Anticipating The Lightning Seeds’ return to Cardiff after what feels like a lifetime, the Tramshed was filled to capacity with fans of the 80s rock band. Kicking off the night was a delightfully calming set from indie musician Badly Drawn Boy, creating a chill vibe throughout the entire venue. He was alone onstage but his gorgeous voice filled the room and was a great choice … Continue reading Review: The Lightning Seeds @ Tramshed 18/11/2022
Molly Openshaw On the 16th of November, Florence and the Machine kick-started their U.K. portion of the third leg of the Dance Fever tour at Cardiff International Arena. This is FlorenceÔÇÖs first tour back since the pandemic with their last tour being the High as Hope tour in 2018. Florence and the Machine released their fifth studio album, Dance Fever, in May 2022.┬á Despite the … Continue reading Review: Florence and the Machine @ CIA 16/11/22
Words and photos by Ashley Thieme The last time English alternative rock band Deaf Havana played in Cardiff was 2019, before live shows came to a standstill. However, this time around the previously four-piece band is now fronted by two brothers, James and Matthew Veck-Gilodi. In a statement put out by the band in November 2021 they revealed uncertainty surrounding the future of the band, … Continue reading Review: Deaf Havana @ Tramshed 08/11/2022
British rock giants Kasabian made an explosive return to Cardiff International Arena (formerly Motorpoint Arena), touring their new album The Alchemist’s Euphoria. Despite the awful weather that greeted us, we left the venue absolutely elated. Supporting Kasabian on this tour is The Lathums, a relatively young indie band hailing from Wigan; they were one of the best support acts I’ve ever seen. Their set was … Continue reading Review: Kasabian @ CIA 02/11/2022
Words and photos by Billy Edwards The audience at the Students’ Union waited with bated breath for The Feeling’s first appearance in Cardiff in some years. This was responded to very well on stage ÔÇô it began with a special harmony-laden fanfare of Fill My Little World rich with atmosphere. It sounded like an off cut from The Beach BoysÔÇÖ Smile Sessions, a piece of … Continue reading Review: The Feeling @ Cardiff Students’ Union 21/10/2022
18th October 2022 Joe Murphy puts a modern, relatable spin on a classic tale, and celebrates the magic of the Welsh Language in his adaptation of ShakespeareÔÇÖs A Midsummer NightÔÇÖs Dream. A story of mischief, trickery, and love triangles, ShakespeareÔÇÖs iconic play follows Hermia, Lysanna and Demetrius caught up in a love triangle, complicated further by the fairiesÔÇÖ playful love spellsÔǪ and a donkey! A … Continue reading Review: A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Sherman Theatre
Words and photos by Harry Taylor A chilly night in Cardiff is felt most bitterly when standing, waiting for the doors of the wonderfully intimate Clwb Ifor Bach to open. Descending upon these doors, equally eager and expectant, were fifteen to twenty people, displaying their identification with this music scene through various skull t-shirts, chains, hats, piercings and badges. I felt like the odd one … Continue reading Ocean Grove @ Clwb Ifor Bach 18/10/2022
18th October 2022 Words by Omo Ifabua Yesterday evening, I had the pleasure of seeing Stephen DaldryÔÇÖs An Inspector Calls at the New Theatre. Having studied JB PriestleyÔÇÖs original play at school 5 years ago and watching both film adaptations, I was definitely excited to see how this version would live up to my expectations. This was my first ever theatre trip in Cardiff and … Continue reading Review: An Inspector Calls at The New Theatre
2nd October 202 at Wales Millenium Centre IÔÇÖd had my eye on Migrations since its world premiere in June and so was excited to see it had been reprised for Welsh National OperaÔÇÖs autumn season. With a diverse cast and creative team, and powerful subject matter, it promised progression away from the stereotypical white stuffiness associated with the opera world. Migrations dramatises six different stories … Continue reading Review: Welsh National OperaÔÇÖs Migrations
Words and photos by Tabitha Murrell TW: Mental Health, Suicide Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls’ performance was as potent as it was political. Kicking into gear the consciousness of the onlookers, the band invited the audience to join the anarchy not for just one night, but indefinitely. The sound of Frank Turner is composed not only from heavy drums fused with head-banging melodies, but folksier … Continue reading Review: Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, Tramshed 12/10/22
25th September 2022 at Wales Millennium Center Words by Billy Edwards I was at first nervous about seeing La┬áBoheme┬ábecause of┬áitÔÇÖs very nature as an opera. As I had never seen one before,┬áyou could forgive me for feeling nervous about it. The public perception of the form signifies a certain stuffiness, held only in esteem by the oldest generations and ÔÇô daresay ÔÇôconsisting of long, boring … Continue reading Review: Welsh National OperaÔÇÖs La Boh├¿me
words by Eve Davies bigmoose is no average coffee company, their story goes deep, and their purpose is admirable. We were lucky to be invited down to the shop for some [great] coffee, [delicious] homemade food, and a chat about what bigmoose is all about. Situated in the centre of Cardiff just off Queen Street, bigmoose coffee co. is a thriving, non-profit coffee shop. They … Continue reading bigmoose coffee co.ÔÇô Review and Q&A
By Sophie Revell Act One has spoiled us this year with a wide variety of performances, and this May they returned to Pulse Nightclub for their take on Twisted the Musical, produced by Euan Prout and directed by Sian Howells. Twisted was created by the ÔÇÿfunÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿfantasticalÔÇÖ StarKid Productions, an American theatre company and brainpower behind a variety of comedies and parody musicals including … Continue reading Act One’s ‘Twisted’
Written by Rubie Barker After a year of open mics and playing venues around Cathays, King Cerulean brought their energy and talent to Y Plas in CardiffÔÇÖÔÇÖs Student Union this weekend, along with Hello Indigo and Cam Artigan and his band.┬á In their set, Hello Indigo spoke about how much this room meant to them, the memories made in Y Plas, and how much of … Continue reading King Cerulean and Friends @ Y Plas, Cardiff SU – Live Review (12/06/22)
Written by Rubie Barker There were clearly two separate crowds heading into Cardiff city centre on Saturday 28th May. While thousands were flocking towards the principality to see a certain ginger lad from Suffolk perform, another crowd were headed to the sold-out Sophia Gardens to welcome the return of My Chemical Romance, not just to Cardiff, but to the music scene. After announcing they were … Continue reading My Chemical Romance @ Sophia Gardens, Cardiff – Live Review (28/05/22)
Written by Billy Edwards Miles Kane was not afraid to be fine-tuned to his crimson-red guitar, his band and his audience in a stunning show inside CardiffÔÇÖs Tramshed. Acutely aware his audience were hungry to see and hear him live following a few postponements due to the pandemic, he put forward what must be his finest showmanship. The Tramshed was filled with mods, indie fans … Continue reading Miles Kane @ Tramshed Cardiff- Live Review (23/05/22)
Written by Lizzi Richards Kae Tempest is an artist, a poet, a playwright, a rapper, a storyteller. They wear many hats, and they wear them well. This was my third time seeing Kae Tempest, this time in CardiffÔÇÖs grand St DavidÔÇÖs Hall, and every time has been a unique and thrilling experience. This time was no exception. The decision to host this at a seated … Continue reading Kae Tempest @ St David’s Hall, Cardiff – Live Review (14/05/22)
Written by Rubie Barker Walking through Bristol city centre from Clifton, sun blazing, sunglasses on, parks buzzing, it felt like the perfect atmosphere for an indie gig. Luckily, that is just where I was heading. Ahead of the official tour for their new album Homesick in November, Sea Girls were in Bristol to play two gigs at the legendary Fleece. Arriving 15 minutes before they … Continue reading Sea Girls @ The Fleece, Bristol – Live Review (10/05/22)
Written and Images by Rhiannon Farr Celebrating the release of their fourth album Give Me The Future, Bastille made an explosive return to CardiffÔÇÖs Motorpoint Arena for the first time since 2016. Interestingly, the band made extensive use of a large screen onstage which absorbed us into the futuristic concepts of their new release, as well as using it to project lyrics and close-ups of … Continue reading Bastille @ Motorpoint Arena Cardiff- Live Review (13/04/22)
By Eve Davies Loosely based on a 1915 adventure novel by John Buchan, The 39 Steps is a 1935 British film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. This spring CardiffÔÇÖs leading drama society, Act One, brought the espionage thriller to the stage at Pulse nightclub. The show took place on 28th, 29th, and 30th April. Directed by Jasmine Mahesan and produced by Meg Shergold, the look sound, … Continue reading Act One: The 39 Steps Review
