Category Archives: Blog

*NEW* Xpress Podcasts

The time has come to announce that we have an officially up-and-running podcast section! Our Head of Creative Arts, Keiran Manetta-Jones, has been working tirelessly over the previous month to set up and organise all sorts of podcasts.

There will be plenty to entertain and inform you over the coming months. Stay tuned!

Coming soon:

  • Best of Xpress
  • Y Ddadl Episode 4 – The War On Drugs
  • Xpress Delivery

You can find the link on the banner of the home page or click here.

CUOS Presents: Susannah Preview – An Interview with Conall Keaveney

A dark twist on the apocryphal story of Susannah and the Elders, Carlisle FloydÔÇÖs Susannah is one of the most-performed American operas of all time. Susannah Polk, a wide-eyed and lovely young woman, lives a simple and happy life with her older brother Sam, who raised her. She finds herself viciously ostracized by her small Tennessee mountain village after a group of church elders discover her bathing nude in a secluded stream near her home. Though her intentions were entirely innocent, she is painted as a sinning seductress by the elders, in part to conceal their own lustful feelings, and the entire town turns against her.

Xpress Radio’s own Charlie Knights went down to catch up with Conall Keaveney the other week to find┬áout more about the performance and what to expect from the show.

The full interview can be heard here:

For tickets and more information check out the Facebook event.

Independent Venue Week

Independent Venue Week has come once again. With the recent closure of The Moon Club, DempseyÔÇÖs, and Glam nightclub up for sale, celebrating the week surely seems to be more important than ever. However, the music lover should not be too downbeat, as Gwdihw, Clwb Ifor Bach, Buffalo, Undertone, and its newly developed adjacent establishment, The Big Top have got a wide range of events in store, celebrating and exhibiting all that makes their independence wonderful in the music scene.

fossette┬áKicking off the week alternatively on a Tuesday, Gwdihw are supported by the independent promoter label Luckyman Records, who are presenting the headlining band ÔÇÿFossetteÔÇÖ. With a promoter like Luckyman, expect a lot of entertaining and catchy indie-rock, a great way to start the week.

ÔÇÿBeans On ToastÔÇÖ are playing Clwb on the Wednesday as part of their non-stop week-long tour to celebrate the week especially. A cautiously optimistic folk band, guaranteed to keep feet tapping, heads nodding and cheerful sing-alongs with chorus. If folk isnÔÇÖt really your thing then Undertone are promoting a more pop-punk genre with ÔÇÿAmerican GraffitiÔÇÖ. Alternatively, Gwdihw are holding the EP launch of the up and coming producer ÔÇÿ5th SpearÔÇÖ. His sharp, electro beats promise to deliver slow, enchanted grooving. Perhaps a great warm up for the brand new night Buffalo are launching: ÔÇÿEntropyÔÇÖ. It is described as an ÔÇÿall-encompassing tribute to some of the very best dance & electronic music Planet Earth has yet producedÔÇÖ. Maybe Entropy is BuffaloÔÇÖs answer to a demand for an independent and alternative Wednesday club night.

jim-jonesThursday is another jam-packed music night covered by all venues. Clwb boasts to hold ÔÇÿJim Jones & The Righteous MindÔÇÖ, formed after ÔÇÿThe Jim Jones RevueÔÇÖ. A must-attend for anyone who wants to have a head bang and jump around, especially with the hiphop Brooklyn Zoo club night taking place afterwards. Gwdihw promote ÔÇÿThe WolfhoundsÔÇÖ, a brassy indie band with a nostalgic heart, a great compliment to the ears, while Buffalo have their biggest Shelter DJ night yet, Number 06:Fish. Meanwhile, The Big Top is breaking into the Independent Venue scene with ÔÇÿDream WifeÔÇÖ holding a sleek, seductive sound.

Friday starts with ÔÇÿTempleÔÇÖ at Undertone, and ÔÇÿCirque du SambaÔÇÖ at The Big Top. Clwb finish their week here with hard hitting lyrics and rhythm from ÔÇÿFuture of the LeftÔÇÖ followed by their classic and popular Zerox club night, while Buffalo is going garage with the club night Bassline. Yet it is Gwdihw which claims the most exciting night this Friday. Dr Syntax and Pete Canon take to the stage, a deluxe hiphop duo which will be undoubtedly provoke the biggest grooves of the week.

shake-up┬áBuffalo are open until 4am with their ÔÇÿShake UpÔÇÖ club night, guaranteed to fulfil any R&B, funk, and soul needs. Yet Undertone seem to be the bigger pull, theyÔÇÖre going house with ÔÇÿHoney DijonÔÇÖ a Chicago born artist, while upstairs The Big Top are holding ÔÇÿJohnny Cage & The VoodoogrooveÔÇÖs Rock nÔÇÖ Roll RevueÔÇÖ, very different genreÔÇÖs but both a delightfully intriguing. Gwdihw, too seems to be shaking up their Saturday with ÔÇÿTypesunÔÇÖ and ethereal electro producer, influenced with jazzy notes.

At the end of a musically stimulating week, I would recommend heading over to The Big Top on Sunday and finishing Independent Venue Week there. With music from voices such as Benedict Benjamin, Rhain, and Joseph J Jones, expect to be soothed and mellowed with their exquisite sounds. Rounding off a fantastic week in store, Independent Venue Week in Cardiff should be a fantastic display of all the best the city has to offer.

 

Post by Eleanor Stephens, Head of Music.

Our festive film picks

Here at Xpress Radio, we love a good ‘ol film at Christmas. So, to save you some time, we’ve trawled through the festive edition of the Radio Times (can you actually get a copy┬áon paper nowadays?) and chosen our favourite films that are on TV over the next few days.

Christmas Eve – 24/12/16

Despicable Me: ITV, 11:20 AM

101 Dalmatians: ITV, 4:20 PM

Christmas Day┬á- 25/12/16 🎅

Despicable Me 2: ITV, 9:55 AM

The Snowman: Channel 4, 11:50AM

The Wizard of Oz: Channel 5, 2:10 PM

The Lion King: ITV, 3:10 PM

Frozen: BBC One, 3:10 PM

Home Alone: Channel 4, 6:00 PM

Mr Bean’s Holiday: ITV 2, 7:15 PM

Love Actually: ITV, 11:00┬áPM (we highly suggest watching this if you haven’t before. Guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit.)

Boxing Day - 26/12/16

Sleeping Beauty: ITV, 2:40 PM

The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Channel 4, 4:10 PM

Pitch Perfect: Channel 4, 11:10 PM

27/12/16

Happy Feet: ITV, 2:10 PM

Stuart Little: Channel 4, 4:20 PM

28/12/16

The Muppet Movie: Channel 4, 10:45 AM

Wallace and Grommit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit: ITV, 2:40 PM

29/12/16

Chicken Run: BBC One, 10:50 AM

30/12/16

Kung-Fu Panda 2: BBC One, 2:20 PM

1/1/17

ET the Extra-Terrestrial: ITV, 4:30 PM

Monsters University: BBC One, 5:00 PM

If you like Harry Potter then make sure you check out ITV every day this week (24th – 31st) as they’re showing every single film, yes, EVERY SINGLE FILM, throughout the week.

If you don’t fancy watching films and just want some amazing festive┬ámusic then we’ve also got you covered. Xpress Xmas is playing 24/7, advert-free Christmas music all this festive season!┬á

And that’s it! There’s many more hours of fantastic TV shows that we won’t delve in to but for now, from everyone here at Xpress Radio, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!┬á🎄

┬® 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Images courtesy of Cinemablend, The Telegraph, Presto, Vogue, ytimg.com and jeded.com.