Swansea Council’s St David’s Day Croeso celebrations take place over four days from February 29, featuring live music, cookery demonstrations, family entertainment and a street parade.
Venues range from the city centre – featuring free-entry fun for all – to the Brangwyn Hall and Swansea Arena which are both set to offer memorable music events in top quality indoor settings.
Swansea Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “This year’s Croeso will ignite Welsh culture; families and thousands of others who appreciate music and food will love it! The line-up is fantastic and will bring a burst of colour and song to our celebration of St David’s Day. Swansea’s events don’t start and stop at St David’s Day, of course – throughout 2024, local events will range from free-entry and low-cost family entertainment to top quality big-name music in Singleton Park and top-class sport.”
The live music at the festival has been programmed in partnership with the Swansea Music Hub and Menter Iaith Abertawe, Swansea’s Welsh language initiative. This will include performances from some of the most exciting new and emerging artists from Swansea and beyond on the St David’s Place stage during the day, in addition to a variety of free entry gigs across the city as part of the Croeso x Nightworks programme.
The Nightworks event starts with a free entry launch night at Swansea Arena to celebrate S4C’s Cân i Gymru competition at the arena the following evening. This launch event will see sets from former Cân i Gymru artists including Mali Hâf and Morgan Elwy and will be an opportunity to learn more about everything that’s happening over the course of the weekend. There are very limited free tickets remaining for the live broadcast show on the Friday evening available via the arena’s website.
Friday the 1st of March will also see an evening of cutting-edge alternative music at The Bunkhouse Bar & Music Venue headlined by Islet, and a screening of Storm Heaven, a music documentary about the band Trampolene, at the Taliesin Arts Centre. Saturday the 2nd of March sees an evening of Welsh folk music headlined by Brigyn at the Tŷ Tawe venue, while the Elysium Gallery & Bar on the High Street will see stars of the Welsh rap scene Sage Todz, Luke RV, and friends keep the party going until late.
Saturday the 2nd of March sees an evening of Welsh folk music headlined by Brigyn at the Tŷ Tawe venue, while the Elysium Gallery & Bar on the High Street will see stars of the Welsh rap scene Sage Todz, Luke RV, and friends keep the party going until late.
Tomos Jones, Menter Iaith Abertawe’s head officer said: “We are delighted to have been able to work with Swansea Council to programme the Nightworks element of the Gŵyl Croeso event again this year. This is the biggest and best line-up yet, with something for everyone across the weekend. The fact that all events are free entry is brilliant, and we hope that the festival will introduce artists using the Welsh language in their work to new audiences across the city.”
The Cwtsh Marquee in St David’s Place will also offer attendees to chance to learn more about opportunities to enjoy the Welsh language in the Swansea area. As well as an opportunity to learn about other Welsh language events on the horizon, there will also be opportunities to browse a selection of Siop Tŷ Tawe’s gifts & books and learn more about the courses available via Learn Welsh Swansea Bay Region. There will be a chance to meet Mr Urdd and Magi Ann, and Cymraeg i Blant will be offering Story and Song sessions as well as information about further opportunities for families to enjoy the Welsh language together.
Croeso’s city centre activity is presented by Swansea Council in association with First Cymru Buses Ltd and supported by Food and Drink Wales and Nathaniel Cars. More information is available via the Visit Swansea Bay website.