THE biggest wakeboarding festival in Europe is being held next month in Abersoch. But it’s also a huge music event extending over three days. Wakestock 2007 was a wash-out thanks to the weather, but everyone’s hoping for a big comeback on July 4-6. As well as high-speed watersports action at Pwllheli and Abersoch, there will be three music stages at Abersoch. Local girl Duffy will be performing, as well as The Streets, Happy Mondays, Groove Armada, Mark Ronson, Funeral for a Friend, The Hoosiers and loads more bands and DJs. Radio 1’s leading lady Jo Whiley will be making the trip to sunny Wales to host the main stage as well as taking over the decks in the second tent. Great new young band Elliott Minor will also be playing. They have been described as one of the most exciting bands of 2008. Also confirmed are Londoners the Mystery Jets. Mark Durston, the 35-year-old who also runs a second Wakestock event at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, said: “The Wakestock line-up is amazing, so much bigger than previous years. “Duffy has got roots in Nefyn, and she lived in Abersoch for a while too. “ She’s going to have a local crowd so it’s a bonus for them.” Mark said attracting wakeboarding competitors is easier than bands, with riders due from Australia, the USA, South Africa and the UK. “I loved the sport and wanted to do something that combined it with music,” he said. “Wakeboarding is really good, but can be very painful if you get it wrong.” Wakestock has grown enormously since the first show in 2000 when around 800 people partied in Caernarfonshire Yacht Club’s car park. “There’s been a lot of work on both the site, infrastructure and appointment of the contractors we work with to ensure the festival is run at the highest level this year. We’re really looking forward to it, when all this work will all show through.” Tickets are selling well and if previous years’ sales are anything to go by they are set to sell out. So make sure you don’t miss out, get yours by calling 01758 710000 or online at www.wakestock.co.uk | 
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