Festival of Voice returns to Cardiff this June with 11 days of live music, theatre, talks, street food, a procession to celebrate 100 years of suffrage and more. Discover your new favourite voice at the second instalment of Wales’ Biennial International Arts Festival.

Headline artists performing at Wales Millennium Centre include Patti Smith, Passenger, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Voices of Protest with Billy Bragg and Nadine Shah, LUMP (with Laura Marling and Mike Lindsay), plus a world premiere of the new album Babelsberg from Gruff Rhys with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

There’ll be a Festival Hub outsideWales Millennium Centre for festival-goers to hang out in Cardiff Bay and enjoy DJs, photography and free performances celebrating the music and storytelling of Rajasthan and Wales, pop-up bars and street food stalls including a global food adventure from Refugee Food Stories, a partnership project with Oasis Cardiff.

Charlotte Church returns to Festival of Voice with Utopia, a joy-fuelled evening which aims to “explore concepts of utopia and dystopia with the
audience”.

Utopia features Sweden’s electronic pop phenomenon Ionnalee (iamamiwhoami), drag performance artist Le Gateau Chocolat, plus highenergy acts and DJs. Hosted by Charlotte, turning Wales Millennium Centre into a unique, utopian club for one night only on Saturday, 16 June.

If you are into hip hop and electronic music, then Breakin’ the Rules is definitely for you. Presenting a night of some of the UK’s finest musicians including The Four Owls, FreeWizeMen and more at Clwb Ifor Bach on June 15. This is what happens when a group of young people who work with industry professionals learn about all aspects of events management. They end up breakin’ the rules.

Breakin’ the Bay has joined forces with Festival of Voice to provide this youth inspired platform. Children of Zeus is a soul project from two of Manchester’s most respected artists, Konny Kon and Tyler. During Festival of Voice, they mix with the Icelandic 10-woman-strong rap collective Reykjavíkurdætur. Immense in size and force, these women spit lyrics in Icelandic and English, on feminism, politics and sexual freedom. They are joined by Chester P (Task Force), a pioneering hip hop artist and social activist, and Noname Disciple.

Ty, with full live band, is known for his lyrical frankness and AAA Badboy, is an all-round musical wizard on the festival scene. They are performing at the Weston Studio, Wales Millennium Centre on June 9.

Full-blown energy comes in the form of New Orleans band Tank and the Bangas. Be prepared for a colourful, playful show that will leave you full to the brim with happiness. Ibibio Sound Machine bring a clash of African and electronic elements, inspired byWest African funk, disco, modern postpunk, and electro. Angelique Kidjo recently blew the socks of US TV host Jimmy Kimmel’s audience with her incredible interpretation of Remain in Light, the Talking Heads album, infused with electrifying rhythms, African guitars, and layered backing vocals. Watch the video, it will fill you full of joy.

Created by Wales Millennium Centre, Festival of Voice takes place at various venues and locations around Cardiff, igniting the city with powerful voices from 7 to 17 June.

Find out all about it by visiting the website.

www.festivalofvoice.wales