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Taking place in Portmeirion the inaugural Festival Number 6 (14-16 September) promises to be a little bit different. Not only does it boast the likes of Spiritualized, Richard Hawley, Primal Scream and New Order on the bill, it's the only festival on the globe that claim to be taking place where they filmed Patrick McGoohan's cult classic 60s TV series The Prisoner - hence the event's name (it was the number given to the eponymous Prisoner in the series). To get the lowdown on this new festival we spoke to its boss, or should we say its Number 1, Gareth Cooper. Plus download The Q Festival App for the latest festival news, line-ups and more.

How are the preparations for this year's festival currently going?
"All going well and to plan currently but don't want to speak too soon. The event is a tricky one to build and produce and even program. No one has ever done a festival here before so its difficult to imagine how we would want it when we first sat down to plan it out. Its important that we bring out the character and the architecture of PM in our entertainment which I think that we have done. We have used nearly every part of it from the Stone Boat to the castle gardens and the Piazza area. We have a really eclectic line-up of spoken word to music to film showings. We think that we have got something to keep people entertained during the day then liven things up at night. It's going to be interesting to see how it all comes together and I'm sure that we will learn a lot in this first year."

What acts on the bill are you most proud of booking this year?
The Brythoniad Male Voice Choir to be honest. They are from Blanieu next door village and award winning 60 person male voice choir. The average age must be around 70 years old but we got them to learn Blue Monday record it and then we filmed them singing it in the village. We released the video and it got 50,000 views online and the day after it played out the closing titles of Newsnight! So they are playing everyday but its something that makes the festival stand out and we are pleased that we managed to do it by using some welsh heritage!"

Who else are you looking forward to this year?
"It has to be New Order to be honest - hopefully they will let the choir sing blue Monday as part of their encore."

Have you managed to 'sneak' any personal favourites on to the bill (that's got to be a perk right?) if so who?
"Quite pleased that we have Carl Barat coming along. He will introduce his film and do a question and answer session. Very honoured that Guy Garvey has agreed to come along and do something similar. The Chemical Brothers film Don't Think introduced by Adam Smith will be special for me too. The woodland raves will be good too. It was an idea to allow five different musical collectives to build their own area in the woods where you can walk around during the later afternoon and come across one of the pop up raves. That will be a bit different I'm sure!"

Can you recommend us one non-musical thing from this year's event? Guy Garvey in the Piazza will be cool I'm sure. The fire garden should be spectacular and the sand sculptures that we have on site will be absolutely massive so that should be something that's special too. Plus there's champagne bars, oyster bars and banquets. Hopefully we have covered all the important points."

What's the latest travel advice for this year's event?
"Remember that it's a park and ride for the punters which isn't as bad as it sounds. The coaches will take you right to the door of the camping areas which is a lot nicer than having to walk through fields carrying all your camping kit

What one act who you haven't booked yet are you still desperate to have on?
"Personally I would love Tom Jones and we were hoping that Jools Holland would make an appearance as he's a fan of The Prisoner but not this year. We do have an idea who will be playing next year which if it comes off would be spectacular for the festival but I cannot say who that is yet."

What made you think the village where The Prisoner was set would be idea for a music festival?
"It's probably not ideal but its amazing, its stunning, it's like a magical fairy tale land that doesn't exist in real life. Something needed to be done here and hopeful we will pull that off. There is no other place like this in Britain so if this festival goes to plan then it will be an experience to remember."

How many Prisoner blazers with white piping do you expect to be worn over the weekend?
"I was thinking about this this morning funnily enough. We don't want the festival to become a convention to the Prisoner but we also don't want to avoid it. We are preparing some props ourselves throughout the site that pay homage to the programme. I do believe that New Order have been speaking to some costumer people so watch out for that space..."

For more and the latest ticket information head to Festivalnumber6.com. Plus download The Q Festival App for the latest festival news, line-ups and more.

10:31 AM | 06/09/2012