Latest news with #Tafwyl
Wales Online
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
All the reasons Blackweir Live is a great thing for Cardiff
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info One of the things Cardiff is known for is being a great place to enjoy a concert. Cardiff locals are used to being treated to some of the very best music performances hosting the likes of Oasis, Taylor Swift, Stevie Wonder, Harry Styles and many many others over just a couple of years. This year that is no different, with Lana Del Rey, Stereophonics, Snow Patrol, Noah Kahan, Oasis, Stevie Wonder and Catfish and the Bottlemen, and many others, performing at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff Castle, Blackweir Live and Live at Bute Park. Despite Bute Park being a familiar host of events like the food festival, Christmas light trail and Tafwyl, this will be the first year of Blackweir Live, a new outdoor music venue in the heart of the city centre. Yes, we looked at some of the negatives and the complaint people have had and you can read that here. Today, we are looking at the positives. Noah Kahan, Alanis Morisette, Slayer and Stevie Wonder will all grace the brand new stage, with Kings of Leon having to cancel their show after their frontman Caleb Followill sustained a "serious injury". Many locals have opposed Blackweir Live citing the fact it makes the park inaccessible to locals, has a negative impact on the environment and leaves other venues in the city empty. However, there are many positives too. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here . We looked at all the reasons why it's great for Cardiff. Lots to do in the city The vast number of performers coming to Cardiff this summer gives loads of people in Wales the opportunity to see some of their favourite musicians perform locally, meaning they don't need to splurge on hotels or expensive travel. With the cost of concerts continuing to rise astronomically, cutting these sorts of costs is more important than ever. Hosting such a variety of major events gives the city a real buzz which cannot be replicated on a normal day and I think anyone who's has been to a concert in Cardiff can vouch that it's a great city to enjoy a concert in. It puts Cardiff on the map Cardiff has long had a reputation for being a great place for live music and the more gigs the city hosts can only help to maintain its place on the global music scene. Ensuring this can only help make sure the biggest artists continue to visit the capital and keep giving people in Wales access to the very best concerts. Data from DEPOT Live, the organisers of Blackweir Live and DEPOT at the castle, shows that only 37% of tickets sold for Blackweir Live were to people with a CF postcode demonstrating the vast appeal of the events held in the capital. Concerts help bring a global audience to Wales and putting on a good show will attract more visitors to the city. Financial benefits Cardiff Council has argued that funds from the events at Blackweir Live will help protect grassroots music venues and the city's parks. The boost of visitors to the city will not only go towards supporting grassroots venues but also help support local businesses like restaurants, pubs and hotels by bringing more people into the city. Councillor Huw Thomas, leader of Cardiff Council, has previously said that figures show music tourists visiting Wales last year spent £276m, a hugely substantial boost to the local economy. Data from FOR Cardiff shows that this summer there's an expected attendance of over 900,000 in Cardiff over the course of 30 major headline gigs. Carolyn Brownell of FOR Cardiff said: "These concerts are not just cultural milestones – they're economic engines. They benefit everyone from hotels and restaurants to taxi drivers, retail operators and late-night venues. "With a significant proportion of tickets being sold to out-of-town visitors, the impact ripples far beyond the venues themselves."
Wales Online
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
US man's insanely good Welsh leaves TV interviewer almost speechless
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Welsh learners know all too well the challenges faced when trying to master the native language, but one man's linguistic talents have left a broadcaster practically gobsmacked. During his inaugural visit to Wales at the Tafwyl festival Californian-born Jason Hu caused quite a stir with his impressive command over Welsh, not missing a beat during his very first trip here. An S4C journalist couldn't help but ask what had drawn him to Wales, and without any hesitation, Jason replied fluently in Welsh: "I'm in Wales for the first time, since yesterday. I'm enjoying Tafwyl." Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone Jason went on to detail his diverse background, having lived in Taiwan, Athens and Germany before astonishing everyone with his near-native Welsh fluency. Displaying an infectious enthusiasm, Jason revealed he had spent a year learning Welsh at the Welsh Language Centre in the US and took various online courses, reports Wales Online. (Image: Richard Swingler) When quizzed on how he conquered the language, Jason admitted: "It was very difficult," attributing his accomplishment significantly to the support from the Welsh Language Centre. "I was able to take online courses and follow them from Germany. It's been amazing." In addition to Welsh, Jason disclosed that he is also fluent in English, Chinese, French and German. "That is insane," the interviewer exclaimed in disbelief. "Coming to Wales for the first time with perfect Welsh. You are a credit to learners everywhere!" Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
North Wales Live
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
US man's insanely good Welsh leaves TV interviewer almost speechless
Welsh learners know all too well the challenges faced when trying to master the native language, but one man's linguistic talents have left a broadcaster practically gobsmacked. During his inaugural visit to Wales at the Tafwyl festival Californian-born Jason Hu caused quite a stir with his impressive command over Welsh, not missing a beat during his very first trip here. An S4C journalist couldn't help but ask what had drawn him to Wales, and without any hesitation, Jason replied fluently in Welsh: "I'm in Wales for the first time, since yesterday. I'm enjoying Tafwyl." Jason went on to detail his diverse background, having lived in Taiwan, Athens and Germany before astonishing everyone with his near-native Welsh fluency. Displaying an infectious enthusiasm, Jason revealed he had spent a year learning Welsh at the Welsh Language Centre in the US and took various online courses, reports Wales Online. When quizzed on how he conquered the language, Jason admitted: "It was very difficult," attributing his accomplishment significantly to the support from the Welsh Language Centre. "I was able to take online courses and follow them from Germany. It's been amazing." In addition to Welsh, Jason disclosed that he is also fluent in English, Chinese, French and German. "That is insane," the interviewer exclaimed in disbelief. "Coming to Wales for the first time with perfect Welsh. You are a credit to learners everywhere!"
Wales Online
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
US man leaves viewers stunned with level of Welsh as interviewer brands it 'insane'
US man leaves viewers stunned with level of Welsh as interviewer brands it 'insane' Jason Hu left an interviewer almost speechless with his language skills at this year's Tafwyl Festival If you're a Welsh native who has tried to learn the language later in life, you'll know the twists and turns that come with mastering our mother tongue - but one man has left an interviewer speechless with his language skills during a visit to Wales. Jason Hu, originally from California, made his mark at last weekend's Tafwyl - Wales' biggest Welsh-language festival - leaving people stunned with his level of Welsh, despite it being his first ever visit to the country. When an S4C reporter approached Jason and asked what brought him to Wales, he didn't hesitate for a moment. He responded in Welsh, his words flowing smoothly: "I'm in Wales for the first time, since yesterday. I'm enjoying Tafwyl." Thousands of people - Welsh speaking and non - gathered at Tafwyl Festival in Bute Park (Image: Richard Swingler ) Jason explained that he was born in California before living in Taiwan, Athens and Germany, adding that it was his first time speaking Welsh face-to-face. Article continues below Despite this, he spoke with the kind of ease and confidence that would convince anyone into thinking that Welsh was his first language. With a bright smile, Jason said he had been learning Welsh for just over a year, crediting the Welsh Language Centre in the United States and online courses for much of his success. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here "It was very difficult," he said when asked how he'd managed to learn the language. "But learning Welsh at the Welsh Language Centre in the U.S was a great help to me. "I was able to take online courses and follow them from Germany. It's been amazing." Case in point: in addition to Welsh, Jason revealed that he can also speak English, Chinese, French and German fluently. Article continues below "That is insane," the interviewer said in shock. "Coming to Wales for the first time with perfect Welsh. You are a credit to learners everywhere!" Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice
Wales Online
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
The best pictures as Welsh-language festival Tafwyl attracts thousands
Wales has a lot to be proud of. Steeped in history, fiercely independent in its identity, and with its own thriving language, there is a lot to cover in Welsh culture. Welsh festival Tafwyl, which took place in Cardiff's gorgeous Bute Park on Saturday, June 14, and Sunday, June 15, certainly does a very good job bringing together a lot of Welsh culture. There is so much to enjoy at Tawfyl, from the two music stages, endless food options, children's area, and more. As soon as you enter you are hit by the delicious smell of a range of street food and nearly overwhelmed with the Instagram opportunities, as two lovely signs declaring Tafwyl welcome you in. After that, you could mingle and mooch around the trade stalls which are fronted by Welsh artists, designers, and makers, selling everything from prints to jewellery and more. The festival was home to the Tafiliwn stage and the main stage, Prif Lwyfan. Here Welsh artists from across the country took to the stage bringing everything from rap to even renditions of Dolly Parton and Abba in Welsh. Lining the sides of this are the amazing food traders including Hoggi Hoggi Hoggi, Greek options, vegan and vegetarian options, paella, and more. Tafwyl really is for everyone. Welsh speakers, non-Welsh speakers. Old, young, and everyone in between. Families, couples, friends, and every combination possible. Many enjoyed going to Tafwyl and here are some of the best pictures from Tafwyl 2025.
