The Big Moon and Richard Dawson join the lineup for Llais 2023

31 August 2023, 11:27 | Written by Tyler Damara Kelly

(News)

(The Big Moon) (Richard Dawson)

Wales Millennium Centre have announced the second wave of artists and performances for Llais 2023, the flagship international arts festival returning to Cardiff from 10-15 October.

The festival will open on 10 October with the Welsh Music Prize ceremony, a highly coveted celebration of the best new music in Wales and a chance to champion the finest albums made over the past 12 months. Following the success of last year, Llais 2023 will once again play host to the prestigious awards ceremony, welcoming multiple live performances across the evening, showcasing some of the very best in new music from Wales.

This year’s Welsh Music Prize longlist includes the latest albums from Llais alumni John Cale, with Mercy, and Gruff Rhys', The Almond & The Seahorse.

BBC Introducing and BBC Horizons / Gorwelion (a scheme delivered by BBC Cymru Wales in partnership with the Arts Council of Wales) will join forces with Llais to bring a spectacular line-up of exciting emerging local artists and special live collaborations for this year’s BBC Introducing Live in Cardiff. Local artists and bands confirmed include L E M F R E C K, NOOKEE and Source.

🚨 Announcement! New artists and events added to the line up

📆 October 10 – 15 2023
Tickets on sale now.

🎟️👉 https://t.co/6cF8MbuUmH #Llais2023 pic.twitter.com/5ziWTox8S0
— Llais (@LlaisFestival) August 31, 2023

Senior Producer at BBC Horizons / Gorwelion, 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.”

The newly announced acts join an eclectic programme of performances and acts already announced. On Friday 13 October Llais 2023 will present Both Sides Now: Celebrating Joni Mitchell – an ode to the iconic performer featuring an incredible line-up of all female singers including Mercury Prize shortlisted icon Gwenno, multi-instrumentalist ESKA, Cardiff’s very own Charlotte Church and British singer Laura Mvula. The four formidable talents will be joined by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in a world first orchestral performance of Both Sides Now.

Llais will be launching ‘Pay What You Can‘ tickets where festivalgoers can apply for two events of their choice and pay what they can on a first come first served basis, reinforcing the fact the arts should be accessible to all. Llais tickets are now on sale at wmc.org.uk.