Welsh manager and promoter Elan Evans talks Beacons Cymru & Merched yn Gwneud Miwsig initiatives • Interview • DIY Magazine

While some say that music is a universal language, here at DIY, we always believe in broadening our horizons, which is why we’re thrilled to have teamed up with Dydd Miwsig Cymru to help celebrate their annual event this month. Taking place on Friday 7th February, the day – also known as Welsh Language Music Day – focuses on celebrating and uplifting all forms of Welsh Language music, as well as highlighting the rich musical history of Wales as a nation.

To help mark this year’s edition of Dydd Miwsig Cymru, we’ve enlisted a few key players from across the Welsh music industry to help explain why the Welsh language and culture is so important to them.

Tra bod rhai yn dweud bod miwsig yn iaith fyd-eang, yma yn DIY, credwn mewn lledaenu’n gorwelion, dyna pam yr ydym wedi cael y pleser i ymuno hefo Dydd Miwsig Cymru i ddathlu’r digwyddiad blynyddol mis yma. Yn digwydd ar ddydd Gwener 7fed o Chwefror, mae’r diwrnod yn ffocysu ar ddathlu ac ymgodi pob math o gerddoriaeth Cymraeg, yn ogystal ag uwcholeuo cyfoeth hanesyddol Cymru fel cenedl.

I nodi Dydd Miwsig Cymru eleni, rydym wedi ymrwymo ambell i berson arwyddocaol o’r sîn roc Gymraeg i helpu esbonio pam y mae’r Iaith a’r diwylliant mor bwysig iddynt.

With over a decade of experience in the music industry, not only does Elan currently manage Mellt, but she’s also a Project Manager for Beacons Cymru – an organisation aiming to empower the next generation – and an ambassador for Merched yn Gwneud Miwsig, a platform focussed on uplifting women in Welsh music.

How crucial are projects like the Young Promoters Network and Beacons Cymru in ensuring the building blocks are there for Welsh language music gigs to keep happening in their communities?
What’s great about the work Beacons Cymru do, especially with the YPN, is getting to know the individuals and spending time with them. We find pairing young people up with role models within the industry and helping them create networks throughout Wales creates valuable working relationships. We hope, with the skills they learn through the programme, they can then take these skills back to their communities and expand their creative networks further to benefit Wales’ ever growing music scene.

What is putting on regular Welsh language gigs in Cardiff, Wales’ capital, like in 2025?
Over the years as a promoter, I’ve come to see that the scene is ever changing, and ever growing. Despite the many challenges Cardiff’s music industry faces day to day, people still want to go out and enjoy live music. This is integral to the success of the city and hopefully is something that will never go away. Cardiff struggles, as do many cities, with the closure of venues that are integral to the music scene here. The fact that the community is still as supportive and passionate as ever can be really comforting during times like this. As long as that doesn’t go away, then the scene will be as strong as ever.

How did Merched yn Gwneud Miwsig begin? Did any of your own experiences in the industry help to inform the initiative?
Merched yn Gwneud Miwsig was formed in 2018 by the National Eisteddfod of Wales and Clwb Ifor Bach, and I was lucky enough to be working at Clwb at the time and able to help run the project. Seven years later and the project is still needed now. Safe spaces are an absolute necessity for the development of new music, and offering young women the chance to collaborate, learn and expand their music skills and knowledge is a crucial part of this. I’ve faced several barriers as a young woman in the music industry, but this project aims to create a safe haven to help younger women like myself to learn more. I feel very honoured to be a small part of this project.

Tell us about Merched yn Gwneud Miwsig and how crucial it is that more women are represented and involved in live music and the music industry particularly in Wales.
Representation across the music industry is so important, both on stage and behind the scenes. It’s been incredible to see the project grow the way it has over the years, but there’s still so much work to be done. I would love to see more people from under-represented groups running venues, booking shows and tech-ing shows. Having more diversity across the board benefits everyone, but we need more of it across the music industry as a whole and not just in Wales.

“We have such a rich history of music in Wales and the language is at the core of its success.”

What have been the highlights of your varied music career so far?
It’s so hard to pick a few, but working at Clwb Ifor Bach was such a fun chapter of my career. Growing up in Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach was my safe haven for new music and to meet new friends. It’s shaped my whole life as an individual and my career too. Supporting independent music venues is more important than ever, and without these spaces for young promoters, artists and freelancers to cut their teeth, we wouldn’t have a scene at all.

I find so much joy now in working with artists as an artist manager and running a newly established label. Being part of an artist’s story and helping them find new audiences is a huge thrill. Nothing inspires me more than sharing music from Wales, especially in Welsh, with music industry creatives around the world, and I can’t wait to keep doing this as my career develops.

Can you tell us a little bit about how you ended up working in music, and what first inspired you to first get involved?
Music was always a huge part of my life growing up, my parents instilled a love of music in me and my siblings from a very young age and we were always encouraged to explore our creative outlets all the time! At university, my friend Mari-Elen and I started a Welsh language radio show and out of that, we started DJ-ing. We were lucky enough to have our own club night in Clwb Ifor Bach, performed at some incredible festivals around Wales, and I did it all with my best friend by my side.

From then, I was exposed to the vast world of the industry and learned more about the different roles within it. It wasn’t long before I was lucky enough to join the team at Clwb Ifor Bach and it’s been a thrilling whirlwind ever since. What inspires me most now is giving young people the chance to delve into the world of music like I did, and share Welsh music as much as I possibly can. I want others to find the joy I feel within the music scene in Wales, and I hope that Welsh music will find more fans elsewhere in the world.

Why do you think it’s so important to celebrate Welsh language music and highlight the Welsh music industry as a whole?
We have such a rich history of music in Wales and the language is at the core of its success. We always hear about past accomplishments, the success of the Super Furry Animals and Catatonia, but I think we’re at an incredible chapter of Wales’ music story right now, with acts like Adwaith, Mellt, Sage Todz, Malan and so many more. We’re at a point now where we can showcase a real depth and breadth of what Welsh creatives can do, all through using the Welsh language.

This feature is brought to you as part of our paid partnership with Dydd Miwsig Cymru.

If you’d like to find out more, simply head to gov.wales/welsh-language-music-day. Os hoffech ddarganfod mwy, ewch i llyw.cymru/dydd-miwsig-cymru. What’s more, we’re celebrating the day with a very special show at The Old Blue Last in London tomorrow night - grab your tickets now.

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