"lo-fi garage rock - aggressively delivered, somewhat embittered lyrics, trash'ey, beautifully unconvoluted guitar passages... Recorded in the band's garage. Yes. Boys."

There's something to be said for mindless Facebook scrawling of a morning (curse you Zuckerberg!). This morning's bout resulted in my stumbling over one of those creepy, 'mutual friend' situations where I, shirking the feeling that I might come across as worryingly stalkerish, decided to 'Like' a post by someone I've had only fleeting personal interaction with in the past.

I broke this social taboo for a very good reason.

The Weirs.

The ambiguous and enigmatic hand-scrawled cover image for a band who (it seems) have digitally existed for only a smattering of moments (in fact, the 8th of April, but that's a teensy amount of time whilst sucked in to social media limbo) intrigued me.

I googled. I Instagram'ed. I SoundCloud'ed.

(I perhaps even coined new phrases!).

Their debut track 'Into The Woods', plays like a perfect example of lo-fi garage rock - aggressively delivered, somewhat embittered lyrics, trash'ey, beautifully unconvoluted guitar passages reminiscent of The Stooges or MC5 that all comes together in a keenly produced package that is, to my joy and surprise, entirely homebrewed! Recorded in the band's garage. Yes. Boys.

I'm excited.

You should be excited too.

Keep an eye out for these guys in the future.

Catch The Weirs play live at Creature Sound on 20th April with All Dead, All Dead (FKA Suns) & I Digress at Creature Sound. 

The Weirs Soundcloud | The Weirs Instagram

Written by Joe Bayliss

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

“I ain’t lazy I just pick my battles, it don’t bother me if you see it that way. It may be crazy but this snake don’t rattle, I won’t apologise and that’s ok.”

I remember loving these lyrics from the first time I saw Holy Home Video when they supported Billy Lockett in Sin City last month and I came away thinking I need to hear more! (It's from their song This Snake Don’t Rattle which you can hear below).

Holy Home Video are Sam Baggott & Cadi Rhind and are at the forefront of the music scene that has emerged via Swansea University. Their sound is really wonderful – superbly crafted songs with a fantastic blend of country & folk, great lyrics and flawless vocals & harmonies. Their most recent tune “A Love So Sweet (I Can Taste It)” not only showcases this, but is wonderfully produced.

What’s even more impressive, is that they’re really great live too. They’re the type of duo who, when they play, make you want to stop what you’re doing and give them your full attention. The videos from their recent “Swansea Sessions” session proves this and showcases the great relationship that Sam and Cadi have when they play together. 

We suggest you head straight to their Soundcloud page to check out their two originals and two very special covers (Willy Mason & Bruce Springsteen) and see them live whenever you have the chance. 

If you’re reading this on the day we’re posting (Wednesday 4th April 2018) you can head to Brewstone in Uplands tonight to see them play some tunes! And if you’re reading this before the 28th April, you can come and see them play some tunes at our #SwanseaMusic in Conversation event at Unit Nineteen! 

We’re very much looking forward to hearing more from these guys.

Holy Home Video Facebook | Holy Home Video Twitter | Holy Home Video Soundcloud | Holy Home Video Instagram

Written by Simon Parton

Our gig of the week this week is from a Swansea band who have already in there short time together made a significant name for themselves. Who’s Molly? formed in 2015 and have already made waves, with three Eps released and original tracks featuring on Sky Sports, UFC and a trailer for a Tom Cruise movie!

This Wednesday, they play a free show to celebrate the release of their third EP “Fame” in Diablos (which is in SA1) for a special live show, which is free and open to all ages! This is one not too miss! The EP is also an absolute banger and we strongly advise you check it out! 

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

Dogruff: Nearly 9 years of parties

Something a little different this week for our gig of the week, but this week we’re focusing on something that has been a long standing element of Swansea’s music scene. Dogruff is an underground house and techno night, dedicated to one thing and one thing only – having a real good party. Coming into it’s 9th year of parties, Dogruff have brought a wealth of talent from the world of house and techno over the years and this time round they’re bringing Gwenan to Mozarts.

Dogruff 2017

After discovering dance music in 2007 Gwenan started her career as a DJ by playing records on her rooftop in Oxford. As a Londoner, Gwenan played at parties including Undersound, Toi Toi as well as gigs in Paris, Ljubljana and Tokyo. Now residing in Berlin, Gwenan plays techno but can also be found playing ambient and experimental records for projects including Experiment Intrinsic, Perm and My Own Jupiter.

This Friday at Mozarts is where it’s at! First release tickets are £8.00, second are £10.00 and third are £12.00 available here. 18+.

Photo featured by RaymontyPhotos

The Swansea music scene is currently going through a really exciting time - there's lots of great opportunities on the horizon, the spotlight will be firmly on Swansea during the BBC Biggest Weekend in May, and there seems to be a lot more gigs being put on across the city.

But perhaps the most exciting thing is the young bands that are emerging from the music scene and already getting a name for themselves. One young band at the forefront of this buzz is Pastel. 

Pastel are a 5 piece rock & roll / shoe gaze band consisting of Jack Yates (Vocals), Aaron Tormey (Lead guitar), James Yates (Rhythm guitar), Jake Smith (Bass) & Rhys Wheeler (Drums). The band have members originally from Manchester, Dublin and Swansea and were formed due to Jack missing his train back to Manchester after seeing the Stone Roses in Wembley. 

It's impressive to see a band make such an impression on the local scene after only being together for little over 7 months, with their first gig only in November of last year. Already the band have played shows in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea venues Britpop Cafe, Mozarts and The Hyst. They also have a show supporting The Riff in Sin City next month (13th April 2018). 

Most notably, the band won the Wave & Student Digz' battle of the bands competition in The Hyst earlier this month winning a slot supporting Scouting For Girls at Neath Carnival in July. Check out their winning set below: 

It's really encouraging to see a band working hard, producing decent tunes and gigging around South Wales with great enthusiasm & ambition. We're really excited at what's to come from these guys, They've been kind enough to share a live recording of their tune "Tomorrow's Afternoon" with us too, which you can listen to below.

Pastel Facebook | Pastel Instagram

Written by Simon Parton

Dancing Compulsory 

Ooooh you're in for a treat this week Swansea. On the event page, The Last Resort have summed up this event so perfectly: "Gower gang describing themselves as Balkan, Gypsy, Klezmer and Celtic musical madness. The Balkaneers play a lively mix from around the world – adding a hint of dub, a pinch of funk, and a dash of ska. Dancing compulsory."

It will be impossible to be there and not dance. We had the pleasure of The Balkaneers playing at our Folk at the Fringe evening on the closing night of the Swansea Fringe Festival at The Last Resort last September, and anyone there will agree it was an unforgettable evening. These guys are so much fun and so good live. Don't miss this one!!! 

Entry £4.00 | Free before 8:30

Uninspired and unmotivated, I drag myself from the cosy confines of the bed on a dreary morning (it's wonderfully sunny, but a Monday is by default always dreary, regardless), and, through a caffeine-less narcosis, sit down at the computer to reply to a mounting backlog of emails that I've been consistently procrastinating over.

Forlorn and with no idea where to start, I turn to the records and whap out a dishevelled looking 12" copy of Cities' debut EP, Manning Alaska. Aside from the obvious musical magic contained within, I start to wonder in my tired daze - in the light of this record still tracking after the many hundreds (read; thousands) of times I've played it since that one fateful evening in Mozarts, Swansea  - whether the enduring and seemingly immortal nature of the vinyl qualifies this 12" as potentially the most enduring and rugged record ever pressed by human hands.

There are few artists that I can't speak more highly of, and Cities are one.

From the driving, opening drone of Clozapine, to the wonderfully understated closing of Callisto, with its sweeping, filtered work down, the musicians work their magic, pulling you in, pushing you around, moving with them through their musical soundscapes.

Their live shows are dizzying. Rarely do you encounter a band that work tirelessly and unerringly as a single unit, and Cities are exemplars of the most tight performances around. Each show is played to a backdrop of animation and graphics provided by photographer John Wellings' creation that propels you through a colourful, mysterious narrative that perfectly synergises with the band.

The EP is masterfully produced, nowhere does it feel cluttered or over-busy, each nuance is given life and detail in the mix while the tracks themselves are unconvoluted, perfectly structured and just on that fine side of self-indulgent that makes a musical experience truly special.

This is twilight poetry of the finest calibre. 

Cities Website | Cities Facebook | Cities Twitter | Cities Bandcamp

Written by Joe Bayliss

Swansea Jazzland - Wales' Premier Weekly Live Jazz Venue

Something a little different for our gig of the week this week as we head to Swansea Jazzland for the Jim Mullen Organ Trio. For those of you unaware, Swansea Jazzland is located in Uplands (St. James Club, St. James Crescent) and has been at the forefront of the Welsh Jazz scene providing weekly Jazz in the city since 1949! 

This week, they bring modern contemporary jazz guitar legend Jim Mullen to the city with his Organ Trio, for what will undoubtably be a fantastic evening of live music. As a multi award winner, the Guardian describe Jim as "one of the great Jazz guitarists working today" adding that with his organ trio "each piece gets a unique, often surprising treatment, performed with the understated virtuosity that marks out the best and most mature players".

Jim will be playing alongside Mike Gorman on the organ and Tristan Maillot on drums this Wednesday at 8:30pm. Tickets are still available at £12.50, £10.00 for Jazzland members or £6.25 for students. 

Hip hop artists and rappers in Swansea seem to be a rare find when looking at the music scene at large, but one artist who has stamped his mark on the city is Craze The Jack. 

Craze The Jack (aka Craig Lewis) is both a rapper and producer and has a sound that is undeniably influenced by old school hip hop and artists such as A Tribe Called Quest, Big Daddy Kane and E.P.M.D. which is really fresh to hear in a UK music scene dominated by grime. His production on the tracks certainly have an old school vibe to them and makes you imagine a younger Eminem could have been rapping over the top back in the late 90s / early 00s. 

With a wealth of material on his Soundcloud and bandcamp pages, it's hard to know where to start with Craze's stuff, so we've recommended three tracks to get you started: Murdered It, Extreme Motion and Hanging Over. If you're in from there, we suggest you head to his bandcamp site and listen to (or better still buy!) his EP RAW (Real and Welsh) and debut album E.Motion. What you'll soon start to realise is that not only are his lyrics are really relatable and delivered in a unique way, but the hooks and choruses on his tunes are really catchy!

When Craze played at our Swansea Musician's Forum in February this year he absolutely smashed it!! In a room where I think it's fair to say the majority would not actively seek out a hip hop show in Swansea, he had the ability to win over the whole room, get everyone involved and commanded the stage that made you want to watch, listen and sing along. 

With an album due very soon from Craze this is a very exciting time to start following him and keep up to date with what's to come. We're certainly very very excited. 

Craze The Jack Facebook | Craze The Jack Twitter | Craze The Jack Instagram | Craze The Jack YouTube |  Craze The Jack Bandcamp | Craze The Jack Soundcloud

Written by Simon Parton

Last week The Zinvandels tweeted "It's Been a long time..." and I suppose it does feel like a while since they last played Swansea (again at the Britpop Cafe on December 16th last year.) This week they return to the Britpop Cafe (located in town on Cradock Street just off the Kingsway) for what will be another great evening of live music. 

"Their energy and enthusiasm whilst performing is infectious, and they’re tight to boot. You'd expect them to be a finely honed band with years of live experience as an outfit but they only formed in October 2016!" - That's what we wrote about them when they were our featured artists of the week - read more here. 

The Britpop Cafe opened it's doors last year and is fast getting a name for hosting some of the best live music nights in the city centre. With live sets already from Pastel, The Penny Drops, The La's legend Barry Sutton and with sets upcoming from The Zinvandels, Tom Hingley and Andy Bennet from Ocean Colour Scene, it's a venue that we whole heartedly encourage you to support and visit. 

From what we hear about the Zinvandels last gig at The Britpop Cafe was a cracker - so we suggest you don't miss out on this one!! 

The Zinvandels live at Britpop Cafe 2017

The Zinvandels live at Britpop Cafe 2017

Little Folk

It seems Americana-infused acts have become an absolute staple in South Wales in the last decade or so, and with each act emerging nearby the style becomes more defined and polished. A family band in the truest sense of the phrase, Little Folk is comprised of Dewi Bowen (Guitar/Vocals) and his wife Lucy (Vocals), and brothers Marc and Alun Bowen (Banjo and Double Bass respectively).

undeniably catchy country-pop

Little Folk have developed an enduring presence in the Welsh music scene over the past few years, with their undeniably catchy country-pop style, vivacious live shows and the fact they are through-and-through lovely people. With performances at top-notch festivals such as AmericanaFest and shows with Carter Sampson and the Hackensaw Boys under their belts, as well as airtime on radio stations across the UK and beyond, including Bethan Elfyn's BBC Radio Wales regular show, the future is looking remarkably rosy for Little Folk.

We've had the utmost pleasure of following the band's ascent from the very beginning and it's uplifting to see traditional songwriters constantly refining, developing and perfecting their craft.

Newest single, 'The Smoke', showcases Little Folk's perfect nod to traditional, country songcraft and stunning, elevating use of harmony to lift a chorus' hook. Check it out and lose yourself in solid, well-written sing-alongs - you won't regret it!

Little Folk Facebook | Little Folk Twitter | Little Folk Instagram | Little Folk Website

Written by Joe Bayliss

Girl Power! 

What a treat we're in for this Sunday at The Hyst! Three of Swansea's finest female singer songwriters all in one place, for a special evening of music. Hosted by Eleri Angharad, she has hand picked two of her favourite artists to perform alongside her in a celebration of the ladies of the #SwanseaMusic scene. 

Eleri's music has gone from strength to strength since her debut EP 'Ticket to the Sky' in 2014. With a wide spanning list of influences, Eleri's tunes fall somewhere within the categories of country, pop and indie. With a wealth of gigging experience over the last few years too, Eleri's live shows are something special and with a special release due sometime this year, this is a perfect opportunity to catch her playing live. 

Joining Eleri is Natalie Jones. Another long serving musician within the Swansea Music Scene, Natalie also seems to be getting better and better as she goes. Again with a wide range of influences (most notably Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac, Amy Macdonald and Lady Antebellum), Natalie's music can be described as having traces of pop, rock, blues and country flowing through them. With a new EP due for release in June we're really excited to see Natalie play live!

You'll know Emilie Merry from our Swansea Musician's Forum & former Artist of The Week. Blending her beautiful soulful melodies over well-crafted pop tunes, she is undoubtedly a talent that is destined to go far. Her live set is incredible too and will have the crowd listening intently from the get go. 

Entry for this special evening in also free! We're really looking forward to this one! 

The Zinvandels

Swansea based ‘60s influenced, rock'n'roll outfit

Those of you who haven't heard The Zinvandels are in for an absolute treat today!

An unabashed ‘60s influenced, rock'n'roll outfit, The Zinvandels (formerly known as The Hangmen) are a band that we guarantee you do not want to miss out on catching live before they get their rightly deserved break. They're one of those bands that you discover and can’t believe they’re a hometown, homegrown talent, unsigned and doing it all themselves while producing enviably well-crafted tunes with catchy hooks and dance floor filling substance!

You only have to listen to their debut single "Heartbreaker" to get a measure of their worth. It's a song that could easily have been drawn from the songbooks of Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys / Last Shadow Puppets) but maintains that vintage ‘60s vibe whisks you back to a different time.

The production value on all their tracks maintains this retro feel and their repertoire is consistently solid. Check out "Penny Sits Alone" to see what I mean. It's a perfect follow up from their debut single. Strong chorus. Stomping arrangement. Another banger.

To top it off, they are so good live! Their energy and enthusiasm whilst performing is infectious, and they’re tight to boot. You'd expect them to be a finely honed band with years of live experience as an outfit but they only formed in October 2016!

Already holding the accolade of BBC Artist Of The Week, they are on the radar of industry professionals, so make sure you catch them in a local venue soon! They could be one of those bands that you can say in years to come, “I remember seeing them play to a room of 100 people in Swansea, and now they're playing Glastonbury!".

The Zinvandels Facebook | The Zinvandels Twitter | The Zinvandels Instagram |

Written by Simon Parton & Joe Bayliss

For our Swansea gig pick of the week this week we've selected this rather special show at Creature Sound: King Goon presented by Welsh Connections. Support comes from Swansea rockers Wine Morals and singer songwriter from Lost Tuesday Society Flipsy McCaw. 

Technicolour, high-octane, genre-hopping rock/dance/ska

As one of our ones to watch for 2018, King Goon have had a great start to their year, with shows already in Creature Sound, Cinema & Co and Pontypool's The Dragonffli, it's getting us more and more excited for the release of their debut album "ADMIT NOTHING! DENY EVERYTHING! LIE! LIE! LIE!". With that being said - you can hear tasters of this via their Soundcloud page! 

Describing their sound as "Technicolour, high-octane, genre-hopping rock/dance/ska" this is one show not to miss. It's also worth mentioning that this is a very special gig as Welsh Connections are filming and recording the gig for a TV and radio broadcast!

For those of you that don't know, Welsh Connections are a not-for-profit organisation that aim to get music from Wales out to a wider audience through gigs, CD releases, radio broadcasts, print and more. They do amazing things and we highly recommend that you give them a like on Facebook and follow what they do! 

Support on the evening comes from Swansea rockers Wine Morals. Formerly Red Morning Sky, the band have had a recent line up change, but are back and ready to get gigging and releasing new energetic alt-rock tunes again! 

Joining them is Flipsy McCaw - a member of Lost Tuesday Society. She will be bringing her scenic, melancholic, heavy folk tunes to Creature Sound to open the proceedings. 

We can't wait for this one! Entry is £5.00 / £3.50 for students. Doors at 7:30. 

Where do we start with Emily Merry!! What a talent! Blending her beautiful soulful melodies over well-crafted pop tunes, she is undoubtedly a talent that is destined to go far.

I first heard Emily when we had her play at the Swansea Fringe Festival last year and I was taken back immediately. She’s got one of those voices that you want to listen to. You’re stuck in that moment with her when listening and this translates both through her live shows and through her recorded material. 

This was true at our Musician’s Forum held earlier this month at Cinema & Co. After extensive chat about the music scene in Swansea and an energetic start to the live music from Bandicoot, Emily silenced the full room. After we had been encouraging people to chat and get to know each other at the forum, it was amazing to see everyone stop for 20 minutes and allow Emily to take full control of the room.

If you’re wondering where to start with Emily, head to her YouTube channel. You’ll see what we mean. With live takes of originals songs like ‘Circles’ and ‘Weather’, alongside the lovely, almost therapeutic video she’s done for her track ‘The Moon’ (who doesn’t enjoy colouring in!), you can’t go wrong. Her voice and arrangements will draw you in and leave you with chills, feeling wonderful.  

Keep an eye on Emily this year – her debut EP ‘Caught Out’ is set to be released soon and if you ever have the chance to see her live make sure you do! 

Emily Merry Website | Emily Merry Facebook | Emily Merry Twitter | Emily Merry YouTube

Written by Simon Parton

This is no doubt going to be one busy, sweaty, energy filled night. High Tide Promotions present Swansea's own Bandicoot alongside Bristol Indie band Fossette, South Wales' Tracy Island and Swansea Grunge band String Theory. 

It's already been a busy start to the year for our one's to watch for 2018 Bandicoot. They've released a new single - Stuck in Space - played a special showcase acoustic set at our musician's forum, supported Spring King at Sin City to a packed out top room & played a show in Oxford! 

Joining them are Bristol based indie band Fossette as they start of their 8 date UK tour in Swansea. Described by Sofar Sounds as having "contagious energy", this is one set not to miss. Also playing are Tracy Island - (one for fans of The Kooks, Catfish & the Bottlemen & Circa Waves) and young grunge rockers String Theory, who we last saw play a cracking set to a packed out room at Mozarts. 

Tickets are £5.00 (+75p booking fee) are available via Derricks Music.  

Swansea band, The Riff are a classic 4-piece ensemble that have racked up an impressive assortment of accolades over their lifetime, including BBC Wales Introducing Artist of the Week and performing with the likes of The Sherlocks and members of The Jam and The La's, with regular sets at shows across the UK.  With a line-up consisting of twins Ben and Sam Curtis (Lead Vox/Guitar and Keys, respectively), Chris Betts (Bass) and Tommy Evans (Drums) their fresh sound is pinned down in a long-line of rock-solid traditional foursomes.

There's something to be said for tradition - these guys build on a formula that works;  dynamic, powerful vocals with simple yet effective lyricism, sparkling, and at times pummelling (in the best of ways), chord-work on the guitar with keyboard melodies working as a perfect compliment - it's in the blood, obviously, Clan Curtis - and a driving, persistent rhythm section under-pinning songs that are rooted in the '60s and '70s and finally given a modern sparkle. 

Their most recent release, Nothing Lasts Forever, rings true in many ways. The Riff are a band who's sound is constantly developing without forsaking their classic, British Indie ways.

It's refreshing to find a band destined for bigger things, and unashamed of their roots. In fact, their back-catalogue of music videos (which I highly recommend YouTube trawling through - it's been a morning well-spent!) reads like a who's-who (or where's-where...?) of the longest-standing independent music venues in Swansea.

Mixing no-frills rock'n'roll with powerful pop hooks that would make a Gallagher proud, The Riff are a band you should check out as soon as possible and catch whenever they're passing!

The Riff Playing at the Swansea Music Hub's first Swansea Musician's Forum in Cinema & Co. 

The Riff Facebook | The Riff Twitter | The Riff YouTube

Written by Joe Bayliss

This week is Independent Venue Week. Independent Venue Week is a seven day celebration that salutes and recognises the importance of small music venues across the UK. This goes from the people that own them, the people that work in them and the people that get the bands and audiences in week after week.

There was some incredibly exciting news this week for Swansea – it was announced that as part of BBC Music’s Biggest Weekend, Radio One will be hosting two days of live music in Swansea’s Singleton Park bringing two absolute giants of pop music with them in the form of Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift.

This is absolutely incredible for our city and for musician’s in the city.

Whilst this announcement may seen far away from the fact that this week is independent venue week it’s actually very poignant and links very closely.

Take Ed Sheeran.

I remember seeing videos of Ed Sheeran in my first year of university playing his tune “You Need Me Man I Don’t Need You” and hearing about his shows in small venues in London thinking, wow this guy is pretty cool. I never expected him to become this worldwide powerhouse that he is now.

My point is, all these huge artists that are now making a name for themselves worldwide had to start somewhere. I’m sure Ed would agree that those early live shows in small venues were crucial to his career as a musician.

**31.01.18 - Update ** After posting this blog Sin City got in touch to let us know that my point actually comes a lot close to home than I first thought! In May of 2011, Ed actually played Sin City, in their top room to just 250 people! Amazing! Here's a video of him playing You Don't Need Me from that very gig!

In Swansea we’ve seen lots of independent venues come and go over the last few years, but we’ve also seem the emergence of some new venues too. Top venues to check out for gigs include Sin City, Creature Sound, Mozarts, The Garage, Cinema & Co, The Hyst and 8Bit to name a few.

If, like me, you’re planning on celebrating independent venue week by heading out to some live shows in Swansea you’ve got the select following happening:

Wednesday: Billy Lockett & Holy Home Video in Sin City. (£6.00)

Friday: The Swansea Musician’s Forum (hosted by the Swansea Music Hub) with live music from Bandicoot, Craze The Jack, The Riff, Picsel, Emily Merry & King Goon. (Free Entry)

Saturday: Piranha Punk Rock presents Sigiria, The Groundnuts & Independents and Iron Gosling in The Garage. (£6.00)

Sunday: Swn Presents Spring King, Fizzy Blood and Bandicoot in Sin City. (£10.00)

If you’re living in Swansea we’ve also created an artist directory, so if you see a local band’s gig advertised you can look here and check out the bands prior to see if it’s something you may like.

So get out this week. See a gig. And then next week, see another one. And so on…

You never know. You may discover the next Ed Sheeran, the next Arctic Monkeys, or the next Radiohead and be able to say “I saw them in a really small venue in Swansea before they got so big!”. Without your support we may lose these potentially great artists. 

Written by Simon Parton