The countdown is on for this year’s Lets Rock Wales festival at Cardiff’s Bute Park. The Wales line-up for the UK’s biggest retro festival series on May 27 includes Soft Cell, Wet Wet Wet & Tony Hadley, Imagination, Nik Kershaw, Go West, JoBoxers, Heather Small, Heatwave, Hue & Cry, Five Star and many more.
A celebration of all things pop and ‘80s, Let’s Rock offers gloriously unpretentious non-stop fun, with legendary musicians performing hit after hit to a crowd of all ages, many of whom come dressed in their finest ‘80s fashion. Each festival features two headline acts plus a host of stars from the era when pop ruled the world.
Electronic music pioneers Marc Almond & Dave Ball aka Soft Cell have sold over 10million albums worldwide, enjoying twelve UK Top 40 hits in the early ‘80s, including their mega global No.1 smash “Tainted Love” plus further Top 5 singles “Bedsitter”, “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye” and “Torch.” The duo reformed in 2018 to play a stunning sold-out reunion show at London’s 02, swiftly followed by the release of the duo’s first album of new material in two decades, the critically acclaimed ‘*Happiness Not Included.’ November 2021 saw Soft Cell celebrate the 40th anniversary of their legendary 1981 debut album ‘Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret,’ touring and playing it in full for the very first time. Soft Cell’s debut Let’s Rock summer 2023 headline shows will be their first outdoor festival shows since 2003.
Marc Almond & Dave Ball (Soft Cell) comment: “We are delighted to be headlining so many Let’s Rock festivals in 2023. We’re playing Wales, Northern Ireland, Shrewsbury, Exeter, and Southampton for the first time ever as Soft Cell, as well as in our spiritual home of Leeds, and look forward to seeing everyone at this great festival.”
After two very challenging, pandemic-hit summers, 2022 saw the return of a full schedule of Let’s Rock festivals for the first time since 2019. In an exciting development, 2023 sees Let’s Rock partner with the national digital radio station Absolute 80s. Let’s Rock have also launched Let’s Rock Radio, a digital station where you can hear tracks from all your favourite Let’s Rock artists all day, every day, plus special shows presented by iconic Let’s Rock performers.
Let’s Rock works with many amazing charities including official charity partner Child Bereavement UK, who support families and educate professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a family is facing bereavement. Since partnering with UK Live in 2014, Child Bereavement have managed to raise over £800,000 at the Let’s Rock festivals.
Child Bereavement UK Community Projects Manager Lorna Murchi comments: “I’m absolutely delighted and incredibly grateful to everyone who attended the Let’s Rock festivals and gave so generously in aid of Child Bereavement UK in 2022. Every bit of change popped in a collection tin, wristband or raffle ticket purchased and auction bid paid, adds up and makes a huge difference to the bereaved children, parents, and families we support across the UK. To give some perspective, £130,000 could fund our national helpline for over four months, giving a lifeline to families when they need it most. Thank you for your wonderful support!”
- For ticket availability visit letsrockwales.com