Latest news with #CardiffMusicCityFestival
Business News Wales
20-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
The Music Scene That Builds a Better Cardiff
As Cardiff gears up for one of its busiest summers yet, with Oasis kicking off their reunion tour at the Principality Stadium and dozens more major live music events planned across the city, the economic benefits are clear. An estimated £100 million of fan spending linked to just two Oasis concerts is certainly not to be underestimated. But as someone working closely with place-based development and cultural events, I think it's important to see these headline numbers as just one part of an exciting bigger picture. Large-scale music events have undoubted appeal. They capture headlines, draw in crowds, and place Cardiff firmly on the touring map for world-class acts. These moments are important not just for the spend they bring, but for how they position Cardiff as a city capable of hosting major cultural milestones. The fact that Oasis is launching its reunion tour here says something about the city's growing reputation, as did last year's Taylor Swift and Pink concerts. Those were events that brought international visitors and sparked a real sense of buzz and civic pride. But the challenge – and also the opportunity – lies in how we capitalise on that momentum. The biggest shows can often feel like parachute events – high-impact but fleeting. Much of the associated spending, such as on tickets or merchandise, may not remain in the local economy. So while the short-term boost is welcome, the long-term gains come from thinking about how these events connect to Cardiff more broadly – and how we ensure they help build a more vibrant, sustainable cultural ecosystem. That's where the role of more grassroots and homegrown music activity becomes vital. Events like the Cardiff Music City Festival, which launched last autumn, provide a different type of value. My colleague Dr Dewi Jaimangal-Jones at Cardiff Metropolitan University evaluated that first festival and found positive results, particularly from an economic standpoint. But the significance of events like this extends beyond what we can easily quantify. The Cardiff Music City Festival, and the Music City strategy that underpins it, reflects a growing ambition to make Cardiff a recognised hub for music and culture. It brought together gigs, performances and installations across a wide range of venues – from grassroots spaces to more established locations. It also drew in artists from across genres and backgrounds, including homegrown talent like Mace the Great and High Contrast, alongside international acts such as Lauryn Hill and Leftfield. These sorts of events don't just attract visitors; they give local people reasons to re-engage with their city, support its venues and celebrate its creative output. One of the challenges we saw with the first year of the festival was around awareness. While people attended individual gigs, they weren't always aware that these were part of a wider programme. So there's still work to do in building that profile, encouraging more residents and businesses to get behind it, and showing that music is not just something that happens to Cardiff, but something that is shaped by and for the people who live here. Smaller-scale events also offer a different kind of accessibility. They tend to be more affordable and inclusive, helping to ensure that music is not just a visitor product, but a civic asset. When events are spread across different parts of the city and across different times of the year, they bring a more even spread of engagement and footfall – something that's particularly important for local retailers and hospitality businesses. Of course, major concerts have their place. They are part of what gives Cardiff its edge. But they are not the whole story. And they can bring with them challenges too – from road closures to disruption, and in some cases, displacement activity where people actively avoid the city centre unless attending the event. A more balanced approach means recognising the value of both the big moments and the steady, year-round rhythm of local music activity. This summer, with more than 30 headline gigs scheduled across venues including the Principality Stadium, Cardiff Castle and Blackweir Fields, the city has a unique opportunity. Events like the new Blackweir Live series, which is already attracting audiences from beyond the city, show how music can activate quieter periods and bring people into the city centre at times when footfall would otherwise dip. It also highlights how Cardiff's music scene is evolving – not just in terms of scale, but in terms of variety, reach and ambition. The challenge for all of us – academics, event organisers, policymakers and residents alike – is to celebrate the big names while also championing the grassroots. That's how we make music matter – not just for a weekend, but for the long term.
Wales Online
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Cardiff music festival returns for 2025 as first details emerge
Cardiff music festival returns for 2025 as first details emerge After a successful first year, the festival will be back this autumn Venues across the city will be hosting performances in October (Image: Shared with Reach PLC ) A successful new music festival will be returning to Wales for its second year this autumn. The dates for the Cardiff Music City Festival 2025 have been officially announced as artists gear up to perform around the capital city. The pilot festival last year brought together a number of existing music and cultural events across the city, like the Swn and Llais festivals, and showcased other major acts and pop up events at venue across the city. As well as popular Wales-based musicians - promoters and immersive tech specialists will entertain audiences through urban soundscapes, inspiring talks, and industry sessions. Cardiff Council have officially announced that the Cardiff Music City Festival will take place from Friday, October 3 to Saturday, October 18 2025. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here Whilst the festival this year will only take place over 15 days rather than 24 days like last year, the programme is said to be jammed packed with unique performances. Cardiff Council have confirmed the inclusion of events such as Sŵn, Wales Millennium Centre's international arts weekend, Llais, and the Welsh Music Prize. LEMFRECK won the Welsh Music Prize 2024 for album Blood, Sweat & Fears at the Wales Millennium Centre (Image: Welsh Music Prize ) Article continues below The council said: "The 2025 festival programme promises to build on the success of last year's inaugural festival and keep pushing the boundaries of music innovation, performance and technology." In the festival's first year it saw thousands of people enjoy performances from artists Leftfield and Orbital and Ms. Lauryn Hill and The Fugees, legendary bass player Pino Palladino and shows from Mercury music prize winners English Teacher, post-punk outfit Squid and Welsh talent like Mace the Great, LEMFRECK and Sage Todz. Bilingual Welsh artist, Sage Todz performed as part of the festival last year (Image: Football Association of Wales ) When creating the festival, Cardiff Council had hopes that it will build a reputation similar to well-known European festivals like Sonar Barcelona and Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg. With the city losing its nightlife venues, the Cardiff Music City Festival is a key initiative in the Cardiff Music Strategy which aims to protect, promote and develop the city's music sector. Cabinet member for culture, parks and events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: "Cardiff is such a vibrant city, full of music, artistic expression and innovation. Article continues below "The festival is an amazing opportunity to bring people together to celebrate that creativity and to showcase the city's diverse and exciting culture to a wider audience." Content cannot be displayed without consent
Business News Wales
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business News Wales
Capital Funding Provided to Support Grassroots Music Venues in Cardiff
Esther and David at Paradise Garden on City Road. Image credit: Jake Rowles Grassroots music venues in Cardiff have been awarded close to £200,000 through a venues fund. The grants from Cardiff Council have enabled live music venues including Clwb Ifor Bach, Porters, Chapter Arts Centre, The New Moon, Paradise Garden, Acapela, Tiny Rebel and The Canopi to make improvements and buy essential new equipment. The funding forms part of the local authority's Cardiff Music City work to protect and develop the city's music sector, which has also seen a new talent development scheme launched in the city's schools, the launch of a new 'Academi' for young musicians, and the first ever Cardiff Music City Festival take place. One venue to receive a grant was The Canopi, a new grassroots venue and creative space on the ground floor of The Sustainable Studio on Tudor Street. Julia Harris, who runs the space in the Cardiff Council-owned former Transport Club, said: 'One of the things that was really on my tick list was a space for grassroots music to happen, those first gigs that we need people to have, those first experiences of a supportive venue. So, we're definitely one of those. We're a starter space. We've had such an eclectic lineup of events so far and anything from say, RazKid to hip-hop spoken word, EP launches for folk artists, and immersive kind of band experiences. I feel like anyone can put on anything here. It's kind of all worked and gone really well. 'Cardiff Council have just been instrumental in us getting open. I think we have tapped into some amazing grants that have allowed us to make the venue accessible and also buy new kit as well.' The New Moon, which opened on Womanby Street earlier this year, was another new independent venue to receive a grant. Reem Mohammed, the venue's Event Programmer, said: 'Cardiff Council have been really, really amazing throughout this whole process. We have received a grant from them to help with equipment which has been incredible because when we opened the door we really wanted to have high quality equipment and sound for these musicians, so they're really being showcased at their best, and without them we couldn't have achieved that, so we're very grateful.' Non-profit social enterprise the Queer Emporium is a safe space for the LGBTQ community that also hosts events, with their bigger events for up to 100 people hosted in the Royal Arcade. Founder and Director, Yan White, said: 'By getting the grant from Cardiff Council, it's meant we've managed to massively upgrade our tech equipment for the events, which means if you come now, you'll see that we have a full lit stage with lights that go up through the Arcade. It's just sort of upgraded everything that we've managed to do, and we're hoping that will result in more people coming in and using the space.' Outside of the city centre, on Roath's City Road, Paradise Garden is another independent venue feeling the benefit of a grant. Co-founder of the venue, Esther Taylor, said: 'The support we've had from Cardiff Council has been really good because we can buy equipment instead of renting it and it's saved us a lot of money. It's really helped us to expand the amount of live music that we do.' Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke said: 'We're committed to supporting, developing and promoting Cardiff's music sector. Grassroots venues play a critical role in the city's music scene and these grants provide important financial support at a time when, like venues across the UK, they're dealing with some significant challenges. 'We will continue to look for ways we can support venues, but the reality is we simply don't have the finances or the power to step in every time a venue finds itself struggling. The best way to protect venues is to use them and I would encourage everybody to book a ticket to a gig at a local venue – you never know, you might discover your next favourite artist.' The Grassroots Venues Fund was supported by the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund. The full list of organisations supported is: Sustainable Studios/The Canopi Porters 4pi Productions Talent Shack Clwb Ifor Bach Acapela Tiny Rebel Brewhouse The Dock Chapter Arts Centre The New Moon Paradise Garden The Queer Emporium The Grange Pub Silkcrayon Studios
