n0fear88

Hey guys! I went to Wales for the weekend. It wasn't just a random trip, but it was pretty much last minute. Only booked everything last weekend haha!

Saturday was the 2nd Annual Full Ponty Festival @ Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd, South Wales and my favourite band headlined the event!

I'd been saying for ages that I wanted to go to it, but couldn't find anyone willing to come with.

In the end, my whole family (mum, dad and bro) came with. Well my brother was the one that actually came with me to the fest, parents stayed back in Cardiff and shopped or whatever lol.

We booked a hotel in Cardiff for 2 nites, bout 15/20mins from Pontypridd.

Woke up Saturday, ate breakfast then left the hotel around 10.30 to get a bus to Ponty. Gates didn't open till 12, but wanted to get their early as had no idea where we were going! But once we got off the bus, it was pretty easy to find as just had to follow the huge mass of people haha.

Got a coupla bottles of water from the newsagent, which the bastard security guards took from us. Just like with Reading Fest, they want you to buy THEIR pricey drinks...boo!!!

Anywho, eventually got in, and went straight to the bar to get the Cider in YAY!

First band we saw were Miss Conduct. Not heard of them before. Thought they were alright lol.

There were only 4 main bands that I wanted to see, and they weren't until later in the afternoon. So just caught some of the other acts on the line-up, majority of them new to my ears. There were 3 separate stages/tents. I never once went to the Coca-cola stage... Main reason being it was the other side of the park form the other 2, and I couldn't be arsed to go other there once I was settled haha. Plus the bands I wanted to see were on the other 2 stages, and they were very conveniently next to each other ^___^.

The Blackout were the first band I wanted to see. Never seen them live b4, and quite like their stuff. Really good live band ^___^. Loved their cover of "We are Godzilla, you are Japan" =]. Made me laugh that Ian was late to do vocals on one of their songs! tut tut Mr Watkins hahah! Would like to see them again. Fingers crossed they might be at Reading this yr! =]

Next on my list were Reel Big Fish… I only know one song by these guys, and again never seen them live. Were pretty good! Funny & different. Might have to listen to more of their songs

Next up, I watched a band that Alex from DN recommended – Kids in Glass Houses. I missed the first couple of songs due to queuing for the toilets, which I'll just point out were 1000x better than those at Reading Fest. I didn't smell one bad toilet the whole day =|. Could be that there were less people I suppose... but still! And they flushed... Maybe Reading's do as well, cant remember, was 9 months ago lol. Anyways back to KiGH, I had listened to the songs on their myspace page prior to the event, so I knew what they sounded like. Not bad actually =), quite liked what I did see of them ^_^.

Next, The Automatic, only seen them once live b4. Think it was last yrs Reading Fest actually. Really enjoyed their set. Good stuff!!


Next, a band I've heard OF but never actually HEARD any of their stuff. Band called Paramore. Again missed some of their stuff near the end. Wanted to get loo break and the drinks in b4 'prophets came on who were up next. Not to sure what to make of them really. A lot of people seem to like them though, just not sure if they are my cuppa tea. Need to hear more of their stuff to really make a fairer judgement... hmmm.

In the Coca-Cola tent @ the same time as Paramore were Gallows, who I kinda wanted to see, just to find out what all the fuss is with those guys. But I was too lazy and didn't bother hahah XD

At about 9pm or, my boys Lostprophets, who pretty much everyone had been waiting to see all day came on stage to a huge roar of cheers and stuff =]. Before they came on stage they played Tom Jones' "Green, Green Grass of Home" over the speakers, and the whole crowd sang along.

They opened with Can't Catch Tomorrow, which is a good one to get everyone's feet moving heheh =]. Cant remember the entire set list but they played songs from all 3 albums, and as I thought they would, they treated us to one of their new songs! "The Dead", and got us to sing alone with the chorus. I had already heard the song of course, thanks to the people who went on the arena tour last month putting vids up on youtube.

I was really getting into it, as one does when they see one of their favourite bands play. I sang along and jumped around and was knackered by the end.

A really cool moment was when Ian brought his mum and gran on stage, and then Mike's mum came on, and it was her birthday, so Ian got the crowd to sing happy birthday to her, but in Welsh. Thought that was really sweet, obviously I couldn't sing along coz I don't speak a word of Welsh. But I just love how patriotic these guys are they love their country and they love their hometown. LOVE IT! ^___^


They ended their set with Burn, Burn which is another song that really gets the crowd going. That and Shinobi are really good songs to end their gigs with. ****ing ACE!


They asked out the boys from The Blackout, and KiGH and some others I cant remember to join in with the chorus. Was mad! Haha . Matthew Pritchard (the guy from Dirty Sanchez) was also there =]

The crowd joined in with the Welsh national anthem after the 'prophets finished, which was really something, but as with the birthday song, felt a little left out as couldnt join in, but it was fun to listen to everyone in unison =]

My throat was well sore afterwards from all the screaming, but it was well worth it. I think it might be the best lostprophets gig I've been to (I've only been to 3 mind...) But it has definitely been my most enjoyable. They were just untouchable! As I said they never disappoint me when they play, but last nite, it was just... I cant get the words out lol. I think the fact that they were playing in Ponty where they grew up and met as friends etc when they were kids, they were happy and excited to be playing there, and you could just tell they loved it, it showed through their performance =] ****ing A1 ^___^

I don't think I would ever travel so far to any other gig, but I just had to see them, I could not wait until August. But I am very excited about seeing them @ Reading! I know they're gonna blow me away again ^____^

GOOD ****ing TIMES!!!

And I think I might have made my brother a 'prophets fan ^___^, at least part time hahah! He certainly enjoyed the set hehe, and if he denies it, I'll be mad!

After the fest, me and bro went hunting for food. Found a chippy not far from Ponty Park, scoffed it down, then got a taxi back to the hotel where I had quite a bit of difficulty sleeping due to still being excited from the fest! Thankfully its Bank Holiday Monday 2day, so I had a little sleep in =] YAY! Am rather achy @ the moment too

Weather-wise, the majority of Saturday was nice, cloudy in place, but nice. Then around 6ish, we got a huge downpour of rain, luckily, I had poncho's packed so we were ready for it haha!

It didn't last too long thankfully, and didn't rain during the 'prophets set, which made me happy

Rained pretty much all day Sunday though both in Wales and England, so wasn't nice to come home too =(, but ah well, am home and dry now! Kinda wish I was still in Walesthough, it's really nice there. If I could relive yesterday, specially the evening, that would be gr8. I miss the boys already, and still have 3 months till I see them again!! Ahhh, how am I gonna cope?! LOL

Well that's my recap.. hope you enjoyed reading, tough **** if you didn't haha!!

**hugs**

Georgie xx

Danuck

Glad to hear you had such a great time in Ponty, I was there myself on the weekend although I didn't go to the gig I was just visiting my parents. I'm from a town about 10 minutes further north of Ponty and another 5 minutes up the road from there is the village that The Stereophonics are from, we have great bands in Wales

My best friend actually knows Stuart quite well and I think that it's Ian who lives in her street, she pointed out his car to me on Saturday.

Sounds like the chip shop you went was Cruchie's, officially called Park View as it's opposite one of the park gates. The owner Cruchie is a dead ringer for Paul McCartney.

How far did you travel by the way?

n0fear88

ahh cool =], do you wish you had gone? Or were u not that bothered lol? And yes, Wales has some f-ing brilliant bands!!

haha sweeeeeet!!! ^________^

hmm, i honestly dont remember the name , but it was fairly busy so it must have been a good one XD

I'm from Reading, it was a 2 and a half hrs coach ride. So not that far really =]

I'd love to visit Wales some time again soon. I never actually got to do any "touristy" things lol

G x

Danuck

I didn't go to the gig not because I didn't want to see the boys but just because I had family things to do. I live in London and go down to Wales every four to six weeks to visit my parents who are in their 70's.

I have seen them to many times in the past to mention especially before they were famous and they were playing the local pubs and clubs.

I haven't been to the Reading Festival in years, who's playing this year?

n0fear88

Ah cool, cool... lucky duck

The bands I'm looking forward to seeing @ Reading this yr are:

Enter Shikari, Fall Out Boy, P! ATD, Jimmy Eat World, RHCP, Biffy Clyro, Funeral 4 a Friend and of course lostprophets ^______^

Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, The Used and possibly Bloc Party I want to see also, as not seen either of them live b4

Click the linky in my sig for the line-up of all the announced bands so far

G x