Welcome to the Gower Festival

We look forward to welcoming you to great concerts in a wonderful environment.

For over 40 years the Gower Festival has brought music and art of the highest quality to this area of southwest Wales. Now, as well as our traditional Summer fortnight held in our ancient, atmospheric Gower churches, we also present Spring and Autumn entertainments. These include ‘big band’ and jazz with poetry evenings where food and drink are served in a relaxed setting. As always, we present internationally acclaimed artists, while we keep the ticket prices spectacularly low by attracting generous sponsorship.

As you navigate the web site, clicking images will reveal further information.

Image of Gordon Back Artistc Director

2024 Festival video Review

"coming soon"

The 2024 Gower Festival was a brilliant success!

It is difficult to highlight a few concerts, as we heard such wonderful performances of the highest artistic quality.

We reached a larger audience than ever before, had record ticket sales and increased the number of young people attending the festival.

I do want to thank our committee who have worked tirelessly to produce a seamless event and our sponsors without whom it would not take place.

We look forward to 2025 with great anticipation.

Gordon Back
Artistic Director
Image of Gordon Back Artistc Director

gordon back

Artistic Director

Next year’s festival will be held from
1-12 July.

International acclaimed performers will include...

Leon McCawley

Fiddlesticks Ensemble

Jane Austen 250

Joe Dunthorne

Lumas Wind Quintet

Heath Quartet

An evening with Martyn Brabbins

Comedy Genius of Rainer Hersch

2025 FESTIVAL DETAILS BELOW

We are honoured to have Sir Karl Jenkins as our President. Brought up in Penclawdd and educated at Gowerton Grammar School, he is one of the most frequently performed living composers.

“It is a privilege for me, as President, to be able to welcome you to the Gower Festival, my ‘local’ festival, having been raised on the beautiful Gower Peninsula. There is an exciting programme for you to enjoy, with concerts in the historic churches of Gower.”

Sir Karl Jenkins CBE
President
Image of Sir Karl Jenkins, President

Sir Karl Jenkins CBE

President

Llŷr is an internationally recognised concert pianist. He has been the recipient of many awards and is the official accompanist to the Cardiff Singer of the World. He has delighted Gower Festival audiences with his sensitive, meticulously performed recitals.

“The Gower Festival represents the best of the British summer festival tradition, great music for friendly and appreciative audiences in the most beautiful surroundings. I always look forward to returning with much anticipation.”

Llŷr Williams
Patron
Image of Llyr Williams, Patron

Llŷr Williams

Patron

Catrin is an internationally renowned harpist. In 2000 she was appointed for a term as Royal Harpist to Charles, Prince of Wales. She has developed an eclectic approach to the instrument with her recent international collaborations.

“Performing at the Gower Festival on many occasions has always been a special experience for me. I am therefore thrilled to be invited to be a Patron of this outstanding Festival.”

Catrin Finch
Patron
Image of Catrin Finch, Patron

Catrin Finch

Patron

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Festival information become a friend

Become a friend

Benefits of becoming a Friend include the advance booking for July concerts, much appreciated as many concerts, particularly at smaller venues, sell out quickly.

download a form

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2024 Gower Festival

Book your tickets online

Festival Friends have priority booking. Tickets are on sale to the general public.

Latest news

WATCH THE KARL JENKINS
DOCUMENTARY ON BBC4

On Sunday 14th July BBC4 broadcast a fascinating documentary on the life and work of our President, Sir Karl Jenkins. This included many of the video selections used in the interview with John Suchet at the King Arthur Hotel on July 4th during the Gower Festival. The documentary is available on BBC I-Player.

Sir Karl Jenkins: The Composer behind the Moustache

16-07-24

New Piano for 2024 Gower Festival

Gordon Back our Musical Director writes:

We are thrilled to debut our new Steinway model B piano for the opening concert of the 2024 Gower Festival, performed by the brilliant pianist, Yevgeny Sudbin. The Gower Festival acknowledges the Swansea Festival of Music and the Arts for their generous donation which has allowed us to purchase the new instrument. Thanks also to Coach House Pianos for their outstanding help in securing the piano.

21-06-24

Supporting the Gower Festival

We are very grateful to those who support us financially through sponsorship. If you would like to help the Gower Festival for the long term, there are two ways:

Concert Sponsors. The concert sponsorship of £500 allows us to book internationally acclaimed performers for concerts in the intimate atmosphere of Gower churches. Concert sponsors are individually acknowledged in the programme book in association with their sponsored concert.

Festival Sponsors donate at least £100, preferably by Standing Order, to help with the overall costs of running the Festival. They are acknowledged in the programme book.

If you would like to consider becoming a Sponsor please contact Bill Anderson at billanderson191@outlook.com

Finally, have you thought of leaving a legacy to The Gower Festival in your Will?

29-07-24

2025 Provisional programme

At the Art studio of Zino Pece, Old Community Hall, Benson Street, Penclawdd (opposite Estuary Bar). Two short talks with interval to enjoy tea, coffee, cakes & art studio tour (see https://zinopece.com).
Talk 1. Rod Cooper:
‘Penclawdd - The Last 500 Years’.

Talk 2. Pete Kokelaar:
‘Our Coal Mines Under the Sea’

Tickets on sale 1st January £15 including refreshments.

Saturday 15 February 2-4.30pm
Zino Pece – two short talks

Two short talks

Saturday 15 February 2-4.30pm
Old Community Hall, Benson Street, Penclawdd

Celebrating 80 years since the end of World War 2, we re-create the dance and swing music that was pioneered by African Americans and popular with American and British Forces, reflecting the joy of peace-time at last. 1940s style costume is encouraged, with prizes for the best-dressed dancing couple. Jitterbug dancing was widely banned - as "a morally dangerous American import".
Do your homework, and have a fling...

Tickets on sale 1st March.

Wednesday 14 May 6.30-10pm
Jitterbug ball

Jitterbug ball

Wednesday 14 May 6.30-10pm
King Arthur Hotel, reynoldston 
SA3 1ad

Admired for his unfailingly communicative playing, Leon McCawley makes a welcome return to the Gower Festival. His programme includes Beethoven’s heroic ‘Waldstein’ Sonata, Chopin’s Barcarolle and pieces by Scarlatti and César Franck.

Visit artists website
Tuesday 1 July 7.30pm
Leon McCawley, piano
Photo © Anna Paik

Leon McCawley, piano

Tuesday 1 July 7.30pm
St Paul’s Church, Sketty  
SA2 9AR

We welcome this exciting young quintet – violinists Huw Daniel, Kati Debretzeni and Debbie Diamond, cellist Kinga Gáborjáni and harpsichordist Tom Foster - on their first visit to Gower. Their programme ranges across Europe with music by Pachelbel, Vivaldi, Purcell, Boismortier and J.S. Bach.

Visit artists website
Wednesday 2 July 7.30pm
Fiddlesticks Ensemble

Fiddlesticks Ensemble

Wednesday 2 July 7.30pm
St Cenydd’s Church, Llangennith
SA3 1HU

Actress Alex Kingston, soprano Claire Booth and pianist Andrew Matthews-Owen explore the life and work of Jane Austen, born 250 years ago. Drama and comedy alternate with some of Jane’s favourite songs – by Mozart, Schubert, Handel and others.

Thursday 3 July 7.30pm
Jane Austen 250

Jane Austen 250

Thursday 3 July 7.30pm
St Paul’s Church, Sketty
SA2 9AR

Swansea-born Joe Dunthorne is a novelist and poet. His debut novel Submarine was made into a film, and his second book, Wild Abandon, won the Royal Society of Literature Encore Award. His dramatic portrait of Swansea, written for the 70th anniversary of Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood, was broadcast in 2024.

We look forward to an entertaining evening with tales from home and abroad.

Visit artists website
Friday 4 July 7.30pm
Joe Dunthorne
Photo © Tom Medwell

Joe Dunthorne

Friday 4 July 7.30pm
St Cattwg’s Church, Port Eynon
SA3 1NL

‘Wickedly funny’ Rainer Hersch is a comedian and musician who has performed on every major comedy stage in Britain and abroad – many times at the Edinburgh Festival, at London’s South Bank, on TV and in comedy clubs across Europe. A ‘comedy genius’ if ever there was one.

Visit artists website
Saturday 5 July 7.30pm
Comedy Genius of Rainer Hirsch

Comedy Genius of
RAINER HERSCH
ALL CLASSICAL MUSIC EXPLAINED

Saturday 5 July 7.30pm
Reynoldston Village Hall
SA3 1AA

Swansea Bach Choir are faithful friends of the Gower Festival. Founded by John Hugh Thomas in 1965 and now directed by Greg Hallam, they will celebrate their 60th birthday by performing two masterpieces for unaccompanied voices: Vaughan Williams’s Mass in G minor and the Mass for Double Choir by Swiss composer Frank Martin.

Sunday 6 July 6pm
swansea bach choir
Photo © George Mutter

swansea bach choir
60th anniversary

Sunday 6 July 6pm
Capel y Crwys, Three Crosses
SA4 3PU

We welcome this dynamic young ensemble on their first visit to Gower. Winners of the Royal Over-Seas League Mixed Ensemble Prize in 2023, Lumas are committed ambassadors for wind chamber music and the rich variety of repertoire that it offers. Opening with an Afro-Cuban concerto by Valerie Coleman, their programme includes pieces by Leonard Bernstein (West Side Story suite), Milhaud, Anton Reicha and Shostakovich. Colourful and witty music, not to be missed.

Visit artists website
Tuesday 8 July 7.30pm
Lumas Wind Quintet

Lumas Wind Quintet

Tuesday 8 July 7.30pm
GOWERTON SCHOOL, CECIL ROAD, GOWERTON
SA4 3DL

Ever since winning the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Young Artists Award in 2013 the Heath String Quartet has been admired as one of Britain’s most versatile groups. We welcome their return to Gower. This lunchtime concert begins with a beautiful piece by Anatoly Lyadov, whose music was admired by Tchaikovsky. Then a charming early Mozart quartet, followed by Beethoven’s last work for strings, the wonderful F major Quartet, Op. 135.

Visit artists website
Wednesday 9 July 2.30pm
The Heath Quartet

The Heath Quartet

Wednesday 9 July 2.30pm
St Mary’s Church, Rhossili
SA3 1PL

Andy Davies is an award-winning Welsh trumpeter, comedian, script writer, voice over artist, actor and educator. He has hosted the famous Wednesday night Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Jam Session for over thirteen years. ‘More fun than a barrel of monkeys’ (Evening Standard), he will be joined this evening by the well-known Dave Cottle Trio.

Visit artists website
Wednesday 9 July 8pm
Jazz+ Andy Davies

JAZZ WITH ANDY DAVIES
AND THE DAVE COTTLE TRIO

Wednesday 9 July 8pm
CU MUMBLES,  7 CASTLETON WALK ARCADE, NEWTON ROAD, MUMBLES
SA3 4AX

For their second concert the Heath Quartet offers a typically well-chosen programme. A neglected early work by Britten, his Three Divertimenti, and one of Haydn’s most elegant quartets are set alongside tuneful Czech music by Dvořák – his quartet in E flat, Op. 51 – and Josef Suk, Dvořák’s gifted son-in-law.

Visit artists website
Thursday 10 July 7.30pm
The Heath Quartet

The Heath Quartet

Thursday 10 July 7.30pm
St Rhidian & St Illtyd’s Church, Llanrhidian
SA3 1ER

Martyn Brabbins was recently appointed chief conductor of the Malmö Symphony, having previously been music director of the English National Opera. He had a starring role at 2024 London Proms, taking over at short notice following the death of Sir Andrew Davies. This evening he is in conversation with Gordon Back, discussing the conductor’s role in opera and symphonic music.

Visit artists website
Friday 11 July 7.30pm
An evening with Martyn Brabbins

An evening with
Martyn Brabbins

Friday 11 July 7.30pm
Vestry, Capel y Crwys, Three Crosses
SA4 3PU

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Festival information become a friend

Become a friend

Benefits of becoming a Friend include the advance booking for July concerts, much appreciated as many concerts, particularly at smaller venues, sell out quickly.

download a form

Born in the Czech Republic and trained in Germany, Robert Bily was first prize-winner at the 2024 Vendome piano competition in New York, described by the Vendome’s artistic director as ‘one of our strongest winners ever’. For his debut in Gower Robert plays masterpieces by Beethoven (his Op. 110 Sonata), Prokoviev and Chopin. Chopin’s famous ‘Funeral March’ Sonata is followed by his second Scherzo, by turns brilliant and lyrical. A memorable conclusion to the 2025 Festival.

Visit artists website
Saturday 12 July 7.30pm
Robert Bily, Ist Prizewinner Vendome 2024

Robert Bily
Ist Prizewinner Vendome 2024

Saturday 12 July 7.30pm
St Peter’s Church, Newton
SA3 4RB

gower festival venues

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Map of Gower festival venues

The Story of the Gower Festival

From its early years the Gower Festival has been concerned to foster a wide range of music in idyllic settings...

Friends of the Gower Festival

We have some wonderful concerts and other events arranged for Gower Festival 2025.
Festival Friends have priority booking for the events in July.

Benefits of becoming a Friend

➢ Advance booking for July concerts. This benefit is much appreciated by Friends as many concerts, particularly at smaller venues, sell out quickly.

➢ Regular Festival email updates.

➢ Acknowledgement in the Festival Programme.

➢ Opportunities to help with the running of Festival events and to attend the Society’s Annual Meeting.

Annual membership costs only £15 per household.

You can join in one of four ways:

♦ Contact Maggie Harries, 2 Copley Close, Bishopston, Swansea SA3 3JL UK

♦ Email: friends@gowerfestival.org

♦ Download a Gower Festival application form

♦ Pick up an application form at any festival venue.

Gower Festival Friends 100 Club

Don’t miss your chance to support the Gower Festival Society and win cash prizes for yourself! 
There are three prize draws per year - July, November and March.

➢ 1st Prize per draw £100

➢ 2nd Prize of £50

➢ 3rd Prizes of £25 (the number of 3rd prizes is dependent on the number of tickets sold per year).
Last year the 100 Club raised over £600 for the Gower Festival - a significant contribution towards the cost of a concert.

The cost of a share is only £12 per year - that’s just £1per month. You may take out more than one share if you wish.

You can join in one of three ways:

♦ Contact Maggie Harries, 2 Copley Close, Bishopston, Swansea SA3 3JL UK

♦ Email: friends@gowerfestival.org

♦ Pick up an application form at any festival venue, or download an application form.

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