The Summer of Music 2023
The best music festivals and live gigs coming this Summer.
25-28 May
Balter Festival
Chepstow
Balter is a huge annual party held at Chepstow Racecourse for those who appreciate dancing and alternative beats: ska, gypsy, drum’n’bass, garage, disco, dub, and everything in between. Balter started off small and has got bigger and bigger, with more stages, more dancing and more madness.
28 May
Jack Savoretti
Cardiff
In a huge one-off show, indie musician Jack Savoretti has announced that he’s playing Bute Park in May with an open-air performance including all his biggest hits.
1-5 June
Fire in the Mountain
Aberystwyth
For those seeking a spiritual experience, the Fire in the Mountain festival offers nourishment for your body and soul. It has grown from humble beginnings as a gathering of friends, who played and shared a love of folk, old time, and bluegrass music.
8-11 June
Gottwood Festival
Anglesey
Gottwood is a mystical little party hidden in the middle of the woods. This independent and intimate underground electronic festival takes place at the Carreglwyd Estate, Anglesey.
16 June
Blondie
Cardiff
Pop-punk, New Wave, New York legends Blondie will perform at Cardiff Castle this summer.
21-25 June
Bristol Sounds
Bristol
Bristol Sounds returns to the city’s much-loved harbourside this Summer for five days of live music. There’s an amazing line-up including Mika, Jacob Collier, James and Self Esteem. The Bristol Sounds week of gigs has become a staple of the Bristol events calendar, traditionally falling on the week of Glastonbury as a city-based alternative to the festival down the road.
25 June
Rag ‘n’ Bone Man
Cardiff
One of the hot tickets of the summer, triple Brit award winner Rag‘N’Bone Man has announced a huge headline show in Cardiff. The ‘Human’ and ‘Life By Misadventure’ hit maker will perform at Cardiff Castle on Sunday 25 June.
14-16 July
Big Love Festival
Hay-on-Wye
Proving that party people run the best events, Big Love is a friendly three-day romp held at Baskerville Hall in Hay-on-Wye. Part festival, part house party, it’s always a great vibe. There’s over 130 DJs, plus workshops, comedy and a circus.
15-16 July
Tafwyl
Cardiff
Tafwyl is an annual festival in celebration of the Welsh language. The main event is the weekend-long Tafwyl Fair at Cardiff Castle, featuring performances and appearances from some of Wales’ biggest names in the arts, culture and sport. Over both days, Welsh language music is centre stage with performances in three on-site areas.
21 July
Madness Plus Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club
Swansea
British pop National Treasures Madness are coming to Swansea’s Singleton Park this Summer for a show to remember. Madness famously emerged from the backstreets of Camden Town in the late 70s and throughout their career, they’ve have had 10 UK top ten albums and 15 top ten singles.
21 & 24 July, 5 August
Tom Jones
Cardiff
It has been 21 years since he last headlined in the Welsh capital, but legendary Welsh icon Sir Tom Jones has confirmed his live performance at Cardiff Castle this summer, as part of his ‘Ages and Stages’ tour.
22 July
Ministry of Sound Classical
Swansea
An orchestral show celebrating the biggest dance anthems of all time comes to Singleton Park in Swansea. Ministry of Sound takes on the very best tunes hand picked from dance music history and recreates them in a breath-taking orchestral performance by an incredible 30-piece orchestra. Expect the biggest dance tracks reimagined with an orchestral makeover.
22 July
N Dubz
Colwyn Bay
After chart success between 2006 and 2011, the group reformed in May of this year after an 11-year hiatus. All three of their albums have been certified platinum in the UK. The hip-hop trio are currently on their Back To The Future Tour, don’t miss them at Stadiwm CSM in July.
23 July
Tom Grennan
Singleton Park, Swansea
The powerhouse vocalist embarks on his biggest UK tour to date. Tom Grennan has already had four UK Top 10 singles. Two of his platinum-selling anthems ‘Little Bit Of Love’ and ‘By Your Side’ scored in the Top Three most played songs of last year -both taken from his breakthrough UK No.1 album Evering Road. This tour is a landmark achievement for Grennan and the ideal chance see him perform in South Wales.
23 July
Ben Howard
Cardiff
The double platinum-selling artist Ben Howard has a very special outdoor show at the historic Cardiff Castle this summer, as part of his huge 26 date 2023 tour. Widely regarded as one of the best of British acoustic singer-songwriters, with a number of awards and accolades, including two BRIT Awards and a Mercury Prize nomination. He has released four albums to date, with the most recent being ‘Collections From The Whiteout’ in 2021.
28-30 July
Steelhouse Festival
Ebbw Vale
Now in its 12th year, Steelhouse is the festival at the top of a mountain with not only the best views but the most passionate, friendly and loyal audiences of any rock event. With the biggest names in international rock, this year’s headliner’s include Australian heavyweights, Airbourne and Kentucky rockers Black Stone Cherry. Steelhouse also throws open its prestigious stage to the most buzz-worthy new bands. It all adds up to a compelling mix of classic and cutting edge, with acts this year coming from the USA, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Belgium, Iceland, England and Wales.
10-28 August
Castell Roc
Chepstow
Castell Roc is an annual festival held within Chepstow Castle. Enjoy 13 different performances over 18 days in August, ranging from country to classical, and rock to funk. Castell Roc is praised and recognised for its relaxed and chilled out intimate atmosphere in a stunning open-air setting. The line-up includes Jason Donovan, Midge Ure, The Barricade Boys, Cardinal Black and many more.
17-20 August
Green Man Festival
Crickhowell
Once a tiny folk event attended by just a few hundred people, Green Man has grown to be one of the can’t-miss fixtures of the summer festival season. Now welcoming more than 15,000 visitors every year. Whether you’re a fan of twinkly indie, traditional folk, pulsating garage rock or ear-melting electronica, there’s probably something on the bill for you. There’s also a comedy tent, pretty gardens, kids’ areas and wellbeing zones, so you can chill out before the burning of the Green Man himself on the last night.
19 August
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Chepstow
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds headline a major outdoor concert in the beautiful surroundings of Caldicot Castle. Support comes from local favourites and national treasures Feeder, and Newport’s finest Goldie Lookin’ Chain.
