New Gruff Rhys track and live dates announced!

Gruff Rhys has today released new track "Saf Ar Dy Sedd", available everywhere online - listen here: gruff.lnk.to/SafArDySedd

Starting with an echoing rhythm track from an antique drum machine, growing taller with a breeze of sunshine saturated acoustic guitars, reaching height with a vocal that could kiss the sun, "Saf Ar Dy Sedd" (trans: Stand On Your Seat) is the second glorious track to be taken from the stunning album "Dim Probs". "Saf Ar Dy Sedd" was written for Cymraeg activist Toni Schiavone who refused to pay an Aberystwyth parking fine in 2024 unless it was translated from English. 

Gruff Rhys says of the track: “A cryptic drum machine driven country song with a nod to the unpaid parking tickets of Llangrannog. The chorus means ‘stand on your seat’. I hope I don’t get into trouble at venues.”

The track is accompanied by a psychedelic new video featuring the now-familiar "Dim Probs" dog, devised by Gruff’s longtime visual collaborator Pete Fowler and animated by the award winning & BAFTA nominated Cornish animation company Spider Eye. View the video here: https://youtu.be/LSyrZdfRwkw

Gruff Rhys has announced new live shows for September/October following "Dim Probs" release. August live dates are with Gruff’s band, shows from September are solo performances. All new dates are listed in italics below:

August 
8th - Wrexham, William Aston Hall (Eisteddfod fundraiser)
9th - Liverpool, Yawn Festival
16th - Glasgow, Big City Festival
29th - Brighton, Psych Fest

September
5th - Boston, Gilderdrome w/ Richard Hawley
7th - Wolverhampton, Newhampton Arts Centre
10th - York, The Crescent
11th - Liverpool, St Michael’s Church 
12th - Blackpool, Tower Ballroom w/ Richard Hawley
13th - Bethesda, Ara Deg Festival
16th - London, Stanley Arts
17th - Bristol, Strange Brew
18th - Portmeirion, Town Hall
19th - Machynlleth, The Tabernacle
20th - Treorchy, Park and Dare
24th - Exeter, The Phoenix
30th - Llangoed, Village Hall

October
1st - Rhydymain, Village Hall
3rd - Rhoshirwaun, Village Hall
4th - Crymych, Market Hall
18th - Neath, Arts Festival
19th - Nantwich, Civic Hall

Tickets for all new gigs will be on sale from Friday 18th July at 9am. 

"Dim Probs" was recorded and mixed in Bristol in 2024 with producer Ali Chant (Yard Act/PJ Harvey). The album echoes the warmth and closeness of Gruff’s career defining first solo album (2005’s Yr Atal Genhedlaeth) and the stargazing melancholy of 2021’s Seeking New Gods. Written and performed entirely in Welsh/Cymraeg, "Dim Probs" places the listener side by side with one of the country’s greatest and most thoughtful songwriters in the corner of a studio as the songs grow around them from just voice and guitar. The result is an intimate and hypnotic record that mixes acoustic folk with whatever scratchy, primitive electronic machines come to hand on each track. One listen? Dim Probs indeed! 

Dim Probs tracklisting: 
 
1) Pan Ddaw’r Haul I Fore
2) Cân I’r Cymylau 
3) Saf Ar Dy Sedd 
4) Taro #1 + #2
5) Dos Amdani
6) Chwyn Chwyldroadol!
7) Cyflafan 
8) Dim Probs
9) Adar Gwyn
10) Gadael Fi Fynd 
11) Slaw 
12) Acw 

Pre-order "Dim Probs" here:  https://gruff.lnk.to/DimProbs

Photo credit: Ryan Eddleston