Kaptin BarrettTributes have been paid to an “irreplaceable” festival co-founder who died of an aggressive cancer, days after he got married.
Stu Housley, 49, became unwell in May and was diagnosed with angiosarcoma in early July.
His health deteriorated rapidly, but he was still able to attend the Big Love festival he founded in Usk, Monmouthshire, and also marry his partner Jo in an intimate ceremony pulled together in five days.
He died days later, on 28 July.
Stu, who also put on events in Cardiff, spent nearly 10 years building up the four day festival, from a small weekend gathering to a celebration of music.
Festival organisers said he never paid himself a penny for his work, adding he was “motivated by his love of music, bringing people together and putting on a damn good party”.
Kaptin BarrettSpeaking of the couple’s wedding day, Kaptin Barrett, a friend and DJ, said: “We had no idea that it would be the last time many of us would see him.
“It was such a beautiful day among the sadness.
“It was such a bright and colourful affair as he wanted it, and the people leading the ceremony couldn’t believe that it was all pulled together in just five days.”
He described Stu, originally from Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, as one of his “best friends in the world”.
“We started putting on parties back in the mid 2000s and through many adventures forged a great friendship,” he added.
Stu loved the technical challenges of hosting a festival, Kaptin said, and could “turn his hand to almost anything”, whether it was sound systems, lighting, plumbing, power or mechanics.
“Whatever the problem, he could always come up with a solution,” Kaptin added.
Kaptin BarrettBig Love festival took place between 17 and 20 July 2025, hosting more than 130 live acts and DJs, circus performances, creative workshops, comedy and art installations.
Described as being a festival “all about the people” Kaptin said Stu worked incredibly hard to bring “fun and connection into people’s lives”.
“He was seen as someone who was always genuine and trustworthy, which can be refreshing in the industry sometimes,” Kaptin said.
“Stu really cared about everything he put his hand and name to.
“He loved his family and friends and would do anything for them”.
He added Stu had a “terrible taste” in films, but joked “nobody is perfect”.
Kaptin BarrettFestival organisers had gone through “many trials and tribulations” to make the festival happen each year, according to Kaptin.
Founded in 2016, the festival started in Baskerville Hall, Hay-On-Wye, Powys, and receives no sponsorship, with all profits ploughed back in to the event “to keep it as affordable as possible”.
Covid-19 brought many difficulties for many independent festivals, and Kaptin said Stu was often advised to call it a day as costs kept rising.
But he said Stu knew it was special to people and “wouldn’t ever have let it go easily”.
In a release posted on the festival’s website, Stu was described as being “truly irreplaceable” and the core of the festival.
It said while it is hard to contemplate continuing the festival without him, Stu and his wife wanted the festival to continue and flourish.
“He always said that the 10th year had to be a big deal and it certainly will be,” said Kaptin.
Tickets have since been released for Big Love 2026, which plans to pay tribute to Stu on its anniversary.
While organisers are still figuring out how to honour Stu, Kaptin said they intend to “do him proud”.
“Stu’s spirit runs through the fabric of every little inch of Big Love so it will be hard to pay tribute in any other way than making the whole thing even more incredible than it already is,” he said.
“It’s already testament to him that people say it’s the friendliest festival they’ve ever been to.”
An official memorial event for Stu will take place at Sully Sports & Social Club on 22 August from 2pm.
