Swn
Encyclopedia
The Sŵn Festival is a music festival
curated by BBC Radio 1
DJ Huw Stephens
and Cardiff-based promoter John Rostron, which takes place annually in Stephens' hometown of Cardiff
, Wales
. The first Sŵn Festival took place on the 9–11 November 2007. Bands playing included The Cribs
, Beirut
, David Holmes
, Edwyn Collins
and Cherry Ghost
.
Music is the festival's core medium, although Art and Film are both incorporated into the schedule. Stephens' eclectic musical taste is reflected in the diversity of the artists performing, and Welsh language bands are well represented on the line-up.
The 2008 festival took place on the 14–16 November 2008. Bands playing included Golden Silvers
, Truckers of Husk, Micachu And The Shapes, Little Comets
, Young Marble Giants
, Euros Childs
, Colorama
, Sweet Baboo and Rob Da Bank
.
The 2009 festival took place Thursday 22 - Saturday 24 October 2009. Dananananaykroyd
, Johnny Foreigner
, Copy Haho, Munch Munch, the Drums
, Longcut, Girls
, Gaggle, the Twilight Sad
, Cate le Bon
, Talons
, Sweet Baboo, and Cardiff-based band Los Campesinos!
played. Venues used in 2009 were Chapter Arts Centre
, Barfly, City Arms, Clwb Ifor Bach, Dempseys, Y Fuwch Goch, The Model Inn, The Toucan, Cardiff University Students Union, The Gate, The Vulcan and the National Museum Cardiff.
Now entering its fifth year, and expanding to cover four days Sŵn festival 2011 will take place on October 20, 21, 22 and 23rd in Cardiff City Centre.
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
curated by BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ Huw Stephens
Huw Stephens
Huw Stephens is a radio presenter currently broadcasting shows on BBC Radio 1.-Early life and career:Stephens was born in Cardiff, Wales, the son of the author and literary journalist Meic Stephens...
and Cardiff-based promoter John Rostron, which takes place annually in Stephens' hometown of Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The first Sŵn Festival took place on the 9–11 November 2007. Bands playing included The Cribs
The Cribs
The Cribs are an English three-piece indie rock band from Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The band consists of twins Gary and Ryan Jarman and their younger brother Ross Jarman. They were subsequently joined by ex-The Smiths and Modest Mouse guitarist Johnny Marr who was made a formal member of the group...
, Beirut
Beirut (band)
Beirut is an American band which was originally the solo musical project of Santa Fe native Zachary Francis Condon, and later expanded into a band. The band's first performances were in Wollaston, United Kingdom, in May 2006, to support the release of their debut album, Gulag Orkestar...
, David Holmes
David Holmes
David Holmes is the name of:* David Holmes , stuntman and actor in the Harry Potter films* David Holmes , former Chairman of Rangers* David Holmes , former BBC Political Editor...
, Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Stephen Collins is an Ivor Novello Award winning Scottish musician, playing mostly electric guitar-driven pop. Collins formed the musical group Nu-Sonics in 1976, which later became Orange Juice...
and Cherry Ghost
Cherry Ghost
Cherry Ghost is an indie rock band from Bolton, England. Their debut album, Thirst for Romance, was released in July 2007 and entered the UK Album Charts at #7...
.
Music is the festival's core medium, although Art and Film are both incorporated into the schedule. Stephens' eclectic musical taste is reflected in the diversity of the artists performing, and Welsh language bands are well represented on the line-up.
The 2008 festival took place on the 14–16 November 2008. Bands playing included Golden Silvers
Golden Silvers
Golden Silvers are a band from London signed to independent record label XL. The line-up consists of vocalist and keyboardist Gwilym Gold, Ben Moorhouse on bass guitar, and Robden Alexis Nunez on drums.-Early stages:...
, Truckers of Husk, Micachu And The Shapes, Little Comets
Little Comets
Little Comets are an indie rock-quartet from Jarrow and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. They are described to play 'kitchen sink indie' music. In early 2009 the band were signed to Columbia Records and released their debut album In Search of Elusive Little Comets on 31 January 2011.-Career:On 9 February 2009...
, Young Marble Giants
Young Marble Giants
Young Marble Giants were a post-punk band formed in Cardiff, Wales in 1978. A trio, their music was constructed around the powerful and minimal instrumentation of brothers Philip and Stuart Moxham along with the vocals of Alison Statton.-History:...
, Euros Childs
Euros Childs
Euros Childs is a Welsh musician and songwriter, best known as the frontman for the band Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. His sister is the violinist Megan Childs...
, Colorama
Colorama (band)
Colorama is a psych folk / dream pop group formed by multi-instrumentalist / singer-songwriter Carwyn Ellis. Other members currently include Luca Guernieri on drums and David Page on Bass...
, Sweet Baboo and Rob Da Bank
Rob da Bank
Robert John Gorham, known by the pseudonym Rob da Bank, is a British disc jockey. He presents a Friday-night/Saturday-morning show, Rob da Bank, on BBC Radio 1 from 5am-7am, focused on promoting new left field music...
.
The 2009 festival took place Thursday 22 - Saturday 24 October 2009. Dananananaykroyd
Dananananaykroyd
Dananananaykroyd was a six-piece, self-dubbed 'Fight Pop' band formed in 2006 in Glasgow, Scotland. Their name is a play on the name of Canadian actor Dan Aykroyd...
, Johnny Foreigner
Johnny Foreigner
Johnny Foreigner are an indie rock trio from Birmingham, England, consisting of guitarist/lead vocalist Alexei Berrow, drummer Junior Elvis Washington Laidley and bassist Kelly Southern...
, Copy Haho, Munch Munch, the Drums
The Drums
The Drums are an American indie pop band from Brooklyn, NY with members stemming from the shortlived band Elkland . The band is currently on the Moshi Moshi/Island , Universal and Frenchkiss labels.-Formation:...
, Longcut, Girls
Girls (band)
Girls is an indie rock band from San Francisco, California. Made up of two key members, Christopher Owens who is the main writer and Chet "JR" White who plays bass and produces. The band's lead singer, Christopher Owens, is a former member of the Children of God cult...
, Gaggle, the Twilight Sad
The Twilight Sad
The Twilight Sad are an indie rock band from Kilsyth, Scotland, comprising James Graham , Andy MacFarlane and Mark Devine . The band are currently signed to Fat Cat Records and have released two full-length albums, as well as several EPs and singles...
, Cate le Bon
Cate Le Bon
Cate Le Bon is a singer-songwriter from Penboyr, Wales and now based in Cardiff, Wales, who sings in both English and Welsh.She first gained public attention when she supported Gruff Rhys on his 2007 solo UK tour. She has since played Glastonbury, Latitude and the Green Man Festival...
, Talons
Talons (band)
Talons are a 6-piece instrumental band from Hereford. They formed in 2008, altering the line up from an older band, Kites, and recruiting two violinists.-Career:Talons formed in 2008 as a reincarnation of an older band, Kites, with an altered line up....
, Sweet Baboo, and Cardiff-based band Los Campesinos!
Los Campesinos!
Los Campesinos! are a seven piece indie pop band from Cardiff, Wales, formed in early 2006 at Cardiff University. Although the band formed in Wales, none of its members are Welsh. They released their debut album, Hold on Now, Youngster..., in February 2008 and followed this up by releasing a record...
played. Venues used in 2009 were Chapter Arts Centre
Chapter Arts Centre
Chapter Arts Centre is an arts centre in Canton, Cardiff, Wales. It hosts films, plays, performance art and live music, and includes a free art gallery, café and bars. There are also over 60 work spaces, used for an eclectic range of purposes including Chapter's own training courses.Income for...
, Barfly, City Arms, Clwb Ifor Bach, Dempseys, Y Fuwch Goch, The Model Inn, The Toucan, Cardiff University Students Union, The Gate, The Vulcan and the National Museum Cardiff.
Now entering its fifth year, and expanding to cover four days Sŵn festival 2011 will take place on October 20, 21, 22 and 23rd in Cardiff City Centre.