14 July 2008

WEST END 'UNDERWORLD' AND WELSH MAFIA JOIN FAENOL FESTIVAL LINE UP

Today, Bryn Terfel announced another star to join thisyear's Faenol Festival line up. Jodie Prenger emerged victorious in BBC ONE's I'd Do Anything, the musical talent search which saw 12 contestants battling it out week by week for a starring role as Nancy, in Cameron Mackintosh's West End revival of Oliver! The Festival in August will reunite Jodie with one of the 'I'd Do Anything' judges John Barrowman. But this time round, they'll both be sharing the limelight as they join forces in Faenol's spectacular 'Music under the Stars' gala on Sunday 24 August.

 
Rare Never seen beofre footage of Bryn Terfel Jamming Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven with Mafia & Mr Huws outside the Faenol. Excluisve to Caernarfon Online.

Making the announcement today, Bryn Terfel said: "This year's musical theatre gala brings an incredible line up of West End stars together: John Barrowman, Daniel Boys, our very own Shan Cothi and now Jodie Prenger. She is a very welcome addition to this spectacular line up that will create a night of music under the stars that promises to be quite unforgettable - and completely unmissable"!

During the series, Jodie quickly became a firm favourite amongst both the viewers and the esteemed judging panel, led by legendary composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, and was declared winner by public vote on Saturday 31st May. Her stint in Oliver! Will see Jodie star alongside acclaimed actor Rowan Atkinson in the iconic role of Fagin, and Burn Gorman as Nancy's vicious love interest Bill Sikes. The show is due to open in the West End in December this year.

Boyzone will open this year's Festival with a knock out performance of their Dest loved hits on Friday August 22. They will be supported at Faenol by Hope, the five strong, all girl X-Factor finalists. On Saturday night, Bryn Terfel will take to the Festival stage, joined by the sunning Bulgarian mezzo Nadia Krasteva, South Africa's star tenor Johan Botha and the wonderful German soprano Diana Damrau for the Opera Gala. They will be accompanied by the nternationally renowned orchestra of Welsh National Opera under the baton Df Gareth Jones. On Monday night 25 August, in time honoured tradition, the festival will build to an all Welsh rock and pop finale with Tan y Ddraig.

The Welsh Rock and Pop Maffia planning to ignite the Dragon's Fire

The godfathers of Welsh Rock and pop and their sidekicks are all preparing ror a showdown of the best Welsh music at Faenol Festival's Tan y Ddraig 'inale on Monday 25 August this year. Leading the line-up will be Cerys Matthews who will be joined by, amongst others, Maffia Mr Huws, one the 1980's most popular bands.

Maffia Mr Huws formed in 1978 while still in school, under the name Weiran Bigog'. By the 1980's they were playing over 100 gigs a year, and won the Sgrech 'Leading Rock Group' prize two years consecutively. Things gradually came to an end for the group when one of their members Alan Edwards tragically died in an accident in Brittany, but the band never officially announced they were calling it a day. Recently, the Bethesda rockers have been playing a number of gigs including Pesda Roc and Dolgellau's Sesiwn Fawr. Their appearance at this year's Faenol Festival is sure to delight die hard fans and create a new young fan base, as they perform some of their favourite hits including 'Gitar yn y To', 'Ffrindiau' and 'Hysbysebion'.

Leading Welsh singer-songwriter and actor Ryland Teifi will also be gracing the Faenol stage this year. Following the success of his debut album 'Heno' in 2005, Ryland has performed in Dublin, London, Seattle, Calgary, Vancouver and Paris and appeared at festivals including the Dublin Festival of World Cultures and Cnapan Festivals. In September 2006, he headlined a 9/11 fifth anniversary concert in Grosvenor Square, London for the families of British victims of the Twin Towers tragedy. Ryland recently released a new album 'Under the Blue' and looks set to enchant Faenol audiences with his blend of folk, rock, blues and jazz.

Tickets for Boyzone at the Faenol Festival on Friday 22 August are priced at seats £40.00 / grass £32.50. Tickets for the Opera Gala on Saturday 23 August are priced at seats £38.50 / grass £30.00; tickets for Music under the Stars on Sunday 24 August are priced at seats £38.50 / grass £30.00; tickets for Tan y Ddraig on Monday 25 August are priced at £19.50 / £12.50 (under 16). All tickets are available from the Festival website or by calling the Venue Cymru box office on 01492 872000, Theatr Gwynedd box office on 01248 351708 or Silver Star Holidays on 01286 671771 (telephone and internet bookings will be subject to booking fees, however, no booking fees for personal callers to these box offices paying by cash / cheque). A 10% discount is available for bookings of 10 or more. Faenol Festival is also delighted to offer a weekend Festival Promenade Ticket - enjoy all four nights for just £90 (plus booking fee).

FAENOL FESTIVAL REACHING AN EVEN GREATER AUDIENCE THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH BBC WALES.

Faenol Festival is delighted to have the support of BBC Wales again this year, broadcasting the performances to a wider audience and enabling everyone in Wales and beyond to share the Festival's magic.

Over the past year, the BBC's broadcast of Faenol Festival 2007 performances via BBC Wales, BBC2 Wales, S4C, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales, have ensured that more than two hundred thousand more people have enjoyed the wealth of international performances that delighted the Faenol audience last August.

Speaking about the BBC's partnership with Faenol Festival, Keith Jones, Head of Welsh Language Programmes BBC Wales said: "BBC Wales are delighted to be Faenol Festival's broadcast partner again this year. With a feast of musicians and singers of an international standard performing, those who attend the Festival as well as those who will tune into the highlights from the comfort of their homes will be able to enjoy the experience on radio, television and on-line."

Details of the broadcast schedule will be available during the course of Tuesday's press conference.

Jodie Prenger - Biography

Jodie Prenger emerged victorious in BBC ONE'S I'd Do Anything, the musical talent search which saw 12 contestants battling it out week by week for a starring role as Nancy, in Cameron Mackintosh's West End revival of Oliver!

Jodie quickly became a firm favourite amongst both the viewers and the esteemed judging panel, led by legendary composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, and was declared winner by public vote on Saturday 31st May. Her stint in Oliver! sees Jodie star alongside acclaimed actor Rowan Atkinson in the iconic role of Fagin, and Burn Gorman as Nancy's vicious love interest Bill Sikes.

A born entertainer, 29 year old Jodie has performed extensively on the cabaret circuit in North England. She attended the National Youth Theatre in the same class as Kate Winslet's sister Beth, and made her first solo appearance at the Opera House in the Summer Spectacular. Lead roles quickly followed in Hot Mikado for Blackpool and the Flyde College at the Grand Theatre, and Cabaret at the Winter Gardens.

Jodie has also offered comedy support for Ken Dodd, Ricky Tomlinson, Joe Pasquale, Bernard Manning and Frank Carson. In addition, she spent eight months aboard the Disney World Cruise Ship, in one of six principal roles in a team of 19 entertainers.

Jodie's television triumph in I'd Do Anything wasn't her first taste for victory. In 2006, she came first in LIVING'S weight loss series, The Biggest Loser, taking home a prize of £25,000 after shedding a staggering eight stone. Starting the show at a size 26 and weighing 18st 2lbs, she slimmed down to a size 10. Her other TV work includes appearances on Granada's A Taste for Travel alongside her mother in 1999, and then in 2000 she took part in The Other Half alongside boxer Chris Eubank.

Performances aside, Jodie has a vested interest in helping people, and enjoyed a successful stint as an agony aunt prior to attending the I'd Do Anything. Alongside her own advise and guidance website, Jodie used her prize money from The Biggest Loser to run a series of successful weight loss weekends with trainer Angie Dowds.

ALCOHOL POLICY FOR FAENOL FESTIVAL, IN PARTICULAR DRAGON'S FIRE PERFORMANCE TO GUARD AGAINST UNDER AGE DRINKING.

Faenol Festival Trust is working closely with North Wales Police to prevent under-age drinking on site and to safeguard the enjoyment and safety of our audiences throughout the Festival.

Much of the festival field is seated during the first three nights of the festival, but, the Dragon's Fire / Tan y Ddraig night is a completely open field. This night therefore, is subject to further restrictions in order to safeguard the safety and enjoyment of audiences.

Each of the Festival nights is subject to the following policy:

•      No person under the age of 21 will be allowed to enter the arena in

possession of alcohol

•      No person under the age of 21 will be allowed to purchase alcohol from

the bar in the arena, unless they produce identification to prove they

are 18 years old or over.

The policy for Tan Y Ddraig will also include the following:

•      No cans will be allowed into the arena

•      No glass bottles will be allowed into the arena