Songs and stories at Roath gallery

Interview: Phil and Mikey

How did the Songs and Stories events come about?

Mikey: “I met Phil at a monthly storytelling event at Milgi’s Yurt. He told a good story and I got talking to him. I was the guest musician. I thought it would be nice to share a mini-concert with him and he agreed to do it. Then I came across The SHO Gallery and owner, Emily, was keen.”

What are the songs about and what instruments do you use?

Mikey: “My songs are very simple, usually accompanied by a small guitar-type instrument with four strings called a cuatro. They are sometimes a bit reminiscent of old American folk forms but presented in quite a British, personal way. The content is just everyday life. Songs come into existence when they are ready, perhaps 2 or 3 a year.”

Phil, how did you get into storytelling and what sort of stories do you tell?

Phil: “I’ve been telling for 15 months. I’m a teacher and got into it via training at school. The stories are traditional folktales, think the Grimms and you won’t go far wrong, although I’ve still to actually tell one of theirs. The stories come from anywhere. Having visited Nigeria, I tell several West African stories but I also tell a Scottish story involving a fisherman, that in my telling takes places in Tenby and parts of the Carmarthen bay that I’ve fished in myself.”

Listen to some of Mikey’s original songs here.