Various venues, Cowbridge
Fri 6-Sat 21 Sept
Since its creation in 2011, Cowbridge Music Festival has not only become a hub of music in the Vale, but an established charity with six trustees and a herd of volunteers that support its youth outreach programme. This year it’s the festival’s 10th anniversary, which will have its opening night on Fri 6 Sept, headlined by saxophonist and classical Brit Award winner Jess Gilham. The majority of the performances will take place in Holy Cross Church, providing a medieval backdrop; the festival claims that it is “never ‘high-brow’ or elitist” and remains dedicated to gaining exposure for the talented youth in Wales today.
This month, more than 30 performances will span over a fortnight, showcasing talent from Hungary (Budapest Café Orchestra), Syria (Syrian Dreams) and Wales (too many to mention), that travel through classical, folk and jazz modes. It seems as though it’s not just music on offer: so as to avoid grumbling stomachs, ticket holders can book a pre-concert dinner at Oscar’s in Cowbridge where between 5-7pm you can find an exclusive menu written just for festival goers. The perfect watering hole before indulging in the cultural cocktail of the festival itself.
Tickets: free-£20 per performance. Info: cowbridgemusicfestival.co.uk (LD)