The Manic Street Preachers have recorded a world-exclusive track for BBC Radio Wales which will air during their Wales Music Day today (Friday).
The song – a cover of John Cale’s The Endless Plain of Fortune – is one of the highlights on the day of programming for the station which also includes live OBs from around Wales and special gigs.
The album from which it is taken, John Cale’s Paris 1919, is one of lead singer James Dean Bradfield’s favourites. “It's the closest thing we could get to being the band backing Bob Dylan,” says Bradfield.
As part of Radio Wales Music Day today, mid-morning presenters Jamie Owen and Louise Elliott are in Swansea to encourage patrons of the city’s Monkey Café in Castle Street to get involved live on air, while Alan Thompson will present his Evening Show with Adam Walton from Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold, a free live gig for listeners featuring three North Wales bands, Courteous Thief, Masters in France and Colorama, plus Cardiff’s Houdini Dax.
There’s also documentary being broadcast to mark one of Wales’ most famous music venues – the legendary TJs in Newport – which has been narrated by Catatonia singer Cerys Matthews.