We're back at Sin City this week for our featured gig of the week as Swansea band Static Fires release their album 'Thirteen' following their 2016 debut EP. 

We really enjoyed the lead single from their album entitled 'Black Velvet' (that we suggest you listen to below) and couldn't ignore the lineup they've put together for what will be a great night of original live music - and for just £3.00 it's an absolute steal for your Friday night this week! 

Joining them are South Wales based The Caspiens, Swansea rockers In With The Jellyfish and last week's artist of the week String Theory! 

Music is Important

#SwanseaMusic 

Having a browse through String Theory's Soundcloud back catalogue is unbelievably reassuring; five tracks that show a consistent ability to develop their craft, their approach and their style while maintaining a core sound that is vibrant, relentless and exhilarating.

Their most recent offering is a noticeable step up in production quality from the more garage'y demos previously released, and it's here that you see these four "millennials from Swansea" really coming into their own.

'17' is a pounding journey through adolescence and tackles the burgeoning decent into adulthood with a rather apt hypnotic quality to the weaving, repetitive guitar lines and gruelling rhythm throughout - the latter of which is beautifully captured too. Kudos to the producer - whoever they may be!

There's a sneering quality about the track that is reminiscent of their contemporaries Pretty Vicious and a toying, playful bent throughout à la 'Dookie'-era Green Day. Going off on a slight tangent, but I find something in '17' that's comforting; in much the same way I might feel when listening to tracks I've grown up with - like a big, warm musical hug...

Back on track.

Simply put; String Theory make me excited about young music coming out of Swansea.

String Theory Soundcloud | String Theory Facebook | String Theory Twitter | String Theory Instagram

Written by: Joe Bayliss

We head to Sin City this week for our featured gig of the week and what a show you're in for!! It'll be loud. It'll be rocky. It'll want to make you move. It'll make you want to bang your head. And this is largely down to the three ridiculously good bands on the bill.

Headlining the evening are Swansea legends Heavy on The Ride - if you live in Swansea & haven't heard of these guys you must be living under a rock, because these guys have a firm footprint on the music scene. For fans of Queens of the Stone Age, Mastadon, Zeppelin, Foo Fighters etc... 

Joining them on this killer night are Blackburn based band Sky Valley Mistress (who have been described as "a cacophony of rock n’ roll excellence" and local hard rockers Fallen Temples (described by Adam Walton as "Intoxicatingly melodic and genre defying".)

Tickets for the show are £4.00 - alternatively they'll be £5.00 on the door. 

The spotlight is on Creature Sound this week for our gig of the week. Presented by Welsh Connections, we're treated to a superb line up featuring News From Nowhere, Bandicoot and Hobglin.

After their amazing debut album "...and the human had half" (released in December 2016), we're looking forward to catching News From Nowhere play some new material this Thursday! Joining them is a double whammy of superb support acts.

Bandicoot (who we hear have also been cooking up some new sounds) bring their party indie/alternative vibes alongside the heavy, funky, bluesy boys from Hobgoblin. 

Tickets can be purchased from Derrick's Records, Swansea or from Welsh Connections and Creature Sound.

We delve into the world (or should we say universe) of Dimer Ynni this week for our featured artist of the week. Dimer Ynni is Swansea electronic music producer Anthony Watkins who has the ability to make a significant impact on listeners with his emotive & atmospheric music.

Aside from making music (and making a mean coffee - go grab one from him at Square Peg, the boy knows his stuff!), Anthony has a keen interest in nature and science - and this translates through and is woven into the music he produces. 

His track Nocturnal has a hypnotic quality to it. It draws you in and allows you to dissect the textures that he’s created and if you listen carefully you’ll hear the sounds of a jungle from Thailand, that Anthony sampled on his travels some years ago. 

His second original track samples space itself (through audio recordings released by NASA). Aptly titled Galactic, it again has a superb quality to it that makes you really listen to the sounds created. 

You can tell that Anthony has many influences too. A self confessed lover of techno & trance music from his formative years growing up in Pontadawe matched with his newer musical discoveries including Bonobo, Radiohead, Nil’s Frahm & James Blake. 

A third production of his is a cover of a section of Hanz Zimmer’s score for Interstellar. One thing is for sure with Anthony’s music - it’s incredibly clever. The way he weaves science, nature and his musical influences in his music is great and contributes to a really unique sound. 

Even the name Dimer Ynni is clever and ties into his influences. Dimer is a scientific word (that I can’t even try and explain to you - something to do with oligomers and monomers???) and Ynni is Welsh for energy!

We’re really excited to see what’s next for Dimer Ynni. If it’s anything like the first three tunes he’s put out, we‘re in for a treat!

Dimer Ynni Facebook | Dimer Ynni Twitter | Dimer Ynni Instagram

Written by Simon Parton

** UPDATE ** Statement from WonkaVision:

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, this event has been canceled I will look into ticker refunds on Skiddle now, sorry to everyone. Watch this space as we will put another party later this year."

The sun is shining & regardless of the weather there will be nothing but summer vibes at the Last Resort this Saturday. The legend that is Wonka~Vision is returning once more to Swansea and brings with him an incredible line up to the Last Resort. 

Totally Tropical Yard Party I at the Last Resort - May 2018

After the amazing success of their first Totally Tropical Yard Party they're back for round two with non-other than UK Hip Hop / Reggae / Drum & Bass / Club legends The Nextmen. And if that wasn't big enough - The Nextmen are bringing North London reggae artist Kiko Bun with them. 

Also playing during the day (which is set to be an absolute belter) is Wonka himself, Syn, Active, Jared, Swansea's own old skool legends Survival Soundsystem, Golobnaize & a whole room of music curated by the legendary Dogruff!!! 

And if that wasn't enough of a reason to buy a ticket (here) there will also be a rum shack, a Jerk BBQ, palm trees, Pina Coladas & so much more! Fancy dress is also a must!!! 

Keep up the summer vibes this Saturday!!!! Remaining tickets are currently at £7.00 - so grab em quick before they increase to £10.00 / sell out! Click here to bag yours!! 

We're doing our best to keep on top of the live original music happening in Swansea and it's really encouraging to see so much incredible stuff happening every week!! This week is no exception and it's hard to ignore this absolute whopper at Sin City this Friday. 

Maria Owen will be launching her new album at Sin City this Friday in a night of original Post- Rock and electronica music. As a multi-instrumentalist and post-rock/electronic inspired artist, Maria will be treating ticket holders to a special intimate acoustic show and as the below video proves, you won't want to miss it: stunning compositions & gorgeous vocals will make you instantly fall in love with her music: 

The evening also sees the long awaited return of Cities, who will be supporting Maria in playing a full band. With new music set to come later this year, and after listening to their debut release "Manning Alaska" over and over we are very excited - this is one show not to miss. Read more about Cities here.

This gig is present by Hobos Swansea & sponsored by CRA Mediation

On a side note - you're absolutely spoiled for choice on Friday this week - you also have Lost Tuesday Society playing in The Garage with Neil pulling on his organ & Rag Foundation and Godbomber, The Malefic Grip, State of Decay & Salvador Sanchez playing live in Cinema & Co! A ridiculously good Friday night of original live music in the city - all of which could be gig of the week!!!

Some bands are timeless, others burn out, creatively, like a flash in the pan. It takes something truly special to stand the test of time, and there are few, if any, acts in Swansea who have remained as vital, vibrant and relevant as The Groundnuts & Independents - they are a constant, perpetual and necessary force of nature.

The Groundnuts & Independents are Greg Fabb and Jason Williams, playing bass and guitar respectively, who share vocal duties throughout, finishing off the trio with Lee Thomas beating the skins.

They’ve a healthy (for the soul, if not for the ears) menu of releases on Bandcamp - something that always excites me, so I dove right in to Hellish Tidy with wild abandon. Hellish Tidy is a solid collection of traditional punk tunes with a few quirks that exemplify what make The Groundnuts & Independents such a lasting exponent of Swansea music.

Album (for lack of a better term - with Hellish Tidy clocking in at a metronome defying 13.82 minutes long) opener ‘Oh Shit’ lulls you into a false sense of security with it’s ‘found audio’ introduction before launching into a ferocious, musically manic audio assault that doesn’t let up throughout ‘Spread The Word’ and ‘Draw The Line’. ’Bosina No. 3’’ is perfectly timed within the collection for a small reprieve from the carnage with it’s central riff that beautifully bastardises ‘60s surf melodies before launching back in to the unflinching ‘FBR’. ‘Cock Rock’ is a modern day ‘King Rocker’ whilst ‘One Shot’’s acoustic introduction and half-time rhythms caught me off guard before launching into a solid, neatly-worked album closer that left me wanting more!

Bite size releases, perfectly penned with production that’s snappy, in no way convoluted and captures the essence of the act. Full marks from me!

The Groundnuts & Independents Facebook | The Groundnuts & Independents Bandcamp

Written by Joe Bayliss

Mozarts is the place to be this Saturday. Black Wolf Shows have curated this incredible line up of rock & punk for their all day festival By The Bay. Over 15 bands, pirate themed and a reward of a free pint if you come dressed as pirate - what's more of a reason to go!! 

Confirmed bands playing are as follows: The Murderburgers / Jake and the Jellyfish / Tim Holehouse / Crooked Little Sons / Peachfuzz / Deadlines / Ocean View Sunset / The Groundnuts & Independents / The Boneless Ones / Iron Gosling / Low Blows / Richie Smith / Jebbers / .....But Pirates? / Shy Lizard / & more... 

Tickets are £10.00 on the door and the event will also be supporting Many Tears Dog Rescue! 

Support Swansea Music & support our incredible Punk scene by getting down to Mozarts at 13:00 this Saturday! Here's a very quick teaser of just a few of the bands that will be playing:

Something a little different for our featured gig this week, but something we feel very passionate about supporting - the Swansea Hip Hop Scene. 

If someone asked me about the hip hop scene in Swansea before we started the Swansea Music Hub - I would have answered with "little to non existent", but the fact is, there is a really strong underground hip hop scene in the city that needs to be celebrated & supported by a wider audience. With acts and producers like Craze The Jack, Rufus Mufasa, Ananas, T-Rev, F Dot Xtra, Lewis Cullen & Neezo listed on our artist directory and leading the way, you immediately get a sense that our city's hip hop scene is thriving. (I'm sure there's so many more amazing acts missing here too - if so get in touch & let us know!!)

And what better way to celebrate and support it then by heading to Cinema & Co this Saturday evening! With live performances from the artists at the forefront of the scene - Rufus Mufasa & Craze The Jack, this is one night not to miss. 

Your ticket will not only provide you with live sets from these two, but there's also

• a graffiti exhibition featuring the works of Smak, Skroe, Over, Sadsak, Unity & friends
• Breakdance from B-boy 'Rickie the Spin' & friends
• a screening of STYLE WARS: THE ORIGINAL HIP HOP DOCUMENTARY (1983)

Tickets available here: 

Doors open at 19.00

**Age Restriction: 12 and up**

We're super thrilled to announce that we have curated two days worth of live music across three stages at this year's Wales Airshow. The three stages are located across the main airshow site:

Main Stage: On the front near the cenotaph

Other Stage: Near the Civic Centre

Acoustic Stage: On Oystermouth Road opposite the BayView. 

The event, which is free to attend, will see music running between 12:00 and 17:00 on both Saturday and Sunday - allow yourself enough time to make it through the crowds if you'd like to see any specific acts! 

Be sure to share your experience with us tagging us on social media (@swanseamusichub) and using the hashtag #SwanseaMusic. 

Hopefully catch you on the weekend!! 

Joe & Simon x

In our first "proper" music event we're bringing you one of Swansea's finest contemporary exports returns for his first homecoming show in many a moon. William Poyer brings his own brand of Americana-infused, rootsy and gutsy folk to Cinema & Co.

William left the Uk in 2013 to live in Mexico, which has really contributed to his unique sound. His songs perfectly combine storytelling, strong rhythms and melodic hooks all wrapped in a unique blend of folk & americana. Described as: "The sound of Americana from a boy from Wales via Mexico". 

One you'd be silly to miss, support on the night comes from Emilie Merryand Flipsy McCaw. We're super super excited. 

£3 OTD | 7pm Doors.

To make a music scene thrive, you need passionate, talented and hard working musicians. One of these musicians in Swansea is Ben Luc - and we're very lucky to have him! 

Like many of the musicians I have discovered in Swansea, I first heard Ben play in Cinema & Co, during the open mic that Horizons/Gorwelion held. I was really blown away & watched him intently - not only because of Ben's ability to create amazing soundscapes using his voice, guitar and looping pedal but also because I was thinking "man, this is the sort of music I'd make and love - and it's drenched in reverb!"

Awesome vocals & melodies, really interesting looping work and guitar playing that Jonny Greenwood would be pleased with!

All you need to do is check out Ben's most recent live EP, recorded in Creature Sound in April to see where I'm coming from:

Every time I see Ben live I'm left in awe - and it's not only his service to the music scene he provides through his own music - he's always at gigs supporting other musicians in the city and he also organises an open mic at The Last Resort on a Wednesday and is always supporting the Sonic Youth Sessions and open mic sessions at Creature Sound. 

Nice one Ben - we hope you know your hard work and passion for music in the city doesn't go unnoticed! 

Ben Luc Facebook | Ben Luc Twitter | Ben Luc Website

Written by Simon Parton

Our Swansea gig pick of the week this week this week is Static Fires' single release show at Creature Sound this Wednesday.

Static Fires are Sam Randles, Jack Clements, Thomas Gibbins & Jack Piper and are a band that have firmly stamped their name and signature heavy / alt rock sound on the music scene. This Wednesday, their next single and music video for 'Black Velvet' will be debuted on New Noise Magazine and they'll be celebrating the launch at Creature Sound alongside Wine Morals & Hobgoblin! 

This is one night of local rock music that you don't want to miss! 

With unconvoluted instrumentation and a perfectly simple approach, Ananas' four-track debut EP Cosmosus somehow creates an expansive and immersive musical experience reminiscent of certain late '90s and early '00s commercially popular EDM scene - think Play-era Moby, but less samples (and more hair) and a sprinkling of Skye Edwards'esque vocals.

This is a band that seem to have come out of left-field, with a sound and style that is entirely their own. Cosmosus is a heart-warming collection of musical musings between friends, at times deeply intimate but without any pretence.

I'm going to keep this short this week; this evening, why not pour yourself a glass of your favourite tipple, sit back, close your eyes and immerse yourself in Ananas.

Tasty.

Ananas Facebook | Ananas Twitter |  Ananas Bandcamp

Written by Joe Bayliss

"Delyth and Angharad, also known affectionately ‘DnA’ not just because of their initials, but because they are a mother and daughter duo with music literally woven through their DNA." 

And they're providing us with a very special gig of the week this week at the Mission Gallery to celebrate the launch of their new album 'Llinyn Arian'. 

"Llinyn Arian (Silver Thread) is a Welsh idiom that describes the journey of life. It is the title of this second album which celebrates family bonds and friendship, and features intimate conversations between Angharad’s fiddle and Delyth’s harp. It recalls pieces that have been the mainstay of their musical home, tunes composed together and inspired by special occasions with family and friends."

We're really looking forward to this one, it's going to be a really special evening of music, art and conversation. 

What a weekend last weekend was for Swansea the wider music scene. We've only just recovered (hence the late in the week gig feature) but across the board it was an incredible weekend for Swansea. Whilst megastars like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Florence & the Machine & Sam Smith graced the main stage at Singleton park, the Introducing stage saw the likes of Swansea's own Rachel K Collier & Trampolene play to a huge crowd at the festival! 

For those not lucky enough to have a ticket, there was lots going on elsewhere in the city - like in Creature Sound, where the Punks 4 Mental Health Festival took place, featuring local bands like Godkilla, World Vs World, Windshake, Lost Tuesday Society, Ben Luc, King Goon and so many more. A truly special weekend for #SwanseaMusic. 

Now this is where we need to step up & keep the momentum of our music scene going. And what better way than to come party with Dream State at Sin City tomorrow night! (Also, Ed Sheeran name dropped Sin City twice on stage and twice in a backstage interview - so you know it's the place to be...)

Celebrating the release of their EP 'Recovery', Dream State play a very special homecoming show before they head to Donington Park later in the year to play Download. After that (at their current rate) we expect they'll be taking over the world. 

The band have been tipped by Radio One's own Huw Stephens & Annie Mac as well as Kerrang, Rocksound & more. I also caught them play FOCUS Wales earlier this month and was totally blown away. We really recommend this one. 

Not only that, they're joined by a top notch bunch of bands in support including Bridgend's Breathe In Silence, Cardiff based Winchester and Swansea's own I Digress. 

Tickets are £6.00 (£7.50 with booking fee) and available here. 

We're really excited to announce that we've worked with Swansea Council to create and design the 'Swansea Venue Map'! It features 36 venues, all illustrated by Swansea artist Susan Evans, across the city centre, the museum quarter & Uplands. Inspired by Daniel Minty, his 'Gig Map to Cardiff' and the illustrations of Alex Waeland and Lewis John Watling, we hope that the venue map unites venues and audiences across the city centre in time for the Biggest Weekend. 

After the Swansea Fringe Festival we started the Swansea Music Hub, but one of the things highlighted by audiences, focus groups and more at the festival was a lack of a map highlighting culture (music, art, comedy, spoken word, theatre, performance, exhibitions & more) and we were delighted to be approached by Swansea City Council to help them put this map together. Minty's map & ethos towards culture in Cardiff has paved the way and united audiences and venues in Cardiff and we hope that our map does the same.

Some of you may have already seen the map as we've started to circulate them around venues in Swansea, grab one & check out the amazing number of venues promoting music, art, comedy, film, exhibitions, theatre, performance and more! If you do see one, take a picture & let us know you've seen it by tagging us on Twitter/Instagram (@swanseamusichub). 

We'll also be having an 'official launch' of the map at Unit Nineteen on Friday 25th May at approx. 18:00 as part of the BBC Wales Hub at the Biggest Weekend Fringe - we'd love to see you there. 

This map has been designed to highlight venues that showcase original culture in Swansea. There are many more venues / bars / clubs to visit in Swansea, but we hope this provides you with a good place to start! 

Different versions of the map will be produced and updated over the coming years, but we hope that this offers a start in getting everyone in Swansea aware of music, art, performance & more across the city. 

What a treat you're in for if you've got a ticket for this Friday's show at the Taliesin. The critically acclaimed / award winning collaboration between Welsh Harpist Catrin Find and Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita. This duo deliver a sound that is not only incredibly virtuosic but blissful, enlightening & demonstrates musicianship at the highest level. 

“Absolutely hypnotic" Guy Garvey, BBC 6 Music

"Intricate, ethereal and entrancing, an elaborate pas-de-deux... remarkable" Neil Spencer, UNCUT Magazine *****

"This, I suspect, will be remembered as one of the classic concerts of the year" Robin Denselow, The Guardian *****

For more info head here. 

Swansea University musicians are taking over Creature Sound tomorrow night as funk/folk/rock 5 piece Part Time Models host what will be a great night of live music! The grooviness of The Mahogany Men will be kicking off the night, followed by your hosts, Part Time Models, with FNKD (from Polymer) sealing the deal with a funky DJ set. 

Tickets are available here & you can support Creature Sound by checking out their share sale here.