Coast & Countryside

Making Beautiful Music in the Welsh Hills

Dubbed as "beautiful music performed by great artists in an idyllic hill-top setting" the annual Llandelio Fawr Festival of Music and celebrates its 10th anniversary this summer, with performances from the likes of The Swingle Singers, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Sinatra’s trumpeter Guy Barker.

The festival takes place from 10 - 18 July in the idyllic town of Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire’s Towy Valley, expect a tuneful week of top-notch music accompanied by lazy picnics, floral fiestas and rolling welsh hills.

Founded in 2001 by its current Artistic Director Julia Jones, the Llandeilo Fawr Music and Flower Festival has, since its very inception, sought to bring artists of truly international stature to this lovely corner of Wales. For one week each year, the small town presents a programme of musicians of international acclaim that have included Sir Willard White, Sir Thomas Allen, The King’s Singers, Nikolai Demidenko, Tasmin Little and Jamie Cullum.

Highlights of this year’s programme include:

• An opening concert from the Swingle Singers, the eight-voice a cappella group whose ground-breaking album Jazz Sebastien was released to worldwide acclaim in 1963. Four decades, 3500 concerts, 5 Grammy awards and 46 albums later, the group’s music has most recently been celebrated on TV hit "Glee".
• A big band evening at Newton House, part of the National Trust’s Dinefwr Park and castle estate in Llandeilo, The National Big Band of Wales features the entire brass section of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, together with a handful of Wales’ best Jazz musicians and on vocals is Julie Dunn, one of the UK’s most exciting Jazz vocalists.
• Barker and Shaw at the Movies - Guy Barker Britain's acclaimed trumpet maestro, who accompanied Frank Sinatra on many of the great singers tours, returns to Llandelio for an evening of movie inspired music at the boutique Cawdor Hotel in Llandelio accompanied by pianist and vocalist Ian Shaw who has been described as one of the world's finest male jazz vocalists.
• A Sunday "evening in Vienna" from the opera company Opera Box, performing a new outdoor production A Viennese Whirl, on the lawns of the famous Aberglasney Gardens, evoking the magic and music of imperial Vienna and transporting audiences to the banks of the Danube.
• The full programme also offers performances from the Allegri String Quartet and young Clarinettist Mark Simpson, a week long flower festival at the town’s St Telio Church, afternoon recitals and chapel concerts from a roster of renowned classical singers and musicians.

For those looking to pitch up for a night, a few days or the whole week, Llandelio and the surrounding areas offers wealth of resting places, some with special festival packages:

• The Plough in Rhosmaen, a charming four star boutique hotel, is celebrating the 10th year of the festival with a special offer. Enjoy a pre or post concert meal in its AA rosette award winning restaurant, accommodation and a traditional Welsh breakfast for just £99 per couple per night. Quote 'Music Festival Offer' when booking - www.ploughrhosmaen.com
• Ty Cefn Tregib, one mile from Llandelio, is a beautiful country B&B in a converted threshing barn and stables set in 10 acres of woodland and garden. With rooms available throughout from £50 per room per night based on two sharing - www.tregib.co.uk
• The Glynhir Estate on the foothills of the Black Mountain and a short drive from Llandelio has a selection of stylish self cottages with availability over the festival period from £495 per week - www.theglynhirestate.com
• Camping enthusiasts can pitch their tent or park up their van at the nearby Abermarlais Caravan Park on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park. From £7 per night per pitch - www.abermarlaiscaravanpark.co.uk

The perfect location for a summer break, Carmarthenshire in South West Wales is home to spectacular mountains, rolling landscapes, secluded ancient forests and vast stretches of sandy beaches. Its wide open spaces, including Brecon Beacons and Pembery Country Park have long been active, outdoor holiday favourites packed with nature trails, castles and breathtaking walks. Adrenalin junkies can get their kicks river swimming, mountain biking, coasteering or kayaking on the Teifi and for the style-savvy there’s the boutique shopping mecca of Llandelio.

For further information the festival visit www.llandeilomusicfestival.org.uk