Other Voices Cardigan presents a series of compelling and provocative discussions: Clebran: Connected Imagination, a celebration of the enduring cultural and musical ties between Ireland and Wales, taking place at Mwldan in Cardigan from the 3-5 of November 2022.
Other Voices: Each afternoon writers, musicians, journalists, artists, poets, politicians and academics will join in conversations about how we perceive our world, language and culture.
On the second day of the event, Friday 4 November at 4.15pm, the Rt. Hon Mark Drakeford MS, First Minister of Wales, will make a very special appearance as a guest speaker, joined by the celebrated poet Mererid Hopwood and acclaimed traditional fiddle player/violinist Aoife Ní Bhríain to form a panel hosted by TV and radio broadcaster Huw Stephens, in order to explore the value of culture, creativity and connection, and the identities of people, nations and diasporas.
Clebran will commence at 4pm on Thursday 3 November with the Raving Celts session in which Irish performer, folklorist and musician Billy Mag Fhloinn joins with leading Welsh dance and performance artist Eddie Ladd to explore lost Celtic rituals, including a unique performance created for Clebran that brings together and reimagines ideas of our ancient traditions.
Following that on Thursday at 5.15pm we will hear from three remarkable Irish and Welsh musicians – Mercury prize nominated Gwenno, Iarla Ó Lionáird (The Gloaming, Afro Celt Sound System) and rapper Sage Todz – who join journalist and author Jude Rogers to talk about their language journeys and creative expression through Celtic languages.
Friday’s discussions begin at 2pm with the internationally bestselling author Emma Dabiri joining historian Professor Diarmaid Ferriter and writer and broadcaster Professor Richard Wyn Jones for a panel hosted by heritage and slavery researcher Marian Gwyn to re-examine the colonial histories of Wales and Ireland and help us to better understand the positions we find ourselves in today.
Our final Clebran session of 2022 on Saturday at 2pm turns our gaze to the future with Turner prize nominated artist Rabab Ghazoul, Róise Goan, Artistic Director of Arts Admin, and presenter Molly Palmer sharing ideas about how we might imagine our future, together with Jane Davidson, vanguard of Wales’ world-leading Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, and session host, historian and writer Dr Christopher Kissane.
Internationally acclaimed traditional singer Iarla Ó Lionáird and fiddle player Aoife Ní Bhriain will both provide us with a taste of their exceptional music during their sessions.
This exciting series of carefully conceived discussions and performances have been created to bring fresh perspectives to a new collective imagining about some of our most pressing challenges and germane reflections… because things look different from the Edge.
Other Voices weekend wristbands will get you entry to all Clebran events (subject to capacity). Earlybird weekend wristbands priced at £20, rising to £25 on 13 October.
Full details of the programme, speakers, tickets can be found at other voices.ie as well as line-ups for the Music Trail and Church.
The Clebran discussion sessions are part of Other Voices Cardigan and are staged in partnership with Ireland’s Edge, the ideas strand of Other Voices.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said:
“It’s so good to see the return of Other Voices to West Wales to showcase some of our best musical talent. I’m so glad that we are re-establishing this exciting event in the calendar. It’s a symbol of the importance of our cultural and business connections with our friends in Ireland”.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD said:
“Other Voices Cardigan again promises a wonderful programme of live music which will enable outstanding performances to be enjoyed around the world. It is especially heartening to see audiences and artists coming together again in person. I am very proud that my Department is supporting the programme again this year and strengthening further the cultural ties between Ireland and Wales.”
The Consul General of Ireland in Wales, Denise McQuade said:
“We are delighted that Other Voices is returning to Cardigan this year. Ireland and Wales share rich cultural ties which stretch back many centuries. Other Voices provides an opportunity to build those ties and to highlight and share the best of contemporary Irish and Welsh culture.”
Other Voices Cardigan is produced by South Wind Blows in partnership with Mwldan and Triongl and made possible thanks to the support and investment of Welsh Government and The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
All St Mary’s Church performances will be streamed to the cinema screen at Mwldan across the weekend as well as to the world via Other Voices YouTube and socials (entry to the streamed screenings via wristband on a first come first served basis). Full streaming details coming very soon.
More details here: https://www.othervoices.ie/events/other-voices-cardigan