This Is The Kit, Adwaith, Gruff Rhys, BCUC and Snapped Ankles lead the way to a special Ara Deg 22

Gruff Rhys’ keen curatorial eye succeeds in bringing some of the most exciting established, emerging and international acts to the picturesque setting of the Eryri Mountain Range in collaboration with the artist-led Neuadd Ogwen venue as Ara Deg returns for 2022. Opening for four nights with five shows on Thu 25 Aug 2022 with a headline set from Soweto’s ‘tsumani of sound and soul’ BCUC, support comes from emergent dream-pop heavyweights, Adwaith and thrilling Welsh-language rapper, Sage Todz.

Ara Deg’s line-up then unfurls to include intimate encounters with Rhys himself plus guests, This Is The Kit supported by Ryley Walker and the Maracana-by-Ynys Môn sounds of Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 before Snapped Ankles bring events to a close on Sun 28 Aug 2022.

The mountainside setting in the quarry town of Bethesda was handpicked for the first time in 2019 to be home to the notable, annual exchange of music, words and ideas, inviting artists over three, live and digitised instalments including Aldous Harding, mùm, Jane Weaver and N’famady Kouyaté. 2022’s edition of Ara Deg looks out to the world and closer to its Welsh-speaking roots in a combination of home-grown heroes, mould-breaking contemporary artists and global connections. Amongst those international connections for 2022 are Guinean Troupe Djéliguinet, led by the indefatigable multi-instrumentalist, Fatoumata Kouyaté, and Bogota’s La Perla, bringing the sounds of Caribbean Colombia.

Rhys explains Ara Deg’s continuing ethos: “Ara Deg’s central planning committee has designated the word ‘Ymgolli’ as the key word of this year’s festival. Which means: ‘to lose one’s self’. It’s great when we can invite international acts to Bethesda. Hopefully they get inspired by a Welsh speaking quarry town in the mountains and in turn inspire Bethesda in the process.”

Aside from Rhys’ intimate show with yet-to-be-announced supports, which takes place in the dramatic, amphitheatre-style auditorium of the listed Italian Palazzo-style Presbyterian church, Jerusalem Chapel, all shows take place at Neuadd Ogwen, an intimate, community focused events and music hub. Rhys and his collaborators in Ara Deg have also produced a one-off, event fanzine available for pick up in Bethesda over the four days and nights, with extensive contributions from influential rock poster and album sleeve artists, Stuart Needham and Jac Jones.

All performances announced to take place as part of Ara Deg 22, including a rare appearance from underground Welsh techno legend, Ffrancon and interplanetary saviours of sound, Cosmic Dog Fog, are as follows:

Thu 26 Aug
BCUC – Adwaith – Sage Todz

Fri 26 Aug
This Is The Kit – Ryley Walker

Sat 27 Aug
Gruff Rhys and others – Supports TBC

Sat 27 Aug
Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 – Troupe Djéliguinet – Ffrancon

Sun 28 Aug
Snapped Ankles – La Perla – Cosmic Dog Fog

The pub next door to Neuadd Ogwen, Fic, will also host free DJ sets and talks throughout the day, Friday to Sunday, between 10am – 6pm and a Record Fair arrives on Saturday daytime to tempt the evenings’ gig goers into the act of communal digging.

Remaining tickets for all shows, as well as a Weekend Ticket offering access to all four night’s performances are available from http://www.neuaddogwen.com/