Local Artist of the Week beginning Monday 17th June: JYLT
Local Artist of the Week beginning Monday 17th June: JYLT
Indie rock band JYlt from Milford Haven will be fondly remembered by many Pembrokeshire people. They were on the cusp of fame – they’d released several great records, many big companies such as Sony were competing to sign them, Radio 1 DJ John Peel played them, they’d performed all over the UK including at Glastonbury Festival and at the Queens Hall, Narberth supporting Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci - when tragedy struck and the band’s bassist, co-singer and co-songwriter Nia George passed away at the all too young age of 21 after a battle with leukaemia.
Understandably the surviving members – Alex Cooper, Sarah Howells and Tim Ramsey – didn’t make music for a long time afterwards though recently they have returned to the music business; Alex and Tim perform around the Shire as Persona B whilst Sarah, now based in London, has her own successful band Bryde.
Well now Jylt are back with two projects celebrating and commemorating Nia’s life.
Firstly, the band has rereleased last week a remastered set of the band’s songs which are available from the usual platforms.
Secondly they have organised a gig at Haverfordwest’s Haverhub on August 10th featuring Bryde, Persona B, SLAK (a young band who recently won Pembrokeshire College’s Battle of the Bands competition), and singer/songwriter Tom Jenkins, plus a very special appearance TBC.
All proceeds will go to Withybush Hospital’s Cancer Day Unit for which Nia’s parents, Bernie and Trish, have been tirelessly raising money for a number of years.
All the songs played this week are taken from the remastered record.
Jylt’s surviving members – Sarah, Alex and Tim – made a very rare appearance together for an exclusive interview on the BB Skone Show of Sunday 16th June, which is available to hear now on Catch Up where you can hear them talking about Nia and the memories they hold.
These projects are not just a celebration of one of Pembrokeshire’s greatest ever rock bands but also show the power the community has in coming together to raise money for a cause that, inevitably these days, touches the lives of us all.
Local Artist of the Week beginning Monday 17th June: JYLT