21-05-2010
A revealing S4C documentary lifts the lid on four heady months in the life of Britain's most famous choir the Classic Brits winners, Only Men Aloud. The fascinating hour-long programme Only Men Aloud: O Dredegar Newydd i Efrog Newydd (Only Men Aloud: From New Tredegar to New York) broadcast on S4C on Thursday 27 May follows the male-voice choir and its charismatic music director Tim Rhys-Evans as their remarkable rise to world fame continues. The S4C cameras have followed the 20-strong Welsh choir since the beginning of 2010, as they celebrated their tenth anniversary by returning to Tim Rhys-Evans' home town of New Tredegar for a celebratory concert. They also flew to New York in a hectic promotional drive and travelled to London for the Classic Brits Award, where they have won the NS&I Album of the Year award category. Produced by Boomerang for S4C, the programme features exclusive footage of the choir rehearsing and relaxing as well as performing on stage. We get to know Tim Rhys-Evans and his choir at a turning point in their careers. Tim Rhys-Evans explains, "These last few months have been very important for us. Within a few incredible days, we had gone from our roots in New Tredegar to New York. If we are successful in America, we will realise our dreams... and securing a recording contract in New York is the best present the choir has ever had." Tim Rhys-Evans hasn't forgotten where the Only Men Aloud story started and goes back to his roots in New Tredegar where his family still lives. In the programme, we meet both his mother and his grandmother, who inspired the talismanic conductor to pursue a musical career. We also get a taste of the emotionally-charged anniversary concert held at the chapel of his childhood, Carmel English Baptist. Within a week of that concert, the choir had jumped the pond and were on a promotional drive to conquer the USA. In a head-turning few days, Only Men Aloud signed a deal with a top New York record label, performed to some of the USA's top music executives, sang in the iconic Grand Central Station and took part in a Gospel Service in a Harlem church. The programme also contains contributions from singer Rhydian Roberts, composer Karl Jenkins and architect John Belle among others as the programme looks at the phenomenon which is Only Men Aloud. Only Men Aloud: O Dredegar Newydd i Efrog Newydd Thursday, 27 May 20:25, S4C English subtitles Website: s4c.co.uk/music Broadband: s4c.co.uk/clic A Boomerang+ ccc for S4C