Participants
Vertical Dance Kate Lawrence
Vertical Dance Kate Lawrence are North Wales' own abseiling dance company who will be performing "Porth", a piece created for three dancers, which was commissioned by Pontio in Bangor. They will be performing as part of the opening evening at Welsh Government - Sarn Mynach, Llandudno Junction. Come along and enjoy music and Vertical Dance performance at 5.45pm on Friday 21st April.
Adele Thackray
Adele's versatile lifestyle means that she takes a leading role in all of our festival. On Friday evening 21st April she will be managing CADW activities at the Welsh Government building at Sarn Mynach, she will be making available "have a go" archery for children.
Adele works hard with Trakz, she sources the most vibrant acts and has organised both an evening gig in Maelgwyn pub as well as musicians occurring at various sites throughout the day. She is an invaluable member of the Trakz team and we are grateful for all her hard work especially as she has a full time job to do as well. To top all this Adele is a member of The Ruby Blues Band.
Andy Bob Beaumont & The Scapegoats
Andy Bob Beaumont:
With his roots in the blues Andy Bob Beaumont will entertain you with a variety of old finger-picking blues, Americana and his own songs. He produced a an album - “Shed Songs” - last year showcasing his own material - ably assisted by some excellent musicians. His song “Letters” has been played regularly on Radio Wigwam (on-line radio) and has been featured by AVA Live Radio and American Pride Magazine.
https://youtu.be/sBHp4RYTlmM
All profits from his music are donated to the M E Association to support sufferers of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and to fund biomedical research into this debilitating illness.
The Scapegoats:
The Scapegoats are a four piece guitar, blues-jazz-rock band who have been playing the North Wales circuit of pubs, clubs and festivals regularly for several years. They perform mainly their own songs but with a few classic covers included in the set. Their new 6 song EP “Hélène” is due for release in March on the Turquoise Coal label.
Ann Ruffell
Ann Ruffull was born in 1941 and has been a writer of children’s fiction for 35 years. She spent most of her childhood on the North East Essex coast, but after 30 years of working in the Midlands returned gratefully to the sea – westward this time to the added bonus of the cradling hills of Penmaenmawr. In 2005 she worked on an authoring project with young offenders at Brinsford prison, near Wolverhampton, which led to her writing many titles for disaffected readers of all ages and recently led to an interest in writing for adults. All through her life she has found it difficult to choose between writing and music. Now she teaches piano in North Wales, plays chamber music with friends and walks in the mountains to find inspiration. Ann has three children and five grandchildren.
Ann Ruffell will be reading some of her stories at the Memorial Hall (site 10a).
Batala Bangor
Batala Bangor community drumming group plays street music, samba reggae-style. Ever since it first started in 2003, Batala Bangor's vibrant performances have delighted crowds at local carnivals, music festivals and other events throughout North Wales and beyond.
Samba reggae originated in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, a potent musical blend of samba and the reggae sound of Bob Marley which emphasises their African roots. The first Batala group was formed in Paris in 1997 by Giba Gonçalves (Ile Aiye, Olodum, Musical Director Cortejo Afro). Its unique sound soon spawned other bands across France, the UK, and beyond, and it is now a global network - Batala Mundo.
Batala Bangor share a dedication to using their drums to produce energetic beats and rhythms which, along with their colourful costumes and compelling dance routines, are guaranteed to uplift any audience. This is the sound - and spirit - of carnival!
Bangor Confucious Institute
Bangor University’s Confucius Institute is a multi-disciplinary central Institute of Bangor University that aims to provide the people of North Wales with the opportunity to experience and learn more about Chinese culture and language.
Visit their Confucius classroom at site 4, Station Gardens, where they will have an array of activities for you to try.
Bendessa
Introducing the raw, acoustic sound of Bendessa. Old timers singing old songs but in a fresh, natural way with infectious rhythms sure to set your feet tapping and a positive, happy vibe guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Based in the beautiful mountains of Snowdonia in North Wales, Bendessa bring that mountain freshness to the songs they perform.
Chester Weiss
Chester is a multi-instrumentalist, Blues Lap Slide Guitar specialist, vocalist, songwriter and arranger. He has been playing music since the late 1970s but has more recently supported “Martin Harley”, “The Suitcase Dwellers”, and played alongside “Tom Doughty”. Chester has been a regular at North Wales festivals such as Graigaid, the Well Inn Festival, the Llangollen Fringe, the NE Wales Diversity Festival and the Llangollen Women’s Festival both as a solo artist and band member Solo appearances at the likes of Stainsby and Otley Folk Festivals in the 1990s gave way over the last 15 year to regular work with bands, but Chester is now once again taking his baritone voice, bass drum and Lap Slide Guitar to clubs and venues locally and nationally as a solo performer.
Daf Jones
The fabulous Dafydd Jones is an acoustic singer songwriter from the magical island of Anglesey. He will be playing his very own fantastic Welsh and English language originals.
Dance With Cinti
Dance With Cinti offers a complete programme for the young dancer whether for fun or with a view to train professionally. The organisation offers a friendly environment, with excellent support from highly trained specialist tutors, in which students from the local community can have fun, gain confidence and also train and perform. They pride themselves on offering affordable, educational activities in a safe and secure environment.
Dance with Cinti has also successfully trained children to go onto further education at top stage schools, dance and musical theatre colleges. Cinti's students now have very successful careers in the Arts: following in their tutor's footsteps.
Jacinta, owner and head tutor from Dance with Cinti, won an award from Penmaenmawr's Town Council for outstanding role to the community with all she has done to help local children. For further Details visit her facebook page or click on the button below to view her website.
Daz Lloyd
Born and bred in the Junction his love and interest of music has led him to an international DJ carreer. He is also a regular voice on one of our local radio stations.
At Trakz this year Daz will be giving demos on the decks at the Station Gardens (Site 4). Daz has worked with Ministry of Sound and makes regular appearances in Ibiza
Edd Case
Edd Case is, in his own modest words, "a busker who writes his own originals." His vocals are honest and emotional and his lyrics are raw and unabashed; Edd has a talent for music that allows you to be part of the song.
Katie O'Malley
Katie O’Malley is a Rochdale girl who's raw emotion to her voice fills a venue, her influences clearly shine through and include the likes of Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. She began gigging at 17 and became a regular favourite on the Manchester music scene. After releasing her single "Beg" she has supported Kal Lavelle and shared a bill with Reverend and the Makers now gigging as a 4 piece band she has just released her debut E.P named Dawn Chorus.
Kevin's Circus Workshop
Have a go at learning some circus skills with Kevin at the Memorial Hall on Penrhos Avenue.
Outdoor events feature tightrope, trampolines, stiltwalking and novelty bikes. Other activities include diabolo, plate spinning, flower sticks and toothbrush twirling.
Parents be warned, take a chair so you can sit and watch, as children from toddlers to teenagers will be occupied for hours.
Lost Like Alice
Lucille Phillipescu
Born in Redbridge, outer London, Lucille spent some of her childhood in Australia where she grew up alongside Aboriginal people whom she found spiritual, with their ways and culture, as well as being exposed to the sounds of drumbeats and didgeridoo. Travelling Australia as a child there was little formal education but this made for plentiful appreciation of wilderness and nature. She sung for her school in Melbourne Town Hall and later at Southend Band Stage, UK.
Lucille's Stress Busting workshops are always mesmerising and very popular.
Rivertown
Rivertown are a newly formed band doing rootsy Americana influenced original songs with the odd cover. Featuring pedal steel, lead guitar, harmonies and a tight rhythm section, this band are not to be missed!
The Ruby Blues Band
A five piece Rock 'n' Blues Band from North Wales belting out covers from Cream to Primal Scream this band will get your Rocks Off!
Tim Moxley