Veteran entertainer and proud Welshman Bryn Yemm is looking forward to the arrival of the National Eisteddfod next month like a little boy anticipating the circus coming to town.

Having promoted the event all over America he has now returned to his home town to organise an Eisteddfod fund-raiser - An Evening with Bryn Yemm and Friends - at Abergavenny Borough Theatre.

He’s been entertaining longer than he cares to remember now and says it might well be his last live show – but he wouldn’t be the first in ‘the business’ to have second thoughts on that score.

The prospect of livewire Bryn stepping back from the spotlight is hard to imagine.

Bryn was adopted into a Salvation Army family in Abergavenny as a baby and was keen for the Salvation Army brass band to feature in the concert.

“I was blessed the day I was taken in by Ivor and Marie Yemm (nee Phillips) and ‘double blessed’ that the family were in the Salvation Army,” he said.

“Every time I hear a Salvation Army band something clicks inside me and I get really emotional.”

His first inspiration as a singer was at Sunday school and nowadays his main focus is on gospel music.

At the Borough, Bryn will perform favourites from his catalogue of UK chart albums, delivered with an infectious enthusiasm that caused the late Sir Harry Secombe to proclaim, “He could get a Conservative Party Conference to sing ‘The Red Flag!’”

The bill will also include Welsh entertainer and actor Johnny Tudor, who worked with the likes of comedian Stan Stennett and has starred in popular TV shows such as the BBC’s Gavin and Stacey and S4C’s Pobol y Cwm, and Katy Dann from Tredegar (described by Bryn as ‘the Welsh Adele’) accompanied by the Kidz R Us Choir.

The evening will also include an In Memoriam to local people.

“I want this to be a night to remember – and also an opportunity to remember all the people who grew up with us that have sadly passed away,” he said.

“Abergavenny seems to have lost a bit of its identity in recent years but I think the Eisteddfod will bring the whole community together.”

Bryn recently started filming a one hour TV documentary with Kidz R Us about his life and career for UCB (United Christian Broadcasters).

The youth choir also features on Bryn’s forthcoming album Midnight Cry.

He is bringing out a Welsh Gold album in honour of the Eisteddfod too, with 14 choral tracks featuring famous choirs like the Morriston Orpheus and the Treorchy.

The album features a poignant song called Aberfan following the events of that fateful day to mark the 50th anniversary of the disaster.

Bryn has spent recent months based at his second home in Florida but criss-crossing the USA to raise the profile of his latest business venture, the Bay International Group, which is promoting all things Welsh stateside.

At every opportunity he has also been raising the profile of the National Eisteddfod back in Monmouthshire.

“I did a 70 package mail-out to Welsh societies across the US and took a banner promoting the event to every venue I attended!

“I’ve waited a lifetime to see the Eisteddfod in Abergavenny. I’m really looking forward to it and I think every Welshman should be there.”

An evening with Bryn Yemm and Friends is on Friday July 22 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £12 (concessions £10).

Bryn says he hopes to see lots of ‘seniors’ who have supported him over the years.