Jono 58 Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 STAGING one of Europe’s biggest free music festivals in North Wales will spark a much needed economic boost for the region, tourism cheifs said.BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend may be held at the Faenol estate near Bangor over two days in May, it’s emerged.The event has attracted some of the world’s biggest stars including Madonna, Snow Patrol and Lily Allen in the past, drawing huge crowds.Last year’s Big Weekend took place in Swindon and attracted more than 25,000 music fans.BBC chiefs played down suggestions it would be held at the site, but Gwynedd Council has already submitted a licensing application to “stage a large open-air festival at the site which will take place sometime between May 1-August 16â€.If the Big Weekend goes ahead it would provide a major boost to the Gwynedd economy.Dewi Davies, regional strategy director of Tourism Partnership North Wales, said: “Its an interesting prospect. This would draw in a large number of young people to North Wales at the start of the summer season. It would be an boost to the industry. “Hopefully the visitors will enjoy the music in the spectacular open-air setting of the Faenol and perhaps return to enjoy the other attractions of the region sometime in the future.†Music fans are already looking forward to the prospect of the festival being staged in North Wales.Rhian Barlow, 27, from Caernarfon attended the 2003 Big Weekend when it was held in Cardiff.“That was a great weekend with some great music. Its always a shame we have to travel so far to see the big name acts. It would be great if the Big Weekend is held here.â€Bangor University student Danny Morgan, 22, whose home is in Liverpool, added: “I’m looking forward to meeting my friends down here for a great weekend of music if this event takes place in Bangor.†But hoteliers fear the event would only be of limited benefit to them.One said: “Most of the Big Weekend audience would be young, well under 25, and they are more likely to spend the time camping on the site. It’s a one-off event as well. The Faenol Festival is a well established event with a more mature audience. I have already taken provisional bookings from Faenol Festival goers this August and I am able to raise rates for this event.â€Gwynedd Council refused to confirm if the Big Weekend is coming to Faenol but a spokesman said: "Gwynedd Council is constantly in discussion with event organisers to attract major events to the county that have the potential to have a major positive impact on the local economy. We can confirm that a licensing application to stage an event on the Faenol Estate has been presented to the council, and will be considered by the council in February."A Radio 1 spokeswoman said: “We are talking to a number of locations about this year's Big Weekend and we are not yet in a position to confirm where in the UK we will be taking the event.†The Faenol Festival was called off last year because of the credit crunch but a five-year deal has been hammered out to secure its long term future. The event is being restructured in partnership with the Universal Music Group and Raymond Gubbay, two of the world’s biggest concert promoters.Although details of this year’s event have yet to be revealed opera star Bryn Terfel has promised it will feature its “biggest and best ever†line-up of artistes. The Faenol estate has been used for other large scale events in the past. Six years ago Californian rock band, the Beach Boys and Pop Idol winner Will Young attracted about 17,000 people to the Summer Pops festival. The next year the National Eisteddfod was held at the Faenol.http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2010/01/15/faenol-estate-in-running-to-host-radio-one-s-big-weekend-55578-25605422/The last local press speculation was pretty accurate and it is time they hit one of the nations so I think we could well see Radio 1 in Bangor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkieboy 10 Posted January 15, 2010 Report Share Posted January 15, 2010 Would uphold the Big Weekend tradition of trying to chose the biggest shithole where they haven't been before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy H 10 Posted January 15, 2010 Report Share Posted January 15, 2010 Wow, thats fantastic - only about an hours drive for me! Have to agree with Yorkieboy about Bangor though - makes Hull look like Hollywood............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee. 10 Posted January 15, 2010 Report Share Posted January 15, 2010 they should come back to leicester they did it in 98 but i was to young to go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jono 58 Posted January 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2010 they should come back to leicester they did it in 98 but i was to young to goSounds like a good enough reason to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaNNiP15 10 Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 Thats still nowhere near me! XD Quote Kitty <3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jono 58 Posted January 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 Thats still nowhere near me! XDIt is if you can fly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaNNiP15 10 Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 It is if you can fly Haha true! But unfortunatly i haven't found any wings yet Quote Kitty <3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Stig 11 Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 Sounds like a good enough reason to me.And me. (Alright I'm from Leicester as well but come on the Midlands would be nice) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Computer 10 Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 plllleeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaassssseeeeeeee let this be true! Although if it was near me and I STILL didn't get tickets it'd be even more gutting.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon38 10 Posted January 17, 2010 Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 Wrexham or Aberystwyth would have been better choices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob 11 Posted January 20, 2010 Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 It had best not be in the midlands this year. I've lived there 18 years and the year I move South I bet it will be in the midlands! Really really really REALLY have to get tickets if Marina and the diamonds is playing <3 Quote The geek formally known as Scott Mills Guru Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jono 58 Posted January 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 Sounds to me like Corden has a ticket. Maybe a good inclination that it will be in Wales. That said I'm wide off the mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon38 10 Posted January 20, 2010 Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 Yeah,perhaps it's in barry islan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy H 10 Posted January 20, 2010 Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 Or Pontryfendigaid.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik B. 10 Posted January 20, 2010 Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 Or Norwich.:bah: Quote Nik B.Born to Toads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loiso 10 Posted February 7, 2010 Report Share Posted February 7, 2010 I hope they do it here! I only like 10mins from Faenol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC 84 Posted February 7, 2010 Report Share Posted February 7, 2010 they haven't got electricity in north wales yet have they? Quote on the grid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob 11 Posted February 7, 2010 Report Share Posted February 7, 2010 they haven't got electricity in north wales yet have they?Oooooohhhhhh #casualracism Quote The geek formally known as Scott Mills Guru Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cxx666 10 Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 looks like I'll need to have my fingers crossed for 2011 then. I know it was in Falkirk a while ago, but 1 in Edinburgh would be ideal for me Quote Not impressed with censorship Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler1994 10 Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 Somewhere Down The South Coast Would Be Awesome! Quote Who Is She?! Who Is She?! Where Did You Find Her?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdann 10 Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 they should come back to leicester they did it in 98 but i was to young to goi deffinatley agree, radios big wekkend this year should be held in leicester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik B. 10 Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 Whats a big wekkend? Quote Nik B.Born to Toads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattLeeds 10 Posted February 13, 2010 Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 How about LEEDS? Haha, looking forward to all the revealings of artists/venue ETC, it'll soon be here again, already! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom. 10 Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 I was thinking that it must be soon, it was a lot earlier in 2008 and 2009. Are they waiting for Tina to be into the swing of things first? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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