Live webchat with Cerys Matthews, Radio 6 presenter, singer, songwriter and former member of Catatonia, Wednesday 12 June, 10.30am

[RachelMumsnet]

Cerys Matthews is coming along to Mumsnet Towers on Wednesday 12th June for a mid-morning webchat and to tell us about her beautiful new book, Hook Line and Singer that has just been published. Everyone who joins the webchat will be entered into a draw to win a signed copy (total here at MNHQ of the lucky winner)

Cerys is best known as a singer and songwriter from the band Catatonia. (Remember RoadRage and Mulder and Scully?) She now produces and presents the popular Sunday morning show on BBC Radio 6, makes documentaries for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 2, curates festivals and regularly appears on television shows like the Culture Show and The Voice where she joins Sir Tom Jones as a singing coach. She lives in West London and has five children.

Hook, Line and Singer is the result of this lifelong love-affair with singing: a beautiful songbook filled with Cerys' favourite songs, ballads and lullabies from around the world. The book is completed with music scores to make this the perfect sing-a-long book. Interspersed with the songs are personal anecdotes and tips of how to sing the songs and even suggested dances.

Put the date in your diary to join Cerys at 10.30am on Wednesday and if you're unable to make that time, post a question to her in advance on this thread.

[Sneets]

so cerysmatthews and rachelmumsnet where is my book? It's been 2 weeks...

[Sneets]

Silly me, tired, undo should be I'm so!!!

[Sneets]

My goodness, undo lucky. Chat with Cerys today then win a signed book too! She CAN be Dr Who if she wants!
Thanks!!!!!

[Sparklingbrook]

Just read the whole webchat. She seems quite fabulous.

[RachelMumsnet]

Congratulations Sneets your name has been picked out to win a signed copy of Cerys' book Hook, Line and Singer. We'll be pm -ing you with more info on how to claim your prize.

Cerys told us that all those who had posted requests for her to participate in events etc. to contact Cerys via her website - //www.cerysmatthews.co.uk/

[mignonette]

Apparently Cerys trained as a RNMH (Interview: Red Magazine) So from one RNMH to another, thank you for a lot of good music, documentaries and talk over the years.....I bet you'd have made a fabulous psych nurse too.

[RachelMumsnet]

Thanks Cerys that was great. We're delighted that she's brought along her guitar and is going to be singing a couple of the songs from her book to us at MNHQ. We're going to be filming and will have it up on the site later this week.

[EskSmith]

Wow book looks great, I'm adding that to my dd1's birthday list :) She will love it.
Love the show Cerys and I'm joining the campaign for your appointment as Doctor Who ;)

[squoosh]

What in your opinion is the best pub in Pembrokeshire? (a pressing question I'm sure you'll agree)

[CerysMatthews]

@futuresandpasts

Hi Cerys , Brilliant webchat .. hope Doctor Who people have rung you by now ! No question except to say it's brilliant to see your career unfolding in these amazing ways , and wish we could see you at the Eistedfodd event in Cardiff... loved your coverage on TV last year, so hopefully will see some of your performance on this year's programmes

Great advice on musicians enjoying playing / writing in private but maybe also finding they can perform where they didn't expect to be able to . Thanks and very best wishes

Thanks for reply. At this point Im going to grab the guitar and sing you a little ditty (or for the children ;) to say a massive thank you for the welcome here on Mumsnet and thanks for all your questions and comments. Have fun , keeping singing, and see you on Sunday-BBC6 10am ,sharp xxx

[Karmakoala]

Hey Cerys! Just wanted to say that even though we're on the other side of the world now I still listen to 'Road Rage' most mornings on my way into work, it's on my faves playlist. It reminds me of my language and where I've come from.

DH and I also love 'Baby it's Cold Outside', no matter where we go Wales is always in our hearts

[CerysMatthews]

@Shells

Love your show Cerys. Do your kids know you are famous? What do they think about that?

They know I do an unusual job for a living which means other people comment on it sometimes. But we dont live like 'celebrities' as such -"I'm just another normal cog in the the life of our community, using local nursery and school and loving hanging out in local joints,its the best thing about Britain, being part of this lovely, eccentric, multi cultural, BBC news filled land xx

[CerysMatthews]

@Ashoething

Hello cerys

Have you had any plastic surgery? and if not then would you consider it? I really want botox but dh thinks am being ridiculous

botox can work if you have a bad frown line or something. but i dont use it now as the creases move to other places in your face, like under your eyes so you end up looking just as bad and strangely different too :) i rather like my crows feet at moment- i feel like ive earned every one of them xx

[CerysMatthews]

@maillotjaune

Hi Cerys, my husband bought the CD of Sweet Catatonia last week. (we were still buying vinyl when it came out so the album doesn't get out much).

Still one of my favourite songs. No question, just wanted to say!

Thanks for the continued support , and have fun singing it xx

[Hellohippo]

Hi,
Was being in the jungle as hard as it seems? Sorry it's not a musical question!

[CerysMatthews]

@weebarra

Hi Cerys, love the 6 music show and was a big fan of Catatonia.
"You've got a lot to answer for" still has me singing very badly in the car.
I sing my boys a lot of traditional Scots lullabies, do you sing ones from around the world or mostly the ones you grew up with?

i love songs from all over the world as you might see in the collection in 'Hook, Line and Singer' I have included the Scottish tale 'the twa brothers and 'whos gonna shoe your pretty little feet as well as a Scots Gaelic song 'fhir na bhata'
i sing any song from anywhere if i love it :) x

[futuresandpasts]

Hi Cerys , Brilliant webchat .. hope Doctor Who people have rung you by now ! No question except to say it's brilliant to see your career unfolding in these amazing ways , and wish we could see you at the Eistedfodd event in Cardiff... loved your coverage on TV last year, so hopefully will see some of your performance on this year's programmes

Great advice on musicians enjoying playing / writing in private but maybe also finding they can perform where they didn't expect to be able to . Thanks and very best wishes

[CerysMatthews]

@Jammygal

Shw Mae Cerys
Do you miss Pembrokeshire? Do you still spend lots of time here? What would your advice be for a budding welsh writer ? X

I love pembs and we were there in half term. a lot of my family are still there so its still home.As for a budding writer? same advice as i give to musicians. find your own voice and be confident with it. then with that, its work, work work work work at it :) x good luck

[CerysMatthews]

@shivs1974

If you were on Desert Island Discs, what luxury item would you choose?
My youngest is called Cerys...what's the most ridiculous pronunciation of your name you've ever heard? We once had "cerise"...

is a machete a luxury item or do i get that as a basic tool that id need?luxury?hmm, well a record player and some great records, or a guitar. defo a guitar x
cherish...i dont mind though, funny pronunciations make me chuckle. hello to cerys x

[BoltonCVS]

Thanks Cerys, am such a big fan of yours, this has made my year.

Any support for our scheme would be so helpful, big ask I know but liking our facebook page (facebook.com/CVSBolton) or tweeting about our scheme 'Breastfeeding Friendly Bolton' would really help us get people on board twitter :@boltoncvs

Thanks and good luck with the new venture.

[CerysMatthews]

@Bexicles

Hi Cerys,

You have such a unique voice, which female artists (if any) have influenced your vocal style?

I love characters in music, like louis Armstrong,Bob Dylan, Judy garland, memphis Minnie..but I think if you're starting out, the most important thing is to be confident in your own sound and not try and copy (but yes, totally be inspired by your heroes)

[Sneets]

Controversial, female Dr, sorry but it would have to be me, but I'd rather take over David Tennant's body!!!
That football in tree incident would have me rolling round the floor!

[CerysMatthews]

@HesterShaw

Hello Cerys, just wanted to say you are the object of a bit of a girlcrush. That's all

im flattered. you have great taste ;)

[CerysMatthews]

@gallicgirl

Given the opportunity, Mulder or Scully?

scully. defo.

[CerysMatthews]

@Littlesmoke

Thanks for your advice. x

When it comes to 'story telling' in music, have you got any favorite songs?

Many of the songs in the book are my fav. story led songs- whos gonna shoe your pretty little feet, daft wee article,house of the rising sun, waltzing matilda, even eviva espana as a very funny story line xx