Opera singer Bryn Terfel is opening the Faenol Festival in north Wales which runs from Friday to Sunday.

Thousands are expected to attend the festival, in the grounds of the Faenol estate in Caernarfon, which will see performances from rock, soul, show and solo artistes.

McCutcheon will join Terfel on stage

The event - the brainchild of north Wales's opera star Terfel - will include performances from soap actresses-turned West End stars Claire Sweeney and Martine McCutcheon on Sunday evening.

The former leading ladies of Chicago and My Fair Lady will sing songs from the shows alongside Terfel and David Shannon.

Grammy award-winning American soprano Renee Fleming, Mr Terfel himself, the Welsh National Opera and Welsh bands Estella and Y Tebot Piws are booked to perform during the show.

Groups from around Wales and Merseyside will also appear at this year's festival.

Organisers of the event picked up the Greatest Show in Wales title at the 2002 Wales Tourism Awards Ceremony.

The venue has a capacity for 30,000

The festival began life as a charity fundraiser for the Ty Gobaith Hospice Appeal after Terfel, who is from nearby Pantglas, Gwynedd, decided he wanted to give something back to his community.

Bryn Terfel said he was "deeply honoured" to receive the award after only two years of the festival's existence.

"I have long waited to bring top-class entertainers to perform near my home in Gwynedd," he said.

"It has been very heart-warming to see how well it has been received," he added.

"We have some fantastic names here - I've had to pinch myself.

"Just to have Claire Sweeney and Martine McCutcheon is something very special.

"I think for this locality there are no hotel rooms and no restaurant tables to be had so at least we have given something back to those people also."

Ticket sales are reported to be going well and organisers expect more than 20,000 visitors over the three days.