The Cardiff multi-venue is a favourite of ours as the October nights draw in and this year they are back and better than ever.
Photo: Lambrini Girls by Burak Cingi | Words: Lloyd Bolton
Sŵn Festival returns to the streets of Cardiff this October, pulling in a great set of artists from up and down the UK. This is one of our favourite city festivals, the Autumn setting perfect after the dust of festival season has settled and we find ourselves hankering once more for cramming in as much music as possible between one or two tasty Welsh red ales (check out Queens Vaults between bands…).
This year, the festival shifts to a Thursday/Friday/Saturday setup, having previously covered the weekend nights, embracing perhaps the modern work-from-home, Thursday-is-the-new-Friday spirit. If there could be any doubt about the intent here, the festival's opening day is packed with the intense sounds of artists like Automotion, Wu-Lu and The Tubs. They cater also to the gentler side of the alternative, however. Mari Mathias, whose angelic folk went down tremendously at Green Man, will be one to catch, along with the consistently brilliant New Eves.
The New Eves by Alex Amorós
The Friday lineup is packed with a mixture of favourite live artists and others we have been wanting to see for a long time. Blue Bendy fall into the former category, especially off the back of the release of their uncategorisable debut 'So Medieval'. Jane Weaver is another, her idiosyncratic take on psychedelic prog a must for anyone up for a gentle space boogie. We are also keen to finally catch casual smart, having been enamoured by their two debut singles, which shimmer with bedroom indie brilliance. For those who have the stamina, The None are by all accounts well worth seeing, if their intense, Shellac-influenced set at End of the Road was anything to go by.
On Saturday, a. number of HoH favourites head over to the festival, including Ellie Bleach (with full band), Alien Chicks, Mercury winners English Teacher and 6Music darlings mary in the junkyard. Kynsy is well worth checking out, having just released an underrated song of the summer, 'Stereo Games'. We caught a brilliant set of hers in Third Man London's Blue Room and recommend catching her while you can in a similarly intimate setting. Among relatively older highlights are Marc Riley favourites The Wave Pictures and art pop curiosity Tom Vek, who returned this year after a lengthy absence from the stage. Finally, after being burned by a full tent that we couldn't get into at End of the Road, we will make darn sure to be down the front as Lambrini Girls tear it up.
We can't wait to be back at Sŵn Festival. Not only does it seem to return every year with a meatier lineup than ever, it is also organised with such love and spirit that makes for a wonderful environment. Venue queues are minimal and well managed and the spaces (which range from iconic venue Clwb Ifor Bach to the top floor and basement of an antique shop) look and sound great. For a music-filled weekend away, Sŵn once again has everything you need.
Tickets and full lineup info here: https://swnfest.com/
English Teacher by Burak Cingi
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