Last month we announced the return of Llais, Cardiff’s international arts festival, along with the first wave of events in the Donald Gordon Theatre and Hoddinott Hall, including Bat For Lashes, a celebration of Joni Mitchell featuring Charlotte Church, Laura Mvula, Gwenno and ESKA, fado sensation Mariza, The Unthanks and more.
But we’ve got even more in store for you. From punk rock to jazz re-imaginings, soulful folk to immersive films, we will offer an eclectic lineup across our site that will captivate your senses. We’re now pleased to announce the free and ticketed events happening across the building when Llais returns later this year.
Music
RICHARD DAWSON
Weston Studio, Thu 12 Oct, 7pm
One of the UK’s most powerful and affecting voices, Richard Dawson returns to Cardiff for a special solo performance after the release of his latest album The Ruby Cord last year.
The Cab Presents: Anarchy in the Bay
Wolfson Studio, Thu 12 Oct, 8pm
A stacked lineup of raw DIY punk rock makes a shift from the sweaty small clubs and basements of South Wales to the bright lights of Wales Millennium Centre. Full lineup to be announced.
This gig is part of a wider event accompanying Battlescar: Punk Was Invented By Girls, a virtual reality experience, and Wasteland Of My Fathers, an exhibition showcasing punk culture in Wales.
A Celebration of Alison Statton: A Jazz Re-Imagining
Cabaret, Thu 12 Oct, 9pm
Join us for a celebration of the Cardiff-born post-punk legend Alison Statton, whose many fans include this year’s Llais co-creator Gwenno. Known for her contributions to the bands Young Marble Giants and Weekend, Statton’s most iconic repertoire will be explored through a fresh and experimental lens, performed by brilliant young musicians from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, led by vocalist Sylvie Noble.
Llais X BBC Horizons Presents L E M F R E C K, Nookee + SOURCE
Weston Studio, Fri 13 Oct, 8pm
We’ve teamed up with BBC Horizons / Gorwelion to bring you a spectacular line up of emerging Welsh talent. Senior Producer, BBC Horizons, Bethan Elfyn said:
“This is going to be a wonderful celebration of music communities coming together, an evening to see ideas breathe and souls sing, and musicians raising their game in a creative offering that I’m sure will blow us away. Thanks to the team at Llais for seeing something that was a small seed and nurturing the idea, letting it grow and develop organically from the musicians themselves. I’m so grateful that we can facilitate and be part of that journey.”
Enys Men with Live Score by The Cornish Sound Unit
Weston Studio, Sat 14 Oct, 1pm
Find tickets
BAIT director Mark Jenkin follows up his acclaimed debut with Enys Men, this chilling, endlessly mysterious folk horror tale, beautifully shot on 16mm. The score will be performed live by Jenkin himself and Dion Star, known under the banner of their collaborative music project The Cornish Sound Unit, who employ improvised and composed pieces using tape machines, analogue synths, feedback and field recordings.
Angharad Davies
Cabaret, Sat 14 Oct, 3pm
Angharad Davies will play her first live performance of her album ‘gwneud a gwneud eto | do and do again’. Recorded in 2021 after working on separate projects with Gwenno and Richard Dawson, she was inspired to try a long track, allowing us to hear the violin almost from within, revealing the granular detail of what she describes as the instrument’s ‘endless wealth of possibilities’.
Angeline Morrison
Cabaret, Sat 14 Oct, 5pm
Delve into the enchanting world of Angeline Morrison, the award-winning folk artist; a soulful blend of storytelling, nostalgic melodies and reimagined traditional songs, capturing the essence of folklore and the supernatural.
Tomos Williams: Cwmwl Tystion II / Riot!
Weston Studio, Sat 14 Oct, 7.30pm
Welsh trumpeter Tomos Williams has assembled a brilliant band which includes internationally renowned musicians Soweto Kinch and Orphy Robinson alongside young Welsh vocalist Eadyth Crawford and the top-class rhythm section of Aidan Thorne and Mark O'Connor. Live visuals from Simon Proffitt accompanies this immersive performance which includes elements of jazz, hip-hop, Welsh folk music and the avant-garde.
SIÂN JAMES
Cabaret, Sat 14 Oct, 7.45pm
Siân James is one of Wales’ leading contemporary female vocalists and a foremost innovator in the field of traditional folk songs.
She plays Celtic harp and is an excellent pianist and composer. Her versatility as a performer has seen her starring on stage, screen and concert venues throughout the world, and is respected as one of Wales’ leading ambassadors of song.
Elaha Soroor: Flight of the Phoenix
Weston Studio, Sun 15 Oct, 8pm
A world premiere performance inspired by the life and legacy of Abey Mirza, a renowned Hazara female vocalist from Afghanistan, reimagined through the voice and style of Elaha Soroor (The Boy with Two Hearts). Intertwining with the musical performance, Hanan Issa, the National Poet of Wales 2022, will narrate tales of resilience and survival.
Free Screenings and Talks
CLARE MARIE BAILEY: PARALLEL LIVES
Wolfson Studio, Sun 15 Oct, 6.30pm
Parallel Lives is a collection of analogue films by Clare Marie Bailey that play out like half-forgotten TV miniatures from a pre-internet childhood, dream visions from a parallel reality. Infused with hauntological folk horror and fairy tale surrealism, they offer a glimpse into a world where the boundaries of reality are blurred, bridging the seen and unseen. Followed by a Q&A.
THE DRAGON HAS TWO TONGUES
Weston Studio, Sat 14 Oct, 3.30pm
A rare opportunity to watch an episode of the hugely influential documentary series about the history of Wales that aired in 1985. A Q+A session with series producer Colin Thomas and Tad Davies will follow.
SUPERTED
Wolfson Studio, 15 October, 11am
Classic episodes of the beloved Welsh animated series SuperTed that aired from 1982–1986. Welsh with English subtitles.
SOMALI TALES OF TIGER BAY
Weston Studio, 15 October, 12pm
Join author Nadifa Mohamed to discuss The Fortune Men, have a chance to ask questions and be part of a celebration of history, culture and performance from Welsh Somalilanders curated and programmed by Zainab Nur.
STONE CLUB PRESENTS: A YEAR IN A FIELD
Wolfson Studio, 15 October, 2.15pm
BAFTA award winning documentary filmmaker Christopher Morris invites us to slow down, as he films for a year in a West Cornwall field; to immerse ourselves in this quiet, direct-action of stillness, to take a breath and reflect on the planetary impacts of our brief human existence, under the watchful gaze of the Longstone, an ancient monolith that predominates this elemental landscape.
STONE CLUB PRESENTS: O'R DDAEAR HEN
Wolfson Studio, 15 October, 4.15pm
Stone Club in association with Wales Broadcast Archive present a screening of O'r Ddaear Hen, first recommended to Stone Club by member Gruff Rhys who first saw O'r Ddaear Hen in 1981 at school. O’r Ddaear Hen (From the Old Earth) was one of the first Welsh language horror films, produced by Bwrdd Ffilmiau Cymraeg, the Welsh Film Board. Upon its release, the board decided that it would be a good idea to bring children from primary schools to see the film, thoroughly traumatising a generation.
STILL TO COME...
We’ve more announcements coming up over the next few weeks, so sign up to the mailing list and keep up to date with all things Llais by following us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. #Llais2023
We believe that the arts should be accessible for all. New for this year, we’re launching Pay What You Can tickets where you can apply for up to two events of your choice and pay what you can on a first come first served basis. Find out more about the Pay What You Can scheme here.