Writers and readers united in Machynlleth over weekend festival

Friday 1 – Sunday 3 April 2022 saw the market town of Machynlleth sing along with special guest and performer Dafydd Iwan. He was joined by a host of poets, authors and speakers taking part in the literary festival named Amdani, Fachynlleth!

Translated to Let’s Go! Machynlleth, the bilingual festival brought readers and writers together from across the UK to enjoy topics ranging from Rhys Mwyn’s psychogeography of Gwynedd, travel writer Tharik Hussain talking about his new book Minarets in the Mountains, and Rebecca Thomas talking about the link between identity and the landscape.

Artist and painter Dan Llywelyn Hall unveiled a new portrait of Dafydd Iwan during the Saturday evening, before Dafydd performed a number of his hits including Yma O Hyd which has been on everyone’s lips since that incredible performance ahead of Wales’ football game last month.

Events took place within the Wynnstay Hotel and the Senedd-dy, Glyndŵr Centre.

Charles Dark, owner, The Wynnstay Hotel in Machynlleth who was instrumental in the festival’s creation said: “Thanks to everyone involved for making it such a big success. Thanks to sponsors Creating Media and Culture Colony, our local bookshops Pen’rallt and Literary Cat for their support and enthusiasm for the event, and our volunteers for bringing it all together!

“Our desire with this festival isn’t to see it quadruple in size overnight, instead we aim to maintain this incredibly high quality of speakers who choose to attend our events. Following Dafydd Iwan’s incredible couple of weeks back on our screens, it was simply amazing to see him up on stage here at The Wynnstay effortlessly delivering those classic songs. This festival is all about uniting writers with readers, and to see them enjoying getting to know each other more during their talks, in the Cwtch bar socially afterwards and for fellow writers to be supporting each other, it was wonderful to see.

“The very fact that you can watch an author or poet you admire on stage one minute, and the next you could be sipping a Welsh ale with them in the bar, that is what sets us apart and the aspect we plan on keeping with future events. We look forward to bringing you the next one in April 2023.”

Watch Dafydd Iwan’s impressive performance of Yma O Hyd here