How you can eat, drink, shop and dance the night away this summer
Now that the sun has made an appearance, Robert Dalling looks at 19 of the biggest events going on in Swansea Bay this summer
SWANSEA Bay’s social calendar is packed with a whole array of events over the summer months.
Major music gigs, festivals, and evenings celebrating the best food and drink are all set to take place.
Highlights include three major concerts at Singleton Park, the return of Take That to the Swansea.com Stadium, and the 75th anniversary of the Swansea International Jazz Festival. For lovers of the White Isles, there will be two separate opportunities to transport yourself to Ibiza.
Beer, gin and rum lovers will like the look of two of the events listed in August, while there will be an opportunity to step back in time for the weekend in Mumbles in June. Here, we’ve put together a guide of some of the standout events to look forward to in the city and its outskirts between now and September.
■ Craft and Flea When? Sunday, May 12
Craft and Flea is the UK’S biggest indie makers market, and it is coming to Brangwyn Hall in Swansea on Sunday, May 12, from 10am until 4pm. Craft and Flea is a spin on the makers market, bringing together talented, independent makers, designers, producers and collectors, each handpicked for their quality, on-trend products.
■ In It Together Festival When? Friday, May 24, to Sunday, May 26
In It Together festival officially returns to Margam’s Old Park Farm from May 24 to 26. It will be headlined by Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, who takes to the stage on the Friday, while Sugababes will be the main act on the Saturday, before Dizzee Rascal closes the festival on Sunday. Gabrielle will be among the first acts to perform this year when she takes to the stage on Thursday as part of the welcome party for those camping.
Craig David, Sam Ryder, Razorlight, Billy Ocean, Diversity, Feeder and Cat Burns are among just a few of the other star names that will perform.
■ Status Quo When? Tuesday, June 4 The legendary rockers who have sold more than 118 million records and spent more than 500 weeks on the UK album chart since forming in the 1960s head to Swansea Arena on Tuesday, June 4.
Led by founder Francis Rossi, Quo have recorded 64 British hit singles, more than any other band, including classics such as Caroline, Pictures of Matchstick Men, Down, The Wanderer and Rockin’ All Over the World. The Swansea Arena show is among their first in the UK since their widely acclaimed “Out Out Quoing” European Arena Tour in December 2022 which included a huge Wembley show.
■ Take That When? Thursday, June 6 The Swansea.com stadium will play host to Take That on Thursday, June 6. “This Life On Tour” will see Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald play 29 dates across 15 cities around the UK and Ireland. They will be joined on the tour by support act Olly Murs.
■ Mumbles Retro Weekend When? Friday, June 7, to Sunday, June 9 Mumbles Retro Weekend takes place over three days in June on the grounds of Oystermouth Castle, and will feature live music including days themed on the Seventies, Eighties, Britpop and Ibiza. There will be a licensed bar and food available on each day, along with stalls and activities for children.
■ Gower Folk Festival When? Friday, June 7, to Sunday, June 9 The Gower Folk Festival takes place within the historic surroundings of Weobley Castle in Llanrhidian. It will feature three days of folk music, with this year’s line-up featuring names such as Blowzabella, Jackie Oates & John Spiers, False Lights, Banter and Oaken.
■ Rave Revival 2024 When? Saturday, June 8
A special night of music takes place at the Bunkhouse between Saturday, June 8, and Sunday, June 9, as Rave Revival 2024 takes place. Dub Secret and Cedric Anderson will perform from 9pm. There’s a packed schedule of events taking place at The Bunkhouse this summer.
■ Swansea International Jazz Festival When? Thursday, June 13, to Monday, June 17
Swansea International Jazz Festival is set to return this summer and celebrate
75 years of live jazz music in the city with a line-up packed with legendary musicians, special performances, and familiar favourites.
It will be held at venues across Swansea’s Maritime Quarter from Thursday, June 13, to Monday, June 17.
Swansea International Jazz Festival’s artistic advisor, Dave Cottle, said: “The festival presents an excellent and varied jazz programme again this year. There are great concerts to look forward to and some firm favourites are returning on the stroller programme – Swansea will be buzzing again to the sound of live jazz.”
■ Continental Street Market When? Thursday, June 27, to Sunday, June 30
A continental street market is set to take over Oxford Street in Swansea city centre over four days in June from 10am until 6pm each day. It will bring a host of products and foods such as craft items, authentic paella, baklava, French macarons, Italian cannoli and a variety of Mediterranean street food.
■ Gladys Knight When? Saturday, June 29 Seven-time Grammy award-winner Gladys Knight is bringing her farewell tour to Swansea next year, it has been announced. The music legend will be at Swansea Arena on Saturday, June 29. Known as the Empress of Soul, fans can expect to hear all her most recognised songs. Her collection of classic hits includes Midnight Train To Georgia, considered one of the most famous Motown records to date, Help Me Make It Through The Night, Licence To Kill, the official theme song to the James Bond film, and The Way We Were, Baby Don’t Change Your Mind. She will have support on the night from Mica Millar.
■ Wales Airshow When? Saturday, July 6, to Sunday, July 7 Across two days in July some of the world’s best pilots visit Swansea Bay for a spectacular display of aerial acrobatics. Featuring the incredible Red Arrows, as well as jets and helicopters, the weekend has plenty to keep spectators entertained. Swansea Prom is packed out for the event every year with around 200,000 people previously attending. As well as entertainment taking place in the skies the prom is transformed with food and drink trucks, entertainment and more.
■ Love Trails Festival When? Thursday, July 11, to Sunday, July 14 Love Trails is the world’s first trail running and music festival, transforming the Gower Peninsula into a hub of activity featuring live music on a big stage, trail running with runs for all abilities, inspiring talks, adventure films, hands-on workshops and speakers.
■ Ibiza Festival When? Saturday, July 13 The House of Feelgood is joining forces with Ibiza Radio 1 to bring Ibiza Festival to The Swigg Swansea on Saturday, July 13. The event promises to bring you up to speed with the latest “White Isle vibes” from 1pm with long-term Space Ibiza resident Jonathan Ulysses, international DJ and producer Ridney and Doctor Feelgood, together with local homegrown talent Vedra & Rinaldi & Billy Wright.
■ James Arthur When? Thursday, July 18 The popular singer-songwriter will be performing at Swansea’s Singleton Park on July 18 next year. The 35-yearold, who hails from Middlesbrough, rose to fame after winning the ninth series of The X Factor in 2012, and has gone on to achieve plenty of chart success. Fans can expect him to sing all his hits including Impossible, Say You Won’t Let Go, Sun Comes Up, Naked, and You’re Nobody Until Somebody Loves You when he arrives in south Wales.
■ Classic Ibiza When? Friday, July 19 Classic Ibiza, a 32-piece live orchestra accompanied by DJS and vocalists, will reimagine some of the biggest dance hits of the past 30 years at Singleton Park on Friday, July 19, including classics such as Insomnia, Sandstorm, Levels and Born Slippy. Event organiser Anthony Ellis, said: “We have toured this show to sell-out crowds all over the UK and cannot wait to bring it to Swansea. The audience have got a great night in store, with some of the biggest dance anthems ever being brought to orchestral life on stage.”
■ Let’s Rock Wales When? Saturday, July 20
UB40 ex-lead singer Ali Campbell and Jason Donovan will be among the stars taking to the stage as a popular British retro music festival heads to Swansea for the first time. Let’s Rock Wales will host an event at Singleton Park on Saturday, July 20.
Ali Campbell will headline the event while ABC, The Boomtown Rats, Go West, The Real Thing, Nik Kershaw, The Christians, Jason Donovan, Jaki Graham, Musical Youth, Neal X of Sigue Sigue Sputnik, and Red Box will also all perform with more names still to be announced.
■ Swansea Craft Brew Festival
When? Friday, August 9, to Saturday, August 10
Swansea Craft Brew Festival 2024 heads to Patti Pavilion in August, where people can expect to sample the best British craft beer from independent and micro brewers with five hours of unlimited craft beer included in the ticket price. The line-up so far includes Antur Brew Co, Cloudwater Brew Co, Tiny Rebel, 360 Brewing Company and Copper Beach Brewing Company. The festival will feature a diverse range of beers, from hoppy IPAS and rich stouts to sours, saisons and everything in between. A wide selection of street food will also be served at the festival. ■ Inspiral Carpets When? Thursday, August 15 English rock band Inspiral Carpets, who were part of the late 1980s to early 1990s Madchester movement, will be performing at the Patti Pavilion on August 15. The show, presented by JALP events in association with IBA Events, will feature band members Clint Boon, Graham Lambert, Stephen Holt, Kev Clark and Oscar Boon. The band is known for using organs and distorted guitars with influences from psychedelic rock, and for their hit songs This Is How It Feels and Saturn 5.
■ Gin & Rum Festival When? Saturday, August 31 Swansea Gin & Rum Festival returns in August, with 120 of the best gins and rums on the market available on the night. There will also be a bar featuring a selection of seasonal cocktails, tequilas, beer and fizz. Included in the ticket price will be a collectable stainless steel Gin & Rum Festival tumbler, a branded carry satchel and a free drink to go.