Gŵyl NAWR Returns to Swansea with a Weekend of Experimental Music and Art

Gŵyl NAWR, a festival celebrating experimental and left-field music and art, returned to Swansea on the weekend of 6 and 7 November 2026. The event was hosted at the Tŷ Tawe venue, offering audiences an immersive experience across two days.

The opening night on Friday 6 November was headlined by Evolution of Beauty, the musical project of Richard James, known for his work as a composer, musician, sound artist, and producer, and formerly a member of Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci. Richard James performed pieces from his recent residency at the Temple of Peace, where he presented three seven-hour live performances of newly commissioned works as part of the Cardiff Music City Festival.

Joining him on stage was Teddy Hunter, a Cardiff-based immersive audio artist and musician. Hunter’s work focuses on electronic alternative music influenced by sonic arts, environmental sounds, and ambient textures. The refined live and sequenced instrumentation of Hylif also featured in the Friday programme.

Saturday 7 November was an all-day event, with doors opening at midday and music continuing until 22:00 across two stages. The lineup included performances by Hap a Damwain, Spirited Followers, John Bisset and Dan Johnson, Plague Doctors Cure All, FFRWD, and Leona Jones, showcasing a broad spectrum of experimental sounds.

In addition to live performances, the festival offered an experimental DJ workshop on Friday during the day at the Volcano Theatre. Led by Daisy Moon, the workshop was open to women and gender-diverse participants, catering to beginners and those with intermediate skills.

Gŵyl NAWR 2026 was part of an ongoing collaboration between NAWR and Menter Iaith Abertawe, Swansea’s Welsh language initiative, which promotes opportunities for people of all ages to use and enjoy the Welsh language. The festival itself is a multidisciplinary concert series that spans experimental music, free improvisation, film, lo-fi, free jazz, sound art, alternative folk, and new music, aiming to provide an open and reflective space for audiences.

Supported by Tŷ Cerdd, the Welsh Government, Dydd Miwsig Cymru, and the Oram Awards, Gŵyl NAWR continues to foster a welcoming environment for exploring new and unconventional music in Swansea.