Coachella in legal row with tiny Welsh festival over its name
Coachella in legal row with tiny Welsh festival over its name
H from Steps says it is 'mindblowing' that Coachella has forced his small Welsh festival into a name change - but says he will take it as a 'massive compliment'
Steps star Ian H Watkins said he couldn't believe the complaint from Coachella was real
(Image: PA )
Steps band member Ian H Watkins expressed astonishment after his modest Welsh event, Cowchella in Cowbridge, was compelled to alter its name due to pressure from the behemoth California based music festival Coachella.
The local festival's social media presence vanished and its Eventbrite ticket page lost its original moniker following a dispute that Watkins told the PA news agency originated from Coachella Ltd, the company behind the huge American music festival. By Sunday the event had re-emerged under the new banner of Moo-La-La Festival which will be hosted by Watkins alongside actress Claire Sweeney and BBC Radio 2 presenter Owain Wyn Evans.
In a new update the original Cowchella festival announced its "fab new name" assuring that tickets already purchased would be honoured for the debut gathering set for August.
Watkins said he was initially shocked when he received notice of the warning from Coachella, believing their social media accounts had been hacked before encountering an "official complaint from Coachella".
Watkins was philosophical about it, seeing the complaint as a flattering acknowledgment of Cowchella's potential. He said: "I'm taking it as a massive compliment that they feel like our little festival is a little bit of a threat to their ginormous, juggernaut of a machine."
But he said he couldn't believe they received the complaint in the first place. "It's a little bit mindblowing...what we're doing is very, very different to what they do.
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"We don't have Beyoncé performing. We have a Steps tribute act... and also, they don't have myself, Claire Sweeney and Owain Wyn Evans, hosting, which in my book, is much better than Beyoncé."
He expressed his delight that the event has become a "talking point" and that people "love that Coachella has put Cowbridge on the map" while also admitting that "luckily, it wasn't like, the week before because that would be the disaster".
Watkins conceded that the thousands of pounds spent on "marketing costs, posters and banners" will be "a financial impact that we have to absorb".
"We've spent a lot of money on marketing and flyers and posters and banners that are all visible around the town. So yes, those will have to go in the bin... but let's just do that, rather than have any more people knocking on our door."
Many festivals adopt similar names including the Welsh event GlastonBarry, which is a play on Glastonbury in Somerset, and hasn't faced the same issues.
The Cowbridge festival, which Watkins said would feature "the number one tribute acts in the country", will continue as planned on Saturday, August 2 at Bear Field.
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Daily Mail
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
The VERY varied fortunes of F1's most glam WAGs ever: As Silverstone's British Grand Prix turns 75, how one wife 'died of heartbreak' and another went on to steal Elizabeth Taylor's man
From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, handsome F1 drivers have long impressed fans with not only their speed on the racetrack but also their dashing good looks. But it's not only the heartthrob sportsmen who have often left audiences hot under the collar - their equally stunning girlfriends and wives regularly turn heads as they cheer their men on from the sidelines. The glossy pitlane posse of WAGs who are championing their partners this year includes Kelly Piquet, a 35-year-old model from Brazil who's dated Max since January 2021. Elsewhere, Scottish model Rebecca Donaldson and fashionista Alexandra Saint Mleux are proving to be staunch supporters for their drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles, respectively. But today's social media sensations follow on from the glamorous figures of the 1950s, '60s and '70s, with F1's appeal having always extended beyond racing. For instance, Lady Helen Stewart was one half of a glamorous 1960s F1 couple with the British racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart, while Suzy Hunt's marriage to James Hunt in the '70s was the society wedding of the year. This year, Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix, celebrates 75 years of the F1 championship - and the upcoming milestone weekend of racing will no doubt see an array of radiant WAGs once again put on a spectacular display. So, ahead of the three-day event, starting on July 5 with the practise round and finishing with the thrilling head-to-head race on July 7, FEMAIL takes a look at some of the most glamorous wives and girlfriends to ever grace the circuit - and their varied fortunes. 1950s Louise King Married to Peter Collins American actress Louise King and her British driver husband Peter Collins made up a glamorous 1950s racing couple. They met in a Miami bar in 1957 and just two days later, the racer proposed. A week after first meeting they were married, reported The Guardian. Aged 24, Louise was on tour with the Broadway production of The Seven Year Itch, while Peter, then 25, from Kidderminster, was beginning his second season as a member of Ferrari's grand prix team. A year later, the impressive driver won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, after finishing third in the Monaco Grand Prix and fifth in France. But in Germany just weeks later, as his supportive wife sat in the Ferrari pit with a stopwatch and a lap chart, Peter suffered a fatal crash. He had reportedly been set to retire at the end of that season ahead of starting a family. 'I had only a year and a half with Peter, but it was the most joyous time,' Louise later said in the 2017 documentary Ferrari: the Race to Immortality, according to the publication. She continued: 'He was a great driver: when he won the British Grand Prix in July 1958, they even said he might become the best. He was 26. He died three weeks later. 'We'd just bought our first house, near his parents in Kidderminster. We were just starting our life together, and there it was: over.' Louise, who died 18 August 2021 at the age of 88, would later marry Canadian film producer and screenwriter Gordon Burwash. He passed away in 1980. Meanwhile, Louise went on to act again before spending her final years in Florida, volunteering at a local history museum. She would always describe Peter as the love of her life. 1960s Helen Stewart Married to Sir Jackie Stewart Back in the early days, Sir Jackie Stewart, now 85, and his wife Lady Helen, born on 21 January 1941 in Helensburgh, Scotland, were the poster boy and girl of Formula 1 racing. He won 27 races out of 99 starts and was world champion three times before being knighted in 2001, while his glamorous and stylish counterpart was the 'original pit lane girl', attending 'every race'. Lady Helen - who wed her childhood sweetheart in August 1962 - was also an actress, known for Seven Days Too Long (1968), The Wicked Die Slow (1968) and Weekend of a Champion (1972). 'My wife was the original pit lane girl, my professional stopwatch - timing my laps to the millisecond,' Sir Jackie said to the Daily Mail previously. Lady Helen – the love of his life – was around before he made the big time; they fell in love when he was 18 and she 16. Speaking to the publication in 2014, the retired driver - who shares two grown-up children, Mark and Paul, with his beloved wife, added: 'We've had a fantastic relationship. 'It was a glamorous life, there were lots of girls around, but by the time I got into Formula 1 Helen was pregnant with Paul. 'My first victory was just before he was born, so the two are intertwined. We've been married 52 years and we still look after each other very well.' The couple were known to divide their time between their estate in Buckinghamshire, close to Chequers, the Prime Minister's country residence, and a house in Switzerland. For most of the marriage, theirs has been a gilded lifestyle with lots of travel, luxury and hobnobbing with celebrities and royals - Princess Anne has been a close friend for 40 years and Lady Helen is Zara Tindall's godmother. After retiring in 1973, Sir Jackie cut a series of commercial deals (being the first driver to spray a bottle of champagne on the podium brought him a contract with Moet Hennessy) and today he has an estimated fortune of $50million. But life irreversibly changed for the former Formula One golden couple after Lady Helen was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia - a less common form of the illness that can develop at a younger age - more than a decade ago. Lady Helen can no longer walk and suffers from significant memory loss - a common feature in sufferers of the condition. Sir Jackie launched the Race Against Dementia charity with filmmaker son Mark following her diagnosis. 1970s Suzy Hunt Married James Hunt James Hunt, who competed in Formula One from 1973 to 1979, and was played by A-lister Chris Hemsworth in the 2013 film Rush, which explored the British racing driver's intense rivalry with racer Niki Lauda, was married to supermodel Suzy Miller. Together, they were one of the decade's It couples, with their nuptials in October 1974 in London, undoubtedly the society wedding of the year. Suzy was a striking woman, who, while described as 'not classically beautiful', captivated everyone she met with her willowy figure and charming presence. She met her future husband in Spain in 1974, aged 24, a year younger than Hunt. The pair fell into easy conversation, and after a whirlwind romance lasting only a few weeks, Hunt proposed. Immediately after the proposal, he reportedly expressed regret to his friends, saying he was not sure what he was doing - and was said to have spent the run up to their wedding drunk. However, the driver was aware of the great deal of value she added to him so resolved to try to make the relationship work, according to Shunt: The Story of James Hunt author Tom Rubython. But fed up of her husband's antics, Suzy later ran off with Richard Burton in 1976, after the Welsh actor split from Elizabeth Taylor. Burton reportedly paid Hunt $1m during the couple's divorce settlement, with the driver assuring the actor: 'You've done me a wonderful turn by taking on the most alarming expense account in the country.' Hunt died of a heart attack in 1993 at his home in Wimbledon. He was 45. He reportedly left a large sum of money for his friends to get drunk at his wake. Barbro Peterson Married to Ronnie Peterson Barbro met Lotus Formula driver Ronnie Peterson in true swinging 60s style while dancing in a club in Örebro, Sweden, around the spring of 1968. She worked as a secretary before moving to New York City in 1969 to become an au pair, however, she returned for the 1970 racing season. Barbro was more of a hands-on WAG and took up the role of Ronnie's timekeeper and was often found perching on the pit counter, watching her husband's performance. The couple married in 1975 and decided to make England their home, although they had a flat in Monaco and a holiday home in their homeland, Sweden. Barbro gave first to their daughter Nina in the November of that year and the pair lived together as a happy family for a couple of years. However, only three years after they tied the knot, Ronnie tragically died aged 34 on 11 September 1978 after his Lotus crashed during the Italian Grand Prix. Riccardo Patrese had collided with James Hunt and this caused a chain-reaction which launched Ronnie's Lotus into the barriers at 100mph. The impact of the smash tore off the front end of the vehicle and he sustained severe leg injuries so much so that amputation was considered. He was rushed to Niguarda hospital in Milan, but his condition worsened through the night, causing him to pass away from a bone marrow embolism that entered his bloodstream. Barbaro found it hard to cope after the love of her life was taken away from her prematurely and died of suicide less than a week before Christmas Day in 1987 aged 40. As Barbro was so involved in her late husband's racing life, she was thought to be terribly lonely after his passing. She dated British racing driver John Watson for around five years but Lotus team manager Peter Warr believed that deep down she knew her soulmate was Ronnie. Warr told Motorsport Magazine: 'The lifestyle she led and the happiness she found with Ronnie was totally irreplaceable. She wouldn't have found it with anyone else. 'They were made for each other, and they were just delirious that things worked out so well. They loved life and they loved each other.' Their deaths left 12-year-old Nina an orphan and she was raised by her grandparents. 1980s Susie Moss Married to Sir Stirling Moss Lady Susie Moss first met British F1 legend Sir Stirling Moss when she was five years old and he was 28 in Hong Kong, as the pair's families were close. The pair met again years later when Susie moved to London aged 17. The pair struck up a friendship that slowly blossomed into a romance, despite Stirling briefly going out with Susie's older sister, Tina. Susie previously told the Mail: 'The age gap didn't matter. I never thought about it because, to me, he was never old. He was always such fun.' Susie was four months pregnant with their son Elliot when they married in 1980 at Hammersmith & Fulham Register Office. Susie was never worried that her husband might stray and said: 'Once we'd got married, he wasn't a player. He believed very strongly that one belongs to one.' The pair spent 40 years travelling the world together, going to iconic festivals such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed and luxurious socialite events with brands such as Louis Vuitton and Chopard. Despite the many near-misses of his racing career, Stirling always seemed indestructible. In 2010, aged 80, he even survived a fall down the lift shaft at his home. He had summoned it and stepped into a void, realising too late that the door had opened onto emptiness. He broke both ankles, four bones in his foot and chipped four vertebrae in the plunge. 'I thought I'd lost him,' says Susie. 'But he came bouncing back. He made no fuss at all.' Stirling - who was previously married to Elaine Barberino - then passed away aged 90 from a chest infection in 2020 at their Mayfair home. He had retired from public life in January 2018 after undergoing lengthy rehabilitation for a serious chest infection he contracted in Singapore in 2016. Susie was at his bedside as he died, having nursed him through a long illness, at their central London house. She told the Daily Mail: 'He died as he lived, looking wonderful. He simply tired in the end and he just closed his beautiful eyes and that was that.' Three years after becoming a widow, Susie died aged 69 following a protracted period of ill health, however, her sister Tina believes she passed away from 'a broken heart'. 'My beloved sister died of a broken heart,' Tina, wife of ebullient retail tycoon Sir Philip Green, said amid floods of tears to the Daily Mail. 'She never recovered after Stirling left us. Their marriage was the greatest love story I have ever known.' Their union lasted for nearly four decades, in vivid contrast to his first two marital excursions. The first, to Canadian brewing heiress Kate Molson, ended after three years, while the second, to American Elaine Barbarino, with whom he had a daughter, Allison, endured just a year longer. Susie previously told the Mail: 'He had so many beautiful girlfriends. Oh, they were gorgeous!' 'I think there might be a photo of me among them in the book somewhere. We both kept in touch with a lot of them. I didn't have a problem with that. And the first Mrs Moss (Katie, nee Molson, heir to the Canadian brewing dynasty) used to come and stay with us in London and at our house in Florida.' Susie was never worried that her husband might stray: 'Once we'd got married, he wasn't a player. He believed very strongly that one belongs to one.' The couple lived in Mayfair, just a stone's throw from swanky private members' club 5 Hertford Street, at the house which Sir Stirling designed and equipped with a treasury of gadgets. Susie remained there after his death - sleeping close to the urn containing his ashes. 'She has gone far too soon,' her sister Lady Green said in 2023. 'We will miss her terribly.' 1990s Adriane Galisteu Partner of Ayrton Senna Adriane first met legendary Brazilian F1 driver Ayrton Senna when she worked as a hospitality hostess for the oil company Shell at the 1993 Brazilian Grand Prix. Despite the pair seeing each other several times during that race weekend in the hospitality suite, they didn't interact until Ayrton celebrated after the Brazilian Grand Prix at Limelight Club. During their relationship, Adriane lived a glitzy lifestyle and would often jet off to destinations such as Monaco and Hungary to cheer on her boyfriend. According to Tom Rubython's 2004 biography, The Life of Senna, Ayrton planned to stay in Portugal with Adriane for five months during the European race season in 1994 and not return to Brazil during that time, as reported by Business Insider. This caused a rift between the pair and Ayrton's family, who allegedly felt as though the glamorous blonde model was not good enough for their son. Galisteu saw Senna for the last time on April 3, 1994, weeks before his death. She was taking an English language course in Brazil in preparation for spending time in Europe and living with Senna. But their love story was cut short after Ayrton died during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in Italy while racing for Williams aged just 34. He crashed into a concrete wall at 190mph and died almost instantly from the impact. Heartbroken Adriane - who saw Ayrton for the last time on April 3, 1994, weeks before his death - witnessed the crash as she was watching the race live on television from his apartment in Portugal. She told the Mail: 'I saw the accident and thought nothing of it,' she said. 'In fact, I thought, 'Good, he'll be back early, thank goodness'.' 'But then I saw it was more serious than I first imagined. I stood in front of the TV and watched the replay over and over again. I could see the car was damaged but I never thought he had died.' Adriane was told to get on a plane to Italy immediately but when it was about to take off, the pilot got a call from the tower. She said: 'I imagined it was Ayrton saying 'You don't need to come, everything is OK'. 'It was a friend [who said] ''Adriane, you don't need to come'. 'Wow, that's good', I said, thinking he must be improving. 'No, he's dead'. My world stopped at that moment. 'In my head it was impossible: he could only die of old age. It was incredible that he died doing what he knew best in life. 'It was very difficult for Brazil, for the whole world, but even more for me. It took me many years to recover my life, especially amorously.' Images show emotional Adriane joining mourners at his funeral in May 1994 as she appears to break down in tears over his coffin. Per Rubython's biography, Aridane said that Ayrton told her that he wanted to marry her someday, switch from Williams to Ferrari and had dreamed of becoming a father one day. After his untimely death, she ended up marrying Brazilian businessman Roberto Justus in 1998, but the pair divorced a year later in 1999. She then tied the knot with her current husband Alexandre Iódice in 2010 and the pair share one son together named Vittorio. The former model now works as an actress and TV host, boasting more than six million followers on Instagram, where she regularly shares an insight into her glamorous life. Modern day Alexandra Saint Mleux Dating Charles Leclerc Alexandra Saint Mleux is a TikTok influencer who stole the heart of her beau, Charles Leclerc over two years ago, with the two having made their first public appearance in March 2023. In May of the same year, her racing driver love finally confirmed the budding romance. When she's not cheering her super speedy boyfriend on, she's filming lifestyle and home videos for her TikTok followers. Her glamorous videos are the hallmark of an F1 WAG with her feed full of luxury travel locations, designer outfit fit checks and the odd few on glamorous yachts. Alex isn't just beautiful in herself, but is a fan of all things beautiful, being a passionate art historian. Carmen Montero Mundt Dating George Russell Carmen Montero Mundt has been in a relationship with George Russell since 2020 - and as reported by GP Blog, the couple happily live in Monaco together. According to the outlet, Carmen has previously worked in finance - as an investor relations associate at Ruffer LLP in London - but previously announced that she is going back to studying. The driver's very glamorous girlfriend - who is originally from Spain and moved to the UK aged 18 - has a business degree from the University of Westminster. Carmen has hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, and often shares snaps of her luxury travels and enviable style online. The couple are understood to have met through friends in London, and have made a number of public appearances since first getting together. Kelly Piquet Dating Max Verstappen Kelly is a 36-year-old model from Brazil and hasn't just bagged herself a boyfriend who is a three-time world champion, but also happens to be the daughter of one too - with her father, Nelson Piquet, having the same badge of honour himself. Kelly and Max have been dating since January 2021 and are often spotted with Kelly's daughter, Penelope. The model previously pleaded with social media fans to stop spreading rumours about her after facing 'a strange and upsetting wave of accusations' in the last three years, some of which relate to her previous relationships, with the 36-year-old having dated Russian Formula One driver Daniil Kvyat. In May, Max announced he had welcomed his first child with girlfriend Kelly, taking to Instagram to share the news with a slew of black and white snaps of their baby girl. Max called his daughter the 'greatest gift' and revealed they had named her Lily. Alongside the adorable pictures, he wrote: 'Welcome to the world, sweet Lily. Our hearts are fuller than ever - you are our greatest gift. We love you so much.' While Lily is Max's first child, model Kelly, 36, already has a daughter, Penelope, born in 2019, from her previous relationship with Formula One driver Daniil Kvyat, 30. When talking about having his first child, Max previously explained he is already somewhat prepared thanks to Penelope. The Dutchman said in the Talking Bull podcast: 'Luckily I did get a little bit of training with Penelope, seeing her grow up already for like four years. Which has been also really, really nice. 'But yes, for sure, when it's like, also going be fully your own [kid]... Yes, it's going to be a different challenge. But I'm looking forward to it'. The couple began dating in October 2020, and announced that they were expecting their first child together last December. Despite having a nine-year age gap, Kelly previously said that her relationship with Max is thriving because of the mutual understanding they have for each other. Kelly, said: 'I think we have a very healthy relationship, easygoing, we have a lot of understanding and support for each other. 'You would think the age difference could be a challenge, but so far things are going really well. I also really appreciate how he treats Penelope. It's so sweet to see.' The subject of marriage has been publicly addressed by Max, who said that only 'time will tell' if he and Kelly decide to tie the knot. Rebecca Donaldson Carlos Sainz started his relationship with Rebecca Donaldson in 2023 Donaldson has appeared on the covers of high-end fashion magazines like Vogue and Marie Claire. Pictured with Carlos in June 2024 The Scottish model (pictured) has been sighted at races with her beau Dating Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz started his relationship with Rebecca Donaldson in 2023 - and now, the Scottish model has been sighted at races with her beau. Donaldson has appeared on the covers of high-end fashion magazines like Vogue and Marie Claire since winning a beauty pageant aged 17, when she was a student at the prestigious Perth Academy, dreaming of breaking into the fashion industry. 'My mum entered me and I was really surprised when I found out,' she said at the time. 'I am really excited to have won and am really looking forward to entering the Top Model UK competition.' Rebecca was first linked to Keeping Up With The Kardashians star and Kourtney Kardashian's ex Scott Disick when the pair attended the premiere of a new series of the show in 2022. They dated for two months before splitting up in June of that year. She founded the activewear fashion label Muse in 2020 during the pandemic, explaining: 'I knew I wanted to create something that not only I would wear and be proud of putting my name against, but also something that was missing from the market.' The couple were first seen out together in Milan in June 2023, then fans started to think they were an item when they appeared at a golf course in Amsterdam in late August. One of Sainz's sisters began following her on Instagram, adding fuel to speculation about a romance, before Donaldson took to the catwalk at Madrid Fashion Week in front of members of the driver's family. Tickets for F1's British Grand Prix at Silverstone can be purchased at ahead of the three-day event on July 5 to July 7.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Want to see Oasish play GlastonBarry? Well, you can! How tribute festivals ‘grew into a monster'
Matt Blumberg launched the tribute festival, GlastonBarry, in 2013 as a way of doing something positive and joyful for his hometown of Barry, Wales. But what started as a local festival of 500 people is today a three-day event attended by an audience of 18,000. 'It started off as a community incentive, and a bit of fun, and it quickly grew into a monster. It's bonkers,' the former primary school teacher said. GlastonBarry – a play on Glastonbury – is one of more than 30 outdoor tribute festivals that have taken the UK by storm. Others include Glastonbudget, Tribfest, and Big Fake Festival, which showcase tribute acts such as Oasish, Antarctic Monkeys, Coldplace, Badness, the Fillers, Stereotonics and Blondied. According to The Entertainment Agents Association [TEAA], tickets for tribute festivals have been 'on the rise' over the past five years. 'These events have seen a significant growth in popularity, with some festivals having to move to larger venues due to increased popularity,' said Paul Winteridge, immediate past president of TEAA. This week, Steps star Ian 'H' Watkins was forced to change the name of his Cowbridge tribute festival, Cowchella – where the likes of Harry Styled UK and Got to be Taylor Swift are due to perform – after organisers of the famous California event made an official complaint. Watkins said he viewed it as a 'massive compliment that they feel like our little festival is a little bit of a threat to their ginormous, juggernaut of a machine'. Winteridge said the soaring costs of concerts were one of the reasons behind the popularity of tribute events, especially during a cost of living crisis. There was also a nostalgia factor, as well as the fact that theywere accessible for families. At GlastonBarry, weekend tickets cost £65, making it great value for money, said Blumberg, who founded Mack Events with his cousin – a former aeronautical engineer. 'We cram it with 22 acts in two days, and there's literally something for everyone, from Eminem to Bad Manners. 'A lot of the acts we book, like Queen, Bob Marley or George Michael, are tributing people you're never going to be able to see live again. We don't take it seriously, we even encourage fancy dress. We get a lot of hen dos and stag dos, as well as families bringing their kids.' Although tribute acts have been around since the 1960s, modern advances in lighting, stage makeup and sound technology means musicians can look more authentic now. They can even become huge brands in their own right, like the Bootleg Beatles and Björn Again, who have been paying tribute to Abba longer than the original band were together. 'In the early days, we would get a lot of people saying: 'Why would you want to go and see fake bands? Book some real acts',' Blumberg said. 'But that's changing. 'Some of the bands we've had are honestly amazing, like Oasish. I've seen the real Oasis a few times, and Liam Gallagher stormed off stage and didn't come back. They played their latest album rather than crowd favourites. Whereas the tribute acts get everyone singing along.' Oasish formed in 2004 and were voted the UK's official No 1 Oasis tribute band by TEAA. Paul Higginson, who plays Liam Gallagher, has been in tribute bands since 1999, when he performed as Kelly Jones in Stereotonics. 'We play about 80 to 90 gigs a year,' Higginson explained. 'It's become like breathing. As soon as the wig and parka go on, and I take the first step on to the stage, the shoulders go back, the chest comes out, and the chin goes up in the air. The swagger comes out all of a sudden.' Higginson compared his performance to acting on any West End stage. 'You play your role, you sing your lines. I never take the character home with me.' The band were even asked to play at Wembley Stadium on the day of the 2013 FA Cup Final when Manchester City were playing Wigan. 'We were in the hospitality bit. I'm stood there singing Wonderwall, and both Noel and Liam Gallagher were going up the escalator. They leaned over and started clapping and cheering.' Higginson said the difficulty in securing tickets for the Oasis reunion concerts had driven ticket sales for his band. 'We do get a lot of people saying: 'We couldn't get tickets to see Oasis, so we'll go see Oasish instead.'' When Ed Faulkner, a member of the Beautiful Couch (a Beautiful South tribute band) started Tribfest, one of the UK's first tribute festivals, in 2007, it was a 'massive gamble'. 'It didn't help that that was the year of the floods in Hull, and we were up to our waists in water. We lost a lot of money. But I had a vision.' Within a few years Faulkner's dedication started to pay off. 'We've seen a gradual increase in ticket sales over the years. We're licensed for 5,000 people and we got about four and a half last year,' he said. 'We can keep control of things other festivals can't, like toilets, showers, and security. We get a lot of families coming for that reason. They don't go to Leeds any more, they come to ours, because there's nobody setting fire to tents at the end of the weekend.' If Glastonbury is the Waitrose of the music festival world, Faulkner added, 'then we're the Lidl. I suppose me and my daughter Dempsey [who helps organise the festival] are the Michael and Emily Eavis of the north.' Faulkner also commended the quality of current tribute acts. 'When people come to see them they're just blown away. It's like they've landed on the moon. 'I remember we had a Muse tribute band from Holland, who were used to playing little social clubs in and around Amsterdam, and the lead singer came off stage and went: 'Wow, this is like our Olympic Games.''
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
I spent a night at the luxury hotel where Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds stay on Wrexham visits
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The minute you drive through the entrance to Carden Park Hotel and Spa you know you're arriving somewhere special. Set in acres of lush grounds, as you wind along the tree-lined driveway with a beautfully manicured golfing green beside you, as well as water features and wildlife (we spotted a swan and her babies), any cares will be relinquished long before you reach the building itself. In fact it's so special that it's a favourite destination for Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively when they visit the football team he co-owns, Wrexham FC - and they can often be seen entertaining their famous friends there too. And why wouldn't they? Carden Park is about nine miles from Wrexham and has 197 stunning bedrooms (currently undergoing a major makeover) including four luxury suites, a newly-refurbished leisure club, two championship golf courses and award-winning restaurants including The Vines which offers a fine-dining tasting menu. There's also a vineyard and a new £10m spa with one of the largest spa gardens in the UK, which wouldn't look out of place in the Maldives or on a Caribbean island. (Image: James Devaney, GC Imagesvia Getty Images) READ MORE:I tried a tiny restaurant overlooking a Welsh beach and discovered the best Asian fusion food for miles After a quick and seemless check-in we took the lift to our room. During our stay the ongoing refurbishment was evident in the upper corridor as one half was light and airy with plush new carpet and contemporary pale wooden doors while the other half was a little dated. Our refurbished room overlooking the sculpture garden at the front was elegant but homely in shades of blue with floor to ceiling curtains and an ensuite featuring a huge walk-in shower. (Image: Carden Park) It's always the little touches that count and as well as the complimentary teas and coffees and luxury toiletries, a little plate had been left on the side with a selection of homemade chocolates and a welcome message. (Image: Karen Price) We decided to explore and our first port of call was Morgan's Bar where you can enjoy a drink and watch sport on the large TVs. There's also a terrance overlooking the front lawn so we took our drinks outside to people watch before having a walk through the grounds, taking in the sculpture garden featuring a diverse collection of artwork from leading sculptors and the vineyard which produces up to 10,000 bottles of Carden Park Estate Reserve sparkling wine each year from the two grape varieties grown. (Image: Karen Price) Back inside we had a quick change before heading to The Vines where we had a reservation. Before their meal, guests can relax in Goldie's cocktail bar opposite the restaurant with a drink and some snacks as they look through the menu. The surroundings are glamorous but not stuffy with comfy chairs and sofas, a beautiful golden ornate ceiling, low lighting, potted plants and large windows opening up onto a terrace. A pianist was playing background music in the corner adding to the chilled vibe. (Image: Carden Park) After about 30 minutes of relaxing, we were called into The Vines, which had a similar atmosphere to Goldie's, and we were shown into a corner seat where we would be enjoying the tasting menu (you can go for meat, fish or vegetarian options), which costs £105pp and you can add a wine flight for £90pp. The Vines, which has three AA Rosettes and is available as a private dining venue, is led by Executive Chef Graham Tinsley and Head Chef Harri Williams and also offers an a la carte menu. (Image: Carden Park) After being offered a choice of bread (olive sourdough for me) it was straight onto the first dish, Confit Carrot which had a lovely little kick thanks to its Asian dressing while the miso cracker added a crunch. The second course was Chicken Raviolo with Morrel mushrooms, pea salsa, chervil and wild garlic sauce, which was probably my favourite savoury course. The salsa was smooth and silky while the mushrooms gave the dish texture. Next up was a Crab Tartlet which also featured Japanese seaweed Nori, cucumber, Carden gin, smoked crab emulsion, apple and marigold. As well as being as pretty as a picture, it was really light and refreshing. (Image: Karen Price) Fourth to arrive was Welsh Hogget served rare with with asparagus, baby gem, black garlic puree, hogget belly bacon, crispy sweetbreads, sheep's yoghurt and a light jus. My partner isn't a fan of lamb but he was able to swap for Roasted Monkfish from the fish menu - which he says was his favourite dish of all. Served with seared scallop, togarashi cauliflower and spring onion, the fish was succulent and covered in a delicious creamy sauce. (Image: Karen Price) Why have one dessert when you can have two and that's what you got here. The first offering was Raspberry and Amalfi Lemon which was a lemon iced parfait with raspberry curd, lemon Madeline and raspberry sorbet and every bit as light and refreshing as it sounds. But my favourite was the Dark Chocolate Mousse which had a beetroot sponge, mascarpone, cocoa nib crumb and beetroot sorbet. Yes you read that right - who would have thought the humble earthy vegetable could be the basis of one of the best puddings I've tasted. The combination with the rich dark chocolate was simply delightful. There is also the option of a cheese board for a £5 supplement or as an additional course for £17 featuring a selection of cheeses, grapes and celery with jam. To finish off, you can enjoy a coffee with a selection of petit fours just like the ones that were left in our room, which we just about managed after all those lovely courses. While we dined like kings - or Hollywood royalty - the next morning we were up early ready to sample the hotel's breakfast, which features full English and continental choices, and after a little breather we headed to the spa. (Image: Carden Park) Housed in a new building a stone's throw from the main hotel, the spa (strictly for over 18s) is quite literally out of this world. From elaborate interiors to a breathtaking garden that features hot tubs, a pool, relaxation pods and a sauna with floor to ceiling windows looking across the Cheshire countryside, this is chilling at its best. There's also a variety of treatments on offer, from facials to foot and scalp rituals and manicures. I chose the Rejuvenating Ritual (£109 for 50 minutes) which combined a back, neck and shoulder massage with a facial. Bliss. Before heading home we enjoyed lunch in the spa restaurant overlooking the gardens which offers a selction of healthy options including all day brunches, sandwiches and wraps, salads and lighter bites. All of the facilities at Carden Park - from the bedrooms to the restaurants and spa - are exceptional and the staff are super friendly and helpful. Leaving the resort after our 24-hour stay we felt relaxed, pampered - and definitely like Hollywood royalty.
