August 24/25/26
Music by Deerhoof, Yann Tiersen, Gruff Rhys, Ian F Svenonius, Escape-ism, Rozi Plain, Cerys Hafana, Permanent Draft, Cathead + more
ARA DEG
2023
Welcome to the 5th edition of Ara Deg Mae Dal Iâr – or AD23 in short – we are excited to welcome incredible artists from near and far.
Everything will be centred around Neuadd Ogwen – Bethesda’s original cinema and village hall – with extra activities in Y Fic next door and more activities and announcements are yet to come.
Sincerely – AD23 decentralised planning committee
WEEKEND & Day TICKETS
-AUGUST 24/25/26-
FFORDD BANGOR, BETHESDA GWYNEDD, LL57 3AN
THURSDAY
Neuadd Ogwen
ROZI PLAIN
PERMANENT DRAFT
QUINQUIS
7:00pm – Door
SATURDAY
Neuadd Ogwen
DEERHOOF
ESCAPE-ISM
GRUFF RHYS
IAN F. SVENONIUS
THURSDAY
24th AUGUST
NEUADD OGWEN
Rozi Plain
Rozi is a leading producer and musician with an unique voice and vision. At the core of Rozi’s idiosyncratic sound, there is a keening for simplicity; a recurring urge to strip things back to their essence, to reveal their innate beauty.
The latest album Prize has been well received worldwide and combines the synthetic and organic within hypnotic grooves and collaborations with an array of musicians from long time collaborators such as drummer Jamie Whitby Coles to Jazz hero Alsbaster DePlume.
Rozi was at Ara Deg last year as the bassist of the group This is the Kit and is bringing a great group again.
Permanent Draft
Permanent Draft is the collaborative group created by Italian experimental artists and composers Fanny Chiarello and Valentina Magaletti (who’s been releasing amazing solo records as well as drumming in groups such as Vanishing Twin and Tomaga)
Quinquis
Quinquis, AKA Émilie Tiersen, is an experimental electronic artist from Brittany who is particularly interested in the Breton language and holds Breton lessons in her studio. The beautiful latest LP was available as a splendid Dinked Edition over here.
FRIDAY
25th AUGUST
NEUADD OGWEN
Yann Tiersen
The Breton Yann Tiersen is perhaps most famous for his soundtracks – for films such as Amélie (2001) – which have had millions upon millions of streams worldwide. He is also an exciting Electronics producer and adventurer in general and has become known for his ability to create rich, emotional music from unusual sources of sound.
He will sail directly to Port Penhryn, the closest dock to Bethesda from the Isle of Ushant that sits in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brittany where he runs a studio in an abandoned discotheque.
Cerys Hafana
Cerys Hafana is a composer and multi-instrumentalist from Machynlleth, who mangles, mutates, and transforms traditional music. She explores the creative possibilities and unique qualities of the triple harp, and is also interested in found sounds, archival materials and electronic processing.
This occasional triple harpist succeeds in combining the experimental and the traditional in a unique and direct way that avoids the needlessly ornamental and helps us understand the experience of living here in the 21st century.
Cathead
This artist from Bethesda is also a renowned electronic musician and inventor – we look forward to seeing her unique electronic inventions and to hear her experimental pieces.
SATURDAY
26th AUGUST
NEUADD OGWEN
Deerhoof
Without a doubt one of the best live bands in the USA – 2023 sees the release of their new album ‘Miracle-Level’ in the Japanese language – the mother tongue of their singer Satomi Matsuzaki – This is their 19th studio album.
Ian F Svenonius
& Escape-ism
Ian F Svenonius is perhaps a distillation of Elvis and Karl Marx and is the foremost scholar in the independent music firmament.
Hailing from the Washington DC hardcore scene of the 80s and his first group Nation Of Ulysses and now living in Los Angeles singing with his latest group (of many over the years) Escape-ism – they bring their flick-knife rock and roll songs give a concert in Bethesda – whilst as a renowned author – Svenonius also brings a lecture from his latest manifesto – a book that’s billed as the book to end all books, entitled ‘Against The Written Word’.
Gruff Rhys
Gruff Rhys & The Seismic Retrofits will take the chance to play a late afternoon set with a full band in order to preview some new material and throw in some old ones too.
Made possible with support from…
Ara Deg 2023
Aritsts
ROZI PLAIN
PERMANENT DRAFT
QUINQUIS
YANN TIERSEN
CERYS HAFANA
CATHEAD
DEERHOOF
ESCAPE-ISM
IAN F. SVENONIUS
GRUFF RHYS
Concept
Ara Deg was created by Gruff Rhys and Neuadd Ogwen