Sŵn Festival – October 21, 2022, history, significance
Sŵn Festival is celebrated annually during the third full week in October in Cardiff, Wales. This year it will be celebrated from October 21 to 23. It is an annual music festival organized by B.B.C. Radio 1.
It was started by D.J. Huw Stephens, the youngest ever presenter on BBC Radio 1, and Cardiff-based promoter, John Rostron. Cardiff hosts several music festivals throughout the year. In fact, the U.K. hosted 241 music festivals in 2020. Music festivals are a huge market where millions of people participate every year.
HISTORY OF SŴN FESTIVAL
Music is one of the most satisfying activities for humans. It has various positive effects on the body and mind. The history of music can be traced back to the Paleolithic period, between 2.5 million years to 10,000 B.C. The period is commonly known as the Old Stone Age. The history of singing, though, is impossible to track. Singing may have emerged long before music and musical instruments.
Music evolved as centuries passed. Based on its likes and preferences, each civilization developed its own distinct musical style. Early navigation, trade, and wars introduced new types of music to new areas, and this constant fusion created further advancements.
The Pythian Games, first organized in 586 B.C. to honor the ancient Greek God Apollo at his sanctuary at Delphi, are said to be the first music festival. Greek philosopher Pythagoras, who lived around 550 B. C. was the first musical numerologist and laid the foundation for acoustics. For him, music was basically a branch of mathematics. The Greeks identified a link between the pitch of a note and the length of a string in acoustics.
Germany is considered to be the birthplace of music bands. In the 15th century, German musicians played bassoons and oboes. Today, there are millions of music bands all over the world releasing countless covers and albums every year. Music festivals have also become a common sight. Cardiff hosts several of these music festivals throughout the year.
SŴN FESTIVAL TIMELINE
3,400 Years Ago
The First Piece of Written Music
The first-ever written piece of music written in the cuneiform alphabet is found in Syria.
6th Century B.C.
The Pythian Games
The Pythian Games, a precursor of the Olympics, are the first-known music festival.
1770
The Birth of Ludwig van Beethoven
The great German composer Beethoven is born in Germany.
1906
The First Radio Broadcast
The first ever radio broadcast is made on December 24 from Brant Rock, Massachusetts.
SŴN FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES
Listen to B.B.C. Radio
Listen to the B.B.C. Radio telecasting. They have interesting information about the event.
Visit the festival
Visit Cardiff with your friends. This year, why not experience the magic of the festival?
Gift a ticket
Do you have a friend who is looking forward to this festival? Surprise him/her with a ticket to the show.
5 FACTS ABOUT MUSIC FESTIVALS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The largest music festival
The three-day Woodstock Festival is the largest music festival in history.
Sŵn’s meaning
The word ‘Sŵn’ means ‘sound’ or ‘noise’ in the Welsh language.
Music festivals in the U.K.
There are more than 241 music festivals in the U.K.
Attendance in the U.K.
More than five million people attended music festivals in 2019 in the U.K.
Revenue generation through concerts
A live concert can generate up to $31 billion in revenue every four years.
WHY WE LOVE SŴN FESTIVAL
Music improves health
Music is beneficial for health. It helps greatly with heart health, stress, and brain health; it also improves concentration and overall wellness.
A social gathering
Music events attract a large number of people. We love social gatherings, and they are good for meeting new people and discovering new ideas.
Your favorite artists perform
Who wouldn’t want to see their favorite artist? Such events offer a chance to meet and interact with your favorite musician.
