PERFORMANCE: Gwenno Saunders
Saturday 2nd May, 19:30, Ashburton Arts Centre
“Spacey, strange and richly melodic” – The Guardian
Mercury-shortlisted Gwenno with her blend of Welsh, Cornish and English modern pop
Gwenno Saunders is a visionary artist whose eclectic career spans more than 25 years as a musician, songwriter, producer, and performer. Starting out with solo Welsh, Cornish, and English language EPs in the early 2000s, Gwenno went on to front indie-pop group The Pipettes before forging her path as a solo artist. Rooted deeply in her Welsh and Cornish heritage, Gwenno’s work champions minority languages and cultural identity. Singing in Cornish, Welsh, and English, she advocates passionately for language revival and community connection through music. Gwenno’s artistic journey reflects a commitment to place, history, and collective voice — using pop, experimental soundscapes, and performance to elevate languages and cultures at risk of being overlooked in a globalized world.
She has released four acclaimed solo albums.. Y Dydd Olaf (winner of The Welsh Music Prize), Le Kov, Tresor (shortlisted for the 2022 Mercury Music Prize), and her latest, Utopia (2025) alongside two full-length records with The Pipettes. Utopia marks a new chapter, Gwenno’s first record sung predominantly in English exploring themes of self-determination, identity, and creative evolution. Recorded live with her band in her living room and produced with long-term collaborator Rhys Edwards, Utopia features lush, textured soundscapes and notable contributions from fellow Welsh musicians Cate Le Bon and H. Hawkline.
In addition to her recording career, Gwenno has composed new scores for theatre and film, including work for The Caucasian Chalk Circle with Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and a live score for Mark Jenkin’s BAIT showcased at BFI Southbank. A dynamic creative force, she also curates festivals such as CAM 15 + 18 and Festival of Voice at the Wales Millennium Centre, blending artistic expression with cultural engagement.
TICKETS £14, £18, and £22 BOOK HERE