Category Archives: The Arts

The Arts

Punk Rock Factory return to Clwb Ifor Bach during their small Welsh tour!

Leave a comment

Punk cover band from South Wales valleys rock out to timeless classics such as Spongebob Squarepants…

Words and photography: Chloe Jackson-Nott

Welsh band Punk Rock Factory, recently completed a round of intimate shows across the Welsh valleys and made a stop off in Cardiff’s own Clwb Ifor Bach.

Each night of their tour, the band would showcase a different support act depending on what venue they were in. For their sold out show in Clwb Ifor Bach, the audience were thrilled to welcome Edit The Tide to the stage. High energy and charismatic, this alternative rock band from South Wales were a great way to get the crowd hyped up and sweaty. They have recently released a new single called ‘Ambience’ and have a new debut EP coming out in April called ‘Reflections in Sound’ so keep an eye out for these boys – they have big things on the horizon!

Starting with an absolute banger for all the nerds in the crowd, the boys from Punk Rock Factory came thundering onto stage with a punk rendition of the Pokemon theme song. They then continued into The Little Mermaid’s Under The Sea for all the Disney kids in the crowd. There was even a section where they showed up a lot of us older generations by rocking out to Power Rangers, Gladiators and Thundercats all one after the other.

Moving back into the generation of 2000/2010’s kids, the boys covered the Phineas and Ferb theme song. A couple of weeks prior, they joined Bowling For Soup on stage at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena in front of 7,500 people and performed the theme song there too. Frontman Peej said that they originally asked the boys in Bowling For Soup for AAA passes to enjoy the show, and instead the band were invited on stage to perform and it was an incredible experience for them all.

There was a small point in the show at Clwb Ifor Bach where bassist Benj needed a quick break to sort out his bass. This point of the show came just as the band were about to play the Spongebob Squarepants theme song, and boy… did one audience member know. One woman in the audience was very excited to hear this theme song that the boys continued to wind her up by starting the song but not actually play it.

“Whoooooooo…… thinks this person really wants to hear this song?”

“Whooooooooooooooo….. seriously thinks this person reeeeally wants to hear this song?”

The boys in Punk Rock Factory never fail to disappoint and will be returning to Cardiff on November 2nd to The Great Hall. Find tickets here.

The Arts

The Blackout “Wasn’t it. Was it?” reunite in Cardiff for a home show

Leave a comment

Words and photography: Chloe Jackson-Nott

The Blackout, a Welsh rock-band from Merthyr Tydfil, said their farewells back in 2015 leaving many young emo hearts broken. But in the year 2024, they have reunited once more and gone on the road to mend those broken hearts.

Joining the boys on the road were Dead Pony and for their Cardiff show, they welcomed De’Lour to the stage to open the set. Each night a local band open the show and for Cardiff the five-piece band were selected. They thrashed out banger after banger with the songs, Suncrusher, Cold Decisions and Crown. We recommend giving these guys a listen! Dead Pony were second on. They are a Scottish rock-band from Glasgow. Sean Smith said on stage that he is in awe of their chosen band name as it sounds incredibly punk rock. These are another band to keep an eye on – their new single RAINBOWS is out now!

Uproar and nostalgia filled The Great Hall in Cardiff, the moment The Blackout jumped onto stage. Opening the set with This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things, the boys had the audience eating from the palm of their hands immediately. Frontman Gavin Butler, injured his achilies during the Manchester stop on the tour so performed the show in a boot, but props on his for continuing the tour despite the circumstances!

Cardiff successfully made Sean Smith cry three times in total and had poor Bob (James Davies) sat on the floor as he patiently waited for the crowd to stop chanting We Are The Dynamite. During I’m A Riot, You’re a F**cking Riot, there were actual riots in the crowd. The mosh pits got heavy and security intervened at one point but everyone kept each other safe and made sure they were all having the best night. They ended their set as they always do with Save Our Selves (The Warning). It’s usually at this point where Sean Smith would ask the audience to get down but the crowd knew exactly what was expected of them.

We’re so glad to see The Blackout’s return and feel like society has been restored in South Wales. We look forward to see where the boys continue and how they perform at Slam Dunk this year!

The Arts, Whats on

“Is this a dream or reality?” Dream State go on tour with As December Falls across Europe and the UK

Leave a comment


Words & photography by: Chloe Jackson-Nott

After having the privilege of seeing Dream State support Funeral For A Friend in Cardiff’s Utilita Arena, we needed to take the opportunity to see them live their dreams on tour with As December Falls. We managed to catch them during their show in Bristol SWX with other support act Lizzy Farrall.

Lead singer, Jessie Powell, has only been with the band for approximately a year since taking over CJ Gilpin. She has achieved incredible things in this past year and 2024 is looking even brighter for Dream State. The band had a reshuffle of members with CJ Gilpin and Rhys Wilcox’s departure, leaving Aled Evans as the remaining original member. He gathered together a team which included Jessie Powell, Jake Bowen and Tom Connolly. Dream State are a Welsh power force not to be reckoned with.

During their set with at Bristol, the band got the crowd worked up. The energy in the room was static and electrifying. As the music pulsed through the venue, crowd surfer after crowd surfer rode over the barrier channeling the adrenaline of the night ahead.

The physical manifestation of the collective energy and shared passion for the music in that room was incredible. You could see as every person that surfed to the front, they felt safe to do so in that environment and that Dream State felt adored and impassioned by the fans were so involved. Both Aled and Jessie also got involved by hopping into the audience to continue their set. Aled with his guitar to create a circle pit around him as he shredded out the song, and Jessie opening up the crowd with the audience admiring her eclectic vibe. Jessie looks sweet and innocent but then she brings out that devilish powerhouse scream and it’s a completely different aesthetic. It’s incredible to say the least!

Dream State have recently announced some very exciting things for 2024 including a featured slot on a stage at 2000 Trees and a headline tour! They’ll be on tour in March and April followed by 2000 Trees in July. Find tickets for The Dream State tour.

Still Dreaming UK Tour 2024

March 28 – Swansea – Patti Pavilion
March 29 – Bristol – Lost Horizon
March 30 – Exeter – Cavern
April 1 – Oxford – The Bullingdon
April 2 – Liverpool – District
April 4 – Newcastle – Xerox
April 5 – Glasgow – Cathouse
April 6 – Sheffield – Corporation
April 7 – Manchester – Canvas
April 9 – Nottingham – Rescue Rooms
April 10 – Norwich – Waterfront Studio
April 11 – Northampton – The Black Prince
April 12 – Birmingham – Asylum
April 13 – Portsmouth – Takedown Festival

The Arts, Whats on

In It Together Festival announces line-up for 2024!

Leave a comment

Wales’ biggest festival ‘In It Together’ returns for a third year – Sugababes, Dizzee Rascal & Rag’n’Bone Man announced as headliners for 2024.

Words & Photography: Chloe Jackson-Nott

In It Together Festival will return to Old Park Farm, Margam in May 2024. Alongside the big three headliners over the weekend, they will be joined on stage with other names like Eurovision and Tik Tok star Sam Ryder, Newton Faulkner, Scouting For Girls, Blue and many many more!

Based in Wales, this festival is known for championing Welsh music and this year they continue to give local artists and names a place on their big stage. Artists like Eleri, Banshi, Niques, Half Happy and ADJUA have been given the opportunity to perform in front of a potential 50,000 people over the course of that weekend. An opportunity that doesn’t come lightly for smaller local artists from the Welsh valleys.

I spoke to these few artists and asked how they felt about being able to be part of In It Together:

“I’m feeling really excited about my first In It Together festival! I can’t wait to see all the amazing artists on the line-up as well!” – ADJUA

“I’m so excited to be playing In It Together again after playing at the first one in 2022. It’s amazing to have a festival of that scale bringing big artists to Wales, and the Paddock Stage with local artists alongside the big names is such a good idea!” – Eleri

“I used to want to perform at this festival and I set it as a goal to get on the line-up, so to be on it now feels so rewarding.” – Niques

Eleri photographed at Tramshed, Cardiff by Chloe Michelle Photography

Niques photographed at Porters, Cardiff by Chloe Michelle Photography

Encouraging local music artists is crucial for fostering a diverse and vibrant cultural landscape. These emerging talents often bring fresh perspectives and innovative sounds that may go unnoticed in mainstream channels. Supporting them not only helps nurture creativity but also contributes to the preservation of unique regional identities.

In It Together have selected more than fifty Welsh artists alongside their star-studded line-up in a celebration of Cymru’s grassroots talent. This grassroots support fosters a sense of community, encouraging a cycle of artistic inspiration that ultimately enriches the global music scene.

Looking to treat yourself or someone you love for Christmas? Grab a weekend ticket for In It Together 2024.

The Arts

Annie Mac – ‘Before Midnight’ at DEPOT Cardiff – 11/11/2023

Leave a comment

“Life goes by really, really fast. Life is short. It thunders by. If you like the music, you gotta get up and dance.”

Words & photography: Chloe Jackson-Nott

Professionally known as Annie Mac, the internationally renowned broadcaster and DJ visited Cardiff to spin some tracks at her event night ‘Before Midnight’.

As DJ Paulette warmed up the crowd, by 8:30pm, Annie Mac popped up behind the decks making her entrance and presence known through her mix. Starting off slow and wearing a black hoodie, she allowed the crowd time to get into the groove and prepare for a heavy next few hours of vibes.

As Annie took control of the decks, she electrified the crowd creating an atmosphere charged with anticipation of the next track. She created a journey of sound to keep the audience entranced and built up the sweat and good vibes as the night continued. Annie certainly knows how to keep the crowd under her spell as the audience responds with cheers and pumped-up dance moves for hours.

Outside her music, Annie is also an advocate for positive and inclusive change. Her popular podcast, ‘Changes with Annie Macmanus’ welcomes guests to chat openly about changes they’ve faced and challenges they’ve overcome.

With 20 years of work experience in her back pocket, Annie Mac has created a strong legacy as a key music industry figure championing female artists and the LGBTQ+ community in the space.

‘Her Before Midnight inclusive clubbing concept that she launched in Spring 2022 has proved hugely popular and sells out within seconds.’

The Arts

Kids In Glass Houses – “This 15 Smart Casual Live!” – Cardiff Students Union

Leave a comment

“But I won’t admit defeat until Saturday, Saturday, Saturday…”

Review and photography by Chloe Jackson-Nott

Kids In Glass Houses, a Welsh five-piece rock band consisting of Aled Phillips, Andrew Sheehy, Iain Mahanty, Joel Fisher and Philip Jenkins. With their debut album Smart Casual turning 15 this year, they have reunited and are back on the road to bring nostalgia to the kids who have been fans since 2004.

The band announced their split back in 2014 where they played a final show on Halloween in Cardiff. On their current reunion tour, they have stopped off in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, London, Bristol and finally wrapping up in Cardiff. It felt incredibly fitting to watch Kids In Glass Houses perform on a Saturday in their home city of Cardiff, with The Nightmares as their support act.

The Nightmares are a four-piece band who describe their music as Noir Pop. The Newport band consists of Adam Parslow, Eleanor Coburn, Benjamin Mainwaring and James Mattock. With the staging set up in dark red, the band played songs from their discography with black roses attached to their microphone stands. Their vibe gave a gothic atmosphere with a melancholy crimson feel.

Kids In Glass Houses came onto the stage with bundles of energy. Aled Phillips was running around the stage and showing no sign of stopping until their set was complete. They opened with Fisticuffs and finished with Matters At All. The the eccentric dance moves from Aled, it felt like he was channelling his inner Elvis. With a sea of inflatable flamingos in the crowd, and the chanting of A.L.E.D, the final show on the tour really did end with a bang. The band were incredibly thankful that so many fans were still supporting them and selling out shows and how 15 years since Smart Casual was released has flown by. The band finished off by taking a photo with the audience and included a sign that read ‘BRB…Making A New Album!’

The Arts, Whats on

MINAS MINAS MINAS

Leave a comment

Okay so full disclosure, we are huge Minas fans over here. And we may be biased, but we think his artistic takeover at CULTVR on 17-18 November is going to be VIBES and you should buy tickets IMMEDIATELY if not sooner.

MINAS: WAITING ROOM @CULTVR

An immersive, story-driven live event by genre-busting Welsh Music Prize nominee, Minas.

Fresh off the back of a triumphant UK tour and Sŵn Festival closing set, and a Welsh Music Prize nomination for his debut solo album, All My Love Has Failed Me, Cardiff-based artist Minas presents Waiting Room – a narrative-led event featuring live music, 360-degree visuals and live performance.

The two-night Soundspace Sessions event at groundbreaking digital arts centre CULTVR is supported by Welsh Government, Cardiff Council and Cardiff Music Board and forms part of Cardiff Council’s Music Strategy.

Act One, on November 17th 2023, will feature live music from Tamarebi, Lily Webbe, Freddy Forbidden, Foxxglove, Half Happy as well as Minas himself.

Act Two, on the following night (November 18th) will see Grove, Shlug, Minas, Sorry Stacy, Razkid, Mogan, and Spit Hood perform, as well as a DJ set from Gemiiniize.

Speaking about the event, James Minas, said: “I’m so gassed about this event, it’s a chance to do something on a different scale to anything I’ve done before.

“I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s going to be kind of intense.

“The creatives I’ve been working with to put this all together have been immense, so talented and together I think we’ve created something that takes what we do live to a whole new level.”

DETAILS:

Friday 17th November:
Doors open: 6.30pm
Starts: 7pm
ACT 1 – Tamaraebi / Lily Webbe / Freddy Forbidden / Foxxglove / Half Happy / Minas
Finish time: 11pm

Saturday 18th November:
Doors open: 5pm
Starts: 5.30pm
ACT 2 – Grove / SHLUG / Minas / Sorry Stacy / Razkid / MOGAN / Spit Hood / Gemiiniize (DJ) Finish time: 12am

Tickets: One day ticket is £10 – full weekend £15
Concessions: £5 per day.

Buy tickets at the CULTVR website

See you pon the dancefloor…

The Arts, Whats on

Llais Festival – ‘A Festival of Voice’

Leave a comment

Llais Festival – ‘A Festival of Voice’ – Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

Photography: Chloe Jackson-Nott
Words: Chloe Jackson-Nott

A festival inspired by the instrument that connects us all – the voice

“Llais is Cardiff’s international arts festival, bringing artists and audiences together for incredible live music, thought-provoking performance and inspirational talks.”

Llais Festival began back in 2016 which saw a line-up of Van Morrison, Charlotte Church and Hot Chip. Last years line-up saw artists Cate Le Bon, Midlake and Pussy Riot take to the stage. For 2023, Llais Festival is bringing along The Staves, Bat For Lashes, Gwenno and many more!

(You might recognise Gwenno from the side of Clwb Ifor Bach on Womanby Street as a 38 metre mural!)

During the weekend of October 14-15, we managed to catch the sets of: Angharad Davies, Angeline Morrison, Gwenno, Clare Marie Bailey and Elaha Soroor. What a fantastic mixture of international sound and culture.

Angharad Davies – a Welsh experimental violinist demonstrating a psychedelic experience for the audience in the Cabaret bar. Angharad slowly approached the stage and setting the expectations of her performance. She performed a 52-minute solo violin piece from her single track album titled “Gwneud a Gwneud Eto / Do and Do Again.” The performance provided the room with a sense of meditation and enchantment. Angharad describes the violin as particularly intimate with an endless wealth of possibilities. The low repetitive drones and variety of high pitched scratches truly provided the audience with the psychedelic experience they were promised.

Angeline Morrison – with a focus on storytelling, Angeline performs elements of soul music, folklore, myth and the supernatural. Angeline Morrison’s 2022 album, The Sorrow Songs: Folk Songs of Black British Experience was voted Number One Folk Album of the Year in The Guardian. Angeline shared a touching story with the audience about how she was very close with her grandfather who had dementia. Her hypnotic performance interacted with the audience through precise storytelling. The audience were applauding the end of each song ready for the next.

Gwenno – this was a one- off performance exclusive to Llais Festival, titled ‘Tair Ton | Teyr Ton | Three Waves.’ We were told to expect a ‘sensory feast with added theatrics’ and that’s exactly what Gwenno treated us to. This performance celebrated her three albums with connecting themes and featured unheard live performances from her discography. Gwenno’s performance was filled with stunning lighting and graphics throughout giving the audience a show of visual satisfaction. The crowd came wearing their red hats and ready to be captivated with songs such as N.Y.C.A.W. and Men an Toll from her album, Tresor. Gwenno was a perfect wrap up act on Sunday at Llais Festival bringing along Welsh culture and voice at its finest.

The Arts

Funeral For A Friend – ‘Casually Dressed & Deep In Conversation’ – Utilita Arena, Cardiff

Leave a comment

Photography and words: Chloe Jackson-Nott

“We’ll start a fire and burn some bridges and make it out of here tonight”

Welsh band, Funeral For A Friend took to the stage at Utilita Arena, Cardiff on Saturday October 14th for their penultimate show of the ‘Casually Dressed & Deep In Conversation’ tour.

From Bridgend, formed in 2001, the band is made up of Matthew Davies-Kreye, Kris Coombs-Roberts, Gavin Burrough, Darran Smith, Richard Boucher and Ryan Richards.

During their Cardiff show, they were joined by American rock band Dashboard Confessional and Welsh rock band Dream State as supporting acts.

Opening the show, Dream State, fronted by Jessie Powell, gave the crowd a rock show entrance they will never forget. Performing their first arena show, Dream State were incredibly thankful to be part of Funeral For a Friend’s anniversary tour. Despite the size of the arena and crowd, Jessie held up her horns and threw herself into the audience, creating her own pit. This Welsh rock band was the perfect start to get this show on the road. Chin Up Princess is a song that will be on repeat for a while.

Dashboard Confessional were second on stage just before Funeral For A Friend themselves. The American rock band opened up with Don’t Wait and continued into songs such as Saints and Sailors and Screaming Infidelities. Bringing the crowd back down to a calm and collected level, Dashboard Confessional were able to maintain interaction with the audience with a special song request from a band member. Chris Carrabba told the crowd that each night on the tour they choose to play a random song from their discography.

Just over 2 hours after doors officially opened, the main show started, Funeral For A Friend were greeted by loud screams from their hometown Welsh fans. They opened with Rookie of the Year and continued into Bullet Theory. Lead singer Matthew Davies-Kreye was lucky enough to celebrate his birthday on home turf during their Cardiff show. Fans were jumping, pits were opened and the band’s 20th anniversary tour was celebrated in style at the Utilita Arena in Cardiff.

The Arts

Happy New Year! What can you do to help your community in Cardiff in 2022?

1 Comment

Hey you guys … a big happy new year from all of us here at We Are Cardiff!

Just a quick note for any of you looking for ways to help out in 2022, check out the following …

CARDIFF AND VALE HEALTH BOARD ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS!

Cardiff and Vale UHB are are currently accepting applications for Mass Vaccination Centre Meet and Greet Volunteers and Ward Befriender Volunteers. The Mass Vaccination Centres need you! (We’ve volunteered at the Jabs-R-Us in the Bay, so if you see us down there do come over and say hi!) More info: Cardiff and Vale Health Board – volunteering opportunities during COVID

 WELSH BLOOD SERVICE ARE LOOKING FOR DONORS!

Is giving in your blood? There are currently empty slots at multiple donor sessions across Cardiff through January and February – plenty of locations from central (City Hall, Cardiff Uni) out to locations throughout the wards. More info: Welsh Blood Service – donor sessions in Cardiff

OTHER VOLUNTARY OPPORTUNITIES IN CARDIFF

The Cardiff Volunteer Centre has HUNDREDS of organisations that need volunteers – from drivers for delivering food and medicine, to admin support, to retail volunteers for charity shops. Find a way to make a difference in 2022! More info: Cardiff Volunteer Centre – volunteering opportunities 2022

If you’re a charity or community organisation reading this and you want to advertise any ways people can volunteer, please post in the comments!

Keep masking up Cardiff, you look absolutely fabulous.

Biggest love from all of us

We Are Cardiff crew x

The Arts

introducing Fatherfest – the UK’s ONLY Festival of Fatherhood, september 2021 in Merthyr mawr

1 Comment

Very exciting news for dads out there – DadFest 2021 is bring a weekend of activities and fun to Merthyr Mawr in September. Read on to find out more!

DadFest, the UK’s only ‘Festival of Fatherhood’, starts Friday 10 September at Candlestone Campsite, Merthyr Mawr, South Wales. This unique festival, now in its 8th year and previously awarded ‘Best Small Event in the UK’ by the National Outdoor Events Association, is organised by Dangerous Dads CIC.

DadFest is for dads, male carers and their children (of all ages) and takes place at Candlestone Campsite, Merthyr Mawr CF32 0LS from Friday 10th September to Sunday 12th September.

DadFest organiser and founder of Dangerous Dads CIC, Ian Blackwell, is thrilled about this year’s DadFest.

“Dads tell us how much they value getting back to nature, chilling-out and spending special time with their kids and other father figures. It’s all about having some adventurous fun with their children such as playing in the woods, building dens, exploring nature, camping and sharing campfire stories, especially after the lockdown. This year there will also be circus skills workshops, bushcraft activities, great food and lots more. Although we have run DadFest in Cornwall and Devon in the past, this is our first time in Wales, so it is an exciting moment for us and we are really looking forward to seeing lots of Welsh dads having fun in the woods and at the beach.”

“Candlestone Campsite is ideal as the site extends to 15 acres, and includes exclusive access to a further 40 acres of the adjoining wood in which to walk, play and explore. Unlike traditional campsites the site retains a very natural feel and incorporates lots of habitat for wildlife, and it is close to the UK’s highest sand-dunes, the river Ogmore and the Glamorgan Heritage Coast. DadFest has access to the 840 acre Merthyr Mawr National Nature Reserve, a rolling expanse of sand dunes, woodland and a mile of sandy beach. The site is 20 miles west of Cardiff, in the picturesque thatched village of Merthyr Mawr, and 5 miles from J35 of the M4, and 2.5 miles from Bridgend. It really is an ideal and beautiful location.”

The festival is renowned for its highlight event – the ‘World Dad Dancing Championship’, hotly contested by grooving dads, much to the sheer embarrassment of their kids. As the Official WORLD Dad Dancing ChampionTM, the winning dad claims all the bragging rights it brings but first someone needs to dad-dance their way to the winning trophy. A unique trophy and prize awaits the winner.

DadFest 2021 will provide a range of activities including archery, storytelling, bat walks, bushcraft skills, campfire cooking, den building, circus skills, nature trails, live music, award winning beer & food, and more… Everything at DadFest is run by qualified, experienced leaders who are fully insured and all risk assessments are in place.

DadFest is a small, safe, and intimate festival focused on outdoor activities. Our aim every year is to get Dads and their children out and about in nature… especially after a year of being cooped up inside. This event will be COVID-secure but please do talk to us if you have any concerns or questions.

Adult Ticket – £85, children 6 and up – £40, children under 6 – £20. All activities and camping space are provided as part of every ticket. Food tickets available that entitles you to six hot meals, as well as water, juice, tea, and coffee as needed all weekend.

For more information please contact DadFest by email bookings@dangerousdads.org.uk or see the Dadfest website for tickets

Dates:
10th-12th September 2021

Venue: at Candlestone Campsite, Merthyr Mawr CF32 0LS

The Arts

The university of south wales fashion and advertising street gallery.

Leave a comment

This years graduating cohort at the University of South Wales Fashion & Advertising department have launched a graduation show with a difference. They’ve taken the show outside and city wide this year in the form of a ‘street gallery’, we love the idea!

The street gallery going up on Newport Road

If you’re out and about around Cardiff over the next few weeks, keep an eye out for the student work, its added a lot of colour across the city. You can see work from students studying Fashion Marketing and Business, Fashion Design, Fashion Promotion and Advertising Design. You can find the street gallery on Newport Road, St Andrews Place, Clare Road, Grangetown and Cathays. Each poster carries a QR code that leads you to more view student work. Its something worth keeping your head up for while you’re enjoying the city.

100-days-in-cardiff art arts blog about cardiff canton cardiff cardiff a-z cardiff bay cardiff coronavirus Cardiff letters from lockdown cardiff life cardiff lockdown cardiff music cardiff photography coronavirus coronavirus pandemic covid19 cardiff digital story events festival food green man jeremy rees Letters from Cardiff in lockdown live music live music cardiff living in cardiff music music cardiff news nofit state circus performance photography portrait photography radio cardiff roath splott street photography street photography cardiff street seen swn festival theatre wales we are cardiff wearecardiff