MUSICFEST
Aberystwyth Arts Centre
Sat 26 July-Sat 2 Aug
What: This international music festival has over 30
musical performances, including the Welsh premier
of Richard Blackford’s The Great Animal Orchestra.
Alongside the festival is a summer school where
you can get hands on with all types of musical
instruments and performance.
Who: London Schools Symphony Orchestra, Solem
Quartet
How much: £tbc
Info: www.abermusicfest.org
THE GREEN GATHERING
Piercefield Park, Chepstow
Thurs 31 Jul-Sun 3 Aug
What: A fun family weekend powered completely by
energy from the wind and the sun. The people behind
The Green Gathering aim to teach people how to save
energy and show that you can still have a good time
doing so.
Who: Floating Lotus, Love Shack, The Dandy Lion
How much: £50-£96.50 / under-11s free
Info: www.greengathering.org.uk
RHONDDA ROCKS
The Factory, Porth
Fri 1-Sun 3 Aug
What: This passionate festival in the heart of south
Wales has a devoted following that showcases local rock
talent and aims to connect great music to great people.
Who: Future Of The Left, Keys, The People The Poet
How much: £16.87 weekend / £5.95-£11.25 day
Info: www.rhonddarocks.co.uk
NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD
Carmarthenshire
Fri 1-Sat 9 Aug
What: Our world-famous celebration of the arts
has a claim to be one of the original festivals. It’s a
sprawling gala that encompasses almost any form
of creative expression you could
conceive of.
Who: tbc
How much: £tbc
Info: www.eisteddfod.
org.uk
BUZZ 24
Glass Butter Beach
SUMMERFEST
CROISSANT NEUF SUMMER PARTY
Near Usk, Monmouthshire
Fri 8 Aug-Mon 11 Aug
What: Could it possibly sound more like a boutique
festival? Non. That’s because it’s a classy four -day
event based on food, dance, music and
eco-friendliness.
Who: Natty (pictured below), Ten Pound Suit
Band, The Zen Hussies
How much: £40-£105
Info: www.partyneuf.co.uk
Pontardawe Arts Centre
Thurs 14-Sun17 Aug
What: This summer loving festival will literally be
spilling out onto the streets as stalls and parades will
be flowing out of Pontardawe Arts Centre. There will
be folk, ceilidhs, dance and even Goldielookinchain.
Who: Goldielookinchain, Valley Folk Club
How much: Events priced separately
Info: www.nptartsandents.co.uk
GLASS BUTTER BEACH
Cardigan Bay, North Wales
Fri 15-Sat 16 Aug
What: Music. Surfing. Skating. Wakeboarding.
BMXing. Beaches. Sea. Sun (hopefully). What more
could Glass Butter Beach Festival possibly offer? An
extreme weekend full of music and sports, perfect.
Who: Soul II Soul, Goldierocks (pictured),
Daniel James
How much: £65-£125 weekend / £35-£50 day ticket
Info: www.glassbutterbeach.com
GREEN MAN FESTIVAL
Crickhowell, Brecon Beacons
Thurs 14-Sun 17 Aug
What: Priding itself on being free and
independent, Green Man has become a staple
of Wales’ festival scene.
Sitting at the foot of the breathtaking Black
Mountains, Green Man started out life in 2003
as a one day event with a capacity of just 300 people. Now it’s a weekend extravaganza
with 1500 perfomers and a 24-hour licence (the only festival in the UK with such an
luxury), meaning that whatever time and whatever state you wake up in, there will be
people ready to party with you in awe of Green Man’s breathtaking mountain views.
This year the award-winning Green Man attracts the indie rock/Eastern European folk
hybrid of Beirut, the loving lo-fi tunes of Bill Callahan, the ambient and haunting songs
of Daughter and Athens, GA’s cult favourites Neutral Milk Hotel.
There is more that just music on offer, however, has the festival has 10 entertainment
arenas with different acts. There is Einstein’s Garden for some insightful science,
Babbling Tongue for spoken word delights and Fortuna Falls for a beautiful combination
of arts and nature.
Who: Beirut (pictured above), Caribou, Mac DeMarco
How much: £85-£159 / under-12s £5 / under-4s free
Info: www.greenman.net