Gruff Rhys: Sadness Sets Me Free review – an irresistible mix of melancholy and joy
Lyrical diatribes against the government, the monarchy and property developers are rendered in light, lush instrumentation on Rhys’s 25th album
The reader interview
Gruff Rhys: ‘We sold the Super Furry Animals tank to Don Henley from the Eagles’
The Welsh musician, composer and film-maker answers your questions about partying with Oasis, sponsoring Cardiff City FC and getting the old band back together
The reader interview
Post your questions for Gruff Rhys
Your chance to grill the Welsh indie darling and Super Furry Animals frontman on his tank-driving skills, theatre work and his impulsively recorded new album, Sadness Sets Me Free
December 2023
Lost and Found review – catchy songs and breezy fun as Gruff Rhys steers Oliver Jeffers’ story
Musician-puppeteers help tell the tale of a boy and a penguin in this carefully crafted adaptation of the popular picture book
September 2022
Home listening
Classical home listening: Haydn with Harry Christophers, and a new Welsh-language opera
Boston’s H+H shine in a live recording of Haydn’s Theresienmesse; and WNO, Stephen McNeff and Gruff Rhys do Hedd Wyn proud
August 2021
Green Man festival review – magical return for this psychedelic carnival
Mogwai, Nadine Shah, Fontaines DC and more mesmerise in the festival’s overwhelming, glorious comeback
September 2019
On my radar
On my radar: Gruff Rhys’s cultural highlights
Gruff Rhys: Pang! review – acoustic, pastoral, global … and as unpredictable as ever
July 2019
Alexis Petridis's album of the week
Africa Express presents EGOLI review – a collaboration to stir the senses
Damon Albarn’s collective decamp to Johannesburg for a rich and rewarding reminder of the eclecticism of non-western pop
June 2019
The best Glastonbury TV and radio to enjoy at home
If you’re not going to Worthy Farm, the Guardian and the BBC have an entire weekend of highlights to watch and listen to from a mud-free sofa
October 2018
Manic Street Preachers, Gruff Rhys and Gwenno up for 2018 Welsh music prize
Shortlist for this year’s prestigious award by a Welsh artist also includes lesser-known bands Toby Hay, Bryde and Astroid Boy
September 2018
Whyte Horses review – engaging, eccentric extravaganza of faux-French pop
Dom Thomas’s shifting musical collective weave nuanced spells behind guests including Mélanie Pain, La Roux and a children’s choir in one of the year’s most endearing gigs
July 2018
This much I know
Gruff Rhys: ‘I found Britpop difficult. We couldn’t really get on board’
My song for the NHS is a reminder to fight privatisation tooth and nail
Gruff Rhys
June 2018
Gruff Rhys and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales review – lush, epic frontiers of Welsh pop
Gruff Rhys: Babelsberg review – never mind dystopia, feel the orchestra
January 2018
Vampire Weekend, St Vincent and Feist to headline End of the Road festival
Julia Holter to play her only UK festival date alongside acts including Velvet Underground founder John Cale and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy
October 2016
30 minutes with …
Gruff Rhys: 'It's like krautrock played by a jazz band in 1950'
Gruff Rhys: Set Fire to the Stars review – indie hero turns jazz-era soundtracker
April 2016
Music blog
Gruff Rhys: hear his song I Love EU – and find out why he wrote it
Think of Europe as a megaclub with lots of different rooms. Sure, not all are good. But isn’t it better than the fights when a dozen clubs all chuck out at the same time?
