Addison Rae is a figure that a lot of us naïvely did not expect to see blowing up in 2025. Going from being most notable for her TikTok’s dancing to popular songs, to becoming an up-and-coming pop sensation and new ‘it girl’, she’s showing the world who she is as an artist. To be clear, this is not a rebrand – rather a reveal of … Continue reading Addison Rae: Tik-Tok to Pop Sensation
Fresh off a sold-out 47-date UK & Irish tour in 2023 and a standout performance at Download Festival 2024, frontman brendan b. brown reflects on a career that has spanned 25 years. “It feels truly strange & wonderful,” he says. “We never took this career for granted, thinking it could end any day. Now, the feelings of gratitude are overwhelming.” Jenny Algieri caught up with … Continue reading Wheatus at 25: In Conversation with brendan b. brown
The last time I spoke with Big Special, it was the summer of 2022, when we played a small gig together in Birmingham. Since then they have skyrocketed, releasing their debut album Post Industrial Hometown Blues (2024) and its Deluxe edition (2025), as well as touring the world, not only headlining and supporting, but also playing big festivals like Glastonbury. On the back of their latest Deluxe album, and in the … Continue reading Black Country Boys Take The Big Stage: In Conversation With Big Special.
Before taking over The Globe in Cardiff with their blue-sky sound, Jenny Algieri sat down with Oli Fox and Scott Verrill of Good Neighbours to talk about how a casual project turned into their breakout moment- and why they’re just getting started. Both Oli and Scott spoke of their love of music from an early age, having written and released music during their teenage years. … Continue reading On The Rise: In Conversation With Good Neighbours
When considering our history, we can consider music as both a reflection and a catalyst. A response to the human experience: our emotional highs and lows, our technological advancement, social injustices, and more. While times and tastes may change, the lifeblood of music remains remarkably traceable. As such, today’s music is layered with the hits of past decades. A revival representing everything, from collective nostalgia … Continue reading Resonant Frequencies: How Music Echoes Through Time
Southampton’s rising star, Caity Baser, is introducing the world to her upcoming debut album on her Watch That Girl (She’s Gonna Sing It) Tour, where she unveils a more intimate side of her sound. Throughout the night, she delivers stripped-back previews of her unreleased music, guided solely by piano and acoustic simplicity. Having only recently discovered her music – and never having seen Baser live before – … Continue reading Caity Baser Live in Cardiff: Exclusive First Listen to New Album
In my eyes, there’s nothing better than live music. The real-time, in-person connections shared between performers and audiences are something truly sacred and special. At their best, gigs and concerts can foster a sense of belonging, help you make friends for life, and bring you to tears for all the right reasons. The highs are certainly high, but with rising prices and poor crowd etiquette, … Continue reading The Highs And Lows Of Live Music
The paradox of musical freedom and industry constraints has permeated various artists’ ability to perform authentic material. Chappell Roan, a queer popstar whose drag-inspired artistry propelled her popularity from an underground performer to stardom, was awarded Best New Artist at the Grammys this year. In her speech, she addressed how the music industry profits off artists’ work who don’t even earn a liveable wage. She … Continue reading Chained to the Rhythm
Are you still dancing to Joy Division after all these years? We certainly are- and so were the crowd at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena on March 21st for Indie legends The Wombats. As the doors opened and the fans bustled their way to the barricade, it became clear just how broad the band’s appeal was- drawing people of all ages and pulling in both first timers and returning … Continue reading The Wombats: Live From Cardiff
Cardiff has slowly paved its way to being a top-billing location on the tour posters of some of the world’s biggest artists. Long gone are the days of reminding your favourite band that Wales exists, or urging your favourite singer to add a show at the CIA to their already limited UK tour (consisting of three London dates and maybe Manchester if you’re lucky). Somehow, over the last few years, our capital has made a name for … Continue reading Can Cardiff Handle Big Concerts?
From bedroom sessions to global sell-out tours, Beabadoobee released her third studio album This Is How Tomorrow Moves in August 2024 which preceded her Autumn U.K tour that I was lucky enough to attend in November 2024. Transitioning over the years from bedroom pop to a more alternative rock genre, ‘This Is How Tomorrow Moves’ is bursting with catchy guitar riffs, whimsical melodies and introspective … Continue reading This Is How Tomorrow Moves: Beabadoobee Concert Review
From battling the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic to recently achieving career milestones like a Bronze Brit Breakthrough award, The K’s are certainly ones to watch. Jenny Algieri sits down with Ryan Breslin to talk about the band’s journey, their recent accomplishments, and what lies ahead for The K’s. The K’s have recently celebrated a major achievement- a Bronze Brit Breakthrough award. Ryan spoke of … Continue reading In Conversation With The K’s
Sheffield-based singer-songwriter Lucy Knight is an up-and-coming performer, making a name with her emotionally driven music. Her latest release, ‘Seasons’, showcases her growth as both an artist and a storyteller. Lucy offers a unique perspective on both the personal and creative process. In this feature, we explore her writing process, the making of ‘Seasons’, and her creative path, which has allowed her to collaborate with … Continue reading The Making of Seasons: In conversation with Lucy Knight
‘We just wanted to tell people – we feel this, and people don’t really talk about it. We wanted this to be played to our past selves’ Ahead of the release of their debut EP ‘I Need More Time’ in November 2024, I had the opportunity to speak with Manchester’s indie-pop duo, Alex and Reuben of Remote, diving into the meaning behind their debut EP … Continue reading In Conversation with Manchester’s Indie-Pop Duo ‘Remote’
CLWB IFOR BACH. January 25th 2025. I stood in a dimly lit room, surrounded by the community of Cardiff’s underground music scene. The crowd, large and diverse for the setting, included not just alternative students and young adults, but also parents, loved ones and friends of the performers. All eyes focused on the band performing on stage, who were illuminated by a neon glow of … Continue reading The Cheeky Habibis: Tuning into Cardiff’s Music Scene
The Wombats have carved out their place in indie music history, building a reputation for infectious energy and introspective lyricism. Now, as they gear up for the release of their sixth studio album, Oh! The Ocean, Quench’s Jenny Algieri sits down with drummer Dan Haggis to talk about music, nostalgia and the ever-evolving nature of their craft. Oh! The Ocean is an album of reinvention, … Continue reading The Wombats: Two Decades of Indie, Tour Life and Sonic Photographs
Hailing from the Valleys, five-man rock band Turning Montana are injecting a fresh, youthful edge to Welsh sound in 2025. Quench talks to frontman Sam Jones about Nirvana, Cardiff’s music scene, and their new single ‘Names in the Night’. The interview transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity. Julia: Congratulations! You’ve just released a new single ‘Names In The Night’. Could you tell us … Continue reading Interview with Turning Montana Band
Never forget where you’re coming from! The Welsh certainly don’t. Take That returned to Swansea once again in 2024, where they had one of their first Welsh concerts all those years ago. Take That’s return to Swansea wasn’t just another stop on their tour- it was a powerful nod to the places that shaped their rise to stardom. Back in the ’90s, cities like Swansea … Continue reading Looking back: Our Favourite Concerts of 2024 in Wales
Brat by Charli XCX There are pop culture moments that shape each year, and it would be hard to sum up 2024’s legacy without one word: Brat. Charli XCX’s monumentally successful sixth studio album defined some of the most iconic social media trends, club nights, and memories of the past year. Von Dutch and 360 are an instant confidence boost and were the first singles … Continue reading 2024 Wrapped: The Best Albums of 2024
In conversation with Peter Hook, on the pleasures of performing, divided fans, gloomy 1970’s Manchester and ‘cocktail’ bass playing. Amidst Peter Hook and the Light’s 2024 ‘Substance’ tour, I was able to catch up with Peter Hook, squeezing into his jam-packed schedule. With Hook’s musical career spanning over forty years, established by the formation of Joy Division in 1976, Peter is no stranger to the … Continue reading Peter Hook: ‘How to handle it was to rebel. Which is what I did, I rebelled’.
