S┼Án Festival 2023

Words by Abbie Harper S┼Án Festival is an annual music festival in Cardiff city centre. I was fortunate enough to attend the Saturday and Sunday of this yearÔÇÖs festival, and found the atmosphere to be extremely friendly, chilled out and respectful – it was an event for both hardcore ÔÇÿmusic-headsÔÇÖ and casual fans alike, representing a range in ages, backgrounds and tastes. The artists were … Continue reading S┼Án Festival 2023

Both Sides Now: Celebrating Joni Mitchell @ Llais Festival

As a well-publicised feature of this yearÔÇÖs Llais festival, an evening ÔÇ£celebrating Joni MitchellÔÇØ was in high attendance at Wales Millennium Centre. The evening boasted the first complete performance of 2001 album Both Sides Now in this country. It was undertaken by the talents of The BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, plus singers Charlotte Church, Laura Mvula, ESKA, Georgia Ruth and Olivia Chaney. With new … Continue reading Both Sides Now: Celebrating Joni Mitchell @ Llais Festival

Drumkit at Maisie Peters' gig

Maisie Peters @ Tramshed 23/04/2023

Maisie Peters is a name we should all be familiar with. She is taking the world by storm, with half a billion streams worldwide, a sold out UK tour and earning the approval of big names such as Phoebe Bridgers, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith – and sheÔÇÖs only twenty two! Her tour, the final chapter of touring You Signed Up for This … Continue reading Maisie Peters @ Tramshed 23/04/2023

Review: Deaf Havana @ Tramshed 08/11/2022

Words and photos by Ashley Thieme The last time English alternative rock band Deaf Havana played in Cardiff was 2019, before live shows came to a standstill. However, this time around the previously four-piece band is now fronted by two brothers, James and Matthew Veck-Gilodi. In a statement put out by the band in November 2021 they revealed uncertainty surrounding the future of the band, … Continue reading Review: Deaf Havana @ Tramshed 08/11/2022

Review: Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, Tramshed 12/10/22

Words and photos by Tabitha Murrell TW: Mental Health, Suicide  Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls’ performance was as potent as it was political. Kicking into gear the consciousness of the onlookers, the band invited the audience to join the anarchy not for just one night, but indefinitely. The sound of Frank Turner is composed not only from heavy drums fused with head-banging melodies, but folksier … Continue reading Review: Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, Tramshed 12/10/22

Mahalia @ Tramshed Cardiff- Live Review (24/05/22)

I had the pleasure to see Mahalia live on May 24th in Tramshed, Cardiff. As I always do, I tried to pay close attention to my surroundings, anticipating the vibes of the performance and preparing mentally for what was about to come. Tramshed, a west Cardiff renovated tram depot, is a small venue with a maximum capacity of 1000 people. In all honesty, I do … Continue reading Mahalia @ Tramshed Cardiff- Live Review (24/05/22)

Miles Kane @ Tramshed Cardiff- Live Review (23/05/22)

Written by Billy Edwards Miles Kane was not afraid to be fine-tuned to his crimson-red guitar, his band and his audience in a stunning show inside CardiffÔÇÖs Tramshed. Acutely aware his audience were hungry to see and hear him live following a few postponements due to the pandemic, he put forward what must be his finest showmanship. The Tramshed was filled with mods, indie fans … Continue reading Miles Kane @ Tramshed Cardiff- Live Review (23/05/22)

The Wombats @ Motorpoint Arena Cardiff – Live Review (16/04/22)

Words by Aidan Mc Namee Header Image by Vishnu R Nair on Unsplash Not many bands from the early 2000s heyday of indie rock can still hit the mark, often delivering a variety of middling newer songs before getting to the classics we all know and love. However, this couldnÔÇÖt be further from the truth for The Wombats who, hot off the heels of their … Continue reading The Wombats @ Motorpoint Arena Cardiff – Live Review (16/04/22)

Yard Act @ Clwb Ifor Bach

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

Picture of 4 women standing turning their backs to the viewer.

Act One Variety Night Review

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

Echo & The Bunnymen @ St Davids Hall – Live Review (05/02/22)

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)

Sam Fender @ Motorpoint Arena- Live Review (25/11/21)

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)

Girli @ Clwb Ifor Bach- Live Review (8/11/21)

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)

Holly Humberstone @ Clwb Ifor Bach- Live Review (4/11/21)

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)

Victorious Festival 2021- Concert Review

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

Declan McKenna @ The Great Hall, Cardiff Student Union – Live review (10/09/21)

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)

The beginning of the end: Mallory Knox’s last tour review

By Josie Howie   Four-piece alt-rock ensemble Mallory Knox have just embarked on their farewell tour after 10 years together. Hailing from Cambridge, the band was formed in 2009, with their debut album, Signals, being released in 2013. The tour accompanies their fourth and final album which is self-titled. The band have recently announced their separation, just a few weeks before kicking off this headline … Continue reading The beginning of the end: Mallory Knox’s last tour review

Courteeners – Live Review at Bristol’s O2 Academy – 27/11/18

By Josh Ong Now I should probably preface this article by stating that IÔÇÖve been a fan of the Courteeners for quite some time now. IÔÇÖve been fortunate to have seen them play around the country and have lost track of the amount of times IÔÇÖve seen them live. I could happily sit here and praise the bandÔÇÖs whole discography and easily write a whole … Continue reading Courteeners – Live Review at Bristol’s O2 Academy – 27/11/18

Live Review | Snail Mail performs a poignant set at Bristol’s Thekla

by Hannah Ryan ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå Diminutive though Lindsey Jordan ÔÇô better known as Snail Mail ÔÇô may be, her stage presence at Thekla in Bristol this week was anything but. Bathed in a melancholy blue light, she appeared, alongside her band, with little fanfare and introduced herself in the briefest of terms before diving straight into the odd little guitar riff for which her ÔÇÿHeat WaveÔÇÖ … Continue reading Live Review | Snail Mail performs a poignant set at Bristol’s Thekla

Live Review | Big Boy Bloater + the Limits at Mr Wolf’s Noodle Bar, Bristol

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