Caernarfon Online is proud to be the first to announce

FAENOL FESTIVAL 2010

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF WORLD CLASS PERFORMANCES AND LOOKING AHEAD TO AN EXCITING FUTURE

The internationally renowned Faenol Festival returns this year to the Faenol Estate on 27 – 30 August, to celebrate 10 years of some of the world’s best music in one of the most beautiful festival settings. To mark this 10th Anniversary year, Bryn Terfel, The Faenol Festival Trust and new promoter Universal Music Classical Management & Productions (UMCMP) are pleased to unveil the line up of stars for Faenol 2010, along with a new structure and some new exciting elements for the Festival.

The Faenol Festival Trust, Bryn Terfel and UMCMP are grateful to Gwynedd Council for supporting this year’s Festival. Announcing the line up, Bryn said: “This year’s Festival is a celebration of the last 10 years combined with a new look festival structure for a secure future. We’re bringing back some of the artists that have wowed our audiences and we’re also introducing some new elements to the weekend. I’m looking forward to welcoming people from all across the UK and the world to my corner of Wales once more, and to an unforgettable musical bank holiday weekend!”

To open this 10^th anniversary weekend, the Faenol Festival welcomes back Irish superband Westlife, one of the fastest and best selling groups in the Festival’s history. They will return to the Faenol stage fresh from their 2010 UK arena tour.

The Opera Gala on Saturday night also sees the return of a familiar face and now world renowned voice to the line up. Since tenor Rolando Villazon made his electrifying debut performance at Faenol in 2007 - which included juggling and clowning whilst singing top Cs - he’s become a household name amongst classical fans throughout the world. He’ll be arriving at the Faenol Estate hot from his stint as a judge on ITV’s Popstar to Opera Star and international opera and concert performances. Rolando is sure to create more magical, unforgettable memories as he joins Bryn Terfel and the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera under the baton of Gareth Jones for a night of Opera and classical music under the stars. Of course, no opera gala would be complete without a few love duets and so Bryn and Rolando will be joined by internationally renowned soprano Sylvia Schwartz, and Romanian mezzo Ruxandra Donose. It promises to be a night of glorious voices!

Photo from The Feeling official website

Tan y Ddraig returns, but on Sunday this year. Tan y Ddraig 10 takes on a new look and vibe with a fiery combination of top Welsh bands mixed with some household UK music industry acts. The Festival is keen that Tan y Ddraig 10 reflects and showcases the vibrancy of current Welsh language music alongside internationally established acts. Tan y Ddraig 10 will be a great combination of Welsh bands including Llanberis based group Yr Ods, Masters in France and new Cardiff singer songwriter sensation Pete Lawrie (newly signed to Field/Island Records). The day will be headlined by BRIT award nominated band, The Feeling, with Indie favourites Shed Seven, Athlete and The Roads also on the bill.

Photo from the Rhydian official website

There’s more for everyone to enjoy on Bank Holiday Monday, with the Festival packing in two performances in one day. At lunchtime, New Zealand born songstress Hayley Westenra will be making her second appearance at the Faenol Festival, and will be joined by Rhydian making his Faenol debut, performing together in a show for all the family. The Battle of Britain 70th Anniversary concert with the RAF Central Band will be narrated by Squadron Leader Tom Jones, a member of Dame Vera Lynne’s family. It will be a celebration of bravery, sacrifice and freedom, featuring some of the most popular music and inspirational speeches from the era, with a Spitfire fly past to bring down the curtain. The concert will be in support of the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Ensuring the Festival ends on a hilarious high note, the closing performance on Monday evening sees comedy making its first appearance on the Faenol stage. Al Murray, Britain’s most hilarious Pub Landlord will be paying a visit to Faenol Festival to serve up his own special brew of bar room banter. In 2009, the People’s Publican left over 230,000 of his regulars over-flowing with laughter, on his one-man mission to fix Broken Britain.  This is a chance to catch the Guv'nor in this one off show that will deliver a barrelful of some of his greatest material from recent years. The Pub Landlord will be joined by TV favourites Ed Byrne, Port Talbot born Lloyd Langford, Milton Jones and Felinheli wit Tudur Owen. Further names will be added to the bill soon.

Tickets will go on sale on Thursday 13 May at 09.00am. All tickets are available from the Festival website or by calling the Venue Cymru box office on 01492 872000, Galeri Caernarfon on 01286 685222 or Silver Star Holidays on 01286 671771.  This year, for the first time, Faenol Festival is delighted to be working with the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay(02920 636464) to offer a box office in the capital.

Timetable and ticket prices are:

Friday 27^th August 2010 – Westlife

Doors – 17.30
Show Starts – 20.00

Seats – £42.50
Grass - £35.00

Saturday 28^th August 2010 – Opera Gala

Doors – 17.30
Show Starts 20.00

Seats - £42.50
Grass - £35.00

Sunday 29^th August 2010 – Tan y Ddraig 10

Doors – 15.00

Seats - £35.00
Grass - £28.50
Monday 30^th August 2010 – Battle of Britain 70^th Anniversary Show

Doors – 12.00
Show – 13.00

Seats - £25
Grass - £20
Kids Grass under 16 - £15

Monday 30^th August 2010 – Al Murray The Pub Landlord and friends!

Doors – 17.30
Show star – 19.30

Seats - £32.50
Grass - £25.00

A 10% discount is available for bookings of 10 or more. All box office, telephone and internet bookings will be subject to booking fees, however, no booking fees will be charged for personal callers to these box offices paying by cash or cheque.

Further announcements about line up will be made over the coming weeks and months.