Dance fans ecstatic about new music festival

DANCE music is heading back to Swansea’s Singleton Park later this month after a four-year break.

Seven stages, 5,000 tickets, 12 hours of music and unique post-event parties set for city centre venues are all part of the plan for the first ‘Xstatic’ in the Park festival on July 25.

Four years after the last Escape into the Park, a team which includes the people who launched and initially ran that event are back with a sound and style tailored to a new dance festival scene targeted at a smaller, exclusive audience of die-hard dance fans.

The event at Singleton Park finishes at 11pm but then moves to city centre venues for a round of after show parties.

Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration, said Escape into the Park was a memorable event which attracted thousands of dance fans from South Wales and further afield over the years.

He said: “The Xstatic in the Park festival is part of a new generation of smaller events born out of the new UK dance scene and now that new brand is coming to Swansea for the first time. The team behind it are experienced event organisers and count local talent among their number.

“It should be a great event with some top quality DJs providing entertainment on seven different stages.”

He added: “As a council we’ll be working closely with event organisers to ensure everybody will be able to enjoy themselves in a safe environment, with both food and drinks readily available from our approved food vendors and bars.”

Organisers say the festival aims to unite dance fans from across Wales and attract a crowd of revellers that is run by a team dance lovers, for an audience of dance lovers.

When the festival ends there will be a series of after show parties in venues in the City centre, with big name guest DJs and well-respected residents.

Spokesman for the organisers Danny Slade said: “Swansea and Singleton Park have always enjoyed legendary status among dance fans thanks to Escape into the Park. They were brilliant, well-organised events that I started which attracted thousands of people to the city every time.

“The Xstatic in the Park festival will be smaller but we hope have the same great buzz which will go on to create a great new reputation for the dance scene in Swansea.”

Have a look at www.xstaticinthepark.co.uk or www.facebook.com/xstaticinthepark to find out more about Xstatic in the Park and buy tickets.