THE LEAD singer of a well-known South Wales band is enjoying a ‘triple celebration’.

Mike McNamara is the lead singer of Big Mac’s Wholly Soul Band and has been enjoying numerous wins recently.

The first is the band celebrating 30 years together in June 2020. Due to coronavirus restrictions at the time, they hosted a virtual concert at Congress Theatre in Cwmbran to raise money for BLM Gwent.

The band raised £275 through the event, but the singer has confirmed that they have scheduled “proper” celebrations (meaning open to the public) for two venues in 2022 – one in Newport and another in Cardiff.

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All the details are to be confirmed and subject to coronavirus regulations.

Mr McNamara is also celebrating the publication of his fourth poetry collection: Loose Canon, which was published by Subterranean Blue Poetry (based in Montreal, Canada) and available on GoodReads and Amazon.

Mr McNamara – whose first collection of poetry - Overhearing the Incoherent - was published by Grevatt and Grevatt in 1997 – said: “There’s no particular theme hence the title.

“It has garnered very positive reviews from both local and international poets and readers alike.”

Ann Drysdale who – according to her review – is a poet and former journalist wrote of the collection. Part of her review states: “The title, with its punning reference to uncontrolled artillery, tells us what to expect.

“These poems are a law unto themselves. They take us to places we thought we knew and show us otherwise. They introduce us to strangers and leave us knowing them.”

And the triple whammy?

Mr McNamara has just released a new reggae album – Old School Reggae the Old School Mack Way – with Californian label, Solo Records.

“It’s influenced by pre two tone reggae, heavy on melody and an attempt to reproduce the sounds of Johnny Nash, Desmond Dekker and various Trojan Label artistes,” explained Mr McNamara.

“It’s a solo endeavour but Sarah ‘Capability’ Campbell from Big Mac’s provides some wonderful harmonies.

“I hope listeners will take some of the lighthearted joy these records originally ignited in me- and make them want both listen and dance.”