The Sun Comes Out For Manic Street Preachers At Portmeirion's Festival No 6

Manic Street Preachers brought this year's Festival No 6 to a highly anticipated and triumphant close: a true reward for all those who'd braced the lashing rain and blasting gales throughout Sunday's stormy weather.

Nicky Wire Has Spoken Of The Honour Of Playing At Portmeirion.

Portmeirion's festival weekend saw a mixed cornucopia of acts including Chic and Nile Rodgers, Daughter, My Bloody Valentine, Brythoniaid Welsh Male Voice Choir, John Cooper-Clarke and Johnny Marr perfor,m whilst The Staves, Islet and Sam Airey's shows had to be called off due to the torrential downpour and accompanying relentless wind that started at 7am and refused to let up.

Manic Street Preachers Did Not Disappoint At Festival No 6.

Well it partly let up: the dark skies and soaking weather dissipated leaving clear blue skies and the bracing wind for Manic Street Preachers' evening set. It was a momentous day for the Welsh trio: not only were they playing on their home turf under their country's dragon flag, but their latest acoustic album with Richard Hawley, Rewind The Film, was released.

It also marked a change of heart for the notoriously difficult band. They had given themselves a self-imposed exile from British festivals but made the decision to make an exception for such a special location. Bassist Nicky Wire said "Festival No.6 is the only thing that could break our self-enforced two-year British gig ban. To be able to play in Sir Clough Williams-Ellis's iconic village is something of a dream for us," via Digital Spy.

The Band Romped Through Their Hits, Delighting Fans Old And New.

The Welsh town of Portmeirion is an important location for the band because this year falls on the 15th anniversary of one of the Manics' greatest albums This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours: the cover of which was shot on the beach at Portmeirion.

The group kicked off with 'Motorcycle Emptiness' as the wind revved almost as loud as the guitars, moving through hits 'If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next,' 'Anthem For A Lost Cause,' 'Your Love Alone Is Not Enough' and ending upon a high note from the anthemic 'Design For Life.'

Back To Exile Now? Or More Festival Slots?

Though a fair number of guests couldn't hack the elements, fans old and new turned out for the exciting return of some of Wales' most famous sons, which was compensation for the brutal weather festivalgoers had had to endure. As The Independent so aptly phrase it, "fans young and old rocked out to a band that reached out to anyone who appreciated a band who cared."

Manic Street Preachers' Rewind The Film is out now.

The Portmeirion Festival Pulled The Manics Out Of Their Exile.