CLUBS + LIVE MUSIC
Selected by DAFYDD HAINE and HELEN PAYNE
JACOB’S ANTIQUES
Located behind the Central Station, and ironically surrounded by gleaming, everyday office blocks, Jacob’s Antiques is one of Cardiff’s most unique and beloved late-night spaces. A multi-floor emporium by day, at night the building is regularly co-opted by some of the city’s top promoters, both in the intimate, sparsely-decorated 200-ish capacity basement, and occasionally in their upper-floor gallery and rooftop terrace. Outings to keep an eye on: TEAK, Delete, and City Bass.
West Canal Wharf, Cardiff. Info: 029 2039 0939 / www.jacobsmarket.co.uk
UNDERTONE
Down on the short stretch that is Church Street, 10 Feet Tall looks like (and is) a smart, sophisticated hang-out ideal for light bites and fancy cocktails. However, below the glass-fronted cafe-bar is a tiny, dark basement space known as Undertone, rough-edged and close, but an ideal venue for the often-raucous DJs and live music that head up the various wild nights that spiral on until the early hours. Don’t wear your best shirt.
Church Street, Cardiff. Info: 029 2022 8883 / www.10feettall.co.uk
GWDIHŴ
With a warm, colourful indoor bar and an expansive smoking area, Gwdihŵ is a non-traditional ‘club’ space that caters to a perfectly-sized crowd, and is as good a place for late-night chats as it as a dance. During the summer months, promoters utilise the car park out back for higher-capacity parties, with astounding past bookings including the likes of Hunee, Carl Craig, and Gerd Janson.
Guildford Crescent, Cardiff. Info: 029 2039 7933 / www.gwdihw.co.uk
BLUE HONEY NIGHT CAFÉ
Run by the guys who previously had a clothes store in High Street Arcade – and have thrown countless memorable parties throughout the city – the Night Café is the collective’s own ‘club’ space where they host DJs and live music, accompanied by their ever-changing, offbeat food menu, and all your favourite booze. Locals often provide the soundtrack, with Don Leisure’s selections a certified weekly highlight.
Quay Street, Cardiff. Info: www.facebook.com/bluehoneynightcafe
CLWB IFOR BACH
A bastion of the Cardiff music circuit, Clwb Ifor Bach was founded on Womanby Street in the early 1980s. Originally intended as social hub for Welsh speakers, Clwb have relaxed their policy in recent years, although you’re still likely to hear Welsh being spoken both sides of the bar. With three different floors, Clwb hosts a wide range of music, from live bands to hip-hop nights to house, disco and beyond… rhywbeth i pawb!
Womanby Street, Cardiff. Info: www.clwb.net
MOON CLUB
A classic city space known for drawing a varied crowd (and bookings), the Moon recently came under pressure of closure due to nefarious corporate interests in the immediate vicinity. Nevertheless, the staff team – and their recruits from the ‘Creative Republic of Cardiff’ – fought back, and thus far have managed to wrest back control of the venue. For those that like music loud, honest, and a little bit weird.
Womanby Street, Cardiff. Info: www.themoonclub.net
INKSPOT
Situated on Newport Road, what was once a church – and then an arts and gallery space – has now begun morphing into another welcome addition to Cardiff’s late-night venues. Popularised by the ever-reliable crowd behind Groove Theory, Inkspot provides a unique club setting – how many other venues can you enjoy a cold one in front of the altar, as the DJ lays down wax from above? Amen indeed.
Clifton Street, Cardiff. Info: www.inkspotartsandcrafts.com
THE VAULTS
The dark horse of Cardiff clubs, The Vaults is located in the underbelly of an old bank on Bute Street, Cardiff Bay. Although changing ownership has somewhat sanitised the venue, this gritty sweatbox is still well worth a visit – current occupants such as Memorex and Temperance Town often bring in sizeable house/techno-tinged bookings, with stalwarts such as Derrick Carter and Nina Kraviz on recent bills.
Bute Street, Cardiff. Info: 029 2048 7602 / www.portlandhousecardiff.com
BUFFALO BAR
Tucked away on Windsor Place, and a perma-popular drinking spot the year round, Buffalo Bar also contains a small but atmospheric first-floor club space, which in past years hosted a myriad of DJs and live acts, ranging from Bonobo to Leon Vynehall to jungle and dub promoters Aperture. Bookings appear less frequent these days, but keep an eye out for any chance catches.
Windsor Place, Cardiff. Info: www.buffalocardiff.co.uk
THE GREAT HALL
As Cardiff’s largest student union venue, the Great Hall has been home to many a big name, and will continue to do so. By day it provides a multifunctional space for lectures, fairs and even exams, yet by night the space transforms into a huge gig space for even bigger names, including Two Door Cinema Club, Foals, and Ben Howard.
Senghennydd Road, Cardiff. Info: 029 2078 1400 / www.cardiffstudents.com/boxoffice
TRAMSHED
Tramshed is Cardiff’s latest offering to new music and entertainment venues. Opened in 2015, it is an ever-increasing site of huge significance in the music scene, as well as an all-round creative hub for the arts in Cardiff.
Clare Road, Cardiff. Info: 029 2023 5555 / www.tramshedcardiff.com
LE PUB
“Providing Newport with good booze and good bands for over twenty years”, the website’s header screams at you. Unfortunately, not for much longer. The well-established venue – boasting thousands of gigs in its humble 24 years – has closed its doors to the public. There is good news on the horizon however. The Le Pub team and a group of volunteers have been working hard for weeks to turn their new residence into Le Public Space – an arts centre not just for music, but art and cinema, and with ease of access for everyone. It’s an exciting time with big plans in the pipeline.
High Street, Newport. Info: 016 3322 1477 / www.lepublicspace.co.uk
ST DAVID’S HALL
Aside from the rock and indie bands on offer at the grimy but loveable small pubs and clubs, Cardiff also treats its residents to a range of classical, jazz, and pop performances, yet perhaps for a slightly older target market. The hall also showcases some of Wales’ finest orchestral and operatic outfits throughout the calendar.
The Hayes, Cardiff. Info: 029 2087 8444 / www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk
THE NEON
The Neon is nestled in a 1930s art-deco grade II listed building in the heart of Newport, and is considerate of its heritage as an Odeon Cinema by continuing as a cinematic and all-round entertainment space, as well as a live music venue.
Clarence Place, Newport. Info: 016 3353 3666 / www.theneon.co.uk
THE GARAGE
The Garage is known as Swansea’s finest, most intimate live venue, and showcases mostly rock music and guitar band tribute acts in the back room of main club Whitez. The Garage’s slogan reads “we don’t do gimmicks, and we don’t charge a fortune” – as simple as that. There is a strict dress code however: ‘no chav gear’.
Uplands Cresent, Swansea. Info: 017 9247 5147 / www.whitez.co.uk
MOTORPOINT ARENA
If you like radio-friendly, multi-millionaire pop stars, this will be the venue for you. Previously called Cardiff International Arena, it is the city’s largest venue with a capacity for 7500, and has had the likes of Kylie Minogue, Jessie J, and One Direction, George Michael, Celine Dion… the list goes on (and on and on). Whereas smaller indie bands might prefer a more intimate setting like Clwb or the Tramshed, the Motorpoint Arena is the go-to for massive international acts with sell-out shows.
Mary Ann Street, Cardiff. Info: 029 2023 4500 / www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk
SIN CITY
Sin City is a favourite among university students in Swansea. The venue used to be part of the student’s union, but is now fully independent. Similar to most reputable venues around south Wales, Sin City hosts some relatively big acts as well as themed student club nights, but who can forget the beautiful array of tribute bands to grace the stages of Swansea? This autumn sees the Oasis Experience and Letz Zep. I can almost taste the cheap beer and good times.
Dillwyn Street, Swansea. Info: 017 9246 8892 / www.sincityclub.co.uk