JESSIE J FOR FRIDAY AT PONTY'S BIG WEEKEND

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and its partners have secured the phenomenal Jessie J as the headline act for Ponty’s Big Weekend Friday event .

The confirmation of Jessie, probably the hottest name in UK music at the moment, thanks to her smash pop hits and winning performance on The Voice alongside Ponty’s own Sir Tom Jones, has added another sensational evening of music to the flagship event, which is fast securing Pontypridd and Rhondda Cynon Taf a place on the national music festival scene.

Jessie will headline on the Friday, setting the scene for a poptastic evening with cheeky Essex chappie Olly Murs on the Saturday and an awesome afternoon of family entertainment with world-renowned tenor Alfie Boe on the Sunday.

For the first year, Ponty’s Big Weekend, which has already attracted top names such as JLS, The Wanted, Sugababes and Paul Potts, is running over three evenings.

Friday night with Jessie J and Saturday night with Olly Murs and Cover Drive will attract tens of thousands of music fans from across the UK to the beautiful Ynysangharad War Memorial Park for a paid-for event, before it winds down with a relaxed, free, family event on the Sunday.

Securing the major stars is a real coup for Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and its music promoter partner Orchard, with a weekend programme that would be the envy of any festival across the country, and at accessible prices.

Christian Hanagan, Head of Strategy, PR and Tourism at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, said: “Jessie J is one of the hottest acts around right now and we are so pleased and excited to be welcoming her to Ponty’s Big Weekend and the home town of her fellow The Voice judge, the legendary Sir Tom Jones.

“She will take to the stage in beautiful Ynysangharad War Memorial Park for what is the first-ever Friday night concert as part of Ponty’s Big Weekend, yet further proof we are delivering on our commitment to ensure the event is one of the premier music festivals in Wales and the rest of the UK.

“As well as putting on a great show for our residents and visitors, including a FREE afternoon in the company of the one and only Alfie Boe, Ponty’s Big Weekend will also further showcase all that Rhondda Cynon Taf has on offer and boost the local economy.”

Orchard director Pablo Janczur said: “We’ve been discussing the possibility of adding Friday night to the bill in Ponty, and when Jessie became available we jumped for it because she’s probably the hottest ticket in the UK at the moment. Ponty’s Big Weekend just got even bigger!”

Ponty’s Big Weekend is sponsored by Costain, construction partners in the multi‐million‐pound regeneration of Pontypridd to create a vibrant, modern destination.

Brian Greaves, Community Relations Manager for Costain, said: “We are really pleased to be supporting what will be a very special weekend in Pontypridd. We are working with the council on the regeneration of Pontypridd and Jessie J headlining the Friday concert is a coup for the town and will certainly put it on the map.”

Jessie J – “the J stands for ‘whatever you want it to” – is a hugely popular singer / songwriter described by Justin Timberlake as “the best singer in the world right now”, who has performed on some already classic hits and written for the likes of Chris Brown and Miley Cyrus.

She went to Number 2 in the UK Singles Charts with her debut  Do It Like a Dude, and went to Number 1 across the world with Price Tag, with further success from follow up singles from her debut album  Who You Are - Nobody's Perfect, Who's Laughing Now, and Who You Are.

Domino went to Number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was her second Number 1 in the UK. Jessie is now a coach and mentor, along with her pal Sir Tom Jones, on BBC1’s The Voice.

Jessie won the 2011 Critics' Choice BRIT Award and the BBC's Sound of 2011, and has sold over 11 million singles and 2.5 million records worldwide.

Jessie J said: “Being on stage is my home. Even if it's 20 minutes I'll take control of it because that is my time. It's when I come to life. It's just me, my heels and my mic.”

Find out more about the flagship event at www.pontysbigweekend.co.uk. Tickets are on sale from 8am on May 10 through www.orchardentertainment.co.uk or by calling 08000147111.