78 PAIRS OF FREE TICKETS TO BE FOUND

Music fans can get their hands on the hottest tickets in town as North Wales gets ready for another incredible season of live music with TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion and the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

Last summer more than 50,000 music lovers flocked to the town for a month of spectacular shows, and the excitement returns next month as global stars including Texas, Rag’n’Bone Man, James, The Script, Olly Murs, The Human League and UB40 featuring Ali Campbell all head to Live at Llangollen Pavilion from June 26 to July 5.

The stellar lineup continues with the Llangollen International Eisteddfod from July 8, featuring headline shows from Sir Karl Jenkins, KT Tunstall, Il Divo, Beyond Time: The Music of Hans Zimmer, Choir of the World with special guest Lucie Jones, and Bryn Terfel joined by Fisherman’s Friends and Eve Goodman. The festival also offers a full daily programme of competitions and field entertainment.

To kick off the celebrations, organisers are bringing back the hugely popular treasure hunt, giving fans another chance to bag themselves FREE tickets on Monday May 26.

To mark 78 years of the international festival 78 pairs of free tickets will be hidden at various locations around the Llangollen Pavilion grounds.

Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod Dave Danford said: “Last year’s treasure hunt was such a hit – it really helped build a buzz in the town ahead of a truly incredible summer so we knew we had to bring it back. It’s a fun way to kick things off and gives fans the chance to bag tickets to some of our biggest shows. With world-class artists and the unique magic of the Llangollen Eisteddfod, this year is going to be something special. Let the hunt begin!”

The Treasure Hunt will run from 10am until 2pm on Monday May 26. 

• 78 special envelopes will be hidden around the iconic Llangollen Pavilion grounds. Each envelope contains a unique code linked to a specific headlining concert or the Family Fun Day.
• Lucky finders must bring the envelope and code to the main entrance of the Pavilion to redeem their pair of tickets.
• Limit of one pair of tickets per person. Tickets must be redeemed before the Pavilion closes at 2 pm on Monday May 26.
• All under-16s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over.
• Good luck and happy hunting!

7PM THURSDAY MAY 29

LLANGOLLEN PAVILION HALL

Residents and businesses in Llangollen are being invited to a public meeting ahead of this year’s TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion and Llangollen International Eisteddfod events.

This Summer, more than 50,000 people are expected to come to Llangollen providing a huge boost to the local economy.

Representatives from both the volunteer team behind the festival and co-promoters Cuffe and Taylor will lead the meeting to answer and address all questions covering subjects such as traffic management, noise alleviation measures, and access to the site.

The meeting will take place on Thursday, 29th May at 7pm at Llangollen Pavilion.

Chair of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, John Gambles said: “In just a few weeks’ time, the doors of our iconic Pavilion will welcome tens of thousands of people for our TK Maxx Presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion and the Llangollen International Eisteddfod events. This meeting will be an opportunity for Llangollen residents and businesses to get the latest information, as we gear up for a summer of fun. It’s important to us to keep residents in the loop, to ensure the impact on our town as positive.”

Numerous steps are being taken to maintain a safe environment for the public during event days, including a one-way system in certain areas. A dedicated phoneline will also be launched to allow residents to contact the Eisteddfod team with any issues during the festival.

Llangollen’s economy will be boosted this week, as the Llangollen Pavilion grounds will be opening for additional car parking. Llangollen Town Centre has often suffered due to the lack of car parking spaces but thanks to the Eisteddfod Team, running the Pavilion – the town will see close to an additional 180 parking spaces. The spaces will be available when there are no events on at the Pavilion or its grounds. John Gambles, Chair of the Llangollen Eisteddfod says that opening up the grounds will be a significant boost to the local economy. There will a number of pay points on the site with a variety of ways to pay.

The changes will see the implementation of an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system. This advanced technology will significantly improve security, deter anti-social behaviour, and enable 24-hour monitoring of the car park and the Eisteddfod grounds. The ANPR system will help maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all visitors to Llangollen.

Costs will be from 70p for 30 minutes for the main car park, £6 for up to 8 hours and £10 for 12 hours. The Pavilion field car park will have the same charges but with a maximum time of 8 hours. There will be no overnight parking.

John Gambles from the Eisteddfod said, “For as long as I can remember, parking has been a huge issue in the centre of Llangollen. When we took over the Pavilion full-time in April, one of the first things we did was look if it was possible to open up our site for additional car parking. Any revenue raised will go towards running the Pavilion for the benefit of Llangollen and towards the running of the Llangollen Eisteddfod.”

The field will be open from 15th May, with the centre of Llangollen only 500 metres away. The Eisteddfod say the changes have been carefully considered to balance public convenience, revenue protection, and the facilitation of future enhancements funded by this revenue. There will be no charge for parents of pupils at Dinas Bran School for parents dropping off and picking up.

The advanced Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system will significantly improve security, deter anti-social behaviour, and enable 24-hour monitoring of the car park. The ANPR system will help maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all visitors. There will be numerous mechanisms to pay for parking, including booking services for specific elements.

The Llangollen International Eisteddfod is proud to announce a special event hosted by BBC Radio Cymru’s Rhys Mwyn, showcasing three extraordinary Welsh music acts in thrilling live performances. The outdoor event will happen before BRIT Award-winning and Grammy-nominated KT Tunstall takes to the pavilion stage to perform her iconic debut album Eye to the Telescope in its entirety, with orchestra for the first time ever.

Pedair, draws on the talents of four of Wales’ most prominent and award-winning folk artists and blends traditional Welsh influences with modern sounds, creating a fusion that resonates with both younger and older audiences. Mared, known for her powerful vocals and emotional depth, is making waves with her intricate storytelling, often reflecting the Welsh landscape and culture in her lyrics. Buddug, with her distinct voice and innovative approach, effortlessly bridges the gap between folk, pop, and electronic music, becoming a pioneering force in Welsh-language music. Together, these artists are pushing boundaries and elevating Welsh music to new heights, earning recognition both in Wales and internationally.

Rhys Mwyn, renowned for his pioneering role in Welsh-language music and his popular Monday evening show on BBC Radio Cymru, has long championed Welsh artists said, “I’m absolutely thrilled to present such incredible Welsh talent for this event. Pedair, Mared, Buddug are pushing boundaries and bringing fresh energy to the Welsh music scene, and it’s truly inspiring to see how far they’ve come. It’s a real privilege to be able to link up with the Llangollen Eisteddfod, a festival that has long been a cornerstone of our cultural celebration. I’m excited to be part of this. I can’t wait to present these three outstanding artists on what is expected to be one of the busiest days at the Llangollen Eisteddfod.”

A talented classical singer from Ukraine whose life was ripped apart by the Russian invasion is hoping to reignite her career at prestigious competition in North Wales.

Soprano Khrystyna Makar is among 25 singers from around the world who will be vying to become the Pendine International Voice of the Future at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in July.

She fled her war-torn homeland with her two young sons, Denys, now 20, and Lukian, 15, in 2022, leaving her husband, Volodimir, and her parents in their home city of Lviv.

Khrystyna, who lives in Shotton, in Flintshire, will be up against contestants from the USA, China, and South Africa as well as Wales and England.

Once again the blue riband competition 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 opera star Sir Bryn Terfel, along with a cheque for £3,000 while the runner up will receive £1,000.

But first the competitors will have to navigate a preliminary round and a semi-final before the final two take part in a sing off as part of the Eisteddfod’s final concert on Sunday evening, July 13.

It’s taking place on the same night as a concert by Sir Bryn who’ll be performing 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.

Before Vladimir Putin’s 2022 invasion Khrystyna was a successful classical singer who had performed all over her native country and in Europe at concert halls in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Scandinavia.

Since arriving in the UK when she lived first in Llangrannog, in Ceredigion, and then Aberystwyth before settling in Shotton, Khrystyna has tried to keep her musical career on track although it has been difficult and she hopes the exposure of competing at Llangollen will help.

Khrystyna hopes the event can boost her singing opportunities in the UK and in the meantime she makes trips home to see her husband and family.

She is just back from a visit which coincided with a deadly Russian missile strike on an apartment block in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

Twelve people were killed in the attack and over 80 injured and Khrystyna said: “It’s difficult but people still try to keep going.

“It was Easter so we were able to celebrate together with my husband and my parents – we don’t lose our traditions even in these times.

“Lviv is in the west of the country so it’s quite far from the war but sometimes missiles come down there. Everywhere is dangerous but people are still trying to build their lives.

“Being separated from your family is difficult but you have to be strong.

“We are a very friendly people and we’re very grateful for the support we have had from the people in Wales and England.”

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 in 2013 and have seen it become a fixture of the Eisteddfod programme.

The 2025 competition is all the more special to the couple because Pendine is celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year.

Mario 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.

“As well has having the opportunity to showcase their talent an 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.”

Llangollen Eisteddfod’s artistic director, Dave Danford, said: “This is one of the most important competitions of the Eisteddfod and people come here because they could be watching someone who will become a household name.

“For the competitors the chance to share a stage with Sir Bryn Terfel is just wonderful – it’s a prize in itself.

“Mario and Gill Kreft have been very good friends to the Eisteddfod over many years and we are very grateful to them.

“Two previous winners, Eirlys Myfanwy Davies, from Pembrokeshire, who won in 2017 and Shimona Rose, who won in 2024, will be featured soloists on Wednesday, July 9, at the Karl Jenkins concert to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations which will feature a performance of his ‘One World’ by an international massed choir of voices.”

Sir Bryn Terfel added: ”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.”

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.”