9/7/2009

Abertillery Blues Festival 2009 is set to be the biggest yet with a host of international talent and a growing fringe festival in the town.

Local pubs and venues are getting on board this year with a series of more intimate gigs in the run-up to the festival which takes place on Friday, 17 July and Saturday, 18 July 2009.

Two days of blues and rock music will be headed up by legendary guitarist Andy Fairweather Low – described as one of the UK's most eclectic and charismatic musicians. Andy will be joined by his band The Low Riders.

The array of British and international talent includes Alvin Youngblood Hart’s Muscle Theory, The Oli Brown Band, Jay Tamkin Band, Earl Thomas & Paddy Milner & The Big Sounds, Lightnin’ Willie & The Poorboys, Derrin Nauendorf, Kendall James Band, Blue Traffic and the Lisa Mills Band.

The festival has been awarded £20,000 of funding from the Heads of the Valleys Programme – directly addressing the Welsh Assembly Government’s agenda to promote the Valleys as a tourist destination.

Blaenau Gwent Council’s Executive Member for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Jason Owen said:

“Abertillery Blues Festival is growing in popularity every year and is now firmly established on the UK music calendar. This year, with the addition of a fringe festival in several local venues, we hope the event will be even bigger and better.

“The last four festivals have contributed around £500,000 to the local economy of Abertillery and brought in thousands of visitors – making it hugely beneficial for Blaenau Gwent.

“The Welsh Assembly Government – through their Heads of the Valleys Programme – have recognised the importance of the festival to the regeneration of Blaenau Gwent and the Valleys.�

For the first time blues and rock fans will be able to camp overnight on the festival site. The campsite and facilities will be open from 3pm on the Friday and food and refreshments will be on sale. Festival-goers can camp for the two nights of the event – Friday, 17 July and Saturday, 18 July – at a cost of just £5 for festival ticket holders.

You can get tickets by calling the box office on 01495 355800