The Y Selar Awards () are awarded annually for the best
Welsh language rock and pop music, by the Welsh language music magazine, ''Y Selar''. The awards ceremony is the only one particularly for Welsh language music.
Background
The awards were first given out in 2010, in ten categories, with voting taking place via the ''Y Selar'' website, until the publication date of the March issue of the magazine.
Every February since 2014 the awards event has taken place at a 'live' event at
Aberystwyth University
, mottoeng = A world without knowledge is no world at all
, established = 1872 (as ''The University College of Wales'')
, former_names = University of Wales, Aberystwyth
, type = Public
, endowment = ...
, initially in front of an audience of 500,
increasing to 700 in 2015.
The organisers claimed an audience of 1,000 in February 2016.
Nominations are invited until December each year, for the twelve categories, from which a long list is chosen by the awards panel. A public vote then takes place using a
Facebook app.
Winners
2013
Presented on 15 February 2014
* Best EP or Single - ''Du a Gwyn'' –
Sŵnami
Sŵnami () are a Welsh indie rock group from Dolgellau, north-west Wales, who sing predominantly in Welsh. They won the Welsh Language Album of the Year prize at the 2016 National Eisteddfod of Wales. Their name is a play on the word 'tsunami' ...
* Best Song - ''Anifail'' –
Candelas
* Best Artwork - ''Llithro'' – Yr Ods
* Best Promoter - Nyth
* Best Music Presenter -
Lisa Gwilym
* Best Solo Artist -
Georgia Ruth Williams
* Best Live Event - Last Gig of
Edward H Dafis
Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”.
History
The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sa ...
, Denbigh
National Eisteddfod
The National Eisteddfod of Wales (Welsh: ') is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Europe. Competitors ...
* Best Music Video - ''Gwreiddiau'' –
Sŵnami
Sŵnami () are a Welsh indie rock group from Dolgellau, north-west Wales, who sing predominantly in Welsh. They won the Welsh Language Album of the Year prize at the 2016 National Eisteddfod of Wales. Their name is a play on the word 'tsunami' ...
* Best LP -
Candelas
* Best New Band or Artist -
Kizzy Crawford
Kizzy Meriel Crawford (born 1996), known as Kizzy, is a Welsh singer songwriter from Merthyr Tydfil with Bajan heritage who sings in both English and Welsh, using traditional and modern sources. She began writing songs at the age of thirteen.
Ba ...
* Best Band -
Candelas
2014
Presented on 21 February 2015
* Best EP or Single - ''Cynnydd / Gwenwyn'' –
Sŵnami
Sŵnami () are a Welsh indie rock group from Dolgellau, north-west Wales, who sing predominantly in Welsh. They won the Welsh Language Album of the Year prize at the 2016 National Eisteddfod of Wales. Their name is a play on the word 'tsunami' ...
* Best Song - ''Neb ar Ôl'' –
Yws Gwynedd
* Best Artwork - ''Bodoli’n Ddistaw'' –
Candelas
* Best Promoter - 4 a 6
* Best Music Presenter -
Lisa Gwilym
* Best Solo Artist -
Yws Gwynedd
* Best Live Event - Maes B, Llanelli
National Eisteddfod
The National Eisteddfod of Wales (Welsh: ') is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Europe. Competitors ...
* Best Music Video - ''Gwenwyn'' –
Sŵnami
Sŵnami () are a Welsh indie rock group from Dolgellau, north-west Wales, who sing predominantly in Welsh. They won the Welsh Language Album of the Year prize at the 2016 National Eisteddfod of Wales. Their name is a play on the word 'tsunami' ...
* Best LP - ''Codi / Cysgu'' –
Yws Gwynedd
* Best Musician - Lewis Williams (Sŵnami/Candelas)
* Best New Band or Artist - Ysgol Sul
* Best Band -
Candelas
2015
Presented on 20 February 2016
* Best EP or Single - ''Nôl ac Ymlaen'' – Calfari
* Best Song - ''Trwmgwsg'' –
Sŵnami
Sŵnami () are a Welsh indie rock group from Dolgellau, north-west Wales, who sing predominantly in Welsh. They won the Welsh Language Album of the Year prize at the 2016 National Eisteddfod of Wales. Their name is a play on the word 'tsunami' ...
* Best Artwork - ''Sŵnami'' –
Sŵnami
Sŵnami () are a Welsh indie rock group from Dolgellau, north-west Wales, who sing predominantly in Welsh. They won the Welsh Language Album of the Year prize at the 2016 National Eisteddfod of Wales. Their name is a play on the word 'tsunami' ...
* Best Promoter - Maes B
* Best Music Presenter -
Huw Stephens/
Lisa Gwilym
* Best Solo Artist -
Yws Gwynedd
* Best Live Event - Maes B
* Best Music Video - ''Sebona Fi'' –
Yws Gwynedd
* Best LP - ''Sŵnami'' –
Sŵnami
Sŵnami () are a Welsh indie rock group from Dolgellau, north-west Wales, who sing predominantly in Welsh. They won the Welsh Language Album of the Year prize at the 2016 National Eisteddfod of Wales. Their name is a play on the word 'tsunami' ...
* Best Musician - Gwilym Bowen Rhys
* Best New Band or Artist - Band Pres Llareggub
* Best Band -
Sŵnami
Sŵnami () are a Welsh indie rock group from Dolgellau, north-west Wales, who sing predominantly in Welsh. They won the Welsh Language Album of the Year prize at the 2016 National Eisteddfod of Wales. Their name is a play on the word 'tsunami' ...
* Special Contribution Award - David R. Edwards
2016
Presented on 18 February 2017
* Best Song - ''Cyn i’r Lle Ma Gau'' –
Y Bandana
Y Bandana are a Welsh language alternative rock band that formed in Caernarfon in 2008. The band is composed of brothers Tomos Owens (keyboard) and Siôn Owens (bass guitar), their cousin Gwilym Bowen Rhys (lead vocals, guitar) and Robin Jone ...
* Best Artwork - ''Fel Tôn Gron'' –
Y Bandana
Y Bandana are a Welsh language alternative rock band that formed in Caernarfon in 2008. The band is composed of brothers Tomos Owens (keyboard) and Siôn Owens (bass guitar), their cousin Gwilym Bowen Rhys (lead vocals, guitar) and Robin Jone ...
* Best Independent Promoter - Maes B
* Best Music Presenter -
Lisa Gwilym
* Best Solo Artist -
Yws Gwynedd
* Best Live Event - Maes B
* Best Music Video - ''Sgrîn'' –
Yws Gwynedd
* Best LP - ''Fel Tôn Gron'' –
Y Bandana
Y Bandana are a Welsh language alternative rock band that formed in Caernarfon in 2008. The band is composed of brothers Tomos Owens (keyboard) and Siôn Owens (bass guitar), their cousin Gwilym Bowen Rhys (lead vocals, guitar) and Robin Jone ...
* Best EP or Single - ''Niwl'' – Ffracas
* Best New Band or Artist - Ffracas
* Best Band -
Y Bandana
Y Bandana are a Welsh language alternative rock band that formed in Caernarfon in 2008. The band is composed of brothers Tomos Owens (keyboard) and Siôn Owens (bass guitar), their cousin Gwilym Bowen Rhys (lead vocals, guitar) and Robin Jone ...
* Best Instrumentalist - Osian Huw Williams
* Special Contribution Award -
Geraint Jarman
2017
Presented on 17 February 2018
* Best Song - ''Drwy Dy Lygid Di'' –
Yws Gwynedd
* Best Artwork - ''Achw Met'' – Pasta Hull
* Best Independent Promoter -
Clwb Ifor Bach
* Best Music Presenter - Tudur Owen
* Best Solo Artist -
Alys Williams
* Best Live Event - Maes B
* Best Music Video - ''Drwy Dy Lygid Di'' –
Yws Gwynedd
* Best LP - ''Anrheoli'' –
Yws Gwynedd
* Best EP or Single - ''Cadno'' – Cadno
* Best New Band or Artist -
Gwilym Gwilym is a Welsh given name and surname, related to William, Guillaume, and others in a number of other languages.
Given name:
*Dafydd ap Gwilym (1315–1350), Welsh poet
*Eurfyl ap Gwilym (born 1944), Welsh Plaid Cymru politician
*Gwilym ab Ieua ...
* Best Band -
Yws Gwynedd
* Best Instrumentalist - Osian Huw Williams
* Special Contribution Award - Heather Jones
2018
Presented on 16 February 2019.
* Best Song - ''Catalunya'' –
Gwilym Gwilym is a Welsh given name and surname, related to William, Guillaume, and others in a number of other languages.
Given name:
*Dafydd ap Gwilym (1315–1350), Welsh poet
*Eurfyl ap Gwilym (born 1944), Welsh Plaid Cymru politician
*Gwilym ab Ieua ...
* Best Artwork - ''Sugno Gola'' –
Gwilym Gwilym is a Welsh given name and surname, related to William, Guillaume, and others in a number of other languages.
Given name:
*Dafydd ap Gwilym (1315–1350), Welsh poet
*Eurfyl ap Gwilym (born 1944), Welsh Plaid Cymru politician
*Gwilym ab Ieua ...
* Best Independent Promoter -
Clwb Ifor Bach
* Best Music Presenter - Tudur
* Best Solo Artist -
Alys Williams
* Best Live Event - Maes B
* Best Music Video - ''Cwîn'' –
Gwilym Gwilym is a Welsh given name and surname, related to William, Guillaume, and others in a number of other languages.
Given name:
*Dafydd ap Gwilym (1315–1350), Welsh poet
*Eurfyl ap Gwilym (born 1944), Welsh Plaid Cymru politician
*Gwilym ab Ieua ...
* Best LP - ''Sugno Gola'' –
Gwilym Gwilym is a Welsh given name and surname, related to William, Guillaume, and others in a number of other languages.
Given name:
*Dafydd ap Gwilym (1315–1350), Welsh poet
*Eurfyl ap Gwilym (born 1944), Welsh Plaid Cymru politician
*Gwilym ab Ieua ...
* Best EP or Single - ''Croesa'r Afon'' – Trŵbz
* Best New Band or Artist - Lewys
* Best Band -
Gwilym Gwilym is a Welsh given name and surname, related to William, Guillaume, and others in a number of other languages.
Given name:
*Dafydd ap Gwilym (1315–1350), Welsh poet
*Eurfyl ap Gwilym (born 1944), Welsh Plaid Cymru politician
*Gwilym ab Ieua ...
* Star of the Scene - Branwen Williams
* Special Contribution Award - Mark Roberts and Paul Jones
2019
Presented on 14/15 February 2020
* Best Song - ''\Neidia/'' –
Gwilym Gwilym is a Welsh given name and surname, related to William, Guillaume, and others in a number of other languages.
Given name:
*Dafydd ap Gwilym (1315–1350), Welsh poet
*Eurfyl ap Gwilym (born 1944), Welsh Plaid Cymru politician
*Gwilym ab Ieua ...
* Best Artwork - ''Chawn Beans'' – Pasta Hull
* Best Independent Promoter -
Clwb Ifor Bach
* Best Music Presenter - Tudur Owen
* Best Solo Artist - Elis Derby
* Best Live Event -
Tafwyl
* Best Music Video - ''Gwalia'' –
Gwilym Gwilym is a Welsh given name and surname, related to William, Guillaume, and others in a number of other languages.
Given name:
*Dafydd ap Gwilym (1315–1350), Welsh poet
*Eurfyl ap Gwilym (born 1944), Welsh Plaid Cymru politician
*Gwilym ab Ieua ...
* Best LP - ''O Mi Awn Ni Am Dro'' – Fleur De Lys
* Best EP or Single - ''Lle Yn Y Byd Mae Hyn?'' – Papur Wal
* Best New Band or Artist - Kim Hon
* Best Band -
Gwilym Gwilym is a Welsh given name and surname, related to William, Guillaume, and others in a number of other languages.
Given name:
*Dafydd ap Gwilym (1315–1350), Welsh poet
*Eurfyl ap Gwilym (born 1944), Welsh Plaid Cymru politician
*Gwilym ab Ieua ...
* Star of the Scene -
Yws Gwynedd
* Special Contribution Award -
Gruff Rhys
2020
Held between 8–11 February 2021 on
BBC Radio Cymru mostly, because of the
COVID-19 pandemic
* Star of the Scene -
Mared
* Best Artwork - Cofi 19
* Best New Band or Artist - Malan
* Best Solo Artist -
Mared
* Best Song - 'Hel Sibrydion'– Lewys
* 2020 Prize - Eädyth
* Best EP or Single - Dim ond Dieithryn – Lisa Pedrick
* Special Contribution Award -
Gwenno
Gwenno Mererid Saunders (born 23 May 1981) is a Welsh musician, known by the stage name Gwenno. She has released three critically-acclaimed albums as a solo artist: Welsh Music Prize winner'' Y Dydd Olaf'' (2014); ''Le Kov'' (2018), her first a ...
* Best Music Video - Dos yn Dy Flaen –
Bwncath
Bwncath (" buzzard") is a Welsh rock-folk or contemporary folk band from Caernarfon.
History
The four-member band was formed in 2014.
The main singer, Elidyr Glyn, won the Alun Sbardun Huws trophy in the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol 2016 for compos ...
* Best Band –
Bwncath
Bwncath (" buzzard") is a Welsh rock-folk or contemporary folk band from Caernarfon.
History
The four-member band was formed in 2014.
The main singer, Elidyr Glyn, won the Alun Sbardun Huws trophy in the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol 2016 for compos ...
* Best LP - Bwncath II –
Bwncath
Bwncath (" buzzard") is a Welsh rock-folk or contemporary folk band from Caernarfon.
History
The four-member band was formed in 2014.
The main singer, Elidyr Glyn, won the Alun Sbardun Huws trophy in the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol 2016 for compos ...
2021
Presented on 17 February 2022
* Best Song (Sponsored by PRS) - Llyn Llawenydd – Papur Wal
* New Band or Artist 2021 - Morgan Elwy
* Star of the Scene 2021 - Marged Gwenllian
* Best Artwork (Sponsored by Y Lolfa) - Cashews Blasus – Y Cledrau
* Best Solo Artist -
Mared
* 2021 Prize (Sponsored by Heno) - Merched yn Gwneud Miwsig
* Best EP or Single (Sponsored by Dydd Miwsig Cymru) - Detholiad o Ganeuon Traddodiadol Gymreig – Los Blancos
* Best LP 2021 - Amser Mynd Adra – Papur Wal
* Special Contribution (Sponsored by
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
, image = Crest of TSD.png
, image_size = 200px
, caption = Coat of armsUniversity of Wales Trinity Saint David
, established = 2010 ( Saint David's College, Lampeter founded 1822 and opened 1827; royal charter 1828)
...
) -
Tecwyn Ifan
Tecwyn Ifan is an influential Welsh singer and songwriter from Glanamman, Carmarthenshire, Wales. He was a Baptist minister in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire ( ; cy, Sir Benfro ) is a Local government in Wales#Principal areas, county in t ...
* Best Music Video (Sponsored by
S4C
S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...
) - Theatr –
Sŵnami
Sŵnami () are a Welsh indie rock group from Dolgellau, north-west Wales, who sing predominantly in Welsh. They won the Welsh Language Album of the Year prize at the 2016 National Eisteddfod of Wales. Their name is a play on the word 'tsunami' ...
* Best Band - Papur Wal
2022
Winners announced on
Radio Cymru in February 2023:
* Best Song (Sponsored by PRS) - ''Eto'' – Adwaith
* New Band or Artist 2022 - Dom James and Lloyd
* Star of the Scene 2022 - Owain Williams (Klust)
* Best Artwork - ''Sŵnamii'' (album) – Sŵnami
* Best Solo Artist - Mared
* Best Short Record - ''Crescent'' – Thallo
* Best LP 2022 - ''Seren'' – Angharad Rhiannon
* 2021 Prize - Izzy Rabey
* Special Contribution -
Lisa Gwilym
* Best Music Video - ''Drama Queen'' – Tara Bandito
* Best Band - Adwaith
References
{{Welsh language
Pop music awards
Welsh-language music
Welsh music awards