Welsh singer, actor, and former Steps member, Ian Watkins (affectionately known as “H”) has been forced to change the name of his small Welsh music festival following a complaint from Coachella Ltd, the company behind the world-famous Coachella festival in California.
Based in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, “Cowchella” has now been reinvented and shall take place under its new moniker – “Moo-La-La” Festival. H will be joined in hosting the event by Great British icons including Brookside’s Claire Sweeney and BBC Radio 2 host and former weather presenter, Owain Wyn Evans.
Commenting on the enforced rebrand, H described Coachella’s objection as “a massive compliment that they feel like our little festival is a little bit of a threat to their ginormous, juggernaut of a machine”. He also added, “We’ve spent a lot of money on marketing and flyers and posters and banners that are all visible around the town. So yes, those will have to go in the bin…”.
This is not the first time Coachella has objected to a local festival, with North Shields-based “Coastella” rebranding to “Coast Fest” in 2024 following pressure from the US festival’s parent company.
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