By Eva Zhang The band logo is pretty cool (black TF in the yellow background), it reminds me of the racing car. Is this why you chose this logo? Stephen (Bass player): Yeah, thatÔÇÖs true. Yeah, like the logo, We wanted something thatÔÇÖs because you know If the logo is like quite simple, which is like The TF, and as our music is so diverse, … Continue reading Interview: The Faim
By Max Modell Every time I go to a gig downstairs at Clwb Ifor Bach, I am always overcome by a feeling that I wish more people were in attendance. It is a small room; however, it never seems to be full, despite always proving great music. Sean McGowan was no exception to this rule, with him and his band providing the energy needed to … Continue reading Live Review: Sean McGowan at Clwb Ifor Bach, 14/02/19
by Rowan Lees James Blake has returned with his fourth full length album in eight years, adding to the success of the previous with fresh musical ideas, solid songwriting and a welcome spark of joy. The release of the tracklist intrigued, with record breaking, rap producing powerhouse – Metro Boomin listed on two songs along with Travis Scott, Moses Sumney, and the elusive Andre 3000. … Continue reading Album Review: Assume Form by James Blake
By Max Modell Frank Turner has been a prominent feature in the soundtrack of my life for years. Scoring heartaches, holidays and some of my happiest memories. Yet, until last Saturday I hadnÔÇÖt been blessed with the opportunity to see him perform with his band, The Sleeping Souls. I saw him perform an acoustic solo performance at Victorious Festival 2017, which while incredible felt like … Continue reading Live Review: Frank Turner at Motorpoint Arena, 02/02/19
By┬áMartina Merenda With their almost-all sold out UK tour, The Vaccines make their explosive comeback to Cardiff University’s own Students’ Union. The sold-out concert took place in the Great Hall, and words cannot fully explain what I had the honour to witness on the evening of the 1st February. The expression “times flies by when you’re having fun” was undoubtedly coined after a gig, because … Continue reading Live Review: The Vaccines, Hatchie and Jesse Jo Stark at The Great Hall, 01/02/19
By Max Modell When I spoke to Beans on Toast last month, he promised at his Clwb Ifor Bach he would be coming out bright eyed and bushy tailed, and he wasnÔÇÖt wrong. The energy levels of him and his band were off the chart and it was very clear they were all good mates, sharing a laugh between songs and flashing look during many … Continue reading Live Reviews: Beans on Toast at Clwb Ifor Bach, 31/01/19, ÔÇ£It is rare for a gig to have such a positive impactÔÇØ
By Eva Zhang Set up in high school, Australian rock bandÔÇöThe Faim came from Perth Australia, ambitious to win the global audiences. The band name means ÔÇ£the hungerÔÇØ in French. The boys confess their desire in this name. They are inspired by bands such as Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco and Metallica, and an array of musical influences, from indie rock to jazz, … Continue reading Live Review: The Faim, at The Globe, 27/01/19
By Sam Cotter Cardiff residents, at the start of the new year, were issued with an unwelcomed statement from those at Gwdih┼Á that they would be closing their doors for good at the end of January. Gwdih┼Á the distinctive and decorated music venue, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in November and had become a foundation for the Cardiff music scene to be expressed and enjoyed, … Continue reading Gwdih┼Á Closure
By Izzy Boulton Independent Venue Week 2019 kicked off on Monday 28th January and runs until Sunday 3rd February. Supported by BBC Music, BRIT Awards and Arts Council England alongside others, itÔÇÖs going to be a jam-packed week up and down the country as independent venues showcase a range of gigs and comedy nights. It aims to be a ÔÇ£celebration of small music venues around … Continue reading Independent Venue Week 2019
by Alex Payne Metalcore has found itself in weird spot in the last few years. As a genre itÔÇÖs garnered an undeserved reputation for being a little too cringe inducing and formulaic, shunned for existing in the awkward space between more accessible rock and heavier formats of metal. Clearly, it would be easier to embrace the stereotype, as many have done, to tap into the … Continue reading Live Review | Architects @ Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
by Emma Murphy A cold November night, the lights of neighboring moored vessels cast light on the Mud Dock and the growing queue. ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs like Venice,ÔÇØ murmured Mike OÔÇÖBrien, ÔÇ£But not.ÔÇØ We made our way slowly onto the Thekla, the energy different to any other crowd IÔÇÖve ever encountered at a live show. The venue itself was warm, and seemed to emit a hazy blue … Continue reading Live Review – The Japanese House
By Indigo Jones The music of The 1975 creates a sense of nostalgia for fans, as it brings back memories of 2013 listening to ÔÇÿChocolateÔÇÖ during break time before having to prepare for double science lessons. This nostalgia is what makes the band so popular. Although IÔÇÖve been a fan for years I havenÔÇÖt listened to their newer music as much. I didnÔÇÖt originally book … Continue reading Live Review: The 1975 at Motorpoint Arena – 14/01/19
By Max Modell You recorded ÔÇ£A Bird in the HandÔÇØ at the legendary Church Studio, where Bob Dylan, Adele, Radiohead, Beyonc├®, and many others have recorded in the past. What was that like as a recording environment? It was next level. We recorded the album during the Mumford and Sons album recording sessions, when no one was looking. So it was a kind of a … Continue reading “Nothing is mundane in the eyes of a song. `That’s the beauty of it.” – An Interview with Beans on Toast
By Max Modell I got the chance to chat with teenage sensation Ruel, as he supported Mabel at CardiffÔÇÖs The Great Hall. With Elton John describing Ruel as having the “most amazing voice that I’ve ever heard from a male singer at 14 years of ageÔÇØ, he is a┬átalent we should all be taking seriously and a name we should be expecting to hear for … Continue reading Interview: Ruel
by Dylan Graham Monday 3rd of December saw the launch of Milgi Sessions, a brand new live music experience alike no other in Cardiff. Based in a cosy yurt in the back-yard of Milgi Restaurant on City Road, the event will take place on the first Monday of every month, with each edition consisting of a studio session and a live performance from 3 different … Continue reading Introducing Milgi Sessions: a live music experience alike no other in Cardiff
By Max Modell and Victoria Maria Can you tell me a bit about your new single ÔÇ£Midnight BlueÔÇØ? ÔÇ£Midnight BlueÔÇØ is the odd one out in the recent songs IÔÇÖve written. Usually when I write a song, I write it from start to finish in one sitting – but with this one it took about eight months from when I started the song to when … Continue reading Interview: Ben Holland
By Alys Hewitt Twentytwo in Blue, the second record by New York natives Sunflower Bean, cherry-picks its influences with effortless ease, pairing breezy yet immersive psych-pop ballads with spikier tracks encapsulating the spirit of glam rock and punk. Their November show at CardiffÔÇÖs Globe, which marked the beginning of a tour of the UK, maintained a similar energy, moving seamlessly between the shimmering power pop … Continue reading Live Review – Sunflower Bean at The Globe, 19/11/18
by Alex Payne Ragga-Punk legends Skindred descended on CardiffÔÇÖs Tramshed this Saturday, almost slap bang in the centre of their ThatÔÇÖs My Jam tour. With almost two months of back to back intimate gigs to promote their seventh album ÔÇÿBig TingsÔÇÖ, seemingly using a pitstop in Wales to recharge. Between the confetti-cannon wielding support, whose frontman claimed to be the ÔÇÿgayest man in the roomÔÇÖ … Continue reading Live Review | Skindred @ Tramshed
By Laura Dazon ItÔÇÖs an agitated melting pot of people queuing around the Mortorpoint Arena of Cardiff that.┬á People of all ages, and, without bad wordplay, from all horizons, brought together to have a good time. While the concert room fills up, in this vibrant pre-night atmosphere: some people are in a hurry to get to the first row, where they wonÔÇÖt miss a thing, … Continue reading Live Review ÔÇô Bring Me the Horizon at Motorpoint Areana ÔÇô 27/11/2018
By Alex Payne ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Nathan Warnes is back with a brief four track foray into the world of Christmas music, reimagining some of the nationÔÇÖs most treasured hymns in an alternative rock context. Titled ÔÇ£With UsÔÇØ, this latest EP is very clearly influenced by other Christian pop-rock acts, such as davidcrowderband and Aaron Shust, although it isnÔÇÖt immediately apparent what differentiates Nathan from them. Sonically, … Continue reading Review: Nathan Warnes – With Us
