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Summer Music Festivals
This content is from our archive and should not be treated as current
THIS summer, North Wales puts on it's wellies and pitches it's tents for the much awaited festival season with some of the top names in music with Calvin Harris, Biffy Clyro, Ellie Goulding and many more, writes DANIELLE BRERETON. So here's the low-down on the best line-ups over the next four months to help you pick and enjoy the music!
Focus Wales (27-28 May)
Situated in the picturesque town of Llangollen, just a half hours drive from Wrexham and nestled in the beautiful Dee Valley, Focus Wales celebrates the musical talent that Wales has produced. The Blackout are confirmed to headline the Friday night, promoting the new album ‘Hope', which was released in April. Funeral For a Friend headline on Saturday, creating an infusion of post-hardcore sounds to rock the Welsh highlands. Weekend tickets are £30 and £27 for students and under 16's. Available online.
The Trip Festival (27-29 May)
This year the Trip festival has moved to a new location of the Vaynol Estate near Bangor to bring a beautiful view to be enjoyed along with the funky music. A mixture of upcoming artists from the UK and Wales come together to get the people up and dancing to psych-folk, psychedelia, cosmic rock, Americana, Balearic and disco tunes. Advertising their family-friendly environment and line-up of nearly fifty acts across the weekend, they show that if you like something a bit different then this is the festival for you. Weekend tickets are £70 including camping and £30 for 10-16 years.
Chester Folk Festival (27-30 May)
A twenty-minute drive out of Chester will take you to the village of Kelsall where the Chester Folk Festival will be held this year. Over thirty acts will play over the weekend with other activities around for those moments in between. Concerts, ceilidhs, workshops, singarounds, sessions displays, a craft fair and children's entertainment just to name a few of the things on offer. Promoting folk music in the Chester area, the group hold the event annually for £62 and give half price for 10-18 years.
Llangollen Comedy Festival (9-12th June)
Not into the music scene? Not to worry, there's a comedy festival coming to North Wales to have you in stitches all weekend. Ed Byrne and Craig Campbell are among some of the comic geniuses confirmed for the event. Based at the Llangollen Pavilion you can buy weekend tickets online for £85.
Abersoch Jazz Festival (10-12 June)
It's the tenth anniversary of the festival so expect something big. Acts playing include the Blue Magnolia Jass Orchestra, the Ronald Anderson Festival Band, The Paul Harrison Band, Barbara & All That Jazz and Barbara & All That Jazz. It works out at a cheap and cheerful event at £42 with an extra session on June 9th, which is pay on the door.
Gwyl Criccieth (10-19 June)
The 1980's marked the birth of Gwyl Criccieth, which wins the title as the longest festival of nine days in this lovely seaside town for it's 24th anniversary. "Whether your interest runs to horticulture or history, folk music, fine art or fireworks, choirs or card craft, Lloyd George or jazz, you will find it in this years festival," the organisers promote. To go to the events you should fill in a booking form from the website to be posted, by telephone on 07790 830 367 or in person at Newsday, High Street, Criccieth & Crafty Needles, 52 High Street, Criccieth.
Gottwood (30 June-3rd July)
Anglesey hosts a flurry of electronic music and arts over a long weekend promoting acts like Jamie XX, A Guy Called Gerard and Monkey Safari. I know what you might be thinking ‘who even are these acts?' Well Jamie XX is part of a brilliant London-based band called ‘The xx' and is a music producer and remixer in a new and exciting way. He is definitely worth a look and is the most prominent and awaited act for the festival. Tickets are available exclusively on www.eventselephant.com for £84 + booking fee to be exchanged for a wristband on arrival to keep the place ‘green'.
Bluegrass (30 June- 3rd July)
A ten minute leisurely stroll to the town hall from the campsite brings you to the centre of the Bluegrass festival. It is the 23rd International event for this unique sub-genre of country music. The line-up this year includes Highly Strung, G-Runs and Roses, the Down County Boys and Shake the Roots. Tickets are £60 before June and £65 after the first. Available through a booking form online.
Ymuno Festival (1-3rd July)
Folk and urban-folk with a twist are the themes of this years chilled out festival in Abergele this summer. Great food, a relaxed atmosphere and some great tunes to give you that summer feeling. Ymuno means a coming-together, joining in and being a part of something and they expect nothing less at the festival for it's second year. Big names include the widely acclaimed Foy Vance and local singer/songwriter Chloe Leavers, Middleman, John Smith, Cat Fish and the Bottlemen, Karima Francis and many more! It's not all about the music though, with local organic produce, organic foods and artistic and film displays on offer throughout the day. Adult tickets are £55 and are available online.
Chester Rocks (2-3rd July)
One of the biggest and best events to rock Chester this year! Situated at Chester Racecourse. Headliners include McFly, The Saturdays, Taio Cruz and the Sugababes. The first day is full to the brim with some of the most popular pop bands of the last few years, whereas the second day is more aimed at lovers of alternative music. Echo and the Bunnymen, formed in Liverpool are a post-punk band playing on the Sunday so if you're feeling really adventurous you can grab some gel and mohawk your hair and get moshing. Weekend tickets are £85 and single day tickets are £47.50. Available online.
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod (4-10 July)
This July, Llangollen celebrates its 65th anniversary of the International Music Eisteddfod. Lulu kicks things off on Monday evening at 7.45pm, probably not doing a rendition of Soulja Boy like on Let's Dance earlier on in the year! Tickets £30-£50 online. Tuesday, Russell Watson sings his Tenor heart out at 7.45pm. Tickets £25-£45 online. McFly complete the famous lineup on Sunday evening at 7.45pm. Tickets £25-£35 online. Other fun activities run throughout the six days and other dance and musical acts perform.
Wakestock (8-10 July)
Possibly the top festival to burst into North Wales this summer season, with a fabulous line-up of current musical stars and Cardigan Bay has the privilege of hosting this popular event. Huge names like Biffy Clyro, Ellie Goulding, Chase and Status, Example, Far East Movement and the Wombats are all confirmed to play. If you liked the music of late 2010 and early 2011 then this festival is right for you. Highlighting some of the most popular musicians of the last year, the festival is the most modern of it's kind in the area. Definitely bring your surfer beads and your swimsuit for this one and head down to the beach to watch the pros in action on their wakeboards. Tickets online £125 weekend and camping.
Small Nations (8-10 July)
A celebration of the music from Wales and other small nations like it. At Glangwenlais Farm, Cilywm near Llandovery in Carmarthenshire, it is one of the nicest small festivals in the northwest. It also holds some of the best views of the Cambrian Mountains to add to the peaceful scene. Secured bands include: DJ Kormac, Mose Fanfan, MC Xander, Rainy and The Dust, Galanastra, James Smith's MABON, Mordekkers, Panda Su, Super Cute Voice, Trwbador and Sild. For a truly patriotic day in a family-friendly location, the £65 for an adult ticket doesn't seem too much of a hole in your pocket.
Gyl Gardd Goll (22-24 July)
The Super Furry Animals' frontman Gruff Rhys is set to be the main attraction this year along with Echo and the Bunnymen and Badly Drawn Boy. Hosted in the Faenol estate in Bangor, he festival has grown rapidly from it's roots because of last years popularity. The organiser, Dilwyn Llwyd was pleasantly surprised with the success in booking bigger bands than just the local ones. A weekend ticket with camping is £80 for over 16s.
El Sueño Existe (12-14 August)
A smaller event of the year is this Latin American and Welsh festival in Machynlleth, Powys. A mixture of music, dance, poetry, film and political discussion means that it is possibly more likely to attract an artistic, more mature crowd. El Sueño Existe 2011 will celebrate the cultural diversity of some of the eight ALBA countries (Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda) and the four countries with observer status: Grenada, Haiti, Paraguay, and Uruguay. If you're from any of these countries it provides a great opportunity to meet people from there and share this unique culture.
Creamfields (26-28 August)
Another one of the best upcoming events of the summer to add to your calendar is this. A little trek to Daresbury allows you to enjoy this treasure. Want to see Katy B, The Chemical Brothers, Calvin Harris, Annie Mac, Judge Jules, Swedish House Mafia, David Guetta and Eric Prydz in one place over one weekend? Then get up and go to this. It may be £135 plus a booking fee for three days and camping, but looking back over the line-up and knowing it will be scorching hot in August it's hard to say no really.
