WILLOW TREE

CIRCULUS TO PLAY CLWB IFOR BACH, November 2nd

'A mad, bad blend of Moog, lute and massed choral arrangements that put the Polyphonic Spree to shame' – NME

The modern rock scene is not short of musicians out to revive the music of the past. Few, however, are willing to go quite so far back as the 11th Century. Few, that is, but London’s Circulus. Formed over a decade hence, this band of
psychedelic medieval rockers take up lute, mandolin, Moog and harmonium for a suite of serene folk-rock epics and cider-glugging Village fayre jigs. Their November 2005 show at Clwb was one of the highlights of last year’s calendar, and this date – in support of new album ‘Clocks Are Like People’, out now on Rise Above records – should see their audience continue to swell.

Support on the night comes courtesy of local progressive rock veterans Rocket Goldstar and newcomers Silver Spurs. Tickets retail for £6 advance (£7 on the door), and are available from Spillers Records or the Clwb website at www.clwb.net

SECRET SPILT

THE SECRET SHOW (MATT DAVIES OF FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND) PLAY DEBUT SHOW AT CLWB IFOR BACH, OCTOBER 30

Most know Matt Davies as the vocalist of South Wales post-hardcore quartet Funeral For A Friend, but this October 30 sees the emo frontman – a little older, a little less shaven - strike off on a very different path with his new outfit, The Secret Show. An alt-country septet featuring musicians including Mark Foley and Rhodri Viney of Cardiff post-rockers Vito and local songstress Cate Timothy, the outfit take up acoustic guitars, pedal steel, banjos and harmonica in service of a rootsy sound influenced by Gram Parsons, Whiskeytown and Ryan Adams. The Secret Show’s debut album, Impressionist Road Map Of The West doesn’t land until next year. For now, though, tonight’s show – the outfit’s first ever gig – should be enough to quench your appetite. Tickets available now, £10 a head.

DUFFY PLAYS GUITAR

A rocking night was had by all at Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff on Tuesday September 12th, at the regular "Planet Rock" night, where the Welsh National Air Guitar Championships were held.

25 contestants took part in what must be one of Wales' most fun competitions - the Welsh National Air Guitar Championships. A packed Clwb Ifor Bach resounded to the sounds of some Rock anthems such as Van Halen, Metallica, Thin Lizzy and many more, as DJ Disastronaut brought his show to Wales for the latest leg of the Championships in the British Isles.

After some imaginary tuning up, some great twiddling and guitar solos were had from young and old alike. Coming out on top, though, was 23 year old Michael Duffy, from Thornhill, Cardiff. "Duffy" strutted his stuff on stage, even playing his air guitar behind his head - Jimi Hendrix style. Duffy's choice of track was Crazy Train by the legendary Ozzy Osbourne, and he later beat the 5 other finalists in an audience-based judging system.

"Duffy" will now represent Wales at the finals of the UK Air guitar championships to be held in Brighton, on September 17th 2006, with the winner of that competition going on to represent the UK in the World Air Guitar Championships next year in Finland.

Duffy said: "Well, I've always wanted to represent Wales at something, and if it wasn't going to be rugby, then it was always going to ROCK! I'm proud to be carrying the nation's expectations, and I won't let you down!"

Disastronaut, organiser of the UK Air Guitar Championships for the past 11 years said: "We always get a great reaction for the Welsh public, and this year was no exception. The Air guitar playing was of a very high standard, but the crowd had no hesitation in choosing Duffy, whose performance was superb."

THE IRON POINT

“30 minutes of solid, untarnished black horror that never, ever relents…” – NME

Norway’s Noxagt have been in a state of flux since they last played Cardiff, some three years hence. Formerly known for their shrill, viola-driven experimental rock songs, the band have since lost strings man Nils Erga, picked up new spring-loaded guitarist Anders Hana, and cranked up the sense of stark, crushing experimental rock density. Boasting three albums on Load Records, home of Lightning Bolt, they promise to rock with a similarly uncompromising force and density. Support on the night comes from acclaimed Cardiff experimental rockers Truckers Of Husk.

MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERS

September sees Clwb Ifor Bach host the 6th consecutive South Wales Benefit gig, a charity show organised in collaboration with members of the South Wales punk, alternative, and electronica music scene in support of international charity Medecins Sans Frontieres.

Since the first benefit show back in 2004, the collective has raised over £6000 for the charity, a secular humanitarian aid organisation operating in war-torn regions across the world. Drawing together some of South Wales most popular underground bands, this years 11 band bill includes ska-tinged punks Adequate Seven, stoner trio Taint, hardcore revivalists Routine Check, acoustic rockers Halflight, crust-tinged doom-bringers The Keep, and many more. Doors 1.30pm, with the first band on soon after.

REAL MEN HUNT IN PACKS

FUTURE OF THE LEFT PLAY CLWB IFOR BACH, SEPTEMBER 10
The long-awaited new project from Andy Falkous and Jack Eggleston of sorely-missed Cardiff rockers Mclusky, The Future Of The Left sees the pair join forces with Kelson Mathias, formerly of Jarcrew, for a new set of acerbic lyricism, dark wit, and coruscating rock. No confirmed record contract yet, but the four songs streaming on their MySpace prove the band have lost none of the edge that made Mclusky one of the most intriguing rock bands the United Kingdom has spat out in years. Support comes courtesy of The Quiet Kill (ex-Million Dead), and Whiteman – a new, as yet untested outfit also featuring Kelson from Jarcrew, and fellow ex-Jarcrew man Rod. Doors open 8pm.

ALL IN

BENEATH THE SURFACE PRESENT CROSBI/SWEET BABOO BAND/DIRT BABY, CLWB IFOR BACH, AUGUST 11TH

Fronted by the magnetic figure of Andy Jones, a vocalist in the tradition of Gallagher, Ashcroft, or The La’s Lee Mavers, Wrexham’s Crosbi are out to put North Wales on the map. The singles ‘Sonny’ and ‘Coastline’ have been the toast of Radio 1’s Lamacq Live, while their new album ‘All In’, out July on Split Records, combines swaggering lad-rock attitude with the sort of Bacchanalian party undercurrent that saw Shaun Ryder pick them to support Happy Mondays at Get Loaded In The Park. Also on the bill are Cardiff’s cult favourites the Sweet Baboo Band - young outsider folk artist Steve Baboo propped up by a full five-piece musical ensemble -and opening up, newcomers Dirt Baby.

Doors 8.30pm, with first band on at 8.30pm. Admission: £5

MORE GEEK THAN GANGSTA

CLWB IFOR BACH PRESENT SPANK ROCK, AUGUST 31

Forward-thinking hip-hop outfit from the streets of Baltimore, Spank Rock – at their core, MC Naeem ‘Spank Rock’ Juwan and producer Alex Epton – play music that sounds like the party at the end of the universe. Best known for their underground smash ‘Rick Rubin’, a tribute to the bearded mix-desk impresario behind everyone from the Beastie Boys to Johnny Cash, Spank Rock are over to convert minds at this year’s Carling Weekender. Forget the festival fields, though – Clwb’s the place to experience this peek into the future.

Tickets £6. Doors 8pm

IT'S THE SURESHOT

PLANET ROCK AT CLWB IFOR BACH, STARTS TUESDAY JULY 18

Rising like a phoenix from the ashes of the legendary Rock Infero nights, Planet Rock renews Clwb Ifor Bach�s pledge to be the hardest rocking venue in all of Cardiff. Taking over Clwb�s top floor every Tuesday night until the end of time (lease pending), Planet Rock promises familiar classics from the field of metal, hard rock, and goth, with the wheels of steel nicely oiled with a bar stocked with selected drinks promotions. Make friends, email your requests, and post ridiculous pictures over at Planet Rock MySpace

Doors 9pm to 2am. Entry �3 on the door.

THE LORD HATES A COWARD

Future Of The Left live at Clwb Ifor Bach, July 2nd. Photo: BBC Wales Music

GIRLS MUSIC

SHOOTING AT UNARMED MEN/TRUCKERS OF HUSK PLAY CLWB IFOR BACH, JULY 5
Their main man, Jon Chapple, might now call Australia home, but it hasn’t put an end to the mighty Shooting At Unarmed Men. Formerly of rightly lauded Cardiff rockers Mclusky, Chapple - back in Europe for a handful of shows after some kindly promoter soul offered to pay his plane fare - pens eccentric, angular punk-rock tunes that recall everything from the acerbic crunch of Shellac to the idiosyncratic humour of Half Man Half Biscuit. Expect a brace of songs from their new Too Pure album ‘Yes Tinnitus’, plus support from the excellent Truckers Of Husk, last seen supporting US underground sensation Lightning Bolt. Doors open 8pm, with entry priced at £4.

MySpace.com/shootingatunarmedmen
MySpace.com/truckersofhusk

THEY CAME FROM MARS

FROM MARS/ROCKET GOLDSTAR/THE MOOKS OF PASSIM PLAY CLWB IFOR BACH, JULY 2

Fast-rising Newport rockers From Mars have already won plaudits from indie tastemakers such as Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and Drowned In Sound, who called their new self-titled EP “frenetic and inventive - a pleasantly satisfying kick up the arse”. The support bill features an increasingly rare performance from Cardiff progressive rock trailblazers Rocket Goldstar, and a set from newcomers The Mooks Of Passim. Doors open at 8pm, with entry priced at £4.

MySpace.com/frommars

PROMOTER'S PROFILE: CARDIFF CITY HARDCORE

Name: Cardiff City Hardcore (formerly Deliverance Promotions)
Founded: 2002
First show: Walk The Plank / The Down & Outs / SSS
Musical remit: Hardcore/Punk Shows. Local Bands always feature on our shows
Past form: Champion, Stretch Arm Strong, Modern Life Is War, Blue Monday, Go It Alone, Down To Nothing, Walk The Plank, Down & Outs, SSS, On Thin Ice, Turn Cold, Affirmation, Routine Check & Many More!
Upcoming pick: Cursed/Taint/The Keep, Sunday August 6th
Web: Cardiff City Hardcore, MySpace
Contact:CardiffCityHardcore@gmail.com

EXQUISITE CORPSE

DAEDELUS/Y DIWYGIAD/EVILS/DJ MONEYSHOT PLAY CLWB IFOR BACH, JUNE 23RD

The very first ever Welsh show from Daedelus, Presently the toast of Huw Stephens’ Radio 1 One Music show, this Santa Monica-based experimental hip-hop producer has released records on a string of credible underground labels (Ninja Tune, Mush, Plug Research), leaving behind a stuffed discography of future-thinking rap showdowns, sampleadelic electronica, and rhythmic, groove-led post-rock. One of only a handful of UK dates, expect to hear music from his forthcoming LP, tentatively titled ‘Love To Make Music To’. In support are hip-hop duo Y Diwygiad, rhyming in Welsh, English, Spanish, and French, sinister Cardiff electro fixture Evils, and DJ Moneyshot.

Tickets cost £6, available now from the Clwb.net website, Catapult, and Spillers Records. Doors 9pm.

PROMOTER'S PROFILE: TERMINAL/MACHINE RECORDS

Name: machine.records
Founded: 2001
First show: 2003
Musical remit: The label runs a monthly live electronica night called Terminal featuring IDM, glitch, and breakcore. We're always looking for local bands in these styles.
Past form: The night primarily promotes the acts on the roster of the machine.records label – the likes of Lifting Gear Engineer, Orcop, Redfalls, Oddskool, John Barnes, Access Tonal Communications and many others. We had a set from Cylob (Rephlex) in January, we've had acts from London's Seed Records – The Doubtful Guest, MoQ, and others - down, and in April we had Warp's Chris Clark and AI Records' Yellotone came down to play.
Upcoming pick: Random Number, John Barnes and Matt Cook play Terminal on Thursday June 29th - doors open 9pm.
Web: www.machine-records.com
Contact: info@machine-records.com