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Huw Stephens’ Sŵn comes to town

by Ben Davis on 22 May, 2009 | 1 comment

The Joy Formidable
The Joy Formidable

Inspired by the likes of South By South West in Texas, Sonar in Barcelona and Airwaves Festival in Rejkjavik, Radio 1’s Huw Stephens had an heroic idea to stage a music festival in a large number of music venues around Cardiff and so the Sŵn Festival was born. Now its going on tour!

On Thursday 28th May the Sŵn presents The Joy Formidable, My Latest Novel and Gallops at Central Station, Wrexham.

The beginnings of The Joy Formidable began several years ago, when school friends Ritzy and Rhydian chatted on a night out in their hometown of Mold, North Wales. Both opinionated and madly into music, an instant respect was formed and they began meeting regularly at the legendary Buckley Tivoli; then a North Walian mecca for local and touring bands. Nevertheless, in an otherwise provincial, sleepy setting, itchy feet and a fleeing were inevitable; Ritzy to Washington DC and Rhydian to Manchester, where they enjoyed separate but strangely parallel journeys as singer songwriters. It was a single phone call that reunited them, this time they would write and record together.

Back in North Wales a flurry of early recordings revealed a voice emerging; the beauty of their surroundings against the sadness of personal circumstances tugging conflictingly in their songs and selves. They decided to move, choosing London as their new home and a base for their live aspirations.

With Matt Thomas on drums, a conjoint surrealist and raw, forceful drummer The Joy Formidable have thrived on the live front. Soundscape layers are spiked by the nakedness of a 3-piece; gargantuan, clamorous bass and guitars come in waves, Ritzy seething and cooing in equal measure.

Also on the bill are My Latest Novel, who are a Scottish five-piece band from the west coast town of Greenock. Their style is somewhere between indie rock and folk pop but neither genres describe their sound exactly.

Wrexham’s math-rock heroes, Gallops are set to kick off the live music on the night. Gallops recently bagged a slot at the ‘Radio 1 Big Weekend’, among an awesome line up of British acts.

If that isn’t enough to tempt you in with, Radio 1’s Huw Stephens will be providing a DJ set to open up the night.

Tickets: £7 adv Doors: 7.30pm Over 14’s welcome. Tickets available from: Yales Café Bar, Wxm – 01978 358780, seetickets.com, ticketline.co.uk – 0870 444 5556. I.D may be required to purchase alcohol.

Links

Central Station
Sŵn on Facebook
The Joy Formidable
My Latest Novel
Gallops

Author
Posted by:

Ben Davis

Email: ben@wrexhammusic.co.uk

Ben is the founder of wrexhammusic.co.uk.
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1 Comment

  1. this shall be rather splendid

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