{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Ambobdim","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.ambobdim.cymru\/en\/","author_name":"designtribe","author_url":"https:\/\/www.ambobdim.cymru\/en\/author\/designtribe\/","title":"Neil Collins: International Velvet book launch (free) - Ambobdim","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"fmqr0py2Jw\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ambobdim.cymru\/en\/profile-content\/neil-collins-international-velvet-book-launch-free\/\">Neil Collins: International Velvet book launch (free)<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ambobdim.cymru\/en\/profile-content\/neil-collins-international-velvet-book-launch-free\/embed\/#?secret=fmqr0py2Jw\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Neil Collins: International Velvet book launch (free)&#8221; &#8212; Ambobdim\" data-secret=\"fmqr0py2Jw\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/www.ambobdim.cymru\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/www.ambobdim.cymru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/669fcc28e4bb180000936498.jpeg","thumbnail_width":858,"thumbnail_height":858,"description":"Thursday 12 September 2024TicketsWe\u2019re excited to be hosting Neil Collins in conversation this September, marking the publication of his new book on Welsh music, International Velvet: How Wales Conquered the '90s Charts. If the story of Wales in the 1990s was a movie plot, it would all seem so far-fetched. Thankfully, it was all true\u2026 This is a free, ticketed event featuring Neil in conversation about the book, followed by an opportunity to purchase the book itself. Neil is a Cardiff-based writer and known as co-host of Welsh Music Podcast. He is the author of the Liverpool FC books Make Us Dream and Red Mist. The 1970s and 1980s were a bleak time for much of Wales: the closure of steelworks and mines led to mass unemployment while the country\u2019s culture and language was disregarded by politicians and the music industry alike. Some bands even travelled across the Severn Bridge to make sure their records arrived at the London offices sporting an English postmark.  The 1990s changed everything. Wales was already known for Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey and Male Voice Choirs. But suddenly bands such as Catatonia, Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics, Super Furry Animals, 60ft Dolls and Gorki\u2019s Zygotic Mynci exploded into the charts and showed the UK population the breadth of what this small but inherently musical nation could offer. Meanwhile, S4C \u2013 the Welsh-language television channel \u2013 became increasingly prominent and a new Welsh Assembly was on the horizon. Featuring fresh analysis and new interviews, International Velvet charts the UK in a decade where \u2018Cool Cymru\u2019 won over the masses and shows how it inspired the still-vibrant Welsh music scene into the 21st century and beyond. This summer marks 25 years since the peak of the Cool Cymru scene including No 1 albums, huge gigs and the paid finale to the 90s with Manic Millennium. Other key moments discussed include the Stereophonics 1999 gig at Morfa Stadium, the Manics\u2019 landmark 1994 album The Holy Bible and their Glastonbury headline set five years later and, not to be outdone, Tom Jones\u2019 1999 renaissance with Reload!"}