Upcoming gigs in Cardiff | November – December 2018

by Rhiannon Humphreys Shimmer Sounds Festival 2018 ÔÇô November 17th At Tramshed. Full line up: Peace, Fickle Friends, The Night Caf├®, Anteros, The Howl & The Hum, Himalayas, Jordan Allen, Lauran Hibberd, Rainbow Maniac, and Al Moses. This is an amazing chance to see bands like Peace and Fickle Friends in a relatively small venue and to see stellar up and coming bands like Anteros … Continue reading Upcoming gigs in Cardiff | November – December 2018

What dropped recently – our picks

Part 1 – by Alex Payne 2018 has proven itself to be incredibly fruitful for hip hop fans, and the last few weeks have been no exception, with a wide range of diverse projects dropping almost daily. Perhaps the most consistent project for me has been from Californian lyricist Vince Staples, with his third full length release ÔÇÿFMÔÇÖ. At just 22 minutes long, itÔÇÖs a … Continue reading What dropped recently – our picks

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 | John Butler Trio perform an incredible set at Bristol’s O2 Academy

by Dylan Graham ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà On Tuesday 16th October, John Butler Trio (perhaps a more accurate name would be John Butler Quintet nowadays) played at BristolÔÇÖs O2 Academy – their first show in the city since 2014. The evening started with Australian solo artist Bobby Alu, performing his laid-back ukulele driven songs and sharing his stories from his life. Alu set the tone nicely for the … Continue reading Live Review | John Butler Trio perform an incredible set at Bristol’s O2 Academy

An interview with Skindred’s Arya Goggin

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

S┼Án Festival 2018 kicks off with a spectacular night of music at the Tramshed

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

The Modern-Day Relationship between Music and the LGBTQ+ Community

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

Bugzy Malone: Tour Preview

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

Review: Drake – Scorpion

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

Jorja Smith: Tour Preview

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

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

The Changing Face of Reading and Leeds Festival – a For and Against Discussion

  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

Review: Victorious Festival, Portsmouth

By Ellie Harradine The thing about going to a festival is, people are so happy. So what is Victorious Festival, and why has no one heard of it? Well, unless youÔÇÖre on the south coast of Hampshire, there is little reason for you to have known about it. The festival first opened its gates in 2012 at PortsmouthÔÇÖs Historic Dockyard, and then due to increased … Continue reading Review: Victorious Festival, Portsmouth

Music is your odyssey and mine.

By Mike O’Brien |┬á I recall having a conversation about music with a friend of mine last Summer. ÔÇÿWhat do you think about people who say music saved them?ÔÇÖ she asked, the subtext rich with doubt and bemusement. Ultimately, as with any passion or pursuit, some enjoy more intimate relationships with music than others. But it has certainly saved me. Having bounced from hospital to … Continue reading Music is your odyssey and mine.

XXXTentacion’s death reopens the debate on the separation between art and the artist

*Trigger Warning* – this article contains details of abuse, rape, and suicide. By Elly Savva Following a shooting in Miami on the 18th of June, the 20-year-old ÔÇÿup-and-comingÔÇÖ Floridian rapper XXXTentacion (born Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy) has died. The rapperÔÇÖs rapid rise to musical success has been concurrently overshadowed by his criminality and multiple allegations of violent abuse. His previous arrests include charges of aggravated battery, … Continue reading XXXTentacion’s death reopens the debate on the separation between art and the artist

Elvis Costello & The Imposters review: a banging Closing Night to #FoV2018

by Dylan Graham ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå This yearÔÇÖs Festival of Voice welcomed numerous wonderful artists from a wide range of countries, genres and backgrounds. However, all good things must come to an end, and this yearÔÇÖs festivities closed with a mammoth set from the British legend that is Elvis Costello. Costello, along with his band The Imposters, were the only act of the evening. Their performance lasted … Continue reading Elvis Costello & The Imposters review: a banging Closing Night to #FoV2018

Gruff Rhys review: #FoV2018 bringing out the voices of Wales

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by Jessica Heap To start the evening we were treated to H. Hawkline, a Welsh singer-songwriter not dissimilar to Rhys himself and from my seat, almost identical bar a maroon shirt. Perfectly timed, Hawkline delivered multiple songs with no introductions to fit as many in as possible, including 3 whose lyrics were written that morning. As a solo act, Hawkline offered a different sound … Continue reading Gruff Rhys review: #FoV2018 bringing out the voices of Wales

Camille O’Sullivan shines at Festival of Voice with her new show “Cave”

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà by Maxwell Modell There is something uniquely beautiful about the love we have for musicians and their music. Over time they become some of the most important emotional figures in our lives, remaining prominent through lifeÔÇÖs highs and lows. They never leave our sides, never question us and always embolden us. Yet, this relationship is entirely unrequited and internal. As such, it is something … Continue reading Camille O’Sullivan shines at Festival of Voice with her new show “Cave”

Facing The Music – The State of Mental Health in Music

Words by Rowan Lees   Musicians are some of the best placed people to speak about mental health.┬á Hectic tour schedules away from home, life spent constantly in the public eye, and a constant pressure to be ÔÇÿdroppingÔÇÖ new material arenÔÇÖt exactly a recipe for mental acuity. Music Minds Matter found that musicians are three times more likely to be suffering from mental health issues … Continue reading Facing The Music – The State of Mental Health in Music