Mid Wales music festival set to draw in the crowds

The Gregynog Festival, which is Wales's oldest music festival, will be held in June and will feature a range of classical and traditional artists.

The festival, launched in 1933 by philanthropists Gwendoline and Margaret Davies, granddaughters of Victorian mining and railway entrepreneur David Davies, will feature concerts, drama, poetry, film, talks and exhibitions on the theme of Eire between June 16 and 26 at venues throughout the area.

It comes as the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising in Ireland will be marked in Wales this summer, recalling how 1,800 Irish people who took part, including Michael Collins, were kept at the Fron-goch prison camp near Bala.

Music, drama and talks inspired by the Rising and Fron-goch feature during the festival programme as well as forming part of the Welsh Government's project Cymru'n Cofio/Wales Remembers 1914 to 1918.

Irish musicians and historians, plus major international artists who specialise in performing Irish repertoire, are travelling to Mid Wales to take part.

Jordi Savall returns with Martin Hayes, a folk fiddler from County Clare, while other Irish musicians include Chamber Choir Ireland, soprano Ailish Tynan, pianist Finghin Collins and harpist Siobhan Armstrong with her group Irish Consort.

International visitors include Iranian harpsichord virtuoso Mahan Esfahani, French early music ensemble Nevermind and the Academy of Ancient Music, directed by Croatian violinist Bojan Cicic.

"So many close cultural connections have formed between Ireland and Mid Wales over the years in terms of music, the arts and local history," said Dr Rhian Davies, artistic director of the Gregynog Festival.

"These connections are highlighted throughout the festival programme, including the Abermule composer Peter Warlock who spent time composing in Dublin, the Irish harp pins excavated at Montgomery Castle, the 6th century Irish Saint Melangell, and the Celtic Library of Gwendoline and Margaret Davies.

"We're anticipating strong interest from Ireland and expect many people to visit the wider area while enjoying the range of events which we have planned, particularly with the high calibre of international artists who are performing for us," added Dr Davies.

Festival events will be held at venues throughout Mid Wales, including Gregynog Hall, near Newtown, the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, Llandinam Village Hall, near Newtown, Montgomery Town Hall, Tregynon Church, near Welshpool and Pennant Melangell Church.