Music becomes a more important feature of the Hay Festival every year.  Last year the organisers unveiled a new music venue near the town centre at the Castle ground and about a mile away from the main in Dairy Meadows just outside the town.  The festival has seen several major music acts perform over the year including Bob Geldof, Laura Marling and PJ Harvey.   Noah and the Whale fronted by Marling’s erstwhile squeeze Charlie Fink, will be at the Hay Festival this year, performing on the opening night of May 23rd.

The appearance forms part of their UK tour which will follow the release of a new album, Heart of Nowhere, on May 6th.  The album is the band’s fourth record and follows 2011’s platinum-selling Last Night On Earth.  The band’s full line up is Charlie Fink on vocals and guitar, Tom Hobden on violin,  Urby Whale on bass, Fred Abbott on guitar and Michael Petulla on drums.