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Read the rest »► Sŵn Festival Day Preview: Thurs 22nd Oct
Sŵn Festival Day Preview – Thursday 22nd October
Check the full day-to-day line-up here. This article merely summarises personal highlights and potential plans, but I hope to make it prove a semi-useful guide for all those wanting one.
BEWARE THAT ALL LISTING TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
It may be the opening night of Sŵn festival, but don’t expect to be eased in gradually. Thursday night lays host to some of Sŵn’s most energetic acts, meaning there’s a good chance of you missing lectures (or work, all ye non-students) on Friday because of it. Not that we condone that sort of thing, of course.
The live music kicks off early at the National Museum Cardiff, map here for all those who are unaware just where that is, with The Victorian English Gentlemens Club (no points for being a smart-arse here, the band acknowledge the lack of apostrophe) due to be playing between 1530-1615, a Cardiff based experimental-indie-rock-with-a pop-twist band. Rough Trade (impressive, eh?) have written some words about them here, and do a much better job of it than me. Expect it to be relatively busy, being the key in the ignition of 2009’s Sŵn festival. ‘Citing!
The next planned event for the citywide three days of noise takes place at The City Arms (map), and is Sŵn’s Pop Quiz. 45 minutes should be plenty of time to get from the museum to the pub, but it might be worth arriving slightly early to the planned 1700 start to get yourself a seat and a drink; and to get your internet enabled phones all synced with Wikipedia, obviously.
The quiz is scheduled to run until 1845, which may mean you have to leave early if you’re planning on catching the start of the action at the Chapter Arts Centre. Live music planned to start at 1830 with the Cardiff 5-piece Science Bastard, who energetically rock out with an experimental and punky twist.
The live music continues at the Chapter Arts Centre with UWIC’s very own Zimmermans, due onstage 1845-1915, who is gradually gaining a reputation around Cardiff, impressing crowds with his take on psychedelic electro-rock. He is featured as Retro's UWIC Band of the Month for November, just find a copy of November's Retro to check out the article.
It is around now where I start getting a bit hot under the collar, with clashes of bands, both of which I want to see, starting to appear. Following on at Chapter Arts Centre, from 1915-1945, is Martin Carr. Formerly the lead guitarist and main songwriter of The Boo Radleys (Wake Up Boo!), Martin has now gone solo with his own backing band (including Mark Foley of Strange News from Another Star), now with the new album, Ye Gods (and little fishes), having a refreshing indie pop feel.
Clashing with Martin Carr is two annoyingly good acts, which I am going to have to miss.
Them Squirrels, 1900-1930 at Dempsey’s. Featuring Alex Williams, who plays in another two bands straight after his Them Squirrels set, the band effectively sync harmonies, synth, bell jangling, and guitar work to create their experimental pop, with hints of math-rock, rock, and other genres here and there.
Also clashing, and also worthy of a mention, is Wrexham-based Gallops, who grace the Barfly (come on, surely you know where this is? If not, head here) stage between 1930-2000. Expect a lively set from the instrumental post-rock band, who play Swn for the second year in a row. They really are very good.
If you are hard enough for some more instrumental experimental post-rock after half an hour of Gallops; then head to Y Fuwch Goch, across the road from Clwb ifor bach, where
Three Trapped Tigers are scheduled onstage for 2000-2030. Featuring the drummer of Emmy the Great, Three Trapped Tigers are London-based three piece who make electronic music with their bare hands. You’d be a fool to miss out.
Unless of course you like the sound of Fredrick Stanley Star Star, whom which they clash with. Following Them Squirrels at Dempsey’s, and featuring Alex Williams once more, is said band, whom are scheduled 2000-2030. Like Gallops, Fredrick Stanley Star return to Swn for their second year, but that is where the similarity ends. The five-piece swoop with folk and gospel like harmonies, songs ranging from whispers to crashes of sound. Imagine if Fleet Foxes were based in Cardiff, and you're not too far off getting the jist of their sound.
Islet (pronounced “I lay”) is the only band that I want to be watching come 2030. Recently featured as a full page spread in the NME, the Cardiff based experimental four-some follow Fredrick Stanley Star at Dempsey’s, and is the third of the three sets to be played by multi-instrumentalist Alex Williams. Islet recently supported Lovvers at Buffalo Bar, with a great set full of incredible multi-instrumentation by all members of the band, wonderful energy, and some impressive sounds. Unfortunately, they are MySpace less (non-conformists, eh?), so you’ll have to take my word that these really are worth catching.
To wrap up the evening’s events, we have Wild Beasts, who are four chaps from London causing quite a stir in the music press of late, with second album Two Dancers. Released on Domino Records, the album received some incredible reviews (8.50/10 – Pitchfork, 9/10 – Drowned in Sound, 9/10 – NME) – “musical and lyrical ingenuity” among the praise being chucked about. Wild Beasts play The Gate between 2130-2230. Expect a mix of modern pop, folk, and alternative rock.
