SET the date in your diary to catch multi-million selling indie rockers Toploader in Rhuddlan this summer.

Rhuddfest will go out with a bang with the band when they headline in front of thousands on the Bank Holiday weekend and some lucky readers of The Journal could be there for the fun.

It’s a second visit to North Wales in 12 months for the Brighton band who shot to stardom with their first album, Onka’s Big Moka, 20 years ago and who have been stars of the UK festival circuit in recent years.

The chart-topping band will close the popular festival at Rhuddlan on Sunday night, May 26, with a spectacular £1200 firework show in front of the town’s historic castle.

The band played the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod last July and guitarist Dan Hipgrave said: “We can’t wait. It’s one of the first shows of the summer for us so it will be great to be back on stage and playing a mix of our old songs and new tunes.

“We’ll be busy over the summer doing festivals and it’s great to start off with a fantastic gig in an incredible setting with Rhuddlan Castle in the background.

“It should be a big finish too with the castle lit up by the fireworks and we’re really excited to be back in Wales and to get a chance to hear some of the other great bands in the lineup.”

The extravaganza will accompany the show stopping finale of their huge worldwide 2000 hit Dancing in the Moonlightas well as a host of other acts including Eliza and The Bear from London who top the bill on Saturday night.

Also playing are The Montagues, Blue Nation, Yubaba and Hedge Gods as well as The Wings Parachute Display who will be jumping onto the festival site on Saturday evening and a host of family friendly activities.

Festival organiser Peter Kenway has seen Rhuddfest double in size every year for five years from a party for family and friends to one of North Wales’s biggest music festivals, a two-day event which this year will attract 10,000 people.

He said: “It’s going to be the biggest and best ever and we’ve got a fantastic lineup of bands and activities in an incredible setting between Rhuddlan Castle and the River Clwyd.

“It’s brilliant to have the involvement of Lock Stock with their fireworks which will really bring the curtain down on a spectacular two-days.

“It has doubled in size every year and this year we’re expecting 10,000 people and we’ve got a special food court as well as some great bands and artists and lots of other things going on.”

Rhuddfest’s packed programme also includes street food, bars and entertainment, escape room games, archery, bushcraft, circus skills and mascot dancers.

Dunfermline Press:

Rhuddfest organiser Peter Kenway with Craig Morris and Jeff Woods of Lock Stock. Picture Mandy Jones

The chance to win a family ticket is being provided by festival sponsors Lock Stock Self Storage, who currently have 2,900 containers at 18 sites across North and Mid Wales and the Border Counties and as well as offering units to hire on their sites they sell a range of used and new containers delivered by their specialist lorry.

They also sell fireworks at Chester, Rhyl and Llandudno and on-line and will provide a fitting finale to the festival with a glorious display.

Get ready for a weekend of fun, music and great memories at Rhuddfest with Lock Stock Self Storage from Saturday, May 25 at Rhuddlan Castle.

Adult tickets start at £18, with a variety of options and concessions available, to book or for more information visit rhuddfest.co.uk.

For the chance to win a family ticket for admission plus a three-day camping space at the Festival just tell us how many containers sponsors Lock Stock Self Storage have at their 18 sites.

Answers by e-mail subject 'The Rhyl Journal' Rhuddfest Competition to alistair@ceidiog.com and include a daytime phone number.