Mad day at the races with Suggs and his nutty boys!
FFOS Las racecourse is set to enjoy one of its biggest live events to date, when loveable ska legends Madness bring their house of fun to the venue on Saturday, May 25.
The nutty boys are expected to draw a crowd of up to 8,500 – a figure that was only topped during the race venue’s opening day, ten years ago.
Fans of the ultimate feel-good band will head to Ffos Las – many, no doubt, dressed in fezes – to hear Suggs and his beloved crew do their thing. He is known for being ‘Mr Soho’ – a student and an ambassador for that part of London’s rich cultural history and its characters – but Suggs has spoken often of his love for Wales too, since he spent some of his childhood growing up in Haverforwest, where he lived with an aunt.
In his recent autobiography, That Close, Suggs talks of the rural idyll he found here as a child: “I remember walking for the first time into an open field, South West Wales in 1968, I’d never seen anything so huge. I sat down by the track, I never felt so sure, I lay down on my back, felt like nature pure. I’d always been a London boy, so it was literally the first taste of countryside I’d ever had.”
He and his merry men will spread their irresistible optimism, their beaty bonhomie – and their dubious dance-moves - as part of their A Day At The Races and Other Places tour.
Ffos Las management have arranged a shuttle bus from Llanelli train station to the racecourse at 2.30pm, 2.45pm, 3pm, 3.30pm, 3.45pm and 4pm, with return coaches leaving the site between 10.45pm and midnight. Places will be given on a first come, first served basis.
Tickets for the day, with jump racing beginning at 3pm, cost £40 if bought in advance, and £20 for those aged 17 and under. There are hospitality packages available too.
Phil Bell, executive director at Ffos Las Racecourse, said: “We are really looking forward to welcoming Madness to Ffos Las – and they will play our sister venue, Chepstow Racecourse in June too. We are getting prepared for a big day in Trimsaran and we are expecting the second biggest crowd we have enjoyed at Ffos Las in the ten years since the course opened.
“Madness are by far the most popular band to have played at Ffos Las and we are looking forward to other major music acts performing at the venue in the coming years. Suggs and the band are a part of our cultural DNA in Britain.
“Their songs are vibrant, uncontainable, threeminute parties, and as a band they exude warmth, camaraderie, and fun – who wouldn’t want to be in their gang? It is great to see tickets selling fast for the show.
“Let’s give the nutty boys the big Welsh welcome they deserve.”
Tickets for Madness at Ffos Las, on May 25, are available at: https://tickets. ffoslasracecourse. com/shop/cart. pl? myaction= choose_ event