We’re sure you’ll all agree that 2016 was a strange year for many reasons. From our perspective, it was the year we all made the first Festival of Voice come to life and there were some epic moments. Wales Millennium Centre had a vision to create a festival which celebrated Wales’ connection with song. Rooted in the unique locations and creative community of our capital, Festival of Voice is the city’s first biennial international arts festival. We are already working on the programme for 2018 and will be announcing dates this spring.
Over 10 days in June 2016, we invited artists from all over the world to join some of the UK’s, and Wales’ most distinctive voices. The festival opened up new collaborations and performances which reflected the versatility of the voice – something that transcends culture and language.
With around 15,000 people taking part, and an audience of over 20,000 attending events across Cardiff, the festival was an inspiring journey for everyone involved. By venturing off the beaten track, people got to experience a unique opportunity to come together, united in voice.
In the year that we lost so many incredible musicians and artists, we thought it was a special year for music. David Bowie, and Tribe Called Quest’s Phife Dawg were lost, but we thought they made some of the best music of their careers, so their albums are included in our list.