Ma’ Bili’n Bwrw’r Bronco

With the last of the summer sun starting to disappear, enjoy what’s left of August at Monmouth Festival (Fri 17-Sat 25). With a variety of acts playing throughout this week, there’s music from every genre and it’s free to get in. Everyone loves a free festival!

If you’re feeling like some observational comedy this week, you might enjoy seeing Michael McIntyre’s latest stand-up tour (Wed 22-Thurs 30, tickets: £40.25). His previous arena tours have been sell-outs, so he must be doing something right.

For anyone that wants an excuse to drink, Swansea Bay Beer Festival (Thurs 23-Sat 25, admission: £5) has over 100 ales and ciders for you to try along with some live music for your enjoyment, too.

Another festival worth going to this week is Aberjazz (Thurs 23-Mon 27, tickets: £35 for weekend stroller) in Fishguard. What better way to celebrate the August Bank Holiday than with a bit of jazz – with one of the highlights being a performance from the Jeremy Sassoon 11-piece band, whose music is inspired by legend Ray Charles.

There’s plenty of laughs this week with Cardiff Glee Club hosting three nights of The Best In Live Stand-up Comedy (Thurs 23-Sat 24, tickets £9.50/£6 NUS). The four comedians performing will be Andrew Stanley, Jacques Barrett, Tanya Lee Davis and Carey Marx.

If you’re interested in seeing some Welsh theatre, Wales Millennium Centre’s production Ma’ Bili’n Bwrw’r Bronco (Fri 24, tickets: £10) is coming to Theatre Elli in Llanelli. The play follows a group of children in Swansea in 1983 as they move from the innocence of childhood into adulthood.

South Wales Valleys band 4^th Street Traffic (Fri 24, tickets: £5) play at Clwb Ifor Bach this week. Mixing classic rock with powerful vocals, the band have supported the Stereophonics in the past so they might be worth checking out.

Oxjam Swap Shop (Sun 26, admission: TBC) is at 10 Feet Tall, featuring local artist Nathan Wyburn (that guy that made portraits out of toast on Britain’s Got Talent) and the winner of the Oxjam battle of the DJs.

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre returns to St Donat’s Art Centre this week with a thrilling new performance of Hamlet (Sun 26, tickets: £15.50-£17). The play is outside, so be prepared in case the infamous Welsh weather decides to make an appearance.

If you’re looking for some bank holiday fun for the family, the National History Museum at St Fagans (Sat 25-Mon 27) is hosting a weekend full of free events. There will be baking, archery, storytelling and craft stalls, so make the most of some time off work with the family.