Main Events

10 Days of Fringe, One Incredible Price.

Experience every headline performance, late-night set, and inspiring talk with one pass. From music and comedy to theatre and beyond - this is your all-access key to the heart of Llangollen.

The Details:

• Full Access: Valid for all main festival events.

Mr. Scruff is back after two sell-out Fringe shows in 2023 and 2025, bringing his eclectic, genre-defying DJ style to the stage once again! The Manchester-based producer, cartoonist, and legendary DJ has been a key figure in the world of soul, funk, reggae, afro, jazz, latin, hip-hop, electro, house, new wave, and techno since 1984, seamlessly blending all these genres (often in the same set!). Known for his marathon, unpredictable performances, Mr. Scruff’s shows are always packed with energy and sonic surprises.

Whether playing vinyl or experimenting with his mixer, effects, and sound setup, he ensures each night is memorable. With MC Kwasi, VJ Jim & sound engineer Bernardo Cappucino in tow, expect a quirky night filled with great music.

SKINNY LISTER are a British folk/punk band formed in London in 2009 through Greenwich folk clubs. Over 16 years they’ve fused punk energy with shanties, earning a reputation for raucous, good-time shows. Their unique sound has taken them from the folk circuit to Download Festival, sparking mosh-pits worldwide. They’ve toured Europe and North America with Frank Turner, Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly, while headlining festivals, clubs and growing venues. Skinny Lister’s formidable live rep more than proceeds them.  

With support from / Gyda chefnogaeth gan: PISKEY LED

Offering a set full of songs, tunes and tales cast from the ore of Celtic folk tradition. Piskey Led's intricate arrangements on an array of acoustic instruments, stitch a seam along Cornish - Irish musical borders. 

With a core of flute, guitar, double bass, and vocals, Katie Lower, James Bower, and Josh Goodey have been sharing all sorts of stages for nearly a decade. In 2023 they launched their debut album full of "fresh and original material"  (RnR Magazine) with tunes that "set faces smiling across the country." (Adam Walton, BBC Introducing). Autumn 2025 brings an expansion for Piskey Led with the addition of uilleann pipes (Jason Rouse) and percussion (Laurence Wickham) to the established line up. It's a huge sound - full of atmosphere and energy! 

Ryan Young is a Scottish fiddle player working within the traditional music of Scotland. His playing is noted for its distinctive tone and phrasing, with an approach that places melody and expression at the centre of the music.

He first came to wider attention with his debut album, produced by four-time GRAMMY winner Jesse Lewis (Béla Fleck, Yo-Yo Ma), establishing the foundations of a career that has since developed an international reach. He has toured extensively across the UK, Europe, North America and Australia, and is recognised for a style that draws on both Scottish and Irish traditions.

Young’s third studio album, In the Quiet After (May 2026), is produced by and features Martin Hayes. Recorded with engineer Patrick Phillips (The Gloaming, Peter Gabriel), the album includes contributions from Stuart McCallum (The Breath, Cinematic Orchestra) and Louis Campbell (Sam Lee, Sam Sweeney).

Reflecting on the project, Hayes said: “I had the pleasure of being in the studio with Ryan as producer of this latest recording. For the most part I just sat back and enjoyed the music as it unfolded. I have known Ryan and his music for many years, and it has been wonderful to witness its continuous evolution. On this recording you can hear his ability to inhabit the tunes fully and let them speak with honesty and depth. This is a deeply felt and soulful recording, drawing on both the Scottish and Irish traditions.”

“...a force of nature” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 STARS) The Scotsman

Ryan will be joined by acclaimed guitarist Stuart McCallum (The Breath, Cinematic Orchestra), whose atmospheric playing has become a defining feature of Ryan's latest recordings. Together, they promise an evening of extraordinary musicianship, rich musical conversation and unforgettable melodies.

Support: Aneirin Jones

Opening the evening is Aneirin Jones, one of the most exciting young voices in Welsh traditional music.

Hailing from Pontardawe originally, Aneirin started playing the fiddle at aged 7,
having a strong musical upbringing attending local Welsh trad. sessions in the
Swansea Valley.

Aneirin’s already enjoyed a very exciting career, releasing award-winning albums
and performing as a member of some of Wales’ most well-known trad/folk acts (Vrï
and Pendevig to name a few). It is a huge privilege for him to share this music with
audiences across the world (India, Canada and Brittany amongst many other
international stages).

Now Aneirin begins the journey as a solo artist, honing the old tunes and songs he
learnt as a child, with some original compositions also. The addictive thrill and
transcendental feeling of playing jigs, reels and folk songs is at the core of their set.
With Rhys Morris on guitar (Avanc). 

Hosted by Daisy Green, founder of Llangollen Spoken Word.

Join us for a special curated evening of spoken word as part of Llangollen Fringe 2026.

Featuring a carefully selected line-up of poets and spoken word performers, this showcase celebrates the power of storytelling, performance and the written word. From heartfelt and thought-provoking pieces to moments of humour and hope, each performance offers a unique voice and perspective.

Whether you're a regular attendee or discovering spoken word for the first time, this promises to be an engaging and inspiring evening in the intimate setting of Gales Wine Bar.

Performers will be announced soon.

Free entry. No booking required.

For more than thirty years, Nova Scotia singer-songwriter Dave Gunning has been quietly establishing himself as one of Canada's finest contemporary folk artists. A multiple East Coast Music Award and Canadian Folk Music Award winner, he is celebrated for songs that capture the heart of everyday life with warmth, wit, and remarkable honesty.

Drawing inspiration from the people, landscapes and history of Canada's East Coast, Gunning's songs are rich in storytelling, weaving together tales of resilience, community and the moments that connect us all. His latest album, Field Notes, recorded live to tape in Australia with producer Mark Lang, showcases the intimate, timeless songwriting that has earned him audiences around the world.

Whether performing in a concert hall, folk club or around a kitchen table, Dave has an effortless ability to make every audience feel at home. His concerts blend heartfelt songs, captivating stories and gentle humour, creating an evening that is both deeply moving and quietly uplifting.

Join us at the Hand Hotel for an intimate performance from one of Canada's most treasured folk voices. Take a look!

Suggested donation is £10. Support to be announced soon.

BCUC: Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness. Indigenous funk, hiphop consciousness and punk rock energy from Soweto, South Africa.

The seven-piece band has been mesmerising audiences both locally and globally with its indigenous funk and high-energy performances that have fast made it one of South Africa’s most successful musical exports. Artistic heirs to Philip “Malombo” Tabane and Batsumi, they give contemporary voice to the ancestral traditions of indigenous peoples. Jazz sounds of 1970s and ‘80s productions replaced by hip-hop influences and punk-rock energy, taking the listener on an intriguing epic journey, sharing their controversial yet interesting views on modern Africa. They tackle the harsh realities of the voiceless, especially the plight of the uneducated workers at the bottom of the social food chain. BCUC taps into the elusiveness of the spirit world of ancestors by which they are inspired. The Africa portrayed by BCUC is not poor, but rich in tradition, rituals and beliefs.

“We bring fun and emo-indigenous Afro psychedelic fire from the hood,” says vocalist Kgomotso Mokone.

“without a doubt the best live act I saw”- Gilles Peterson

SUPPORT: MORGAN ELWY A'R BAND

Opening the evening are Morgan Elwy a'r Band, one of Wales' most exciting reggae and roots acts.

A familiar name on the Welsh festival circuit, Morgan Elwy has performed at events including the National Eisteddfod, Tafwyl, Newport Reggae & Riddim and Wilkswood Reggae Festival, as well as supporting artists such as Gentleman’s Dub Club, The Skatalites, Queen Omega, Dafydd Iwan and The Undercover Hippy.

One of the most talked-about bands in contemporary folk, Talisk have spent the last ten years ripping up the rulebook — and audiences across the world have come along for the ride. With over 15 million streams, 10,000 albums sold, and sold-out shows on five continents — from Glasgow to Tokyo, Paris to New York — alongside headline festival appearances the world over, the trio have built a devoted global following.

Armed with concertina, fiddle and guitar — and a sound far bigger than the sum of its parts — Mohsen Amini, Benedict Morris and Charlie Galloway have picked up a string of major awards, including from BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio Scotland and the BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards.

Celebrating a decade on the road in 2025, Talisk continue to push boundaries — musically, technically, and in how three people can completely command any stage. Their BBC One Hogmanay Show performances reached over a million viewers, whilst they’ve captivated tens of thousands live - from Glasgow’s OVO Hydro arena, to the vastest of festival sites across Europe, North America, and Australasia, and including Glastonbury in 2025.

Expect big energy, heavy tunes, and an all out celebration of an almighty 10 years - from one of contemporary Scottish folk’s most celebrated live acts.

“the technical ability of each member is clear in their energetic, dynamic sound” / Songlines

“extraordinary” / Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2

With support from / Gyda chefnogaeth gan: The Tom Campbell Trio  

The Tom Campbell Trio is a vibrant presence in the Scottish traditional music scene, blending Scottish and Irish influences with contemporary innovation.

Formed in 2018, the trio consists of Tom Campbell on flute, Callum Convoy on bodhrán, and Gillie O’Flaherty on guitar. Their sound fuses original compositions with traditional folk, infused with a modern edge. The trio garnered significant recognition as finalists at the BBC Folk Awards 2019 and as winners of the 2021 Battle of the Folk Bands. Tom Campbell’s musical roots are in the Isle of Lismore, further developed at Plockton Music School and Lews Castle College in Benbecula. His background with flute, whistle, pipes, and bodhran, along with his passion for composition, gives the trio a unique sound.

The Tom Campbell Trio offers a fresh, exhilarating interpretation of traditional music, stretching boundaries while honouring their rich cultural heritage.

Expect ultra-tight musicianship and unstoppable energy as Nubiyan Twist bring their electrifying blend of jazz, afrobeat, soul, hip-hop and dance music to the stage with a brand new line-up and live show for 2026. 

Known for their powerful big-band sound and uplifting live shows, the 9-piece collective fuse global grooves with UK jazz finesse, percussive fire and deep, infectious rhythm.

Following their acclaimed collaborations with musical icons including Nile Rogers, Tony Allen, Seun Kuti and Fatoumata Diawara, the band continue to push boundaries  uniting cultures, generations and genres through music that celebrates connection, freedom and groove.

Formed in Leeds and now one of the UK’s most respected live acts, Nubiyan Twist have earned MOBO and AIM Award nominations, sold-out tours and praise from NPR, Rolling Stone, Jazzwise and Bandcamp Daily.

“Joyous, beautiful and rich” - NPR

“When this nine-piece collective find their flame - it burns brightly” - Rolling Stone
“Absolutely thrills and excites” - Louder Than War

“Sponging up global grooves and making some of the catchiest jazz music this country has to offer” Notion

“An absolutely joyous listen” - Bandcamp Daily