Tiny Welsh Festival Forced to Ditch ‘Cowchella’ Name – Say Hello to Moo-La-La!
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Hold onto your flower crowns, because the tiny but mighty Cowchella festival in Cowbridge just got a major name change – thanks to the legal muscle of none other than Coachella itself. Yep, that Coachella. The festival that hosts Beyoncé, Billie Eilish and about a hundred thousand sunburnt festival-goers a day.
The small-scale event, now renamed Moo-La-La, was all set to bring tribute acts like Harry Styled UK and Got to be Taylor Swift to Bear Field this August. But then… BAM! Organisers received an official complaint from Coachella’s team (and let’s face it, their big shot lawyers) claiming the name was just too close for comfort.
Speaking to PA News, festival co-host and Steps legend Ian “H” Watkins called the situation “mind-blowing” and admitted he thought their social media had been “hacked” at first. “I’m taking it as a massive compliment,” he said with a grin. “If they think our little festival is a threat to their ginormous juggernaut, I’ll take that!”
Watkins made sure to point out that Moo-La-La and Coachella are as different as… well, an LA super-fest and a Welsh field bash. While Coachella books the biggest global acts on the planet, Moo-La-La is all about the UK’s top tribute bands and a family-friendly vibe. Plus, Coachella definitely doesn’t have Ian H, Claire Sweeney and Owain Wyn Evans hosting!
Still, the legal blow came with a sting: the Moo-La-La team now has to bin thousands of pounds’ worth of posters and banners. Watkins called the financial hit “a challenge,” especially for a festival that’s all about affordable fun for local families who might not make it to Cardiff or London for big concerts. Tickets to Moo-La-La start at just over £6, compared to Coachella’s eye-watering £440+ price tag.
Locals are fuming, too. One told GB News it’s “absolutely pathetic from Coachella,” labelling them “total killjoys.” Ouch.
This isn’t the first time Coachella’s legal eagles have swooped down on small festivals. A literary nonprofit in Minneapolis, Cow Tipping Press, faced a similar cease-and-desist drama when it tried using the “Cowchella” name. The big festival’s lawyers argued it caused “a likelihood of confusion” and risked “trademark infringement.”
Despite the name drama, Moo-La-La is still going ahead full steam. Organisers promise “the same incredible event, same line-up, just a fab new name!” And hey, with acts like Got to be Steps and Wickedly Hariana on the bill, it’s shaping up to be one udderly brilliant day out.
So spread the word: Cowbridge’s festival might have a new name, but the spirit’s as strong as ever. Bring on the music, the laughs, and all the family-friendly festival fun!
