“Raucous, intimate and boozy, Dylan Thomas would have approved”àThe Guardian
The Laugharne Weekend, now in its 6th year, goes from strength to strength and this year’sÃÂ mix of writers and poets, musicians and comedians is as eclectic as ever. The festival always has been, and remains, a place where the audience and performers mingle closely at small venues for a truly intimate, unforgettable experience.
The Laugharne Weekend is proud to announce that the final show of the festival on Sunday April 15th
will be Jah Wobble, Keith Levene and friends performing Metal Box in Dub a unique 2012 take on the
classic 1979 album. Other musical sets over the weekend will come from Cerys Matthews, Robin Williamson
(Incredible String Band), Richard James, Viv Albertine, Chuck Prophet and Y Niwl
Literary and comedy highlights will be Simon Armitage, John Cooper Clarke, Stuart Maconie, Lydia Lunch
Graeme Garden, Robin Ince, Val McDermid, Allison Pearson, Howard Marks, A.L. Kennedy, Keith Allen
Mark Billingham, Professor Steve Jones and Simon Day
The Laugharne Weekend takes place over the weekend of April 13-15 and is held in the West Wales town
where Dylan Thomas lived and based his masterpiece Under Milk Wood on.
The small Welsh coastal town of LaugharneÃÂ has a unique character which has been of great inspiration to writers and artists. The most notable of these being Dylan Thomas who based his work “Under Milk Wood” on the township. He spent his final years in the boathouse which is now a heritage centre dedicated to him. Mary Shelley spent a considerable amount of time in Laugharne where her mother Mary Wollstonecroft had lived. Kingsley Amis wrote his 1986 Booker PrizeÃÂ winning novel “The Old Devils” while staying in Laugharne and Margaret Atwood’s short story “The Grave Of The Famous Poet” isÃÂ set in Laugharne. The town has also been painted by Constable, Turner and Augustus John.
It is now home to the coolest, friendliest festival in the UK.
The Laugharne Weekend festival started in 2007 andÃÂ festival acts have included Patti Smith, Ray Davies, Roger McGough, Alexei Sayle,ÃÂ Lionel Shriver, Roddy Doyle, Michael Sheen, Carol Ann Duffy,ÃÂ Robert Wyatt, Mark Billingham, Rhys Ifans,ÃÂ Geoff Dyer,ÃÂ JonÃÂ Ronson, DBC Pierre and Bruce Reynolds.
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“Laugharne has a great energy, it’s almost mystical. I will definitely return”
Patti Smith
“a great event, it’s unique, kooky and I would definitely return if asked”ÃÂ
Will Self
ÃÂ Previous press comments
à“This young Welsh arts festival has been carefully curated and you end up with a line up that looks as if they would all enjoy a pint together whether they were performing or not”à-àThe Guardian
“Anyone looking for the liveliest of the new literary festivals should head down to The Laugharne Weekend”à-àTime Out
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“Festivals should always make you feel that there is something interesting going on around the corner and you certainly get that feeling here”à-àThe Times
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“A multitude of fantastic cult writers and musicians”à-àUncutàÃÂ
On Sunday afternoon at Laugharne Weekend, I’m reading from my memoir about my life with the Pogues, called ‘Here Comes Everybody’ (published by Faber and Faber at the end of the month) with Q&A and interview most likely. Please feel free to include me in your list of literary highlights.