Bands combine for evening of 'energy and creativity'

* Groom the Giant which has members hailing from Llangollen. 

Two of North Wales’ most exciting emerging acts are joining forces for a night that celebrates the energy, creativity, and DIY spirit of Wrexham’s music scene this Friday. 

Groom The Giant will launch their brand-new EP ‘Old Toby’ with a headline set at NGHTCLB, joined by special guests and local favourites, Fleece.

Tickets are £5 and are available via https://buytickets.at/groomthegiant. On the door tickets are £6, with a discount on the door for anyone who turns up dressed as a wizard! 

Groom The Giant, a four-piece grunge rock outfit hailing from Llangollen and Wrexham, have been steadily making their mark with heavy, psychedelic riffs and intense live performances. 

With appearances at FOCUS Wales, Wrexfest, Llangollen Fringe, and the International Eisteddfod already under their belt, the band are now ready to unleash their latest chapter: their ‘Old Toby’ EP.

Known for blending grunge, stoner rock, and Celtic myth-inspired storytelling, their shows are equal parts sonic assault and mystical spectacle.

Groom The Giant keyboard player and vocalist, Taran, said of the band's latest EP: "It's a musical journey that continues the efforts to codify the myths and legends of Celtic heritage and magical fiction into a format of loud, danceable grunge; with songs inspired by the plagues of King Lludd, from where the Welsh flag gets its iconic red dragon, and explorations of omnipotence, to tributes to Gandalf's favourite tobacco.” 

Joining them are Wrexham’s own Fleece, a band born from the city’s flourishing grassroots scene. Led by Jamie Hamlington’s folky-yet-funky songwriting, Fleece bring a playful mix of jazzy textures, summery pop sensibilities, and fuzz-driven experimentation. Their recent debut EP, released in summer 2024, has cemented them as one of the city’s most exciting new acts.

Fleece guitarist Gareth Thomas said: “This co-promoted night is more than just a gig - it’s a testament to Wrexham’s thriving cultural identity. Music has long been at the heart of the city, from internationally recognised festivals FOCUS Wales and Wrexfest and the rise of internationally acclaimed bands like Neck Deep and The Royston Club, to grassroots DIY nights in city centre venues such as The Parish, Magic Dragon and Tŷ Pawb. Wrexham’s music scene is as diverse as it is dynamic, and events like this continue to prove why the city is one of the UK’s most exciting cultural hubs.”

Event Details

Date: Friday September 5

Venue: NGHTCLB, 30 Town Hill, Wrexham, LL13 8NB (opposite The Parish)

Doors: 7.30pm

Tickets: £5 via - https://buytickets.at/groomthegiant 

Social media/Music

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fleeceuk/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fleece_uk/ 

Bandcamp: https://fleece-uk.bandcamp.com/

Denbighshire people unable to use tip while work is carried out at Plas Madoc

* Plas Madoc tip - temporarily closed to Denbighshire people.

Llangollen people won't be able to use the Plas Madoc household waste recycling centre while it undergoes a major programme of works.

The bad news from Wrexham Council is revealed in a update for its own residents which has also been posted on Facebook.

After much campaigning Denbighshire people won the right to use the tip - even though it's over the border in Wrexham - rather than facing a 32-mile round-trip to Ruthin. 

But an article in Wrexham Council News, published last Saturday, says: "From next week [meaning this week] Plas Madoc recycling centre will be undergoing some extensive engineering works to upgrade the site. We expect these works to take around seven weeks to complete.

"We’re pleased to let you know that Wrexham residents will still be able to visit the facility during this time, but to help keep everyone safe we’ve introduced a temporary booking system which requires you to pre-book your next visit."

It then goes on to explain how Wrexham residents can make a booking.

But the bad news for Llangollen people planning to use the tip comes from Cllr Terry Evans, Wrexham Council's Lead Member for Environment, who points out: "Denbighshire residents will temporarily not be able to use the site, but can use Bryn Lane recycling centre instead." 

* To see the Wrexham Council article, go to: https://news.wrexham.gov.uk/do-you-visit-plas-madoc-recycling-centre-please-be-aware-of-these-changes/ 

A spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said: "Currently there is no access to Plas Madoc recycling centre for Denbighshire residents due to engineering works taking place at the site. However, Denbighshire residents can make a booking to visit the Bryn Lane Recycling Centre while the work, which is estimated to take seven weeks, is carried out. For further information and for online booking please use this link https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/bins-and-recycling/visiting-our-waste-and-recycling-parks.aspx

 

David Gray announced for TK Maxx Presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion 2026

* David Gray is at the Pavilion on June 26 next year. 

The first headline show for TK Maxx Presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion will see David Gray bringing his world tour to town.

Following his headline Legends set at Electric Picnic this weekend he announced a new summer run of UK & Ireland dates for 2026, including one at Llangollen Pavilion on Friday June 26.

He will be joined on the night by special guests The Divine Comedy and tickets go on sale at 10am Friday via llangollen.net and ticketmaster.co.uk  

* The Divine Comedy.

The Past & Present World Tour has already seen Gray sell out 68 shows across the USA, Australia, UK and Ireland in 2025, including landmark nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Glasgow’s SEC Armadillo, Manchester’s O2 Apollo and Dublin’s 3Arena.

His Electric Picnic set marked another milestone in support of his widely praised new album Dear Life - out now via Laugh A Minute Records/Secretly Distribution.

He said: “We’ve had the most amazing tour this year, from the opening night in Boston to the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, and then on to the Royal Albert Hall in London and the 3Arena in Dublin.

“These have been some of the most memorable and magical shows of my entire career. We’ve pushed ourselves as a band but it’s been richly rewarding and so much fun!

"When everyone is in such fine form it would seem wrong to stop the ball from rolling - so with that in mind I’m delighted to announce a string of further dates for the summer of 2026. Exciting times!”

Gray spent almost a decade striving to make a breakthrough and when it happened it did so in the biggest way imaginable as White Ladder became one of the best-selling British albums of recent decades and established him as an arena-filling artist.

As the years have passed his songcraft has only deepened — his natural ability to convey specific emotions, atmospheres, or, as heard on his acclaimed 2021 album Skellig, a sense of place, has positioned him firmly in the lineage of classic poetic singer-songwriters. While the likes of Ed Sheeran, Adele and Hozier have acknowledged his influence, Gray has continued to follow his own artistic path.

The response to Gray’s 13th album Dear Life has been extraordinary. Produced by Ben de Vries, critics have hailed it as “a brooding triumph” (Telegraph), “his most confessional and emotive work to date” (Clash), and “a slow-burner that catches fire” (Mojo).

The album has also drawn comparisons to Gray’s multi-platinum White Ladder — “the sonic DNA of White Ladder is present here” (Rolling Stone) and “his poppiest and most successful album since White Ladder” (Music OMH). 

His artistry as a songwriter has also been singled out — “this 13th album confirms Gray’s not lost his touch” (Guardian) and “a soulful collection of richly poetic songs about love, change and mortality” (Independent).

The headlining show is presented as part of an ongoing partnerships with Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

Cuffe and Taylor co-founder Peter Taylor said: “We’re delighted to once again be working with the team in Llangollen. This venue is in such a beautiful part of the world, and it is a pleasure to bring artists of the highest calibre here. We’ve had two great years in Llangollen so far and what a great way to kick off our plans for 2026 than by announcing David Gray – a multi award-winning artist with his own Welsh roots.”

Artistic Director of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Dave Danford said: “We’re thrilled to be making our first announcement for summer 2026, ahead of our third year collaborating with Cuffe and Taylor on the Live at Llangollen Pavilion series of shows. David Gray is a hugely successful and popular artist, with strong roots in Wales after growing up in Pembrokeshire, so we’re really looking forward to welcoming him to Llangollen next year.” 

* For more information go to llangollen.net

Good and bad news for the three lads cycling to Thailand

* Bad news: Dyfan's tyre kept going flat.

* Good news: mum and dad arrive in Germany and stand the lads to a night in a hotel. 

There was some bad news and some good news for the three Llangollen area lads cycling to Thailand on day 25 of their mammoth trip.

Dyfan Hughes, 17, James Thomas, 18, and Louis Dennis, 18, had never ridden a bike further than the shop near their homes when they set out a few weeks go on their 18-month quest to reach Asia.

Once there they aim to meet up with their friend Harrison who moved to Thailand six months ago after his dad died from a heart attack and to raise money for heart research. 

They spent last week pedalling their way through Germany and on the 25th day of their ride they hit some bad luck when Dyfan's tyre kept deflating and eventually needed replacing. 

But the good news came in a welcome message from his parents that they had flown over to Germany and would be standing all three lads a night in a hotel at a town called Neumarkt.

Back on the road again after the break the trio, who call themselves the Westheads, rounded off the week by hitting the mighty river Danube for the first time and are now following its course deeper into Europe.  

* To follow the journey on their social media and make a donation if you wish go to: https://linktr.ee/westheads

Cefn based choir Raise the Roof at Methodist Church

Cefn Mawr based choir Raise the Roof provided the entertainment at an afternoon tea in Llangollen Methodist Church yesterday (Saturday) afternoon.

They charmed a large audience with a wide selection of popular sing-along songs, including numbers from John Denver, Tom Springfield, The Beach Boys, Neil Diamond, Elvis Presley, Phil Spector and Abba.

The choir meets every Thursday evening at 7pm in St John's Church, Rhosymedre.

Story says Llangollen's 'hidden' sunflower field looks like French scene

* The sunflower story as it appears in Leaderlive.

Leaderlive has a story about Llangollen's "hidden field of sunflowers" which it says has been compared to "a scene from France" by visitors.

* For the full story, go to: https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/25427850.llangollens-amazing-sunflower-field-find/

Natural Resources Wales moves north Wales into drought status

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has announced today (Friday) that despite the change in weather, trigger levels have been met to move north Wales into drought status, closely following south east Wales, which declared drought earlier this month.

The decision was shared with a meeting of the Welsh Government’s Drought Liaison Group this morning, where the latest hydrological data and the wider implications of low river flows and groundwater levels was considered.

Concerns were shared about the impacts witnessed by NRW teams on the ground, as well as members of the public via its incident hotline.

In north Wales, more reports are being received about streams drying up and fish found in distress. A significant wildfire impacted the Newborough National Nature reserve over the bank holiday weekend, causing a temporary closure to the site.

Water companies confirm that drinking water supplies remain safe, and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water confirms there are no plans for any temporary use (hosepipe) bans. 

People and businesses are advised to follow advice from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and Hafren Dyfrdwy, and to continue to use water wisely to help ease pressures on the environment as well as water supplies.

Ben Wilson, Principal Advisor, from Natural Resources Wales said: “The rainfall this week will provide some welcome respite for our environment, land and wildlife, but it will take many months, and more consistent rainfall for our environment to fully recover.

“The six-month period between February and July was the driest since the drought of 1976, and has placed extreme pressure on our rivers, groundwaters, agriculture and wildlife. In some areas, this has caused river flows and groundwater levels to drop below historic lows.

“As we head into autumn, we continue to keep a close eye on weather forecasts, river flows and groundwater levels, as well as responding to reports of environmental incidents caused by the drought. We remain in close contact with the Welsh Government, water companies and other partners to provide a full picture of conditions across the country.”

Other impacts of the drought include the drying of private water supplies in some areas, impacts on land management, tree planting, navigation and recreations and farmers needing to seek alternative livestock watering supplies and supplementary feeding due to reduced grass growth and the loss of recently planted trees.

The areas affected by the move to drought status include:

• Dee (Wales)
• Upper Severn
• North Gwynedd (Conwy, Anglesey, Arfon, Dwyfor)
• South Gwynedd (Meirionydd)
• Clywd

As a whole for Wales, the period between February-July has been the 16^th driest in 190 years (February-July) – and the driest since 1976.

Wales so far this year has received 555mm rainfall (Jan to July 2025), which is almost as dry as conditions in 2022, where the whole of Wales was placed into drought status by September.

As of Tuesday, August 26, Wales had only received 22.43% of the monthly average rainfall.

The majority of river flows across Wales are therefore low or exceptionally low, as are groundwater levels.

Ben added: “As climate change accelerates, summers in the UK are expected to become drier, and extreme weather events will become more frequent and intense.

“While essential water supplies remain safe, we’re urging people to think carefully about their own water usage in the home and at work, to protect supplies for the environment as well as public water supplies.

“If people are out and about enjoying the last of the summer holidays and see signs of environmental incidents – such as dry river beds, fish in distress or pollution – they should report it via our online incident form or call our 24-hour hotline on 0300 065 3000.”