Free lunchtime arts programme to launch at Bangor Cathedral

A new weekly arts series launching at Bangor Cathedral this March, delivered in partnership with Storiel, will bring together musicians, poets and writers in one of North Wales's most historic settings.

Doniau launches on Thursday 5 March with a recital from the Cathedral’s own organist, Martin Brown. Several events in the series are presented jointly with Storiel, Bangor’s museum and arts centre, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening the city’s cultural life and creating accessible opportunities for audiences to experience high-quality arts locally.

All events begin at 1.15pm, with doors open from 12.30pm for refreshments and an opportunity to meet the artists before each performance.

While the Cathedral setting might suggest a classical programme, Doniau spans the full range of the arts, from acoustic folk and spoken word poetry to literature and organ music, reflecting the Cathedral’s commitment to opening up the arts and making them freely accessible to all.

The March line-up has something for everyone. The series opens with Martin Brown at the organ on 5 March. On 12 March, Australian Gnostic folk singer Adam Geoffrey Cole, who performs under the name Trappist Afterland, will appear alongside Welsh Music Prize winner Gareth Bonello, also known as The Gentle Good, in a concert presented in partnership with Storiel. The programme continues on 19 March when the Dean of Bangor, Dr Manon Ceridwen James, shares poetry from her new book Notes from a Eucharistic Life, before the month closes with a recital by local pianist Dr Tristian Evans on 26 March.

The partnership builds on the success of February’s Atgyfodi’r Atgyfodiad, presented as part of last year’s Bangor 1500 celebrations. The project reworked the first electric rock concert held at the Cathedral in the early 1970s and marked a significant cultural collaboration between the two organisations. The Doniau series continues that shared ambition to bring distinctive artistic experiences to audiences in Bangor and the surrounding area.

Dean of Bangor Cathedral Manon Ceridwen James says, We are delighted to be launching Doniau and to welcome the wider community into the Cathedral in this way. The programme represents some of the breadth of the arts and the creative talent both from the area and that we can attract to north Wales. The series reflects our ongoing commitment to the arts in Bangor, and we hope it will become a valued part of the city's cultural life.

“We are particularly delighted to be partnering with Storiel on the concert with Adam Cole and Gareth Bonello and hope this will be the first of several such collaborations.”

Rhys Lloyd Jones, Engagement and Learning Officer at Storiel, says, “Its wonderful, to once again work in partnership with Bangor Cathedral on an ambitious cultural project for the people of Bangor and the surrounding area.

“As part of last year’s Bangor 1500 celebrations it was a joy to be one of the opening events of the festivities as Storiel and Bangor Cathedral presented Atgyfodi’r Atgyfodiad, a reworking of the first electric rock concert held at the Cathedral in the early 70s. Doniau will allow Storiel, the Museum and Gallery of Gwynedd, which is also celebrating its 10 year anniversary, to work alongside our creative partners in Bangor and bring a host of music and cultural events for all to enjoy.”

All are welcome. Entry is free to all Doniau events. Performances start at 1.15pm.