Green Man
Green Man Festival is an independent music and arts festival situated in the Brecon Beacons which is held annually, set in some of the most stunning surroundings in Wales.
This year it takes place from the 17th until the 20th August. Those lucky enough to secure a settlers pass can camp at the settlers site from Monday 14th August.
What began as a 300 person one day event at Craig-y-Nos Castle in 2003, has now evolved to host over 20,000 people and is one of most highly anticipated world music festival held every summer.
Split into ten areas, with various stages, the arts festival has a remarkable array of literature, film, comedy, science, theatre, wellness, family and musical acts on offer.
It makes a great family festival with a fun fair and a designated kid’s field along with a whole host of kid friendly activities and interactive workshops for everyone from babies upwards. There is something for all the family.
Inside Info
Green Man festival refuses commercial sponsorship like other music festivals and instead focuses on local Welsh food and drink providers. There are thousands of independent Welsh brewers showcased every year if beer is your thing!
It also has a strong environmental and ethical focus. It has won several awards including “Best medium sized festival 2010” and “Grassroots Festival 2012” as well as being given five star reviews by publications such as The Guardian and NME. It is the only major independent UK music festival to have a female director with controlling ownership.
In 2023, you can watch headliners First Aid Kit, Self Esteem, Devo and Spiritiualized. Expect a line up and mix of genres across different stages, including indie, alternative, folk, dance and Americana.
Sŵn Festival
Sŵn is a multi venue music festival based in Cardiff, being held across the 20th, 21st and 22nd of October.
For three days, Cardiff city centre is “transformed into a hub for music makers and music fanatics.” Founded by Radio DJ Huw Stephens and Cardiff based promoter John Rostron, Sŵn Festival has been running since 2007 aiming to celebrate the best of new music in Wales unlike other music festivals.
Their website states that the music festival, run in various venues, isn’t exclusive to a particular style of music and instead focuses on booking exciting artists that showcase remarkable new music and emerging artists.
Bands and artists from both South and North Wales, along with the rest of the UK, showcase their talents in multiple venues at this annual live music event.
Inside Info
You can keep up to date with Sŵn Festival and all the artists being added to their already fantastic line up at swnfest.com. Book tickets on the website from £80.
Website
Brecon Jazz
Brecon Jazz Festival will be held across August this year, with 30+ shows over 10 days. The main event takes place on the 11th, 12th and 13th August, featuring live music, spoken word, the iconic Frazz parade and activities for the whole family.
The community event has hosted an incredible list of Jazz musicians from across the world, since it began in the early 80s. It was created by local enthusiasts and modelled on New Orleans style jazz events.
Inside Info
This year the mountain festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary so one of the longest standing music festivals in Wales.
Website
Escape Festival
Taking place in Swansea on the 19th August, Escape Festival is a huge annual party held in Singleton Park. Wales’ biggest underground music dance festival and is back in 2023, bigger and better than ever before.
Over the last two decades, Escape Festival has cemented itself as an integral part of Wales’ underground music scene.
Confirmed acts so far include; Shy FX, King of Rollers, Wilkinson, Ben Hemsley, Nicole Moudabear, Judge Jules plus more to be announced. One of the highly anticipated dance music festivals in Wales these days.
Inside Info
The team behind the festival have firmly established themselves as one of the leading event organisers in Wales over recent years. Previously launched three hugely successful festivals across the country; Inside Out, Party In The Park and Colour Clash.
Breathing new life into one of Wales’ most old skool festival brands, Escape, each with capacities ranging from 2,000 to 16,000 people. Also on their 2023 summer line-up is Wales’ largest music festival, In It Together. Wow!
The first one thousand general admission tickets will be priced at £45, and the first 200 VIP tickets at £70, it has been announced.
Website
Green Gathering
Green Gathering is described as the “original off-grid, non-profit festival” and is powered by sun, wind, people and passion for change. A co-ordinator for the award-winning festival said: “It’s different to other festivals, it feels like a safe haven” while a review of the festival states:
“Easily the most chilled, uplifting and inspiring festival in the UK today”
As the off-grid festival focuses on how to protect planet earth and live eco-friendly lives organisers are encouraging attendees to consider their travel options to the event.
Those who walk or cycle more than a couple of hours to get to The Green Gathering Festival will get a free programme on arrival!
To claim this cyclist can show their mode of transport or cycling gear when collecting their wristband at the main desk. People who walk can bring evidence such as photos of them en route along with dirty walking boots.
The festival dates this year are from the 3rd – 6th August, in Piercefield Park, just outside of Chepstow.
Inside Info
You’ll find 100 incredible music acts, performing artists, craft workshops, dedicated children and teen spaces, a healing circle, speakers forum, and radical cinema with film screenings, as well as much more, with spectacular views across the Wye Valley. As far as music festivals go the views here are stunning!
Book tickets for just £140, with different youth and child tickets available and under 5’s go free!
Website
Tafwyl
Tafwyl is an annual two day welsh festival, celebrating Welsh language, arts, music and culture. The organisers are hopeful this will be the biggest Tafwyl yet, attracting a crowd over 30,000 to enjoy some of the newest and exciting music acts in Wales.
Whether you’re a seasoned Tafwyl fan or a first-time festivalgoer, whether you speak Welsh or not, there’s something for everyone at this family friendly two-day event. Every year, Tafwyl hosts a street food area which feels like a festival in itself!
Featuring the best cuisine from all around the globe, there’s so much to choose to keep your energy up so you can dance all day.
Inside Info
Unlike other music festivals in Wales, it is completely free to attend, and has three stages of music alongside lots of other festival fun, including incredible street food from local vendors, craft stalls and a kids village. The festival really is fun and family friendly.
Bell tents at the ready! Set to take place on the 15th and 16th of July this year, at the iconic Bute Park right at the heart of Cardiff’s city centre. It won Cardiff Life’s Best Festival in 2022.
There is also a fringe festival that puts on various events in museums, libraries, cafes, bars, art galleries and various venues across Cardiff.
Website
Between The Trees Festival
Between The Trees is a not-for-profit festival set in a 100 acre woodland site, next to the largest sand dunes in the UK and a short distance from the sea situated in South Wales. The Candleston Castle Campsite adjacent to the picturesque Merthyr Mawr National Nature Reserve.
The arts festival features indie, contemporary and traditional folk music, art, spoken word as well as talks and workshops on nature, environmental science, biodiversity and wildlife conservation.
It aims to engage people of all ages with the natural world and to re-connect younger generations. Musically a great line-up of indie, contemporary & traditional folk music over 3 days, from intimate acoustic performances to contemporary folk, Americana and acoustic roots genres, blending new exciting talent with more established performers; the music is original and wonderful.
Inside Info
In addition, you will be part of a unique community within an ancient woodland setting and have the opportunity to create land art, investigate and observe natural science, listen and debate near one of the uk’s finest coastlines.
Children can explore freely in the magical forest areas and huge sand dunes. One welsh festival that shouldn’t be missed on 25th -27th August 2023. If you are unable to attend a festival in August then Gottwood festival in Anglesey, North Wales runs a couple of months earlier from the 8th-11th June. Gottwood festival is also set in a beautiful hidden Welsh woodland.
Website
SummerY
The more dancing you do this summer the more fun you will have so we hope this list helps you to plan how you can celebrate these wonderful events in 2023 and encourages you to discover something new.
We supply our equipment to some of the local festivals so if you need any kit for your own party or event, check out our list of packages at www.cardiffspeakerhire.com, on WhatsApp or call us on 02920 095590.