This time last year, Aberystwyth was much on our mind, pulses quickened by the news delicious white bread with the healthy aspects wholemeal could soon appear universally, all thanks to boffins at Aberystwyth University. No update on that so far, tragically, but the town kept its end up last weekend in a different way, hosting Trawsnewid (Transform) for the second time. Last year’s edition of the festival was a 100% Welsh line-up, 2025 bringing with it a slight twist. But more of that later.
The two-day event at Aberyswyth Arts Centre presented in conjunction with FOCUS Wales started at teatime on Friday, and what a way of gently beckoning us in, Cardiff electronic duo Siula in the comfortably seated auditorium. Live they expand easily to a trio, soothing sounds with sweet sincere vocals, intoxicating rhythms and synths eased us with pleasure into the weekend.
Next up, Pys Melyn over in the main venue are one of the best bands in Wales right now. No debate. They’ve got the songs for sure, ones flavoured with 60s and 70s influences, Big Star and beautifully country-tinged in parts with subtle sax. The harmonies as ever are wonderful, never overdone but definite. Personally we’d love to see them adopt the Everly Brothers practice of looking into each other’s eyes when harmonising. A crazy idea, but it might just work.
Pys Melyn perform at their own pace and with good humour, and noticeably cut through wherever they appear and this evening in West Wales is no exception. They enjoy love outside the country too, playing Liverpool for example more than any other Welsh language band over the past year.
Islet brought their unique selves to Aberystwyth, eager for the audience to name the last time they played locally. 16 years, as it turns out. A hypnotic set heralded by the familiar chimes. A theatrical performance, weird and wonderful. Be marvellous to hear more new songs from them soon.
Mari Mathias over in the auditorium is a sit-up-and-take-notice artist for sure, playing merry within the colours and textures of folk’s rich tapestries. Her use of a traditional harmonium discovered on a trip to India a couple of months ago, adds deeper dimension along with the harp and flute. There’s a practical playfulness to her approach; she searched for a traditional Welsh folk song about cloth but failed, so simply wrote one herself instead.
In the grand scheme of things, former Super Furry Animals members Das Koolies haven’t played too many shows since 2023’s debut album DK.01, and so what a thrill to enjoy them on a Friday night. Not sure if they borrowed blinged up crash helmets and masks from the ghosts of Daft Punk – no harm in that, and such a thing to imagine – and playing behind screens added to the mystery. Wholesome too to spy Huw Bunford’s bobbled hat bobbing along to the tunes. The techno-pop brought to life is euphoric. ‘I wanna live like yesterday..‘ from ‘Pain Down The Drain’ stayed as a quality earworm for the rest of the night. A longer set would have been the golden ticket of the festival.
On Saturday the weather took a turn for the glorious, so after grabbing fish and chips on the pier and nipping to the charity shop to buy a light jacket instead of lumbering about in burly overcoats, the afternoon’s change of pace came with a documentary about hip hop DJ and producer Don Leisure’s reinterpretations of classics from the Sain label, which you can watch here with English subtitles. The sense of joy and appreciation from the original artists in the film is obvious. Going forward, more films and panels and daytime events at Trawsnewid feel a very welcome addition.
Live music-wise, we were happily presented afterwards with the multifaceted talents of Mari Mathias once more, this time as an eighth of Mwsog, dark and psychedelic and mystical and unsettling and rhythmic at differing turns. Mari and two women percussionists linked hands as if they conjured up dark magics and faeries. Mwsog haven’t been together long yet the first headline show at The Globe in Cardiff just a handful of months ago, sold out. Word has it they’re to go in the studio soon, with a notable Welsh producer. We’re optimistic!
Ani Glass enchanted all in the auditorium, her electronic pop glows. She brought with her an energy, sobered by cello, and wrapped up her set with the pure and brilliant ‘Mirores‘, the perfect festival song as it turns out. And if anyone present wasn’t in the party mood after Afro Cluster took to the stage to ramp up the vibe even further, then they’d have a cold empty space where a beating heart should be. Rousing Afro funk with hip-hop vocal, banging tunes and a horn section as tight as.
What’s not to love about Tara Bandito? Headlining the auditorium stage, it’s nothing short of inspirational to see a woman not in the first flush of youth absolutely spanking it so early in her trajectory. Empowering to women of all ages mind you, and her acknowledgement of the local, footage of her as a childhood ballet dancer sourced from the National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales located within the National Library of Wales ten minutes’ walk from where we enjoy Tara tonight, only endeared her to us more. She enthused of how her decision to share her music three years ago has changed her life. Her forthcoming single ‘I’m Mad’ with accompanying video and f*ck-you-if-I-don’t-fit-in-your-narrow-expectations performance of ‘Unicorn’ made us want to be a popstar too. Pass us a glittery strait jacket and leotard and let’s make plans.
Main Saturday headliner London’s Fat Dog were a welcome addition and did what Fat Dog do extremely well, highly energised with crowd participation expected and delivered, the band’s very presence pulling in their personal audience, thereby serving up a wider demographic than last year’s festival. In the foyer afterwards, Mace the Great showed how he earned his name, sealing the Welsh deal. Trawsnewid is a new festival still, curated with a wide range of genres and palates in mind, the gathering of enthusiasts and creators of Welsh music sets the year’s ambitions. It was encouraging to see members of The Family Battenberg and Ynys and others who played in 2024 returning as audience members, a supportive community.
Aberyswyth itself is a harmonious combination of the reassurance that comes with history and tradition, and the incorporation of the modern. How apt for Trawsnewid then to welcome the new, emerging and established alongside each other, art and creativity onstage imitating life and the very charm of the town itself. A winter festival by the sea might seem an odd prospect in what is conventionally hibernation season, but when in situ it makes a beautiful sense. Like a Welsh Rockaway Beach with an extra payday. And what with Trawsnewid bringing blue skies and sudden sunshine in its overnight bag, the weekend felt a blessing and a promise of the good stuff 2025 has in store.
Photo credit: Beverly Craddock
