by Dylan Graham Throughout November and December, Welsh reggae metal band Skindred are embarking on a mammoth UK tour, one of the dates being a ÔÇÿhomecomingÔÇÖ gig at CardiffÔÇÖs Tramshed on the 24th November. The tour is in support of the groups latest LP ÔÇÿBig TingsÔÇÖ, which was released in April. Recently I spoke to Arya Goggin, the SkindredÔÇÖs drummer, about their upcoming UK tour … Continue reading An interview with Skindred’s Arya Goggin
Expectations were high going into day two of S┼Án Festival 2018 after the roaring success that was day one. Tonight, the venue, The Great Hall at Cardiff Student Union. The stage is set. Day two offers one of the most exciting lines up of the festival features The Orielles, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever and headliners Drenge. Needless to say, we are all rather excited. As … Continue reading S┼Án Festival 2018 Day Two leaves The Great Hall a sweaty mess after a high energy evening
by Dylan Graham This yearsÔÇÖ S┼Án Festival started in style with a brilliant trio of acts playing CardiffÔÇÖs Tramshed, headlined by Welsh alternative pop artist, Gwenno. First up was French art pop group Halo Maud. The venue was half empty as they took to the stage, yet they managed to fill the empty space with their quirky psychedelic tones and catchy rhythms, effortlessly captivating those … Continue reading S┼Án Festival 2018 kicks off with a spectacular night of music at the Tramshed
By Max Modell Guitar solos, the use of a sampler, hilarious gags, Joan Armatrading to be the support act, the new album to be played in full and a rainbow themed light show; these are all things I didnÔÇÖt expect from Joan ArmatradingÔÇÖs Cardiff solo show that she nevertheless delivered. In a meta-commentary on the standard gig structure, Armatrading appeared as her own support act, … Continue reading Live Review: Joan Armatrading Live at St Davids Hall, 17/10/18
By Georgia Mae Evans After listening to his album,┬áNotes from an Island, on repeat the week leading up to Blair DunlopÔÇÖs gig, I had high hopes for the performance. If youÔÇÖre after an evening filled with excellently executed British folk, you need a ticket for this tour; I was blown away┬áby┬áthe most intricate melodies, tongue in cheek lyrics and raw emotion with which the album … Continue reading Live Review: Blair Dunlop at Acapella Studios, 07/10/18
by Hannah Ryan The world of indie rock is currently undergoing an unprecedented change, it would seem. Where before the genre was dominated by young, largely heterosexual men, in recent years, there has been a significant challenge presented to this in the form of the young, non-straight women that have been making a name for themselves on this scene ÔÇô take, for example, the recent … Continue reading The Modern-Day Relationship between Music and the LGBTQ+ Community
By Max Modell My anticipation for Dermot KennedyÔÇÖs Cardiff date has been clear to see for months. The gig made the Local Music Watch section in our first print editions of Quench this year on my instance. I canÔÇÖt say whether that article had an influence on attendance, but to my delight, Y Plas at Cardiff Student Union was sold out with a young and … Continue reading Dermot Kennedy Live at Cardiff Student Union, 15th October 2018
By Isabel Cosford Mancunian grime artist Bugzy Malone kick-starts his 2018 UK tour in October and Cardiff University is fortunate enough to experience his newly-released rapping creations at the very Y Plas itself on 4th November. The underground rapper made a breakthrough into the grime genre in 2016 after releasing his first EP Walk With Me, previously receiving a MOBO nomination in 2015 for ÔÇÿBest … Continue reading Bugzy Malone: Tour Preview
By Max Modell WestmanÔÇÖs music offers a thoughtful, meditative look at the world from a singular, slightly off-kilter perspective, placed on a backdrop of electronic, atmospheric pop. This often creates a contrast between the louder moments in the production and WestermanÔÇÖs quieter delivery and performance. It feels at moments as if Westerman has retreated fully inside the music and the sound is the only thing … Continue reading Westerman: Live Review and Interview at Clwb Ifor Bach
By Laura Stevens ÔÇ£YouÔÇÖre coming home when itÔÇÖs light from the night before…ÔÇØ the room moves in unison as The Sherlocks erupt into sound.┬á The bandÔÇÖs opening track ÔÇ£Last NightÔÇØ sets the mood for an evening of uplifted voices and spirits in the Cardiff venue, forming the second night of The Sherlocks current UK tour. Following the bandÔÇÖs sellout success of their debut album Live … Continue reading Live Review: The Sherlocks Live at Cardiff StudentsÔÇÖ Union, Thursday 11th October 2018
By Rowan Lees ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Ghetts caused shockwaves at the end of August with the release of the ÔÇÿBlack RoseÔÇÖ video, beginning with a heartbreaking sample of his daughter asking ÔÇ£Daddy, how comes thereÔÇÖs no dolls that look like me in the shop?ÔÇØ the song and video go on to heartfully explain and explore the sensitive issue of colourism in black communities. It seemed a world … Continue reading Review: Ghetts ÔÇô Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament
by Ellis Garamszegi The release of DrakeÔÇÖs latest album, Scorpion, broke all sorts of records – hardly surprising considering the excitement a Drake album release generates these days. In terms of streaming records, it was the first album ever to reach one billion streams in a week. Yet, I certainly canÔÇÖt recall a Drake album dividing opinion as Scorpion has. I for one found it … Continue reading Review: Drake – Scorpion
By Max Modell To be able to carry a gig on your own is a unique skill. The limitations of this set up can lead to the set becoming stale due to stylistic similarities, it takes a true craftsman to keep an audience engaged despite this great hurdle. This is the task Nick Mulvey set himself on his current In Your Hands Solo Tour, where … Continue reading Live Review: Nick Mulvey Solo show at Tramshed
by Camille Stanley and Max Modell This month the Mercury Prize-nominated artist Jorja Smith embarks on her headline UK tour, with the Bristol show on Friday 5th October being the nearest appearance for Cardiff University students who are eager to hear her impressive, soulful vocals live. Smith will be showcasing her debut album Lost and Found which was written between the ages of 17-20 and … Continue reading Jorja Smith: Tour Preview
by Dylan Graham ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå My first reaction to hearing about Big Boy Bloater and the Limits was that of sheer amusement. What a wacky name for a band, I thought. However, the title stuck with me and I wasnÔÇÖt surprised to find out that they had been booked to play in a similarly eccentrically named venue in Bristol – Mr WolfÔÇÖs Noodle Bar. As I … Continue reading Live Review | Big Boy Bloater + the Limits at Mr Wolf’s Noodle Bar, Bristol
No Violet seemed completely at home at┬áGwdihw┬á- quirky caf├® by day and creative hub by night. The supporting acts set the tone; from wacky tunes recalling the tales of microwaves courtesy of Head Noise to heartfelt indie punk rock perfectly executed from Adelaide. By the time the up and coming No Violet graced the stage, you would struggle to swing a cat in the venue. … Continue reading Live Review: No Violet at Gwdih┼Á
by Rimant─ù Bivainyt─ù Early Wednesday evening I enter Clwb Ifor Bach and head upstairs. In the ÔÇÿgreen roomÔÇÖ I am introduced to a woman, she wears a vintage fluffy sweater with straight leg jeans and shiny shoes, reminiscent of the 90s. She leads me out of the room and through the corridor till we reach the emergency doors. Our conversation starts on the staircase near … Continue reading Brooke Bentham | Live Review + Interview, Clwb Ifor Bach
By Max Modell While it is complex to sum up my feelings about my evening watching Catherine McGrath perform the first night of her first ever headline tour at The Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth every trail of thought leads me to one word, cute. From the set design with fairy lights and paper lanterns, to McGrathÔÇÖs unbelievably cute Irish accent and stories of night terrors … Continue reading Live Review: Catherine McGrath at The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
It is exciting to see new genres being explored and for festivals to progress -┬á by Maisie Marston Reading ÔÇÖ92 had Nirvana. Reading ÔÇÖ94 had Primal Scream. Greenday and Smashing Pumpkins the next year, then Rage Against the Machine and The Prodigy next. In more recent years, 2016 and 2017 have provided some acts in the way of rock music; Kasabian, Biffy Clyro, the … Continue reading The Changing Face of Reading and Leeds Festival – a For and Against Discussion
by Kiana Stevens Every year since 1961 people have come together at Reading Festival (originally known as the National Jazz Festival) to appreciate music and have a good time. 90,000 people attended Reading Festival this year to enjoy what is now slowly becoming a festival with a large Hip-Hop and R&B presence. As thousands of campers set up their tents for the weekend it is … Continue reading Review: Reading Festival
