Sumo Wrestling in Chapter’s Foyer
by Huw Stephens
You know you’re getting older when 2006 sounds like yesterday and then an anniversary comes along and it’s ten years ago. A decade!
So the story of Sŵn is a big one, and involves so many people who worked so hard and made it what it is from year to year. I’d been to In the City in Manchester a few times, and absolutely loved it. Loads of bands, a great city, great people. Tommy and the Chauffeur were playing, who we released on Boobytrap Records, and James Chant, one of the singers, now works on Sŵn with John.
Then I went to South by South West in Austin, Texas, and was hyped beyond belief. And myself and John thought, Cardiff needs one of these. So myself and my partner in crime Johnny Rostron decided we should do it. Just go for it. Start it up, see what happened.
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I remember walking down the street in Austin with Gareth Bonello aka The Gentle Good and John thinking of names. You have to start with a name. Nodyn, Sŵn or Diff Fest. We stuck with Sŵn, which is the Welsh word for Sound. The same as Sonar in Spanish, which is also a festival. Cardiff is my home city, and I grew up going in to Clwb Ifor Bach, watching gigs that would change my life. It’s a small city, and venues and people come and go, like most cities. But there’s something special about Cardiff.
Most of the work was done round John’s house in Riverside, or in the then Plug Two offices down the bay. We booked the venues, booked the bands, pulled some favours, sold some tickets, and had a whale of a time. Things grew, things got cut, funding came and funding went. So much time and effort went in to it from year to year, it was phenomenal. Let’s not pretend it wasn’t massively stressful; anyone who’s put on a gig knows that can be the case. Sŵn hasn’t grown that much in ten years, and that was sort of intentional. It changes every year, but also stays the same. Sŵn Radio was brilliant a few years ago, and the line ups over the years have been dazzling. I will always remember the atmosphere at the Sŵns, everyone out, people meeting, bands from everywhere playing.
Some that I can think of now; Euros Childs at the Reardon Smith theatre behind the museum, and Young Marble Giants. A workshop with Daedelus in the old Toucan on Womanby St. Mary Anne Hobbs djing. Y Morgrug who were all around 12 at the time, and Islet upstairs at the Model Inn, a pub that at first weren’t interested in putting bands on, and is now a steak restaurant. Baby Queens in Dempseys. Vaccines at Dempseys! THE VACCINES! Adam Walton and Beth Elfyn. Beirut at the Point down the bay. Peppermint Patti. The Cribs in Cardiff Uni Great Hall, fresh from supporting Sex Pistols the previous night. Wichita, Heavenly, Moshi Moshi, Turnstile all putting on ace showcases. Llwyd Owen launching his latest novel, Pete Fowler’s artwork in Chapter. Sumo wrestling in Chapter’s foyer. Full on costumes. Steve Lamacq doing his 6Music show from here, and Nicky Wire and James Dean Bradfield saying nice things about Sŵn. The late Jon Clee and Carl Rylatt’s awesome designs. Casey Raymond and Ewan. Soak at Gwdihŵ. Dydd Sul Diog (Lazy Sunday) just off Queen St. Derwyddon Dr Gonzo, Yr Ods, Swnami. Disclosure at the Buffalo Bar, Annie Mac at Cardiff Uni. Barfly. So many more!
I want to thank all the volunteers who have helped make Sŵn what it is over the years, and thanks to all the venues and promoters who’ve been involved.
And to John who simply made Sŵn happen every year.
