Main Blues

We used to enjoy Brecon Jazz Festival, often for a day, sometimes for the whole weekend. Stroller tickets were good value and there was a good range of events in marquees and open spaces, as well as free street events. We were pleased when the festival was rescued last year from collapse by Hay Festivals.

But now all events are indoors, often in, quite literally, stuffy venues. If you want to go to a full days’ music each festival day, you could end up paying hundreds of pounds over the weekend, with the top concerts over £30 each. There are also events at £10 or under, but many of these are performers you can see locally at other times.

So this year we decided to skip the main festival altogether and spend a day at the ‘Fringe’ festival. Over 20 venues put on performers for free (though one pub charges £5 per day).