Live Review: Sŵn Festival 2024, October 17-19 2024

Few names have become quite as symbolic over the years than that of Cardiff's Sŵn Festival. In their long standing championing of new music and home-grown talent, it was back once again for another impressive showcase of the freshest sounds, bringing together artists from all corners of the scene. 

And whilst it only feels like yesterday we were trudging around the inner city with tired legs and ringing ears, the calendar has already rolled around once again. 365 sweet days. With a shiny updated app, timetables saved, and feeling energised under foot, 2024's extravaganza was set to be a blinder. 

Taking place from Thursday October 17th to Saturday October 19th, this year’s iteration of the festival saw Sŵn become a proud partner of Cardiff Music City Festival: a three week-long celebration of innovative, accomplished music coming to the city, full of gigs, immersive happenings, residencies, installations, and pop-ups, pushing the boundaries of music, performance and tech. 

For the new music fan there really was no better place to be as fans looked to cram in as much as was humanely possible over three sprawling days of exciting new talent set across 9 stages in the capital city of Wales.

Thursday
With wristbands acquired from the new exchange at Mad Dog Brewery, it was just a short walk to the evening's first venue. My First Time were already well underway, throwing out their angular indie anthems. With just 2 songs on Spotify they proved they had plenty more tricks up their sleeves as they were quick to get the crowd moving. A short hop next door to Fuel and Welsh outfit Public Order had already packed out the room with their anthemic rock. With propulsive melodies and catchy lyrics the band wasted no time in engaging with the crowd who readily lapped it up in excitement. Across the road, sadly The Tubs had to pull out, but that didn't mean festival goers were left empty handed. Cardiff's very own, and Sŵn fan-favourites, The Family Battenberg were on hand, ready to lay down their towering psych-rock energy. Having packed out last year's event lead singer Eliot was quick to joke "they said they wouldn't have us back again....but here we are". I still stand by my statement that they're one of the tightest, innovative band's to rise from the city in recent months, and tonight only went to solidify that as they charged through their expulsive guitar riffs and crashing percussion to huge effect. 

For anyone yet to experience the magic of the festival, the true joy with Sŵn is realising just how close the venues are in approximation to one another. 

Whilst there are inevitable clashes, with a little forward planning you can really cram your itinerary and see a huge amount on offer with very minimal effort, even with the overlaps. Hence just a stones throw from Clwb Ifor Bach, Wrkhouse were taking up place at Tiny Rebel. Through their distinct shouty vocals, winding guitars and dreamy synth textures, the Welsh outfit's groove heavy sound was a sure fire hit. 

With ears ringing, it was back to Clwb for a final round up on the evening with Half Happy. Having played Sŵn Festival's Winter Warmers series last year, the band have continued to build traction with a string of new singles and now a debut EP to boot. With their refined confidence the lucky fans inside were treated to a soaring display that saw the band really get in to their swirling pop nuances. 

A truly solid opening night that saw me retreat at a sensible hour in preparation for two more packed days.

The Family Battenberg

Friday
In a shock turn of events, the opening night of Sŵn remained dry. Wales, without rain, would you believe it. Sadly, that wouldn't last, but it wasn't the only storm brewing on the horizon.

With another stacked evening of entertainment, Irish Singer/songwriter, Sarah Crean began with a soft launch to ease any sore heads from the prior night's antics. Despite being ill having been on tour, every note was pitch-perfect as her songs told stories of heartbreak and sadness in excruciating detail. Whilst her usual music is played with a full band, tonight fans got the acoustic experience which only added to her emotive prowess as the set meandered through her endearing and earnest songwriting. Thankfully everyone made it through without tears. Just. 

Down the street at Tiny Rebel, Carmarthenshire's Emyr Sion had packed out the room with many fans huddled in the doorway. His website's bio 'Writing folk and country inspired hooks wrapped in psychedelic melodies to stave off repeated existential crises' pretty much sums up what's on display. Beautifully translated live, the band's Kurt Vile-esque melodies and rhythmic guitars kept fans engaged to the final note as they carved their introspections against a whimsical, sumptuous backdrop.

Thankfully the heavens hadn't opened yet so a short stroll to Tramshed to catch Buzzard, Buzzard, Buzzard made only logical sense as their glam rock and heavier numbers rushed over the crowd. With a quick bite to eat to re-fuel, it was next off to the beautiful Grade II listed Cornerstone for Pys Melyn who gave fans a treat in wistful psychedelia accompanied by their humours lyrics. 

Elsewhere Plastic Estate brought light in to darkened Jacob's Basement as the Welsh duo's atmospheric synth-pop and rumbling basslines were quick to the get the crowd hyped as cheers filled the room and jackets ferociously swung above heads. Back in Womanby Street, there was no time to catch breath as The None showcased their exhilarating blend of alternative punk downstairs in Clwb Ifor Bach through thrashing riffs and pummelling percussion.

Upstairs it was a more sombre, heads down affair as Art School Girlfriend began with Polly Mackey asking if everyone was ready to get depressed. With the crowd settled in for an an evening of ethereal brilliance and atmospheric electronica, Mackey returned to her roots without the full band, instead opting to switch between guitar loops, keys and samples as haunting soundscapes and dazzling synth crescendos skittered in to life across its post-rave electronic backdrop.

Sarah Crean

Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard

Pys Melyn

Art School Girlfriend

Saturday
Feeling thrown off with the days with no Sunday round-up this year, and possibly for the better, Sŵn entered its final leg. One that promised to be jammed with new music ready to sink your teeth in to.

For anyone braving the heat downstairs in Clwb's sauna, Freak Slug kept temperatures at an all time high as their warming indie-pop anthems enveloped the room. Behind the name is Xenya Genovese, a Manchester-based songwriter and performer who was joined by a full band to re-visualise her hazy, colourful soundscapes. 

Elsewhere in the vicinity, Pleasing, a Luxembourg post-hardcore/emo outfit were showing Tiny Rebel what they're made of with their crashing percussion and infectious guitar riffs. Meanwhile Welsh artist Griff Lynch was back in the Sauna of Clwb with his electronic-pop nuances. Despite the lyrics darker content, his fun, unconventional songwriting gave it an upbeat edge that added an alternative dynamic to his sound. Certainly one to keep an eye (or rather ear) on as he takes on a solo adventure away from Yr Ods.

With the sun beaming it was a leisurely stroll down to Jacobs next for Mary In The Junkyard. The London outfit make ethereally atmospheric guitar pop and it transcended well in to the attentive audience. There's even a collective howl with their single 'ghost' which supposedly only happens in London.

Over in Fuel Crinc unleashed their equally chaotic yet structured experimental rock as they switched up vocals, infused Public Service Broadcasting-esque samples in to their sound, and were quick to generate mosh-pit energy. 

A quick dash to Tramshed followed for Antony Szmierek as he approaches the release of his debut album Service Station At The End Of The Universe. Having cut his teeth on the Manchester spoken word scene, he quickly began an ascent in music. And live it's clear to see why as he exuded joy and optimism to every corner of the room as the party atmosphere began to kick off. Joined on stage by Lily Fontaine for a Sugababes cover, not to mention their brilliant rendition of Happy Mondays Step On, the room was wall to wall dancing as garage beats and soft electronics resonated throughout.

Next on the bill was Mercury Prize winning English Teacher. A huge step up form their last Cardiff show at Clwb, the band were in great spirits as they wasted no time getting in to 'The World’s Biggest Paving Slab'. Packing out the room it's clear to see their rise in popularity and this feeds in to their confidence as they suavely move through their set's biggest hits including R&B and Daffodils.

Back in Womanby Street, Sŵn's epicentre and beating heart, a queue had now formed outside Clwb in anticipation of Porij. Thankfully fans were let in just in time to experience their hair-raising garage inspired sound. Vocalist Scout 'Egg' Moore is a true captivator of fun and made sure everyone front to back was involved. So much so they had to self-refrain from talking in order to squeeze in as much music as possible. A definite highlight.

It would seem the people of Wales are made from sterner stuff as plenty made a final trip to Jacob's Market to catch Manchester's Night Bus. I suppose it's still a Saturday night after all. Perfectly capturing the sensory space of the basement with their darkened pop soundscapes, the band's insatiably catchy guitar melodies and soft vocals served as the perfect end to another pristine year of music discovery. 

Antony Szmierek

English Teacher

Porij

Night Bus

Many years on from its very first edition back in 2007, Sŵn Festival 2024 has once again proven why it remains such an important fixture in Wales' cultural calendar. With its huge mix of established headliners, rising stars, and local talent, along with its vibrant multi-venue atmosphere, it ensured a thrilling and immersive experience for all in attendance. Whether you were there for the high-energy punk of SHLUG and Lambrini Girls or the ethereal melodies of Welsh acts like Talulah, there was something for everyone. Diolch as always to all the organisers, volunteers and fans involved that have made Sŵn what it is today. 

*****