Welsh Language Music Day, often called by the Welsh name , is a music festival founded by radio presenter Huw Stephens. Events take place on the day at its base in Cardiff, as well as previously in London, Swansea, and even as far as Brooklyn and Budapest.
Etymology Despite the Welsh language having words for 'music' (, or ), the colloquial term , borrowed from the English word music, was used instead to promote the event.
Background
The festival takes place annually in Stephens' hometown of Cardiff, Wales, as well as hosting events in other UK cities including London, Caernarfon, and Swansea. The first Welsh Language Music Day took place in February 2013. Artists who have been highlighted include Mellt, Gwenno Saunders, The Gentle Good, Chroma, Adwaith, Candelas, Meic Stevens, Los Blancos, and Alffa.
Organisations across Wales are involved in the yearly event, including Sŵn, BBC Horizons, Forté Project, Clwb Ifor Bach and Big Fish Little Fish.
Venues
Events have been held across the UK, including venues in Cardiff as well as:
Kings Place, London Clwb Ifor Bach, Womanby Street, Cardiff Castle Emporium, Womanby Street, Cardiff St John's Church, Canton, Cardiff Blackwood Miners Welfare Institute, Blackwood Whitehall, Pwllheli Tafarn yFic, Pwllheli Y Galeri, Caernarfon Clwb Canol Dre, Caernarfon Bangor University Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Independent events have also been organised by Menter Iaith in the following:
Conwy Maldwyn Fflint Wrexham Sir Dinbych Ceredigion
Acts
During each year's events, organisers research the streaming popularity of Welsh language music acts globally.
The 2018 event found the most popular Welsh artists on Spotify were:
The Joy Formidable Super Furry Animals Cate Le Bon Catatonia Iwan Rheon Gwenno Saunders Yws Gwynedd Bryn Fon Al Lewis Sŵnami
The survey also found the following artists were most popular on Shazam:
Catatonia Super Furry Animals Gwenno Saunders Casi Yws Gwynedd Bryn Fon Meic Stevens Dafydd Iwan Omaloma Elin Fflur
See also
Culture and recreation in Cardiff Huw Stephens Music of Cardiff Music of Newport Music of Wales Welsh language
References
External links
(English) (Welsh)