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Last Updated: Saturday, 19 July, 2003, 08:11 GMT 09:11 UK
Geldof stars at festival
Sesiwn Fawr main stage
The festival's main stage is on the Marian
Pop star Bob Geldof has opened the Sesiwn Fawr music festival in Dolgellau, north Wales.

The former Boomtown Rats frontman and Live Aid organiser headlined the opening night of the three-day event on Friday.

Meic Stevens, Geraint Jarman, Irish band the Sawdoctors and rock harpist Alan Stivell will all have taken the stage at the open-air festival over the weekend.

Sesiwn Fawr, which means Big Session, offers a range of music from around the world on five stages.

A craft market and a children's festival also form part of the festival.

Last year marked a change in the festival's history when fans had to pay to see bands for the first time.

A weekend ticket for adults cost �40 and a day ticket, �15.

Bob Geldof
Bob Geldof's comment was not appreciated by the crowd

The main stage was also moved from the town square to an enclosure on a piece of public land known as the Marian on the outskirts of the town.

Having been held in the heart of the town for more than 10 years, organisers said growing crowd numbers meant the festival had outgrown the small square.

But festival-goer Guto Roberts from Felinheli said this had not diminished the event's appeal.

"It's a great opportunity for the young people of Wales to get together to enjoy," he said.

"You don't get a chance to see good live music like this very often.

"There is a good crowd here and everyone is enjoying themselves.

"I have already seen the one person I was loking forward to on Saturday - Meic Stevens. He was amazing."

Meic Stevens
Fans came to see Meic Stevens play on Saturday afternoon

Mr Roberts said he also enjoyed Bob Geldof's performance on Friday evening, despite a comment he made at the beginning of his set.

"It was fantastic, although one little comment upset the crowd a bit.

"He said he had learnt a bit of Welsh, then just made up gobbledygook.

"The crowd booed but he more than made up for it later, especially when he sang Tell Me Why," he added.

Proceeds from a concert by the Holmes Brothers on Sunday evening at St Mary's Church will be donated to the second Welsh air ambulance.


SEE ALSO:
Geldof headlines music festival
09 Apr 03  |  North West Wales
Geldof takes action against 'Celebrity'
27 Sep 02  |  Entertainment
Geldof: I considered suicide
16 Sep 02  |  Entertainment
Geldof warns of devastating famine
25 Jul 02  |  Politics


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