JULY / AUGUST | PREVIEW
Festival Number 6 ( 6 – 9 September ) bills its location as ‘ the most stunning festival setting in the world ’, and they might have a point .
Portmerion , built between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village , is a genuine oddity , and home to the equally zany 1960s tv series The Prisoner .
Festival director Luke Huxham , embraces Portmerion ’ s unique atmosphere . His organisation duties include everything from day-to-day management , marketing and curation , to budgeting .
He tells Access . ” Festival Number 6 is a unique beast , and for its size , it has high running costs . It is based in a very challenging part of the country that ’ s hard to get to . It ’ s a challenging landscape , and a big learning curve .
This tricky terrain requires a
Six-cess
Festival Number 6 ’ s location lends itself to constant reinvention , and this year is no different
different approach to staffing . Security staff , Huxham says are also increasing year on year .
“ This is not your typical greenfield festival site . It ’ s got a village , woodlands , and an estuary that makes building a fence around the site a challenge . We ’ ve increased the numbers of security on perimeter . We use a great company , FGH Security , who are an extension of our customer service team , down to their politeness and tone of voice .”
Security are just one element of the creative vision . “ Curating the event is a balancing act . Every year the event places more strain on its infrastructure and budget . You have to balance what is necessary and consider the audience .”
This year ’ s content is bold and avant garde . Topping the bill alongside the already announced , The The , are indie-pop legends
Franz Ferdinand and Friendly Fires . Also joining the event is singer-songwriter Jessie Ware , and The Charlatans . There will also be a special performance from Manchester Camerata Orchestra performing Motown and Northern Soul hits and more .
Headlining the arts and cultures bill is legendary lead singer of Madness , Suggs , performing his new one man show ‘ What a King Cnut ’ – A Life In The Realm of Madness . Will Self , acclaimed author of Umbrella and shortlisted for the Booker Prize .
Also appearing is Turner Prizewinning artists Jeremy Deller , the mighty Andrew Weatherall curating his own Psychedelic Faber Social , Edith Bowman music and films with Irvine Welsh .
“ Festival No 6 , creatively , requires a certain mentality ,” Huxham continues . “ We try and approach it differently . We try not to pay too much attention to what others are doing .
“ It ’ s an unparalleled location , with a strong narrative that has to make sense . So everything must be carefully considered , with no filler . The arts bill is made up of completely new content , and our roaming street theatre elements are constantly evolving . It ’ s about surprise , and so much more .”
Huxham ’ s creative instinct can be all-consuming .
“ The people , places , and the vibe of Portmerion is a massive inspiration , and we ’ re always racing with ideas . Sometimes I can ’ t sleep , but I have an idea , and I write it down . We ’ re really driven by doing things differently , and apply that to everything .
“ We love element of surprise , and giving more than expected . We have a loyal following .”
Every Festival Number 6 is a new artistic creation in and of itself . Let the party begin .
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