Welsh Language Music Day
Welsh Language Music Day, often called by the Welsh name Dydd Miwsig Cymru, 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', the colloquial term miwsic, 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
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