You’ve probably heard of Woodstock and Glastonbury, maybe you’ve heard of Tafwyl and Gŵyl Rhuthun. Well, now Gwyddgig has made its mark on the Welsh music scene and the increasing growth of community festivals earning their place in Wales’s annual calendar. If you haven’t heard about the unique new community festival that took place for the first time this year in Mold town center, here’s a taste of the action….
The festival was an amazing opportunity to introduce Welsh music live and for free to an open audience in Mold town Centre who would not usually have access to or hear Welsh music. It took place on the busiest day of the week; Saturday Market Day where on stage in the centre of Daniel Owen Square and around town, we had live performances from a variety of talented singers and young artists from north east Wales which allowed them to perform live -some for the very first time. From Ysgol Maes Garmon to Ysgol Glanrafon, from Cadan ( a Ysgol Maes Garmon pupil) to an acapella group of girls from the Vale of Clwyd, from Andy Hickie to Gwilym Bowen Rhys to Morgan Elwy a’r band, for sure we had amazing entertainment throughout the day.
One member of the public came to say, “Gwilym Bowen Rhys could have done an hour on stage by himself!” And another, “It’s been a great day! When’s the next one?” A mother with her daughter dropped in on their way to the shop in the morning and they were still there at the end of the day, all this despite a few showers, thunder and hail!
In addition to music, there were workshops, activities, and all sorts of fun sessions taking place in various locations around the town. In the surrounding buildings, there was a coffee morning run by Côr y Pentan, a baby massage session with Cymraeg i Blant, sessions for learners with Doctor Cymraeg and Francesca Sciarillo, fun sessions by Welsh stars such as Tudur Phillips and Anni Llyn, not to mention creative workshops with Theatr Clwyd, Dj workshops with Dj Dilys, a Welsh Ceilidh (Twmpath) for the family with Dawnswyr Delyn and several organisations and partners of Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam joined us including Mudiad Meithrin, Yr Urdd, Rhieni Dros Addysg Cymraeg and more.
The day was extremely successful and the festival would not have gone so well without the help of volunteers from Coleg Cambria, our MC Macsen from Maes Garmon, friends of Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam or Menter Iaith’s directors who were all busy helping, so the team at Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who came to help and enjoyed the day in our company.
To close the festival a magical evening gig took place atSt Mary’s Church with Welsh artist Mared and her band and also the young group of singers from Dyffryn Clwyd supporting. There was no better way to end the celebrations than to be captivated by the enchanting voices of some of the north East’s most versatile artists.
Our First Gwyddgig festival was certainly a success and we truly hope that this will not be our last Gwyddgig.
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