Steps star Ian Watkins renames South Wales music festival
However, the Vale of Glamorgan resident has now been forced to rename the event Moo-La-La Music Festival after complaints from Coachella.
Coachella forces Steps star to rename South Wales music festival
The social media accounts for Cowchella went down recently, and its Eventbrite tickets page had its name disappear amid a complaint, which Watkins said was from Coachella Ltd, the US festival in California.
On Sunday (June 1), new social media accounts were set up for the renamed Moo-La-La Festival, hosted by Watkins, actress Claire Sweeney and BBC Radio 2 presenter Owain Wyn Evans.
A post on the new accounts explained the reason behind the 'fab new name' and that tickets would remain valid for the inaugural event in August.
Watkins, who himself lives near Cowbridge, told the PA news agency that they thought at first the social media sites were 'hacked', before finding an email with an 'official complaint from Coachella'.
Ian "H" Watkins taking complaint as "massive compliment" for small Welsh festival
Watkins said: "I'm taking it as a massive compliment that they feel like that our little festival is a little bit of a threat to their ginormous, juggernaut of a machine."
'It's a little bit mindblowing… what we're doing is very, very different to what they do.
'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 Beyonce.'
The 49-year-old Welsh singer added he was happy the small Welsh festival is a 'talking point' and "Coachella has put Cowbridge on the map'.
However, he admitted that 'luckily, it wasn't like, the week before because that would be the disaster'.
The Moo-La-La Music Festival is hosted by Ian "H" Watkins (pictured), Claire Sweeney and Owain Wyn Evans. (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire) The change in name is set to leave Watkins thousands of pounds out of pocket, having to absorb 'marketing costs, posters and banners' himself.
He said: '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.'
Watkins said the complaint came as a surprise as "there's lots of festivals' that use a similar naming concept, including GlastonBarry, whose name is inspired by Glastonbury in Somerset.
When is the Moo-La-La Music Festival and what to expect
The date for the Moo-La-La Music Festival will remain the same, set to take place on Saturday, August 2, at Bear Field.
The idea of the festival, formerly known as Cowchella, was to 'make it accessible for families that can't afford to go to Cardiff or London', Watkins said.
'We wanted… to provide an amazing place where everybody could come have a great time, make it family friendly, accessible,' he added.
'Our town is so beautiful, but there's so much untapped potential there, which is why we keep creating events (such as Pride)."
Moo-La-La Music Festival lineup
The Moo-La-La Music Festival website reads: "Whether you grew up in the '70s, '80s , '90s or you're all about today's chart-toppers, there's something for everyone."
The lineup for the festival is:
12.30pm - 2pm: Doors Open & DJ
Doors Open & DJ 2pm: Wickedly Hariana (Ariana Grande & Wicked the Musical tribute)
Wickedly Hariana (Ariana Grande & Wicked the Musical tribute) 3pm: The Sabrina Tribute (Sabrina Carpenter tribute)
The Sabrina Tribute (Sabrina Carpenter tribute) 4pm: Total Boybands (Tribute to Take That, One Direction, Blue, Westlife, Robbie Williams & The Wanted)
Total Boybands (Tribute to Take That, One Direction, Blue, Westlife, Robbie Williams & The Wanted) 5pm: Got To Be Girl Power (Olivia Rodrigo, Spice Girls, Girls Aloud, Destiny's Child, Sugababes, Kylie & Atomic Kitten)
Got To Be Girl Power (Olivia Rodrigo, Spice Girls, Girls Aloud, Destiny's Child, Sugababes, Kylie & Atomic Kitten) 6pm: Harry Styled UK (Harry Styles tribute)
Harry Styled UK (Harry Styles tribute) 6.45pm: Got To Be Taylor Swift (Taylor Swift tribute)
Got To Be Taylor Swift (Taylor Swift tribute) 7.30pm: Got to Be Steps (Steps tribute)
Got to Be Steps (Steps tribute) 8.30pm: Got to be Mamma Mia (Abba tribute)
Got to be Mamma Mia (Abba tribute) 9.30pm: Got to be Venga (Vengaboys tribute)
RECOMMENDED READING:
Are tickets still available for Moo-La-La Music Festival?
Tickets to Moo-La-La Music Festival are still available to purchase via the Eventbrite website.
Ticket prices for the event are as follows:
Toddler admission - £6.13 (plus £1.13 fee)
Child admission (ages 5 to 15) - £15.87 (plus £1.87 fee)
General admission (16+) - £19.12 (plus £2.12 fee)
Carer's concession (proof required) - £15.87 (plus £1.87 fee)
Moo-La-La Music Festival will take place on Saturday, August 2 at Bear Field in Cowbridge.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
18 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Mid Wales MP backs compensation for mis-sold car finance
A Mid Wales MP is demanding urgent compensation for mis-sold car finance customers. David Chadwick, the Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, said lenders should be held accountable and a compensation scheme established without delay. The call follows a Supreme Court ruling that could entitle consumers to payouts where large, undisclosed car finance commissions were deemed unfair. Mr Chadwick said: "This month's Supreme Court ruling is a victory for consumers, paving the way for billions of pounds in compensation to those unfairly ripped off. "For too long, lenders had been able to get away with charging eye-watering and unfair commission on car finance deals. "I hope that the government and the financial watchdog will now work together so that those affected can get the compensation they are owed as quickly as possible. "It's only fair that big finance firms make up for their actions." The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced a consultation on a potential compensation scheme to begin in early October. If approved, the first payments could be made in 2026. Mr Chadwick said more than 250 cases had already been identified in Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, with further cases expected to come to light. The issue centres around 'discretionary commission arrangements,' where car dealers could secretly increase interest rates on loans. The UK's largest car finance lender, Lloyds Bank, has already set aside £1.2 billion to cover expected claims.
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Welsh Rugby Union defends plans to halve number of professional men's teams
Welsh rugby's governing body has produced a radical plan to turn around the the game at both club and international level, outlining its ambitions in a 90-page consultation document entitled 'The Future of Elite Rugby in Wales'. There will be a six-week consultation period before the WRU makes a final decision on the plans, and WRU chief executive Abi Tierney has urged people to 'improve on the proposals' and provide 'something fit for purpose for Welsh rugby'. The WRU's proposal to halve its number of four men's professional sides – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets – to two will be the biggest talking point in a document which outlined four potential models for the game in Wales. It remains unclear whether the two future sides being proposed will be new entities or existing teams, but the two organisations will each have a men's and women's team. Tierney said: 'This is a momentous day for Welsh rugby. No decisions have been made, but we feel based on the analysis this is the strongest (option) yet. 'I know how emotional rugby is in Wales and people will be hurting today, when they think what it could mean potentially for them and their their team. 'I recognise the hurt and anger people are going to be feeling. Change is hard and this is hard for fans. 'But fans' numbers drop has also not been a great experience for anybody, and we want to create an experience they can be proud of. 'What we were doing and keeping doing for fans was not the right thing. I would encourage everybody to imagine how exciting it could be and take that step into the future.' The WRU proposal comes amid Ospreys plans to move into a redeveloped stadium at St Helen's in Swansea for the 2026-27 season and the Scarlets having recently unveiled new investors. Dragons said this week elite professional rugby must continue in Gwent, while Cardiff are currently owned by the WRU having gone into administration in April. It is possible the WRU will face legal action from regions that could essentially be put out of business, with WRU chairman Richard Collier-Keywood saying 'two or three areas of potential legal challenge' exist. The WRU has also proposed the creation of a national campus at a site yet to be decided, which would be the home of the men's and women's professional teams, as well as Wales' national sides and the union's academy. Players were briefed on the WRU's plan on Tuesday and Dave Reddin, the new director of rugby and elite performance, is confident suggestions of possible player strike action will not materialise. Reddin said: 'The national campus would be a radical departure and doing something different, a defensive moat for Welsh rugby and creating a competitive advantage. 'We've got to look outside the box if we want to try and do things differently. 'Be brave enough to to lead sometimes and do things that no one else is doing. Do things things that people think are a bit nutty, too different or too uncomfortable.'
Western Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
Under Milk Wood performance at On Land's Edge Festival
The legendary actor famously starred in the acclaimed 1972 big screen adaptation of Under Milk Wood filmed around the streets of Lower Town – now director Nick Dowsett and Cause For Drama And Friends will bring a cast of 11 for the OLE festival curtain-raiser on Friday, September 19. Dylan Thomas' sparkling dialogue and rich narrative spans just 24 hours of human experience in a small Welsh seaside town. The playwright himself described it as 'prose with blood pressure', while the Sunday Times described Under Milk Wood as 'one of the most enchanting works for broadcasting ever written. 'Beautiful, bawdy, affectionate, reckless and deeply original...' 'Our reading of the play seeks to capture the tone and atmosphere of the original broadcast of 1954, whilst at the same time embracing the character and humanity of our own 'rough and tumbling town',' said Mr Dowsett. Popular Fishguard venue Ffwrn will host a folk show featuring Adre with MWSOG the same evening. Rooted deeply in Welsh culture and the mysticism of their surroundings, the music of MWSOG – an ever-flowing collective based in South Wales – music has been described as 'a lush tapestry of dark enchantment and transcendental folk'. Their shows evoke a sense of ritual and transport the audience to a dreamlike dimension, where ancient heritage meets experimental psych. As always, Simffoni Mara acts as the festival show-stopper on Sunday evening. This year features new short, film chapters from Connor Malone, with a special premiere of a new recording of Between The Sea and The Stars by composer Dan Jones set to film featuring the north Pembrokeshire landscape. Award-winning Pembrokeshire author Diana Powell and the festival's poetry competition winner will deliver the spoken word section, while the Simffoni Mara Trio will conclude the evening with a programme inspired by the links of language, land and identity – Daniel Davies on cello, soprano Georgina Stalbow and pianist David Pepper bring a programme inspired by the continued links between Wales and Ireland. Meanwhile, Carmarthen indie-rockers Adwaith take to the stage at Theatr Gwaun for a pre-festival headline gig supported by Pembrokeshire's own Lafant.
