Stars at the Eisteddfod

2008's National Eisteddfod at Pontcanna Fields, Cardiff, is proving to be a star-studded event.

Following the opening ceremony, the Tri10 concert (August 1, 8pm) will feature a video greeting from Hollywood movie star Ioan Gruffudd as Radio One DJ Huw Stephens, opera singer Paul Carey Jones and Welsh language band Hanner Pei join hundreds of schoolchildren to mark the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf in Llandaff North.

One of the school's former pupils, actor Matthew Rhys will take to the stage with the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. He will provide the first-ever narration in Welsh for Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, conducted by NYOW Music Director, Owain Arwel Hughes OBE. (St David's Hall, Cardiff; August 7, 7.30pm)

Cerys Matthews and West End Maria star Connie Fisher are in the glittering line-up appearing in “The C Factor” concert which promises to be a musical extravaganza at the Pontcanna site on Thursday, August 7, (8pm). The show is produced by Mr Producer and staged by Stifyn Parri.

Demonstrating the international cutting edge of the modern Eisteddfod, Iraqi–born artist Rabab Ghazoul will set up a T-shirt stall with a difference– highlighting the plight of people in the war–torn country.

Rabab, 38, who left Iraq at the age of 10 with her family and now lives in Cardiff, has been commissioned by the visual arts agency Safle, with the support of the Eisteddfod, in a project entitled Small Medium Large/Man Woman Child after T-shirt sizes.