WHILE royalists across the nation will be celebrating the royal wedding day, musicians in Bangor will be holding 'royal bedding day' gigs to help the homeless.
Curiad Bangor Pulse is a festival of music, spoken word, comedy and performing arts, being held in various venues in Bangor between May 16-20.
This year, the annual festival is incorporating two 'Royal Bedding Day' gigs, on May 19, to focus on the plight of the homeless.
The move comes as part of a national action by the Musicians Against Homelessness who have called for a day of fund-raising events to coincide with the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday, May 19.
The campaigners - who have raised thousands for homeless charities in the UK - have launched the Royal Bedding Day , events after the leader of Windsor and Maidenhead council demanded police clear the area of homeless people ahead of the wedding.
Conservative councillor Simon Dudley sparked controversy when he wrote to Thames Valley police asking them to clamp down on “aggressive begging and intimidation” and “bags and detritus” accumulated in the streets.
The two Curiad Bangor Pulse Royal Bedding Day gigs will be held in Rascals Bar and the Skerries Inn.
Rascals will host a reggae and DJ night featuring TUF Kingdom, a North Wales reggae fusion band, together with a DJ set from LumberTracks, aka George Faire (UKnow Fairestival).
There will also be an afternoon, evening and full night of live bands and solo artists playing at the Skerries Inn. All the performers are playing for free.
The Curiad Bangor Pulse festival venues this year are The Tap & Spile, Skerries Inn, Rascals Bar and the Belle Vue.
Alan McGee, patron of MAH, said: “Prince Harry is a compassionate man, I am sure he would be appalled by this callous approach to the homeless.
“They are human beings not so much rubbish to be swept out of sight.”
The former Oasis guru and Creation Records boss asked the music community and general public to come together and put on gigs across the country on the Royal Wedding day.
He said “We can raise money and awareness for the poorest in society whilst some celebrate the pomp and glory of the aristocracy.
“Many of those on the streets are ex-military. They have served their country, now we must serve them." More than 1000 bands and artists have played almost 250 fundraising gigs and festivals. Prominent MAH supporters include Shaun Ryder, Russell Brand, Irvine Welsh and Liam Gallagher.
Founder Emma Rule said: “MAH have decided to stage this day of action in response to Simon Dudley’s uncaring view of the homeless.”
All of the festival event detail can be found on the main Facebook event page - https://www.facebook.com/events/127493351434942/.
Rascals Bar Royal Bedding event - https://www.facebook.com/events/996903150460391/
Skerries Inn Royal Bedding event - https://www.facebook.com/events/1061491754013917/
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