Album Title: Gwaith Cartref (Homework)
Release Date: June 1st 2020

This collective musical collaboration began in early April and has involved 28 musicians from various countries, all recording from home - some with home studios, some using just a smart phone. The idea was to create & release a digital album in aid of Shelter Cymru, something new, original & cross genre. Like the surrealist parlor game “consequences”, small musical phrases rhythms & riffs (many originating from guitarist Mark Ellwood) were passed around online between the musicians, resulting in the 10 diverse & unique tracks that make up the album "Gwaith Cartref" (Homework), all created during lockdown.

For all working musicians there are uncertain times ahead, so it’s been an honor to get some really great musicians involved with this project, all of whom have given their time & creativity freely, not least - the internationally acclaimed singer Katherine Ellis, renowned US cellist Michael G. Ronstadt, Aynsley Lister (regarded as one of the UK’s hottest contemporary blues guitarists), & Phil Odgers, singer with The Men They Couldn’t Hang (TMTCH).

From Amsterdam, Al McLachlan (guitar) & Gerco Aerts (double bass) were essential to this projects success, not to mention trumpeter Daniel de Gruchy-Lambert, a former Welsh young musician of the year, N’famady Kouyaté a Balfon master and traditional drummer from Guinea who worked with Gruf Rhys, & harpist Deian Rowlands who prior to lockdown was working on various West End hit musicals.

"Gwaith Cartref" also features the mercurial vocal talents of Lizzy O’Connor, Cati Fychan, Dyfed’s Martin Arundel (Low down Dirty Dog Blues Band) & Avril the Song who recently released an album with Nik Turner from Hawkwind.

“Despite making a living as a busker for many years & very occasionally sleeping rough, I cannot imagine what the covid-19 crisis must be like for those on the fringes of society. As a musician based in Wales, Shelter Cymru was therefore my first point of call for this project - they said yes!"

Project Coordinated by Nik Bizzell-Browning (AKA Sputnik Weazel), composer, producer & former drummer with TMTCH.