THOUSANDS expected for Pembrokeshire’s most spirited summer weekend

SOLVA Edge Festival returns from 25–27 July, promising a packed weekend of music, culture and coastal charm — and this year marks a major milestone as the community-run event celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Set in the heart of Solva with dramatic views over the Pembrokeshire coastline, the not-for-profit festival has grown into one of the most loved events in the West Wales summer calendar. Organisers say the 2025 event — dubbed “Edge X” — will be the most ambitious yet.

Headline acts include Dirty Weekend, Daft Punkz and Who’s Molly

This year’s musical line-up is led by high-energy favourites Dirty Weekend, dance-pop crowd-pleasers Daft Punkz, and the anthemic Who’s Molly. Festival regulars will also welcome the return of Good Times, while the coveted ‘legends slot’ will be filled by Fleetwood Mad, a tribute act drawing crowds across the UK for their faithful recreation of Fleetwood Mac’s greatest hits.

Activities for all ages

In addition to the music, organisers have confirmed a broad range of activities. These include:

• Children’s entertainment, from magicians to singalongs;
• A literary reading of Erimos, a new work exploring myth and hope, with author Mark Lewis and illustrator Peter Stevenson;
• Guided walks with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park team.

Festival-goers can also enjoy artisan stalls, henna tattoos, street food, and local ales at the popular Green Scar Bar.

A festival with heart

Solva Edge is unique in being run entirely by volunteers, with all proceeds returned to the community through grants and bursaries. Past beneficiaries include Solva AFC, St Davids Guides, Strength Academy Wales, Simpson’s Cross Activities Group, and Victoria Hall in Roch.

Organiser Luci Chapman said: “This is a special year for us — ten years of celebrating music, community and the coastline we love. Every ticket bought helps fund youth groups, sports clubs and creative projects across North Pembrokeshire.”

The event takes place at Solva Football Club, Maes Y Mor, Solva, SA62 6XW, with free parking on site.

Tickets are available online at www.edgefestival.co.uk or at the gate.

Milford Haven is alive with anticipation as Carnival Day 2025 sails into town this Saturday, and The Lord Nelson Hotel is going all out to mark the occasion with a day full of vibrant celebrations.

Set for Saturday 5th July, The Lord Nelson is throwing open its doors from 9am for a jam-packed day of carnival fun, music, and food. The popular venue has announced it will be walk-in only, with no reserved seating – so locals are encouraged to arrive early to grab a spot.

With three bars open throughout the day and a BBQ sizzling from 12pm to 6pm, guests can expect mouth-watering food and refreshing drinks. (Note: the hotel’s usual menu won’t be available during the BBQ hours.)

The afternoon promises a musical treat, kicking off with live music with Steve Bartram from 4pm, followed by a West presents DJ stage to keep the carnival spirit alive well into the evening.

“It’s set to be one of our biggest and best Carnival Days yet,” said owner James Findlay . “We’re excited to welcome everyone to celebrate with great food, live entertainment, and a real community atmosphere.”

Sunday 6th July brings a more relaxed vibe, with the hotel offering a hearty breakfast from 8am to 11am, followed by a lunch menu (12pm–3pm) and an evening service from 5pm to 8:30pm. Please note – no Sunday roast will be served this weekend.

With sunshine forecast and the whole town ready to celebrate, Milford Haven’s Carnival Day is shaping up to be a highlight of the Pembrokeshire summer.

LAUNCHING on BBC Sounds this week, Making of a Fugitive enters us into the hidden world of fugitives; from hunting Britain’s most wanted to the confessions of a convicted conman.

Narrated by Welsh actor Richard Harrington (The One That Got Away, Hinterland), the nine-part podcast follows the stories of international fugitives who go to great lengths to try and stay hidden from the authorities. We’ll hear stories of stolen identities, drastic plastic surgery and hair transplants, and the families who get left behind.

The podcast starts with Martin Evans, a small town conman turned international fraudster and drug dealer who has been in and out of the headlines for nearly 30 years, named by police as one of the UK’s “most wanted” in 2012. Evans – aka the ostrich man – swindled investors out of almost a million pounds in an ostrich farm fraud in south Wales before going on to run an international drugs and money laundering operation. He fled from justice and even prison for five years until finally being captured.

From one most wanted list to another, American conman Matt Cox came face to face with his own most wanted poster in a police station before making one of his many getaways. Cox evaded capture for almost a decade, committing bank fraud, identity theft and passport fraud, topping the FBI’s most wanted list in the early 2000s. Describing his time on the run as “awesome”, self-proclaimed narcissist Matt Cox provides a first-hand account of his story, giving a unique insight into the extraordinary lengths he went to in order to stay one step ahead of the FBI.

Cox said: “I became infamous by committing bank fraud, I stole identities and created synthetic identities in order to borrow money from dozens of US banks. Ultimately the FBI came to arrest me and I went on the run. What I decided to do was start a much larger scam, I convinced the social security administration in the US to start issuing me social security numbers to children who don’t exist. I would then order credit cards and build a false credit profile in those names. I think the amount ended up at $11.5 million.”

And we discover what led to a businessman, Mohammed Ali Ege, becoming an international fugitive following the mistaken identity murder of a teenager in Cardiff 15 years ago. In an exclusive new interview, the podcast speaks to the family of murdered Aamir Siddiqi, who are still waiting for Wales’ most wanted man to be brought to justice.

Across nine episodes, Making of a Fugitive hears from the people involved and asks what happens when a fugitive is finally cornered? Are they sorry for what they’ve done, or just for getting caught?

Series writer and producer for BBC Cymru Wales, Jayne Morgan, said: “We thought we knew these stories having worked on them over the years but this podcast gives new insights and reveals the extraordinary lengths some go to in order to stay hidden.”

Making of a Fugitive is a BBC Cymru Wales production for BBC Sounds. The first two episodes are available now, with the remaining seven episodes launching weekly: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0llhgkj