Friday 24th
6.15pm - Great Cheese Race
7pm - 10pm - Main Music Stage
10pm - Firework Display
Sat 25th & Sun 26th
from 11:00am - The Big Cheese Entertainment programme includes: Reenactment displays, musical entertainment, educational activities, food hall, craft stalls, activity marquee, Tommy Cooper tent, traditional funfair plus lots more.
What was on 2008
visitCaerphilly
Telephone: (029) 2088 0011
E-mail: tourism@caerphilly.gov.uk
ACOUSTIC STAGE
A fun filled programme of entertainment at the big cheese includes a fabulous music programme. The best of welsh musical entertainment including local groups will get your feet tapping with a blend of Folk, Blues and lots more.
Frame 3-13
Fri 25th - 9:00pm
Frame 3-13 are a Swansea based trio who are young, determined and one of a kind. The Frame 3-13 sound combines Pop hooks and funk riffs with the charismatic vocals of Jack Brimacombe sending a message. Their unique style and image has already caught the attention of Kinks frontman Ray Davies who attended one of their London shows.
Albino Frogs
Fri 25th - 8:00pm
Performing original material, covering jazz, rock and folk styles arranged with a latin vibe (and with a couple of country tunes just for good measure), Crumlin’s Albino Frogs love playing - even though at their age they should be taking it easy!
Sidewinder 665
Fri 25th - 7:00pm
Four young musicians: Rhi, Kath, Mark and Tom combine old school and modern day rock to create a unique style, somewhere between Incubus and Good Charlotte. They say that they’re impossible to describe, so you’d better come and see them for yourself.
Five Mile Drive
Fri 25th - 6:00pm
Five Mile Drive are an alternative band that formed in 2006, based in Newport. Tom Hollister, Andrew Davies and Dan Murphy were originally in various other projects together, but Five Mile Drive was conceived when Jason Evans joined to drum for the band. The band put together upbeat music of an original style with influence from many genres, varying from jazz and blues to metal.
Ian Cal-ford and The Railmen
Sat 26th - 2:15pm & 6:00pm
Ian Cal-ford and the Railmen make a welcome return to the Big Cheese Festival. Classified as the finest act in their league and with their great knowledge of Johnny Cash, Ian and the boys will be performing the unforgettable songs of the Man in Black plus the best in roots country and rockabilly. Ian has backed Tommy Cash (Johnny’s brother), supported George Hamilton IV and Carlene Carter and he has recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis as well as playing at the Grand Ol Opry in Nashville.
Jim Fox
Sat 26th - 1:30pm & 5:15pm
Sun 27th - 12:45pm & 3:45pm
Jim Fox, the troubadour with a voice like that of Van Morrison, has been described by The Irish World as “one of the most sought after acts on the Celtic music scene today”. As a solo singer and songwriter or with his band Madra Rua, he has played numerous festivals throughout Europe and has supported the likes of The Dubliners on their tours.
Lowri Evans
Sat 26th - 12:30pm & 4:30pm
Lowri Evans's distinctive and confident vocals are the first thing that strike you, using her range at times as almost an extra instrument - if you will - to quite dizzying effect, such is her talent. Her powerful voice will capture you and leave you wanting more! Her music is an original blend of blues, contemporary folk and pop. She has been writing and performing for 10 years.
Mat Mountain
Sat 26th - 12:00pm & 3:45pm
Mat left his home in Tyneside and rode across the country on his mountain bike with his guitar on his back. After many adventures throughout the islands of Britain he settled in the hills of Wales, where he lives and works today. What's it all about? Real folk music, it's about time someone with an acoustic guitar wrote some decent, lively songs without boring you. Mat plays a left-handed acoustic guitar and rides a black mountain bike. Keep your eyes peeled.
Christopher Rees
Sat 26th - 3:00pm
Christopher Rees is an alt-country favourite of MOJO Magazine, who described his latest album ‘Cautionary Tales’ as "Full of Simmering Soul". In 2004 he won Best Male Solo Artist at the Welsh Music Awards and recent touring activities with legendary Texan country songwriter Billy Joe Shaver and others like Richard Hawley have further enhanced his growing reputation. An amazing singer and songwriter, Christopher brings his guitars, banjo and harmonicas to the Big Cheese to sing his tales of murder, bluesy angst and beautiful heartfelt emotion. Don’t miss him!
Allan Yn Y Fan
Sun 27th - 5:15pm
Allan Yn Y Fan is renowned as one of Wales' finest twmpath bands and has an impressive reputation for concert work too! The Band, plus a caller, has demonstrated an ability to get any crowd onto a dance floor, whatever the occasion. The band play a mixture of Welsh, Scottish and Irish tunes, with a healthy emphasis on the lesser-known wonderful tunes from Wales. The band is lucky enough to have three tunesmiths in its ranks and an increasing amount of the repertoire is self-composed.
The Revelators
Sun 27th - 1:30pm & 4:30pm
Swansea’s The Revelators play Delta blues. The fourpiece seem to have established themselves as one of Europs’ premier blues and country rock outfit. They have recently released a new 11 track CD Betrayal Blues on independent label SBR and this summer sees them playing festivals in the United Kingdom and Europe including this year’s Big Cheese.
Blind River Scare
Sun 27th - 12:00pm & 3:00pm
Blind River Scare from Newport were formed in late 2004 by three friends, Tim M, Jem and Tim B, after a night out at Alt/Cardiff in Chapter Arts Centre. A shared love of alt/country, Americana and pop/rock, and the realisation that everyone was available sparked the idea of a new band. After the addition of Debbie on fiddle and Lisa's vocals, Blind River Scare was created.
Stephen Light
Sun 27th - 2:15pm
Stephen Light is a singer songwriter from Ebbw Vale, now living in Caerleon. He was described by Adam Walton on Radio Wales as “Just a little bit outstanding” and the Western Mail say he has “Hints of Johnny Cash, Led Zep, Nick Cave, Fairports and Neil Young”. Stephen sometimes plays solo, and sometimes with the Black Sand Band - both allowing him to indulge his love of country, folk, world, jazz, 60’s, pop and early blues.