Gareth Bonello China Tour

In March 2015, Welsh songwriter, guitarist and performer Gareth Bonello AKA The Gentle Good traveled to Southwest China to complete a a seven date tour across Chongqing, Kunming and Chengdu. Gareth is a well travelled performer with previous experience in this region of China as a recipient of support on the The British Council and PRS for music Foundation's 2012 China Residency programme. From October 2012, the Gentle Good was selected as one of the four UK musicians to take part in the first round of Musician in Residence China Programme jointly organised by the British Council and PRSF. He spent 6 weeks in Chengdu, Southwest China working with local musicians and looking for inspirations from Wuhou Temple, Kuaizhai Valley, Dufu Thatched Cottage, Sichuan Opera and even the Panda base. Drawing from these unique Chinese elements, he composed a new album, working with the Chengdu Associated Theatre of Performing Arts, themed on the legendary life of Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai. Titled Y Bardd Anfarwol (The Immortal Bard), the album fuses Chinese and Welsh traditional music and poetry to beautiful effect. Featuring collaboration between musicians from China and the UK the album has received widespread critical praise and was awarded the Welsh Album of the Year award at the 2014 National Eisteddfod.