Bitter Sweet Symphonies was founded on the basis of two elements: music and community. The want (but more accurately, the need) to share good music with more than just oneself, to foster a collective space in order to start conversations, to spread the word about underground gems and celebrate this communal medium.
Even in the middle of what might well be the wettest Autumn Wales has seen in a long time, the sun shone on the 2019 edition of Sŵn Festival, both literally and figuratively. In its long history, the festival has rarely attempted to fit within its programme not only such a number of quality acts […]
What to say about this year’s round of Neighbourhood Festival? It was eclectic. The programming was focused on a few particular styles of music, yet the acts and what they brought in their live shows ranged from highly conceptualised spectacle, cathartic solitude, breathtaking precision, to beautifully collective uproar – as well as steadily providing entertaining […]
It’s that time of year again, as we reach the end of September the UK’s Northern climate becomes increasingly more seasonal, outdoor living starts to feel less practical, so we retreat indoors, and fill the hallowed spaces of cosy back rooms with renewed warmth. Just as festival season appears to be over for another term, […]
As a third wave of artist announcements has rolled in, and little more than a month separates us from the start of Sŵn Festival, the multi-venue musical event to take place in Cardiff on the weekend of the 18th to 20th October is shaping up to be one to remember. Our previous entries in the […]
Summer may be drawing to an end, but the festival season of 2019 is far from over. Sŵn Festival is coming to Cardiff in October, bringing three days of innovative, out-of-the-box, challenging and refreshing music to the Welsh capital. Founded by Huw Stephens and John Rostron, and now run by local grassroots music institution Clwb […]
Among the many things to grace this year’s Sŵn Festival, now not too far away with the weekend of October 18-20th looming ever closer, there is a sizable contingent of Irish bands. If the UK music scene has been enjoying a moment of particular grace lately, bands across the Irish Sea have been no less […]
As the second wave of artists performing at Cardiff’s Sŵn Festival has now been released, the line-up of the multi-venue festival coming to the Welsh capital next October is looking even more impressive than it already did. There are many reasons why this year’s edition is shaping up to be one not to miss, among […]
Our path towards Sŵn Festival, the multi-venue festival that is going to take over the Cardiff music scene for the weekend of 18th, 19th and 20th October, touches base in neighbouring Bristol yet again, as I discuss musical oddities, the state of the post-punk scene and dark humour with Alastair Shuttleworth, vocalist for self-described satirical […]
Summer festival season is gearing back up, it’s that time of year where we abandon city skyscrapers and trek to the countryside for an extended weekend of partying in the fields and singing our lungs out to our favourite bands, gathered with our nearest and dearest. In July, Derbyshire’s idyllic Y Not Festival returns – […]
Sŵn Festival is coming back to Cardiff next October, and from the first wave of artists announced it already looks like this year’s line-up for the original Welsh multi-venue festival is going to be one of its most exciting. As the festival approaches, I’ll be talking to some of the artists that are going to […]
Occupying the second Bank Holiday weekend in May, Neighbourhood Weekender returned for its sophomore run with a packed schedule of live music, performance and fairground fun. The festival benefits from its central location and easily accessible site, taking place in Warrington’s expansive Victoria Park the event is uniquely staged and administered. Covering all forms of […]
As new music festivals go, Live at Leeds is the premier league – a metropolitan wurlitzer of entertainment and culture pinpointing talent from all corners of the globe then bringing them together for one blistering day. The great Northern city offers a playground for escapism, adventure and pilgrimage, spanning miles of terrain the venues are […]
Returning for a second year of sunshine-soaked entertainment in the grounds of Warrington’s Victoria Park, SJM Concerts’ Neighbourhood Weekender confirms its two-day residency for Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th of May. For all attending the festival will provide a full roster of musical highlights alongside a fantastic selection of local food and drink.
It’s confirmed, Live at Leeds will return on Saturday, May 4th of 2019 for its annual bank holiday weekend jamboree where music lovers from all across the country commune to enjoy a day of new music discovery and live performance. The festival has built a world-class reputation over its 12-year span, known for its immaculate […]
Two creative institutions are teaming up to host a festive shindig of unforgettable live entertainment and innovative vision: Manchester-based powerhouse, Scruff of the Neck and London-hailing tastemakers, Distiller Music. The collaboration configures a stellar light bulb moment, connecting a pair of prominent music venues with a bill of artists, noteworthy and compelling.
2018’s edition of Off The Record underlined the festival’s fast-growing reputation as a key catalyst for spreading the awareness of and celebrating new music, with the conference taking place throughout the day on Friday 16th November and artists performing way into the night.
This year’s Neighbourhood gathering brought epic highs and communal revelry to Manchester’s city streets and venues. The third edition of the festival installs Neighbourhood as a burgeoning institution, the music day out raises the bar with each consecutive outing defining a savvy brand, strongly engineered and thoughtfully delivered.
At the end of another summer of great festivals we headed to the little town of Bingley, more specifically Myrtle Park, for the final day of Bingley Music Live for one last hurrah by way of seeing some great bands in a field with thousands of other people before the winter takes it all away […]
Once again, Bingley Music Live is back to see out the festival season with an array of great acts across three days in the beautiful setting of the Yorkshire hills. We’re heading down for the final day on Sunday, and with so many great bands to see in so little time, we thought it best to […]