I'm John Rostron, a Cardiff ne'er do well. I book or promote live music shows for venues in Cardiff and also promote some special gigs around Cardiff, Wales and beyond under the banner of SWN (it's pronounced 'soon' and is Welsh for 'noise'). I also co-curate and promote the annual SWN Festival in Cardiff with Huw Stephens. Occasionally I put out records on my little label My Kung Fu too. I also run Sleeveface with my friend Carl Morris. You can message me on john(at)plugtwo(dot)com.
Fresh off the back of their highly successful March tour including a sold out show in Cardiff Uni Solus, we are delighted to announce Bastille’s will be returning to Cardiff as part of their Bad Blood Returns tour. The band will appear at fifteen cities across the UK including a super special performance at Cardiff, University Great Hall on Sunday October 13th 2013.
Still only in his early 20s, Matt Corby’s songs and vocals elicit a sensation that is nothing short of captivating. Having previously been compared to legendary artists such as Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley, Matt’s songs continue to deliver a uniqueness and maturity well beyond his years while his live performances have become renowned for bringing large audiences to a complete stand still.
In 2009, he independently released his debut EP ‘Song For...’ before relocating to London and signing with renowned UK indie label Communion after capturing the attention of the label’s owner; Ben Lovett of Mumford and Sons fame.
After recording with Ian Grimble (The Libertines, Seasick Steve) and releasing his hauntingly beautiful EP, Transition To Colour in late 2010, Matt has been busy engaging audiences with his live shows. 2011 saw him playing sold out shows in London and showcasing at SXSW in Austin, Texas before coming back to Australia to play a string of intimate “Secret Garden” shows in fans’ backyards. He soon after joined UK band Elbow as the main support on their national tour of sold out Splendour sideshows in July.
His recently released EP, Into The Flame, with producer Tim Carr (Ernest Ellis, Jonathan Boulet) showcases a fresh injection of soulful growling vocals and bluesy melodies bound together with his already unique style of melodic folk. Lyrically raw and endearingly honest, his songs take the listener through an introspective and heartfelt journey. The EP also features a duet with Matt’s dear friend and keyboardist Bree Tranter, previously of Australian band, The Middle East.
Matt is currently in the studio writing and recording for his debut album which is scheduled to be released next year.
The Lovely Eggs are an underground punk rock duo from northern England.
They have a fierce punk rock ethos that music should have no rules.
For Holly and David being in a band is a way of life. True to this, they live the way they play. Fiercely, constantly in search of the good times.
With observational and often surreal lyrics about life The Lovely Eggs have a powerful stripped down sound: one vintage guitar amp, one Big Muff distortion pedal, a guitar and a drum kit.
With releases in the UK, Europe, USA and Japan, The Lovely Eggs have played hundreds of gigs around the UK, USA and Europe supporting the likes of Half Japanese, Shonen Knife, The Slits, The Television Personalities and Art Brut as well as a two month tour of America and a string of dates at SXSW in Austin, Texas.
The Lovely Eggs have recorded sessions for BBC Radio One, BBC 6 Music and XFM as well as being played by UK DJs Huw Stephens (who tipped them as wild cards in FHM's 2012 one's to watch) , Marc Riley, Steve Lamacq, Lauren Laverne, Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie, Sean Keavney, Bethan Elfyn, Rob Da Bank, Tom Robinson, Gideon Coe, John Kennedy, Chris Hawkins, Jon Hillcock and Tom Ravenscroft. Holly (guitar/vocs) and David (drums/vocs) have also worked with comedian Graham Fellows (aka John Shuttleworth) as well as Jad Fair from the seminal Texas band Half Japanese. Their songs appear in Canadian film Molly Maxwell to be released early 2013 and have been sampled by Zane Lowe for Scroobius Pip. The pair also feature on a Radio 4 Richard Brautigan documentary, presented and in discussion with Jarvis Cocker contemplating the influence of the American surreal author on their music.
Bi-polar by nature, Threatmantics attempt to crowbar as much into rock and roll as possible. Veering wildly from heartbroken folk, to balls-out rock, to spine-crushing metal, to good-time pop; barely held together by very fine thread and pretty ribbons, they play music that sounds as much like the band they wish they were as possible.
Whether they will survive the pits and troughs remains to be seen, but it’s a special thing to be able to soundtrack your own adventure.
Quiet Marauder are a lo-fi, DIY underground trio part of the Klof collective in Cardiff, Wales - as likely to sing about flamingos and moustaches as they are mental illness and scaring ladies. Their brand of anarchic, comedic and often frightening punk-freak-folk have been positively baffling audiences around the country, on the way supporting the likes of Thomas Truax, Jeffrey Lewis and Lach, while simultaneously developing a mountainous songbook that charts the humour, darkness and nonsensical aspects of humanity.
"Lo-fi Pythonesque nonsense but poetic nonsense…people making music to amuse us with a whimsical drive, which isn't something you can pick up in PC World" Adam Walton, BBC Radio Wales
"Preposterous but adorable...the perfect soundtrack for losing your mind and/or growing a moustache in eighth grade, whichever comes first. Fabulous fun" The Miniature Music Press
"Quiet Marauder will definitely be hailed as the most fun band of the whole weekend. As far as I could possibly see, there wasn't one person without a full on grin as they watched them stamp their feet and play the pots and pans whilst singing songs about kidnapping Bono and the benefits of having a moustache. Amazing!" A Musical Priority
“Absolutely, sensationally brilliant” – Tom Robinson, 6 Music.
Public Service Broadcasting are a London-based duo whose main
ingredients are: 1) J. Willgoose, Esq. on guitars, banjos, other
stringed instruments, samplings, electronic things; 2) Wrigglesworth on
drums, pianos and other electronic things.
Taking samples from
old public information films, archive footage and propaganda material,
they teach the lessons of the past through the music of the future.
Following their debut EP in August 2010 (the originally-titled ‘EP One’), PSB released ROYGBIV to the masses in March 2012.
The single won the Rebel Playlist on 6 Music and was on the receiving end of a 5* review in Artrocker magazine.
"Wicket flow. They'll bear you along in their eddies of sound, sweep you to vistas new, if you're prepared to jump in." - Adam Walton, BBC Radio Wales
"Their finely crafted melodies, basslines and intricate beats often begin gently, caressing your eardrums then building in intensity & complexity to a crashing climax only to return you safely from whence you came." - Altview Music
'Spell-binding and beautiful... Simply wonderful’ 9/10 - CLASH
‘The album has the transporting quality of a good novel.’ **** -THE TIMES
‘Successfully merges folksy surrealism with a slightly demented pop heart’ BBC 6 MUSIC - ALBUM OF THE DAY
‘Psych pop splendour... Experimentalism, melody and narrative co-existing in appealing balance.’- Q
With the 2012 release of her debut album Dream Life, Mary Epworth has
emerged as one of the UK’s most exciting talents. The album’s success in
blending 1960s West Coast psychedelia with gospel and dream pop has
gained Mary widespread radio exposure as well as glowing reviews.
During 2012, Mary’s played a sold-out headline show at the Royal Albert
Hall Elgar Room and a string of festivals including Bestival and main
stages at Hop Farm and Standon Calling.
BBC 6 Music, Radio 1,
Radio 2 and XFM are among those to play tracks from Dream Life, with 6
Music awarding it Album of the Day, and singles Black Doe and Long Gone
being playlisted at 6 Music and gaining Single of the Week accolades on
both Shaun Keaveny’s 6 Music show and XFM X-Posure. Further 6 Music
coverage has included live sessions for Lauren Laverne and Cerys
Matthews and an interview with Radcliffe and Maconie.
‘Found
yourself wishing that someone would come along and effortlessly join the
dots between doll’s-house-darkness psychedelia, Joe Meek-style mixing
desk manipulation and witchy English folk? Wish no longer: Mary Epworth
and producer / collaborator, Hand Of Glory label co-conspirator Will
Twynham have got it all covered.’ ***** - RECORD COLLECTOR
‘East Anglian songstress Mary Epworth has emerged as a fascinating
presence. At first her path seemed to lead through the British folk
underground but her sound has subsequently become layered with elements
of electronic and eclecticism.’ - MOJO
'Spell-binding and beautiful... Simply wonderful’ 9/10 - CLASH
‘The album has the transporting quality of a good novel.’ **** - THE TIMES
‘Successfully merges folksy surrealism with a slightly demented pop heart’ BBC 6 MUSIC - ALBUM OF THE DAY
‘Psych pop splendour... Experimentalism, melody and narrative co-existing in appealing balance.’ - Q
'Dream Life is a powerfully evocative album... Epworth's mesmerising
songs embody the timelessness of a fabled shanty, albeit one played
through a folk-gaze fuzzbox' - THE INDEPENDENT
‘Mary Epworth
makes glorious, enchanted folk pop... Her new album is as varied a
nosegay as you could wish for.’ - STUART MACONIE, RADIO TIMES
'Music that genuinely evokes the powerful life, danger and myth residing in the British countryside' - SUNDAY TIMES
'As mesmerising as it is unnerving' - THE GUARDIAN
'The hidden world, gleaned from the mushroom fields of Norfolk' - MOJO
'It's an amazing sound that drags you in without mercy. I've never heard anything like this. More, please!' - TERRASCOPE
'A work of bracing originality and immense subtlety. Already one
almighty, seven-league-boot shoe-in for those 2012 best of lists.' -
RECORD COLLECTOR
Distinctly Dutch, marked by the damp, chilly air and melancholic longing of ’60s masters Group 1850 but also utterly 2013, Gardner is on par with the finest new artists, yet somehow more honest and in awe of the source material with a keener ear for a strong tune than many of his peers. He’s definitely an emerging talent unafraid to follow his own unique path. After two strong singles last year that caught the attention of everyone from Shindig! to Pitchfork and NME to Mojo the next step in Baroque pop has arrived. Jacco Gardner’s Cabinet Of Curiosities is a box of delights of intricately crafted melodies guaranteed to conjure visions of sugar plum fairies and fireside stories from even the dullest imagination.
Born
from the ashes of arguably the 90’s greatest band-that-never-quite-made-it
‘Murry The Hump’, once labelled by Alex James of Blur as
‘the best new band in Britain’, counting Damien Hirst and the late Joe Strummer
as fans and notching up several John Peel sessions; Keys (formally ‘The Keys’ – they did a
Facebook and dropped the ‘The) are the sort of garage-rock psych-stompers that
upon hearing, make you want to rip off your tie, give the boss the finger, pick
up a beaten old guitar and kick start your own band.
They've had a string of critically
acclaimed releases, garnering praise and support from Radio 1, 2 and 6Music’s Huw
Stephens, Russell Kane, Jonathan Ross, Mark Lamarr, and Lauren Laverne.
The music draws on a range of quality
influences from Animal Collective, Captain Beefheart, Can, Spirit, The Black
Keys, Frank Zappa, Panda Bear and Spiritualized, Keys adeptly blend together
the new and the old, sitting alongside the likes of Super Furry Animals, The
Coral, Malachai, Tame Impala and The Bees.
Keys' new album
'Ringing in the Changes' is due for release in 2013.
THIRD PARTY (solo)
Third Party are a 4 piece R&B/garage band formed by Gruff Russell-Jones in late 2011. He is a Cardiff based artist who has been writing and recording for over ten years. Gruff also plays incredible solo sets, which will set the scene as Jacco Gardner's opening support for this show. Electric.
We're super happy to announce that the awesome TRIBES will be returning to the Welsh capital on Friday 12th April 2013. After last years NME tour with Azealia Banks, Metronomy and Two Door Cinema Club the Camden boys return with their second album ‘Wish To Scream’ due May 20th and current single ‘How The Other Half Live’ preceding it on March 25th. TRIBES are already itching to get back out on the live stage – a place they utterly thrive, after they've just completed a run of sold out shows across the UK they're on fine form.
Their next run of dates will come in two waves – kicking things off regionally from April 6-12, followed by a second run the week ‘Wish To Scream’ is released from May 21st.
‘Wish To Scream’ was produced by Kevin Augunas and recorded at the famed Sound City Studio in LA, where Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ and Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’ were brought to life. We urge you to get your tickets quick as we're sure this will be a cracker!
We're very pleased to announce that we will be hosting a stage at this years Focus Wales
in Wrexham on Saturday 27th April 2013. It will be a daytime showcase at South
Central and acts include: SAMOANS / THE BRIGHT YOUNG PEOPLE / THE ADELINES /
WE'RE NO HEROES / ESTHER / GRETA ISAAC / SCRIBER / JAMES MACGREGOR / TRWBADOR.
Focus Wales is a 3 day Music Festival & Conference held at multiple venues in Wrexham,
North Wales, UK, and takes place over the weekend of the 25th, 26th & 27th
of April 2013. The festival showcases live performances from a collection of
the very best in music of Welsh origin throughout weekend, including special
guest headliners, and selected International acts - alongside music industry
panels and discussions, featuring experts from all sectors of the music
industry.
Huw Stephens said: “We’re delighted to be nominated for an NME Award. This is thanks to the dedication of the small Sŵn team, the volunteers and all who have been to and played at Sŵn Festival since we started it six years ago. We're an independent Welsh festival and are really delighted to be given this recognition!”
John Rostron added: "I know and love all the other festivals that have been nominated, they're all brilliant, but it's so exciting to see our festival and indeed a Welsh word Sŵn in amongst the other nominees for a national award."
If you love Sŵn Festival as much as Huw, John, the Sŵn team and Sŵn volunteers do then we’d be massively grateful if you could take the time to vote athttp://www.nme.com/awardsvote/offset/17
We’d really appreciate it!
Voting closes on February 20th and the Awards Ceremony will take place on February 27th in London.
Tuesday 23rd April 2013 The Gate, Cardiff 7:30pm / 14+ show SOLD OUT
THE STAVES
Emily, Jessica and Camilla Staveley-Taylor are three sisters from
Watford, whose tender folk melodies are sure to win the hearts of any
living thing with ears that function.
Having been the undercard
for the likes of Willy Mason, Joshua Radin and, more recently, Bon
Iver, this gorgeous trio have done themselves proud having impressed
renowned producers Glyn and Ethan Jones (The Rolling Stones, Kings Of
Leon) so much that they requested to share production duties on their
forthcoming album. Expect flawless, crowd-silencing harmonies and
countless Laura Marling-isms.
Born
in Cambridge but presently working in a call centre in Waterloo,
24-year-old Sivu assimilates an unusual mix of sounds and textures. His
biggest influences are the lilting melodies of Frank Sinatra, the
left-field pop of Bjork or Wild Beasts, and particularly Beck – a singer
and songwriter who nonetheless doesn’t suit the “singer-songwriter”
tag, as Sivu’s own intricate but ambitious sound is a testament to.
‘Better Man Than He’ blends dreamy acoustics and subtle electronic
touches into a sound that befits Sivu’s idiosyncratic moniker
