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ITV News
10 hours ago
- Business
- ITV News
‘Mindblowing' Coachella forces Welsh festival to change name
Steps star Ian 'H' Watkins has said it is 'mindblowing' that Coachella has forced his small Welsh festival into a name change. The social media accounts for Cowchella in Cowbridge, the Vale of Glamorgan, went down, 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, 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. The post explained the 'fab new name' and that tickets would remain valid for the inaugural event in August. Welsh singer and actor Watkins, 49, said they thought at first the social media sites were 'hacked', before finding an email with an 'official complaint from Coachella'. '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,' Watkins said. 'It's a little bit mindblowing… what we're doing is very, very different to what they do. 'We don't have Beyonce 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.' He also said he was happy the small Welsh festival is a 'talking point' and people 'love that Coachella has put Cowbridge on the map' as well as admitting that 'luckily, it wasn't like, the week before because that would be the disaster'. Watkins did acknowledge that thousands of pounds spent on 'marketing costs, posters and banners' would be 'a financial impact that we have to absorb'. 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.' He also said that 'there's lots of festivals' that use this concept including the Welsh event GlastonBarry, with a name inspired by Glastonbury in Somerset, which has not appeared to come up against the same issue. Watkins said 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' for music events that can cost hundreds of pounds. 'We wanted… to provide an amazing place where everybody could come have a great time, make it family friendly, accessible,' he said. He said the festival will remain the same, despite the name change, and promised 'great food, great drink' on Saturday, 2 August, at Bear Field. Watkins also highlighted 'the number one tribute acts in the country' such as Harry Styled UK, Got to be Taylor Swift, Got to be Steps, Got to be Mamma Mia and Wickedly Hariana would perform. 'Our town is so beautiful, but there's so much untapped potential there, which is why we keep creating events (such as Pride),' he said. 'We do the panto in town, so many amazing things. I decorate the town hall for armistice. I do a lot in the town just to bring a lot of joy, and it's a town that should be celebrated, and that's what Moo-La-La, as it's now called, will be.' Watkins rose to fame in the dance-pop group, Steps, and has appeared on ITV show Dancing On Ice as well as mystery Dial M For Middlesbrough. His group celebrated 20 years since their formation with a comeback album and UK tour in 2017 and in 2022 they released a platinum collection album.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Coachella in legal row with tiny Welsh festival over its name
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. READ MORE: Everyone warned to clear their windowsills from Monday READ MORE: Man who mowed down young girl on scooter gets early prison release after just a few weeks 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 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 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.
Metro
13 hours ago
- Business
- Metro
Coachella legal threats force Welsh tribute act festival to change its name
A festival organised by Steps star Ian 'H' Watkins has been forced to change its name by Coachella. The Cowchella event had been set to go ahead in August in the in Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. Hosted by Watkins, actress Claire Sweeney and BBC Radio 2 radio presenter Owain Wyn Evans, Cowchella was billed as a 'live music celebration for every generation', with tributes to Taylor Swift, Kylie Minogue and Westlife, among many others. But this week the organisers logged into their social media accounts and 'everything was gone'. They were then alerted by their ticketing provider – Eventbrite – that the US-based Coachella Music Festival had submitted a complaint. 'Now let's be clear – we totally understand, and we've fully complied. The original name was a cheeky nod to Cowbridge. Honestly we're a bit shook they even know who we were!' the Welsh event's organisers posted on social media. They then explained the event had been renamed Moo-La-La Festival and would be 'the same line-up but with a fab new name'. However, after losing all of their previous social media accounts, organisers asked people to help spread the word again, adding original tickets would still be valid. Speaking about the action taken by the massive American music festival, Ian said he was actually flattered. '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,' he said. 'It's a little bit mind-blowing… what we're doing is very, very different to what they do. 'We don't have Beyonce 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.' Ian also said he was happy the small Welsh festival is a 'talking point' and people 'love that Coachella has put Cowbridge on the map'. He added: 'Luckily it wasn't like, the week before because that would be the disaster.' However, he did say thousands of pounds spent on marketing, posters and banners would 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.' Promoting his event, Ian said it was designed to 'make it accessible' for families who can't afford to attend music events in Cardiff or London. More Trending Aside from the name change, the festival will be going ahead as planned on Saturday, August 2 at Bear Field. Born in Llwynypia, Mid Glamorgan, Wales, Ian joined Steps when it formed in 1997. The band went on to achieve two number-one albums in the UK, 14 consecutive UK top-5 singles and sold over 22 million records worldwide. In 2023, Ian was elected as an Independent town councillor in Cowbridge and also founded Cowbridge Pride. Metro has contacted Coachella for comment. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Disposable vapes officially banned in the UK from today MORE: TV legend renews Coronation Street contract to stay on into next year MORE: Map shows average savings in different UK regions — how does yours compare?
South Wales Argus
14 hours ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Steps star Ian Watkins renames South Wales music festival
Watkins previously revealed he would be producing his first ever music festival - Cowchella in Cowbridge in August 2025. 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.
Powys County Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
‘Mindblowing' Coachella forces Welsh festival to change name
Steps star Ian 'H' Watkins has said it is 'mindblowing' that Coachella has forced his small Welsh festival into a name change. The social media accounts for Cowchella in Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales went down, 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, new social media accounts were set up for the renamed Moo-La-La Festival, hosted by Watkins, actress Claire Sweeney and BBC Radio 2 radio presenter Owain Wyn Evans. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ian H Watkins (@ianhwatkins) The post explained the 'fab new name' and that tickets would remain valid for the inaugural event in August. Welsh singer and actor Watkins, 49, 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'. '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,' Watkins said. 'It's a little bit mindblowing… what we're doing is very, very different to what they do. 'We don't have Beyonce 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.' He also said he was happy the small Welsh festival is a 'talking point' and people 'love that Coachella has put Cowbridge on the map' as well as admitting that 'luckily, it wasn't like, the week before because that would be the disaster'. Watkins did acknowledge that thousands of pounds spent on 'marketing costs, posters and banners' would be 'a financial impact that we have to absorb'. 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.' He also said that 'there's lots of festivals' that use this concept including the Welsh event GlastonBarry, with a name inspired by Glastonbury in Somerset, which has not appeared to come up against the same issue. Watkins said 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' for music events that can cost hundreds of pounds. 'We wanted… to provide an amazing place where everybody could come have a great time, make it family friendly, accessible,' he said. He said the festival will remain the same, despite the name change, and promised 'great food, great drink' on Saturday, August 2 at Bear Field. Watkins also highlighted 'the number one tribute acts in the country' such as Harry Styled UK, Got to be Taylor Swift, Got to be Steps, Got to be Mamma Mia and Wickedly Hariana would perform. 'Our town is so beautiful, but there's so much untapped potential there, which is why we keep creating events (such as Pride),' he said. 'We do the panto in town, so many amazing things. I decorate the town hall for armistice. I do a lot in the town just to bring a lot of joy, and it's a town that should be celebrated, and that's what Moo-La-La, as it's now called, will be.' Watkins rose to fame in the the dance-pop group, Steps, and has appeared on ITV show Dancing On Ice as well as mystery Dial M For Middlesbrough. His group celebrated 20 years since their formation with a comeback album and UK tour in 2017 and in 2022 they released a Platinum Collection album.
