VIVA took the two-hour journey over the border into North Wales to wonderful Portmeirion set on its own private peninsula on the southern shores of Snowdonia and overlooking Cardigan Bay. Surrounded by sub tropical woodlands and miles of sandy beaches this has to be the best location we know for a summer music festival.

The visionary Welsh architect Sir Clough William-Ellis spent half a century building Portmeirion, which was his life’s work. With its colourful array of buildings and his love of the ‘arts’ Sir Clough William-Ellis I am sure would have approved of the late summer festival that is now so well established and loved by so many with its perfect setting.

This year Festival Number 6 saw the likes Metronome, Mark Ronson, Belle and Sebastian, James Bay, James, Black Grape and Sundays headliner the indomitable Grace Jones take to the main stage. Other notable bands were Young Fathers, GhostPoet and Kate Tempest. Down at the Estuary stage we bumped into VIVA friends Howard Marks and Kermit Leveridge of Black Grape, as well as writer Irvine Welsh who wrote the classic ‘Trainspotting’ and multi million selling ‘Ecstacy’, ‘Glue’, ‘Porno’ and ‘Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chef’.

A big hit was Greg Wilson’s new record label, Super Weird Substance who took over the Estuary Stage for an all-day Super Weird Happening. Kermit, who is Greg’s fellow curator of Super Weird Substance as well as being part of Black Grape proposed to his girlfriend, Amanda on stage during the festival.

When you think of Wales you think of damp, cold and rainy days but it couldn’t be further from the truth as the festival was bathed in glorious sunshine for most of the weekend with only a small blip that came and went. Festival Number 6 is up there with our favourites and is a ‘must be at’ weekend for next year with great music, comedy and conversation and not forgetting the great array of food on offer, this I’m sure will become a firm favourite also for those who venture beyond the border.

For more information on Festival Number 6 checkout the website here.

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