25 March 2019
A film about Welsh music starring presenter Huw Stephens is to be given its first television screening on S4C.
Having already been seen in cinemas across Wales, viewers will get the chance to watch Anorac in the network premiere of the film on Thursday, 4 April at 9.30pm on S4C.
To mark 50 years since the world first heard Welsh language rock music, the Welshman from Cardiff, Huw Stephens, went on a musical pilgrimage around Wales. The product of his pilgrimage is Anorac, a film that paints a portrait of the Welsh music scene past and present.
Huw Stephens is well-known nationally as a Radio 1 presenter and has continuously contributed to championing music from Wales. Among some of his contributions to the music scene are establishing Sŵn Festival in Cardiff and also the Welsh Music Prize, and he has also given support to musicians from Wales on his programmes on Radio 1, Radio 6 Music and Radio Cymru.
The rich musical culture of the Welsh language was the inspiration for Huw and producer, Gruffydd Davies, to create the film that has been well received in its initial nationwide cinema screenings.
"Sometimes, we need to take a step back and look at the obvious, but special things around us," says Huw Stephens, who has just arrived back in Britain having been on a different kind of musical pilgrimage in Texas, USA, at the South by Southwest festival on behalf of Radio 1, "Anorac marks an exciting period in a minority language music scene, which has been producing a music of standard for 50 years."
With a yellow anorak, Huw's travels from Cardiff to Ceredigion and from Clwyd to Caernarfon have been documented, as he narrates the musical tale of the language through the sounds of our various musicians from all corners of the country.
Beginning his pilgrimage in Cardiff and heading north, Huw meets people such as Gwenno, Dave Datblygu, Georgia Ruth, Gruff Rhys and the legendary Meic Stevens, all musicians who have contributed in very different ways to the rich diversity which has formed the Welsh music tradition.
"It was very interesting and a great pleasure to listen to musicians performing and discussing their skills," Huw adds. "Anorac is a 'road-trip' film, a journey around our beautiful country, meeting musicians who are creative today. The response to the cinema showings has been very positive, with some people hearing and learning new things in the process!"
By means of train, bus and even thumbing lifts on the winding lanes of Wales, Huw travels the country to see musical performances and to discuss musicians' ideas and visions concerning the Welsh music culture, from rock to pop, and from rap to folk.
Not only does the film throw light upon Welsh music, but Anorac also reflects the beauty and geographical diversity of the country. From the urban areas of the south to the magnificent coast of Cardigan Bay and to the open, rural countryside of Llŷn, Huw pauses in characteristic locations, which convey the spirit of the country.
Whether you're interested in music, in the Welsh language or in Wales, Anorac is a historical, but also contemporary film, which will give viewers a taste of all aspects of the rich culture which belongs to Wales, the Land of Song. Watch it on Thursday evening, 4 April at 9.30pm on S4C.
Anorac will be available to view internationally on demand on S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer and other platforms for 150 days following the broadcast on 4 April.
