Abertillery Orpheus Male Voice Choir
The historic Abertillery Orpheus MVC, one of Wales' premier ensembles for over 100 years.
Aber Valley Male Voice Choir
The Aber Valley Male Voice Choir was founded in 1959 and counts performing at the Houses of Parliament as one of their many highlights.
Akira The Don
Hip hop maverick from Anglesey sharing a label with 50 Cent and Eminem.
Alarm
One of the most enduring arena rock bands, The Alarm were one of the 80s' best-selling Welsh acts.
Aled Jones
Aled Jones was a ubiquitous presence in the 1980s after millions watched him on TV.
Allan Yn Y Fan
Newbridge's Welsh traditional band Allan Yn Y Fan have carved a reputation as one of the top Celtic-influenced bands on the 21st century, with three albums and international tours under their belt.
Al Lewis
Al Lewis is a bilingual singer-songwriter who's working with Paper Aeroplanes' Sarah Howells and releasing his first English album in 2010.
Alun Hoddinott
Composer Alun Hoddinott was born in Bargoed in 1929. His compositional talents developed early, and he won a university scholarship at the age of 16.
Amen Corner
Amen Corner formed in south Wales in 1966, bringing together six musicians from around the area, plus vocalist Andy Fairweather-Low.
Amy Wadge
The Cardiff-based singer-songwriter with a steadily rising profile.
Ar Log
Ar Log (Welsh for 'for hire') are a long-running folk outfit who have over the years had many members and many records.
Attack! Attack!
Attack! Attack! are a Cardiff rock band whose work ethic and background in bands over the past decade have made them a name to watch.
Automatic
One of the most exciting new bands to have emerged from Wales in recent times, The Automatic formed in the not-very-rock 'n' roll town of Cowbridge, but their disco punk sound easily established them as stars.
Badfinger
Few bands have attracted tragedy like Badfinger. From a promising start as a late 60s pop act through to the messy legal problems that dogged their later years, it was an unfortunate fall from grace.
91Èȱ¬ National Orchestra of Wales
The 91Èȱ¬ National Orchestra of Wales is one of the UK's leading ensembles. Critically acclaimed for the quality of its performances, they are also renowned for their reach beyond the confines of the concert hall.
Beatbox Fozzy
Beatbox Fozzy is a precocious Cardiff human beatboxer who has won fans from Dizzee Rascal to Rhys Ifans.
Beatles and Wales
From their first Welsh concert, in Rhyl in 1962, to the few days spent in Bangor with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the Summer of Love, join us for a mystery trip back in time with The Beatles in Wales.
Big Leaves
Hailing from the small village of Waunfawr, near Caernarfon, Big Leaves came together as a band before the members had even reached their teens.
Blackout
One of the most hotly-tipped new hard rock/punk acts to come out of Wales in recent years, The Blackout are a heavy but poppy sixpiece who combine furious drumming, soaring melodies and a dual vocal assault.
Bonnie Tyler
Born Gaynor Hopkins on 8 June 1951, the artist known as Bonnie Tyler began her musical career in the picturesque village of Skewen, near Swansea, where she grew up listening to Tamla Motown and 1960s blues records.
Brecon Jazz Festival
The internationally-renowned Brecon Jazz Festival has relaunched after much-publicised difficulties.
Bridgend Male Choir
Formed in 1960 as the Bridgend Police Choir, it later became Bridgend and District Male Choir before evolving into Bridgend Male Choir in 2006.
Bryn Terfel
Bass baritone Bryn Terfel is a towering presence in the international music world, whether in opera, art song, folk song, oratorio or popular song, live or recorded.
Budgie
Formed in 1967 in Cardiff, Budgie's influence always outweighed their sales. Important bands often do, and Budgie, it's safe to say, were an important band.
Bullet For My Valentine
Originally known as Jeff Killed John, Bullet For My Valentine formed in 1999 while studying music at Bridgend College.
Caesars Rome
Since forming in 2007, this Welsh rock band is one of the new scene of likely contenders.
Calan
Calan are a new, vibrant five-piece folk band who are breathing new life into traditional Welsh music.
Cantorion Colin Jones
Colin Jones established this North Wales male choir in 1991, with members travelling up to 100 miles to rehearse in Betws-y-Coed.
Cardiff Ardwyn Singers
The Ardwyn Singers are recognised as a formidable choral force on the national and world stage.
Cardiff Big Weekend
The Admiral Cardiff Big Weekend is the UK's largest free outdoor music festival.
Cardiff Multicultural Mela
Asian culture and music is celebrated in spectacular fashion each year in Cardiff's Roald Dahl Plass, otherwise known as the Oval Basin.
Catatonia
Equally cursed and blessed, few bands from Wales have fallen from grace quite so spectacularly as Catatonia, and few bands leave behind a legacy so full of success and failure.
Cate Le Bon
Cardiff's folk rock multi-instrumentalist and singer songwriter is a name to drop on the indie and alt-folk scenes, and she already has friends in high places.
Catrin Finch
Britain's foremost harp performer, former Royal Harpist to Prince Charles and classical crossover success.
Catrin O'Neill
In the world of traditional Welsh music, Catrin O'Neill chucks in the kitchen sink, the waste disposal unit and the slightly leaky u-bend.
Cerys Matthews
Time was when the public couldn't get enough of Cerys Matthews. The public face of Catatonia, for a time she was everywhere: on every TV show, in every magazine, all over the front page.
Charlotte Church
Charlotte Church was the ultimate teenage star, swept to fame and fortune with classical records before deciding to persue a pop career.
Choirs and brass bands
Wales doesn't quite have a male voice choir on each street corner, but there are many choirs and brass bands popularising the styles.
Christopher Rees
For Christopher Rees, seeing Velvet Underground founder John Cale was something of a revelatory experience.
Claire Jones
Claire Jones, the royal harpist, will be performing for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in April 2011.
Classical and opera
There is a considerable wealth of classical music and opera in Wales. The popular perception of a tradition of the harp and the male voice choir is a long way from the 21st century reality of a growing number of hugely talented singers, instrumentalists and composers, making an impact not just in Wales but across the world.
Colwyn Male Voice Choir
Located in one of the principal towns on the North Wales coast, the original choir was founded in 1895.
Crook Family
In a gradual and very natural way that suits their Pembrokeshire roots, the Crook Family formed in 2006 when vocalist Tim Williams met double bassist Jon Sharpe. To complete the trio, Tim's long lost cousin Sarah Richards joined on piano.
Culprit One
One man, a bank of keyboards and a bagful of dirty beats and bleeps.
Dance and electronica
While Welsh music is perhaps best known for either its choral tradition or the indie stylings of 'Cool Cymru' bands, there's a great underground of Welsh dance artists packing the dancefloors.
Darling Buds
Formed in Cardiff in 1986 by the 19-year-old Andrea Lewis, The Darling Buds were for six years one of the most promising acts coming out of the UK indie scene.
Datblygu
Hailed as the first truly modern Welsh-language group, Datblygu's (Develop) influence on Welsh music is immeasurable.
Dave Edmunds
Born in Cardiff in 1944, Dave Edmunds began playing in local blues bands The 99ers and The Raiders. In 1966 he left Wales to join The Image, and The Human Beans the following year.
Dave Stapleton
"Dave Stapleton is a real find for British Jazz... a young musician of real maturity and vision." So says jazz music magazine Jazzwise.
Dead Residents
Dead Residents are a Cardiff troupe with a fine pedigree and even finer grasp of humour-laced hip-hop.
Dennis O'Neill
The Welsh have been called "Italians in the rain" - a term which could have been coined for Dennis O'Neill.
Donna Lewis
Born and raised in Cardiff, Donna Lewis emerged from the Welsh College Of Music And Drama with flute and piano qualifications and a voice that set her on the path to world stardom.
Dorothy Squires
In the days before 'pop' existed in the cultural vernacular, popular artists recorded and performed songs written by professional songwriters, backed by specialised orchestras. Carmarthenshire's Dorothy Squires was one of the most popular singers of the pre- and post-War music world.
Dub War
Along with 60ft Dolls, Novocaine, Ether and a few others, Dub War emerged from Newport in the early-90s, smack in the middle of the death of grunge and with Britpop about to explode.
Duffy
Duffy has come seemingly out of nowhere to become of the biggest worldwide sellers of 2008 with her album Rockferry.
Elin Fflur
Formerly the singer with the group Carlotta, Elin Fflur rose to prominence after winning the 2002 Can I Gymru (Song For Wales) competition.
Elin Manahan Thomas
Elin Manahan Thomas is one the UK's most gifted sopranos.
Escape Into The Park
By far the biggest dance event in Wales and the South West of England, Escape Into The Park has become one of the must-play events for some of the world's best DJs and dance acts.
Exit International
Exit_International are a Cardiff-based trio featuring two bass guitars and no lead.
Exit International
Exit_International are a Cardiff-based trio featuring two bass guitars and no lead.
Bookmark this page:
Showcase your Welsh music images on our Flickr group.
Rock in Wales
Miners' benefits
Listen to Billy Bragg talking to us about the shows he played in aid of miners' families.
