The Llais Festival returns to Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay from October 7 to 11, bringing a line-up of internationally acclaimed artists, unique collaborations, and once-in-a-lifetime gigs as part of the Cardiff Music City Festival.
Festival Highlights and Opening Night
The festival opens on Wednesday, October 7 with the prestigious Welsh Music Prize, celebrating the finest album released by a Welsh artist over the past year. This sets the stage for five days of exceptional music and performance, including exclusive gigs and unexpected collaborations rarely seen elsewhere in the UK.
Leading the first line-up announcement is pioneering multimedia artist Laurie Anderson, who will perform in Wales for the first time with 'Friends and Teachers' – a specially created performance developed exclusively for Llais. Also appearing are Grammy-winning gospel legends Blind Boys of Alabama, supported by the London African Gospel Choir performing Paul Simon's Graceland.
Irish and Cuban Acts Join the Bill
Acclaimed Irish songwriter Lisa Hannigan will host her collaborative project 'Sirens', featuring artists such as Theodora Byrne Trio, Jane Patterson, Helen Murray, Amanda Bergman, Kate Stables, Landless, Bess Atwell, Charlotte Church and more. Cuban musical icons Buena Vista All Stars will perform alongside Orchestra Baobab, and composer-sitarist Jasdeep Singh Degun will perform with BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales in a celebration of musical traditions.
Curated for Discovery
Graeme Farrow, Chief Creative Officer at Wales Millennium Centre, said: “Llais isn’t a festival built by algorithms or streaming charts. It’s a carefully curated week of extraordinary voices, unexpected encounters and unforgettable live experiences. Llais is about discovery. We all spend so much of our lives being recommended what to listen to next, but nothing replaces hearing something new and live and leaving completely transformed. That’s what Llais exists to do.”
Immersive Experiences
As well as the live programme, audiences can step inside four internationally acclaimed virtual reality experiences in Wales Millennium Centre’s VR Cinema, expanding Llais beyond the stage through immersive storytelling.
Part of Cardiff Music City Festival
Llais is part of the Cardiff Music City Festival (October 2-17), a wider two-week programme that incorporates Sŵn Festival and the Welsh Music Prize, aimed at protecting, promoting and strengthening the city’s music ecosystem. It is supported by the Welsh Government and Cardiff Council.
Tickets and Information
Tickets for Llais Festival go on sale from 10am on Wednesday, July 15 via Wales Millennium Centre's website.
