Festival promises feast of literature, comedy and music
SESIWN Fawr will take place at Dolgellau on July 20-22, with a wide-ranging programme of music, comedy, literary events, and fun for the whole family.
The music lineup include Pwllheli-based Patrobas, who list groups like Old Crow Medicine Show and Mumford and Sons among their influences, and also more local acts like Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog and Gai Toms. They combine folk influences with a rock sound which makes interesting and upbeat listening.
Also on the programme is Mr Phormula, a pioneering beat-boxer and live looping artiste who brings a bilingual dimension to his art.
DNA are a mother and daughter duo. Delyth plays the Celtic harp, and was a founding member of the pioneering instrumental trio Aberjaber, and also has a successful career as a soloist.
Her daughter Angharad plays fiddle with the group Calan which burst onto the Welsh folk scene like a breath of fresh air. Their music is a winning fusion of the traditional and the innovative.
Geraint Lovgreen a’r Enw Da, Anweledig, Magi and Cledrau are among the other acts, but there are a few international names as well, with Peruvian combo La Inedita (with their flavourful mix of Peruvian Chicha, Ragamuffin and Dancehall. Peru meets Jamaica), Irish folk duo Ye Vagabonds, and Ortzadar Taldea from the Basque Country.
Check the festival’s website for full details of the lineup, and to find out more about the individual acts.
The comedy element of the festival includes a comedy night with Daniel Glyn, Dan Thomas, Hywel Pitts and Sarah Breese on Sunday, and comedy country/folk/pop singer The Welsh Whisperer. The young ones aren’t neglected as Daniel Glyn hosts a jokes workshop for children.
The literary programme includes fisherman and countryman Huw Erith, whose autobiography portrays the twists and turns of his life and some stories of the colourful characters of the Llŷn peninsula, a cynghanedd session with Arwyn Groe, and a talk by Emyr “Himyrs” Roberts, one of Wales’s best impressionists, who also founded the iconic 1980s band Ficar.
A ticket for the whole weekend costs £45, and can be ordered through the Sesiwn Fawr website, or by phone 07860 934 722, and will also be sold over the counter is Dolgellau shops nearer the weekend.
Sesiwn Fawr is a family- friendly and community-orientated festival, and a host of events for children and families will be held during the weekend. The whole of the Saturday afternoon will be held on the Sgwâr, with a “twmpath dawns” (much like a ceilidh), a procession following two local folk tales, storytelling sessions and much more.
For all the essential informa- tion about the festival, including the lineup of events, where to eat and stay, and to order your tickets, see the festival website https://sesiwnfawr. cymru/. where pop, folk, new wave and punk collide as the emotional honesty, political fire, wit and sing-along raucousness of their songs and their extensive touring has enlightened and entertained fans throughout the world.
They have even inspired a musical, the play and film ‘Sunshine on Leith’. The musical has its fourth UK run from April to June this year, with its biggest production to date by West Yorkshire Playhouse.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary since the release of the Sunshine On Leith album.
In August they will add to their magnificent songbook with the release of their 11th studio album.
For tickets at £34, ring the Venue Cymru box office on 01492 872000, or log on to https:// venuecymru.co.uk.