AN artist who has inspired the Welsh football team and the nation for the World Cup will be singing at a Vale of Clwyd music festival this weekend.

Dafydd Iwan and his band will be closing Ruthin Festival’s Top of Town event at 7pm this Saturday, July 2.

His profile amongst people in Wales has always been high, but it's now much further afield with his song ‘Yma o Hyd’ resonating with people near and far, and will no doubt become the fans' favourite while cheering on the Wales team at their first World Cup in 64 years in Qatar.

Dafydd Iwan will be headlining a day featuring artists such as Band Pres Llareggub, Alys Williams, the Wee Bag Band, Morgan Elwy, Pantonic Steel Drummers, Elfin Bow and Denbighshire Music Cooperative amongst others.

Aelwyd Dyffryn Clwyd will also perform following a very successful first appearance at the Urdd Eisteddfod held in Denbigh a few weeks ago.

 

Denbighshire Free Press: Dafydd IwanDafydd Iwan

 

Festival week started with a successful carnival and the Shakespeare play in the grounds of Nantclwyd y Dref on Saturday night, in addition to the historical events on Sunday.

A concert awaits on Friday, July 1 with Bro Cernyw Choir and Tocsidos Bler at Ruthin’s Theatr John Ambrose (7.30pm).

The festival committee of volunteers is looking forward to the concert and other events during the festival week, and the culmination which is the Top of Town this coming Saturday on St Peters Square.

It starts at 1pm, and finishes at 8pm, with the entertainment then continuing in the town’s public houses.

"We have some great artists lined up for this year on the Top of Town, along with a children’s area in the grounds of St Peter’s Church," said festival committee chair Gwion Tomos Jones.

"The festival bar will be serving people at the top of Market Street with every penny going towards future festivals, with the whole event live streamed for the first time to the town’s care homes by video link."

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Festival vice-chair Jim Bryan added: "The voluntary committee which organises the festival has worked particularly hard this year to ensure everything is in place and all the arrangements are in place.

"It is their dedication and hundreds of hours of volunteer time that makes the festival happen from year to year.

"We would like to thank local companies such as Swayne Johnson Solicitors for their generous sponsorship and for the first time this year, we will have official festival merchandise being sold on the square, with the festival’s new historical artwork on hoodies, but also t-shirts and tote bags on sale as well."

The festival organisers would like to remind people that for the Top of Town event entry is £5 per adult, that there is a glass ban in place on the square throughout the day and that people are reminded to be sensible in the amount of alcohol they bring to the square, as well as any protest activity being strictly prohibited.

More information is available on www.gwylrhuthunfestival.cymru