LEGENDARY peace champion Terry Waite has told young first-time volunteers at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod that they are helping to promote international understanding and hope for the future.
Sixth-formers from Ysgol Dinas Bran in Llangollen are among over 50 youngsters from three schools in the region, including Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in Wrexham and Ysgol Glan Clwyd in Rhyl, who have given up their time to work as unpaid welcome hosts at the festival, greeting visitors from across the globe.
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Dancing prince waves off parade on Eisteddfod’s opening day parade
PRINCE Charles used a giant Welsh dragon flag to wave off the traditional opening day parade at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod yesterday afternoon.
The prince, who is the Eisteddfod’s Patron, also got into the spirit of the occasion by accepting an invitation to have a brief dance with members of a Punjabi bhangra group as he watched the colourful line-up leave the field on its way to the town centre.
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Britain’s Got Talent singing sensation Jonathan is heading for Llangollen

Britain’s Got Talent singing sensation Jonathan Antoine is looking forward to following in the footsteps of another larger than life tenor when he takes to the stage at this summer’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
The down-to-earth 20-year-old, who split from singing partner Charlotte Jaconelli last year, can’t wait to step out onto the stage where the great Luciano Pavarotti performed. He said: “Performing at Llangollen is going to be so exciting. It’s a breeding ground for creativity and to be on the same stage that someone like Pavarotti performed on is just a wonderful thought. I’m really, really looking forward to it.” (more…)
Thousands of youngsters will flock to enjoy Children’s Day concert

AROUND 4,000 schoolchildren will join in a day of music and fun to raise the curtain on this summer’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
They will be heading for the International Pavilion to take part in a concert entitled Bongos, Brass and Plenty of Dance which is the centrepiece of Children’s Day, the traditional prelude to the annual cultural festival being staged from July 6-12. The 40-minute musical extravaganza will be staged twice, at 10.30am and again at 12 noon, on the opening day, Tuesday July 7.
The crowds of young visitors will later head out on to the Eisteddfod field to enjoy a packed programme of street theatre complete with clown, stilt walkers and Bollywood dancing. (more…)
Festival boosts Llangollen economy to tune of £1.5m
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will boost the local economy to the tune of £1.5 million.
That’s what the great annual event means to the south Denbighshire area and the town of Llangollen which has been hosting the festival since 1947 and which will again welcome the world this July.
The famous event that helped launch the career of opera superstars Luciano Pavarotti is again expected to attract nearly 40,000 visitors. The arrival of so many people from outside North East Wales means a cash injection that ripples out across businesses within a 20-mile radius of Llangollen.
Last year 36,000 people came to the Eisteddfod and with an average daily visitor spend of £42 that added up to a massive £1.5 million cash injection for the local economy. (more…)
Burt and Alfie set to wow them at this year’s Llangollen Eisteddfod

The king of smooth and a former apprentice mechanic are the headline acts at this summer’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
Legendary American singer-songwriter Burt Bacharach and Britain’s own favourite tenor, Alfie Boe, are set to wow concert audiences at the event which runs from Tuesday, July 7, to Sunday, July 12.
Bacharach, perhaps the greatest songwriter of the 20th century, will visit North Wales for the first time to star in a curtain-raiser concert at the Royal International Pavilion on the eve of the event, Monday, July 6.
The composer of classics like Walk On By, Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head, Magic Moments and Close To You, is a three-time Academy Award winner who also has six Grammies to his name. (more…)
Rufus will be “absolutely fabulous” in Llangollen


Singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright who collaborated with Robbie Williams on his latest album is bringing his unique talent to North Wales.
Wainwright has written an opera in French, partied with George W Bush’s daughter and appeared alongside Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley in Absolutely Fabulous and now he’s set to appear at this summer’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. The son of folk music giants Loudoun Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle will headline the Friday night concert at this year’s 69th Eisteddfod which opens on Tuesday, July 7, and runs until Sunday, July 12.
The American-Canadian is promising the audience an eclectic mix of genres from pop to opera on his North Wales debut and he says he’s very excited about the prospect as Welsh audiences are, in his opinion, uniquely ‘different’. (more…)
We’ll be even better than Status Quo, promises UB40 legend Ali Campbell

The music legend who formed one of the world’s top reggae bands will provide a high energy climax to a top festival, it’s been revealed.
Ali Campbell, the voice of UB40 who sold 70 million records, has been snapped up by Llangollen International Musical Festival for their closing concert on Sunday, July 12.

He’ll be reunited on the eisteddfod stage with two other founding members of UB40 – percussionist, trumpet player and vocalist Astro and keyboard player Mickey.
The concert is being sponsored by the award-winning Village Bakery, the fastest growing manufacturer in Wales. (more…)
Song-writing legend Burt Bacharach to perform in North Wales for first time


Organisers of a top festival are celebrating after signing up Oscar-winning music legend Burt Bacharach to perform at this year’s event.
Bacharach, described by many as the greatest songwriter of the 20th century, will open the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod, with an extra concert on Monday, July 6. The festival was originally due to start the following day but the Monday night was the only time he was available during Eisteddfod week.
Bacharach has 73 top 40 US and 52 UK hits to his name in a career spanning more than 60 years and shows no signs of slowing down – he is looking forward to his first ever visit to North Wales. (more…)
Superstar tenor Alfie Boe promises musical magic

Music from stage and screen at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod


Superstar tenor Alife Boe is heading back to North Wales.
The classical heart-throb, has sold one and a half million records, been at number one in the classical charts many times and performed on Broadway, will be taking centre stage at this year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. Boe, dubbed Britain’s Favourite Tenor, will be performing songs from musical theatre and movies at the glitzy evening concert on Thursday, July 9.
Joining him will be Welsh singer Sophie Evans, who went onto star as Dorothy in the West End production of The Wizard of Oz having finished runner-up in the TV talent show Over the Rainbow, classical saxophonist Amy Dickson along with Jonathan Antoine, the classically trained tenor who rose to fame on Britain’s Got Talent. (more…)