North Wales Bluegrass Festival, Conwy

The North Wales Bluegrass Festival is an international celebration which brings families and friends together in Conwy, a medieval walled fortress that casts a powerful spell across this most idyllic of holiday spots. A friendly and enchanting atmosphere pervades this classic walled town, surrounded by magnificent North Wales scenery, with glorious views of the Conwy Estuary, the Lower Conwy Valley, and the Snowdonia Range.

This world-renowned music and dance festival, now in its nineteenth year, kicks off on the first Friday in July. Families relax to the rich, appealing sounds of bluegrass and old-time music in safe, family-friendly environments, both indoors and outdoors. From year to year the festival boasts a vast line-up of talented artists, including homegrown and international talents. Over a dozen fantastic bands play to captivated audiences.

Concert venues include Conwy Civic Hall and a festival marquee. Two marquees are also provided for impromptu picking sessions, where everyone is free to join in. Performances, concerts and dances take place simultaneously in all venues. Picking sessions begin on Thursday, and the official programme is as follows: Friday - 8.00 p.m. until midnight; Saturday - midday until midnight; Sunday - midday until 5.00 p.m.

The locals are warm, welcoming and very supportive of the festival. For four days the town buzzes with great music and camaraderie, between fans and musicians alike. Workshops for all bluegrass instruments are available to weekend ticket holders, mainly on Saturday morning. Off-site sessions are held in one or more locals pubs on Thursday and Sunday evening.

The festival campsite is lush grass, level and surrounded by majestic trees on the ground of Conwy Cricket Club. The site has all the basic amenities and comforts, accommodating people with disabilities. There is a twenty-four-hour medical facility and nearby showers, plus an inter-site shuttle bus service. Bar and tasty hot dishes are also available on the grounds.

Many holidaymakers book the same accommodation year after year and many stay in Conwy after the festival to make an extended holiday out of it. Hotels and B&Bs are plentiful in the area. Over half of the visitors stay in small B&Bs inside the walls of Conwy itself. Some vacationers stay in guest houses further outside the walls while some stay in the beautiful Victorian holiday resort of Llandudno, just three miles away. Some visitors even come by boat and stay in the Conwy Marina. And others travel down the breathtaking Conwy Valley from B&Bs in Betws Y Coed, some of the most beautiful countryside in all of Europe. Nearby caravan parks and campgrounds accommodate those who travel further and want to extend their holiday.

Conwy is easy to reach by car, bus, train, and boat. All food and supply needs are available in the town centre, just minutes away from the festival site. Stroll the beautiful and historic town at your leisure and visit the many friendly, distinctively Welsh shops and restaurants.

With so many attractions and reasons for holidaymakers to stay on, it’s no wonder why this roots music festival is one of the most successful in the world and grows year after year. New fans and holidaymakers come from all over Europe and America to this scenic music paradise that never fails to surprise and delight, year after year. One cannot imagine more beautiful vistas or cosy accommodations for this unique family-friendly celebration of music and dance.

Review by Tom and Denise Hanway, 7 December 2006