Obvious when you think about it - here's a gloriously pretty township nestling on the estuary of the River Taf in Carmarthenshire, home to many artists and writers - and where Dylan Thomas spent the last four years of his life. It's widely thought that he based his fictional town of Llareggub from "Under Milk Wood" on Laugharne and its locals, and if you've ever heard Roger McGough's hilarious re-imagining of how this mighty work came to be written, it's clear old Dylan just hung around the pub, jotting down conversations verbatim.

Perfect for a literary festival, wouldn't you say? And that's just what Richard Thomas, John Williams and their dedicated support team have created. Small but perfectly formed, the Laugharne Weekend manages to entice some stellar names from the metropolis, but yet hasn't reached the point where it's big and corporate and there are ten things you want to see simultaneously. The atmosphere is glorious - totally laid back, and yet it all seems to work. But then, this is the Latitude Festival's little sister, and these guys really know what they're doing.

The 2008 weekend - apart from the weather - was wonderful, and beautifulsounds have put together a FREE "best of" compilation from the events that took place in the Millennium Hall. From author Dan Rhodes's shambolic "career retrospective" (featuring a guest appearance from no-show DBC Pierre on voicemail), to the frankness of Lionel Shriver, discussing her latest novel "The Post-Birthday World", to the acerbic Eeyore himself, Will Self, reading from his recent publication "Butt"; from Willy Vlautin's tapestry of music and reading to the remarkable illustrated lecture from Howard "Mr Nice" Marks - there's a pretty representative cross-section of what you could have heard if you'd come to the Weekend yourself. Or if you were there, it's a handy souvenir!

NB - best not to let those of a sensitive disposition hear Dan Rhodes or Will Self - there's "adult content" and sweary bits.