Find out what’s on in South Wales this week
If you enjoy watching circus skills, contemporary dance and street performance then boogie your way over to the Dance Days Festival (various Locations, Swansea, Sat 18 + Sun 19 July. Admission: free). Marking the festival’s tenth year running, there will be a parkour inspired by The Orient Express and James Bond, feisty dancing mermaids and the inaugural Superhero Games.
In need of a good giggle this week? Well Cardiff Comedy Festival (various venues across Cardiff, Mon 13 July-Sat 1 Aug. Tickets: individual events priced separately / some events free) is here to deliver the jokes. The line-up for this year’s festival of funny includes interactive game shows, lots of stand up and the final rounds of the Welsh Unsigned Stand-up Awards.
For a festival with a bit more of a kick there is the Gower Chilli Festival (South Gower Sports Club, Swansea, Sat 18 + Sun 19 July. Tickets: priced separately) – which is back for the fourth year running. As well as chilli treats to tickle your taste buds there is a campervan rally, a jazz lunch and live music.
If you don’t feel that heat is the spice of your life, but love good food nonetheless, then how about the Merthyr Food Festival (various locations in Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre, Sat 18 July. Admissions: free) It’ll be full of tasteful food stalls, chef’s demonstrations, live entertainment and a smoothie bike challenge.
Music is getting its fair share of festivals this week with the return of the Welsh Proms (St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Sat 18-Sat 25 July. Tickets: £7.50-£36) which will be marking its 30th anniversary. The series of concerts will include an all-encompassing opening night with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the young’un-friendly Tiddly Proms and Family Proms, and A Night In Vienna.
On the other end of the music festival spectrum is Shield Festival (The Scene, Swansea, Fri 17 + Sat 18 July. Tickets: £15-£21 / £12-£18 adv) which will bring Fearless Vampire Killers, Continents and The Dirty Youth to the Swansea club.
There will be more music from local talent as Cardiff’s ultimate battle-of-the-bands, The Big Gig (Clwb Ifor Back, Cardiff, Tues 14-Thurs 16 July. Tickets: £5 per day), returns. Musicians competing for the title include gypsy punk band Rogora Khart, indie pop group Mixalydia and singer-songwriter Grace Hartrey.
If you want a bit of variety then Pirate Jenny Cabaret (The Gate Arts Centre, Cardiff, Fri 17 July. Tickets: £10 / £8 conc) will be bringing its charismatic mix of comedy, magic and music to Cardiff.
If it’s pure comedy you’re looking for then there is no-one you can trust more than Little Wander, the funny people behind the Machynlleth Comedy Festival. This weekend is the second round of their Little Wander Comedy Weekends (Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, Fri 17 + Sat 18 July. Tickets: £6) in Cardiff and includes stand-up from Mike Wozniak, Stuart Laws and Holly Burn.
If you’re more impressed by art-work than laugh-work then Craft In The Bay will be opening their Summer Showcase exhibition, Focus On Glass (Craft In The Bay, Caardiff, Sat 18 July-Sun 6 Spet. Admissions: free), this week. Expect to see sculptures captured in molten glass, glass butterflies and sci-fiesque figures.
words ELLIE MURRAY