The Poppies (Welsh band)
Encyclopedia
The Poppies were a Welsh
rock band which was active during the mid 2000s. Many of the songs were in the Welsh language
.
in Swansea
was a first year politics student at Aberystwyth University while Twm (from Carmarthen) studied Film & TV. James was still studying at the local Welsh comprehensive Ysgol Gyfun Penweddig.
The band's first gig was held in Aberystwyth in 2003. They quickly gained support from Radio 1 DJ's Huw Stephens
and Bethan Elfyn and often appeared on S4C's Welsh language music programme 'Bandit'.
During 2005 the band recorded a Maida Vale session for Steve Lamacq's Radio 1 programme and released the 'Dau Bys EP' on the Ciwdod label. They also won the 'Best Live Act' at the Radio Cymru Awards and 'Best Welsh Language Act' at The Pop Factory Awards. Around this time ex-Catatonia guitarist Owen Powell became the band's manager.
In the summer of 2005 the band moved to Splott
in Cardiff where they shared a house. In early 2006 Twm Champagne was replaced by Gethin Jones, a Jazz student at Cardiff's Royal College of Music and Drama. The band focused on recording English language material from this point onwards and lost much of the support they had initially found in the Welsh language scene.
Failing to secure a recording contract the band began to gig less as James toured as bassist with The Heights, Gethin concentrated on his Jazz studies and Eifion's played bass for The Spencer McGarry Season. The band split up in late 2007. James moved to London with members of The Heights to form 'Rogues', and Gethin and Eifion formed 'Avash Avash'. At their peak, the Poppies were a gritty and respected favourite of the Welsh rock scene.
Sam James is also an ex-member of the bands Mozz, The Dancing Bullets, The Heights and Rogues. In 2010 he sang lead vocals on Example's UK top ten single 'Won't Go Quietly'. He is also the organiser of the Castell Rock festival in Aberystwyth.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
rock band which was active during the mid 2000s. Many of the songs were in the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
.
Band history
In early 2003, Sam James (Guitar and Vocals), Twm Champagne (Drums) and Eifion Austin (Bass) met and formed The Poppies in Aberystwyth. Austin, originally from MorristonMorriston
Morriston is a community in the City and County of Swansea, Wales and falls within the Morriston ward. Morriston is sometimes referred to as a distinct town , however Morriston never had a town charter, and is now part of the continuous urban area around Swansea, the centre of which lies three...
in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
was a first year politics student at Aberystwyth University while Twm (from Carmarthen) studied Film & TV. James was still studying at the local Welsh comprehensive Ysgol Gyfun Penweddig.
The band's first gig was held in Aberystwyth in 2003. They quickly gained support from Radio 1 DJ's Huw Stephens
Huw Stephens
Huw Stephens is a radio presenter currently broadcasting shows on BBC Radio 1.-Early life and career:Stephens was born in Cardiff, Wales, the son of the author and literary journalist Meic Stephens...
and Bethan Elfyn and often appeared on S4C's Welsh language music programme 'Bandit'.
During 2005 the band recorded a Maida Vale session for Steve Lamacq's Radio 1 programme and released the 'Dau Bys EP' on the Ciwdod label. They also won the 'Best Live Act' at the Radio Cymru Awards and 'Best Welsh Language Act' at The Pop Factory Awards. Around this time ex-Catatonia guitarist Owen Powell became the band's manager.
In the summer of 2005 the band moved to Splott
Splott
Splott is a district in the south of the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales, just east of the city centre. It was built up in the late 19th century on the land of two farms of the same name: Upper Splott and Lower Splott Farms. Splott is characterised by its once vast steelworks and rows of tightly...
in Cardiff where they shared a house. In early 2006 Twm Champagne was replaced by Gethin Jones, a Jazz student at Cardiff's Royal College of Music and Drama. The band focused on recording English language material from this point onwards and lost much of the support they had initially found in the Welsh language scene.
Failing to secure a recording contract the band began to gig less as James toured as bassist with The Heights, Gethin concentrated on his Jazz studies and Eifion's played bass for The Spencer McGarry Season. The band split up in late 2007. James moved to London with members of The Heights to form 'Rogues', and Gethin and Eifion formed 'Avash Avash'. At their peak, the Poppies were a gritty and respected favourite of the Welsh rock scene.
Sam James is also an ex-member of the bands Mozz, The Dancing Bullets, The Heights and Rogues. In 2010 he sang lead vocals on Example's UK top ten single 'Won't Go Quietly'. He is also the organiser of the Castell Rock festival in Aberystwyth.