St David’s Day in London – through the creative lens

Living in London, it’s easy to think of this day as manufactured, tokenistic –– the odd daffodil here and there. But this year, it proved me wrong. Across the weekend, I went in search of Welsh creativity and its presence beyond our borders. And it led me to feel more Welsh than I had done in a long time. Here’s why.

On Friday evening, Tafwyl –– a Welsh-speaking festival born in the Mochyn Du pub in Cardiff –– launched its 2025 edition at the London Welsh Centre on Gray’s Inn Road. Why London? It’s a good question. But sometimes crossing borders is the best way to announce yourself on a bigger stage. If the Tour De France can start in Yorkshire, why not Tafwyl in London? 

The London Welsh Centre is a modest venue, a bit like a village hall back home. And that’s the point. For an event that drew in a crowd of thirty-six thousand in Bute Park last year, tonight you could be anywhere in Wales when inside these walls. It’s a home comfort. 

The evening begins with Taran, a young rock band from Cardiff. After arriving on the scene through the Tafwyl/Menter Caerdydd ‘Introducing’ project in 2023, they have since released their first EP, Dyweda, Wyt Ti….. They are destined for big things, and it’s on show. As the night’s curtain raiser, they warm up a muted room.

Al Lewis a’r Band are up next. On this evening in London, there’s no debating Al’s claim that they are the most Welsh band about, with the names Jones, Williams, Jones again, and Lewis himself. He takes us through his catalogue, including Lle Hoffwn Fod and Heulwen o Hiraeth. A rousing encore of Yma o Hyd follows.

Throughout, Al switches between Welsh and English, a stand-in translator for us few non-Welsh speakers. It is a small gesture, but nonetheless powerful. As someone who doesn’t speak Welsh, there is a slight embarrassment attending events like this. You’re greeted in Welsh, but left stumbling as you try to piece a response together. 

You might feel like an outsider, but it’s soon dealt with. There is a spirit here that puts you at ease and trumps any insecurities. It’s one of the reasons why Gig Lansiad Tafwyl is in London tonight. As Leanne Rochefort-Shugar, the Festival Organiser explains, “Tonight’s event is a chance for people to reconnect with Wales, to rediscover a part of them that they may have thought they’d lost…Whether you’re a Welsh speaker or not, we want Tafwyl to show that the Welsh language is for everyone.”  

There is a commercial element too, of course: Tafwyl is a free event, and London is not short of potential investors. But the overriding feeling tonight is one of belonging, that grows as the night goes through its gears. As Lewis’s rendition of Yma o Hyd ends, it’s home time, but it feels like you’re already there.

St David’s Day arrives. This year, The Cow in Notting Hill turned Welsh for the day. London Welsh RFC played a double-header against Chiswick. The 21st annual St David’s Day walk departed Blackfriars in the sunshine, and much more. You are never short of options.  

In Shoreditch, there is a gathering of creative heads at Refresh / Retold –– a day-long event that showcases the best of Welsh creative talent. Curated by Clwb Creative Cymru (and backed by the Welsh Government via Creative Wales), the event includes panel discussions, film screenings and live DJs. 

Launched by Phie McKenzie and Dagmar Bennett, Clwb Creative Cymru is a community of creatives from Wales and those further afield. It is a space to connect with like-minded individuals. Today, at the first instalment of Refresh / Retold, everything we consider synonymous with St David’s Day –– from the arts, literature or language –– is on display. 

As Phie says, “Refresh /Retold aims to showcase how diverse and multi-faceted Welsh creatives are. We have a real breadth of storytellers from all over Wales that are making waves in Wales and beyond. Bringing them together in this way, we hope to challenge dated notions of Welsh creativity and bring about a deeper sense of understanding about our culture.”

The room is brimful of talent, including winner of the 2024 Welsh Music Prize and Bafta-nominated rap & alternative RnB artist, L E M F R E C K; Filmmaker and Creative Director, Charlotte James; up-and-coming DJ and Producer, Douvelle19; and award-winning Author and Writer, Angela Hui, to name a few.

Like the night before, it’s easy to feel out of place. But once again, it’s short lived –– brushed aside by the ‘arm around your shoulder’ inclusivity that Welsh people have become known for. There is a warmth and a sense of connection in the room. An identity that runs deep. 

St David’s Day in London proved that Welshness will find you wherever you are. It spans generations, crosses borders and overcomes whatever doubts you may have about your place in a room. You only had to poke your head into the events this weekend to feel that. 

From Tafwyl to Refresh / Retold, the weekend reminded me that we are a nation of creatives –– purveyors of art, literature and music. What’s more, it affirmed that this reputation is alive and in safe hands. There is depth and nuance to this new generation of Welsh creatives, yet it remains anchored on our heritage. 

Of course, this all took place in London. Why London? The answer is simple. London is a stage, perhaps the grandest of them all. But this show is unequivocally Welsh. Cast in Wales. Made in Wales. Open to the world.

Jacob Butler is a Welsh creative writer, living in London. With interests in food, sport and music, he shares his view on Welsh culture and its presence outside Wales.