The BBC 6Music festival rolls into Cardiff this weekend bringing the full rock and roll circus of music royalty.
The event, accompanied by the Creative Wales Fringe Festival, means a week of shows and events across Cardiff’s pandemic-starved music venues.
The Fringe kicked off at The Moon on Monday, while the official BBC event began on Wednesday 30 March at Clwb Ifor Bach. This combination is designed to shine a light on the best of what Cardiff has to offer, putting its musicians and venues on an international stage alongside some of the top artists in the world.
Hosting the event is a sign of Cardiff’s ambition as a music city. In 2019, the Cardiff Music Board was created to protect and promote the city’s musical heritage. With so many popular small venues around the country being closed or forced to adapt to new surroundings, the preservation of the city’s cultural hubs is crucial to the longevity of the music scene.
Rob Toogood, owner of the Fuel nightclub and music venue, said:
We’re really happy to be part of the festival. It’s good to be part of an event that draws national attention to what the Cardiff music scene has to offer.
The photo is an illustration of Fuel nightclub and music venue created by Jack Skivens for Minty's Gig Guide.
For one venue, the Fringe offers the perfect opportunity to start fresh, bringing a new flavour to Cardiff’s musical nightlife. Carpe Noctem opens on Charles Street on Friday 1 April, hosting the ‘Bitch, please!’ launch event. Located on the site that used to be home to Minsky’s showbar, Carpe Noctem will provide a home for independent electronic music in the Welsh capital.
Bill Cummings, editor of the Cardiff-based new music webzine God Is In The TV, says the festival brings a spotlight to everything that is going on in Cardiff:
There’s a lot of exciting talent in different genres in Cardiff. You’ll hear the term Cool Cymru 2.0 but I don’t like that description. I think of it as the new Welsh wave. There is so much great stuff going on here.
For the singers and musicians who are already active in the Cardiff music scene, the festival offers a chance to showcase their talents in front of potential new audiences.
Foxxglove, who plays at Tiny Rebel on Friday 1 April, said:
I think it’s going to be massive for the Cardiff music scene and [will] put a spotlight on the talent here. There’s such a wide variety of talent from all genres and backgrounds and it’s really inspiring to see.
After two years of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled gigs comes to a close — Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford announced that all restrictions for Covid in Wales ended on Monday 28 March — it’s fair to say the city is hungry to get back to its’ booming, pre-Covid situation, getting sweaty in tiny rooms and giant halls together.
