Discover more about the artists featured as part of the Year of Wales in France as well as our culture programme for the 2023 Rugby World Cup held across France.
Adwaith grew up surrounded by a rich tradition of Welsh-language indie-rock, and a tight-knit scene of experimental,artistically-minded bands. Inspired by the lineage of boldly experimental bands that
emerged out of Wales in the ‘80s Adwaith knew that they wanted to be similarly uncompromising in their ownvision. Their debut album ‘Melyn’ perfectly skewered the anxiety and unease of becoming an adult in a fraughtpolitical climate, in a region too often sidelined and ignored by Westminster. The record went on to win the prestigious Welsh Music Prize and played widely on BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, KEXP, NPR and BBC Introducing.
In 2022 the band became the first act ever to win the Welsh Music Prize twice over, and now have three headline tours, an acclaimed Glastonbury set and Manic Street Preachers and IDLES support slots under their belts.Adwaith might be a band with clear roots set down in Wales – but looking towards the future, they’re now keenly focused on taking the language worldwide.
Aelwyd Hafodwenog was established in 1979 and the Aelwyd continues to offer artistic experiences to the young people of Carmarthenshire with over 80 members bwteen the gaes of 14-25. The Urdd Eisteddfod and artistic training is the main focus for the Aelwyd wrth them having been successful in choral, folk dancing and clog dancing competitions during the forty plus years of its history.
At the Carmarthenshire Urdd National Eisteddofd 2023, Aelwyd Hafodwennoh was the only Aelwyd to succeed in reaching the top three in each of the Aelwyd’s choral competitions. 45 members and leaders of Aelwyd Hafodwennog are now preparing a program of singing and dancing for the trip and are looking forward to spreading Welsh culture and the Welsh language to an international audience in France at the end of September.
Al Lewis is a Welsh singer and songwriter from North Wales. His music has gathered support from acclaimed DJs and music critis from not only the UK but Europe and beyond. Al has graced the stages of prestigious events including the Americana Music Festival in Nashville, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Celtic Connections in Glasgow, and the iconic Glastonbury music festival. Furthermore, Al’s music can frequently be heard on BBC Radio 2.
AVANC are a band of talented young musicians representing the next generation of Welsh folk artists. They specialise in unearthing forgotten musical gems from ancient manuscripts and dusty library vaults and reworking them in their own energetic image. Their powerful 10-piece lineup, complete with harps, bagpipes and clog dancers is a sight and sound to behold!
The band began as the National Youth Folk Ensemble of Wales. The project by Trac Cymru aimed to train young musicians aged 18-25 in performance skills to help them into a career as professional folk musicians, as well as representing Wales’ folk music on major stages.
Cerys Hafana is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who mangles, mutates, and transforms traditional music. She explores the creative possibilities and unique qualities of the triple harp, and is also interested in found sounds, archival materials and electronic processing. She comes from Machynlleth, Wales, where rivers and roads meet on the way to the sea.
Edyf is her second album, released in 2022, and was selected as one of The Guardian’s Top Ten folk albums of 2022. In January 2023, Cerys was also featured on Cerys Matthews’ BBC 6 Music ‘Highlights of 2022’ New Year show.
Côr y Gleision was formed in 2006 to encourage rugby supporters to bring traditional Welsh singing back onto the rugby terraces.
Many members had never sung in a choir before but found the experience to be positive. The choir now has over 120 members. The choir enjoys a varied calendar of events from singing at regional and international rugby matches to performing and competing at regional and national choral festivals.
Cynefin is the brain-child of West Wales native Owen Shiers. From his home village of Capel Dewi in the Clettwr Valley, traveling the local musical landscape, Owen unearthed old songs and stories some of which had never been recorded before, breathing new life into the present. The result of three years of research and work, his first album "Dilyn Afon" (Following A River / Following the river) is distinguished by its concept and its ambition. From talking animals to tragic train journeys, to the reflections of star-crossed lovers, farm workers and lonely wanderers, the album offers a unique window into the past and an oral culture alive with stories and songs.
Nominated for Welsh Album of the Year 2020, 'Cynefin' offers Owen a platform for his complex and contemporary arranging skills, whilst taking him back to his roots.
Welsh Soprano Jessica Robinson graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama gaining a distinction in MA Opera Performance. During her time at the RWCMD, Jessica won many prizes including the Aneurin Davies memorial award, TheMansel Thomas prize, The Margaret Tann Award, the Elias Sopra- no award and was the 2016 Prince of Wales Scholar.
As an oratorio and concert soloist, she regularly appears in concerts across the UK as guest artist with manyrenowned Male Voice Choirs. Internationally, Jessica has performed in New York, China, Switzerland and Italy. In June 2023 Jessica represented Wales in the prestigious BBC Cardiff Singer of the World and gained a place in the Final. She was given great reviews for her rendition of Chacun le Sait making her an exciting new voice for Wales in France in 2023.
Jukebox Collective are a community-rooted, youth-led collective nurturing tomorrow’s creative voices. Their creative agencyspecialises in artist management, casting and curation alongside a multi-disciplinary community arts programme that is shaped around artist development.
As Wales’s first Black-led national arts organisation, Jukebox has a track record of developing talent and producing creative work at the forefront of Welsh culture. Their expansive portfolio has seen them partner with anumber of inspiring collectives from Jamaica to West Africa. As they grow, they continue to build a global network through an intersection of youth culture, dance, music and more
Born and raised in Neath Port Talbot in South Wales, Luke RV is a rapper and singer songwriter whose quick-witted and relatable lyricism, along with his unique and ethereal cadence and seen him rise to the forefront of the rapidly expanding music scene in South Wales. Fresh off the back of a busy festival season which saw Luke perform at The Great Escape festival and Nass festival to name a few, Luke is back with new music following the success of his last project, ‘WHAT’S THAT, over there', which featured tracks such as LONG TERM PARKING, named BBC 1Xtra track of the week by Lady Leshurr.
As well as hitting over 1.5million streams on his song with Londoners KeepVibesNear and Harvey Whyte, Luke RV is set for a busy second half of 2023 as he looks to bridge the gap between Wales and the world.
Hailing from Cardiff, Wales, Mace The Great is a trailblazing force in Rap, Hip-Hop, & Grime captivating au- diences worldwide with his dynamic sound. Withacclaim from industry heavyweights like BBC Wales and 1Xtra, Wonderland, NME, and more, Mace’s talentearned him a dedicated fan base, symbolizing Cardiff’s rich musical heritage. Recognised as part of the Mobo Unsung Class of 2022 and PRS Foundation’s ‘Pow- er UP’ & ‘Momentum’ awardee, Mace’s accomplishments solidify his exceptional potential and creative vision.
From SXSW to Glastonbury, Mace’s electrifying performances cement his status as a rising star. Commit- ted toyouth development, he mentors and inspires young artists, ensuring Wales’s artistic legacy thrives beyond generations.
Mari Mathias creates mystical behaviour, driven by nature, landscape and tradition. She is an Award-Winning BBC Folk Artist for ‘Best Traditional Song’ with ‘Ty bach twt / Milgi Milgi’, a track she released on her Debut Album in 2022. She sings in her native Welsh tongue and puts her own contemporary take on traditional folk melodies from west Wales and Pembrokeshire.
She brings a surging energy on stage & beautiful tones of delicate melodic vocals, marrying intimate moments of storytelling and exhilarating folk sounds. Her music creates a confident step forward over the post-modern footprints that extends through past and present, exploring a re-imaged reminder of identity.
Richard Sheppard, better known as Local, is an MC from Cardiff. He appears on two of the Jammers Lord of the Mic series as well as recent collaborations with Skepta, Bad Boy Chiller Crew and Ownboss. He is currently one of the great rap hopes of the United Kingdom.
Originally from Aberystwyth, West Wales, Meinir Olwen plays the Welsh triple harp. At fifteen, she began to play this typically Welsh instrument, with its three rows of strings and the multiple sound possibilities associated with it. Since then, she has performed as a soloist and with several ensembles, including Welsh youth group 'Avanc'.
Since its formation in 2010 by Tim Rhys-Evans (Music Director), Only Boys Aloud has provided unique opportunities for hundreds of young boys across Wales. Only Boys Aloud represents a young collective of artists who have performed on large and small stages in the UK, as well as numerous television appearances. Originally created for a single concert in 2010, Only Boys Aloud finally won 3rd place at Britain's Got Talent 2012 and performed at Buckingham Palace in 2013 for the coronation anniversary.
The young people selected for the Academy each year have the chance to receive exceptional training, including courses given by former members. They learn a repertoire of early music, ranging from classical music to the latest Broadway musicals.
Osian Meilir is a performer, dance-maker and movement artist from Wales. He started his training at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, attaining a first-class degree, before continuing his studies and completing his MA in Dance Performance. Meilir’s work as a performer has seen him working with artists such as Jo Fong, Lizzi Kew Ross & Co, Gwyn Emberton Dance, Satore Tech, Fearghus O’Conchuir and the National Dance Company of Wales.
A key feature of the Wales in France Culture Programme, QWERIN a performance by 8 dancers directed by Osian Meilir, inspired by the weaving and flowing patterns of traditional Welsh folk-dancing, combined with the pulsating energy of Queer nightlife. Osian Meilir is aspeaker at Fresh, an International showcase of Contemporary Circus and Outdoor Arts in Paris which marks the20th anniversary of the Circostrada Network.
Sage Todz is a North Welsh rapper and R&B musician currently based in Cardiff. His music stretches from hard hitting drill tracks and pounding 808s to smooth and introspective trapsoul inspired R&B. His cat- alougue largely reflects hislife experiences and expresses inner thoughts about heritage, upbringing and childhood traumas. Born in Essex and raised in the valleys of North Wales, Sage speaks Welsh fluently and naturally incorporates the language into his music as he does his daily conversation.
2022 was a big year for Sage as he joned forces with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) , ahead of Wales’s first qualification to the FIFA Men’s World cup in 64 years to release “O Hyd”, a homage to Dafydd Iwan’s famous Welsh protest song Yma o Hyd. This lead to 170,000 streams on Spotify, being a support act for grime legend DDouble E, featured in The Times newspaper and awarded The Welsh Music Prize: Triskel Award.
Scott Taylor is a north Wales-based photographer from Wrexham. At the age of 29, Scott decided to follow a dream and complete a degree in Photography and Film in Wrexham Glyndwr University, graduating in 2021 followed by an MA at the same university.
His exhibition, ‘Y Carneddau’ focusses on the group of mountains within Eryri National Park in north Wales. Along the A5 road on the southern edge, Y Carneddau may appear to be a lost cause to many photographers, considering their remote location. Eyes are immediately drawn to the well-known mountain, Tryfan, on the opposite side of the road, one of the most recognisable peaks in Britain. Consequently, Y Carneddau are often missed and not given a second glance. Despite this, the mountains are on a grand scale, with Carnedd Llywelyn reaching 1064m high. It is an area that needs exploring for its secrets to be revealed.
VRï are three young men from deepest, darkest chapel-going Wales who have mined the cultural upheaval of past centuries and drawn inspiration from the incredible story of a time when Wales’ traditional music and dance was suppressed by Methodist chapels, and, earlier, its language by the Act of Union. As audio archaeologists, VRï have unearthed long-lost nuggets that shed a new light on a vibrant folk tradition that harnesses the raw energy of the fiddle with the finesse of the violin, the beauty of chamber music with the joy and hedonism of a pub session.
Their songs, sung with powerful vocal harmonies, tell stories of the people who struggled 200 years ago, just as many struggle today. It’s a wonderful and unique soundscape that connects across the centuries to give us a sense of belonging, of community, and a magical feeling of weightlessness and uplifting freedom. VRï’s 2019 debut album ‘Ty Ein Tadau’ (House Of Our Fathers) received a 5* review in Songlines magazine and numerous awards nominations and wins. Their new album 'islais a genir' (a sung whisper) releases on the bendigedig label in October 2022.
Formed in Beirut, The Trials of Cato returned to the UK in 2016 and began touring across the country, leading BBC Radio 2's Mark Radcliffe to hail them as "one of the folk circuit's true discoveries". lately ". Their first album, Hide and Hair, received a very good reception, both from the public and the media. After a year of touring across the UK, Europe and North America in 2019, that momentum came to a sudden halt due to the global pandemic. They come back and come out of their chrysalis, transformed; multi-talented instrumentalist and vocalist Polly Bolton joined the band.
The highly anticipated second album from The Trials of Cato is set to be released this year. Titled 'Gog Magog', the album is named after the mythical giant of Arthurian legend and the hilltop in Cambridgeshire, where the new album was born during lockdown.
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