We review Cardiff’s premier music festival, DimSwn…
Seazoo – Clwb Ifor Bach
On entering the downstairs of Clwb Ifor Bach, you could be mistaken for thinking that youÔÇÖd been transported into eighties era Top Of The Pops. ItÔÇÖs a fact that Seazoo point out as they finish up their sound check. Bathed in atmospheric blue and green lights that befit the bandÔÇÖs aquatic name, an eager audience await what for some is probably their first band of the day.┬á This introductory gig does not disappoint. With cutesy songs that discuss everything from digging up the ground to animal hotels, Seazoo have all bases covered. An amalgamation of sounds and lyrical ideas combine to create a singular vision that is like nothing else in our DimS┼Án schedule. – IT
LUVV ÔÇô Undertone
Hitting a dark, crowded gig at three in the afternoon is something of a novelty. What isnÔÇÖt is hearing a bloody good guitar band take to the (basement) stage of Undertone. Luvv offer up slick post-punk thatÔÇÖs as moody as youÔÇÖd expect from a band with an elusive internet presence. Stating that ÔÇÿpeople are pigsÔÇÖ on their social media bios may not be the most inviting sentiment, yet their standoffish persona only makes us love them more. Like an object of affection, the more the band play like the amassed crowd arenÔÇÖt even in the room, the more they captivate us. Call us well and truly under their ÔÇÿnoir punkÔÇÖ spell. – IT
Glass Giants ÔÇô The Moon Club
Cardiff boys Glass Giants win over The Moon Club crowd in the first few bars of their set. Boasting an addictive pop-rock sound thatÔÇÖs seen them get airtime on Kerrang radio, they are about to set out on a UK wide tour. Their DimS┼Án date is the first time the band have played together in a while, but you wouldnÔÇÖt know it; Glass Giants are on top live-form. After a successful set at the Chapter Arts Institute last year, the fun tracks from recent EP ÔÇÿCocktails & BikinisÔÇÖ go down a storm. With Kids In Glass Houses calling it quits, we think that perhaps it is time for the Welsh-pop-rock kings of old to hand their title over. – IT
Prides ÔÇô The Moon Club
At the end of a very long day, weÔÇÖre exhausted and donÔÇÖt have the energy for anything too noisy. Fortunately for us, PridesÔÇÖ are headlining The Moon Club and their synth-pop sound provides the perfect remedy for our weary limbs and aching ears. Upbeat and uplifting, thereÔÇÖs not a gloomy face in the room. The Scottish trio appear equally pleased at their splendid reception. Even a cover of Katy PerryÔÇÖs ÔÇÿRoarÔÇÖ goes down well with the cool kids in the crowd. ThatÔÇÖs the thing about S┼Án festival. Tribes disintegrate and come together to enjoy fantastic live music, regardless of genre. It may have been downsized to a one-day event this year, but the reaction to Prides instils in us plenty of faith for the festivalÔÇÖs future. – IT
Kid Wave ÔÇô Undertone
Kid Wave are the best band of the day. DonÔÇÖt contest us. Creeping to the front of the crowd in Undertone, we have a front row view as the four-piece proceed to take our breath away. While their shoe gaze-pop sounds dreamy on record, in a live setting the band have more rock-and-roll credentials than anything else weÔÇÖve seen throughout today. They nearly take each other out with their instruments as they thrash about the tiny stage, yet perform with the effortless breeze of seasoned professionals. Seeing that they only started life as a band back in 2013, it appears that some people are just born with talent beyond their years. WeÔÇÖre very jealous. ┬á- IT
Telegram ÔÇô Clwb Ifor Bach
The cavernous upper room of Clwb Ifor Bach is packed from wall to wall and Quench Music just manage to slide in to the tiny slither of space left at the back of the room. Telegram are illuminated onstage, a beacon of musical hope in the distance. Their psych-rock tunes have earned them famous fans like Johnny Marr, so it is hardly surprising that the band get one of the best turn-outs of the day. Their expansive shoe-gaze transports us from cold, grey reality, and for fervent indie fans their flawless set is probably the highlight of the day. – IT
The Amazing Snakeheads – Clwb Ifor Bach┬á
They came, they made a bit of noise, they fucked off again. Glasgow punk nÔÇÖ roll band The Amazing Snakeheads would doubtless thrive on a more ÔÇÿintimateÔÇÖ venue and a crowd made of sterner stuff than what was offered by Welsh Club (both found in Fuel, across the street), but were met with a packed room of tired festival-goers eager to watch an act whose name they recognised. Rollicking single ÔÇÿHere It Comes AgainÔÇÖ canÔÇÖt fail to get a pit started, but the remainder of their debut album Amphetamine Ballads (really) falls on virgin ears, who had no issue with leaving these shirtless men to it while they got a drink. – JD
Happyness – Clwb Ifor Bach
Label Rough Trade have described HappynessÔÇÖ debut album Weird Little Birthday as ÔÇÿjangle-gazeÔÇÖ.┬á The term might make you grimace at first, but itÔÇÖs really pretty accurate. The trioÔÇÖs Americana-tinged shoegaze is appropriately murmured and fuzzy, but they supplement it with a lot of humour; as they sing on ÔÇÿBaby, Jesus (Jelly Boy)ÔÇÖ, ÔÇ£IÔÇÖm the motherfucking birthday boy / DonÔÇÖt steal my thunder, Baby JesusÔÇØ. They draw on the releases of a productive year, and bow out with the dreamy sway of ÔÇÿMontreal Rock Band SomewhereÔÇÖ, the closer to their self-titled debut EP.┬á IÔÇÖm still not sure where Rough Trade pulled ÔÇÿjangleÔÇÖ from, though perhaps they didnÔÇÖt want to label it ÔÇÿhappy gazeÔÇÖ. – JD
WomanÔÇÖs Hour ÔÇô Buffalo Bar
Night has fallen and the festival draws to an untimely close, the memories of 2013ÔÇÖs four-day spectacular resonating through Buffalo Bar as WomanÔÇÖs Hour take to the stage. ItÔÇÖs a reticent end to the day; the crowd are hushed and from the dingy outside streets, any evidence of a festival is banished, the delicacy of debut ÔÇÿConversationsÔÇÖ filling precisely the space required of it and nothing more. A meditative mood sweeps the room, each track passing with a little more melancholy than the last as the set glides towards its conclusion, a fittingly wistful end to this years festivities. – CM