Varied programme of entertainment on and off the field

* Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir at the St Collen's lunchtime concert.

* The Linkoping Male Voice Choir sing in St Collen's Church.

* Indonesian dancers go through their stylish routine in Centenary Square.

* The choir from Ysgol Maes Hyfryd Specialist School sing in the Ampitheatre. 

Throughout the week St Collen's Church has been hosting a series of lunchtime concerts featuring performers in town for the eisteddfod.

Yesterday there was a double-bill, with first the Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir singing - the first time they have performed in Wales after being formed 40 years ago by ex-pats of Welsh origin in the former British colony.

They were followed by the Linkoping University Male Voice Choir who showed off their broad repertoire from classical choral music to new works and what they describe as "high-spirited escapades".

The Hong Kong choristers left their Swedish counterparts with the perfect link by belting out their version of Abba's Take a Chance on Me.

The concerts continue today (Friday) with appearances by guitarist Achille Jones and the Coro Serpeddi choir from Sinnai in Italy (pictured below).

Out on Centenary Square yesterday there was another packed programme of free entertainment which included an Indian bhangra dance troupe and dancers from Indonesia.

Up on the field an attraction in the Ampitheatre just before lunchtime was a spirited performance by the choir from Ysgol Maes Hyfryd Specialist School in Flint.         

Eisteddfod shows off its colourful international appeal

* The Procession of Nations featured in last night's concert.

* Jamie Smith's Mabon take the main stage.

The Pavilion was alive with intoxicating melodies thanks to an energetic repertoire of Welsh folk music from Jamie Smith’s Mabon at last night's eisteddfod concert.

The band headlined the festival’s International Celebration evening which showcased a vibrant carnival of cultures. 

The Procession of Nations saw international performers weaving spectacularly through the audience, waving their national flags as they celebrated the eisteddfod’s key values of international unity and friendship.

Mabon dazzled with an outstanding original mix of upbeat folk which offered the audience a swirling blend of upbeat Celtic jigs and cheerful lyrics.

Before their performance Mabon hosted The Gathering, an impromptu festival dance event when their blending of distinctive Welsh melodies with a contemporary twist got the festival field dancing in a twmpath which is similar to a ceilidh.

* More information on this year’s festival and online ticket purchases can be found at www.llangollen.net or via the box office on 01978 862001.

Shaolin Monks dazzle on the field

* The Shaolin Monks in action at the eisteddfod. 

One of the most eye-catching performances yesterday at the eisteddfod came from The Southern Temple Shaolin Monks who travelled from China to perform.

They said they had been inspired to return to Llangollen following a visit last March thanks to the “peacefulness and beauty” of Wales and the “warmth of the people”. 

The performance group, whose members are a young as nine years old, train six hours a day, six days a week at the monastery in Putian.

The eisteddfod has welcomed 4,000 performers this week, with groups travelling from as far away as Ghana, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Ivory Coast. 

This afternoon's traditional parade will see thousands of performers dancing through the streets of Llangollen.

Panjabi group hit by string of bad luck dances on

* Despite their bad luck the Heritage Dance Academy

from the Panjab delighted crowds when they danced in Centenary Square.

A dance group from India hasn’t enjoyed the best of luck on its first visit to the Llangollen Eisteddfod.

An 18-strong party of the colourful troupe were due to fly from their home in the Panjab to compete in the traditional folk dance competition at the festival on Wednesday.

First setback for the Heritage Dance Academy came when they discovered that only 18 of them would be granted visas for the trip which meant that six of the group would have to stay at home.

The second blow came when a large bag containing all their traditional instruments went missing somewhere during the journey.

And that meant that they were unable to take part in competition C3 against other groups from Malaysia, India, Zimbabwe, Northern Ireland and Wales because backing tracks cannot be used in place of live music.

But, undaunted by their bad luck, yesterday (Thursday) afternoon the group, minus a third of its members, still went through their stylish paces to the delight of scores of onlookers in Llangollen’s Centenary Square.

Group leader Ranbir Singh said: “We just left it too late to get the visas from the Indian government so only 12 of us were able to leave for Wales.

“Then, somewhere on the trip, a large bag containing all our instruments went missing. These were traditional ones made of wood or iron and a drum made from goat skin.

“We had still hoped to compete at the eisteddfod but, quite understandably, they wouldn’t let us because the instruments are all part of what we do and we couldn’t use backing tracks.

“We still wanted to dance somewhere, so when we were asked to perform in the town square I searched the internet for suitable bhangra backing music to download. We then played that over the sound system and the dance went ahead.”

Ranbir, who is flying home with the group on Sunday, added: “This was our first time in Llangollen and we’ve had some bad luck. Things got even worse for me because on my own flight my bag went missing.

“But despite all that we’ve had a great time here and are really glad we came.

“We definitely intend to come back next year - and this time we’ll be applying in good time for our visas.”

Concert featured feast of Welsh music

* Shân Cothi and tenor Rhodri Prys Jones during the concert.

Llangollen Eisteddfod hosted a night of Welsh music starring soprano Shân Cothi and tenor Rhodri Prys Jones yesterday (Wednesday).

They were accompanied by the British Sinfonietta Orchestra which also performed with international classical sensation Rolando Villazón for Tuesday night’s classical gala.

The audience were treated to two rare musical opportunities as the Eisteddfod premièred performances at the Saints and Singers concert, which included the cantata ‘Saint Teilo’ by William Mathias CBE. This was accompanied by a masquerade dance performed by Llangollen-based New Dance Company.

This was the first time Shân Cothi and Rhodri Prys Jones performed together. Their voices offered the audience an emotive and enjoyable experience as they showcased their equally impressive vocal ranges.

The evening offered the perfect opportunity to perform The Land of Song to an international audience. A powerful massed choir made up of the London Welsh Chorale, Liverpool Welsh Choral, Palmdale High School Chamber Choir and Wrexham Music Cooperative also joined the Welsh vocalists.

In memory of the Welsh tenor Kenneth Bowen, who died last year, the eisteddfod hosted the world première of The Spring of Vision, composed by the festival’s music director and friend of Bowen, Dr Edward-Rhys Harry.

The Spring of Vision encapsulates the dream of Taliesin who, on questioning the state of humanity and our future is taken on a journey through wars, conflict and then finally arriving at the one act that defines humanity, the act of Christ on the cross.

Edward-Rhys Harry said: “Wednesday is the centre of the week-long festival and I wanted Welsh music to be at the heart of this year’s Eisteddfod.”

The audience were also treated to the crowning of the Pendine International Voice of the Future, which went to Erin Rossington from Abergele.

* Tickets for this year’s festival can still be purchased online at www.llangollen.net or via the box office on 01978 862001.

Eisteddfod entrance slashed to £1 tomorrow afternoon

The eisteddfod has just announced that the entrance to the ground will be reduced to a £1 after the Parade tomorrow afternoon.

A spokesperson said: "Ground for a £1 means people will be able to enjoy all the entertainment on the outside stages, food and craft stalls and soak up the atmosphere around the field."

Teenagers go on Peace Walk through town

* Teenagers from Plas Madoc celebrate the eisteddfod’s 

Youth Day with a Peace Walk through the town.

Following a series of workshops with secondary school students, Llangollen Eisteddfod organised a Peace Walk through the town centre to promote the festival’s core message of international peace yesterday (Wednesday). 

Showcasing banners made by the group of students, the walk was a demonstration of the Eisteddfod’s vision of peace among nations and giving a voice to the younger generation.