Man proposes to girlfriend at Cerys Matthews' Colwyn Bay gig

Oct 29 2009 by Richard Evans, North Wales Weekly News

POPSTAR Cerys Matthews played cupid to a loving couple at a packed out gig.

Super-fan Joanne Chetty was amazed when the former Catatonia front woman invited her on stage to join boyfriend David Lancashire at Theatr Colwyn, where he asked her to marry him.

The couple, both 25, follow Cerys, 40, from gig to gig and David arranged their heroine to invite him on stage to propose though a fan-site after being together with Joanne for over five years.

Cerys was in Colwyn Bay promoting her new single Arlington Way as part of her Don’t Look Down tour at the Abergele Road venue where all 375 seats were sold out.

David, who lives in Liverpool with his new fiancee, said it had been a nerve racking experience but it didn’t deter him from inviting Cerys to the couple’s big day.

“I was terrified, my girlfriend said I’d been acting funny all day, but Joanne looked stunned- Cerys is her idol,” said David.

“When Cerys called me up on stage everyone thought I was going to sing because Cerys and the band did an accompaniment. Cerys called up Joanne and she said yes into the microphone.

“I think some of Cerys’ stuff is amazing, and my girlfriend thinks the last album is the best she has done.

“Cerys is lovely, I invited her to the wedding, I would love her to sing at the wedding. I think there is a good chance she will come because we’ve been to see her lots of times.”

Cerys invited the couple back on stage at a second gig the following night at Barrow in Furness where she presented them with a bottle of champagne. Primary school teacher, Joanne and David, a student primary teacher, plan to marry during Christmas 2010.

Joann Rae is the marketing manager at Theatr Colwyn and said it had been a memorable gig.

“It was a great evening, we had some brilliant feedback,” she said.

“The auditorium is ideal for this sort of intimate gig so we are hoping Cerys will be back again.”

richard.evans