SIBLINGS Jona and Martha Owen have set up a new website highlighting Welsh music events in and beyond Wales.
Music lovers can now find every Welsh language event happening across Wales in one place, thanks to an innovative new online platform: ‘Awni?’.
Just in time to celebrate 10 years of Welsh Language Music Day (Dydd Miwsig Cymru), Awni (which means “we will go” in Welsh) brings together all Welsh language music events on an easy-to-use website with an interactive map.
The brother and sister team created the website to help ensure music fans never miss out on great events happening near them.
Martha said: “As Welsh language music fans, we found ourselves saying ‘I didn’t know about that gig!’ way too often. With hundreds of gigs taking place every year, ‘Awni?’ aims to ensure no gig falls under the radar.
“By submitting gigs to our map, organisers, venues and artists can boost ticket sales and reach new audiences. We hope our website acts as a helping hand – supporting the exciting Welsh music scene and strengthening the presence of the Welsh language in Wales and beyond through live music.”
The Awni project has received funding through Sain as part of their ARFOR Challenge Fund, which is a Welsh Government funded programme providing strategic initiatives to strengthen the economy within Welsh-speaking communities. As part of this fund, record label Sain, have also digitised their entire back catalogue of over 20,000 songs—alongside one of the project partners, National Library Wales, and intends to bring decades of Welsh musical heritage to new audiences.
Sain is celebrating Welsh Language Music Day by releasing its entire 1970s collection from this archive on streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. Widely regarded as the label’s ‘golden period’, including iconic albums by artists such as Meic Stevens, Brân and Delwyn Siôn. This will be the first time many of these songs have been made available digitally.
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language, Mark Drakeford, said: “Dydd Miwsig Cymru is a fantastic celebration of language and music, and it will be even easier for people to get involved this year thanks to Awni. These events are a great way for everyone to experience and enjoy miwsig Cymraeg, whatever your language ability.”
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said: “The ARFOR Challenge Fund helps to find innovative solutions to strengthen the relationship between the economy and the Welsh language – Awni does just that by bringing people together to enjoy our vibrant Welsh-language music scene.”
Awni lets you see all upcoming gigs on an interactive map, search for events in date order, get details on venues and tickets, and discover new Welsh language artists and events.
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