Upcoming Events in and around Brecon
Festivals Gigs/Music Concert/Music Nature/Walks Lifestyle Culture/History Theatre Performing Arts
For further information on Arts, Heritage and Culture based events taking place in the town of Brecon, follow the link below to Brecon Story’s ‘What’s On’ page:
Brecon Choir Festival
What a year we had in 2023!
We welcomed Treorchy Male Choir, described by Rowan Williams as ‘the voice of a nation’ to headline our Grand Concert at Brecon Cathedral. This concert sold out and we were only a few seats off sell outs for both The Gents of St John’s College, Cambridge, Principality Stadium regulars Eschoir and local favourites Aberhonddu and District Male Voice Choir.
We began the 2023 festival with a surprise visit from His Majesty The King with the winner of our Young Singer Award, Erin Thomas singing The Benedictus from Rod Paton’s celebrated Ascension Jazzmass which was the first concert of the festival on Thursday 20th July.
Our joyful English and Welsh singing ‘Cymanfa Ganu’ on the Sunday evening raised just over £290 for Brecon Foodbank.
We look forward to welcoming you to Brecon 19 – 21 July 2024.
Brecon Jazz
The Brecon Jazz Festival at 40: a celebration of musical delights in the streets of Brecon
Brecon Jazz Festival 2023 celebrates 40 years of joyous music, with acclaimed musicians from all corners of the world and the UK. Jazz lovers can rejoice in the enchanting tunes of BJF2023 throughout August in a broad catalogue of events to please all musical tastes.
The festival starts with events for all the family to get involved with including “Jazz on a Summer’s Day” (6th August). With engaging children’s jazz workshops and food and drink stalls to keep you well nourished for a day packed with jazz action from the swinging set of Rachel Hayward’s Quartet, Fiesta Resistance’s salsa tunes and the funky tracks of the ten-piece band Funkyard, this event is sure to get you excited for the month of music ahead!
The feature weekend of BJF2023, entitled “The Colour Purple” on 11th, 12th, 13th August, delivers a feast of nostalgic celebrations of a 40 year jazz legacy. Bringing leading names of the UK jazz scene such as Gary Crosby and Emma Rawicz, alongside international stars namely LaVon Hardison and Gary Brunton on stage with the newest jazz talent including Ursula Harrison and Tiggy Blackwell – who embody a sparkling new era of BJF.
The festival draws to a close, on the “Blue Skies Thinking” weekend, (19th & 20th August) looking to the future. Innovative and spectacular performances culminate in a specially commissioned livestream performance with London partners Mood Indigo and renowned jazz pianist Zoe Rahman to celebrate 40 years of BJF.
Full details of BJF2023 programme at breconjazz.org
Brecon Baroque Festival 2023: 20th-23rd October
Message from Rachel Podger, Artistic Director
“It’s nearly 20 years since we launched Brecon Baroque Festival and still it grows and thrives in the lovely setting of the Brecon Beacons National Park. 2023 sees the final part of our ‘Walk with Bach’ series, a three-year adventure which has explored the life and music of JS Bach and those that influenced his career. Bach has always been a central figure in my own music-making so this is an especially exciting project for me. We look forward to welcoming you to Part 3 between Friday 20 and Monday 23 October 2023.”
