Kai Jones – Project Coordinator (Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and RCT)
Hello there! I’m Kai. I live and breathe live music and go to gigs most weeks. I love supporting independent, grassroots venues and artists, but also love big gigs and festivals. Some of my favourites are Tom Waits, Tori Amos, Bruce Springsteen, Warpaint, Metallica, Judy Garland, Leonard Cohen, the Beatles, Sleater-Kinney, Tinariwen, Panic Shack, and Fever Ray. I’m passionate about accessibility – helping to make venues, events and nights-out accessible for disabled people. I have worked for Learning Disability Wales since 2005 and developed our Gig Buddies work in Wales, helping to bring it to Cardiff as a pilot project in 2018. I have also worked as a music journalist, concert promoter and tour manager in previous lives, so Gig Buddies is the perfect fit for me.
Favourite films: Blade Runner / Star Wars / Harvey / Before Sunrise / Tokyo Story / Meet Me In St Louis.
Favourite gig: Nirvana, Reading Festival 1992 / Leonard Cohen, Glastonbury 2008 / Every time I saw 60ft Dolls.
Gig I would have loved to have seen: Judy Garland, Carnegie Hall, New York 1961 / Metallica, anytime during the 80s / Sault, London Drumsheds 2023.
Kylie Smith – Project Coordinator (Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan)
Hi my name is Kylie, I have been working for Gig Buddies since 2018 and it’s been one hell of a ride! I worked as an SEN teaching assistant after leaving uni and then ran inclusive dance and theatre workshops for adults with Learning and physical disabilities. I worked with Theatr FFfynon, Hijinx and was associate artist with Candoco Dance Company for 3 years. I then set up my own company Kitsch & Sync Collective and we perform all over the UK at outdoor arts and music festivals! I love watching theatre, going to galleries and exhibitions, designing costumes, arts and crafts, charity shopping and drinking cocktails!
Favourite film: Labyrinth with David Bowie is such a cult movie and David is an absolute icon in lycra! I have watched this film over and over again, I practically know all the wards! Muppets Christmas Carol is also up there (I obviously have a soft spot for puppets!).
Favourite music: I love anything with a good beat that I can dance to! I am really nostalgic and like listening to music from the past, from the roaring 1920’s to 2000s! I am a big pop, R&B, Hip Hop and Grime fan. I also enjoy world music, especially Klezmer, Bhangra, Flamenco, Afro beat and Dance Hall.
Gig I would have loved to have seen: I would have loved to have seen Destiny’s Child back in the day, they’ve got so many club bangers!
Sian Lloyd-Davies – North Wales Project Coordinator
Sian loves: getting out on my mountain bike…out in the Magnificent Welsh Hills, exploring and finding new paths and roots! I LOVE going to live gigs and festivals and ART exhibitions in both small local galleries as well as city ones. I love being CREATIVE – I have an art school background and I love creating art as well as facilitating creative workshops, in particular Mosaics, Sign Writing & Lettering, Sewing, Stitchery – and just making STUFF!
Favourite film: Man on Fire, Saltburn, Vanilla Sky.
Favourite gig: Too many to pick just one!…Smashing Pumpkins with both my kids, Radiohead with my Daughter, Massive Attack with my daughter, Kamasi Washinton x 2.
Gig I would have loved to have seen: Any Hendrix or Fela Kuti ones.
John Butterly – Volunteer Coordinator
Short biog about John and their interests.
Favourite film:
Favourite gig:
Gig I would have loved to have seen:
Danielle Wagstaff – Administration and Communications Coordinator
I’m Danielle and I joined Gig Buddies in 2022. Gig Buddies was my dream job for a long time and I absolutely love working here. I’m the ‘behind the scenes’ member of staff and I deal with lots of the paperwork and emails. I really enjoy planning the Gig Buddies socials and I always try to come along! The highlight of my Gig Buddies calendar is definitely going to Pride Cymru and being in the parade.
Favourite film: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – this has been my favourite film since I was a child and I know all of the words to the film and the songs.
Favourite music: I LOVE the 90s! Anything a bit pop or a boyband and I am up dancing.
Gig I would love to go to: Meatloaf. I love the Bat out of Hell albums and the first dance at my wedding was a meatloaf song!
Karen Warner – Innovations Manager
I manage Gig Buddies Cymru and have been in post for 3 years. I love my job. I love Gig Buddies and all the joy it brings people. I manage the staff, the project and do funding bids to get in more money for Gig Buddies. We have a brilliant team 😊. I like being active in my spare time so I walk, cycle and swim. I especially like swimming in the sea. Doing yoga is great too. I am a member of a book club where I meet my friends to talk about books we have read, have a natter and a nice glass of red wine. Also I play the card game bridge! My father taught me when I was a teenager. I love going to theatre and gigs, especially in small venues.
Favourite film: Sound of Music – I have seen it 20 times 😊 More recently, Rocketman – I love Elton John.
Favourite gig: The Police, Wembley Arena, New Year’s Eve 1983. The Specials 1980. Also Wham, Top Rank Swansea. Franki Valli, Cardiff Motopoint Arena (he is 84!). More recently Harry Styles in Millennium Stadium with my daughter
Gig I would have loved to have seen: Elton John, George Michael, Queen and Live Aid 1985.
Victoria Waller-Bridge – Social Media Volunteer
My name is Victoria and I am the volunteer social media coordinator for Gig Buddies Cymru. I love all things social media and have a passion for volunteering, so this is the perfect role for me. I can often be found at coffee shops across north Wales, working on our social media posts and enjoying a caramel latte! I love travelling and going to Cardiff to meet my friends and colleagues is one of my favourite places to go. If you have anything you would like to share on our social media pages then get in touch!
Favourite film: There are many but ones that come to mind are Notting Hill and Titanic.
Favourite gig: Coldplay at Manchester Etihad Stadium – I saw them live on their Music of the Spheres tour and they were amazing!
Gigs I would love to see: The Script, and Maroon 5 (US based band).
Mark Jones – Transport Volunteer
I joined Gig Buddies in September 2021 as a Travel Ambassador, I’ve a lot of experience lobbying for transport, in particular accessible transport and accessible information. I’m very much “behind the scenes”, working with the Gig Buddies team to ensure that transport issues across Wales are addressed. I work particularly in North Wales – where I live – but also as as we’re often forgotten about! I write itineraries for socials (telling people how to get from their town to the social location) and I’ve also given a talk on the issues faced with bus passes. The highlight of my Gig Buddies calendar is attending the Transport For Wales Accessibility and Inclusion Panel meetings – for which I am a member.
Favourite film: The Da Vinci Code, I just love solving problems!
Favourite music: Florence & The Machine, Steps, Take That, Vengaboys, Anything modern pop/dance.
Gig I would have loved to have seen: Queen – their songs are iconic and from what I’ve seen on YouTube their live shows are amazing!
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