Local talent to open this year's Countdown to Christmas show
The first live acts for Newport Now BID’s Countdown to Christmas spectacular have been revealed today.
Running from 2pm to 5.30pm on Saturday, November 14, 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 spectacular laser lights show.
The main support acts for the event have been announced today, with the headline stars – three different performers with more than 25 million worldwide record sales between them – to be revealed next Friday (November 6).
Three rising stars of Welsh music will be taking to the Newport City Radio-hosted main stage at the junction of Charles Street and Commercial Street to kick off the show – Ernie Emmanuel, Emma Mac and Cally Rhodes.
Ernie Emmanuel is an award-winning Welsh singer-songwriter from Chepstow whose original tracks include To The Sea, Boulders and Better Place. He has performed across the UK, including at Tramshed in Cardiff. He will be joined on stage by Craig Nyamunda on bass and backing vocals.
Emma Mac is a Newport-based vocalist with more than 10 years' experience on the South Wales circuit. Her huge repertoire runs from throwback R&B and UK Garage classics to Clubland anthems and today's chart hits.
Cally Rhodes creates melodic, relatable pop music that has been streamed more than 200 million times worldwide. Her songs have been played on BBC Radio 1 and 2, with continuous A-list playlist support from BBC Radio Wales, and her latest single Dead To Me featured in Love Island UK. Handpicked by BBC Introducing to support Olly Murs, she has also played main stages at In It Together Festival and Pride Cymru.
Newport City Radio has been championing local artists on air and in the community for 18 years.
Music throughout the day and between the acts will be provided by DJ JD Deamz and Shane, while the stage will be hosted by Stephen and Luke from Newport City Radio's Indie Show.
Emma Mac, Amber, Rosie, Angela and Lamsie from the station's Breakfast Shakeup will also be on stage throughout the afternoon in anticipation of the lights switch-on.
Newport City Radio managing director Ian Lamsdale said: “Local music is at the heart of what we do. Countdown to Christmas gives us the chance to celebrate another great year of the best homegrown talent and showcases some of the great acts that we have close to us. We're proud to be part of it.”
Organised and delivered by the Newport Now Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Newport City Council and Newport City Radio, Countdown to Christmas will mirror the BID’s hugely-successful previous annual events staged over the last 11 years.
There will be fairground rides, costume characters and face painters, and the event will culminate with the Christmas lights switch-on followed by a laser light show in John Frost Square.
Free parking for two hours in all council-owned car parks in the city centre will also be available on the day, and every day throughout November and December.
The headline musical acts will be announced next Friday, and they will also be helping the city’s mayor Councillor Deb Harvey push the button to light up the city centre for the festive season.
Comments