Earlier this year, Wales was announced as the international partner for Showcase Scotland at Celtic Connections 2023, alongside our friends Brittany. Sharing the spotlight with Brittany at this prestigious Celtic festival is a special occasion for Wales, as the event also coincides with the beginning of the Year of Wales in France. It also follows the digital edition of Showcase Scotland in January 2022, where 6 incredible artists from Wales performed as part of a programme of Celtic music and indigenous languages that bridged audiences in Scotland and Wales with the world.
The search for the Spotlight Cymru Wales Showcase 2023 artists began in July of this year and was led by Tŷ Cerdd and supported by Wales Arts International, Focus Wales, and Trac Cymru. The final selection was made by Donald Shaw, Creative Producer of Celtic Connections, and we are pleased to be able to announce those 3 selected artists today:
Cerys Hafana
Hailing from Machynlleth, where rivers and roads meet on the way to the sea, Cerys Hafana is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who mangles, mutates, and transforms traditional music. She explores the creative possibilities and unique qualities of the triple harp, and is interested in 'found sounds', archive materials and electronic processing. Cerys released her debut album 'Cwmwl' in 2020, followed by an episode of the popular S4C TV show 'Curadur', where she explored the stranger side of Welsh folk music. She also contributed an essay to Welsh (Plural), writing about Welsh music and queer identity, and recently recorded a live session at the BBC Maida Vale studios with BBC Horizons Cymru.
Gwilym Bowen Rhys
Gwilym hails from the village of Bethel at the foot of mount Snowdon in North West Wales. He has been singing in his native Welsh language since he can remember and has developed a deep connection with the traditional songs and music of his land. His music is a mix of old and new, bringing to life ancient Welsh lyrics and melodies with his own progressive musical approach. In 2019 he won the award for ‘best solo artist’ at the Welsh folk awards and has performed his music around the world. His first album ‘O Groth y Ddaear’ (From the Womb of the Earth) was released in 2016 and was shortlisted for ‘best Welsh language album of the year’ at the National Eisteddfod. In 2018 he released the first of his series of recordings of old ballads, and in 2019, released his third album ‘Arenig’.
VRï
VRï are three young men from deepest, darkest chapel-going Wales who have mined the cultural upheaval of past centuries and drawn inspiration from the incredible story of a time when Wales’ traditional musicand dance was suppressed by Methodist chapels, and, earlier, its language by the Act of Union. As audio archaeologists, VRï have unearthed long-lost nuggets that shed a new light on a vibrant folk tradition that harnesses the raw energy of the fiddle with the finesse of the violin, the beauty of chamber music with the joy and hedonism of a pub session. Their songs, sung with powerful vocal harmonies, tell stories of the people who struggled 200 years ago, just as many struggle today. It’s a wonderful and unique soundscape that connects across the centuries to give us a sense of belonging, of community, and a magical feeling of weightlessness and uplifting freedom. VRï are Jordan Price Williams (cello, voice), Aneirin Jones (violin, voice) and Patrick Rimes (viola, violin, voice).
Upon announcing the selected artists, Eluned Hâf (Head of Wales Arts International) said: “We’re so pleased to see these 3 artists take the next steps in their international careers as they prepare to perform at the prestigious Showcase Scotland at Celtic Connections event in January. All three have recently released excellent albums to critical acclaim, each harnessing the ancient folk traditions of Wales and the Welsh language in a contemporary and vibrant way. We look forward to meeting international delegates in Glasgow this January, and to showcase some of the best artists from Wales on this global stage. We are also very much looking forward to sharing the spotlight with Brittany, with whom Wales has close cultural connections.”
As they prepare for the next edition of Showcase Scotland, Lisa Whyttock, Producer of Showcase Scotland at Celtic Connections said: “We are absolutely delighted to be profiling artists from our Celtic Cousins, Wales and Brittany, as part of our 2022 event. Between the 25th and 29th of January, 200 of the world's leading festivals and music organisations will descend on Glasgow to see some of the best home-grown talent from each of the three countries. They will discover, explore, and learn about the artists, whilst also being introduced to the strong kinship that is shared between the three nations. It’s particularly special to celebrate that closeness and to see our artists share spaces at what will be the first return to an in-person event since 2020.”
The full Celtic Connections programme has also been announced, with plans to celebrate it's 30th anniversary with an eclectic programme of genre-defying spectacles taking place in Glasgow between 19 January and 5 February 2023.
25 January | 7:30pm | The Mackintosh Church
Claire Hastings, Gwilym Bowen Rhys and Blood Harmony
26 January | 7:30pm | Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Cerys Hafana performs as part of Celtic Odyssée and Fara: a concert celebrating Celtic Connections' 30th anniversary with a star-studded cast of internationally renowned artists.
27 January | 8:00pm | Strathclyde Suite Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Catriona Price: Hert with Cerys Hafana
28 January | 7:30pm | New Auditorium Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Cara Dillon and VRï