News SWN Festival 2012: 10 Bands You Don’t Want To Miss

Kicking off in less than 48 hours is the sixth year of SWN Festival. Cardiff’s answer to SXSW, the multi-venue October gathering of fans from around the UK continues to grow and, with an almost endless number of ace bands to go and see around the Welsh capital between Thursday 18th and Sunday 21st, we decided you might need some help in choosing who to go and see. Here are 10 of the best that you won’t want to miss.

COLD PUMASBrighton band Cold Pumas’ kraut-racket has been under-appreciated for a good few years now, but with the release of their debut full-length (‘Persistent Malaise’ due out next month) looming, that could be set to change. Though having slightly toned down their experimental side more recently, the three-piece’s looping, post-punk future-hits bounce and groove to delicious effect.

Sunday, Clwb Ifor Bach (downstairs), 6pm



CHILDHOODDescribing themselves as a ‘hot boyband from london. making tunes making moves’, the London/Nottingham four-piece write hazy, distorted guitar-led pop songs - drawing comparisons to MGMT and Girls. It’s catchy and it’s fun and you might like it too.

Saturday, Clwb Ifor Bach (upstairs), 8.15pm



PINSFollowing the release of their debut ‘LuvU4Lyf’ EP through Bella Union earlier this year, Manchester four-piece PINS continue to impress with their dark, moody, echoing sound. For fans of Dum Dum Girls, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Good Music.

Saturday, O’Neill’s, 6.15pm



JOANNA GRUESOMECardiff’s own indie darlings Joanna Gruesome make distorted pop songs in the vein of The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and Beat Happening. While songs very much edge towards the lo-fi, the five-piece’s 90s-esque hook-filled melodies and cactchy choruses are still able to shine bright.

Sunday, O’Neill’s, 6pm



MICACHU & THE SHAPESExperimental isn’t Mica Levi’s middle name, but it might as well be. Example: Wikipedia lists the London artist’s known instruments as ‘Vocals, Electronics, Guitar, Vacuum Cleaner.’ Her unusual and refreshing take on music makes most ‘psychedelic’ acts look like child’s play, so expect the unexpected. And to have a good time, obviously.

Sunday, O’Neill’s, 4.30



DEPTFORD GOTHDeptford Goth is the work of South Londoner Daniel Woolhouse. Combining chilled electro beats with delicate vocals to a vaguely RnB/dubstep sound, the artist released ‘The Youth II EP’ through Merok to a positive response last year, and is likely to create similar joy at Swn.

Saturday, Buffalo Bar, 2.30



GALLOPSGallops are the kind of band that make you want to stomp your feet and nod your head and wave your limbs and do other generally socially unacceptable actions. The Wrexham four-piece’s energetic blend of post-rock and electronica is gripping, exciting, and often pretty darn loud. With their debut full-length ‘Yours Sincerely, Dr. Hardcore’ due out in December, it’s likely to be a set with plenty of killer new tunes.

Saturday, O’Neill’s, 12am-1am



FEAR OF MENRiding the hype wave since 2011, Brighton/London band Fear of Men are one of the few that look like they might make it through still on their feet - and it’s by no fluke. The four-piece have been steadily and consistently improving their blissful indie pop sound since first being jumped on my bloggers left, right, and centre - and one day might even taken over the world, maybe.

Sunday, Buffalo Bar, 7pm



PEACEWriting about Peace as a band to possibly go and see at a festival feels a little bit like advising people not to use a toaster in a bath. The buzz around the London band continues to swell and doesn’t look likely to stop any time soon. A listen to the really quite tasty ‘Delicious’ EP and it’s easy to understand why.

Sunday, Clwb Ifor Bach (Upstairs), 8.15pm



ALUNAGEORGEWith their debut album set for release next year, London two-piece AlunaGeorge look like they could well be 2013’s Really Big Thing. Funky and catchy as hell single ‘Your Drums, Your Love’ has received plenty of Radio 1 support and has racked up over 300,000 plays on SoundCloud. This could be busy.

Saturday, Buffalo Bar, 6.30pm