Only hours before the official release of their latest record, Rewind the Film, legendary Welsh rockers Manic Street Preachers produced a mesmeric set full of passion and raw energy.
Welsh icons deliver stunning performance in historic Portmeirion, North Wales
Featuring performances of some of their best-loved tracks, as well as an introduction to brand new material, the fiery trio echoed around the Welsh mountains during a set that must go down as a festival classic.
Frontman James Dean Bradfield described the homecoming gig as a "dream come true."
Preceding them on the main stage was Chic featuring Nile Rodgers. The band, clad in matching crisp white outfits, wheeled their way through a library of some of the most celebrated songs of modern music history to a capacity crowd, culminating with a stage invasion of glitter-clad dancers.
After a somewhat damp and breezy start to the day, warming sunshine burnt off the clouds, coating the Welsh landscape and Italianate buildings of Portmeirion village.
Over 10,000 guests flocked to the picturesque fairytale location over the weekend to take in outstanding performances from the likes of My Bloody Valentine, James Blake, Lianne La Havas, London Grammar, Everything Everything, Johnny Marr, Jagwar Ma, Carl Craig, Frankie Knuckles, Norman Jay and Mount Kimbie.
However, the headliner of the weekend was Portmeirion itself - certainly one of the UK's most beautiful, surreal and cherished locations. The dazzling surroundings provided the backdrop for one of the finest festivals of 2013.
A selection of the other attractions for attendees included talks from Guy Garvey, John Cooper Clarke and Caitlin Moran, comedy from Mark Thomas and Seann Walsh, the Brythoniaid Male Voice Choir, torchlight processions, heliosphere acrobatics, Portmeirion piazza, magical woodland parties, drumming troupes, superb food, as well as recreations of cult TV show The Prisoner, which was shot at the same location over 40 years ago.
Festival No.6's Gareth Cooper said: "We're extremely proud that we've created an event that is genuinely unique. We're so lucky to have this stunning location, bringing it to life with arts, culture, music and wonderful people. From woodland raves to main stage headliners, it's been an outstanding experience."
Published on 16 September 2013 by Ben Robinson
