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POP GREATS MADNESS ANNOUNCE HEADLINE SHOW FOR LLANGOLLEN INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL EISTEDDFOD

British pop giants Madness are the latest act to be heading to North Wales next summer joining the line-up for Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

The Nutty Boys, who scored their first studio UK Official Charts No.1 album, Theatre Of The Absurd Presents C’est La Vie on Friday, will bring their legendary live show to Llangollen Pavilion on Saturday July 13.

Pop’s Nutty Boys have chalked up 15 UK Top 10 singles – including the timeless Our House, It Must Be Love, One Step Beyond, My Girl, Wings Of A Dove and Baggy Trousers – together with 10 Top 10 albums.

And they are now celebrating hitting the number one spot with an album for the first time.

The pop greats, whose Llangollen date is part of a 19-date summer tour, said: “Would you Adam and Eve it?! It only took us 40 years to get there but we’ve just gone and ruddy scored our first Number One album with Theatre Of The Absurd Presents C’est La Vie and we thought, what better way to celebrate than to announce a summer tour?!”

The headlining show is the latest to be announced as part of a new partnership between Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

Madness join indie heroes Kaiser Chiefs, Manic Street Preachers and Suede, BRIT award-winning artist Paloma Faith, chart-topper Jess Glynne and disco legends Nile Rodgers & CHIC among the artists to be announced so far for the iconic peace festival in 2024.

Lead Programmer & Production Manager of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Dave Danford said:“Madness are a band that we’ve long wanted to bring to North Wales. Our partnership with Cuffe and Taylor has made this happen, and bringing the Nutty Boys to town will continue the buzz around our festival of peace. With more announcements on the way, it’s clear that Llangollen will be the place to be next summer!” 

Cuffe and Taylor co-founder Peter Taylor added: “As a live act Madness present the epitome of fun and they have this amazing ability to bring audiences together for your best night out. This will be a night to remember in the Llangollen Pavilion.”

Jazz legend and Strictly star will light up Llangollen Eisteddfod

A jazz legend who played with Ol’ Blue Eyes Frank Sinatra will be teaming up with the voice of Strictly Come Dancing for a night to remember in North Wales. 

Strictly singer Tommy Blaize will be joining Guy Barker and his Big Band for a “powerhouse performance” in a star-studded concert at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod at 8pm on Friday, July 7. 

It’s a return to the festival for Guy who has also shared the stage with other superstars including George Michael, Sting, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Phil Collins, Sammy Davis Jr and Liza Minnelli among many others. 

The first of Guy’s two previous appearances at Llangollen Eisteddfod was in 2003, backing iconic husband and wife duo Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Laine and he returned to play with bass-baritone Sir Willard White in 2009. 

This time he’ll be conducting his own 15-piece band along with Strictly Come Dancing lead singer Tommy Blaize as well as Clare Teal and Vanessa Haynes and sax player Giacomo Smith. 

Guy, 65, has fond memories of performing at Llangollen and he said: “I played with Willard White when he did a tribute to Paul Robeson and before that I was there with John Dankworth and Cleo Laine. 

“I remember the stage and the backstage area well and the audience were so enthusiastic. It’s a great place to play.” 

Guy’s background is in showbiz. His mum is actress Barbara Barker, now 95, who appeared in the first seven episodes of Coronation Street and later in Z Cars and Emmerdale Farm while his late father, Ken, was an actor and stuntman. 

“In the opening scene of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, my dad’s the one running naked into the sea on the beach,” said Guy: “It was six in the morning and it was freezing. 

“He loved the Swing era and learned the clarinet and he encouraged me to play the trumpet so we could do duets and bought me my first two albums, one by trumpeter Louis Armstrong. 

“Music was all I knew and I’ve never done anything else.” 

The people Guy has played with reads like a musical who’s who and one of his career highlights was backing Sinatra in front of 45,000 fans in Italy. 

He has also recorded eight solo albums, two of which were nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, and since 2008 he has been the Musical Director and arranger for the annual Jazz Voice concert at the Barbican, which opens the London Jazz Festival and has a long-standing role with the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. 

He arranged the music for the films The Talented Mr Ripley and The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by the late film director Anthony Minghella who said: “Guy Barker is that rare thing – a brilliant soloist, a born leader and a generous accompanist. He can play so your heart breaks or your head swivels.” 

Llangollen Eisteddfod executive producer Camilla King said: “We’re delighted that we’ve been able to book Guy Barker for a return visit for what will be a truly memorable night. 

“The audience can expect punchy brass, New Orleans soul and a journey through the history of jazz song, featuring both classics and surprise new arrangements, including a re-imagined Tom Waits number. 

“It’s going to be a fantastic, one-off set drawn together with Guy’s inimitable sense of storytelling through music.” 

Guy Barker’s Big Band will take the stage at Llangollen as part of a high quality series of concerts which kick-off on the Tuesday evening, July 4, with Eisteddfod favourite Alfie Boe who joins forces with musical theatre super-group, Welsh of the West End. 

Wednesday will see The White Flower: Into The Light, a concert of remembrance for the fallen of Sarajevo and Ukraine, featuring the NEW Sinfonia orchestra with soloists from Bosnia, Wales and Ukraine, with works including extracts from Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man culminating in the Eisteddfod’s traditional message of peace and hope for the future of all nations. 

The popular procession of international participants and celebration of peace takes place on Thursday, followed by Flight, a new theatrical work by visionary artists Propellor Ensemble, inspired by migratory patterns in nature and humanity. 

Saturday features the blue riband event, the Choir of the World competition for the coveted Pavarotti Trophy, and also Dance Champions and the Pendine International Voice of the Future 2023. 

There is a new look to the final day of the Eisteddfod on Sunday with an all new live final which sees rising vocal stars battle it out to claim the title Voice of Musical Theatre, and a new song-writing competition for emerging voices in contemporary popular music.  

“On the field, community bands, brass, silver, wind, compete, and audiences can choose their winner of the new Eisteddfod Dance Off.” 

As well as the concerts, each day features a full programme of competitions in the Pavilion and a line-up of stalls and exhibitions on the field along with the competitors from around the world, many in colourful dress while three open-air stages run a stream of live performances. 

Each year around 4,000 participants take to the stage with around 25,000 visitors attending. 

There will also be lots of entertainment on the outside site including workshops, talks, international showcases, outdoor theatre performances and circus skills. 

For full programme details and to buy tickets go to: www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk/whats-on/ 

Solo Competitions Now Open!

This summer from 04-09 July, we’ll be presenting our first full-length Eisteddfod since the pandemic, with a new improved outdoor site, the annual Parade back, bigger and better than ever, and some exciting new competitions on our closing Sunday.

We are thrilled to announce that our Solo Vocal & Instrumental competitions have opened for applications (closing 24 March), we’ve added new categories including an International Accompanist Prize, and don’t forget that you can still apply for our new Dance competitions and Instrumental Ensemble categories (Young Folk & Community Bands)….

View full details on our dedicated competitors website www.eisteddfodcompetitions.co.uk

2022 Daytime Competition and Field tickets are now on sale!

Plan your summer early and book your Day and Field entry tickets for Llangollen 2022. Tickets go on sale this morning at 10am!  For more information on ticket types and what’s on please see below.

Pavilion Day

Want to see the vocal stars of the future, worlds best choirs, amazing folk dance from across the globe – book your seat in the pavilion now so you don’t miss out!

For more information visit: Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod What’s On

Pavilion Day Tickets:
Full Price – £16
Child Price – £6
(Booking Fees apply)

Pavilion Day tickets include full access to the Field and a reserved seat in the Pavilion for daytime competitions – please be aware that competition schedules are subject to change.

Thursday 7th July – Children’s Day

Field open for members of the public and ticket holders from 10.30am until 10.00pm.

Your allocated seat will be available in the Pavilion arena for the Young Peacemakers Awards and afternoon competitions from 12:00pm

The first full day of competitions is not to be missed as children’s choirs and children’s folk dance groups take centre stage. We also feature the WCIA Young Peacemakers Awards.

Young Peace Makers Awards – celebrating young people who have contributed to peace and global citizenship in their school, youth group, local community or overseas in a variety of ways.

Friday 8th July – International Youth Day

Field open for members of the public and ticket holders from 08:30am until 10.00pm.

Don’t miss the beautifully polished harmonies of the Youth Choirs and A Cappella Group competitions, and the colourful performances of the Choreographed/Stylised Folk Dance Group.

Also introducing a brand new competition; Young Folk Ensemble. Our Soloist competitions also begin today, taking centre stage with Voice of Musical Theatre, Vocal Solo categories and Young and Junior Instrumentalists competitions.

Saturday 9th July  – Family Day

Field open for members of the public and ticket holders from 08:30am until 10.00pm.

Our main choral competition day is not to be missed, as choirs from all across the globe will perform on the prestigious Eisteddfod stage. You can see the world’s best Mixed, Youth, Female, Male, Open Choirs and new for 2022 Show Choirs battle it out to be crowned Choir of the World. 

Today we also introduce our new Contemporary Dance competition. Winners from this competition will join the winners from the Traditional and Choreographed Dance competitions to compete for the Dance Champions title on Saturday evening.

Field Admission

Field Day Adult £12
Field Day Concession £10
Field Day Child 5+ £5
Field Day Child under 5 FREE
Family tickets also available
(Booking Fees apply)

Tickets are available to book for Thursday 7th July – Children’s Day, Friday 8th July – International Youth Day and Saturday 9th July – Family Day.

We have a special reduced Evening Field entry price of £5, valid from 4.30pm Thursday-Saturday.

Field Day tickets include full access to the grounds with admission into the Pavilion in blocks D and H on first come, first served basis.

This July we’ll be presenting a completely revamped outdoor site, with music, dance, talks, comedy, food, drink, shopping, workshops and pop-up entertainment, designed to delight and surprise! Come and relax, or come and expand your mind, with a programme bursting with family-friendly events running from mid-morning until 9pm.

Will you need parking? You can also pre-book your parking space for £5.00 when purchasing your tickets. This can be added to your basket during the booking process. This is an all-day ticket from 8:00am.

2022 Group and Solo competition applications open!

 

Croeso! Welcome!

Following a two-year hiatus from live competitions, I am delighted to announce that applications to take part in the ‘Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod’, which takes place from Thursday 7th July – Sunday 10th July 2022, are now open!

Download 2022 Syllabus here

Visit Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Participants’ Website  for more competition information. (more…)

Brythoniaid Male Voice Choir

Biography: In June 1964 with fifteen members Meirion Jones formed the male voice choir, and due to the encouragement received  commenced to attract new members.

From the outset, competing was an integral part of the Choirs activities. Their first competition was at the Llanffestiniog jubilee Eisteddfod in 1965. Following success at this Eisteddfod it was decided to make 1966 the starting point for a sustained period of competition which indeed continues to the present day. Between 1966 and 1974 the Choirs success could be compared to that of a modern day football team with the following statistics: 26 competitions, 19 first prizes, 3 second prizes.

In 1972 the Choir won first prize at the Butlins Eisteddfod.

But it hasn’t all been competition. In 1975 the Choir made an historic trip behind the ‘ Iron Curtain’ and visited Hungary where they appeared before a panel of Hungary’s most eminent musicians and were awarded a Diploma from the Academy of Culture for their performance. Since this first historic trip the Choir has toured far and wide, which have included two tours of America, two tours of Belgium. Two visits to the Interceltique Festival in Lorient and several tours to Ireland and Scotland. Further National Eisteddfod successes occurred in 1977, 2002 and 2005.

The Brythoniaid have many records and C.D’s.

To those who have heard the Brythoniaid Male Voice choir singing will agree that it has an unique sound which has given enjoyment to a huge number of people over the years and long may this continue.

Members: 85

Homepage: www.corybrythoniaid.com

YouTube: https://youtu.be/fMOF3wsrLf8

Dancing in the Street

Name Country Position
Real Folk Cultural International Academy (RFCIA) India 1st
Al-Izhar Senior High School Pondok Labu Indonesia 2nd
Gabhru Panjab de India 3rd
Aichurok Kyrgyzstan 4th