Multi-platinum English indie pop legends Kaiser Chiefs have announced their headline appearance at Llanfest, the finale party of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, on Sunday 8th July in Llangollen, North Wales.
The concert will be the band’s first Welsh gig in almost two years and one of the first opportunities in 2018 for fans in the region to see the band live.
The five-piece band from Leeds, who shot to stardom in 2005 with their sophomore album Employment and are best known for songs including Oh My God, I Predict a Riot and Ruby, will be joined on the bill by renowned pop rock band, The Hoosiers and nineties icons, Toploader.
Llanfest is a recent addition to the International Eisteddfod, which is already renowned for its choral music, opera galas and classical concerts, as well as world music, jazz, rhythm and blues and folk music performances. One of the world’s most inspiring and multicultural festivals, which this year runs from Tuesday 3rd – Sunday 8th July 2018, it welcomes more than 4,000 performers and competitors and up to 50,000 visitors across the week.
Llanfest was launched in 2011 to introduce the event to new audiences and attract festival goers from across the country. The announcement of the Kaiser Chiefs 2018 appearance follows the huge success of legendary Welsh band Manic Street Preachers, who raised the roof of the pavilion at the festival finale last year.
Tickets will go on sale to Festival Pass holders and Friends of the Eisteddfod at 9am on Wednesday 7th March 2018, with general release tickets going on sale two weeks later on Thursday 22nd March 2018. Fans wishing to get their hands on the first tickets will able to do so by becoming a Friend of the Eisteddfod before or during the priority booking period.
Kaiser Chiefs, who have enjoyed two UK number one albums during their career, will provide an electrifying finale as they perform classic indie hits from their extensive back catalogue including Every Day I Love You Less and Less and The Angry Mob, as well as tracks from their most recent album Stay Together, produced by Brian Higgins the album became their fifth top five album.
The concert will see the pavilion’s rear seating once again being removed to increase capacity to more than 5,200, making it one of the festival’s biggest ever gigs.
Speaking of the announcement, Ricky Wilson, frontman of Kaiser Chiefs, said: “I’ve heard The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is renowned for its diverse musical performances for promoting a message of global peace and friendship, uniting people through music – that sounds a bit of a gob full, but you can’t really argue with it. Sounds like the kind of thing the Kaiser Chiefs should be part of. So in the spirit of that we cannot wait to perform at Llanfest this summer in the international pavilion.
“There’s loads of other acts on too who I’m sure all support the ethos of global peace, friendship and uniting people etc. I know it seems like a big ask from a festival, but it’s a fun place to start.
Toploader guitarist, Dan Hipgrave, said: “We’re excited to join the fantastic line up for Llanfest 2018. The International Eisteddfod is such a musically diverse event and we’re looking forward to it.”
The Hoosiers will take to the pavilion stage more than a decade after the multi-platinum success of their debut album, The Trick to Life, which featured chart-toppers Worried About Ray and Goodbye Mr. A. Toploader, best known for their 2000 cover of Dancing In the Moonlight, will perform some of their best-loved hits and songs from their 2017 comeback album Seeing Stars.
Chairman of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Dr Rhys Davies, said: “The International Eisteddfod was created to heal the wounds of war and bring communities from across the globe together through music and dance, in the spirit of international friendship and peace.
“Llanfest was introduced to spread this message to a wider audience, by bringing new and more contemporary music genres to the festival, while still remaining true to its traditional values.
“Kaiser Chiefs are renowned not just for their guitar-based indie hits, but also their spirit of musical adventure and re-invention, most recently with their foray into pop with Stay Together.
“Adding to that mix two iconic bands from the 2000s whose upbeat indie pop hits resonate across generations, the day is certain to bring thousands together to enjoy a high-energy finale to our 2018 festival.”
Llanfest 2018 is kindly sponsored by Knights Construction Group.
To buy tickets click here or contact the Box Office on 01978 862001.
To become a Friend of the Eisteddfod and access priority booking, please telephone 01978 862001.
