Category Archives: Whats on

The City, The People, Whats on

Things to do on Christmas Day in Cardiff

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Nadolig Llawen to all you lovely, lovely folks out there. There have been a couple of useful posts in the Cardiff subreddit this week which I thought I’d share (and pull some info from) in case you’re looking for something to do on Christmas Day, a place to get coffee or food, or if you’re looking for something to eat and you’re on a low income or unwaged.

Here’s what we’ve found:

Lovely lovely Queer Emporium is open 16:30 – 19:00 for a couple of hours, for folks looking for somewhere warm and welcoming

The amazing Pink Kiwi is open and serving breakfast and lunch, coffee and cake free of charge 08:00-15:00.

Another amazing local organisation – Aubergine Cafe – are hosting Queersmas in Cathays, 14:00-20:00 – free to attend but you’re encouraged to book a ticket through their site (link in their Instagram)

Here are the two posts (more info about places that are open tomorrow on there. We also hear the following Cardiff Wetherspoons are open from 11-15:00 – The Ivor Davies, The Ernest Willows, The Aneurin Bevan, The Mount Stuart):

ANYWHERE OPEN FOR A CHRISTMAS DAY COFFEE? (opens in reddit)

CHRISTMAS (opens in reddit)

If you know of anything else that’s happening tomorrow, please do leave notes in the comments.

Whatever you’re doing, we send love and vibes, and genuine hopes for peace.

WAC x

The Arts, Whats on

In It Together Festival announces line-up for 2024!

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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, Whats on

MINAS MINAS MINAS

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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’

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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.

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Cardiff hidden gems: Technicolour presents ATLANTIS

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For those tune lovers seeking out a night of solid entertainment in the city, we heartily recommend a night spent with Technicolour – the choir that brings you shows like no other!

Whether you’re seriously into musical theatre or a casual lover of a good sing-along, the Technicolour events are one of Cardiff’s best secret nights out. Think immersive theatre meets club night – a bit like Secret Cinema on a more intimate scale.

You’ll experience the power of a 120-member strong choir remixing show tunes, layering in their own special harmonies, and bringing you new fresh versions of classics. Their shows are colourful, vibrant, and full of energy.

For their next performance ATLANTIS (Sat 3 June, Cardiff Student Union – Atlantis tickets here), Technicolour invite you to get your glitter on and travel to a magical underwater kingdom, where you’ll be entertained by a rollercoaster of energetic vocal performances (think your favourite musical theatre hits – but in mash-up style). Then get your dancing shoes on for the afterparty, where the DJ spins up-beat party tunes and the festivities go all night long.

Each show is a unique experience (you’ll never see the same show twice), and the choir uses a variety of venues across the city to match the vibe of the performance.

Want to see a taste of what’s to come? Here’s a sneek peak at past show Masquerade …

Event details:

TECHNICOLOUR CHOIRS PRESENT: ATLANTIS

Saturday 3 June, Great Hall, Cardiff Student Union (19:00 – 23:00)
Tickets £15 (ATLANTIS tickets available from Eventbrite)

More links:
Technicolour Choirs – website
Technicolour Choirs – Facebook
Technicolour Choirs – Instagram

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From New York to Paris with the Sinfonia of London: live review, by Natasha Gauthier

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St David’s Hall has found itself in the centre of public debate lately, as news broke last week that Cardiff Council was considering a proposal from a private firm, Academy Music Group, to take over ownership of the beloved concert venue. As of this writing, more than 15,000 people have signed a petition calling for St. David’s to be protected as a vital performance space for classical music in the heart of Cardiff.

On Monday November 28, as if to reinforce its importance to Cardiff’s vibrant cultural scene, St David’s hosted the Sinfonia of London, billed as a “super orchestra” of top musicians hand-picked by artistic director John Wilson. Originally established in 1955 chiefly as a recording orchestra, Wilson revived the orchestra in 2018 and in a few short years has propelled it to sold out concerts across the UK, not to mention reviews so universally gushing that they border on the hyperbolic. (The Sinfonia of London is not to be confused with the City of London Sinfonia– a case of absurdly confusing nomenclature worthy of a Monty Python skit). 

Opening with William Walton’s boisterous comedy-overture Scapino, Wilson and his musicians established their trademark bold attack and swaggering virtuosity right off the bat. Walton composed the work in 1941 as a commission for the Chicago Symphony, home to one of the world’s great brass sections, and the Sinfonia brass negotiated the spirited music with ease. Wilson’s approach to conducting is remarkably economical and un-showy; like a master jockey, he can control this powerhouse ensemble with the lightest touch, and mostly knows how to stay out of their way.

The Sinfonia’s feel for panache and razzle-dazzle was on full display for Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Joining the ensemble was 26-year old British pianist Martin James Bartlett. Bartlett certainly has technical chops and musical charm to spare, but his Gershwin felt over-thought and overwrought. His playing was fussy and precious, with odd rubato choices that he perhaps thought sounded more “jazzy”. The sexiest, most impressive versions of the Rhapsody happen when the pianist relaxes into the pocket of the music, letting Gershwin’s bluesy growls and soaring skyscraper melodies speak for themselves.

The balance of the program was devoted to works by the French impressionists Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy. For this refined repertoire, Wilson’s approach needed more polish and shimmering French elegance. In both Ravel’s Valses Nobles et Sentimentales and Debussy’s La Mer, his focus on rhythm and impulsion created a sense of drama and cinematic excitement (at one point his baton went flying into the viola section), but it was too often at the expense of more nuanced orchestral colour and patient, sustained legato. The rarely performed original version of Ravel’s Bolero, composed in 1928 for the flamboyant Ballets Russes dancer Ida Rubinstein, sounded glaringly Spanish rather than achieving a more subtle effect of Spain viewed through a Frenchman’s wineglass. Some of the orchestral solos missed the mark here, in particular the tenor and soprano saxophones. Still, there was no denying the musicians’ visible enjoyment in performing this satisfying work, nor Wilson’s skill in allowing the dynamic tension to build until its explosive final flourish. 

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Natasha Gauthier has been writing about classical music in Canada and the US for more than 25 years. She is the former classical music critic for the Ottawa Citizen, in Ottawa, Canada. She currently writes for Early Music America Magazine, Opera Canada and Ludwig Van, among other online and print publications. In June she was a teaching fellow at the Rubin Institute for Music Criticism at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She moved to Cardiff in September 2022 to complete a postgraduate degree at Cardiff Uni. When not attending concerts, she spends her free time here breathing in the sea air, admiring the clouds, learning Cymraeg and trying to make friends with the magpies. 

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Bite! Cardiff – Food Festival returns to Insole Court, 27 July 2019

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Last year’s Bite! food festival was one of the highlights of our calendar. This year they’re returning, but with a new aim – sharing great food while reducing single-use plastics. Specially designed reusable cups will be available to buy at the bar (or order in advance)!

And now THIRTY incredible chefs are returning – bringing pop-up food at a street food price to the beautiful surroundings of Insole Court. They’ll all be creating a single dish each for just THREE POUNDS! Which means you can sweep the site and try loads of different dishes without busting the bank or your belt.

BITE! FOOD FESTIVAL – INSOLE COURT, CARDIFF – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

SATURDAY 27 JULY, 11AM – 9PM

BITE FESTIVAL – FACEBOOK EVENT

FOLLOW @BITECARDIFF

WHO’S GONNA BE COOKING …

  • Simon Wright, Wrights Food Emporium
  • Tommy Heaney, Heaneys & Uisce
  • Darren Lewis, Joyful Jar Company
  • Michelle Evans, Paternoster Farm
  • Jamie O’ Leary, JOLS
  • Ceri Johnston Bower, The Early Bird Bakery
  • Deri Reed, The Warren
  • Matt Waldron, Stackpole Inn
  • John Cook, EMBER
  • Tom O Sullivan, Spit & Sawdust
  • Tom Furlong & Gwyn Myring, Milkwood
  • Derw Robertson, Tan A Mwg
  • Andrew Gwynne, Gwynne’s Ice Cream
  • Jon White & Rosie Eastwood, The Two Anchors
  • Abi Dymmock, Jack & Amelie
  • Krish Pankaj, Keralan Karavan
  • Gareth Daw, Henry Webb’s Restaurant at St Mellon’s Hotel
  • Laurian Veaudour, Cocorico Patisserie
  • Vicky Crabtree, Shawarmarama
  • Stephen Terry, The Hardwick
  • Montserrat Prat, La Cuina
  • Antonio Simone, The Humble Onion
  • Nick Spann, Bao Selecta
  • Leyli Homayoonfar, Leyli Joon & Co.
  • Rob Haswell, Ceridwen Centre
  • Simmie Vedi, The Warden’s House
  • Sam Speller, Lazy Leek
  • Rhodri Evans, Pieporium
  • Lali Suto, Hoof
  • Debs Lewis, Dusty Knuckle

AND WHAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO DRINK?

The 30 chefs and producers are joined by five great drinks providers. This year, Bite Cardiff has partnered with Freedom Brewery, a member of the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA).

Wrights Wines will also be serving a range of natural wines, and Skyborry will be offering a selection of Cider and Perry.

Both Little Man Coffee Co and The Handlebar Barista will be serving coffee – so don’t forget your re-usable mugs / flasks!

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH THE REUSABLE CUPS?

In an effort to cut down on waste this year and also avoid single use plastics, Bite are selling reusable cups for use at the bar. These will be on sale on the day for £3.50, or you can buy one in advance, for £3, by clicking here.

Buying a cup helps Bite to cover the costs of putting on the event, ensuring that it can be kept *free entry* for years to come. Purchasing one in advance will help speed up and lessen the queues at the bar on the day and mean you can fast track your way into the event. The cups can also be taken away as a memento and are dishwasher safe on the top shelf.

 CAN I BRING BLANKETS ETC? 

People are encouraged to take picnic blankets, and also, their own picnic crockery and cutlery if possible, as well as refillable water bottles.

IS THE EVENT CASH-ONLY? 

Yes – you will need cash to buy tokens (stickers) which can be exchanged for food. £3 = one token = one dish. This is to prevent chefs from having to handle cash on the day. The bars will run as normal (you won’t need tokens) but the whole event will be cash only.

WHERE CAN I BUY THE FOOD TOKENS? 

These can be bought from token stalls dotted throughout the festival. You can also pre-purchase these, on any day in the week before the festival, at the Insole Court visitor centre.

ARE DOGS ALLOWED? 

Yes, well behaved dogs on a lead.

  IS THERE PARKING ON SITE? 

Parking at Insole Court is reserved for festival staff and disabled drivers only. There will be a limited amount of Bite festival parking available at Rookwood Hospital, at Fairwater Road Llandaff Cardiff CF5 2YN.

Though some parking is available at Rookwood, we are encouraging people to use public transport to access the festival as much as possible. The nearest buses that operate between Cardiff city centre and Insole Court are the 66, 25, 62 or 63 (operated by Cardiff Bus) and the 122 or 124 (operated by Stagecoach).

Insole Court is approximately a 25-minute bus ride from Cardiff city centre, and a 10-minute walk from Victoria Park.

Alternatively, the nearest train station is Fairwater. Insole Court is 500m from the Fairwater Road exit.

The main cycle routes to Insole Court are:

·      From Cardiff Bay via the Ely Trail.

·      From Cardiff city centre via the Taff Trail.

Bike parking is located near the Visitors’ Centre / in the car park.

For more information, visit: https://www.insolecourt.org/visit

***

 

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Looking for a fun, inclusive choir? Join Technicolour!

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In today’s interview, we meet Patrick Steed, the Musical Director for Technicolour – a new, inclusive choir that practises every week in Chapter Arts Centre. And they have a concert on Friday 28 June! If you’re into musicals and pop mashups, get along to their concert this Friday!

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Q. Hello Patrick! So tell us – what’s your story?

A. Cardiff has been my home since 2005 when I came here for Uni. I live here with my amazing fiancé – Matt – and after being in Wales for 14 years now, I feel I’m a Welshman! I’m a musician with a massive passion for musical theatre and choirs. I’ve been leading choirs here for 11 years. I’ve worked as a composer and lyricist for musicals such as Stalking John Barrowman, Blink! and I’ve been composer in residence for Hello Cabaret for the past three years! Musical theatre songs have the capacity for such emotional depth and invite the audience to step into a moment with a character. That’s why I love what I do!

Q. What’s your favourite musical?

A. It changes on a fairly regular basis – there are so many fantastic musicals to choose from! I absolutely love ‘Hamilton’ and it’s creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda is an absolute genius. Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Legally Blonde, The Last Five Years, Wicked and anything Disney also hold a special place in my heart.

Q. Why did you create Technicolour?

A. I love musicals. I love epic harmonies. I love festivals. I love clubbing. I love glitter. And I thought, wouldn’t it amazing if I could turn everything I love into a choir? Our tagline is #musicalsremixed – and we love putting a twist on conventional ideas. That’s why we mix up Chicago with Dua Lipa and Wicked with Ella Eyre. And that’s why our gigs feel more like club nights that concerts! We’ve got 90 members in less than a year and more joining next season – which makes me think I’m not the only person to love musicals, epic harmonies, festivals, clubbing and glitter!!!

Q. What’s next for Technicolour?

A. ‘Life in Technicolour’ – our summer gig – is fast approaching! It’s all inspired by The Wizard of Oz and uses music from an eclectic range of musicals – everything from West Side Story, to RENT to The Lion King to reimagine the classic tale. We’re taking over Tramshed and turning it into an Oz inspired wonderland! And the amazing Disco Motel will be getting us dancing until the early hours! It’s all happening on Friday 28th June from 8pm at Tramshed – there’s still some tickets available @ www.tramshedcardiff.com

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Millennial Mother’s top 5 indoor activities for kids in Cardiff

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Today, we welcome Millennial Mother over to We Are Cardiff to give us some insights into the top things to do in Cardiff with your kids – when the weather sucks! Welcome, Millennial Mother!

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The colder months are tough in our household. My three year old is one of those children who gets cabin fever after 9am. In the warmer months we can explore an array of countryside walks, beaches and parks around Cardiff. But in the winter months, with frost, rain and wind it is hard to get the motivation to change out of my loungewear and into 10 layers of waterproofs.

We have found some great indoor activities for children in Cardiff that have saved our skin more than once. This is a list of my top five. I hope you find them useful!

1. National Museum Cardiff

This was where I could usually be found on a Saturday as a child. I watched Jurassic Park about age six, and after that just wanted to be an archaeologist. I would spend days wandering around the dinosaur exhibition, pretending I was on an excavation! Now, I play the same games with my little one. After delighting in the dinosaur exhibition, you can enjoy the whale in the sky, and an intriguing creepy crawly section. Upstairs holds some beautiful pieces of art from Impressionist to Modernist, which are great to relax even the most busy of minds. I would recommend holding onto toddlers extra tightly to avoid orange crisp fingers staining 500 year old paintings though!

P.S if you like good coffee stop off at Brodie’s Coffee afterwards.

2. Cardiff International Pool

This swimming pool is a wonderful rainy day activity. The facilities are excellent, there are three large slides for older children and adults and a smaller slide for smaller children. The swimming pool doesn’t have a deep end, which is fabulous for someone like me (5 foot 3). It also has a small paddling area for younger children. The changing area is communal, which is ideal for families, as parents can swap and change to help out with kids there. On a rainy day there is nothing better than a family trip to the swimming pool. As my Nanna would say though ‘make sure you dry your hair probably before you go out in the cold as you don’t want to catch a cold!’

3. Techniquest

This is where science comes to life through interactive engagement. Children can learn how water currents are created in the water works, watch balls shoot up in the air, play on a giant piano and learn about all sorts of science. The museum is an excellent visit for children of all ages and the venue provides Toddler Days, Theatre Shows, and more. The museum is based in Cardiff Bay, so after you can enjoy a nice spot of lunch at one of the many cafes and bars.

P.S. I recommend a trip to Quantum Coffee because their coffee is insanely good, and friends have spotted A List celebs enjoying an Americano there!

4. Cardiff Story

This is my husband’s favourite place to take Nancy. As the name suggests, it tells the story of Cardiff’s rich history, and how it evolved from a small market town to the capital city we know and love. My daughter’s favourite part is the reconstruction of a house on Cathedral Road. It shows changes in these houses, and showcases how differently we live in comparison to our ancestors over one hundred years ago. There is also a variety of interactive resources that show the different people living in the Cardiff Docklands.

There is also a wonderful restaurant on the top floor that caters for children and adults alike. Milk and Sugar have a small but area with enough toys to keep your little occupied while you drink your latte. I would recommend keeping an eye on the Cardiff Story website as they often run special events called ‘Dinky Dragons’ which is a Rhyme and Story Time.

5. Playtown Cardiff

This is a hidden gem, right in the heart of Canton. Your little one can explore what it is like to be a doctor, a postman, a barista, a hairdresser, and even to do their own food shop! This imaginative playtown is a fantastic opportunity for your little one to develop their role-playing skills and to enhance their vocabulary as they come across new items. I always love to make up games and watch Nancy pretend to be me as she wanders around the shop. The centre opens in slots to allow the staff to tidy the rooms before new arrivals, I would therefore make sure you check the opening times to avoid disappointment There is also a family room for snacks and drinks, which is ideal, especially if you have more than one child and one needs feeding while the other needs entertaining.

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Thanks to Millennial Mother for dropping by! You can catch Kelly on any of her channels:

And now back to us …
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A new comedy night – underneath Cardiff Castle

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We were VERY excited about this brand new comedy night in Cardiff, put on by Little Wander, the learned folks who run the Machynlleth Comedy festival. And the venue is a brand new one for comedy in the city! Read on to find out more.

Comedy at the castle

You can catch Comedy at the Castle in Cardiff Castle’s historic Undercroft! Previous acts include Jonny and the Baptists, Evelyn Monk, Frank Foucault, and Stuart Laws. Find out about the latest Comedy at the Castle gig and buy your tickets now!).

We spoke to Little Wander to get some more info on Comedy at the Castle. 

We’re almost certainly best known as the people that founded and run Machynlleth Comedy Festival which has its tenth birthday this May. But we do loads more than Machynlleth, including we run monthly comedy clubs for arts venues across Wales and the UK, we bring touring comedians to Cardiff, mainly at Chapter and Clwb Ifor Bach, we book and manage national tours for some of the UK’s best comedians, including James Acaster, Kiri Pritchard-Mclean, Jen Brister and Gein’s Family Giftshop. Last year we made our first TV show, Stand Up at BBC Wales which went out on BBC 1 and BBC 2 in October, and also started a second comedy festival in Aberystwyth last October, which will be an annual event. Alongside this we work for other festivals, so we booked and managed the comedy at Green Man Festival since 2008, and worked with Manchester International Festival in 2017 to deliver comedy programming. We’ve worked with NTW on numerous projects including NHS70, and delivering a specific element of the Roald Dahl City of the Unexpected celebrations. We do loads of stuff, almost exclusively in comedy.

Camping at Machynlleth Comedy Festival

Gareth and Lauren, Machynlleth_Comedy_Fest
Two of Sparkles Hoop Troop enjoying the festivities at Machynlleth Comedy Festival

We always said that we’d only ever run a regular comedy night in Cardiff if we felt that it could be perfect. I knew of the Undercroft, a medieval vaulted cellar underneath Cardiff Castle, from our work on Roald Dahl’s City of the Unexpected, and always felt it would be perfect for a comedy gig. So when Lloyd Glanville from Cardiff Castle approached us I kind of knew straight away we’d say yes. It’s a perfect space for it right in the centre of the city, but couldn’t feel further from the city when you’re down there. Lloyd had been to a lot of our shows in Clwb and Chapter so had a good idea of what we offer and so we’ve got the basis of a really strong partnership. It’s going to be monthly, and there will be four acts on each month. We plan to  showcase our favourite acts from the live comedy scene, and we can’t wait to share them with the city.

Aside from our monthly night at the Castle we’ve got a fair bit on the way in Cardiff in the coming months. Keep an eye on the Little Wander Facebook page to see what’s coming.

Keep up with all the Little Wander news …

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We also recommend you take note of Machynlleth Comedy Festival is the biggie, held on the May bank holiday weekend, and the new Aberystwyth Comedy Festival held in October. Get them in your diaries, and come enjoy some world class alternative comedy in fabulous surroundings.

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Celebrating Independent Venue Week with Rainbow Maniac – Q&A and album recording photo essay

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So there’s nothing we like more on We Are Cardiff than supporting and celebrating local talent. So we dropped in to speak to good time rock and rollers Rainbow Maniac, who have just recorded their debut album, and will be playing on Tuesday 29 January at The Moon. Read on for a photo essay of the recording, and a Q&A!

And don’t forget to catch them Tuesday 29 January: Independent Venue Week – Rainbow Maniac / The Rotanas / Carolines / WYNT (all ages, The Moon).

So you guys have just recorded your album! Tell us all about it.

With Charlie Francis as our producer, we recorded most of it over two days cause we’re hipsters and we wanna be like the Beatles in the early days. It was pretty easy and relaxed because we’d thought about it for a while and we’re pretty well rehearsed.

Some of the songs have been around for two or three years, and some of the songs were finished in the last few months so it feels like we’re releasing a mini greatest hits album as our debut!

When is the album due to be released?

We want to find a label to release with first so a release date is very much TBC. We intend to put out some singles in the meantime though so don’t worry! We are going to promote our new single ‘Snowball’ and take it from there.

Can people see you live any time soon?

Yeah for sho. To promote ‘Snowball’ we booked a mini tour this month – you can catch us at the last show in Cardiff at the Moon, on the 29th January. The single is also being released on 29th so it should be a fun night getting boozy with our support acts Al Moses and Rotanas!

Many thanks to Aiyush Pachnanda of Yo SNAPS for the photos.

See the full photoshoot at the We Are Cardiff Facebook page

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Immersed! music and media festival extravaganza! – 13th Dec at Tramshed

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If you’re out and about this week, we strongly recommend you head to Tramshed on Thursday on 13 December for Immersed! – a music & media festival in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust.

The day long celebration will take over the cities iconic venue; the Tramshed Cardiff. The Cinema Room, Waiting Room, Courtyard and Cocktail bar will showcase the best upcoming talent from Cardiff’s music scene.

 

There will also be VR to play with and gaming tournaments (with chances to win prizes), glorious artwork, a photo booth, live guitar pedal demos (including an exclusive 40 per cent discount) plus delicious street food – all of this for £5 – a lot of bang for your buck!

There are £5 tickets available on the door, or get your tickets in advance here: Immersed Festival tickets

After Party The Brass Bat with special guests Luke Priestley and The Rotanas!!
Immersed Afterparty // The Rotanas DJ Set 10.30pm-3am, £2 ENTRY WITH FESTIVAL TICKET, £3 WITHOUT (all proceeds go to Teenage Cancer Trust).

*******LINEUP ********
BANG BANG ROMEO
Kyle Falconer
Aleighcia Scott
HANA2K
Eädyth
The Pitchforks
The Rotanas
The Apple Tree Theory
JayCee
Sienna UK
HVNTER
Christian Punter
Elliot Oakley Music
Lead Coloured River
Beatriz Fernandes
Matt Evans
Jed Robertson
Deneon
Klementyna Wąsiewska
Zoe Xusana Ping
Moc Isaac
Lead by Lies

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Dusty Knuckle Pizza, Bibs Nacho Hut and Scarrott’s Amusements are providing our delicious street food!

Entertainment for the day, alongside the music, comes from Daisy’s Dressing Up Box, Webster’s Face & Body Art Supplies, Set Up Entertainment Photobooth hire, Paul Flattley Pedals (with an exclusive discount for one day only on his bespoke pedals) and gaming tournaments in the Cinema Room (see programme for details)!

This is an unmissable opportunity to witness new and upcoming artists from South Wales, some of the UK’s best music makers and help to support the fantastic work that Teenage Cancer Trust do.

Immersed! is supported by the University of South Wales Horizons / Gorwelion & Forté Project / Prosiect Forté.

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