Nestled away in the picturesque Italianate village of Portmeirion, Festival No. 6 is a festival like no other in arguably one of the most stunning festival settings in the world. The now four-year-old festival was named after No.6, Patrick McGoohan’s character in the classic 1960s TV series The Prisoner, filmed in Portmeirion. While No.6 was always trying to escape ’The Village’, rest assured, you won’t want to leave Portmeirion this September.
No. 6 revellers make the annual pilgrimage to lose themselves in the smorgasbord of cultural delights; from watching a band in the lush colourful gardens, catching a comedian in the Gatehouse, enjoying a string ensemble in the historical Town Hall, strolling down to the estuary to catch some sea shanties to letting loose to a DJ set in the late night Studio No.6.
This year’s festival will see Oasis legend Noel Gallagher, indie-pop Bastille and indietronica ensemble Hot Chip headline. Welsh icons Super Furry Animals, who were persuaded to return from a five-year hiatus last year by their ever-loyal fanbase, The Coral co-founder Bill Ryder Jones, and Blossoms, who had the honour of supporting The Stone Roses this summer, also join the impressive line-up. As well as SFA, the festival is showcasing more home-grown Welsh talent like Cardiff-born Gwenno, harpist Catrin Finch, the heart-stirring Brythoniad Welsh Male Voice Choir, Llandeilo Dream Indie Ysgol Sul, Meic Stevens, often referred to as the Welsh Bob Dylan, and indie-pop outfit from Dolgellau, Swnami.
But the festival spans far more than music alone. The literature, poetry and talks stage will host punk-rock poet and social commentator Dr John Cooper Clarke, and Ricky Tomlinson will be in conversation with co-writer and director Jonny Vegas about Ragged, the film based on Ricky’s experiences as a political prisoner on hunger strike in prison in the early 70s. Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder will be talking for the first time about his unique approach to lyrics, whilst FN6 favourite Irvine Welsh returns on the 20th anniversary of Trainspotting. Cassetteboy will be bringing the political mockery – we’ll be very impressed if the duo has managed to keep up with ever-changing recent affairs.
ELEANOR MCKEON
Festival No. 6, Portmeirion, Gwynedd, Thurs 1 Sept – Sun 4 Sept. Tickets: £140-£205. Info: www.festvalnumber6.com
