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The MMP Summer Festival Special 2013
wmc.org.uk/blysh 029 2063 6464
H a f er m m u S 13 20
Gwyl syrcas, cabaret a chelf stryd Caerdydd Cardiff’s festival of circus, cabaret and street art
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Summer 2013
Hello Summer Gadzoots! Just what in the name of Michael Parkinson’s secret S&M dungeon is that round orange ball in the sky?! Could it be that? Dare we speak these words aloud and risk scaring it away…is it….the… the freakin’ sun?! It would appear the answer is an emphatic yes (kind of) And with phoenix like rising of the fleeting British summer time the musical calendar kicks itself up a gear and mutates full bore into that most hallowed/derided of times (delete as appropriate to correspond with your grump levels)…the festival season! Over the course of the next three months, Wales will hold host to large quantities of people sitting in fields, looking at music and watching as the social stratosphere shift slightly to make it acceptable for the wearing of decorative neon headgear, the drinking of inordinate amounts of booze, and the adoption of needlessly friendly patter with strangers whilst everyone collectively smells worse than a sack of dead badgers. You’ve just gotta love it But with such an enormous host of fields deciding to transform themselves into (dependant on rain) utopian/post-apocalyptic landscapes and offering the assembled hordes a dose of freedom from society’s shackles – just where the hell do you decide to set up camp? Well lucky for you dear reader, we’ve assembled the definitive gosh darn guide to Wales’s summer festival season. Beyond that we’ve got an interview with the folks behind possibly Wales best loved festival “Green Man”, a detailed spotlight on (in our opinion) the best festivals happening this year and a survival guide to make sure you’re prepared for all eventualities (regardless of how unlikely some may be). So delve in folks and find exactly which patch of grass you intend on losing your mind to for three days this summer. We’re the MMP, And we’re here to help xxx
The MMP
* Please note we no longer accept physical demos or CDs, only links to stream or download.
Publisher MMP Creative Ltd Editors Jonathan Day, AimeeJade Hayes Writers Hash Piperdy, Jim Swidenbank, Jonathan Day, Jody Tozer, Spun Tongue Designed by: Aimee-Jade Hayes seemonkeydomonkey. com CONTACT info@themmp.tv
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The MMP Summer Festival Special 2013
Greenman Festival
Ah, festival season; that special time of year when we pack up our shorts and flip-flops and eagerly toddle off to spend long weekends absorbing a veritable assortment of live music in a field with delusions of returning sun-burnt .... ... and enlightened knowing only too well that the only steadfast fashion fixture of the weekend will be a muddy pair of wellies. But we wouldn’t change it for the world, would we? So where better a destination than Wales’ very own Black Mountains for what has become a true stalwart of the UK festival scene? International bands, family friendly and one of the most celebrated atmospheres on the circuit; we had a chat with the managing director and owner of Green Man Fiona Stewart to untangle just what it is that makes such a renowned homegrown music and arts festival tick.
MMP: How did you come to be involved with Green Man?
I was organising a festival called Big Chill which was a half an hour away from Green Man so I was aware of it and from time to time was asked for support over a few things by the group of artists and friends involved. I was happy to help and by its third year it has increased to a two day event for around 1000 people. It
achieved a level of popularity and some good press but like a lot of new events in their third year it began to unravel both operationally and in its curation and had become too much for the organisers who realised that it needed more content, production and areas to take its place within the festival calendar. They approached me and asked me buy into it and to
for 2000 people to enable visitors to incorporate these days plus the festival into a holiday in Wales. Music will always be the heart of the festival but it now includes different art forms. Comedy, literature, science, therapy and massage, theatre, 12 and under and teen areas, arts installations and circus skills are also available so its now a fully fledged arts and cultural
take it over and develop it into a fully functioning festival in 2005. I moved it to Glanusk where and over the years I was gradually able to add and develop new areas, design them and bring in different curators to add to the event.
event. £11,000.000.00 has been generated in the local area in the last three years due to the impact of the festival so it has become a financial asset to the region.
“Music will always be the heart of the festival but it now includes different art forms. ”
MMP: Last year saw the 10th anniversary of Green Man. In what ways has the festival evolved over its inaugural decade?
Green Man is now a four day event attended by 20,000 people. It has a separate pre festival gathering
MMP: What do you see as the festivals big highlights over the past ten years? Any neardisasters in that time? There have been so many! Alt J playing last year in the Far Out tent was incredible, we’d booked them for their album came out and obviously following the the band became the band of the year so it was absolutely
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Words and Interview: Jim Swidenbank
packed for their set. Robert Plant playing ‘Whole Lotta Love’ on the Mountain Stage in 2007 was like a dream! There have been so many highlights over the years - too many to list!
MMP: Is organising a festival in the UK a daunting task given the often tumultuous and unforgiving British weather? Last year was, after all, a bit of a mud bath…
Last year was the worst wet Summer in history and yes it was challenging for me and others. Many festivals and outdoor events were affected. Nothing was cancelled at Green Man but the mud was the worst we have ever seen at the festival. A horse trial event took place a few weeks before we arrived and although it was cancelled due to the bad weather the two days it took place damaged the site very badly. We were shocked when we arrived and for a time I thought that we would have to cancel the festival. But we made it work in the end but the ground was very soft due to the damage and although we put in tons of wood chippings and trackway it turned to mud very quickly. We have had more rain in previous years but the site has held up a lot better than it did last year.
MMP: How about this year’s festivals - headliners aside, what are the key highlights? What can people expect from the other areas of the festival such as Einstein’s Garden and
the Nature & Nurture area? Is there anything brand new for 2013?
In Einstein’s Garden this year we’ll be celebrating superheroes, cult heroes, unlikely heroes, heroes of the animal world, and of course scientific heroes. Theoretical Zombiologist Doctor Austin will be running a spoof multimedia tutorial exploring the real science behind a gruesome Zombie epidemic. You really won’t find anything like this at any other festival! Talking Shop (literature) features talks with the legendary Robert Wyatt, Julian Cope, James Yorkston and many more, while Last Laugh (comedy) plays host to over 40 of the finest stand-up comedians including Josh Widdicomve and Maeve Higgins. We’re also introducing a new bar called Speak Easy that’ll be serving whisky and hot toddys. Has it become easier over the years to attract big names to the festival? Yes it is easier to attract bigger named artists to the festival but its not just about that. Artist fees have increased incredibly over the last few years so many are out of our price range now. If I increased the ticket costs, took in sponsorship I could increase funds to get acts which will only play for bigger fees but that would change the festival. Also I would never want Green Man to be just about bigger acts and the joy of finding a talented new artist and introducing them to the music discerning Green Man audience is still very much part of the festival.
As it is the relationships with artists and artist management means that the larger acts that play really are performing at Green Man because they want to and for what we can afford. In a way we get the best of them because of this.
MMP: What makes Green Man unique amongst the UK festival circuit? Green Man is the biggest truly independent festival in the UK. It is privately owned and it has no corporate backing and no sponsorship. It’s the only event of its size which is run in house. No production, bar company or other service supplier is involved. This is the reason we can keep the ticket and bar costs down and are still able to run the event as we do not have to pay fees to others. I produce it and Ben my son and books all the artists and cinema at the festival. It is the only UK commercial event of its size that is owned and run by a woman.
MMP: Where do you hope the festival will be ten years from now? I want the heart of the festival to be the same as it is now. Creatively free and offering a unique experience to those who come. I want it have evolved and changed as it has in the last 10 years but only as much as it needs to keep fresh and attractive to those who come. It has its challenges sometimes but I love what I do and can’t imagine doing anything else!
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The MMP Summer Festival Special 2013
Cardiff, prepare to be Oxjammed
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For any people who have been hiding in caves/stuck down Peruvian mine shafts/ glued to Macbooks in Starbucks in a bubble of reality detached from everything happening around you in the real, tangible beyond half shot, skinny, grande latte enemas here’s the dealo on just what this whole OXJAM thingy is….ahem…So the pitch is.. It’s a music festival and events operation that sets its laser guided money sights on raising as many pound signs as humanly possible for the UK’s leading charity; Oxfam. We decided to ask this
beyond providing a mix of music genres for punters to sink their teeth and ears into. You get your Cost: on the day from the Full Moon, pick up a programme and then just wander around and see what you discover. We even had a comedy night and film festival at the last takeover and this is something we’re keen to expand on this year.
“I will crush all uncharitable cheapskates with the cold, merciless rage of a billion thermo-nuclear bombs shaped like Vlad The Impaler.” years Takeover manager, Jody Tozer, to explain in her own words just what the team have got lined up for this years events when compared to last years success and exactly why YOU (yes…you) should give a “denser than a neutron star” damn about proceedings. Over To You Jody! .... Being the manager of the Takeover team I have the privilege of organize a team of extremely generous and talented people who have each given up their time in order to help run a set of varied and interesting events looking to lure people out of their homes so we can help raise some much needed cash for that fam we call Ox. Smash Cut to Last year - Last year we raised a couple of thousand British pounds for the folks at Oxfam (go us!), and we did this by holding many, many events. A selection of which included art and craft themed events, a battle of the bands and some busking from local acts down Cardiff bay. The busking down the bay was probably my highlight of the year, as we had some impromptu waltzing from members of the public, I think they were a dance group or had just auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent. We run these small events to raise money so that we can put on the Oxjam Cardiff Takeover in the centre of Cardiff. So Just What The Dickens is the Takeover - The Oxjam Takeover is an all-day music festival that we put on once a year. It takes over about 8 venues around Womanby Street and just
Leap Forward to NOW – This Years Takeover - This year we’re expanding our repertoire by taking in various other festivals and getting them under the Oxjam umbrella - so far on the agenda we will be having our own stage at The Big Cardiff Mini Film Festival on June 23rd and may also be appearing at Roath’s Street Food Festival later in the year. We have some funk and soul nights run by Sure Shot, a spoken word event and more buskings (but this time with a twist that I’d rather keep on the down low… so make sure you check those out). The Oxjam Cardiff Takeover itself will be taking place on the 10th November, mark it in your diaries, tattoo it on your arm, carve it into your walls – just remember the date and take part. All for a good cause init. Being Involved - Being a part of the Oxjam Takeover team can be a great experience and we encourage anyone who wants to help us out at our events to get in touch, it’s a really good way to have some guilt free fun. Plus I need some people to run the thing while I snaffle cakes from our stalls in the corner. If you don’t want to watch me eating cakes then you can run your own gigs for Oxjam, be sure to check out their website for more information: www.oxjamcardifftakeover.co.uk Twitter: @oxjam_cardiff And remember! Those that give generously will be spared from the wrath of my Iron Fist; I will crush all uncharitable cheapskates with the cold, merciless rage of a billion thermonuclear bombs shaped like Vlad The Impaler. Everyone else will receive a smile and an aforementioned cake Do it up!
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MMP SPECIAL ISSUE
WELSH FESTIVAL SPECIAL BEST OF
BIG
FESTIVALS : GREEN MAN
15TH - 18TH AUGUST When thinking of big festivals in Wales, there is of course one name that dominates – the ever expanding and ever fantastic “Green Man”. Since its inception a decade ago, it’s expanded from a 300 capacity one day folk festival into Wales’s biggest and boldest independent music, arts, literature and culture festival encompassing all the joys and treats of a smaller festival but on a much larger week long scale.
The festival season can get a little daunting.. I mean… do you opt for the big boys? Sure they’re going to have bigger names playing and more stuff happening, but conversely they tend to be vastly more expensive and the sensory overload that comes with them can border on triggering an existential meltdown… What about a little happy go lucky boutique or niche festival? Well folks, we present to you a selection of (in our humble opinion) the best “big”, “boutique” and “really, really specific” festivals happening across the land o’ song this Summer! We hope it’s helpful in some way……If it’s not, feel free to ignore it! Huzzah!
Though primarily focused on music first and foremost, Greenman has carved out an enviable reputation for championing arts, culture, literature, poetry and (with the addition of the Einstein’s Garden feature as of 2013) science. Seamlessly blending 24-hours of relentlessly inventive entertainment with an award winning eco-centric attitude all wrapped up in one of the most beautiful parts of the whole damn country. There are really too many acts to list them all right here, but a quick spread includes the likes of Band of Horses, Fuck Buttons, Midlake, local natives, Beak> and Public Service Broadcasting. With 10 areas to wander around and explore it’s pretty much the ultimate big festival experience Wales has to offer – just pray up to whatever multi-limbed deity you prefer that it doesn’t rain….That can kill the mood all shades of dead pretty darn fast. Cost: : Adult - £145 www.greenman.net
WAKESTOCK
12TH - 14TH JULY If all you live for is to get radical (I’m looking at you Point Break era Patrick Swayze) then Wakestock is almost certainly the massive undulating festival mass you should aim for this year. Taking place in the relentlessly good looking North Walien countryside of Abersoch – it boasts the title of Europe’s largest wakeboarding and live music festival experience.
It’s humbling to think that it started out back in 2000 in a car park…. To quote the best thing from a terribly disappointing recent sci-fi offering …“Big things have small beginnings” So massive is it’s scale that it’s now spread over three sights and attracts the attention of predominantly massive chart based acts and artists (albeit those that still lean towards the more Topman friendly indie/grime/rap end of the chart spectrum) with this year’s line-up featuring the likes of Example, Magnetic Men, Wiley, King Charles, Bastille and Rudimental. Oh yeah, they also have a huge pool thing that uses 200,000 gallons of water and acts as a wakeboarding showcase performance area… Nifty huh? Cost: : Weekend camping - £135, weekend ticket - £110 www.wakestock.co.uk
MONMOUTHSHIRE FESTIVAL
26TH JULY - 3RD AUGUST Though not operating within the same budgetary echelon as Greenman and Wakestock, the Monmouthshire Festival does incorporate the entirety of the town during its nine day run – so props on the size of it. It’s been in operation since 1982 and see’s venues through the town (complete with outdoor stages) host an entirely free selection of performances alongside a celebration of the arts. It’s notable for being one of Europe’s only remaining totally free larger scale music festivals – relying solely on contributions and donations from the audience and townsfolk during the run up and festival itself to pay for performers, crew and equipment – it’s that kind of fiercely independent spirit that makes you want to take a step back and slow clap, eyes focused forward and a look of steely admiration set across your face (think Charles Foster Kane at the opera but less mental). As of writing this year’s acts have yet to be announced, but previous years have included acts ranging across a host of different genres (jazz, roots, ska, folk, rock, hip hop) and featured the likes of The Animals, The Drifters and Goldie Lookin’ Chain. Cost: : Free! www.monmouthfestival.co.uk
presents/yn cyflwyno
SUNDAY 2ND JUNE 2013
lenewport Pub
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C LW B I FO R B ACH
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CLWB IFOR BACH
FRIDAY 14TH JUNE 2013
HOBO’S BRIDGEND
WEDNESDAY 26TH JUNE 2013
THE GLEE CLUB FROM DEL AMITRI _
WED/MER 11 SEPT/MEDI 2013
CLWB IFOR BACH C A R D I F F
THURS 12 SEPTEMBER / IAU 12 MEDI 2013
CLWB IFOR BACH
THURSDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER 2013
THE GATE ARTS CENTRE CARDIFF
CARTEL PROPELLERS
WED/MER 02 OCT/HYD 2013
THE GREAT HALL 2
THURSDAY 3RD OCTOBER 2013
THE GREAT HALL CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
SUNDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2013
SOLUS
CARDIFF
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The MMP Summer Festival Special 2013
MMP SPECIAL ISSUE
BEST OF
BOUTIQUE FESTIVALS :
GWYL GWYDIR
30TH - 31ST AUGUST There’s not really a tremendous amount of information currently floating around regarding this charming little Welsh language festival other than the fact that it is taking place. BUT, running from the assembled line-up of acts last years managed to rumble together, it’ll be a hoot. Managing to super condense a plethora of that kind of Welsh act….you know the sort…those that peddle the thematic sonic template constructed by the Super Furries, Gorkyz et al.
FESTIVAL NO 6
13TH - 15TH SEPTEMBER Despite only now entering into its second year, Festival No 6 comes fully loaded with an enormous amount of anticipation and expectation. Having won both the best new festival and best headline performance awards at the “UK Festival Awards” in London earlier this year as well as the NME best small festival award it’s already something of a critical darling. By providing a unique mixture of name acts alongside smaller up and coming performers - this year features a headline set from the Manic Street Preachers that’s sure to rival last year’s headliner New Order, alongside acts like The Horrors, Neon Neon, Sweet Baboo, Hookworms, Chic and Mount Kimbie to name but a handful – along with a selection of legendary DJ’s and a strong focus on arts, culture, poetry and spoken word they’ve blended all the best bits of what a makes a boutique festival worth attending… But they’re trump card lays in the location Good god the location! Staged in the hyper surreal surroundings of North Wales Port Merieon, Festival No 6 offers a truly unique opportunity to complete escape from the real world into the realm of fantasy for a few days. A bizarre mixture of Greco Roman and Italian architecture designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis over the course of 70 years to represent his own stylised version of an Italian Village, it’s really unlike anything on earth…. …So unique is its location in fact, that cult 60s television series “The Prisoner” chose to use it as the perfect setting for its mind bending “Lost before Lost-was-even-a-twinklein-J.J Abrams-eyes” narrative – the festival itself taking its name (No 6) from the series protagonist. Cost: Adult - £170 + booking fee
Last year saw Race Horse, Y Niwl, Sen Segur, Sweet Baboo, Ir Odds and Ifan Dayfdd (to name but a few) take to the stage for what could only be described as two days of mind boggling Welsh language weirdness, A very good thing indeedy. The language barrier of the music may at first seem like something off-putting – but when you delve into the vast array of sounds swirling around its impossible not to want to lose yourself over a weekend of this kind of left field weirdo music. Keep your eyes peeled for details; it’ll be a good one. Cost: No Info www.gwylgwydir.com
CROISSANT NEUF SUMMER PARTY 8TH - 11TH AUGUST Arguably one of the best kept secrets on the entire UK festival circuit, Croissant Neuf is family friendly festival that proudly wears its green leanings on its sleeve. In fact, it’s won a heap load of awards specifically aimed at its eco-centric approach. The entire festival is run on solar power, all food and drink is locally and organically sourced and they even plant a sh*t load of trees during the festivals run! Alongside a music line up with focuses predominantly on folk, ska, roots and jazz music there’s a host of talks and workshops on the importance of renewable and sustainable sources of energy. A few of this years acts include Zervas & Pepper, The Zen Hussies and Gabby & Other Animals. Cost: Adult - £105 www.croissantneuf.co.uk
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BEST OF
REALLY, REALLY SPECIFIC FESTIVALS :
BRECON JAZZ + BRECON FRINGE
9TH - 11TH AUGUST A heritage brand with a world wide appeal that pulls in tourists and performers from far and wide Since its extremely humble begins back in 1984 (the humble beginnings thing is a common thread through these festivals right?) It’s gone on to be one of the most endearing and prominent jazz centric music festivals in all of Europe. Spread throughout the surroundings of the town the festival encompasses many different venues and locations with the aim to not just promote jazz but also increase the cultural relevance of the area on the whole. In recent years a free fringe festival has been running in tandem to the jazz festival, staged in a similar style (through various venues, pubs and hotels) it aims to bring a wider variety of musical acts to the region during the festivals running time. Countless jazz legends have performed at the festival over the years – further increasing its validity as a bona fide must on the jazz fans calendar – with this year including performances from the likes of Courtney Pine, Django Bates, Jools Holland, Zoe Rahman, Phronesis and Julian Sieg. Cost: Prices vary between events www.breconjazz.org / www.breconfringe.co.uk
SONIC ROCK SOLSTICE
21ST - 23RD JUNE Super niche festivals don’t come any more super or niche than one dedicated entirely to left field bizzaro psych, space, prog and weirdo rock; which is exactly what Sonic Rock Solstice is. It Takes place at Penmaenau Farm in Builth wells North Wales and features some of the downright oddest looking bands you’ll ever have the pleasure of encountering – seriously, scroll through the roster of acts playing via the website and tell me you don’t want to experience the likes of BB Blackdog (just look at that freakin’ picture!). Acts playing include The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Gunslinger, Nine Below Zero, Here & Now and Psychedelic Warlords (amazing name) Cost: Weekend ticket - £70 www.sonicrocksolstice.com
NORTH WALES BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL
4TH - 7TH JULY For all those out there that appreciate that the banjo is in actuality not an instrument of hilarity, but rather something more sombre and mournful (I’m pretty sure I read a Steve Martin quote of a similar ilk and that dude knows his way around a banjo like it’s no one’s business) – this event right about here is a must. Now in its 25th year its Wales premier bluegrass festival and welcomes local, national and international acts into its fold; taking place in beautiful Conwy North Wales it’ll act as the perfect excess to indulge in a weekend of pickin’ and a’ singin. Acts booked include the likes of Highly Strung, Four Wheel Drive, Jeni Hawkins & Billy Kemp, Biggin Hillbillies, Cost: Adult - £70 www.northwalesbluegrass.co.uk
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The MMP Summer Festival Special 2013
MMP SPECIAL ISSUE
FULL
WELSH FESTIVAL GUIDE: HAY FESTIVAL, HAY ON WYE
23RD MAY - 2ND JUNE MUSIC AND LITERATURE Running for a whopping ten days, the fantastic Hay Festival features debates and conversations with poets and scientists, novelists and historians, artists and gardeners, comedians and musicians, film makers and politicians..... like....everyone then. Highlights: Noah & The Whale, Christy Moore, KT Tunstall, Chrysta Bell, The Gould Piano Trio, Wara Cost: Prices vary between events www.hayfestival.com
GOWER FOLK FESTIVAL
14TH - 16TH JUNE FOLK/ TRAD Three day folk music festival taking place at the Greyhound inn nestled amongst the Gowers stunning natural scenery A family focused affair.
Highlights: Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party , Paul McKenna Band, MoltenAmba, Alaw, Lori Watson Rule of Three, James Delarre & Saul Rose, Barrule Cost: Adult weekend - £55 www.gowerfolkfestival.co.uk
TAFWYL WEEK, CARDIFF
14TH - 21ST JUNE A week long programme of Welsh language activities which will take place across the city ranging from comedy, live music, film, history tours, Welsh learners events and nursery activities. Highlights: Yr Ods, R.Seiliog , Y Reu, Howard Marks, Trwbador, Siddi. Cost: TBC www.tafwyl.org/en
SONIC ROCK SOLSTICE, BUILTH WELLS
21ST - 23RD JUNE PROG / PSYCH ROCK Boutique festival catering to all manner of left-field niche prog, space, psych and bizzaro rock acts. Fully intent on expanding your mind shortly before blowing it out of the back of your head....man.
Highlights: The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Nine Below Zero, Here & Now, Astralasia, Psychedelic Warlords, Mick Farren & The Deviants. Cost: Weekend ticket - £70 www.sonicrocksolstice.com
BLUES FESTIVAL OF WALES, GREEN VALLEY ARTS, UPPER CWMTWRCH 28 - 30TH JUNE
BLUES Good old authentic blues sessions on two stages and around the campsite fireside, festival pleasures at their most simple and unpretentious. Highlights: Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash, Johnny Mars, Sicknote Steve. Cost: Not Yet On Sale
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CARDIFF MULTICULTURAL MELA, ROALD DAHL PLAZA, CARDIFF
30TH JUNE Showcases a wide diversity of cultures, music, dance, arts, fashion and food. Although the Mela’s roots are in Asian culture, this is a festival for all and aims to educate, share and celebrate all cultures. Highlights: Imran Khan, Jassi Sidhu (with live band), H Dhami, Apache Indian, Nafees, Kiran Dhanoa Cost: Free www.cardiffmela.com
NORTH WALES BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL, CONWY
4TH - 7TH JULY BLUEGRASS/ COUNTRY Eyes and ears primed and focused on the best of Bluegrass from the UK and further afield- playing a mix of more traditional styles with modern approaches to the genre; a must for anyone a fan of that whole a pickin’ and a strummin’ thing. Now in its 25th year no less! Highlights: Highly Strung, Four Wheel Drive, Jeni Hawkins & Billy Kemp, Biggin Hillbillies, Brian Golby, Britannia Band, Conwy Mountain Band, The Down County Boys Cost: Adult - £70 (camping) Child - £35 (camping) www.northwalesbluegrass.co.uk
LLANGOLLEN NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD
9TH - 14TH JULY POETRY / SPOKEN WORD / THEATRE / TRADITIONAL MUSIC One of the most important Welsh traditions. Festival celebrating music, storytelling, poetry and competition - comes complete with a host of performances from international and established acts as well. Highlights: Jools Holland, Evelyn Glennie, Noah Stewart, Claire Jones, Santo Tomas Choir, Llangollen International Orchestra 8, Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, Gwyn Hughes Jones Cost: Varies www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk
ABERTILLERY BLUES-ROCK FESTIVAL 12TH - 13TH JULY BLUES
Weekend long festival dedicated to that most endlessly enthralling of genres- Featuring a mixture of trad blues, modern blues and rock ‘n’ roll blues. Highlights: Henry’s Funeral Shoe, The Nightporters, Marcus Bonfanti, Mud Morganfield (Muddy Waters eldest son), Grainne Duffy, Mick Pini Cost: Weekend ticket - £40 www.abertillerybluesfestival.co.uk
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The MMP Summer Festival Special 2013
MMP SPECIAL ISSUE
WAKESTOCK, ABERSOCH
12TH - 14TH JULY CONTEMPORARY MUSIC Extreme sports (wakeboarding in particular) and live music festival aimed primarily at a young(ish) demographic with live acts predominantly plucked straight from the charts. Highlights: Example, Bastille, Rudimental, Magnetic Men, King Charles, Willy Moon, Zane Lowe. Cost: Camping - £135 Ticket only - £110 www.wakestock.co.uk
FOLK ON THE LAWN TINTERN ABBY, CHEPSTOW
13TH - 15TH JULY FOLK A relaxed family friendly Welsh language folk festival taking place in the shadow of beautiful Tintern Abbey Highlights: Allan Yn Y Fan, Blushing Melons, Dennis Remme, Dragon’s Breath, Fountainhead, Gwas y Neidr, Mat Lingraad, Newport Folk Club Cost: No Info At Time of Going To Press ww.folkonthelawn.com
GRAIG AID, GRAIGFECHAN
19TH - 20TH JULY FOLK/ROCK/BLUES/COVERS Two day music festival encompassing twelve live acts, locally sourced foods, ales and ciders and camping facilities. Charmingly small and contained little weekend getaway. Highlights: Two Suns, The Shambolics, Beeza & The Wildcats, Word for Word, Pressuredrop, Audiobloom, The Philosophy Cost: Adult - Friday - £5, Saturday - £7 www.graigaid.com
SHEEP MUSIC FESTIVAL, PRESTEIGNE
20 - 22ND JULY WORLD MUSIC Three day world music festival that has a rich twenty two year history.Comes complete with a host of workshops and craft activities as well as a plethora of live music. www.sheepmusicfestival.com
PONTY’S BIG WEEKEND
21ST - 22ND JULY CONTEMPORARY Large weekend long festival catering to mainstream chart and pop acts with a younger family friendly demographic in mind Highlights: JLS (despite the split), Little Mix, Union J Cost: No Info Yet www.pontysbigweekend.co.uk
MONMOUTH FESTIVAL
26TH JULY - 3RD AUGUST ECLECTIC A nine day long celebration taking place across the whole of Monmouth transforming it for the duration into a living breathing, living festival town catering to local and international acts and speakers. Now entering into its 30th year its gained a reputation as one of the UK’s best long form free music festivals. Cost: Free www.monmouthfestival.co.uk
CAERPHILLY BIG CHEESE
26TH - 28TH JULY A family friendly extravaganza of street entertainers, living history encampments, music, dance and traditional funfair Portraying the history, heritage and culture of Caerphilly. located smack bang in the shadow of the towns iconic castle. Highlights: Devil’s Answer, The Warthogs, The Smoky Ramblers, Ian Calford & Bob Fish, Jim Fox, Hodoo Moon, Fiddlebox, Rusty Shackle. Cost: Free your.caerphilly.gov.uk/bigcheese/home-page
ABERYSTWYTH MUSICFEST
27TH JULY - 3RD AUGUST JAZZ/ CLASSICAL International festival and summer school aiming to combine performing music with learning about music. With courses including chamber music, swing, big band, jazz, musical theatre, conducting and composition. Highlights: David Campbell, Nick Jones, Veronica Veysey Campbell ,Sigyn Fossnes Lucinda Mackworth-Young ,Toby Purser, Tom Poster Cost: Varies depending on course (around £550 for the week) www.abermusicfest.org/programme
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The MMP Summer Festival Special 2013
MMP SPECIAL ISSUE
FOLK AT THE HALL, TRELAWNYD MEMORIAL HALL STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL, EBBW VALE
27TH - 28TH JULY ROCK/METAL Planet Rock organised event dealing in bands performing metal and heavy/classic rock sounds. So dust off that leather jacket and get those devil horns up y’all. Highlights: Saxon, Michael Schenker Temple of Rock, The Temperance Movement, Fighting Wolves, Snakechamber, Heaven’s Basement Cost: Weekend - £65 (£75 with camping) www.steelhousefestival.com
GREEN GATHERING, CHEPSTOW
1ST - 4TH AUGUST FOLK Eco centric family friendly festival focused on traditional arts and crafts alongside talks and debate about the future of renewable energy and sustainability.Big up to mother earth like init. Highlights: Martha Tilston, Samuel J, Seize The Day, Scallywags, Holly Ebony, Sunreturn, Quiet Loner Cost: Adult - £105 www.greengathering.org.uk
3RD AUGUST FOLK Second year of this all day folk event at Trelawnyd Memorial Hall aiming to bring a mix of established and local acts together. Highlights: Lau, Jim Moray, Jackie Oates, Inge Thomas, Luke Jackson, Haddo Cost: Adults - £3, Children - £18 www.therecordjournal.co.uk
CROISSANT NEUF SUMMER PARTY, USK, MONMOUTHSHIRE
8TH - 11TH AUGUST FOLK, ROOTS, SKA, JAZZ & WORLD MUSIC Award winning solar powered family friendly festival. Mixture of circus performances and live music predominantly Highlights: Zervas & Pepper, The Zen Hussies, Gabby Young and Other Animals, Smerins Anti Social Club , Kitten and the Hip Cost: Adult - £105, Student - £80 www.croissantneuf.co.uk
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BRECON FRINGE FESTIVAL 8TH - 11TH AUGUST
MISC (MAINLY ACOUSTIC/JAZZ/WORLD) Festival that runs in tandem with the Brecon Jazz festival with gigs and venues being organized independently by local promoters Highlights: No Info Yet Cost: Most Events Are Free www.breconfringe.co.uk
BRECON JAZZ
9TH - 11TH AUGUST JAZZ Extremely popular festival spread across various venues throughout Breco focusing exclusively on jazzy jazz jazz jazz..
Highlights: Courtney Pine, Django Bates, Jools Holland, Zoe Rahman, Phronesis, Julian Siegel, Jason Rebello and Acker Bilk Cost: Prices vary between events www.breconjazz.org
GREEN MAN
15TH - 18TH AUGUST FOLK / INDIE / ALT Much loved indie festival held in the picturesque Brecon beacons (assuming the rains don’t turn it into a post-apocalyptic mud swamp) catering primarily to folk and indie, but also electronica, Americana, comedy and theatre. Decidedly noncorporate and eco-friendly, it’s carved out an idiosyncratic niche in the festival market Highlights: Band of Horses, The Horrors, John Cale, Swans, Low, Villagers, Ben Howard Cost: Adult - £145, Student - £125 (+ booking fee) www.greenman.net
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The MMP Summer Festival Special 2013
MMP SPECIAL ISSUE
GLASS BUTTER BEACH, LLANBEDROG, CARDIGAN BAY
16TH - 17TH AUGUST Wakeboarding, skateboarding, BMX and music centric festival across the beautiful west Wales coastline
Highlights: The Other Tribe, MIC Righteous, Yolanda Be Cool, Goldierocks, Ami Carmine. Cost: Adult Weekend - £75, Junior - £50 www.glassbutterbeach.com
ABER JAZZ N BLUES FESTIVAL FISHGUARD
22ND - 26TH AUGUST JAZZ / BLUES Now in its 10th year, Fishguard annual jazz and blues festival looks to bring some of the best jazz and blues Wales (and further afield) has to offer down into the Barry Welsh lampooned coastal town through a series of performances across various venues. Highlights: Pat Grover’s Blues Hawks, The Spanners, Charlie Woods Trio, Steve Morrison, Whisky Business, The Ray Butcher Trio(Huw Warren), Wilson & Evans divas jazz n blues, The Hideaway Trio Cost: No Info Yet www.aberjazz.com
GWYL GWYDIR, LLANRWST 30TH 31ST AUGUST Eco-centric family friendly festival showcasing the best of left field (primarily) Welsh acts with a great deal of said acts being Welsh language.
Highlights: Sen Segur, Plyci, By The Sea, Mr Huw, Y Niwl, Yr Ods, Son Capson, Swnami, Candelas, Ifan Dafydd Cost: Friday - £6 Saturday - £12 www.gwylgwydir.com
BROMYARD FOLK FESTIVAL
13TH - 15TH SEPTEMBER FOLK Weekend long festival looking to bring the best in modern folk, Celtic and traditional music’s to the picturesque Welsh border town
Highlights: Show of Hands, Geordie McKeeman, Sarah Savoy & The Francadians, Time Eddie & Brendan Power, The Goat Roper Rodeo Band Cost: Adult Weekend - £75 www.bromyard-folk-festival.org.uk
FESTIVAL NO 6 PORTMEIRION
13TH - 15TH SEPTEMBER CONTEMPORARY MUSIC Critically acclaimed and award winning new festiva situated in the beautifully surreal north Walien town of Port Merion - despite only being in its second year, expectations are high considering how well it was received by music fans last year
Highlights: Manic Street Preachers, Chic, James Blake, Everything Everything, John Cooper Clarke, Tricky, Neon Neon Cost: Adult - £170 + booking fee www.festivalnumber6.com
TENBY ARTS FESTIVAL
21ST - 28TH SEPT Family friendly festival featuring talks on a wide spectrum of topics (past topics have included Pembrokeshire forts, seaweed and world music) alongside live music, theatre and competitions Highlights: Budapest Cafe Orchestra, Tenby Male Choir, Grant Llewellyn Cost: Prices vary between events www.tenbyartsfest.co.uk
CWMAMAN MUSIC FESTIVAL
27TH - 29TH SEPTEMBER Mainly free festival spread throughout Cwmaman. Started mainly as a means to promote the town and surrounding areas whilst giving a platform for music fans to watch a host of local and more established acts Highlights: Headjam, Zinz Bukowski, Celtic Spirit, Fireroad, Chris Phillips, Smoldering Oaks Cost: Most events are Free www.cwmamanmusicfestival.co.uk
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The MMP Summer Festival Special 2013
FESTIVAL SURVIVAL GUIDE
Words: Spun Tongue
I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe, I watched Thom Yorke sat all by his lonesome on a stump atop a hill at Glastonbury, I once vomited in a river and made a small boy cry….and all these moments, will be lost in time like beer in rain…. Time for the festival season As a semi-functioning musician and music fan I’ve been to/played at more than my fair share of music festivals over the years, managing each and every time to completely forget the lessons learnt from the previous experience, doomed to repeat the mistakes that invariably transform what should be an unencumbered few days of musical revelry and socially encouraged drunkening into something that Bear Grylls would have trouble dealing with. Thus, in the interest of avoiding said mistakes this year, I’m going to actively document some serious festival “no-no’s” and the best course of action to avoid them…as much for my benefit as yours dear reader. It’s a jungle out there – make sure your tent has all the necessary bits…
CAMPING !
I am not an outdoors sort of man by and large – too soft, too neurotic, too fond of complaining. However! Roll on festival season and some latent woodsman at my core manages to grab hold of me and momentarily shake up a mindset that thinks me a plaid clad, bearded Ray Mears alike. This is an ill judged and foolish thought every time. Primarily it stems from the fact that I have absolutely no concept of preparation. At the last festival I attended I realised at the moment of tent pitching that I’d forgotten half of the necessary and miscellaneous bits (see – the structural pipe things and all the pegs)….the year before at a festival I was playing a gig at I ended up sleeping under a van due to forgetting my tent altogether… That was a good night’s sleep So don’t do as Johnny Don’t does… make sure you have all the necessaries to actually put together a sleeping unit…you may be intending on doing very little of that sleeping what with all the 5am chemically fuelled unblinking conversations with strangers you’ll be engaged in…but down time is needed and inevitable. Also make sure you know how to put the damn thing together correctly (this idiot still relies on friends/witchcraft)
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ETIQUETTE !
SUPPLIES !
Unless you happen to have a video game style bottomless item sack, going in light and smart (unless you either find it totally impossible to shed those middle class leanings and feel it necessary to bring a veranda or you just love multiple trips to a car) is going to be the order of the day. Obviously it’s possible to eat and drink within the grounds of the event exclusively, but the closed circuit economy that occurs at festivals means that you’re going to be bleeding yourself dry financially if you go it this way alone. I have a terrible habit of taking nothing but a shedload of cereal bars and oranges – which is obviously moronic. So, ya know…don’t just do that…take cans of things you can eat straight out of and lots of stuff that simply needs the addition of hot water (easily gifted from the tea and coffee tent) to transform it into hearty edible stuff. Get as many bottles of water as you think will be necessary…and then add more. Lots of wet wipes and mouth wash and bam…you’re pretty good. Everyone is going to smell terrible anyway, so as long as you don’t feel wholly filthy, you’ll be grand. Booze wise most have a cap on the amount you can take in…remember kids, when getting searched at the festivals entrance always make a beeline for the weathered, bald, tattooed fella with awful teeth…he wouldn’t bother to search you properly even if you outright told him you had a bomb. You’ll see him a few hours later wandering around in a worse state than you.
There’s a simple mantra that must not only be utilised throughout the festival experience but is also useful in the day to day beyond it… “Don’t be a total dildo headed arsehole” Catchy and concise right? Part of the festival appeal (at least for this guy) is the lax attitude towards what’s deemed acceptable in social interactions – allowing you to get away with a ton of shite that you wouldn’t be able to in day to day life (see having a conversation with a man about skinsuits at 6am whilst a lady wearing a morphsuit belts out Roxy Music) But the key is to keep that obnoxious freedom in check – we don’t want it spiralling to 80s cocaine yuppie levels of obnoxiousness. Sure, there will be hundreds of such ill prepared twats dotted around loaded playing Pitbull remixes of MGMT songs in the wee hours and squawking loudly about THEY’RE STUPID THOUGHTS But YOU need not descend to their ranks, simply remain jovial and calm and enjoy the massaging of the social rules….try not to urinate on anyone’s tent, don’t give the staff a hard time, play nice and at no point begin a chant that goes “you, you’re dead to me! Dead to me!” whilst dancing round a perfectly friendly stranger, all the while jabbing them with your index finger….this will only end with massive disdain being fired at you from all humans in the vicinity. Also try not to throw up on a swan – I’ve seen it happen, the crowd will turn on you. Unfortunately, being an enormous hypocrite (and bona fide moron) means I will likely not be adhering to any of these sensible thoughts. I look forward to sleeping up a tree, living off sashes of mint sauce and calling everyone I meet “Gary” come my first festival this year.
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The MMP Summer Festival Special 2013
Festivals How I Loathe Thee (Let Me Count The Ways) Festivals, How I Loathe Thee - Let Me Count The Ways.... Yeah, festivals! An annual once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get ripped off for Cost: , queue for a longer time than communists did for unidentified meat and have the cultural zeitgeist be defined by an old bloke in a West Country field, subject to rehab and reunion. Urgh, in the immortal words of Daffy Duck, I demand you shoot me now. There might also be some music played. I have never been to a festival and I don’t have any plans to do so. So what makes me qualified to talk about them? Well, I’ve never murdered anyone, and I know genocide is wrong. The way I see it, festivals punish those most willing to support live music with conditions most trainer manufacturers would think were too harsh, all for the sake of seeing a few bands that are far too big to play a normal gig. I can appreciate how some festivals try to provide other experiences, stand up comedy and arts and crafts for example. But is that used as a genuine break from standing 200 rows back and getting beer in your hair, or is it another excuse to stick another £40 on an already inflated price? Perhaps I should curb my cynicism but the non-band element seems to be something bolted on to the hyperbolic lineup reveal. Whether it’s a giant event, or a weekend where the attendance matches the staff the BBC might send to one of those giant events, I’ve never understood the attraction of sharing a few days with hundreds of strangers in a field with a tent that might just be on fire by the time you wake up. Banter, bro. But what about the human experience, the stories you’ll share with your mates when you return, the
things you’ll learn are priceless. In reality, what does this mean? You’ll meet people from all over the UK who haven’t shaved or bathed for a few days, are a bit blocked up, so as to avoid Chernobyl (the toilets) and who obviously have been coming since they were 14, dah-ling and how things were much more ‘real’ ‘back in the day’ (obviously, with the air quotes). But all worth it for the ‘experience’, right? I’m going to be so jealous when I see the gallery on Facebook. And the way festivals are reported is super creepy, like it’s spoken in code. If it rains, ‘die-hard patrons failed to have their spirits dampened,’ and if the headliners do well, ‘<Band X> lived up to the hype’, before cutting away to a gaggle of hungover radio DJ’s who tell me why this is one of the most exciting bands in Britain today (spoiler: they’ve slept with the bassist, twice). Journalists are just the worst people. In fact, here’s what you’ll see this summer. Phones used as lighters during a slower song, people trying to hit the ironically booked band with an open bottle of urine, pictures of people sitting on shoulders and of course, everyone claiming they started the big festival meme that year. Someone make me a bingo card, please. If you’re going to a festival this summer, have a great time, seriously. Enjoy rubbing elbows with bored accountants on unidentifiable substances, but when you come back, talk about the music, not that you were in an ‘exclusive’ crowd of over 150,000 people gloating that I wasn’t there, like you’re some sort of veteran. Near Chelte’nam isn’t the same as Vietnam. Just because you paid hundreds of pounds doesn’t mean your views on music are more valid than anyone else. Oh, and take your damn wristband off. Opinions Splurged By: Hash “grumpier than grumpy cat” Pipperdy
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The MMP Summer Festival Special 2013
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