• country:
  United Kingdom
• region:
  Wales
• style(s):
  Easy Listening Folk
• label:
  Crai
• artist submitted by:
  Sain (Recordiau) Cyf

Mim Twm Llai is Gai Toms' solo project. As well as composing and playing the guitar for Anweledig, Gai formed Mim Twm Llai to compose and perform songs in a different style Gai notes; 'The songs I compose for Mim Tim Llai are mainly ballads with a mix of folk, reggae and rock'.
The name Mim Twm Llai came as a follow-up from what people used to call his father Meurig Thomas (Mim Twm) and Gai's eldest sister Elaine (Mim Twm Bach) that automatically made Gai - Mim Twm Llai (the smaller Mim Twm)
In 1996 with Anweledig members scattered at various colleges over the country, Gai felt a need to perform, and whilst at Aberystwyth University he would perform gigs at Y Cwps, the Football Club and the Students Union.
He was soon invited to appear on S4C's music programme 'Garej' as Mim Twm Llai. Since then he has continued to play with Anweledig and Mim Twm Llai.
Gai began composing songs whilst studying at Dolgellau college, he based a project on one of Meic Stevens' songs; 'I adrodd yr hanes' and took a huge liking to the enigmatic singer-songwriter, he loved Meic's touching words to the backing of a soft fingerpick guitar. Meic Stevens once performed at 'The Tap' and asked Gai in Welsh if he had a guitar, he ran home to fetch his electric guitar, and the experience gave him confidence to carry on composing. There's a distinct similarity in Gai and Meic's songs.
Phil Jones, who plays the drums for Mim Twm Llai helped Gai to compose the early ballads, and performed them off the cuff at their local pub 'The Tap' at Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog. One of the early ballads was Robin Pantcoch; a tribute to a colourful character someone who enjoyed frequenting his local watering hole, and as with much of his songs Gai gets his inspiration from Blaenau Ffestiniog and the people in the local community.
One of Mim Twm Llai's highlights was to perform with the Super Furry Animals at Pesda Roc, Bethesda in 2003. Mim Twm Llai have recorded two albums on the CRAI label 'O'r Sbensh' was released August 2002 and won 'Album of the Year' in Radio Cymru's Rock and Pop awards 2003. The new album 'Straeon y Cymdogion' (The strory of the neighbours) was launched at Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau (www.sesiwnfawr.co.uk) Saturday July 16th Mim Twm Llai performed on the main stage along with Elin Fflur, Huw Chiswell, Karine Polwart and Estynedig.