ItÔÇÖs safe to say that the wealth of festivals the UK has to offer can be a little overwhelming. Do you (providing you get your hands on a ticket) blow all of your savings and head to the father of all festivals, Glastonbury? Or, wander of the beaten track and pay WOMAD a visit? Well, our tip is neither. From July 11th-13th weÔÇÖre heading to … Continue reading Festival Preview: 2000trees
What initially seems like an odd choice of venue becomes painfully clear upon entering SwanseaÔÇÖs Sin City. ItÔÇÖs packed. Perhaps something to do with the Birmingham quartetÔÇÖs recent appearance on E4ÔÇÖs hit ÔÇÿrealityÔÇÖ show Made in Chelsea? Certainly not. This crowd know exactly what theyÔÇÖre waiting for and it is by no means influenced by a controversial TV cameo. An echoing intro sets the mood … Continue reading Review: Peace – Sin City, Swansea 12/06/14
Chet FakerÔÇÖs career has been one of constant battle with definitions; does he make jazz, soul, house, hip-hopÔǪ Is he where he wants to be? Minutes into his live show, as Faker dances around the array of equipment surrounding him, a wry smile on his face, it becomes abundantly clear that he has no interest in being categorised. HeÔÇÖs perfectly happy to just make music … Continue reading Live Review: Chet Faker – Colston Hall, Bristol
As one of the first acts signed to Paul EpworthÔÇÖs Wolf Tone label, the excitement around Oxford quartet Glass Animals has been gradually building over the past two years. Following a trio of well-received EPÔÇÖs that have displayed a willingness to experiment and rework their own material, the release of debut LP, ÔÇÿZABAÔÇÖ, proves reason for the aforementioned excitement. Opener ÔÇÿFlipÔÇÖ begins stripped back, with … Continue reading Review: ZABA – Glass Animals
Introducing Thumpers and their debut album ‘Galore’. Released via their own label, the band have┬áshot themselves into the ether of hype surrounding the records release. With the title track and first single from the album gaining recognition from the likes of XFM, Radio 1 and Radio 6 Music, the duo certainly have a lot to live up to. The record starts with the welcoming tones … Continue reading Review: Thumpers – Galore
Tucked into the UnionÔÇÖs cluttered backstage area with an unassuming air, you would never guess that the synthpop trio were in the middle of their international tour following seemingly instant success with 2013 debut album The Bones of What You Believe. Lead singer Lauren Mayberry is quick to defend the hard work itÔÇÖs taken to get this far: ÔÇÿFor us, it doesnÔÇÖt feel that instant … Continue reading Interview: CHVRCHES
Now in its second year, Pili Pala festival is returning to SwanseaÔÇÖs Uplands from 16-17 May. The event will showcase the best of local music talent across four live venues. Regulars on the local circuits include Cardiff-based Houdini Dax with an onslaught of powerful, upbeat rock, while the alternative Tarsiers will be bringing psychedelic influences to the scene. Meanwhile, warm acoustic sets that falter in … Continue reading Festival Preview: Pili Pala, Swansea
At the end of February, Paolo Nutini released a live version of ÔÇÿIron SkyÔÇÖ on YouTube, a song from his upcoming album. It followed the pre-release of single ÔÇÿScream (Funk My Life Up)ÔÇÖ. The video, filmed in Abbey Road, showed a new maturity in NutiniÔÇÖs sound. ┬áIt was melancholic and soulful, a critique on the constraints of society. The single was critically acclaimed; even Adele … Continue reading Album Review: Paolo Nutini – ‘Caustic Love’
ÔÇ£MikeÔÇÖs on daytime radio, and John played Reading + Leeds, and IÔÇÖm still playing the Purple Turtle on New YearÔÇÖs EveÔÇØ. So goes the lyric on Deaf HavanaÔÇÖs folk-tinged lament ÔÇÿThe Past Six YearsÔÇÖ, referencing friends in Lower Than Atlantis and Young Guns. Penned at a time when the band was struggling for direction and for their future, tonight sees them return to Cardiff having … Continue reading Live Review: Deaf Havana, The Great Hall
Culture editor Sum Sze Tam ventured into a stained-glass church for an evening of atmospheric music that veered from the brassy, to rousing, to the absolutely beautiful Perhaps the most impactful thing about this concert, before it even began, was the venue. Set in St TeiloÔÇÖs church on Woodville Road, the audience are seated on pews in between the pillars of the church interior. YouÔÇÖre … Continue reading Review: Windband & Chamber Orchestra Concert, St TeiloÔÇÖs Church
Eerie blue stage lights illuminate the Moon Club.┬áThe floor is sticky with its carpet of spilled lager. An audience clad in black overcoats and leather boots lie in wait, eagerly anticipating the werewolves of CardiffÔÇÖs rock scene. Howl breathe new life into a genre that has become somewhat stagnant in South Wales.┬áThe problem is not a lack of heavy rock bands; the problem is the … Continue reading Live Review: Howl and Birth of Joy, The Moon Club, 27.03.14
In the light of Independent Venue Week, Hannah Embleton-Smith finds out from industry insiders how Cardiff fares with small-time success in ‘Going It Alone’. The past few years have seen drastic changes for the dynamic of CardiffÔÇÖs independent music scene. With small venues becoming increasingly concentrated around ClwbÔÇÖs stomping ground, is the city seeing the revival of its independent culture or increasing marginalisation? As the … Continue reading Feature: Going It Alone
ThereÔÇÖs something very special about the construction of East India YouthÔÇÖs debut LP ÔÇô ÔÇÿTotal Strife ForeverÔÇÖ. Somehow, William Doyle has managed to make an album which is sporadic, indecisive and yet beautifully flowing all at the same time. With influences ranging from David Bowie and Sufjan Stevens to Factory Floor, any attempt to pigeon-hole this album into one given genre would be an insult … Continue reading Review: East India Youth – Total Strife Forever
The Leeds-based five-piece will drop their self-titled LP on March 3rd, but is it more eagle or seagull? Perhaps someone has already come up with that, but this album feels like both across its 10 tracks, swaying between a sense of wonderful intrigue and ear-piercing doubt. There is a bunch of mysterious openings and dark riffs to get interested in, with opener ÔÇÿNerve EndingsÔÇÖ suggesting … Continue reading Review: Eagulls – Eagulls
It doesnÔÇÖt seem like the most natural fit at first sight. The idea of Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong releasing an album with Norah Jones may make listeners imagine a strange jazz/soul/pop-punk fusion album, but on ÔÇÿForeverlyÔÇÖ, the woman behind ÔÇ£my heart is drenched in wineÔÇØ and the man behind ÔÇ£do you have the time to listen to me whine?ÔÇØ are paying tribute to … Continue reading Review: Billie Joe and Norah – ‘Foreverly’
Ed Watson sits down with James Page, the man behind hotly-tipped singer-songwriter Sivu. Your pseudonym ÔÇÿSivuÔÇÖ is a Finnish translation of your actual surname, Page. How did this come about? IÔÇÖve been┬áplaying┬áacoustic stuff under James Page since I was about 15. Then I moved to London and started writing the newer songs that you hear on my EPs. I think the first problem was that … Continue reading Interview: Sivu
Hannah Reid, Dan Rothman, and Dot Major bring their trio London Grammar to Solus on Tuesday 28 January. Their critically acclaimed debut album ÔÇÿIf You WaitÔÇÖ was undoubtedly a musical highlight of 2013, reaching number 2 on the UK Album Charts. ItÔÇÖs a work of art. ReidÔÇÖs vocals are lyrically beautiful, accompanied by a warm tone and eloquent phrasings. It would be more than worth … Continue reading Preview: London Grammar – Solus – January 28th
Blurred Lines: ┬áthe best-selling single of 2013, number one in fourteen countries and the fastest selling song in digital history. Why then has a record with such huge popularity been banned from playing in over 20 University Student Unions, including UCL, Edinburgh and Leeds, and should Cardiff University be the next to follow in their footsteps? The reasons behind this censorship have received endless … Continue reading Blurred Lines
Is there any better way to raise awareness of mental health than to put on a multi-venue inner-city festival? No, is the answer. So, thatÔÇÖs exactly what Cardiff-based charity MIND did. For over 65 years MIND have been committed to ensuring that those experiencing mental health problems receive the help and support they deserve. Local promoters God Is In The TV Zine, Rockpie and Red … Continue reading Review: MIND Fest, 23.11.13 – Undertone & Four Bars
Your music has been described as ÔÇÿThe Stone Roses flapping at Echo and the BunnymenÔÇÖs long coats and mussing Robert SmithÔÇÖs hairÔÇÖ. How close in general would you say critical perception of your musical style has been in relation to the bands you are influenced by? Ben Romans-Hopcraft (vocals/guitar): ItÔÇÖs all over the placeÔǪ I think some elements are correct, bands like The Stone Roses … Continue reading Interview: Childhood
