Swansea & South Wales Live Music

The Bullfrogs played at the Mary Dilwyn in Fforestfach on Saturday 24 th November.  I arrived 45 minutes ahead of the scheduled 8:45 start time and was amazed to see the band had already arrived set up and waiting to go on. The venue was really busy when I arrived full with people finishing up their evening meals. The Bullfrogs were made up of three men of mature years, playing lead guitar/ lead vocals, bass guitarist/ backing vocals and a drummer.   After a very quick sound check, the Bullfrogs jumped into their first song and I was not impressed at all.  Having first checked the band's Facebook page, I was expecting a rock cover band who wanted to entertain the mixed audiences anticipated to be in a venue like the Mary Dilwyn with well-known covers, but instead, although reasonably talented musicians they seemed to be doing a gig with a playlist to please themselves and a lead singer who, unfortunately, nobody had told couldn't sing.     The ...

On a rainy Saturday night I went along to the Wig & Pen in Swansea to see a band perform called ‘No Direction’. I knew very little about this band and wasn't sure what to expect so I eagerly looked at their “About” section on their Facebook page and found only “ No Direction are a Swansea based 4 piece covers band with a set list to suit any venue or occasion ”. Besides that woeful insight I did a little more searching and my expectation was a rock band playing cover versions of hit music.   On the evening there was a mixed crowd of people of varied age, from as young as 18 to couple of patrons in their mid 70's.   After a quick sound-check, the gig commenced at 9:15 rather than the advertised 9pm, after the band arrived somewhat drenched from the torrential showers of the evening.   No Direction performing Buffalo Springfield For What It's Worth No Direction performing The Foo Fighters hit Talk About It They started with...

On Sunday evening I went again to see Swansea's very own Laura Jayne’s gig at Diablo's.   Laura is a regular performer at Diablo's and always puts on a great set. It was a particularly miserable day, with heavy showers constantly threatening to soak all who ventured out. So as a direct consequence of the inclement weather there appeared to be not so many regulars and a smaller audience than usual, as this venue is usually packed when Laura performs as part f the duo Dusty Road.  But, conversely, although not many standing, the tables were all taken as some intrepid diners, for Diablo’s exceptionally good Sunday lunch, may have avoided going out too soon, retained their seats and earned Laura more fans. Diablo's is one of Swansea's best venues for live entertainment, with a team of friendly staff, it isn't a surprise why it's one of my favourites.  Affected by the weather herself, Laura arrived, completed her set-up to start the gig on ti...