THE BLACKOUT Merthyr Tydfil’s The Blackout are one of the fastest rising new bands on the British (live review & photos) rock scene. The hotly tipped sextet have exploded out of the UK to circuit to find themselves sharing bill’s with the likes of Lostprophets, Funeral For A Friend, The Used and Gallows.

Nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2006 Kerrang Awards, the Valleys outfit have landed themselves a deal on the unfeasibly cool Fierce Panda label, where they released their debut album ‘We Are the Dynamite’ in late 2007.

That album became the Fierce Panda’s fastest ever selling release, which for a label that has released records by Coldplay, Keane and Ash is no mean feat. The band has just returned from a tour of American and Europe and are considered by the likes of Kerrang Magazine to be one of the hottest acts around. Currently on a European Tour with Linkin Park , Pontys Big Weekend welcomes these local heroes to the Muni Arts Centre on Saturday 19th July.