One of Wales’ biggest celebrations of Welsh language culture returns to Cardiff Castle this weekend as Tafwyl marks its 20th anniversary.
Taking place on Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21, the free festival will bring together music, arts, literature, food and family entertainment, with organisers promising one of the biggest programmes in the event’s history.
More than 40 artists are set to perform across the two-day festival, including headline appearances from Candelas and Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog. The celebrations will culminate in a special musical extravaganza on Sunday evening to mark two decades of Tafwyl.
This year’s festival will also have an international flavour, with performers from Ireland and Brittany joining the line-up as part of a new initiative designed to strengthen links between minority language cultures across Europe.
Festival organisers have partnered with music festivals Gouel Broadel ar Brezhoneg in Brittany and Lá Mór na Gaeilge in Ireland, creating new opportunities for artists to perform and collaborate on international stages. Among the visiting acts will be Breton band Tanork and Irish group Grooveline.
Visitors can also look forward to unique performances created specifically for the festival. Students from the BA Perfformio course at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) have partnered with Tafwyl to develop an original street theatre production aimed at entertaining the thousands of people expected to attend.
The collaboration provides students with valuable experience of creating and performing work for large public audiences in a professional festival environment.
Meanwhile, theatre company Theatr Iolo will use Tafwyl as the launchpad for Annwn, a new episodic audio fantasy adventure written by acclaimed playwright Gary Owen.
Launching on June 21 through the Theatr Iolo Podcast feed, Annwn has been created for pre-teens aged nine to 12 and second-language Welsh speakers. Inspired by Welsh mythology, the series promises an immersive fantasy adventure delivered through an accessible audio format.
Alongside the entertainment, visitors can enjoy a wide selection of food, drink, craft and community stalls throughout the festival grounds.
Organisers say Tafwyl remains open to everyone, whether they speak Welsh fluently, are learning the language or have no Welsh at all.
With thousands expected to descend on Cardiff Castle over the weekend, the festival is set to provide a fitting celebration of 20 years of Welsh language music, culture and creativity.
