A grassroots festival that feels like home
Devauden Festival is a community-grown, grassroots celebration of music, creativity and togetherness, rooted in the countryside of Monmouthshire and powered by people who believe festivals can be a force for good.
What began as a small village event, organised around the village hall in Devauden by a handful of local residents, was built on a simple idea: bring people together through music and shared experience. In its earliest days, the festival was modest in scale but rich in spirit - familiar faces, borrowed equipment and a lot of goodwill.
The word spread and the number of attendees of the festival grew year on year. Shaped by feedback from attendees and a desire to improve what was on offer, the organisers added more music, new areas and new facilities and the festival went from six hours on a Saturday to three days. The Welsh Government recognised the festival as a growth event for Wales in 2023, and provided a grant to improve the experience for artists and attendees and market it to a wider audience. Today, Devauden Festival is a much-loved, family-friendly event that welcomes thousands each spring, while still holding onto the warmth, intimacy and sense of belonging that defined those early years.
Devauden Festival is proudly not-for-profit, organised to raise funds for the village hall in Devauden and a host of local community and charity groups, ensuring the festival's benefits continue long after the weekend ends.
Built by the community
At its heart, Devauden Festival is run by the community, for the community.
Behind the stages is a passionate network of volunteers, local groups, artists and organisers. From scout troops and sports clubs to musicians, sound engineers and stewards, hundreds of people donate their time and energy each year to bring the festival to life. Many receive no more than a wristband, a shared meal and a sense of pride and that’s exactly how they like it.
Our volunteers aren’t just helping hands, they’re co-creators. The festival’s character, warmth and famously friendly atmosphere come directly from the people who build it.
Music and meaning
While music sits at the centre of Devauden Festival, it’s only part of the story. Across the site you’ll find spoken word, children’s entertainment, wellness spaces, craft areas, folk traditions and unexpected moments. We champion Welsh and Wales-based artists while welcoming those from further afield, giving space to emerging talent alongside established acts and creating opportunities for performers of all ages and backgrounds.
The result is a festival that feels intimate, welcoming and joyfully eclectic – a place where community spirit shines as brightly as the headline acts.
Purpose beyond the weekend
Devauden Festival exists for more than one weekend a year. Any profit generated supports the charity that runs the village hall in Devauden and other local charitable and community groups, helping support the community long after the music stops.
We also work hard to keep the festival accessible – keeping ticket prices as low as possible, offering volunteering opportunities and ensuring the site is inclusive for families, disabled festival-goers and those who might otherwise be priced out of festival culture.
A commitment to sustainability
We believe festivals must take responsibility for their impact. Devauden Festival is committed to continual improvement in sustainability – from banning single-use plastics and prioritising reusable infrastructure, to comprehensive recycling, waste reduction and partnerships with public transport networks. We actively encourage greener travel, provide free water refill points, work with recycling teams throughout the site and leave our festival home exactly as we found it. Sustainability isn’t a slogan for us, it’s a shared responsibility woven into how the festival is planned, built and experienced.
Safety is paramount: as the festival has grown we have always looked at how we can keep it safe, and event and risk management are big topics that we take seriously and invest in. We’ve been recognised as the gold standard for event safety management in Monmouthshire by Monmouthshire County Council’s Event Safety Advisory Group.
This is Devauden Festival.
Grown together. Built with care. Powered by people.
Join the family
Devauden Festival is shaped by everyone who takes part – whether you’re dancing in front of the stage, volunteering a shift, running a workshop, or helping pack down on Monday morning.
If you believe in music, community and doing things differently, we’d love you to be part of the team. Find out more here.
