Swn Festival is Romeo Dunn for another year, we learnt five big things about it over the course of the four day event. Have a little gander below.
It brings out ALL of the Welsh speakers
Whichever venue I was in, there was a lot of conversations that could be heard in Welsh… and it’s brilliant. The Welsh language has been described as one that has been fading for a long time now but it was out in force over Swn Festival, for those non Welsh speaking Festival goers, you don’t feel left out but it does make you want to learn the language.
The crowds are amongst the most respectful we’ve ever seen
A main theme throughout our rolling coverage was how respectful the crowds were, there was no drunken heckling and the acoustic artists on show got the hush they deserve while playing through their set. It enhances the experience ten fold when you can actually enjoy the set and not have it ruined by a group of people fighting to have their conversation heard against an act who you’ve paid to come and see.
The bands are respectful too
The egos were put away this weekend, each act we saw no matter what time of day it was or how big they were, they were genuinely excited and thankful to be playing this festival. This is a testament to Huw Stephens and Jon Rostron and everyone else involved in the festival for putting on a festival that commands respect.
Swn Radio has been a source of brilliance
This year, Swn Festival managed to get a station on FM airwaves in the form of Swn FM. If it wasn’t for the station we doubt we’d have heard of the likes of Casi Wyn who put in one of our favourite sets of the weekend. The bilingual station catered for all kinds of audiences and it will be missed once it goes off air. We can only hope it comes back for Swn Festival 2014 and beyond.
Womanby Street is transformed
For one Autumnal four day stretch in the Welsh capital – the main street of venues, Womanby Street was transformed. We’ve not seen an atmosphere like that around Cardiff in quite a while. The venues were constantly busy which is a great thing for the venues in Cardiff who fight a daily struggle against closure. The streets are lined with busking acts and with the likes of Urban Tap House hosting acoustic sessions and the outdoor bar, it really was an atmosphere to savour.
You’re going to need the Monday off work
Three straight days of live music and walking across Cardiff city centre has left me broken and then I had go to work on Sunday. I can’t imagine how those who have managed the four day live music drinkathon must have felt waking up to a Monday morning alarm clock. If you come to Swn Festival 2014 then do yourself a huge favour and book Monday off. Now, where’s my bed?
This was my first year at Swn Festival and I absolutely loved it, the line up may not have been as good as high profile as last years but this didn’t detract from how much fun I had watching bands I never usually would. It’s been a truly great festival and it has more than whetted the appetite for 2014. Diolch yn fawr, Swn Festival.
REVIEW: Swn Festival – Day 3
REVIEW: Swn Festival – Day 2
REVIEW: Swn Festival – Day 1