C-Y-N-T @ Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union
Fri 2 June
It’s funny to think of C-Y-N-T as being 10 years old and something of an elder statesman of Cardiff nightlife. A decade ago, when it started its notorious weekly sessions at Clwb Ifor Bach, it was the capital’s bratty upstart – one which gave Cardiff’s slightly ailing club scene a welcome jolt of new youthful vim. It also gifted many their first taste of scuzzy basslines and very late nights, writing off untold Fridays in the process. Roadblock scenes outside Clwb were commonplace on a Thursday night (‘see you next Thursday’, get it?), and the crew welcomed colossal names like 2ManyDJs and Deadmau5 to its parties, which later expanded to much bigger events on the weekend.
After a hiatus during the early part of this decade, it returned under new management several years ago. No longer a weekly affair, the music policy has evolved too and has kept pace with an increasingly disco-centric tastes of Cardiff clubbers accustomed to the headsy sounds of relative newcomers like Teak and Blue Honey.
Stepping up for this super-sized event at the Great Hall are Midland, Hunee and Young Marco – all fixtures in the upper echelons of the annual poll of Resident Advisor, that international arbiter of dance music taste. Midland’s emotive, disco-tinged Final Credits on Classic was one of last year’s largest tunes and he’s renowned for his DJ sets, which deftly tread the line of fine taste and heads-down 4/4 bangers.
Amsterdam-based Hunee [pictured], meanwhile, returns to Cardiff after last year’s rapturously received set at Blue Honey’s Easter garden soiree at Gwidhw. A fearlessly eclectic selector, you can expect anything from world music jams, disco, techno, acid and everything in-between. It’s little wonder that other DJs often fear the prospect of playing him. Dutchman Young Marco, who works dancefloors with his self-professed ‘strange music’ and ‘unclassics’ completes the trio of visitors.
The stellar line-up is bolstered by the presence local hero Clare James, whose energetic sets at the likes of City Bass and Backroom helped define that particular era of Cardiff club life. It looks set to be one to remember.
Tickets: £20. Info: 029 2078 1458
words KRISTIAN DANDO