Cardiff’s very own SXSW: Swn Festival is set to take place this week. The Huw Stephens and Jon Rostron founded four day event has become a staple in the Cardiff Autumn, with the thriving city providing an inspiring back drop to discovering some of the best and most exciting up and comers as well as some of the more established acts on the line up. We’ve gone and highlighted ten bands and artists which we think you’d be crazy to miss.
Cut Ribbons
Where and When? Dempsey – Thursday 17th October 10pm
We first caught Cut Ribbons on the BBC Introducing stage at Reading Festival a couple of years back and suffice to say they blew us away. They’re loud and they know their way around a tune. They’re sure to be a massive highlight on the opening day of Swn 2013.
Falling With Style
Where and When? Chapter Stiwdio – Saturday 19th October 8.30pm
In what’s sure to be the place to be on Saturday, Chapter Stiwdio plays host to some of the finest UK bands on offer at the moment. Falling With Style are on the more post hardcore side of the spectrum but by fuck can they play.
Friendly Thieves
Where and When? Chapter Stiwdio – Saturday 19th October 7.30pm
We first met Ryan March when he came down and opened up our first ever Punktastic Presents show in Cardiff and we were pretty impressed. His full band project is Friendly Thieves which will draw comparisons to Frank Turner only this just sounds a bit happier and a bit more dancey. It adds to what is already a great Saturday at Swn.
Hot Damn
Where and When? Chapter Stiwdio – Saturday 19th October 6.30pm – 7.00pm
South Wales pop punk which has matured into something brilliant. Hot Damn have been on our radar for a while and it’ll be great to check them out as part of an excellent line up at Chapter Stiwdio.
Greta Isaac
Where and When? Gwdihw Cafe Bar – Thursday 17th October 8.45pm
We’ve caught Greta Isaac a couple of times, mostly either supporting The People The Poet or playing in the band herself and what we can say is that she’s one of the more promising female singer/songwriters out there. We’ve had far too many jingly versions of ‘The Power of Love’ now and the soft folk stylings of Greta Isaac are certainly a refreshing change.
Nai Harvest
Where and When? Fuel Rock Club – Saturday 19th October 8.30pm
Yes, we’re well aware that they clash with Falling With Style, but if heavy hitting post hardcore isn’t your thing then Nai Harvest is the band to go see. The Sheffield two-piece were last seen playing the Punktastic stage at Southsea Fest and they were an absolute joy. Their 90’s style emo punk is very much on trend at the moment and so it should be because why the fuck not?
Samoans
Where and When? Dempseys – Friday 18th October 11.30pm
The one memory we have of Samoans is that time they showed the BBC Introducing stage at Reading Festival exactly what they’re all about. The band have since been plowing on, even an actual broken back can’t stop them. They’re chomping at the bit to get going again. You can expect a lot of raw, unspent energy on show here in what could be the set of the festival.
Radkey
Where and When? Dempsets – Friday 18th October 8.45pm
Last seen confusing the shit out of Jools Holland on TV, Radkey bring their form of old school punk rock to the Welsh capital for one night only. This band have been making waves throughout mainstream punk rock for a while now and their slot at this years Swn Festival is the prime opportunity to check them out in a fucking tiny venue.
Shhh… Apes!
When and Where? O’Neills (St Mary’s Street) Saturday 19th October 11.45pm
This is one that’ll be off a lot of our casual readers radar. Shhh… Apes! is made up of a few members of the Cardiff music scene and they’re perfect for a Saturday night. The music is strangely transfixing, a lot of instrumental noodling is present but it’s not to any sort of detriment, it takes hold of you and forces you to take note.
The Adelines
Where and When? Clwb Ifor Bach (Downstairs) Sunday 20th October 8.30pm
The Adelines are gonna be the perfect closer to Swn Festival 2013. The Swansea based four piece headline the downstairs venue of at Clwb Ifor Bach and their lo-fi tinged mellow indie rock will leave you with a fucking awesome feel good factor.
A lot of the bands at this years Swn Festival might go over the heads of a fair few of our readers, but that’s what this festival is all about: discovering fucking awesome new music. We can’t wait for Swn to kick off and we’ll see you wandering around Cardiff’s many venues over the next few days.
CHRIS MARSHMAN