|
WelshFest on Sparks
|
Band Pres Llareggub/Llareggub Brass Brand
Owing to the age-old tradition of brass bands from the slate mining villages of North Wales’, Llareggub Brass Band ascend from the ashes of the past and bring with them an immense dose of heavy brass! Their music invokes the sumptuous flavours of New Orleans marching bands, together with Bronx-inspired Hip Hop and Welsh language pop music. Formed by their bandleader Owain Roberts back in 2015, the band has released four studio albums and numerous EPs and are quickly making their mark as Wales’ best live (brass) act. Their live sets often feature guest vocals by the likes of Mr Phormula (Welsh Beatboxing Champion), Lisa Jên (9Bach), Alys Williams (BBC’s The Voice), Tara Bethan, Mared Williams and many more.
Owing to the age-old tradition of brass bands from the slate mining villages of North Wales’, Llareggub Brass Band ascend from the ashes of the past and bring with them an immense dose of heavy brass! Their music invokes the sumptuous flavours of New Orleans marching bands, together with Bronx-inspired Hip Hop and Welsh language pop music. Formed by their bandleader Owain Roberts back in 2015, the band has released four studio albums and numerous EPs and are quickly making their mark as Wales’ best live (brass) act. Their live sets often feature guest vocals by the likes of Mr Phormula (Welsh Beatboxing Champion), Lisa Jên (9Bach), Alys Williams (BBC’s The Voice), Tara Bethan, Mared Williams and many more.
Pedair, feminine form of 'pedwar' ('four' in Welsh) draws on the talents of four of Wales' most prominent and award-winning folk artists: Gwenan Gibbard, Gwyneth Glyn, Meinir Gwilym and Siân James. Groundbreaking international artists in their own right, all four thrive on collaboration and the thrill of live performance. Together they bring to life traditional material with new arrangements on harps, guitars, piano and accordion.
Bringing together their unique gifts as song-tellers, the source material and inspiration from the poetic, oral and folk traditions of Wales and beyond. This is coupled with their deftness as songwriters, responding to the current state of the world, the resilience of nature, with a particular interest in giving voice to the woman.
Bringing together their unique gifts as song-tellers, the source material and inspiration from the poetic, oral and folk traditions of Wales and beyond. This is coupled with their deftness as songwriters, responding to the current state of the world, the resilience of nature, with a particular interest in giving voice to the woman.
Welsh of the West End
With over 18 million views online, Welsh of the West End has become a viral sensation. Entertaining audiences with their show-stopping versions of musical theatre classics, they have performed at iconic venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and the London Palladium, and wowed audiences internationally by reaching the live semi-finals of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent. Featured by Official London Theatre, What’s on Stage, ITV and BBC, this musical theatre super-group includes Welsh performers from shows such as Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera and Wicked. Members Mared Williams, Steffan Hughes, Celyn Cartwright and Glain Rhys look forward to joining the festival line-up for Ottawa.
With over 18 million views online, Welsh of the West End has become a viral sensation. Entertaining audiences with their show-stopping versions of musical theatre classics, they have performed at iconic venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and the London Palladium, and wowed audiences internationally by reaching the live semi-finals of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent. Featured by Official London Theatre, What’s on Stage, ITV and BBC, this musical theatre super-group includes Welsh performers from shows such as Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera and Wicked. Members Mared Williams, Steffan Hughes, Celyn Cartwright and Glain Rhys look forward to joining the festival line-up for Ottawa.
|
|
Urdd Dancers
Meet Caian Wyn Evans, Gwennan Staziker, Ioan Wyn Williams & Erin Eluned Jones. Learn more about Urdd... These four award-winning Urdd folk dancers join weekend festivities in Ottawa. The quartet will perform as part of Thursday's outdoor concert, 'WelshFest'. They'll also join us for a folk dancing session on Saturday afternoon and you'll get a sneak preview of their talents at our kick-off event, Taste of Wales.
Gwennan Heledd Staziker is a Welsh clog and folk dancer with a strong background in ballet. She began competing at 14, winning first place at both the Urdd and National Eisteddfod (2021) and placing second in Pontypridd (2024). She performs with Dawnswyr Nantgarw and will compete with them at this year’s Eisteddfod.
At the University of Cambridge, she founded Clocswyr Caergrawnt, led workshops, and choreographed for the university dance team. Her ballet training includes seven years with Ballet Cymru, performances with English Youth Ballet, and a Cambridge Blue in ballet and contemporary dance.
Caian Wyn Evans has years of experience dancing in numerous competitions and concerts representing his school, Dawnswyr Talog, and Aelwyd Hafodwenog. He loves performing clog dancing as a soloist, in addition to group performances, and is very much looking forward to performing out in Canada. He also sings with Cor Hafodwenog, and has performed solo in Eisteddfodau. Caian started clog dancing later than most – just three years ago – after watching others dance and wanting to try it himself. Remarkably, he won the solo clog dancing competition in his very first year competing.
Ioan Williams is a dynamic and versatile performer who graduated with a BA in Dance from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) in 2024. His training spans Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Commercial, Aerial Hoop, and Bungee-Assisted Dance. Proud of his Welsh roots, Ioan is also a skilled clog and folk dancer, blending traditional and modern styles in his choreography.
He has performed at MOVE IT in London, competed for the prestigious Bryn Terfel Scholarship, and danced in the Eurovision 2023 final. A dedicated competitor since childhood, Ioan has taken part in the Urdd Eisteddfod for many years and has choreographed standout performances for both small and large groups.
Erin Eluned Jones is a passionate and accomplished Welsh folk dancer and clogger with years of experience performing across Wales and internationally. Erin has performed with Dawnswyr Talog and Aelwyd Hafodwenog, and has taken part in festivals in Ireland, Poland, and France, in addition to performing as a member of the group ‘Twmpdaith’ at the Lorient Interceltic Festival. Her work seamlessly blends technical skill with powerful storytelling, and she continues to refine her craft through solo and group performances on stages of all sizes.
Meet Caian Wyn Evans, Gwennan Staziker, Ioan Wyn Williams & Erin Eluned Jones. Learn more about Urdd... These four award-winning Urdd folk dancers join weekend festivities in Ottawa. The quartet will perform as part of Thursday's outdoor concert, 'WelshFest'. They'll also join us for a folk dancing session on Saturday afternoon and you'll get a sneak preview of their talents at our kick-off event, Taste of Wales.
Gwennan Heledd Staziker is a Welsh clog and folk dancer with a strong background in ballet. She began competing at 14, winning first place at both the Urdd and National Eisteddfod (2021) and placing second in Pontypridd (2024). She performs with Dawnswyr Nantgarw and will compete with them at this year’s Eisteddfod.
At the University of Cambridge, she founded Clocswyr Caergrawnt, led workshops, and choreographed for the university dance team. Her ballet training includes seven years with Ballet Cymru, performances with English Youth Ballet, and a Cambridge Blue in ballet and contemporary dance.
Caian Wyn Evans has years of experience dancing in numerous competitions and concerts representing his school, Dawnswyr Talog, and Aelwyd Hafodwenog. He loves performing clog dancing as a soloist, in addition to group performances, and is very much looking forward to performing out in Canada. He also sings with Cor Hafodwenog, and has performed solo in Eisteddfodau. Caian started clog dancing later than most – just three years ago – after watching others dance and wanting to try it himself. Remarkably, he won the solo clog dancing competition in his very first year competing.
Ioan Williams is a dynamic and versatile performer who graduated with a BA in Dance from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) in 2024. His training spans Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Commercial, Aerial Hoop, and Bungee-Assisted Dance. Proud of his Welsh roots, Ioan is also a skilled clog and folk dancer, blending traditional and modern styles in his choreography.
He has performed at MOVE IT in London, competed for the prestigious Bryn Terfel Scholarship, and danced in the Eurovision 2023 final. A dedicated competitor since childhood, Ioan has taken part in the Urdd Eisteddfod for many years and has choreographed standout performances for both small and large groups.
Erin Eluned Jones is a passionate and accomplished Welsh folk dancer and clogger with years of experience performing across Wales and internationally. Erin has performed with Dawnswyr Talog and Aelwyd Hafodwenog, and has taken part in festivals in Ireland, Poland, and France, in addition to performing as a member of the group ‘Twmpdaith’ at the Lorient Interceltic Festival. Her work seamlessly blends technical skill with powerful storytelling, and she continues to refine her craft through solo and group performances on stages of all sizes.