Over a thousand people flocked to the village of Raglan for their annual three-day music festival, held at venues around the village and included children’s workshops and performances from a host of local acts and bands.

The festival launched on Friday, 7th June, with an afternoon of musical entertainment at Raglan Primary School’s annual concert. This year’s Raglan Festival Bursary Winners at the school concert are Annie (singing), William (piano) and Megan (woodwind). This year Raglan Festival also donated £500 toward the school orchestra.

Promoting and nurturing young talent was again the focus of the 2019 Festival with the children’s workshops, in association with Gwent Music, on Saturday buzzing with activity as music filled the air with over 250 children taking part. The day included performances from several Gwent Music groups of pupils from Raglan and Monmouth Comprehensive.

Local families sang their hearts out on Friday at The Beaufort at the Greatest Showman Sing-along night. Local band Don’t Tell Johnny played at The Beaufort Hotel on Saturday while The Crown Inn and The Ship also saw some great performances throughout the weekend. Saturday also saw an evening of traditional Welsh hymn singing at the annual Gymanfa Ganu held at the Baptist chapel thanks to Lloyd Jones and support from Monmouth and District Welsh Society.

Sunday morning’s joint church service at St Cadoc’s Church proved an excellent venue for the Talgarth Male Voice Choir and the Chepstow and Usk Singing Club as well as Raglan’s own Millennium Chimes handbell group.

The main highlight of the weekend was the return of the festival’s street party on the high street with many hundreds of people listening to Brothers of Blues, local singer and musician Ella James, Catch 22 and the Tenovus Choir. Big Macs Wholly Soul band headlined the festival street party, celebrating their 29th anniversary with a fab soulful set getting everyone up and dancing!

Many congratulations also to Dan Elward who won first prize in the Grand Festival Draw and wins a gin masterclass for four at the Mad Platter in Usk.

The festival committee thank everyone involved for their support over the weekend, whether it was local businesses that sponsored the event, volunteers who stewarded the concerts, or the people who attended the events, as without this support, the festival would not be sustainable.

Chairman of the festival committee Col Knight says, "Having seen the Music Weekend as a great success, we now look forward to planning Raglan Day, in August, which will generate more community fun in the village once again."

Raglan Day will take place on Monday 27th August and will include a carnival parade, dog show, stalls for local producers and businesses.

Visit the website www.raglan-festival.com for more details.