Gower Festival

My husband, David, and I discovered the Gower Festival in the early 1980s when we used to return home to Swansea to visit family.  When our older daughter was old enough (aged 7) we used to take her to the concerts. I remember particularly the harpists: Carol Thomas who played at Llanddewi and Susan Drake at Pennard, though I do not remember the exact years in which they played. At the time we didn’t realise how new the festival was. As the children got older it became more difficult to visit Gower at the time of the festival.

Fast forward a couple of decades, the children were grown-up and David and I were able to return to Gower and once more enjoy the wonderful concerts made all the more special when our daughter, now herself a harpist, performed at Oxwich church in 2005. However, the festival is not just about harpists. This year, 2022, the concerts included piano, guitar, accordion, a string quartet, a poetry and jazz evening and a talk about Bach’s music, to mention just a few things from a very busy and thoroughly enjoyable two weeks. Each concert takes place in a Gower church or village hall and is suitable for all ages. This year we were pleased to welcome many children, both with their parents and their schoolteachers.

If you enjoy music of any genre, do take a look at the website www.gowerfestival.org. I am sure you will find something to suit and delight you next July in beautiful Gower!

To whet your appetite for next July, look out for the Big Band concert which we hope to put on in May. Details, when finalised, will also be on the above website. 

Anne Pope