The market town of Machynlleth will sing along with legendary Welsh folk singer Dafydd Iwan when the Amdani, Fachynlleth! Literature & Travel Festival returns from April 1-3.
The bilingual festival, translated to Let’s Go! Machynlleth, will yet again be hosting artists, poets, travel writers and musicians across the weekend for a series of events on stage at the Wynnstay Hotel and the Senedd-dy, Glyndŵr Centre.
With events costing just £5 per event, there will be something for everyone, from the unveiling of a new portrait by Dan Llywelyn Hall to Rhys Mwyn discussing the psychogeography of Gwynedd.
Travel writer Tharik Hussain will be talking about his new book ‘Minarets in the Mountains’ and Rebecca Thomas will speak in Welsh about the link between identity and the landscape, plus many more speakers. Events in Welsh will have simultaneous translation provided.
With a career spanning more than 60 years, Welsh folk singer/songwriter Dafydd Iwan has enjoyed success with hits including Carlo and Yma O Hyd, which reached number one in the iTunes UK song chart in 2020.
Yma O Hyd, which was originally recorded in 1981 and released in 1983, means “still here” in English. He will be on stage on the evening of Saturday, April 2 for an event focusing on Atgofion a Chaneuon gan Dafydd Iwan/ Songs and Anecdotes by Dafydd Iwan.
Charles Dark, owner of The Wynnstay Hotel in Machynlleth and Diane Bailey of Penrallt Books, are managing the festival.
“Our first event last November was thoroughly enjoyed, even if we did have to contend with Storm Arwen,” said Mr Dark. “We can’t wait to bring everyone together once again next month and hear from some of the UK’s most knowledgeable and acclaimed travel and literature experts and hear music from people as widely respected as Dafydd Iwan.
“Along with our valued sponsors, Culture Colony, Penrallt Book shop and Creating Media, we can’t thank our speakers from across the UK enough for agreeing to take part, as they are the best of the best and we can’t wait to welcome them to the beautiful town of Machynlleth.”
