• Home
• What's On
  • Calendar Of Events
  • News
  • Equestrian Diary
• Where To Go
  • Dining & Nights Out
  • Historic Buildings
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Other Attractions
  • Parks, Gardens & Beaches
  • Shopping
  • Sporting & Leisure
  • Theatre, Gigs & Festivals
  • Theme Parks
  • Walks & Cycle Paths
  • Wildlife & Nature
• Where to Stay
  • Carmarthen
  • Llanelli
  • Neath Port Talbot
  • Other Areas
  • Swansea
  • West Wales
• Getting There
• Competition
• Online Brochure
• Links
• Contact Us

FORGET the economic gloom and the credit crunch immerse yourself in the excitement of Summer 2009 by visiting the many  major events and local festivals, of music and dance, entertainment and country shows. Summertime brings you a run-down of some of the main attractions.

GUARDIAN HAY FESTIVAL  21 – 31 May 2009

The Guardian Hay Festival is the leading festival of writers and ideas.

Headline speakers include Alan Bennett, Henning Mankell, Eric Hobsbawm and Niall Ferguson, Joan Bakewell, Hugh Masekela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Jane Birkin.

Just a few of the writers to attend include Alaa Al Aswany, Sarah Waters, Jeremy Paxman, Kate Atkinson, Alain de Botton, Jeanette Winterson, Monica Ali, Colm Toibin, Dannie Abse, Simon Schama and Rose Tremain,

Hay Festival’s commitment to the environmental cause continues and the festival will open with the UNESCO and Arts & Business Greenprint Conference. During the day, chosen panellists will focus on different aspects of climate change and how to combat it. Other environmental speakers will include Nick Stern, George Monbiot, Jane Davidson AM, Steve Jones and Jeremy Leggett.

To examine the current economic situation Hay is bringing together the foremost minds within economics, to include Nobel prize winning economist Amartya Sen, Nicholas Stern the professor of Economics and Government at the London School of Economics, and BBC’s award winning Business Editor Robert Peston.

Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury will be making his first visit to Hay and will be announcing the winner of the Michael Ramsey Prize 2009.

Fans of TV and film will have the opportunity to listen to David Simon, writer of The Wire, the Oscar winning producer of The Italian Job, Michael Deeley, actress Diana Quick, Hollywood legend Tony Curtis and G F Newman, the creator of Law and Order and Judge John Deed. Sting and Trudie Styler will discuss their new venture, the film Twin Spirits.

Evening entertainment at Hay will include comedy from a host of entertainers ranging from Shazia Mirza to Dylan Moran and great music, from Jimmy Cobb to Asian Dub Foundation.

The children’s festival, Hay Fever will return for a ninth successive year with a host of children’s entertainments and speakers, to include Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson, Cornelia Funke, Patrick Ness, Robert Muchamore and Anthony Horowitz. There will also be daily workshops for children of all ages to include acting and circus skills. 

2009 draft programme is now available at www.hayfestival.com

Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yr Urdd National Eisteddfod
25 – 30 Mai/May 2009

From 25 – 30 May this year, Cardiff Bay will be transformed as Europe’s largest youth festival, the Urdd National Eisteddfod comes to town. The Wales Millennium Centre will serve as the festival’s hub with all the main competitions taking place in the renowned Donald Gordon Theatre while Roald Dahl Plass and the rest of Cardiff Bay will be alive with stalls, exhibitions, live street theatre and much, much more.

Traditionally a family event, the Eisteddfod has so much to offer the 100,000 visitors it attracts every year. 15,000 competitors will be singing, dancing and reciting and all vying for the top spot in 450 competitions. Meanwhile, the winning entries in the Craft, Design and Technology competitions will be on show in the celebrated Senedd building.

And with trampolines, a climbing wall, canoeing, football, rugby and golf, not to mention the funfair, live bands and shows there’ll be plenty to keep the most energetic visitor happy for hours. It’s the perfect day out for children and adults alike.

A warm Welsh welcome awaits everyone in Cardiff Bay this Whitsun half term holiday. More information about the event, ticket prices and how to get there can be found by logging on to www.urdd.org
Welwn ni chi yna! See you there!

GOWER FOLK FESTIVAL 2009 12th, 13th & 14th June at the Gower Heritage Centre, Parkmill, Swansea.

Now in its 16th year, the GOWER FOLK FESTIVAL brings music and dance from world class musicians to a stunning location on the Gower Peninsula, a short walk from Three Cliffs Bay.

The opening dance evening on Friday 12th June features Avant Trois and headliners Boldwood, with English, Welsh and European dances.  There’s no need to know the dances beforehand as there’s a workshop early evening and a caller on hand with full instructions.

For the Saturday daytime session, there are instrument workshops, an open session and music on the main stage from Clio Trio, Keith Donnelly, The Foundlings and Steve Turner, with the fantastic Wistman’s Wood from Devon finishing off the afternoon. 

The evening session has Scottish duo Mike & Ali Vass on fiddle and piano, followed by Chris Newman & Maire Ni Chathasaigh on guitar and harp, who create a breathtaking musical blend of traditional Irish, hot jazz, bluegrass and baroque. Headlining are Irish superstars Beoga, a stunning 5 piece from County Antrim who’ve played Cambridge Festival and the Last Night of the Proms.

On Sunday, following an open session, there are sets from The Carrivick Sisters, Maclaine Colston & Saul Rose and Calan. The afternoon ends with Mawkin:Causley, one of the best bands to emerge in recent years.

Sunday evening has sets from The Carrivick Sisters and our two fantastic headliners: Martin Simpson and Andy Cutting, both winners of musician of the year. Our final band is Ffynnon from Wales.
www.gowerfolkfestival.co.uk

 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, 7-12 July

For one week, in one town, over fifty countries gather for one of Wales’ most unique experiences. This July over 4000 performers and festival goers from all over the world will visit Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in the picturesque Dee Valley, North Wales. This cool and cultural event, considered as 'Wales’ gift to the World' was established in 1947 to promote peace and goodwill between nations through music and dance.

Still thriving today Llangollen Eisteddfod has become one of the world’s most colourful festivals. During each themed day the festival field is a hive of activity with main stage competitions, outside stage performances, workshops, and impromptu singing and dancing from every corner of the world, in national and regional costume. The evening Gala concerts over the years have attracted some of show-business’ biggest names such as Pavarotti, Michael Ball, Elaine Page, Domingo, Katherine Jenkins and Dame Shirley Bassey. This year is no exception, young singing sensation Faryl Smith is set to star at this year’s festival having first competed there at the age of 10 , winning first prize for her vocal solo in the 10-15 age group. Other amazing high lights include concerts by Barbara Dickson, Sir Willard White, Blake, Natasha Marsh, and even The Music of James Bond, with guest stars including Honor Blackman, aka Pussy Galorse! What a cocktail...Prepare to be shaken and stirred! Join the rest of the world, join the party. For more information, telephone 01978 862001 or visit the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

THE GOWER ROCK FESTIVAL 17th-18th July 2009

The Gower Rock Festival returns for its second year, on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th July 2009 held at the Gower Heritage Centre, Parkmill.
Due to last year’s phenomenal success, the Gower Rock Festival will now be a two day event instead of last year’s one day. This year’s exciting line up will include legendary Welsh space rockers ‘MAN’ (headliners on Saturday) and fellow Welsh folk legends Boys From The Hill (headlining Friday).

This will be the Man bands only Swansea date this year and a rare performance from the Boys From The Hill, so it’s a must see event! This year’s full line-up will include many up and coming bands including Frame 3-13, Hadron Collider, Duffraine and Nucleus as well as bands regular to the Swansea music scene including King of Despair, The Magpies and Double O Zeroes. One band that have stood out a lot during the past few months have been Hadron Collider, a 4 piece indie-rock band, based in Swansea.

Comprising of Josh Ace, Steffan Tucker, Simon Parsons and James Beck, they bring a completely new and fresh style within the Swansea music scene along with inspiring song writing. Defiantly a band to keep your eye on! Hadron Collider will be playing on the Friday night of the festival.

Other bands will include The Blims, Sera and the Elements, Mudjack, Chineapple Punks, Rugfire and Messiah Riot.
For any further information or to purchase tickets, please contact the Centre.

The Gower Festival   July 18 to July 31, 2009   

The Gower Festival brings together summer evenings, the churches and countryside of Gower and wonderful, wonderful music.  To ensure that the music is truly wonderful the Festival Committee is constantly searching the world for interesting performers and, in 2009, they will be welcoming artists from Austria, Australia, Germany, Sweden, USA and Israel... as well as the UK. You can see that it will, indeed, be an international event.

The Festival opens and closes with superb pianists. The first concert, on July 18th, will be given by the young Viennese pianist Gottlieb Wallisch.  He will present “Homage to Haydn”.  And on July 31st the outstanding Welshman Llyr Williams will play music by Mendelssohn, Beethoven and Chopin.

Between there will be: two string quartets... the Henschel Quartet and the Badke String Quartet; the Kungsbacka Piano Trio will play the Archduke Trio by Beethoven and a remarkable arrangement of Schönberg’s Verklärte Nacht.  There will be a chance to hear Bartholomew LaFollette play the cello; Jakob Lindberg play the lute; and Trevor Fishlock give the Festival Lecture.  There will also be a fascinating programme of music for wind quintet given by the Galliard Ensemble; and Elizabeth Watts (winner of the 2006 Kathleen Ferrier Prize) will sing in the enchanted setting of Ilston Church.

In 2009 the Swansea Bach Choir and Pee-Jee Ng will perform at All Saints, Oystermouth on July 19th while two groups will defy all attempts to classify them: The David Rees Williams Trio will present jazz forays into the classical repertoire at Reynoldston and ‘Respectable Groove’ will mix Celtic, Jazz and Latin influences in a programme which includes a unique version of Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas. 

Wonderful, wonderful music!
Tickets The Grand Theatre, Singleton Street, Swansea   SA1 3QJ

Royal Welsh Show, Builth Wells 21-24th July

The Royal Welsh Show is one of the most prestigious events of its type in Europe, and this year will once again be bringing together the farming industry and rural community in a celebration of the best of British Agriculture with a unique and very special ‘Welsh' flavour. The Royal Welsh Show provides a prime shop window for farming in Wales.

Last year’s near record attendance of 236,284 confirmed yet again the supremacy of the Royal Welsh Show as the biggest attraction of its kind in Britain. No wonder it has become an important event in the Welsh calendar.
Every year the show guarantees that mass crowds flock to the small mid-Wales rural town of Builth Wells, where its friendly atmosphere and entertaining programme attract not just the farming community but visitors from all walks of life.

THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD: August 1-8th on Rhiwlas Estate, Bala, Gwynedd – the same venue as the 1997 Eisteddfod.

Bala will become the cultural capital of Wales during the first week in August.
At its centre will be the main pavilion with seating capacity for approximately 3,500. It is here that singers, dancers and choirs will compete against each other; it is here that the colourful ceremonies of awarding a Crown, a Chair and Prose Medal will be staged by the Gorsedd of Bards, it is here in the evenings that concerts will be given by international soloists and orchestras and by a specially formed local choir of 500 voices; it is here that a music and dance extravaganza by local schoolchildren will bring the house down with its verve and exuberance.

But the main pavilion, although central, is only one amongst many centres of activity on the Eisteddfod Maes. Around it are located smaller pavilions – a visual arts exhibition, a theatre, literature studio, science and technology pavilion, dance hall, societies’ centre and a learners’ centre, each with a full programme of exhibitions, performances and discussions. The learners’ centre will be humming with activity aimed at helping the learner to acquire the Welsh language and provide advice and information on learning Welsh. All around the Maes there will be some 325 other tradestands. They vary in size and shape, and they sell everything from Welsh crafts of all kinds, books, jewellery and harps to name a few and  pretty well every cultural and voluntary organisation in Wales will also be there. Disperse amongst all this some 20,000 to 25,000 daily visitors and you have a vibrant, happy-go-lucky bazaar of cultures which is unique to Wales.

For further information visit our website– www.eisteddfod.org.uk

PONTARDAWE MUSIC FESTIVAL 20-23 AUGUST 2009

A glittering array of Welsh musical talent is waiting in the wings at this year’s Pontardawe Festival, where it’s business as usual amid the economic doom and gloom.  And wherever you are in town, there will be plenty to see, hear and do.

ON THE FIELD: The iconic Welsh band Man lead the way on mainstage, opening the festival a day earlier than usual on Thursday August 20, supported by two emerging local acts, Bambi Killers and The Last Republic. Other Welsh stars on show over festival weekend include Martyn Joseph, Calan and Delyth Jenkins.

Also lined up to appear are London-based Scot Rory McLeod, all-girl trio Zoox, ex-Fairport Convention Ashley Hutchings with Rainbow Chasers, Vin Garbutt from Teesside and west country songstress Amy Newton.

The international flavour comes from Zimbabwe courtesy of the acclaimed mambo band Harare, American trio Dulci and reggae maestros Edward II.

The large Craft Market will have a wide selection of goods from all over the world and you can eat and drink in the international food village and the real ale bar while the kids romp around in the Playbus.

ON THE STREETS: In town, the Pontardawe Arts Centre is at the heart of things with live music, dancing and workshops running all weekend as part of the Pontardawe Chamber of Trade SummerFest. 

There’s a lively street market and two carnival parades, one by torchlight on Friday night and then the main carnival procession to the field on Saturday afternoon.  There’s a Fest Noz on Friday night and the traditional festival Ceilidh with the Bear Band on Saturday night.

For more information and tickets, go online at www.ponty2009.com or call the Festival offices:

Llandrindod Wells Victorian Festival 22nd - 30th AUGUST 2009 

Llandrindod Wells is proud to present the leading Victorian Festival in the UK today.  Set in the beautiful heart of Wales, it is held in the last full week of August before the Bank Holiday. As Llandrindod was a thriving spa resort in the Victorian era it seems natural to base the Festival on the Victorian theme.  The town's unspoilt architecture provides a perfect backdrop to the celebrations, and on Temple Gardens and Middleton Street we have ideal venues for the many different types of street entertainment provided free   throughout the day.

Townsfolk and many holiday-makers promenade in stunning costumes, soaking up the atmosphere, marvelling at the magnificent street entertainers, bravely entering competitions or attending one of the numerous programmed events.

The 9 day Festival will be incorporating some new events and street entertainment with some of the old favourites which regular Festival-goers have come to love.

The Festival aims to provide fun for all the family and cater for all ages and tastes.

At the end of the nine days, the proceedings are closed in the grandest of manners with the moving torchlight procession and fireworks display over The Lake - a spectacle not to be missed.