In the words of the Admiral Cardiff Big Weekend Saturday headliner, Gabrielle, dreams can come true, especially for Big Gig Winner Ffred Jones.
The Big Gig competition gave local unsigned acts the once in a lifetime opportunity to perform at the Admiral Cardiff Big Weekend and play in front of thousands in the heart of the capital.
Singer songwriter FFred Jones from Newport was crowned the Big Gig Winner on Thursday, July 14 at The Globe music venue following a three day battle of the bands.
Ffred has already appeared on BBC Introducing and 6 Music. Using unusual instrumentation, his great voice and beautiful songs have a haunting quality reminiscent of a 21st Century Nick Drake. On his win last night, Ffred, said: “So stoked, it’s outrageous. I was so nervous before going on, and I’m never nervous. I didn’t think I had a chance, I mean to get through the first round was unreal, but to win? It’s mind blowing.”
The Admiral Cardiff Big Weekend takes place on the 5 to the 7 of August and features three nights of free live music. On Friday in conjunction with the SWN festival the cream of the Welsh crop will perform with Welsh rockers Funeral for a Friend taking to the stage as headliners.
Saturday’s festivities start with the annual Cardiff Mas Carnival and end with multi platinum selling Gabrielle singing new and classic hits.
On Sunday Ffred will kick-start the night and perform in front of thousands. Sunday’s headliners are The Feeling who will bring their feel good music to the Civic Centre.
Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells, said: “Congratulations to Ffred for winning the Big Gig, I am delighted the inaugural Big Gig competition has captured the attention of so many great new bands and their fans. I hope the performance at the Admiral Cardiff Big Weekend will help him onto the road to success and hopefully he will come back and perform as headliner for the Big Weekend.
“I am also pleased to see Funeral for a Friend and Gabrielle join the already impressive Admiral Cardiff Big Weekend line up. It’s fantastic to see home-grown talent and Brit award winners taking centre stage at one of Wales’ favourite free live music events.”
Full details of events the Cardiff Festival can be found at www.cardiff-festival.com or follow Cardiff Festival on Twitter for regular updates @cardifffestival
The confirmed acts for this year’s Admiral Cardiff Big Weekend are:
Friday August 5
- Death Before Sunrise
- OK
- Attack Attack!
- Funeral For a Friend
Saturday August 6
- Zong Zing
- Dom Duff
- Jazz Jamaica with Special Guest Myrna Hague
- Hayley Scarlett
- Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
- Vintage Trouble
- Gabrielle
Sunday 7th August
- Ffred Jones
- Edei
- King Charles
- Friends Electric
- Dodgy
- Nerina Pallot
- The Feeling
Photograph: Big Gig winner Ffred Jones
