On Saturday 22nd December, Bandicoot played a very special SOLD OUT hometown show at The Bunkhouse Swansea and what a night it was! Jacob Winter was on hand to capture the show through his pictures (+ check out the video at the bottom of this post captured by Steph Evans).

Photos by JACOB WINTER

Photo by Jacob Winter

Photo by Jacob Winter

Photo by Jacob Winter

Photo by Jacob Winter

Photo by Jacob Winter

Photo by Jacob Winter

Photo by Jacob Winter

Photo by Jacob Winter

Photo by Jacob Winter

Photo by Jacob Winter

Photos by Jacob Winter

Video by Steph Evans

Creature Sound host our spotlighted gig of the week this week as some of South Wales’ finest young rock bands take over on Friday evening.

Headliners WINDSHAKE bring their superb psychedelic rock and roll sound in what is always a standout live set. We’ve really been enjoying what they’ve releasing and caught these guys a couple of times - really worth checking out if you haven’t already!

After recently sharing a stage with WINDSHAKE at the YMCA for this year’s Swansea Fringe Festival it’s great to welcome Rhodda’s The Pitchforks back to Swansea! One of the Horizons 12, The Pitchforks are one of the most exciting young Welsh bands on the scene at the moment!

Newport alt rockers Finding Aurora also join the lineup: their 90s and 80s Alt Rock influenced sound makes them a really exciting young band to watch. And completing the line up are Swansea three piece punk band White Riot - another one we’ve been really impressed with in the short time they’ve been together!

It’s just £4.00 on the door - what better way to spend your Friday evening than to support young, emerging talent from South Wales!

Written, Recorded and Filmed by WINDSHAKE Find more of us here: Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/7H3AsOW1GrYTQMaEuqcKL7 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WindshakeBand/ Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/windshake Bandcamp https://windshake.bandcamp.com/

Waste Of A Day, Written and Performed by The Pitchforks Video Directed by Trigger Happy Creative Track Produced by Gethin Pearson

Uploaded by Finding Aurora on 2018-09-07.

Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/album/19hUsu3vkzCbDXSwi5JCjp?si=vJLPcOPzS-uJhBT7CyjDng Recorded at Creature Sound Studios by Allen Chambers * Artwork by Nick Hinde at San Portablo Music by Evan Phillips, James Hamm, Max Knight * Written by Evan Phillips

Since we started the Swansea Music Hub, it’s been really great for us to watch the progress of young bands over the last year. One that we’ve had a keen eye on from the start is Vanilla and it’s been really encouraging to see them go from strength to strength over the last year or so.

The band released their official debut single ‘See’ last week - one that will be familiar to those of you that have seen the band live, it is an absolute indie banger. Championed already by Adam Walton on the BBC Wales Introducing show it proves that the future is certainly bright for the young band.

Take a shot every time you see James naked x Check us out on: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Vanillabanduk/ Twitter https://twitter.com/vanillabanduk Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vanillauk Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/vanilla-official Bandcamp https://vanillauk.bandcamp.com/releases

They’re a great band to see live - we went to their headline show at Sin City earlier this year and it went off! Really fun, energetic and their crowd surfing abilities were top notch.

They’re also really sound lads & are forever supporting the music scene here in Swansea - you’ll notice guitarist Keiran’s sweet Swansea Fringe Festival volunteer t shirt in the single artwork. They’re always at others’ gigs, always really positive about the scene and just all round top guys.

Vanilla Facebook | Vanilla Twitter | Vanilla Spotify | Vanilla Instagram

Written by Simon Parton

We look to Cinema & Co for our gig of the week this week, as two of Swansea’s finest punk bands play a special show to raise funds for the Langland Loco!

The Langland Loco will be a surf contest held during the waiting period of the 12th November to the 3rd of December on a Saturday with the best conditions. The contest will be a fun, alternative, leave the ego at home vibe with a completely different aspect to any normal contest.

We LOVE this idea - surfing, the culture and it’s scene is such an important part of Swansea’s identity and we’re totally behind this idea!

So by going to Cinema & Co this Saturday, not only will you be helping to raise funds for a totally ace local, grass-roots surfing competition but you’ll also get the chance to:

• See two short films by Globe

• Check out and purchase work created by local artists

• Get some delicious food from Hoogah

• Get some specially made delicious beer from Beer Riff

• Check out two rare performances by two of Swansea’s finest punk bands:

Ssssnakes

“Ssssnakes are a band that sing songs about girls, skateboards, friends and sticking it to the man.”

They’re well good fun. Trust us. We’ve seen them before.

Love Eggssss by ssssnakes, released 28 April 2017 1. It Follows 2. Left Behind 3. Get Lost 4. Life Jail 5. Cabello 6. Fire Of Love (The Gun Club)

Chineapple Punks

Chineapple Punks are a Welsh punk rock outfit formed in Swansea circa 2002. Party music with punchy hooks and sing-along choruses. These boys never disappoint, leaving the dance floor jumping and your adrenaline pumping!

---

Tickets are £10.00 on the door and £10 tickets all proceeds go towards the contest and the set up of the Langland Loco. 

Supported by: RVCA, GLOBE, LBR & CLOSEOUT STORE 

There’s a fantastic opportunity available through Horizons open at the moment as the Launchpad Fund is open and taking applications until the 16th November.

Horizons, for those of you unaware, is a scheme delivered by BBC Cymru Wales in partnership with Arts Council Wales to develop new, independent contemporary music in Wales.

The Launchpad Fund is a resource which helps talented artists or bands in Wales to further their music careers by providing them with vital access to finance. They’re awarding grants of up to £2,000 to fund projects for musicians / bands that are starting out on their musical journey, at a crucial point in their development.

Examples of artists / bands that have been awarded grants in the past include:

• Adwaith: for equipment & album PR campaign

• Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard: for a digital PR campaign

• Dan Bettridge: for a PR campaign for debut album & showcase appearances

• Afro Cluster: for finishing album with studio time at Giant Wafer Studios.

• Himalayas: for touring costs and equipment

• Broken Fires: for recording, manufacturing, and promotion of music

Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate and apply for things that they think will take their music careers ‘to the next level’. 

If you have a project in mind and think that the Launchpad fund is for you and/or your band we definitely recommend applying. Even if you’re not successful, it’s a great opportunity to think about projects and how to finance them.

To apply, you’ll need to fill in an application form, and answer all of the questions - then submit (via email) back to Horizons. The deadline for applications is midnight on the 16th November. Don’t miss out!

Here are some useful links for those thinking about applying:

• Horizons Website

• More info on Launchpad + links to the application forms

• Welsh version

• Terms and conditions

Good luck! We hope that lots of you will apply & look forward to seeing what the successful applicants will be doing with their money!

We’re delighted that Horizons & Y Selar have rescheduled their Libraries Week gig featuring two of Wales’ most exciting artists after it was “stormed off” last month.

In the somewhat unconventional setting of the South Wales Miners Library, Horizons & Y Selar present I See Rivers & Eädyth for what will be a magical afternoon of live music. Best of all it’s FREE!

Filmed and edited by Jodie Canwell. LISTEN: iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/mz/album/play-it-cool-ep/1410875932 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/50y0b4AuxvWpH2jlNqGMmg Follow I SEE RIVERS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iseerivers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iseerivers Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/iseerivers Bandsintown: https://bit.ly/ISR-live

I See Rivers are Lill, Eline & Gøril - three girls originally hailing from the Northern, Southern and Western parts of Norway. Now based in Tenby, I See Rivers’ music is beautiful. Dubbed ‘Float Folk’ their memorable melodies and untraditional vocal harmonies their soundscape can be associated with artists such as Fleet Foxes, Sufjan Stevens and Feist. 

Joining them is one of South Wales’ most exciting young musicians: Eädyth. With a stunning sound evoking influences from electronic music, RnB and soul.

Libraries Week (8-13 October) is the annual showcase of all the creative, innovative and diverse activities that libraries have to offer and this year, with a focus on wellbeing, they will showcase how they bring communities together, combat loneliness, provide a space for reading and creativity and support people with their mental health.

Don’t sleep on this one. It’ll be one to remember. Grab your free tickets from eventbrite now.

After what was an incredible weekend for the Swansea Music Scene a couple of weeks ago at the Swansea Fringe Festival there are so many standout performances (which I would love to single out and write about, but I just don’t have time!), but one that really sticks in my mind as a highlight is All Dead, All Dead’s headline slot on the Libertino stage at The Bunkhouse on Saturday night. 

All Dead, All Dead (FKA Suns) are made up of Jamie Morgan (Vox / Bass), Gareth Goss (Guitar / BVs) & Jack Rees (Drums) and are one of those bands who, when you see them live, stick in your head as a band that you know are destined for bigger things. For me, this happened even before I caught them live! I got sent a video from a friend in Cardiff a couple of years ago with a message along the lines of “HAVE YOU HEARD THIS BAND?!? THEY ARE FROM SWANSEA AND F*****G AMAZING!”.

He wasn’t wrong. I think I watched the video about 5 times in a row, thinking something different everytime. “Jesus that effect he has on his vocal is amazing” / “Where the hell is that arpeggiated synth line coming from” / “That drummer is amazing” / “RIFFING HELL THIS IS CRAZY” / “HOW HAVE I NOT HEARD THIS BAND LIVE!?!”

When it came to planning this year’s fringe festival, they were a band Joe and I were really keen to get on the bill, and when an opportunity came to headline the Saturday night at the bunkhouse, we were delighted to offer it to these guys. They did not disappoint. [Oh yeah, and since the Fringe they’ve also been to Kiev to play a show!]

All Dead, All Dead - Are we lucky? (lyric video) Swansea based three piece.

Their debut single “Are We Lucky” is a certified banger. It’s well thought out (both compositionally & lyrically), it cannot be listened to quietly and it made me think - how are they going to replicate this huge sound live!? When I was at The Bunkhouse a couple of weeks ago I was blown away - I kept thinking how can 3 people make this much noise?! So good. 

Keep an eye on these guys. Go and see them live. Listen to their music. 

They’ve got something new coming out tomorrow too… Keep your eyes & ears peeled. 

Written by Simon Parton

Uploaded by All Dead, All Dead on 2018-10-16.

For our first featured gig of the week at The Bunkhouse (if you don’t know about these guys / been the venue yet - you’re missing out!!) we focus in on the underground / hip hop scene / grime scene of Swansea, as T-Rev and friends takeover for The Anti-Social #2.

We heard nothing but great things from their first event at The Last Resort, and love the ethos behind the events:

“A Night dedicated to showcasing the talent that's left out of the main stream, the talent that's too offensive for radio and the talent that we believe deserves to be pushed out there and shown your support. No Egos. No Troublemakers. A night for the people, By the people.”

And there’s a plethora of local talent on show too (some so underground that we can’t even find links to them online!) Check these hyperlinks for more of what to expect - T-Rev / Don Jon / Hashjams / Native / Big Rick / Dead Crow / Luke RV / CrazeTheJack

Doors at 8pm till very late and it’s just £3.00!!