BrynFest: Welsh talent on show at London's Southbank

Welsh talent is to take centre stage in London as part of bass-baritone Bryn Terfel's new four-day music festival.

BrynFest takes over from the Faenol Festival, which was held annually in Gwynedd until being cancelled in 2009 and 2010 due to poor ticket sales.

It is now being staged at London's Southbank Centre for the first time and features Super Furry Animals' Gruff Rhys and Welsh National Opera.

A 500-strong international male choir with Welsh roots will also perform.

The group has been brought together by the London Welsh Male Voice Choir to help premier new work by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins.

Terfel's first festival had its debut at the Faenol estate, near Bangor, in 2000.

This year's London event will climax with "Bryn's Big Sing" where the public can join in singing Welsh songs on the Royal Festival Hall terraces.

It is being staged as part of Southbank Centre's Festival of the World.

Terfel said: "For all the artists in BrynFest, this will be an incredible opportunity to be under the spotlight while the whole site celebrates music and art coming from all over the planet."

The first BrynFest evening event celebrates "The Golden Age of Broadway" on Wednesday.

Presented by Sian Phillips, it will feature Terfel with a host of West End stars.

The evening concert on 6 July features a rock and roll night with singer-songwriter Cate Le Bon, surf-rock band Y Niwl and Super Furry Animals' Gruff Rhys.

Earlier on the same day, Welsh pianist Huw Warren will give a performance, collaborating with trumpeter Neil Yates on a specially created set of original Welsh music, including hymns and traditional music with a jazz/celtic twist.

The 500-voice choir will sing with Terfel, performing the world premiere of Karl Jenkins's A Hero's Journey.