: all in delicious, cascading Welsh.  A bit Humble Pie, a bit Hendrix, a bit The Cars circa 1978 and VERY Pobl Y Bryn.  Out on itunes July 3rd, 2014

 

What is the best advice you ever received and who was it from?  

'Do the thing you love doing and get paid for it!'  Keith Morris (iconic rock photographer)

 

Favourite word in Welsh and what does it mean?

Fi (pronounced 'vee') - it means 'me' and it's my favourite word in any language

 

3 words that would best describe you as a band?

POBL Y BRYN

 

Would you rather live with a dog that sings lullabies or a gorilla that can do sign language? Explain your answer

It depends on the dog's voice, I cannot condemn the poor dog if I haven’t heard the voice, rather unfair don’t you think, and I love lullabies

 

In your opinion, what is the BEST album/record ever released?

Electric Ladyland - Jimi Hendrix – I don’t need to really say why, if you have heard this then you know why.

 

Any good stories about your experiences playing with Weller, Daltrey etc?

Matt Deighton (guitar) was arrested with Paul Weller by riot police and jailed overnight for destroying a Paris hotel room whilst they were on tour together.  Liam Gallagher christened Matt 'hollow legs' whilst he was touring with Oasis on account of his remarkable capacity to drink...

Clêr Fach (vocals) once did an impromptu gig with Roger Daltrey in the hull of the QM2 for 1000 crew members - the ship's head sommelier got up with the band & played flawless guitar on Pinball Wizard - Rog was well impressed!  Clêr once trashed the women's toilets at the notorious 'Marathon' Kebab Shop in Chalk Farm during a scrap with girl punk band The Dolly Mixtures and got banned... for life.  Oh dear...

 

Tell me a fascinating fact about you or one of your band members?

Amos, our guitarist's dad met Albert Schweitzer in Africa whilst in the merchant navy & showed him how to play the church organ

 

Do you own a record that you wouldn’t like to admit you have (but you will now)?

'Father Christmas Do Not Touch Me' by The Goodies

 

Is there something you would like to tell each of the band members that you haven’t told them before?

Can you turn down a bit, please?

 

What classic song would you have liked to have recorded and why?  

Dazed & Confused.  Why not?

 

First gig you ever went to?

Crysbas in Corwen

 

There are many good bands and musicians out there, who would you ask the readers of musicmuso to look out for?

Lost Tuesday Society

Colorama

 

Who would you like to know has your music on their iPod, MP3 or cassette walkman?

Anyone who enjoys a right good tune and is open to music without boundaries: music is its own language, innit

 

If you could describe your music in the form of a fictional character, who would it be?

Boh, the massive baby from the film Spirited Away

 

What are your plans for 2014?

More of the glorious same

 

 

Before Clêr could disappear to hunt down more female fronted punk acts for some fisticuffs, we threw in a few quick fire questions....

 

 

Coffee or Tea?  Tea

 

Coke or Pepsi?  Diet Coke

 

Banksy or Dali?  Dali

 

Drum machine or the real deal?  Real deal

 

Mac or PC?  Mac

 

Fry up or Sunday roast?  Both

 

Lemmy (Motorhead) or Ozzy (Black Sabbath)?  Lemmy

 

CD or Vinyl?  Vinyl

 

Car or Motorbike?  Car

 

Acoustic or Electric?  Electric

 

Shower or Bath?  Both

 

Tattoos or Piercings?  Both

 

Robert De Niro or Al Pacino?  Al Paniro

 

God or Google?  Dougal

 

 

The brand new Pobl y Bryn EP (BLAS) is available to buy on iTunes from July 3, 2014

 

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

www.poblybryn.com (from July 3, 2014)

Facebook

 

GIGS

Saith Seren, Wrexham:  Friday, July 11

Workhouse Festival, Llanfyllin:  Saturday, July 12

International Eisteddfod (last night):  Sunday, July 13

More dates to follow

 

​We'd like to thank the band for sparing the time to chat to us, we wish them every success with the release of their new EP and forthcoming live shows.

Interview by Mark Wincott