**Wales Launches Its Biggest Ever Beach Festival: Tunes On the Bay Begins in Swansea**
Wales is witnessing the arrival of its largest ever beach festival as **Tunes On the Bay** officially launches on Swansea’s iconic seafront this May Day bank holiday weekend. The eagerly awaited three-day event, running from Friday, 2 May, until Sunday, 4 May, is drawing festival-goers and music lovers from across the country as it establishes a new chapter in Wales’ cultural calendar.
Showcasing an impressive roster of musical talent, the festival features pop, indie, and dance acts, with each day promising a unique musical theme. The event welcomes headline performances from renowned bands and artists such as **McFly**, **Supergrass**, and DJ **Sosa**. The festival’s format ensures a dynamic offering: Friday and Saturday are set to focus on pop and indie, while Sunday closes the proceedings with an emphasis on dance music.
**Tommy Job**, the founder and director of Tunes Festivals, is the driving force behind this ambitious project. Speaking about the festival’s journey, he explained that the concept began in 2015 with the first “Tunes in the Dunes” event on Cornwall’s Perranporth Beach. “We chose Swansea as a location as it is a vibrant and exciting city, which did not yet have a large festival for the city to get behind,” Job shared. He further explained that the team made the deliberate decision to postpone the original 2024 plans, allowing extra time to curate what they believe will be the best possible experience for the people of Swansea and Wales.
Preparations along Swansea’s celebrated beachfront have been in full swing, with organisers keen to deliver a safe and memorable event. Festival infrastructure, staging, and facilities have been put in place to accommodate thousands of visitors over the weekend. The local council and festival management have introduced road closures and traffic plans to ensure smooth operations and minimal disruption for residents and attendees alike. Notably, Mumbles Road will be closed nightly between Brynmill Lane and Guildhall Road South at the end of each day’s festivities, roughly from 10:45pm to 11:30pm.
Traffic congestion is always a consideration with festivals of this scale. Motorists have been advised to anticipate delays, particularly along key access routes such as the **M4**, where typical westbound slowdowns have been reported at junctions including J43 (Llandarcy) and J41 (Baglan). Closer to the city, road users should be aware of expected queueing at hotspots like the Victoria Road roundabout in Gowerton and around central Swansea’s main arteries, including Gower Road and Oystermouth Road.
Friday’s main stage is set to be a highlight, kicking off with **The Cuban Brothers** at 5pm and building up to a headline slot from **McFly** between 9:30pm and 11:00pm. Other highly anticipated acts for the evening include **Scouting For Girls** and the celebratory **Symphonic Ibiza Beach Orchestra**, ensuring a vibrant start to the bank holiday weekend.
Organisers hope Tunes On the Bay will not only position Swansea as a must-visit music destination but also boost the local economy by attracting significant visitor numbers. Hotels, restaurants, and businesses in the area are preparing for an influx of attendees, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of hosting an event of this magnitude.
Fans unable to attend in person need not miss out entirely. Up-to-the-minute coverage, traffic updates, and behind-the-scenes glimpses are being shared through digital channels and community apps. This engagement ensures locals and those unable to make the journey stay informed and connected to the buzz on the beach.
The debut of Tunes On the Bay signals Swansea’s growing reputation as a vibrant, culture-forward city capable of hosting major live events. Whether or not sunny skies prevail, the festival promises to deliver memorable moments for all involved, marking a new era for music and entertainment in Wales.
As the weekend unfolds, all eyes will be on Swansea’s golden sands, with many hopeful that this landmark festival will become an annual highlight, embedding itself in the cultural fabric of Wales for years to come.