As the days start getting longer, it’s time for Buzz’s annual festival guide to the best shindigs, celebrations and parties availabale across Wales. Compiled by Elisha Wescott and Fedor Tot
LAUGHARNE FESTIVAL (MUSIC/COMEDY/THEATRE/LIT)
Various venues, Laugharne
Fri 6-Sun 8 Apr
What: This annually festival takes place in Laugharne, where Dylan Thomas spent much of his time pickling a liver or two. Emphasising the local and small-scale size of the festival, the weekend features music, comedy and literature, bringing in talent from all over the world whilst maintaining a particular kinship with writers and musicians from Wales or who have a connection with Wales. Previous headliners have included Mick Jones of The Clash, actor Michael Sheen, poet John Cooper- Clarke and comedian Harry Hill. In the spirit of Wales’ premier poet, there’s plenty of local drink to imbibe, as well as the best locally-sourced food. A relaxing boutique festival with none of the forced glamour of the big boys.
Who: Ruth Jones, David Soul, Simon Day, Peggy Seeger, Adam Kay, Chris Difford, Jah Wobble, Owen Sheers, Keith Allen and many more.
How much: £80-£100
Info: www.thelaugharneweekend.com
MERTHYR COMEDY FESTIVAL (COMEDY)
Various venues, Merthyr Tydfil
Fri 13 + Sat 14 Apr
What: The first ever edition of the Merthyr Comedy Festival looks set to be a prime spot for some of the most exciting and invigorating Welsh standup coming through the ranks. It certainly bodes well for the future of Welsh standup, with alternative, experimental shows from the likes of Frank Foucault comfortably sitting alongside more traditional compilation shows and observational work, and with Merthyr Rising later in the year, suggests that the Valleys town is going through a bit of a cultural renaissance.
Who: Mike Bubbins, President Obonjo, Paul James
How much: varies, but most shows are between £3-£10
Info: facebook.com/merthyrcomedyfestival
WALES INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL (FILM)
Maxime Cinema / Miners Institute, Blackwood
Wed 18-Fri 20 Apr
What: This three-day film festival will be screening over 50 of the best documentary films over the past year, promoting local creativity and independent filmmakers. All 50 are UK premieres, with some even being world premieres, going from Argentina to Bosnia, Wales to Russia. There’s also going to be a number of masterclasses, Q+As, and workshops with leading industry figures.
Who: A range of the best documentary filmmakers across Wales and abroad.
How much: £15 for unlimited access to all screenings, workshops and events.
Info: www.widf.info
CARDIFF ANIMATION FESTIVAL (FILM)
Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff
Thurs 19-Sun 22 Apr
What: A brand new festival of animation is asking its way to Cardiff this year. Over four days, Cardiff Animation festival will be showcasing globally-sourced animated works, led by Film Hub Wales. Aside from the films themselves, there also be talks by Wallace And Gromit and Early Man creators Aardman Animations, and a multitude of workshops and masterclasses.
Who: Aardman Animations, The Breadwinner, Chuck Steel
How much: £15-£75
Info: www.cardiffanimation.com/festival
CARDIFF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE FESTIVAL (LITERATURE)
Various venues, Cardiff
Sat 21-Sun 29 Apr
What: Rounding up junior bookworms for nine days of literary enjoyment, this award-winning festival will again host over 40 exciting events, in both English and Welsh, at iconic venues across the city centre including Cardiff Castle, City Hall and the National Museum Wales. Guaranteed to keep your little ones busy, and who knows, it might even inspire the next JK Rowling…
Who: Petr Horáček, Sibéal Pounder, Tom Percival, Catherine Fisher, Huw Aaron, Tom Palmer, Steven Butler and Jonathan Meres.
How much: £4 for most events.
Info: www.visitcardiff.com/event/cardiff-childrens-literature-festival
MACHYNLLETH COMEDY FESTIVAL (COMEDY)
Various venues, Machynlleth
Fri 4-Sun 6 May
What: Wales’ most renowned comedy festival returns for its ninth year, bringing together comedians from all over the UK to the small Powys town for a weekend full of laughs and heavy entertainment. Expect acts both established and relatively new, generally from the broad leftfield of UK stand-up and trying out new material pre-Edinburgh in many cases: no wonder it’s often dubbed “the comedian’s comedy festival”. As well as the actual funnies, there’s also a variety of theatre and music. Machynlleth itself offers a fistful of local pubs, cafes and restaurants which welcomes all festival goers throughout the weekend.
Who: Mark Watson, Nish Kumar, Paul Foot, Richard Herring and many more.
How much: £7-£15 per show
Info: machcomedyfest.co.uk
BIG LOVE FESTIVAL (MUSIC)
Baskerville Hall, Hay-On-Wye
Fri 4-Sun 6 May
What: Big Love is back again to, well, share the love and ensure everyone has an unforgettable weekend. This one’s a small and independent festival, working with local DJs, predominantly from Cardiff and Bristol. Small in capacity but big in atmosphere and positive vibes, Baskerville Hall has previously hosted festivals such as Green Man, Boomtown and Big Chill, demonstrating its authenticity. The love will spread to include woodland discos, roaring campfires, street food and a cocktail lounge. If you’re a free spirit on a budget, then this is the festival for you.
Who: Joy Orbison, Billy Momo, Dana Immanuelle, Delete DJs and more.
How much: £85
Info: www.biglovefestival.co.uk
LLANDUDNO VICTORIAN EXTRAVAGANZA (FAMILY-FRIENDLY/MUSIC/ACTIVITY)
Various venues, Llandudno
Sat 5-Mon 7 May
What: The Victorian Extravaganza is celebrating its 32-year anniversary, making it easily one of the longest-running festivals in Wales. Started back in 1986 as way of trying to secure the future of Llandudno’s declining tourist industry, this festival celebrates all things Victorian, including an old-fashioned fun fair, bands and dressing up competitions. Most of the seaside resorts dotted around Wales and the UK owe much of their heritage to the Victorian obsession for holidaying in places with clean and fresh air, which were almost as popular as puritan morality and opium back then, so it’s no surprise that such a festival has survived so long.
How much: free
Info: www.victorian-extravaganza.com
VALE OF GLAMORGAN FESTIVAL (MUSIC)
Various venues, Cardiff and Vale Of Glamorgan
Wed 9-Wed 16 May
What: Wales’ most popular contemporary classical festival is returning this May, promising a range of esteemed international contemporary composers, hosted at various venues throughout the capital and the vale. Founded in 1969 by Welsh composer John Metcalf, the festival has gradually developed into a contemporary classical event whose focus is living composers. For acolytes of modern composition, this is one of the most important festivals in the classical calendar and generally utilises some attractive and innovative settings.
Who: Alice Neary, Jose Zalba Smith and Jan Wilem Nelleke, Ivan Ilic, Matthew Jones and Annabel Thwaite and Ensemble MidtVest
How much: £12-£16.50 per event (free-£3 NUS)
Info: www.valeofglamorganfestival.org.uk
FOCUS Wales (MUSIC/ART)
Various venues, Wrexham
Thurs 10-Sat 12 May
What: FOCUS Wales is a not-for-profit organisation deeply connected to its native background, centred around providing an annual showcase of the Welsh music industry, giving a major boost to some of the bright rising talents whilst also paying heed to some of their inspirations. 2018 marks the festival’s eighth edition, welcoming over 7,000 visitors to Wrexham.
Who: This Is The Kit, Gengahr, Euros Childs, Jane Weaver and 9Bach.
How much: £40 weekend/£8-£23 per event.
Info: www.focuswales.com
TREDEGAR HOUSE FOLK FESTIVAL (MUSIC)
Tredegar House & Country Park
Fri 11-Sun 13 May
What: The 29th edition of this annual folk festival, a consistent highlight for lovers for international folk music and traditions. Set in the confines of the grounds on Newport’s Tredegar House, this festival celebrates folk in all its forms, with music and dancers in styles varying from Bollywood to Appalachian to Cornish.
Who: Huw Williams, Phil Millichip, Imar, Morfa, Sam Kelly Trio, Chris and Wendy Moreton.
How much: £30 weekend; various prices for evening and afternoon concerts and ceilidhs.
Info: www.tredegarhousefestival.org.uk
CARDIFF DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL (ACTIVITY/FAMILY-FRIENDLY)
County Hall, Atlantic Wharf
Sat 12 May
What: Spend an exciting May day with an adventurous gambit: manning a small vessel. You won’t need any prior boating skills, aside from an enthusiasm for paddling as fast as you can, as all instruction and training is provided on the day. Moreover, the event is also a fundraising programme, with the nominated organisations this year being Cancer Research Wales and Bobath Wales. Enlist your collegues, friends and family, raise money for charity, and earn those sealegs.
How much: £25
Info: www.cardiffdragonboatfestival.co.uk
THE BIG ACOUSTIC WALK (MUSIC)
Plas Y Brenin, Conwy
Fri 12 + Sun 13 May
What: Time to get your walking boots out, because The Big Acoustic Walk is returning for another year. This event will consist of an all-walking all-singing weekend experience. It’s an excellent chance for a trip through the North Wales countryside, accompanied with renditions of folk favourites. It’s presumably not too easy to get an acoustic guitar up into a mountain, so props to anyone who manages this also.
Who: for anyone who loves music and walking
How much: from £141
Info: www.pyb.co.uk/acoustic
DEVAUDEN FESTIVAL (FAMILY-FRIENDLY)
Hood Memorial Hall, Devauden, Monmouthshire
Fri 18 + Sat 19 May
What: Returning for its ninth year, this small festival has relentlessly gathered momentum since 2010. Not only is it a great festival for all the family, but it also raises much-needed money for the village hall and other local charities. Nestled cosily up in the Wye Valley hills, it’s certainly one of the smaller festivals here but none the lesser for it.
Who: Upbeat Sneakers, Rusty Shackle
How much: £5-£31
Info: www.devaudenfestival.com
ROYAL WELSH SPRING FESTIVAL (ACTIVITY)
Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells
Sat 19 + Sun 20 May
What: This annual celebration of rural life is one of the highlights of the year in Builth Wells, with a wide range of activities available to visitors, from educational workshops and chances to learn new skills. There’s a variety of food and drink alongside music, and there’s also the Royal Welsh Trail Running Festival being incorporated alongside the Spring Festival proper, with a variety of running events available for entry (or if you’d rather just spectate and watch other people burn the calories, that’s fine too).
Who: All nature lovers and rural folk
How much: £13
Info: www.rwas.wales
HAY FESTIVAL (LITERATURE/THEATRE)
Various venues, Hay-On-Wye
Fri 25 May-Mon 4 June
What: It’s been hailed as the ‘Woodstock of the mind’ for so long now it might be worth finding a different comparison ‘Glastonbury for the soul’, or ‘Reading for the well-read’. As ever, Hay will be a gathering of poets, scientist, novelists, writers, and all sorts of literate folk, set in the heart of the beautiful Monmouthshire countryside. Special guests will join together to share stories and discussion in a celebration of knowledge. For 30 years the Hay Festival has been very influential, a prominent event in British culture, allowing festival-goers to expand their mind in ways that don’t involve the hallucinogenics so often associated with Woodstock…
Who: Margaret Atwood, Joe Biden, Dara Ó Briain, Phillip Pullman, Bridget Christie, Jim Broadbent
How much: £5-£40 per event; free for students in full-time higher education.
Info: www.hayfestival.com
FISHGUARD FOLK FESTIVAL (MUSIC)
Theatr Gwaun, Fishguard
Fri 25-Mon 28 May
What: Fishguard’s 19th Folk Festival promises to host a unique mix of local talent and well-known performers, providing the public with a weekend full of songs, dance and laughs on the beautiful northerly Pembrokeshire Coast. This festival is a hidden gem in the Welsh folk scene, making use of Fishguard’s beautiful harbour and low town/upper town geography.
Who: Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, The Trials of Cato, Jim Causley, Pilgrim Way and more.
How much: £6-£40
Info: www.fishguard-folk-music.co.uk
HOWTHELIGHTSGETSIN (MUSIC/THEATRE/ART)
Various venues, Hay-On-Wye
Fri 25-Mon 28 May
What: HowTheLightGetsIn, running parallel to the Hay Festival and no less brainy, returns with more debate, brain-picking and evening-time entertainment than ever. The speakers are drawn from, shall we say, a range of ideologies (this year’s crop includes both intersectional feminist activists and the head of the Ayn Rand Institute), while the music, comedy and performance art will give you cause to unwind and/or bug out down by the Black Mountains.
Who: Noam Chomsky, The Orb, Diane Abbott, Rowan Williams, Camille O’Sullivan
How much: £140-£168
Info: hay.htlgi.iai.tv
MERTHYR RISING (MUSIC)
Various venues, Merthyr Tydfil
Fri 25-Sun 27 May
What: Held on the anniversary of the Merthyr Uprising in 1831, when workers from the town took to the streets to protest against low wages and unemployment, this festival aims to be a celebration not just of music and culture, but of the town’s radical past, aiming to encourage political engagement amongst young people. All the more important in places like Merthyr, often overlooked by the powers that be. One of the most politically engaging and exciting festivals in Wales this year.
Who: Dreadzone, The Alarm, The Blockheads
How much: £40 (£15/£20 day pass)
Info: www.merthyrrising.uk
VOLVO OCEAN RACE 2018 (ACTIVITY/FAMILY-FRIENDLY)
Cardiff Bay
Sun 27 May-Sun 10 June
What: The Volvo Ocean Race fleet set off from Alicante, Spain in October 2017, aiming to race around the world. Visiting 12 cities in six continents, for the first time in history the race will stop in Cardiff. During this two-week event, you will get the chance to see the 66 competing men and women on their incredible (and by then surely world-weary) boats, alongside a celebration hosted in Cardiff Bay with many entertainments and themed attractions. The festival’s Race Village, located on Cardiff Bay Barrage, with offer a variety of entertainment, themed attractions and food and drink.
How much: free
Info: www.volvooceanracecardiff.com
URDD EISTEDDFOD (FAMILY-FRIENDLY/MUSIC/THEATRE)
Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells
Mon 28 May-Fri 2 June
What: Urdd Eisteddfod, the youth section of the National Eisteddfod and one of Europe’s largest youth touring festivals, visits Builth Wells for 2018. This event attracts over 15,000 children and young people each year, competing in various competitions, such as singing, dancing and acting. The Urdd also offers activities ranging from biking and climbing to sport sessions, along with a funfair and live music, perfect for a family day out.
How much: £5.50-£38
Info: www.urdd.cymru
