We're back with our featured gig of the week this week, a little later than usual, as things our end have been ridiculously busy! We've been working on lots of exciting things that we can't wait to share with you! 

This week we're featuring not one, but TWO gigs of the week we highly recommend. Both mark the start of the really exciting live music events that are coming to Swansea as part of the #BiggestWeekend! Both events are FREE and take place this coming Saturday and mark the launch of the BBC Academy at the Biggest Weekend! If you come down to these gigs, you'll also get exclusive first picks for workshops, artists Q&As, exclusive gigs & more that will take place during the week leading up to the biggest weekend. We're also putting on some workshops that we can't wait to announce that you'll be able to sign up to! 

Anyway, let's get down to what's happening this Saturday. 

Huw Stephens presents: Piano Sessions

Join Huw in person as he hosts intimate, stripped down performances by some of his favourite acts featuring: Marmozets, The Amazons & MRPHY (High Contrast has unfortunately had to pull out of the lineup!). Ticket link here: http://bbcradio1sacademy.skiddletickets.com/event.php?id=13196517

BBC Introducing Gig

This is a whopper. We are incredibly excited about this one. Trust us, get your tickets for this one - it'll be a gig you go to and in a few years time, when these bands are really kicking off, you'll be able to say "I was there".  Ticket link for this one here: https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Swansea/The-Garage-Whitez/Abbie-McCarthy-presents-BBC-Music-Introducing-gig-/13196774/

Hosted by Introducing's own, Abby McCarthy, the lineup includes:

Monico Blonde (Cardiff)

Candelas (Llanuwchllyn

Beach Fatigue (Swansea)

Who's Molly? (Swansea)

In a week with a superb line up of gigs (see below for more info) it was a really tough decision for us at Swansea Music Hub HQ in choosing our featured gig of the week this week. However, we couldn't ignore this mega mega line up coming to Cinema & Co this Thursday evening. 

Ones to watch Picsel, will be celebrating the release of their new single "Alcohol & Drugs" and will be joined by headliners Swansea Pop Punk titans Seven Stories High. Also on the bill are Swansea based and previous artist of the week Beach Fatigue alongside French Alps Tiger. 

It'd be impossible to ignore two other fantastic original live music events happening this week, so we'd like to give a special mention to:

Public Service Broadcasting @ Brangwyn Hall

With a superb live audio visual show and with their latest album focusing on the "chronicles the destruction of the Welsh coalindustry and how its legacy still resonates in these uncertain times" this is going to be a very very very special evening on Public Service Broadcasting's UK Tour. 

Wednesday 11th April at Brangwyn Hall - Tickets £26.00 + BF

The Riff w/ PASTEL & Violet Walks @ Sin City

Swansea boys The Riff are playing a very special headline show at Sin City with superb support acts PASTEL & Violet Walk. 

Friday 13th April at Sin City - Tickets £5.00

Beach Fatigue, our most recent Artist of the Week, are an enduring collective from Swansea, weathering line-up changes and reworkings of their name before settling on this most recent incarnation, but the core of the work they produce has remained the same - infectious, somewhat ethereal and (just on the right side of) menacing "garage-surf rock". Their own words there, but the title really does their music justice, with hints of The Black Angels, Sonic Youth and The Jesus and Mary Chain.

Amy Zachariah's terse and compelling vocals with the, at times, spaghetti western twang of Ben Rodway's guitar and Billy Horwood's rhythmic underpinning on drums make their debut, self-titled album a real gem; beautifully stand-off'ish, poetic, pure and direct.

Stand-out tracks;

'Carousel' - a blend of stoner-infused, tribal repetition showcasing a story of integrity, back-bone and resolve in the face of a shattered relationship. Short, sweet, perfect.

'Crash' - the rhythmic persistence of The Black Angels, simple, stunningly used harmonies propelling infectious songcraft.

Their musical lives together have seen some amazing accolades attributed to them due to their energetic, up-front, raucous performances;  playing at Reading & Leeds, Green Man and Swn to rave reviews from both Huw Stephens and God Is In The TV and with shows all over coming up, catch the band on a small stage while you can!

Written by Joe Bayliss