Sŵn Festival that was taken over by Clwb Ifor Bach in 2018 has announced the first round of artists joining its annual roster, for three days of the finest music and performance in the Welsh capital. The festival will take place from 18 to 20 October 2019 and features a carefully curated, diverse line up of upcoming and established acts. The Comet Is Coming, Gruff Rhys, Nilüfer Yanya, Self Esteem, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Easy Life, Bill Ryder-Jones and She Drew The Gun are all in the line-up.
Guto Brychan, Chief Executive of Clwb Ifor Bach, said:
Taking on Sŵn last year was the first time Clwb had put on an event of its type. This year, we’re taking it back to its originality and keeping it to the weekend with three full days of the best music and performances. No headline acts, just great artists at all levels around the city. So far, 2019 looks promising for the Cardiff music scene, with the new music strategy coming in to place we should see the music potential reach new heights and it’s great that both Clwb and Sŵn will be a part of that.
Gruff Rhys will share melodic thoughts about the state of our modern world. Rhys will be circulating the UK festival scene this summer, before bringing the wit and humour back to his native homeland. London based trio, The Comet Is Coming will bring their mind-bending, psychedelic jazz from the cosmos and back down to earth with their unique, experimental ‘soundtrack to an imagined apocalypse’.
Adding to the action is Nilüfer Yanya, who’s sound unites dark guitar pop, laid back indie undertones and up upbeat synth-y electronica. Lyrically, she delves in to complex but relevant themes around mental health and soul experiences. After a successful 2018 which included signing to Island Records, playing Reading & Leeds and performing on Jools Holland, Easy Life will no doubt deliver northern charisma and clever rhymes. Their lyrics explore a simpler existence, layered with a dreamy fusion of synth-heavy R&B and jazz.
Following an already promising line-up Self Esteem will perform her bubbly, experimental pop from her first solo album, Compliments Please. Not one to disappoint, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs (or PIGSx7 for short) will be sure to bring the speaker blowing noise with their blend of dark acid rock and psych metal. Among those joining the roster is the raw and effortless, Bill Ryder-Jones, darkly hypnotic, She Drew The Gun, the charming We Were Promised Jetpacks, enigmatic Black Country, New Road and the bluesy soul of Rozi Plain.
Full announcement
We're also throwing a party Friday night at @ClwbIforBach!
Come see some of the artists from our first wave announcement at a FREE GIG at @ClwbIforBach
(line-up to be announced on the day)
RSVP https://t.co/gf77U7m0IR pic.twitter.com/5f4tZ8CRZ5
— Sŵn Festival (@SwnFestival) April 24, 2019
The free event to celebrate the announcement was held at Clwb Ifor Bach on Friday 26 April and did not dissappoint. Starting with Cardiff-via-North-Wales band Papur Wal with their slacker vibes from the well-horizontal end of the rock spectrum. Latest track Dyddiau Well I Ddod is their best yet – slow, fuzzy guitar notes underpinning hazy vocals before crashing together in a brief burst of noise, early Pavement meeting Dinosaur Jr at chucking out time. The Cardiff based band were followed by Big Thing, a band as shiny as the music they create, their track On Freaking Out channels pure singalong guitar pop while on Spin they prove equally adept at slowing and expanding their sound. Ending the party were Nottingham band, Do Nothing, only two singles old their songs take on brooding rock and roll, half sung, half spoken vocals rolling over guitars and then Hard Lines Coffe DJs took over as people filtered onto the dance floor.
For the full announcement of artists and to get your tickets, go to swnfest.com. Follow @SwnFestival on Twitter.
