Words and Header Image by Billy Edwards Dream WifeÔÇÖs performance in Clwb Ifor Bach was electric; they zipped around like lazer beams, as bright as the jagged neon sign of their logo behind them. In little over an hour on a blustery Monday evening, the trio tore through the highlights of their two records ÔÇô 2018ÔÇÖs Dream Wife and So When You GonnaÔǪ, which followed … Continue reading Dream Wife @ Clwb Ifor Bach – Live Review (28/03/22)
Written by Rubie Barker It has been two years since Jake Bugg last performed in the Great Hall at Cardiff Students Union, back in March of 2020. A concert which for me marked the end of life as I knew it. While much has changed in that time, being back in the very same room, with some of the same people, waiting for the 28-year-old … Continue reading Jake Bugg @ The Great Hall, Cardiff Student Union – Live Review (31/03/22)
Words by Maddie Balcombe. ÔÇ£WhatÔÇÖs good on a Tuesday, Cardiff?ÔÇØ was the question that Yard ActÔÇÖs frontman James Smith posed to an energetic audience as he first took to the stage in CardiffÔÇÖs iconic Clwb Ifor Bach. The answer seemed obviousÔǪ ÔÇ£Yard Act!ÔÇØ shouted the audience, almost in unison. This answer was not only obvious, but it was also extremely true. Both Yard Act, and … Continue reading Yard Act @ Clwb Ifor Bach
by Maddie Balcombe In the run-up to International WomenÔÇÖs Day, I had the pleasure of attending Act OneÔÇÖs fourth Variety Night showcase, set in the grand hall of Cardiff UniversityÔÇÖs music department. The show was a moving and empowering event, with the purpose of celebrating women in theatre. Complete with poetry recitals, full-out musical numbers, and comedic quips from hosts Ciara Whelan and Joe Lloyd-Perks, … Continue reading Act One Variety Night Review
Words by Sophie Revell and Jasmine Jones (@jasminee_mae and @sophiethejourno) For Echo & The Bunnymen, their comeback tour has been a long time coming- even more so for their strong cult fanbase who have followed them for decades. Since their last Cardiff gig at the old student union in 2014, Echo & The Bunnymen have released 2 studio albums and performed countless highly anticipated festivals, … Continue reading Echo & The Bunnymen @ St Davids Hall – Live Review (05/02/22)
Words and Images by Rubie Barker For Sam Fender, his band and fans in the room, this concert had been a long time coming. He was initially meant to perform in Cardiff in March 2020 but like so many other artists had to reschedule this show several times. Tickets had been sold out for months and resale tickets disappeared within minutes. Since he last performed … Continue reading Sam Fender @ Motorpoint Arena- Live Review (25/11/21)
by Laura Hughes ItÔÇÖs Panto season (oh, yes it is!), and what better way to spend your evening than in the magical land of Oz? The curtain went up on Act OneÔÇÖs production of The Yellow Brick Road in early December, set in the dazzlingly-appropriate downstairs area of the Pulse nightclub. Audience members are told upon arrival that this pantomime is aimed exclusively at adult … Continue reading Act One Panto Review
Words and Images by Billy Edwards Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark showed little nerves in their first show in Cardiff in twelve years, commanding an eager audience of devoted fans through a breathless flurry of pioneering eighties synth-pop. The showÔÇÖs dramatic opening event matched the weather outside with a chillingly-steely video of clanging shipyards and metalworks to the tune of Architecture and Morality, the title … Continue reading OMD @ Motorpoint Arena- Live Review (10/11/21)
Words and Images by Francesca Ionescu Stepping through the door of Clwb Ifor Bach, the light suddenly disappears and is replaced by a dark pink hue and pink neon accents reminding you of who youÔÇÖre about to see. The crowd is young and chatty, itÔÇÖs full of pink hair, pink shirts, fishnets, and an amazing t-shirt that asks the age-old question: ÔÇÿWhy canÔÇÖt I be … Continue reading Girli @ Clwb Ifor Bach- Live Review (8/11/21)
Words and Image by Craig Strachan A frosty evening on Womanby street brings in a subdued crowd made quiet by the cold. Holly Humberstone soon expelled such frigidity, the natural warmth of her vocals seemingly bringing this room back to life. The 21-year-old is embarking on her first headline tour, originally scheduled for pre-Covid but (as with everything) was postponed. If anything that has played … Continue reading Holly Humberstone @ Clwb Ifor Bach- Live Review (4/11/21)
Words by Rowan Davies I just wanted to give a pleasant reminder that we did once used to be saner than we are nowÔÇÖ; Paloma Faith addresses her crowd as she takes to the stage for her Cardiff gig, a delightful conclusion to a gloomy Monday in October and a refreshing way to start the week. When we were offered the opportunity to attend Paloma … Continue reading Paloma Faith @ Motorpoint Arena Cardiff- Live Review (18/10/21)
Words by Will Jones The August bank holiday marked the return of PortsmouthÔÇÖs Victorious Festival ÔÇô the UKÔÇÖs largest metropolitan festival. More importantly, for myself at least, it marked my return to weekend music events, something that I was unreservedly excited for. Victorious prides itself on sculpting a music experience that remains central to the community that hosts it. In an attempt to reflect the … Continue reading Victorious Festival 2021- Concert Review
Words and Images by Rubie Barker It has been a whole 18 months since I last attended a gig, at this very same venue and I couldnÔÇÖt be more excited that this was my first concert back. Unsurprisingly to some, I am running late but as I run up the stairs I can hear the roar of the crowd as McKenna takes to the stage. … Continue reading Declan McKenna @ The Great Hall, Cardiff Student Union – Live review (10/09/21)
Words by Maja MeteraImage courtesy of Getty Images People miss clubbing, traveling, wearing bright lipstick and not having to worry that itÔÇÖll smudge because of the mask ÔÇô I miss concerts more than anything in the world. ThereÔÇÖs a whole ritual of going to a concert if you are a hardcore fan. ÔÇ£The thing I miss about playinÔÇÖ shows is the individuality of every nightÔÇØ … Continue reading Live Review: Yungblud’s Virtual Tour
Words by Alex PayneImage courtesy of Green Ribbon Arts Festival If thereÔÇÖs two things that are certain in these very uncertain times, itÔÇÖs that both music and mental health have suffered this year. One leading charity, Mind, estimates that almost half of young people have experienced loneliness this year, but thatÔÇÖs almost belabouring a point thatÔÇÖs painfully obvious to most of us. Mind and Avant … Continue reading Virtual Event Review: Hip-hop for Better Mental Health, 29/10/20
By Kirby Evans The first half of his show was stripped back to the acoustics, with just Frank, his guitar, and dark, moody lighting. Opening with the folk-punk ÔÇÿJinny BinghamÔÇÖs GhostÔÇÖ, Frank Turner has set the somewhat underwhelming, monotone scene. His latest album revolves not around stories from his own life, but those from influential women in history. With lyrics and meaning aside, the setlist … Continue reading Live Review: Frank Turner – St. David’s Hall (24/11/19)
By Maja Metera When you enter the Clwb Ifor Bach, forget about the reality of the XXI century. You get magically transported to an alternate reality as the dimmed lights and big reddish carpet in the place of the stage create the atmosphere of Nirvana’s music video. It was my pleasure to experience a bit of this magic when I visited this place on occasion … Continue reading Live Review: Larkins – Clwb Ifor Bach (20/11/19)
By Bethan Willis Whenever I think of Willie J Healey I am transported back to my first year of university, when I would listen to his debut album, ÔÇÿPeople And Their DogsÔÇÖ, on repeat whilst walking down Colum road to my dreary university halls. Two years pass and I find myself watching him at the dream like place which is Green Man Festival and I … Continue reading Live Review: Willie J Healey – Clwb Ifor Bach (14/11/19)
By Polly Denny BearÔÇÖs Den have been on the rise in the UK indie scene since the release of their first album ÔÇÿIslandsÔÇÖ in 2014. Since then they have gathered something of a cult following and brought out two more albums, ÔÇÿRed Earth and Pouring RainÔÇÖ in 2016, and most recently ÔÇÿSo That You Might Hear MeÔÇÖ earlier this year. It is this new material … Continue reading Live Review: Bear’s Den – Tramshed (05/11/19)
By Ella Clucas With tickets selling out in just a matter of minutes, Loyle CarnerÔÇÖs latest tour for his second album Not Waving, But Drowning has been highly anticipated since it went on sale in the summer of this year. Having signed up for presale, as all dedicated fans do when tickets fly that fast, I was over the moon when I managed to cop … Continue reading Live Review: Loyle Carner – Y Plas (05/11/19)
