Emma J Smith reports on the success of a scheme that brought five grassroots Swansea venues together for four days of music and art on the city’s High Street – where things might be looking up in lean times.

If you arrive in Swansea by train you will see three words on the concourse: “AMBITION IS CRITICAL”, engraved as part of work to regenerate the city’s High Street. It’s well known that retail and leisure habits have changed over time, with more people shopping out of town and online, and Swansea High Street is among many in the UK struggling to adapt.

But things are on the up. Swansea Council is saving the iconic, Grade II listed building The Palace: at the top end of the street, it’s being transformed into a workspace for businesses in the tech, digital and creative sectors. More shops and cafes have opened, and more are being encouraged to do so. Local businesses are doing their part, too, in highlighting this regeneration. Last weekend venues came together and organised an event: Swansea’s High Street Rising, four days of music art, comedy and more spread over five venues. In their own words:

“The High Street is fast becoming the hotspot for live music, comedy and the arts in Swansea. The Elysium Gallery, Hippos, Tangled Parrot, The Jam Jar and Volcano Theatre have joined forces to bring to you four days of non-stop dancing, singing, laughter and activities to show you that Swansea High Street is now THE place to be.”

On Fri 9 Sept, then, I caught Afro Cluster and Gower Soundclash at the Elysium (what was the old Champers wine bar). Gower Soundclash, locally-based as their name suggests, provided good vibes, wild tunes and the heaviest beats. Following which I wandered into the gallery’s exhibition space: 135 paintings from around the world, showing as part of this year’s Beep painting prize and titled Nothing Has Changed, Everything Has Changed. Finishing its run at Elysium that weekend, it added something extra to an already great night.

The sound of the headliners making their way onto the stage, one by one while each playing their instruments and looking very cool with it, prompted me to return to the bar through a very content crowd. The Cardiff-based Afro Cluster gave us a monster of a set with a mix of funk, afrobeat and hip-hop. Keen to remind us that all people are equal, The night was a good one.

On Saturday, I popped into the Tangled Parrot record and coffee shop, which opened in 2021 (its original Carmarthen branch has been going since 2000): I must go back and grab that 12” I didn’t buy. Walking up the High Street, I could see a performance being held behind the massive windows of the Volcano Theatre – who, supported by the Arts Council Of Wales, occupy a huge, previously disused supermarket.

Saturday night took me to the relatively newly opened Hippos – in the building of the former Adam & Eve pub, and another cool venue with a big private outside chillout area. There’s a painting of a hippo in the bar, the work of Steve ‘Jenks’ Jenkins: a local graffiti artist who recently featured on the BBC’s Our Lives: Who Needs Banksy? The event was a teamup from two local club promoters, Regener8 and Dogruff. Regener8 took no prisoners with their trance, hard trance and techno music policy, and I danced for a few hours with the Dogruff fam who were playing quality house in the back room. Lush.

Sunday, then – that calls for a roast beef dinner with Yorkshire puds and loads of gravy at the Jam Jar. It’s another great venue in this area of Swansea, and they too have all sorts going on, from quizzes to live comedy to live performances.

As the old saying goes: onward, upward till the goal ye win. The goal is being won, and these cool venues will attract more good vibes to the area and increase the footfall – another High Street Rising event would be most welcome. The empty White Swan pub was recently bought by a mystery bidder for almost double the auction guide price, too. Watch – and visit – this space.

Swansea High Street, Thurs 8-Sun 11 Sept

words EMMA J SMITH