OUTDOOR live music events had all but vanished from the calendar during Covid-19, but that is all due to change as a popular festival comes to Flintshire.

Nine acts are set to play at this year’s North Wales Blues & Soul Micro Festival, which takes places at Theatr Clwyd’s outdoor arena from Friday, July 30 – Sunday, August 1.

The festival features international touring sensation The Cadillac Kings, hailing from London and featuring five of the UK's top roots musicians.

Also headlining will be Brighton-based Will ‘Harmonica’ Wilde who has taken the harmonica way beyond its blues roots to hit notes never seen before.

Visitors can also enjoy Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion, One Eyed Crow and one of the UK’s finest americana bands Hiding Magpies.

The 2021 line-up follows an established tradition for the festival, which prides itself on bringing together respected international artists with emerging talent, and whilst international travel restrictions have proved difficult to attract overseas artistes, UK based & USA born guitarist John Morana returns with his ‘Midnite Johnny Band’.

Representing North Wales on the line-up is Denbigh-based local crowd pleasers Yubaba who are the region’s number one Soul party band. They have headlined local festivals & club gigs, wowing the audience with classic soul & funk hits.

Also from North Wales is Mr. Hugh Price, who plays Delta and early Chicago style Blues.

Completing the line-up is Anglesey-based Stone 3, fronted by Steve Blackstone who has appeared at the festival several times previously with his other blues project Burning Black.

Charlie Broadhurst, one of the festival organisers, said: “We’re so excited to be staging this year’s event, albeit a somewhat ‘stripped-down’ version of the festival due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

“We are extremely proud to be delivering our second ‘micro-fest’ following the success of last year’s event. Theatr Clwyd have again done a fantastic job of creating a Covid-19 compliant space for our audience to be comfortable & safe.

“It has been an extremely difficult 18 months for everyone and it’s wonderful to think we are helping to make things feel normal again, not only for our punters but particularly the touring musicians who have had no work for such a long time.

“We’re passionate about this type of music, and truly believe it offers something for everyone, so we’re hoping that everyone from blues and soul aficionados to locals who just want a great day with amazing music will come along and see what we’re all about.”

Established in 2014 by Event Sound Ltd and a committee of Mold volunteers, the festival is supported by several local and national businesses including Proximo, Special Needs Care, as well as Mold Town Council.

Tickets for this year’s festival will be limited to 206 per day to allow for social distancing but numbers will be increased if guidelines allow by the end of July. Should the weather be too bad for an outdoor festival, tickets will be refunded, or can be carried forward for next year’s festival.

Performances begin at 5pm each day and tickets are on sale from Theatr Clwyd www.theatrclwyd.com