Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant has given his backing to the UK Town of Culture bid from a Welsh town—but it is not in the Midlands. The West Bromwich native has instead returned to the Welsh hills where the band's iconic track 'Stairway to Heaven' was first conceived to throw his weight behind Machynlleth's bid to be named UK Town of Culture.
A Special Place in Music History
The rock legends developed some of their most popular work when band members stayed at his family's 18th-century cottage in Eryri National Park. Bron-yr-Aur, in the Dyfi Valley, south Gwynedd, was said to be the place that 'changed Led Zeppelin forever.' Offering a temporary refuge, the cottage's isolation and idyllic surroundings saw the group explore a softer, more acoustic approach to their music. It was there in 1970 that Plant and Jimmy Page created the band's third album and the music for its most famous track. In recent years, both have returned to the area to reminisce about its special qualities. The ancient Powys town of Machynlleth lies just a couple of miles from Bron-yr-Aur.
Why Plant Supports the Bid
A spokesperson for the bid team explained why Plant was happy to support Machynlleth's bid to climb its own 'stairway to heaven': 'Plant and Page often stayed off-grid in the hills surrounding Machynlleth where they drew inspiration for their music. In recent years Plant has been an active member of the Owain Glyndŵr Society, championing the significance the last true Prince of Wales had in aligning the rival factions of north and south Wales in the 15th century.'
Machynlleth, the ancient capital of Wales, is perhaps most widely recognised as the location of Owain Glyndwr's parliament. It plays host to the UK's foremost Comedy Festival and the highly regarded Machynlleth Festival of Welsh arts.
The Competition and Potential Benefits
Over 20 towns are vying for the inaugural UK Town of Culture title, with a shortlist of four expected to be revealed imminently. No Welsh town or city has ever been bestowed a culture accolade by the UK Government, with Wrexham currently officially in the running to become the UK City of Culture in 2029. Should Machynlleth be successful, it would receive a bid development grant of £60,000 to develop a full application. Remarkably, a quarter of the town's population has been involved in its Town of Culture bid.
The victorious town will be tasked with delivering a year-long programme of cultural events that highlight their distinctive identity and encourage community involvement. The winning town is anticipated to draw visitors from across the UK and further afield.
