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A glittering concert featuring some of the most unforgettable movie scores of all time by German master composer Hans Zimmer will provide the perfect prelude to this summer’s Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

A world-class orchestra under the baton of internationally acclaimed conductor Anthony Gabriele will present “Beyond Time: The Music of Hans Zimmer in Concert” on the evening of Tuesday July 8, the first night of the 2025 festival which runs from July 8-13.

The Pavilion audience will be presented with programme of music made famous by a man with over 150 movie scores to his credit, including the powerful and moving backdrops to blockbusters such as Gladiator, The Da Vinci Code, No Time to Die, Dune, The Lion King, Black Hawk Down and The Thin Red Line which have brought Zimmer no less than two Academy Awards from a dozen nominations, two BAFTAs from 10 nominations, five Grammy Awards and a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The evening’s conductor, Anthony Gabriele, has led orchestras all over the world, performing in a wide range of genres and his unrivalled expertise as a conductor of film music includes over 30 titles including the world premiere performances of John Williams’ score for Superman, his Oscar-winning adaption of Jerry Bock’s score for Fiddler on the Roof and Thomas Newman’s score for the James Bond film Spectre.

At the Pavilion Gabriele will conduct the 70-piece Cinematic Sinfonia comprising top-class professional musicians drawn from across the UK specially for the occasion.

The Eisteddfod’s Artistic Director Dave Danford said: “Hans Zimmer is without doubt one of the greatest film composers of all time and his incredible record of honours testifies to his genius.

“We are privileged to be able to start off our 2025 series of evening concerts – featuring such incredible performers as KT Tunstall, Il Divo, Bryn Terfel and Fishermen’s Friends and Sir Karl Jenkins – with a fantastic presentation of powerful music which has captivated filmgoers over many decades. It will truly be an evening to remember and one not to be missed.”

The Hans Zimmer evening has been made possible by the cancellation of the previously billed concert by Roger Daltrey, which was to have been on the same night, due to logistical reasons.

Andy’s back…and this time he’s bringing the band!

Beloved Children’s TV presenter Andy Day will be back in Llangollen on Sunday 13 July 2025, as part of the Eisteddfod’s Family Fun Day. This time, however, he’ll be bringing his brilliant band the Odd Socks along for the ride.

The centrepiece of the day will be a lunchtime concert in the Pavilion, produced in association with Music for Youth, featuring sets from Andy and the Odd Socks, along with a variety of talented youth music groups, handpicked from both around the UK and from the Eisteddfod’s visiting international groups.

Alongside the concert in the Pavilion, the Family Fun Day will feature a host of fun activities for all ages, along with a variety of performances on the Eisteddfod’s outside stages, from both visiting international competitors and professional performers.

Artistic Director of the festival, Dave Danford, said, “Andy went down a storm at last year’s Family Fun Day, so we’re delighted that he’s agreed to return this summer, especially with his band coming as well. They’ll be featuring in our lunchtime concert in the Pavilion, which we’re looking forward to working on with our partners Music for Youth, who will be bringing along some of the UK’s finest young musicians to share the stage. It’ll be a brilliant day out for the whole family!”

Just days after announcing that they will be taking over the day-to-day running of the Llangollen Pavilion, the Llangollen Eisteddfod has announced Llanfest 2025, a one-day event with 7 of the best up and coming bands in North Wales and the North West. Llanfest 2025 will take place at the Llangollen Pavilion, on Sunday, 8 June from 2pm until 10.30pm.

From rock anthems, to indie tunes and euphoric club classics – there is something for everyone at Llanfest 2025.  The bands come from Llangollen, Corwen, Liverpool, and across North Wales and the North West.

Keith Potts, from the festival said, “We’re delighted to be announcing our first major event just days after revealing we are taking over running the Pavilion full-time. Llanfest has been a much-loved event for many years in Llangollen promoting the best in live music from our region and beyond. This is a brilliant way to kickstart our new venture. We are determined as an organisation to put events on that bring our community together and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to our Pavilion – it’s like the Eisteddfod has come early.”

There will be food and drink on offer and live music from 2.30pm right through to 10.30pm. Early bird tickets are on sale now (priced £15 plus booking fee) and can be booked through https://boxoffice.international-eisteddfod.co.uk/ChooseSeats/73821

Discount/promo code will be applied at final payment stage.

RUNNING ORDER:

1. The Cazadors, 5-piece rock, funk & soul band from Llangollen..
2. Seprona are a ‘Hip shaking’ Liverpool 5-piece rock band, making a welcome return to Llanfest.
3. Muddy Elephant are a 4-piece indie band that live to perform, hailing from Manchester.
4. Galore, 7-piece psychedelic revivalists, their influences include 60s British Invasion, Freakbeat and Mod.
5. Monstaball are well known for their high energy performances, exceptional musicianship, guaranteed to create an exhilarating party.
6. Chilled, an indie rock band formed in 1998 and based in and around
7. Amnesia are a Liverpool Based Club Classics Dance Band. Euphoric Dance Tracks performed 100% LIVE!

2pm-10.30pm £15 early bird (put discount code LLANFEST25 to wipe the booking fee or £20 on the day.

Next month, the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will gain more control over Llangollen Pavilion as new arrangements are forged for the management of the iconic site. This will allow it to open opportunities for year-round entertainment and other activities in the town.

Under current arrangements overall management and responsibility of the Pavilion site in Llangollen, home to the world-renowned International Musical Eisteddfod, rests with Denbighshire Leisure Limited (DLL). This responsibility will convert to the Eisteddfod, with a lease from Denbighshire County Council granted subject to agreed terms. This will allow the Eisteddfod, as owners of the site, greater flexibility to develop the site for the benefit of Llangollen and the wider northeast Wales region.

Chairman John Gambles, from the International Musical Eisteddfod said, “We would like to thank Denbighshire Leisure Ltd. for being custodians of the Llangollen Pavilion and for their ready co-operation managing the transition. This new arrangement with Denbighshire County Council provides a huge opportunity for the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod as we move towards our aim of becoming an all-year round organisation for the benefit of local people and visitors.”

This Summer, the Pavilion will host a range of world-famous acts including the Live at Llangollen Pavilion concerts which will feature headline shows from Texas, Rag’n’Bone Man, UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, James, The Script, Olly Murs and The Human League.

The Llangollen International Eisteddfod takes place between 8-13 July 2025, where 4,000 competitors from 35 different countries will head to Llangollen. The festival also has concerts by legendary frontman from The Who, Roger Daltrey, a concert celebrating the 80^th anniversary of the United Nations, featuring One World conducted by Sir Karl Jenkins, KT Tunstall, Il Divo, Choir of the World with special guest Lucie Jones and Sir Bryn Terfel and Fisherman’s Friends.

This new arrangement will give the Eisteddfod more flexibility and allow it to further cement its partnership with live music and event promoters, Cuffe and Taylor, to attract more entertainment acts in the future.

John Gambles continued, “Last summer’s events including concerts by Sir Tom Jones, Manic Street Preachers and Bryan Adams delivered huge economic benefits to the town of Llangollen. This is something we will expand for the benefit of our wider region. In any new arrangement for the site, the Llangollen Eisteddfod would honour all existing bookings at the Pavilion for 2025. We are also working on a number of exciting projects that will not only safeguard the future of our iconic pavilion and hall but also ensure we realise the exciting potential of this amazing venue.”

These new arrangements will not incur any additional costs for any party but will simplify the management arrangements by ensuring fewer parties are involved.

Jamie Groves, Managing Director of DLL, said: “The team has worked closely with Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Denbighshire County Council to ensure a seamless handover for everyone involved and we’re delighted that everything has transitioned so smoothly. We would like to thank Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and wish them all the best, in what we expect will be hugely successful Summer ahead.”

Councillor Gwyneth Ellis, Denbighshire’s Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets said, “The Council is looking forward to working with the Eisteddfod as it embarks on these exciting new opportunities. A core underlying principle of our Asset Management Strategy 2024-2029 is considering who best to own and operate each asset and identify opportunities for collaboration.  I’m proud of the collaborative approach between the Council’s property team, DLL and the Eisteddfod for this site. Llangollen is already one of the jewels in Denbighshire’s crown and a top-class tourist destination attracting, on average, over half a million visitors a year.

“There are exciting prospects ahead for the town and the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod as it looks to expand the opportunities and the use of the Pavilion. This will bring significant benefits to the whole region. We’d like to thank DLL for supporting the Eisteddfod and maintaining this site over the past five years.”

Sir Karl Jenkins will be conducting a landmark concert at this year’s Llangollen International Eisteddfod to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The concert, Uniting Nations: One World will bring together voices from across the globe, including WorldChoir, London’s Covent Garden Chorus, and some of the Eisteddfod’s visiting international choirs.

The centrepiece of the evening will be a performance of Karl Jenkins’ masterpiece One World, a large-scale choral work for soloists, choir and orchestra, which heralds a vision of a peaceful and egalitarian planet that treats nature and ecological issues with respect and where human rights are universal. It reflects his passion for bringing people together through the universal power of music, promoting a message of peace and understanding across cultures.

A stellar line-up of soloists will include two previous winners of the Eisteddfod’s Pendine International Voice of the Future competition, both of whom have continued into flourishing professional careers; the Singaporean Soprano Shimona Rose, and the Welsh Mezzo-Soprano Eirlys Myfanwy Davies.

The first half of the concert will feature the world premiere of a new version of the Peace Child story, ahead of subsequent performances at the Ljubljana Festival in Slovenia, and at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on UN Day.

Dave Danford, Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, said, “We are delighted to be welcoming Sir Karl Jenkins back to Llangollen this summer to conduct this special performance of One World. This is a concert that encapsulates the very ethos of both our Eisteddfod and the United Nations, bringing people from different nations and cultures together in an optimistic celebration of unity.”

Competition at Llangollen Eisteddfod is “wonderful opportunity”

Opera star Sir Bryn Terfel is urging the world’s most talented young singers to bid for a title that could help them follow in his footsteps to global glory.

According to the legendary bass baritone, the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is “a wonderful opportunity”.

Sir Bryn, who hails from Pantglas, near Penygroes, in Gwynedd, will headline the Eisteddfod’s closing concert on Sunday, July 13, in the International Pavilion.

He plans to sing all the songs from his latest album, Sea Songs, and will be joined by the Fisherman’s Friends, the acclaimed folk group from Port Isaac, Cornwall, and Welsh folk singer Eve Goodman.

But the concert will start with the final of this year’s Pendine International Voice of the Future competition which has become a major highlight of the festival since it was launched in 2013.

Last year 28 supremely gifted young singers entered the competition with Singaporean soprano Shimona Rose, 29, winning the prestigious title in a thrilling sing-off against talented Welsh soprano Manon Ogwen Parry.

Once again the blue riband contest is being sponsored by the arts-loving care organisation, Pendine Park, via the  Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT) which supports cultural and community initiatives across Wales.

The winner of will be presented with the Pendine Trophy by Sir Bryn, along with a cheque for £3,000 while the runner up will receive £1,000.

The closing date for aspiring singers to enter is February 20.

Sir Bryn said: ”The Pendine International Voice of the Future competition is a wonderful opportunity for talented young singers to make a mark and it can provide a real launchpad for fledgling careers onto the global stage.”

Each entrant will be required to include an audio recording as well as proof of age with their application.

Competitors, who are aged over 19 on the first day of the competition, are required to perform a contrasting programme of up to seven minutes in length for their preliminary rounds and up to 10 minutes for the final. The programmes should include works from oratorio, opera, lieder or song and be sung in their original language.

The competitors will have to navigate the preliminary round and a semi-final on Friday, July 11, before the final competition two days later.

Llangollen Eisteddfod’s Artistic Director, Dave Danford, said: “The competition was previously staged during the Choir of the World competition on the Saturday evening but we thought it would be a thrill for the young singers vying for this title and aspiring to reach the same heights as Bryn to appear on the same stage as the opera giant.

“The competition provides a good stepping stone to a professional career for young singers and so far we have received more than a dozen entries from singers for this year’s competition from China and Nigeria as well as England and Wales.

“But singers have until Thursday, February 20, to declare their interest and submit their entries. Following the closing date a selection panel will consider the entries and choose the singers who will take part in this year’s competition.”

The ongoing success of the competition is music to the ears of Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft MBE and his wife, Gill, who came up with the idea.

Mr Kreft said: “The standard of the competitors in years past has been absolutely phenomenal and I have no doubt it will be just as incredibly high again this year.

“I wish all the young singers the very best of luck in this year’s Pendine International Voice of the Future competition.  I don’t envy the task of the selection panel and the adjudicators as the singers are all so extraordinarily accomplished.

“As well has having the opportunity to showcase their talent, added bonus  for the competitors this year will be the thrill of appearing on the same stage as Sir Bryn Terfel, a true giant of the opera world.”

Looking forward to this year’s Eisteddfod evening concert programme Dave Danford said: “The concert programme is looking great with something for everyone.”

Legendary rock singer Roger Daltrey will open the 2025 Llangollen International Eisteddfod concert season on Tuesday, July 8 with an evening packed with classic The Who songs, solo hits, and his now-famous Q&A sessions, in which he opens up to the fans who have been with him throughout the decades.

The following evening a special concert will marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.

Mr Danford added: “Uniting Nations: One World is a landmark concert that brings together voices from across the globe to celebrate the power of music in promoting peace, equality, and human dignity.

“The evening will feature an uplifting performance of Karl Jenkins’ One World by an international massed choir of voices, including the Stay At Home Choir.

“BRIT Award-winning and Grammy-nominated artist KT Tunstall marks the 20th anniversary of her ground-breaking multi-million selling debut album Eye to the Telescope, with a special one-off performance with live orchestra on the Thursday evening and Il Divo, the globally-renowned classical crossover vocal group perform in Llangollen for the very first time on Friday, July 11.”

The 2025 Llangollen International Eisteddfod, which takes place from 8-13 July, will be marking the ‘Year of Croeso’ with a series of special events. The festival, which was founded in 1947, has already confirmed over 4,000 competitors from 36 different countries who will be heading to the town this summer.

The “Year of Croeso – Only in Wales” is being organised by Visit Wales. It is the latest in a successful series of themed years, and the Llangollen Eisteddfod will be stepping up their plans for a bigger and better festival than its record-breaking festival in 2024. The Year of Croeso, or ‘welcome’, aims to celebrate the distinct and varied ways in which people from across the UK and the world can feel welcomed when they visit Wales.

Chair of the Llangollen Eisteddfod, John Gambles said, “The Year of Croeso is the perfect opportunity for our festival to continue to reach out to the world, in the same way that we have done each year since 1947 in the aftermath of a world war. Each year we have welcomed all to share cultures and celebrate difference through the common language of music and dance in an annual International Eisteddfod. Last year, we welcomed over 50,000 people to Northeast Wales during an unforgettable Summer. This had a massive benefit on our local economy. Not only did we welcome some of the world’s biggest artists like Bryan Adams, Tom Jones and Paloma Faith to Llangollen but we also welcomed over 3000 performers from 30 different countries. This year, we have had the best response from around the world for years and we can’t wait to welcome even more competitors, even more countries and bring even more colour to Llangollen.”

In 2025, some 4,000 competitors from choirs, dance groups and ensembles will head to Llangollen from around the world, along with 60 groups from across the UK. This represents the highest number of international competitors for many years, as the town once again welcomes the world to Wales.

Groups confirmed for Llangollen 2025 come from as far away as Burundi, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kurdistan, Morocco, New Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, Républic of Congo, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, USA and Zimbabwe. There will also be 22 non-competing groups bringing a variety of choirs, dance and ensembles.

Taking place from Tuesday 8th to Sunday 13th July 2025, the week-long festival will include evening concerts from The Who’s Roger Daltrey, BRIT Award-winner KT Tunstall, classical crossover group Il Divo, West End star Lucie Jones and leading opera star Sir Bryn Terfel with Fisherman’s Friends. The festival is also co-promoting a series of ‘Live at Llangollen Pavilion’ concerts with Cuffe and Taylor, featuring bands like Human League, Texas and The Script.

Artistic Director of the festival, Dave Danford,  said, “The Llangollen International Eisteddfod really has something for everyone in 2025. From World Class artists like Roger Daltrey, KT Tunstall and Sir Bryn Terfel to competitors from every corner of the globe, our festival is uniquely placed to match Visit Wales’ ambitions for the Year of Croeso. Our outside stages will be themed this year with ‘Croeso’ in mind and we can’t wait to welcome the world once again to Wales. Like Visit Wales, we celebrate our unique sense of place, from culture and language to our huge range of events and activities.”

After last week’s announcement of concerts next summer featuring Roger Daltrey, KT Tunstall, Il Divo and Bryn Terfel, the Llangollen International Eisteddfod has put tickets on sale for its packed daytime events, which take place from 8 to 13 July 2025.

In 2025, 4,000 competitors from choirs, dance groups and ensembles will head to Llangollen from around the world, along with 57 groups from across the UK. This represents the highest number of international competitors for many years, as the town once again welcomes the world to Wales.

Groups confirmed for Llangollen 2025 come from as far away as Burundi, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kurdistan, Morocco, New Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, Républic of Congo, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, USA and Zimbabwe. There will also be 22 non-competing groups bringing a variety of choirs, dance and ensembles.

The festival’s choral, dance and instrumental competitions are hosted in its iconic 3,500-seater pavilion from Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 July 2025. In addition to 25 world-class competitions, there will also be plenty to see and do on the Eisteddfod field.

There will be two outside performance stages, featuring live music from across the world, as well as local bands from North East Wales. There will be showcases from Community Rhythm and Roots Wales (where 6 groups from across the country will perform), a Welsh language afternoon (featuring up and coming Welsh Language performers), and much more. The annual peace message will be presented on Wednesday 9 and Saturday 12 July and is the focal point of a number of activities promoting the Eisteddfod’s message of world peace.

In addition, there will be pop-up performance areas, a dedicated Kids Zone (featuring fun and educational activities, including circus skills), and a sensory den (providing a safe space for those who need it). There will also be arts and crafts from local makers, along with plenty to eat and drink.

Chair of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, John Gambles said, “Our 2025 Eisteddfod will be much more than a series of amazing concerts – our field will be a hive of colour, music, and dancing. There really is something for everybody. Our daytime in Llangollen will be as vibrant as our evening concerts. This year, we have had an amazing number of applications from across the world. It’s clear that the Llangollen International Eisteddfod still reaches out to the world, and our festival in 2025 will be bigger and better than ever.”

International and homegrown stars from the worlds of rock, pop, opera and the West End will be among the headliners to perform at the 2025 Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

Taking place from Tuesday 8^th to Sunday 13^th July, the week-long festival will include evening concerts from The Who’s Roger Daltrey, BRIT Award winner KT Tunstall, classical crossover group Il Divo, West End star Lucie Jones and leading opera star Sir Bryn Terfel. (more…)