Gareth 'Gai' J Thomas 'Toms' (born 14 September 1976 in Bangor,

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

) is a Welsh singer-songwriter, musician, producer and actor. In 1992 he co-formed the popular Welsh ska-rock band

Anweledig Anweledig are a band from Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales; their style is a mixture of funk, reggae, ska and rock. The band consists of Ceri Cunnington (vocals), Gai Toms (guitar/vocals), Iwan 'Oz' Jones (guitar), Rhys Roberts (bass guitar), Alwyn Evan ...

, which developed into one of Wales' top live party bands. From 1997 to 2007 he created an 'off the road' Welsh folk outfit Mim Twm Llai, releasing three albums on Recordiau Sain. Since 2008, he dropped the Mim Twm Llai pseudonym for his own lifelong nickname Gai Toms, performing solo on guitar or with his backing band. His latest album titled 'Orig', based on the life of Welsh wrestling legend Orig Williams (El Bandito), gave us Gai Toms a'r Banditos (Gai Toms & the Banditos). Gai Toms writes mainly in

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

, his mother tongue, he also writes in English. Music styles vary from folk revival to indie rock, depending on album concepts and themes.

Background

Toms was raised in the

Merionethshire , HQ= Dolgellau , Government= Merionethshire County Council (1889-1974) , Origin= , Status= , Start= 1284 , End= , Code= MER , CodeName= ...

village of

Tanygrisiau Tanygrisiau is a village and area within Blaenau Ffestiniog in the upper end of the Vale of Ffestiniog in the county of Gwynedd, north-west Wales (). It can be found along the southern side of the Moelwyn mountain range and dates to around 1750 ...

near

Blaenau Ffestiniog Blaenau Ffestiniog is a town in Gwynedd, Wales. Once a slate mining centre in historic Merionethshire, it now relies much on tourists, drawn for instance to the Ffestiniog Railway and Llechwedd Slate Caverns. It reached a population of 12,00 ...

. His father, Robert Meurig Thomas was an ex-quarryman, crane driver and bus driver, his mother, Margaret Gwenda Ellis, a machinist and school caretaker. His elder sister, Elaine, was an early musical influence on him, and sometimes accompanies him on backing vocals.

Praise

In March 2012, Toms won the

Cân i Gymru ''Cân i Gymru'' (English: ''A Song for Wales'', ) is a Welsh television show broadcast on S4C annually. It was first introduced in 1969 when BBC Cymru wanted to enter the Eurovision Song Contest. It has taken place every year since, except in ...

music competition. with Philip Lee Jones. Due to massive cuts in royalties for Welsh artists, he participated in the show/competition several times under different guises. Gai Toms has won 10 BBC Cymru RAP awards, most for best songwriter. Two of his albums have been nominated for Welsh Language Album of the Year at the

National Eisteddfod The National Eisteddfod of Wales (Welsh: ') is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Europe. Competitors ...

: ''Brython Shag'' (with former Anweledig bandmate Ceri Cunnington) in 2015 and ''Gwalia'' in 2017.

Gai Toms discography

* ''Y Filltir Gron'' (Album/CD – date TBC) * ''Orig'' (Album/CD – 2019) Recordiau Sain * ''Gwalia'' (Album/CD/LP – 2017) Sbensh * ''The Wild, the Tame and the Feral'' (Album/CD – 2015) Sbensh * ''Bethel'' (Double Album/CD – 2012) Sbensh * ''Rhwng y Llygru a'r Glasu'' (Album/CD – 2008) Sbensh

Mim Twm Llai discography

* ''Yr Eira Mawr'' (Album/CD – 2006) Crai * ''Straeon y Cymdogion'' (Album/CD – 2005) Crai * ''O'r Sbensh'' (Album/CD – 2002) Crai

Anweledig discography

* ''Byw'' (EP/CD – 2004) Crai * ''Low Alpine'' (EP/CD – 2001) Crai * ''Gweld y Llun'' (Album/CD – 2001) Crai * ''Scratchy'' (EP/CD – 2000)

Zion Train Zion Train are a British dub ensemble that formed in Oxford, 1988. They have consistently released music and toured from 1992 to present day. Their mix of reggae and dance music was a notable innovation in the early 1990s. History Co-founder ...

collaboration. Crai * ''Cae yn Nefyn'' (EP/CD – 1999) Crai * ''Sombreros yn y Glaw'' (Album/CD/Cassette – 1998) Crai

Other releases

* 2015: ''Brython Shag'' (writer / guitar) Sbensh * 2005: ''Dore'', Bob Delyn a'r Ebillion (bass) Sain * 2006: ''Llythyrau Ellis Williams'' (sings ''Dilyn Gorwelion'') * 2006: ''Dan y Cownter 2'', compiled by

Huw Stephens Huw Meredydd Stephens (born 25 May 1981) is a Welsh radio and television presenter, currently broadcasting on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 6 Music. Stephens founded the Sŵn music festival with John Rostron and the yearly s ...

(one song as Mim Twm Llai)

References

External links

Gai Toms , Singer songwriter

BBC – Gai Toms

Can i Gymru , S4C
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toms, Gai Welsh multi-instrumentalists Welsh singer-songwriters Living people People from Blaenau Ffestiniog 1976 births Welsh-speaking musicians