THREE days of music is set to grace the stage at an up-and-coming Pontypool music venue as part of a fundraising festival.

Ffli Stock 2016, hosted by the Dragonffli, will raise money for Newport’s Ieuan the Lion memorial fund with £2 suggested entry fees.

In its second year, the event supported blind and deaf Pontypool teenager Shauna Griffiths in 2015, raising around £600, and venue owner Nick Byrne is keen to promote local charitable causes.

Venue owner Nick Byrne said: “It is important to support local initiatives and schemes on a local level, as well as the national charities too.

“I like to see how much of an effect the donations we raise has had on the local area, which is particularly difficult in the current period when many organisations are struggling with cuts to funding.”

Mr Byrne, 35, of Pontypool, twins his full-time job with running the music venue in Pontypool, which he acquired in 2013, on Friday and Saturday nights as well as bank holidays.

This year’s festival, which takes place from Friday, April 29 to Sunday, May 1, features bands from the Gwent area as well as further afield, including one group from Los Angeles – The Vim Dicta.

In addition to the music, which will feature an eclectic mix of rock, alternative and acoustic music, Ffli Stock will include an auction of signed memorabilia, which included pieces from Elton John and the Manic Street Preachers.

For the venue owner however, the importance of attracting bands from far and wide remains secondary to support the charitable causes.

“Whatever we raise, we raise. For me, whether we raise £50 or £500, the money is going to a great cause,” said Mr Byrne.

“Take the Coed Eva Primary School fundraiser we held, we may have raised £260, which may seem small, but it’s important to support the local community.

“It’s not about how much you raise – it is about the principle and point of what you are trying to accomplish,” he added.

Ffli Stock 2016 starts at 4pm on Friday, April 29 with the show starting at 4.30pm, followed by performances on the two following days.

Ieuan the Lion memorial fund supports families caring for terminally ill children.

Entry into the three day musical event costs a donation of £2 and for more information on the Dragonffli, search ‘The Dragonffli’ on Facebook.