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)

2018 was an explosive year in terms of career for Ariana Grande. Not only did she prove herself as an amazing vocalist multiple times, she also created iconic songs, clips and aesthetics and became a source of memes more times than one can count. It only seemed natural, then, that 2019 would follow the same tone with the Sweetener Tour. When I saw she was … Continue reading Live Review: Ariana Grande Sweetener Tour, O2 Arena, 15/10/19

Merry summer to all you culture vultures! I hope you are filling your days with art, music and theatre (as well as sun, sand and sea) and I greet you with great tidings! This weekend, Quench will be covering Victorious Festival in Portsmouth! The Festival has an outstanding line up full of all your indie favourites, from The Zutons to The Vaccines and we cannot … Continue reading Quench Covers Victorious Festival

By Martina Merenda It was a lovely Saturday night at Ocean Arts. The crowd quietly chatted while waiting for the concert to start, and I couldn’t help but admire the tiny room that will serve as the venue for the night. Everything was so nice and cosy, and the intimacy of the place made me feel at home. Before we knew it, the first opening … Continue reading Live Review: Benedict Benjamin at Ocean Arts Centre, 04/05/19

By Polly Denny Benjamin Francis Leftwich has been a staple in the UK indie scene for the last decade after his first album, ÔÇ£Last Smoke Before the SnowstormÔÇØ, reached #35 in the UK charts upon its release in 2011. Since then, in his characteristic measured approach, he has had two more albums; ÔÇ£After the RainÔÇØ in 2016, and now most recently ÔÇ£GratitudeÔÇØ earlier this year. … Continue reading Live Review: Benjamin Francis Leftwich at The Globe, 08/04/19

By Alys Hewitt Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn ÔÇô AKA Sleaford Mods ÔÇô have over the last few years gained great credibility as an act through their pairing of beat-driven musical minimalism with cynical, tongue-in-cheek social commentary. Their live show at Y Plas is a reminder of their formidable presence as a duo, as they explore material both from past albums and their latest release … Continue reading Live Review: Sleaford Mods, Y Plas, 05/04/19

By Max Modell Barns Courtney is a rock star in the purest sense. He swaggered on stage in a velvet suit, with an open black shirt, before beginning to strut across the stage in a manner reminiscent of Mick Jagger. Like all the greatest rock stars, Barns is undeniably sexy in the way he owns the room with such ease. In an age of indie … Continue reading Live Review: Barns Courtney in Support of The Hunna, Tramshed, 01/04/19

By Max Modell I think everyone involved with the Cardiff music scene has heard stories of the legendary The Killers gig at Clwb Ifor Bach on 22nd November 2003. That night the indie rock legends gave fans a taste of future classics such as ÔÇÿJenny Was a Friend of MineÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿSomebody Told MeÔÇÖ, and of course ÔÇÿMr BrightsideÔÇÖ, prior to the release of their debut … Continue reading Live Review: Sea Girls at Clwb Ifor Bach, 06/03/19