WALES GAMES DEVELOPMENT SHOW
The Wales Games Development Show
is proof that Wales has a game plan for
making itself a hub of game design and
development. The exhibition will give Welsh
game companies, students and industry
professionals a chance to show the public
their latest creations.
Not only will this be the perfect opportunity
to gets hands on and play about with what
Wales has to offer but – with workshops,
master classes and networking events – it
can also provide a fascinating insight into
the industry.
This year’s guest speakers include Gary
Napper who was the senior designer of sci-
MUSIC
fi horror Alien: Isolation, the mind behind
indie puzzle platformer Thomas Was Alone
Mike Bithell and Michelle Ducker, producer
at Media Molecule (the company who
created Little Big Planet and Tearaway).
After that the game will be far from up,
as the show will be rounding off with the
glamorous BAFTA Cymru Awards For
Games where the Wales Award for Best
Game will be announced. HA
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay,
Fri 11 July. Admission: £10/£9.66 adv.
Info: www.walesgamesdevshow.org
EVENT
MUSICFEST
Cardigan Bay is alive with the sounds of music as Aberystwyth gets tuned up
for MusicFest. Music makers of all abilities will be welcomed into the festival
which, as well as plenty of live performances, runs a musical Summer School.
There will be courses in all sorts of classy instruments such as the clarinet and
violin, as well as more niche lessons in conducting, classical vocal training,
film and TV composing and even a course about the psychology of music and
performing.
if, after class, you feel like seeing the professionals at work then the festival
has plenty to choose from. Highlights include a visit from the London Schools
Symphony Orchestra and the performance of an experimental piece by English
composer Richard Blackford.
Blackford’s The Great Animal Orchestra takes recordings of animals and
environments from around the world and puts them into a musical score –
bringing together the wonders of nature with the power of a full symphony
orchestra to create an impressive festival finale. HA
Musicfest, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Sat 26 July-Sat 2 Aug. Tickets:
individual events £6-£15 / eight-day summer school courses £340-£550.
Info: www.abermusicfest.org
SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND
EVENT
The people of Barry are making sure they make the most of their free time
this summer with The Barry Island Weekenders, as the seaside town will be
hosting different events every weekend in July and August.
There will be live action on the first weekend as teams dive head first into the
Welsh international Open Volleyball Championships (Sat 5 + Sun 6 July). After
that experience Barry island transform into a magical isle Of Fire (Sat 19 + Sun
20 July) with blazing sculptures and flaming displays. Or get into the festival
spirit with the Street Music Weekender (Sat 26 + Sun 27 July) and Street
Theatre Weekender (Sat 2 + Sun 3 Aug). To commemorate the centenary of
WWI, Barry Gardens will become home to a soldiers’ encampment for the day
(Sun 10 Aug). you can also let loose your inner child and artistic flair at the
Sport, Art and Play Weekender (Sat 16 + Sun 17 Aug) and, for a relaxing end
to these weekend extravaganzas, relive some classic films by the sea (Sat 23
+ Sun 24 Aug). AJ
Barry Island Weekenders 2014, Barry, Sat 5 July-Sun 24 Aug.
Admission: free. Info: 0