Multi-venue, multi-genre fandango Sŵn Festival returns to Cardiff for 2024, extends itself back into a three-day stretch, and gives Buzz reviewers Emma Way and Joshua Williams much cheer as they cut about the city this year.

THURS 17 OCT

THE FAMILY BATTENBERG

It wouldn’t be Sŵn Festival in 2024 without this lot. Following their sweaty, packed-out set in Jacob’s Basement last year, last-minute additions to the Clwb Ifor Bach bill The Family Battenberg were always going to go down well, and they seemed in their element while doing it – thundering through psychedelic builds and arena-sized resolutions, feeding off each other’s energy and the crowd’s adoration for Rocket Dustbin and Feed Yer (Nganga). The four-piece announced an EP is due sometime next year, and if the confidence shown onstage is anything to go by, it’s going to be equally raucous and earth-shattering. (EW)

TALULAH

One for the jazz girlies, respectfully. Smokey jazz bar notes aplenty, self-indulgence and gorgeous vocals from north Wales’ Talulah felt akin to a warm, sleepy embrace – performing twice over the course of this year’s festival, I caught her first set downstairs at Clwb Ifor Bach. Covering Cleo Sol’s Know That You Are Loved, its line “Know that you are loved, even if you don’t love yourself” seemed to resonate long after this bilingual, multi-genre artist concluded her set. (EW)

MARI MATHIAS

Staying downstairs at Clwb, a packed room greets the angelic voice of Mari Mathias, as seen on this year’s Green Man lineup. Mari is gifted in transporting you, be it to a forest or meadow, and even if you don’t speak her language she creates a quiet atmosphere, healing in its subtlety. Joined by her band, including additional instrumentation and members of her new band MWSOG, she even got the crowd counting in Welsh. (EW)

MY FIRST TIME

Socially charged in the face of capitalism and mass consumption, hailing from just over the river in Bristol, My First Time absolutely bought the energy to Sŵn Festival when it came to this early evening slot at The Moon. Thursday night saw the four-piece flaunt their postpunk prowess, performing catchy originals Workwear and Wind Up Merchant amongst other angsty unreleased material. Although the duration of the set was short, I’m excited to see what comes next from them. (EW)

THE PILL

Satire has never sounded this good! The Isle Of Wight punk gal pals had me from the opening line of Bale Of Hay: “I’m a blond dit, but not in a conventional way. In every photo until I was 15 years old I had no eyebrows.” The band, featuring Lily and Lottie plus drummer Rufus, offered the crowd at Fuel humorous emotional support, their lyrics equally relatable and repeatable. (EW)

FRI 18 OCT

PAIGE KENNEDY

Opening The Moon this afternoon at Sŵn Festival is the alt-pop stylings of Paige Kennedy, who has filled the venue to capacity – one in, one out. Kennedy has the room dancing, and at one point even has them getting down on the floor during Flowers. It’s a nice way to start Sŵn’s second day, with more fun to come. (JW)

ILE DE GARDE

Downstairs at Clwb, there’s the gloomy post-punk synth stylings of the French Ile De Garde. They’re not the happiest bunch, but nonetheless it’s a solid set which feels like it would be more at home on 6music than amidst the buzziness of Sŵn. (JW)

LACROSS CLUB

In Fuel, the Pembrokeshire-originating Lacross Club serve up their brand of noisy punk to dwindling effect. It’s not the greatest, although the band’s energy is undeniable. (JW)

PYS MELYN

The fresh-faced Pys Melyn guided us, their audience, to a converted neo-Gothic church. This was for their Sŵn set after all, and in no way religiously motivated. At Cornerstone, the Pen Llŷn trio effortlessly delivered uplifting, Welsh language tunes featuring smooth Beach Boys harmonies, a busy bass guitar and wonky, 60s/70s-esque guitar lead lines. (EW)

BUZZARD BUZZARD BUZZARD

First up in Tramshed this evening at Sŵn Festival are local lads Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, making their first proper stop in town since the release of second album Skinwalker. There’s plenty of material from said second album, but also a healthy spread from across the band’s other material across the years from New Age Millennial Magic to Double Denim Hop to recent single Street Worship. “We haven’t played Sŵn officially since 2018, it’s making me feel haggard,” singer Tom Rees says at one point, but it feels like they’ve barely been away at all. Finishing with a souped-up version of John Lennon Is My Jesus Christ, it’s a cracker of a set. (JW)

GEORGIE & JOE

If anything at Sŵn 2024 had a lasting effect on me, it was the incredibly catchy affair of Georgie & Joe’s hyperpop closer Student. Hailing from East London, the producer and vocalist pair were incredibly infectious. Watching from the side of the stage at The Moon, their setup and timing were flawless, Joe reaching for a guitar as Georgie would trigger something midsong and then continue vocal duties with charismatic, breathy melodies. (EW)

ART SCHOOL GIRLFRIEND

Upstairs at Clwb, Art School Girlfriend steps on stage to deliver their lo-fi pop vibes not long before midnight: it may be late, but their set is a delight for the tired room. It’s good and delivers just what’s needed to keep going at this time of night for Sŵn. (JW)

HANNAH DIAMOND

Closing tonight upstairs at Clwb is the hyperpop princess Hannah Diamond. It’s her first ever show in Cardiff, and she’s brought along some “special edits” just for Sŵn. Perfect Picture and Affirmations are the highlights of her late-night set, but it’s all just really great fun. A satisfying way to finish a Friday night. (JW)

SAT 19 OCT

EM KOKO

Up early, downstairs in Clwb today, is Cardiff’s own Em Koko, whose dreampop stretches across influences including but not limited to a bit of shoegaze. Even with some tech problems (drummer Ellie’s in-ear monitor batteries run out and need changing during the set), Em is fantastic. Her development as a live act is great too, with her backing band expanding her already intriguing soundscape. (JW)

MELIN MELYN

There’s a buzz afoot this afternoon, as there’s a secret set upstairs at Clwb with everyone remaining tight-lipped as to who it could possibly be. Rumours swirl from the likes of Tom Jones to Stereophonics, as the venue is completely cleared. Upon re-entering, it’s local lads Melin Melyn taking to the stage. “I hope you’re not too disappointed with the surprise… I am not Tom Jones,” says frontman Gruff Glyn, as the group deliver a set of quirky indie, showcasing upcoming album The Mill On The Hill. It’s utterly superb nonsense, and a festival highlight. (JW)

ALIEN CHICKS

Over at Jacob’s Basement, the postpunk rock of Alien Chicks is blaring out. The Brixton trio are really very excellent and pack out the room: the trio’s electricity is clear to see, and they will likely hit bigger stages sooner rather than later. (JW)

MARY IN THE JUNKYARD

Another band born out of the south London scene, Mary In The Junkyard are the sonic opposite of the previous band. Their soft melodic sound is a delight, with singer Clari Freeman-Taylor’s fragile vocals sounding beautiful on a sunny Saturday afternoon in the gloomy setting of Jacob’s. It’s a good time for all involved. (JW)

ADWAITH

First up at Tramshed this evening are Carmarthen’s Welsh-language indie-rockers Adwaith. Sŵn veterans themselves, the trio are one of the highlights of this year’s festival. Eto sounds better than ever, and the band’s sound is enhanced beyond belief by the addition of a touring guitarist really making everything sound MEGA. The band’s next album, a double album at that, will be released early next year and based on the new material aired tonight will be their best yet. (JW)

ANTONY SZMIEREK

Stepping on stage at Tramshed, Antony Szmierek says “let’s make it a party!” – and a party it is. His indie-pop sound is fantastic and he’s in the crowd pretty much every other song, from The Great Pyramid Of Stockport through The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Fallacy and more. English Teacher’s Lily Fontaine joins him and his band on stage for a banging cover of the Sugababes’ Overload, and there’s even a chance for fan Izzy to join Antony on stage after getting shouted out for singing along to every song in the set for the last song of the set. It’s an awfully good time. (JW)

ENGLISH TEACHER

It’s no surprise that English Teacher’s set sees Tramshed reach its capacity, considering their recent Mercury Prize win. In fact, tonight is the band’s first UK show since they won the prestigious award – a fact acknowledged by singer Lily Fontaine. Watching their set, it’s absolutely no surprise that they won really. It’s effortless excellence from the northerners. There’s no hyperbole, they really are THAT good. (JW)

LAMBRINI GIRLS

Finishing off the festival in Tramshed this evening are the riotous queer Brighton punks Lambrini Girls. There’s zero airs and graces, either: 20 minutes before they’re due on, the band are sat outside smoking and chatting with attendees with zero fuss. Stepping onto stage, Phoebe Lunny asks the crowd “who’s ready to fuck?!” before breaking into Big Dick Energy (during which Lunny makes her first incursion of many into the crowd). The band aren’t afraid to be political, inviting people to do all they can to help the people of Palestine including writing to their local MPs and boycotting companies before leading a chant of “free Palestine”. During Mr. Lovebomb, Lunny goes on an excursion -climbing up to Tramshed’s balcony before diving back into the crowd (“I really need you to catch me or I’ll die”) and crowdsurfing their way back to the stage. It’s riotous, it’s unpredictable, it’s loud – it’s Lambrini Girls. (JW)

Sŵn Festival 2024, various venues, Cardiff, Thurs 17-Sat 19 Oct

words EMMA WAY / JOSHUA WILLIAMS photos ASHLEA BEA / CEIRIOS BEBB / JAMIE CHAPMAN / CHLOE JACKSON-NOTT / ELIJAH THOMAS