AN "OASIS of blue skies" welcomed fans of Welsh rock band The Alarm who battled polar vortex's and more for The Gathering.

The band's annual event at Venue Cymru has been hailed by Mike and Jules Peters of the band as "the best ever."

Now in it's 27th year, the event opened on Friday, February 1 and was opened by former guitarist of The Alarm Dave Sharp for three days of appearances by Mike, Jules, Smiley and James Stevenson

Speaking to The Journal, Jules said: "From the moment the first chord was struck I could tell - it just felt as though magic was in the air on the Friday night.

"You could feel the crowd bubbling with love and positivity, I think because so many of them put so much effort in with the weather to get to there.

"Our main roadie Adam Paet managed to get in from Alabama - even though it was having it's first snow in years.

"But for us, Llandudno was the oasis of blue skies on the Sunday and calm weather - definitely our best ever 'Gathering."

While their roadie from closer to home, Mark Warden of mid-Wales wasn't as lucky, Mike and Jules were joined by the landlords of their 'local' - The Blue Lion, in Dyserth - Carol and Mike Pritchard, who donated £1,400 toward Mike's Love Hope Strength Foundation raised throughout 2018.

Also representing North Wales at sell-out event from Friday, February 1, were Mike and Jules' son's Dylan and Evan, who busked for the charity and serenaded fans, while also taking to the same stage as their parents, special guests Then Jericho and more with their friend Carwyn Williams in three-piece Third Generation.

Jules added: "Even though it's probably Mike and I that should be at home right now flat out, they worked their socks off."

No content to take a breather after the three day event - plus pre-show party - Mike will head to Buckingham Palace with Jules to be presented with his MBE on February 21, and have a series of soon to be revealed events scheduled for Snowdonia in the summer.