Passing Comment – ‘Lazarus’ Cadstock will be the best yet!
By Sue Vincent Jones - columnist

CRIKEY, just when you thought all hope was lost, our cool Cadstock rises like Lazaraus from the dead – and is back on for one of the biggest weekends of the Barry calendar.
What a difference a couple of weeks, and a very generous timely ten grand from Barry Town Council, can make. Massive credit to our lovely, little, local BTC for stepping in so swiftly to save the day, while the Vale Council just carried on counting the coffers.
Its official. Cadstock 2023, our free, fully inclusive, for all, music festival will now grace the valiant Victoria Park on Saturday, 22nd July and Sunday, 23rd July.
Truth be told, when the announcement was made, I reckon you could hear the collective sigh of relief from the Cwm Ciddy to Cadoxton.
For those not in the know, the event was cancelled due to the cash cuts to the Vale Council community events budget. And our favourite festival has was hit hard by the local authority’s decision not to help fund the ever-popular two-day weekender in the east end of town.
This threw the event into disarray leaving the purely voluntary organising committee with a couple of thousand fund-raising cash, the promise of a small sponsorship, and a little grant from a local supermarket.
There was absolutely no way to keep Cadstock free, fully inclusive, and for all, leaving them with no option but to cancel the iconic event. For the record, and the swirls of rumours on social media, the Vale Council pulled the cash this year, leaving no time to make the difference up.
Our clever committee, who are purely voluntary, then tried absolutely everything to keep Cadstock Alive – if there was a way to keep the cash coming in, we tried it.
All was lost… then Barry Town Council stepped in. Cadstock, which has trebled in size since it began 14 years ago, continues.
I am really looking forward to this year’s, which I reckon will be bigger and better than ever.
We thought we’d peaked when 2019’s decade celebration was one of the biggest and best events the town has ever seen, and when it came back with a bang last year following the long, lingering, lonely Lockdown.
But you ain’t seen nothing yet! Dust off your Barrybados bucket hats, stockpile the Home Bargains sun cream, and keep that Cadstock Tee crisp.
Come on community. It’s going to be a goodie!
- The views expressed by columnists of this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Glamorgan Star, its employees or its proprietors
Read next:
- Let’s build something better for our communities
- Plaid Cymru is ignoring plight of Heath Hospital
- Vale Show highlights importance of the rural economy
- I’m proud that all parties agreed on children in care plan
- Royal Welsh highlights the role of the rural economy
- My personal journey will drive my work in the Senedd
- The Vale: At the Heart of Britain’s AI Revolution
- The bees are clustering to survive the northern winds
⭐ All of our social media in one handy place – here

Pencoed tangled up by ‘Seaweeds’
Primary school’s former deputy head is banned from teaching
I make no apologies for calling Plaid Cymru ‘separatists’
‘The importance of participation and continued learning’
Opposition leaders clash with First Minister over independence rally
How Kevin saved a stranger’s life









