The Full S┼Án Festival Line-Up Is Out! (Plus More Exciting S┼Án details)

S┼Án festival is coming back to Cardiff for another year, and the line-up is full of some of the best bands in indie right now.┬áS┼Án has announced its final wave of acts for the three day festival. Below you will find information on tickets, the line-up, the venues, and┬áS┼Án’s warm up party at┬áClub Ifor Bach! Today, S┼Án announced the final wave of acts to … Continue reading The Full S┼Án Festival Line-Up Is Out! (Plus More Exciting S┼Án details)

Kate WaldockSeptember 9, 2019September 9, 2019

Live Reviews, Music

Live: DimSwn 2016 – Islands.

The thing about music in Cardiff, is that there’s always loads of it. Good gigs rudely continue to take place even when most students are home for Easter pretending to revise and eating fridges full of food that isn’t pasta. DimSwn is the daughter of Swn, the annual city festival that takes place every November. It’s been going for a few years, and showcases bands … Continue reading Live: DimSwn 2016 – Islands.

Erin GillespieApril 24, 2016

Music

Interview: Childhood

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 placeÔÇª I think some elements are correct, bands like The Stone Roses … Continue reading Interview: Childhood

charliemockDecember 10, 201313 Comments

Music

Interview: Nai Harvest

SheffieldÔÇÖs emo-rock two-piece Nai Harvest popped in for a chat with Charlie Mock about their new record, Gnarwolves and Twin Peaks. Let’s start by getting down to the meaning behind your name. It’s a reference to the American band Saetia- have they been a big influence on your music?┬á Ben: Not really! When I first started writing stuff for this we didnÔÇÖt really have a … Continue reading Interview: Nai Harvest

charliemockDecember 6, 201313 Comments

Music

Interview: Wolf Alice

Indie rock quartet Wolf Alice popped in for a chat with Charlie Mock┬áto talk NME, touring and what they want for Christmas. Firstly, your name is a reference to an Angela Carter short story- do you particularly like the piece?┬á Ellie: Yeah, we copied it. Joel: We thought it sounded nice, but we donÔÇÖt like it now so much. Joff: I like it! Theo: … Continue reading Interview: Wolf Alice

charliemockDecember 2, 20131 Comment

Music

S┼Án Festival – Sunday

Aled Rheon – The Hayes┬á Aled Rheon represents what S┼Án Fest is all about. Performing his carefully written songs in both Welsh and English, the musician broadly appeals to all while standing up for his heritage. Peaceful and soothing melodies filled The Hayes during his performance on the circular stage. Reminiscent of Dallas GreenÔÇÖs side-project, City and Colour; the artist demonstrated how minimal production can, … Continue reading S┼Án Festival – Sunday

charliemockNovember 28, 2013November 28, 201362 Comments

Music

S┼Án Festival – Saturday

Rhodri Brooks Rhodri BrooksÔÇÖ electric guitar remained muted and mellow as the inevitable rain hit The Hayes at the start of his set. However, the unassuming singer soon turned things around. The minute that ÔÇÿYour Head Was Full Of TroubleÔÇÖ and its finger-picking melodies floated to the crowd gathered beneath the trees, a smile flitted across the performerÔÇÖs face. Toe-tapping and head nodding, the audience … Continue reading S┼Án Festival – Saturday

charliemockNovember 28, 2013November 28, 2013778 Comments

Music

S┼Án Festival – Friday

Samoans┬á ThereÔÇÖs a sense of trepidation floating around Four Bars as the clock strikes 11. CardiffÔÇÖs prodigal sons Samoans have returned from an almost yearlong absence, bringing with them arguably the South Wales sceneÔÇÖs most anticipated debut album. As they shuffle onto the stage with all the nerves of someone introducing their new spouse to a gaggle of drunk mates, it soon becomes clear that … Continue reading S┼Án Festival – Friday

charliemockNovember 28, 2013November 28, 2013130 Comments

Music

S┼Án Festival: Thursday

Chl├Âe Howl ÔÇô The Angel Hotel At just 18 years of age, Chl├Âe Howl writes the sort of brutally honest, cynical lyrics about what it is to be young that youÔÇÖd expect from someone whoÔÇÖs lived through it already. Her talent as a synth pop artist was clear from the outset, with opener Rumour from her EP of the same name: high energy and a … Continue reading S┼Án Festival: Thursday

charliemockNovember 28, 2013November 28, 2013180 Comments

Music

Interview: John Rostron

Tom Connick┬ágot the lowdown on S┼Án from the Father of the festival, John Rostron.┬á For the uninitiated, can you explain what S┼Án Festival is and why they should take note? S┼Án is a 4-day multi-venue new music festival which takes place in Cardiff this year from Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th Oct. You buy either a day or a 4-day wristband, then go and see … Continue reading Interview: John Rostron

charliemockNovember 27, 2013December 2, 2013767 Comments

Music

Interview: Olympians

NorwichÔÇÖs Olympians popped in to the Quench base to catch up with Charlie Mock ahead of their S┼Án Festival set. Warning: contains puns.┬á First of all welcome to Cardiff! You’ve got a lot of live dates at the moment- how are they going for you? Dan: Totally mixed. WeÔÇÖve had some totally good ones. But, we played in Norwich with Focus and all … Continue reading Interview: Olympians

charliemockNovember 25, 2013December 2, 20131,063 Comments

Music

Interview: Playlounge

Amy Endacott┬ácaught up with Playlounge ahead of their main support set at Fuel on the Sunday of S┼Án Festival.┬á You describe your sound as noise pop and soft core punk, explain that a little more. What is it you want your fans to take away from your gigs?┬á Soft core punk is like a joke because we both love hard core punk but just arenÔÇÖt … Continue reading Interview: Playlounge

charliemockNovember 25, 2013December 2, 2013Leave a comment

Arts Reviews

Swn Fringe – Richard James Presents: In Chapters

For the first time in 2012, Swn played host to a number of fringe events to attract audiences away from the music to sample the other end of the cultural spectrum: art, poetry and literature. Thom Hollick gives his review of┬áSwn’s combination with the spoken-word event In Chapters. Continue reading “Swn Fringe – Richard James Presents: In Chapters”