Running from 2pm to 5.30pm on Saturday 16 November, Countdown to Christmas will feature live music, fairground rides and celebrity guests, culminating in the official switching on of Newport’s city centre Christmas lights and a breathtaking fireworks display.
The main support acts for the event have been announced today, with the headline star – a chart-topper with four number one singles and sales of more than three million in the UK – along with the special guest switching on the lights to be revealed on Friday.
Four rising stars of Welsh music will be taking to the main stage at the junction of Charles Street and Commercial Street.
Newport’s Ryan Keyse and the Nightshift will be kicking off the live music. Ryan is an established solo artist and well known on the local music scene. His new band also features guitarist Alex Ainsworth from The Rogues, who played at last year’s event.
Singer-songwriter, drummer and multi-instrumentalist Caitlin Lavagna will also be playing a set on the Newport City Radio-hosted stage. BBC Wales A-lister Caitlin is also a musical theatre star who has appeared in theatres across the UK. Her single Gold was released earlier this year.
Singer and guitarist Callum Richards will be our third rising star on stage. As well as being a solo artist, Cardiff-based Callum plays in the band The Dragonflies. He is recently back from playing his music on a cruise ship.
There will also be stage appearances by the cast of Dick Whittington, this year’s pantomime at Newport’s Riverfront Theatre, and performers from the city’s youth arts charity Urban Circle.
The main support act will be rising dance music star Alimish. A graduate of the prestigious Brit School, her music has already been played on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio Wales A-List, BBC Introducing, KISS FM, Capital Dance, and Love Island.
Her powerful live performances have recently seen her supporting Becky Hill at Cardiff Utilita Arena and Example at the Roundhouse London.
From South Wales, BBC Wales A-lister Alimish’s debut solo single Oooh La La is out now.
Organised and delivered by the Newport Now Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Newport City Council, Friars Walk and Newport City Radio, Countdown to Christmas will mirror the BID’s hugely-successful previous annual events. This year’s event is funded by the UK Government via the Shared Prosperity Fund.
Last year’s Countdown to Christmas attracted almost 9,000 additional people into the city centre compared with an average Saturday.
There will be fairground rides along High Street and the riverfront, and the event will culminate with the Christmas lights switch-on at 5.15pm followed by the fireworks display at 5.30pm.
The day also marks the start of free parking on Saturdays in council-owned car parks in the city centre, which runs until December 31.
The headline musical act will be announced on Friday (8 November), as will the special guest who will be helping the city’s mayor Councillor Ray Mogford push the button to light up the city centre for the festive season.
