Four major Welsh festivals join forces to create Gŵyl 2021

The organisers behind four major festivals in Wales have joined forces in lockdown to create a free, online festival packed with unforgettable music and comedy, embracing diversity and dialogue.

Gŵyl 2021 shines a light of determination and resilience from the creative scene in Wales.

It has been created by the teams behind the Wrexham-based FOCUS Wales, Festival of Voice, Other Voices Cardigan and Aberystwyth Comedy Festival.

Filmed or recorded over recent months in Wales and internationally within Coronavirus guidelines, Gŵyl 2021 will be broadcast online on the BBC across the weekend of 6-7 March 2021.

Following almost a year of physical distancing, the festival marks an emotional moment of unity – of artists and audiences, from Wales and the world. It recognises that our collective voice is a powerful sum of its parts.

In true festival style, Gŵyl 2021 will be a celebration of the established, and a discovery of the eclectic and the emerging, in Wales and further afield.

The line-up includes contributions from Cate Le Bon in collaboration with Gruff Rhys, the award-winning Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Tim Burgess’ Listening Party, and Catrin Finch; plus BERWYN (BBC Music Sound of 2021), Carys Eleri (Adelaide Fringe Festival winner), Arlo Parks and Dani Rain, the drumming force behind Neck Deep.

Other highlights confirmed include Charlotte Adigéry, post-punk Welsh Music Prize winners Adwaith, Irish poet and art rock pioneer Sinead O’Brien and Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Jordan Brookes; Welsh Language Album of the Year winner Ani Glass, Dublin four-piece Sprints, Cardiff-based Guinean griot musician N’Famady Kouyate and sketch group Tarot. Dance company Jukebox Collective have also curated performances from reggae artist Aleighcia, RnB/soul artist Faith, singer and rapper Reuel, spoken word artist Jaffrin Khan and more.

There’s a one-off performance by Brett Anderson, Charles Hazlewood and Paraorchestra, featuring special guests Nadine Shah, Adrian Utley & Seb Rochford, plus special episodes of the comedy podcasts Welcome to Spooktown and I Wish I Was an Only Child, featuring guest appearances from famous Welsh faces.

The festival also makes international links as FOCUS Wales hosts artists from across Canada as well as exclusive, interactive performances, and S4C broadcasts exclusive highlights from Other Voices Cardigan.

Neal Thompson, FOCUS Wales, said: “We are delighted that FOCUS Wales has been able to work in partnership with three of Wales’ best known festivals to create Gŵyl 2021.

“After what has been a dark and difficult year for us all, we look forward to a brighter future and to coming together and celebrating Wales’ rich and diverse cultural offering, with a programme of outstanding music and comedy.”

Rhodri Talfan Davies, director of BBC Cymru Wales, said: “BBC Wales is delighted to be working with Gŵyl 2021.

“We all need a blast of creativity, comedy and music right now and this unprecedented partnership with four brilliant Welsh festivals promises to be a real gem.”

All rehearsals, filming and recording have taken or will take place within local Coronavirus guidelines. All content made in Wales has been created entirely in consultation with Welsh Government.

The full line up and schedule will be confirmed, and the festival itself will be broadcast across the weekend, on www.bbc.co.uk/gwyl2021 and on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru. Content from the festival will be available to view again for seven days on the BBC platform.