The This Ain't Texas Country Festival, held on June 27 at the United Counties Showground in Carmarthen, has been heavily criticised by attendees who described it as 'disorganised chaos' and demanded refunds. The event, promoted as a 'full-on Americana country and western experience', left many families walking out early, complaining about long queues, expensive food and drink, and disappointing entertainment.
Attendees voice disappointment
Tyrone Davies, who attended with his family, told Wales Online: 'Man, I feel like a refund,' referencing a Shania Twain tribute act. He added: 'What was to be the finale of our holidays before returning to work was an absolute car crash.' Davies reported queuing for an hour for a £7 beer, with ice cream and Coke priced at £5 each. He said his sister 'can never remember leaving a gig midway', and he described the event as 'a true omnishambles'. Davies also noted that dogs were initially banned but later seen inside the venue.
Another attendee, Meisha Evans, shared a similar experience. She said: 'I attended with my husband and our three children after seeing it advertised as a family-friendly western-themed festival... Unfortunately, the event fell far short of what was advertised.' Evans cited minimal children's activities, absent attractions like axe throwing, and line dancing limited to two songs. She also raised health and safety concerns, including her son burning himself on a food van with no warning signs, and open urinal facilities visible to children.
Social media backlash
A Facebook group called 'This Ain't Texas Complaints' was created within hours of the festival, attracting dozens of furious reviews. One user posted: 'Not sure there was any actual country music and the speakers sounded blown. £7 for a can of warm beer and an hour-long queue... Where is the Tex-Mex food? We've got friggin fish and chips, curry, burger, and £15 for a Greek wrap!'
Davies paid £48.97 for three tickets and urged the organisers to issue refunds. He called the event 'Wales's very own version of the Glasgow Willy Wonka Experience', referring to a 2024 Willy Wonka-themed event in Scotland that sparked outrage.
Organisers respond
The festival organisers issued a statement on Facebook, apologising for shortcomings. They said: 'We've received some constructive feedback... Where we fell short, we sincerely apologise. Your experience matters to us, and we're committed to making things right.' They attributed some issues to 'overwhelming demand' splitting performers across two locations and severe weather destroying half of the bar setups less than 12 hours before the event. They pledged to learn from the feedback and improve future events.
