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This has to happen again. Yes, it rained, but this was one of the best festivals I've ever been to. Merthyr Rock 2011, well, rocked.

Merthyr Rock site

I'm not going to review it - there are other places to go for that - but suffice to say this was the best collection of Welsh acts that has ever been put together. I went on the Sunday and The Blackout, Funeral For A Friend, Skindred, Attack! Attack!, Future Of The Left, The Guns, Revoker, Exit_International, Save Your Breath, The Dead Beggars Club and Crossbreaker were all great. Skindred really showed the younguns how it's done, while Crossbreaker blew me away with their old-school hardcore.

One of the highlights were the wonderful sleaze rock of Jettblack, while FOTL were, as ever, top notch. Exit_International's Scott Andrews lost a tooth and The Blackout rose to the occasion as hometown heroes.

This was something special, and that it happened in Merthyr Tydfil surely shows that there is a demand and a market for well-run rock/indie festivals in this perennially under-served area.

We'd love to hear what you thought of it, and you can comment below, but in the meantime, check out these links:

• The Blackout gallery
• Funeral For A Friend gallery
• Skindred gallery
• Future Of The Left gallery
• Young Guns gallery
• Other acts gallery
• Scenes of Merthyr Rock

You can also Listen to Jen Long's highlights of the weekend on her Radio 1 show.

And for more reviews and whatnot, here are some great resources:

• 's Sunday review

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