Khurangbin perform at the 6 Music Festival
Cllr Huw Thomas , says the event was another step on the road to the Welsh capital establishing itself as the UK ’ s leading music city .
Says Thomas , “ It ’ s a fantastic opportunity for Cardiff and Walesbased artists , so when the BBC approached us to do the festival here we grabbed it with both hands .
“ We have had a music strategy in the city for a couple of years to be the UK ’ s music city and that is why we are investing in a new indoor arena in Cardiff , among other things .”
Plans were recently approved for the Council-owned , 17,000-capacity , arena at Cardiff ’ s Atlantic Wharf . Once complete it will be operated by Live Nation and Oak View Group .
Among the other key projects in the pipeline , says Thomas , is the delivery of an annual , multi-venue Cardiff festival : “ The next step is to make a reality of what we are calling our ‘ signature music event ’, which has been delayed for two years because of Covid . We are
Huw Stephens says the Welsh music scene is thriving
trying to build a homegrown music event in Cardiff next autumn , which we hope will grow and grow and become the place to be for live music at that time of the year .”
He says around 12,500 people visited the 6 Music Festival , and while that is nowhere near the 70,000 attendance achieved by a rugby match or concert at Cardiff ’ s Principality Stadium , the event had a significant impact .
“ To have the 6 Music Festival come here , with all the focus and attention that brings on a UK and international level to Cardiff , is a hugely important step – it is a great platform not only to promote some exciting Welsh talent but key developments in the music sector here ,” he adds .
The event was overseen by BBC Live Events , with BBC head of live music & events Rhys Hughes at the helm .
“ We ’ re a relatively small team for the job we do ,” he says . “ I work closely with Antonia Kyte , my deputy , and the 6 Music producer Lauren Brennan – who booked the artists for the festival . The team also includes representatives from marketing , press , radio production , ticketing , digital and socials .”
The festival ’ s production was handled by a mix of in-house BBC staff , external freelancers and operators including EnTEEtainment MD Dick Tee .
Hughes says the team started working on the 6 Music Festival a year in advance , and the long run up was essential in order to successfully secure venue time , with the huge amount of pandemicrelated show postponements meaning venues had become very congested .
While the broadcast of the festival brought Cardiff to the attention of 6 Music ’ s millions of listeners around the world , Stephens says that on the ground the live event was a perfect fit for local gig-goers .
“ 6 Music is the perfect station for somewhere like Cardiff , which has a lot of different age groups who love live music – it ’ s not just students , there ’ s gigs for all ages in Cardiff ,” he says .
Hughes says that level of enthusiasm extends to the creative and professional elements of the Cardiff music scene : “ There ’ s a real DIY community spirit in Cardiff – musicians , labels , venues and promoters are all very supportive of each other . Festivals like Focus Wales , Sŵn and the 6 Music Festival are all great ways of bringing everybody together .”
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