'Bond' girls help launch Llangollen Eisteddfod

Girl band Bond helped launch the count-down to the 2010 Llangollen Eisteddfod by releasing thousands of balloons above the town's international pavilion.

The four-piece string ensemble, who put rock into classical music with their electric violins, viola and cello, joined eisteddfod volunteers and youngsters from Dinas Bran school to send the balloons skyward.

And, as they headed across the hills towards Shropshire, chief executive of the eisteddfod, Mervyn Cousins, revealed that the finders of the 100 golden balloons among them would receive tickets to one of the festivals' top concerts.

Bond will play at the event, which will run from July 6 to 11, on the Thursday evening. They will also be taking part in workshops during the day — International Children's Day.

One of the four musicians, Eos Chater, from Cardiff, said she grew up taking part in eisteddfods and was looking forward to being at Llangollen.

"To think that people come from 50 countries to compete here is amazing," she said.

Australian Tania Davies said the history of the eisteddfod was fascinating. She said: "It is very impressive that Pavarotti came here with his father's choir to perform and then returned as a superstar."

The quartet has promised a high energy concert for Llangollen, including two new tracks from their album.

"We write a lot of pieces ourselves and our music really is a fusion of everything from classical to rock and world music," cellist, Gay-Yee Westerhof said.

Other stars appearing at the eisteddfod will include the musician who first put rock into the violin, Nigel Kennedy, Katherine Jenkins and Only Men Aloud.

During the eisteddfod the day-time competitions will feature choirs, folk dancers and musicians from across the globe. It starts after a colourful parade through the town's streets on the Tuesday afternoon.