Festival N°6 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Festival N°6 |
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Central piazza at Portmeirion
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| Genre | Music, performance arts, poetry |
| Dates | September |
| Location(s) | Portmeirion, Wales |
| Years active | 2012–2018 |
| Attendance | 6,500 |
Festival N°6 (also known as Festival Number 6) was a yearly arts and music festival. It took place in the beautiful village of Portmeirion, Wales. The festival featured many different kinds of music on various stages.
It was known as a family-friendly event. There were special areas for kids, like "No.6's Mischief Meadow," and a camping area just for families. The festival ran every year from 2012 until 2018. In July 2018, the organizers announced that the festival would take a break for an unknown amount of time.
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Discovering Festival N°6
The very first Festival N°6 happened on September 14, 2012. About 6,500 people came to enjoy the music and art. The festival returned every year after that, bringing fun and entertainment, until its final event in 2018.
The Unique Village of Portmeirion
The festival's home is the amazing village of Portmeirion. It's located in North Wales right on the Snowdonia coast, in an area called Gwynedd. This village looks like a charming Italian coastal town, but it was actually built in Wales! An architect named Sir Clough Williams-Ellis created it between 1925 and 1978.
The festival uses the whole village for its events. The main music stages are in fields nearby. The Italian-style buildings of Portmeirion add a special, unique feeling to the festival. Activities and music events spread out from the Colonnade Gardens all the way to the River Dwyryd, and from the Tanglewoods area to the beach.
Why "Number 6"? The TV Show Connection
The festival's name, "N°6," comes from a famous old TV show called The Prisoner. This show was filmed mostly in Portmeirion itself! The main character in the series is called "Number 6." He was played by actor Patrick McGoohan.
In the show, Number 6 is a secret agent who is held prisoner in a mysterious coastal village. This TV show made Portmeirion famous around the world and is a big part of the village's history.
Arts, Culture, and Fun Activities
Festival N°6 wasn't just about music. It also featured many other exciting things to see and do. You could enjoy live music, listen to poetry readings, laugh at comedy shows, and attend interesting talks.
The festival also offered hands-on activities. These were designed to be different from typical music festival events. Some past activities included "Giant Mind," "Urban Sketching," and "Extraordinary Bubbles."
Music artists also used the festival as inspiration. For example, the band The Slow Readers Club recorded a mini-album called Live From Festival No.6 at Portmeirion Town Hall in 2018.
BBC Radio Wales often broadcast live from the festival. DJs like Adam Walton and Bethan Elfyn hosted their shows right from the festival grounds.
Festival Performers
From 2012 to 2018, Festival N°6 welcomed hundreds of musical artists. Many other talented people performed comedy, gave talks, or presented unique art shows. The first festival in 2012 even partnered with Electric Elephant Festival.
Some of the many artists who performed at Festival N°6 over the years included:
- 2012: New Order, Primal Scream, Spiritualized, Richard Hawley, Gruff Rhys, British Sea Power, Caitlin Moran (Literature), Phill Jupitus (Comedy).
- 2013: James Blake, My Bloody Valentine, Manic Street Preachers, Johnny Marr, Frankie Knuckles, John Cooper Clarke (Literature).
- 2014: Beck, Pet Shop Boys, London Grammar, Bonobo, Neneh Cherry, The Brythoniaid male voice choir (Special performances).
- 2015: Metronomy, Belle & Sebastian, James, Grace Jones, Mark Ronson, Irvine Welsh (Literature).
- 2016: Bastille, Hot Chip, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Super Furry Animals, Kaiser Chiefs, Johnny Vegas (Comedy).
- 2017: Liverpool Philharmonic, Mogwai, Bloc Party, The Flaming Lips, Rag 'n' Bone Man, Jarvis Cocker, Charlotte Church, Henning Wehn (Comedy).
- 2018: The The, Friendly Fires, Franz Ferdinand, The Charlatans, The Horrors, Paddy Considine (Talk), Don Letts (DJ Set).
Where to Stay at the Festival
If you visited Festival N°6, there were different places to stay. The village of Portmeirion itself had a limited number of rooms available. Visitors could also book hotels, bunk houses, or cottages nearby. For a more adventurous stay, you could reserve spots for camper vans, yurts, tipis, or traditional tents.
