Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau (the ‘mighty session’) was
first held back in 1992 when a group of local volunteers, who
were also traditional music freaks, felt that Dolgellau, a
picturesque and historic town in south Gwynedd, needed a festival
that would put Welsh music on the world stage. The festival
started, like so many others, on a very small scale and on
a very tight budget, but very soon the word started getting
around about this great festival held in a quiet corner of
Wales.
For the first 11 years Sesiwn Fawr was held on the streets
of Dolgellau as a free festival that offered the best of World
Music, but success brought its problems and, because of the
masses that thronged the streets, the festival moved to a new
site a hundred yards down the road. In 2002, for the first
time, it became a ticketed event, now attracting an audience
of 5000 daily. The festival has taken to its new home like
a fish to water, prompting Simon Jones to describe the event
in fROOTS magazine as: ‘
A blast of an event that unites community, Sesiwn Fawr is the
place to make discoveries and reaffirm your faith in live music,’ The
Festival was voted Welsh Event of the Year by the Welsh Tourist
Board in 2001.
Since 1995 the festival has been broadcast live on BBC Radio
Cymru and since 1997 it has been televised live on S4C’s
digital channel. The festival also goes out live on Welsh
language radio.
The list of bands who have appeared on the Sesiwn Fawr’s
numerous stages include Super Furry Animals, Cerys
Matthews, Burning Spear, The Alarm, The Levellers, Capercaillie,
Oysterband,
Susheela Raman, Dick Gaughan The Saw Doctors, Mozaik, Karine
Polwart, Brendan Power and Shooglenifty. World music bands
such as Yat Kha, Sharon Shannon, Jazz Jamaica and numerous
Welsh language bands have also appeared. Pride and place on
every line-up goes to our own Welsh bands. They have included
over the years Anweledig, Meic Stevens, Bryn Fôn a Sobin!,
Bob Delyn a’r Ebillion, Gwerinos, Frizbee, Ar Log, Meinir
Gwilym, and Y Moniars.
The festival also prides itself for giving a stage to up and
coming individual artists and groups.
The festival is now held on one of the most scenic sites
in Wales, on a hard site in the beautiful Wnion valley with
a backdrop of the beautiful slopes of Cader Idris and the granite
solidity of Dolgellau’s historic buildings.
Do you have a lasting memory of Sesiwn Fawr? Do you have a
story to share? We would like to publish your stories on this
part of the website. Send any contributions to myfyr@sesiwnfawr.com
Posters!
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Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau Cyf. 08712 301314
Swyddfa'r Wyl, Penbryn, Dolgellau, Gwynedd
LL36 9SG
