live
ELBOW
Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Tue 8 Apr
Surely one of the UK’s most reliable and
consistent bands, Elbow return to soothe
our tired minds with their sixth studio
album, The Take Off And Landing Of
Everything. Another welcome addition to
their already superb and acclaimed canon
of work, Elbow all but disappoint with this
latest offering.
You half know what you’re going to get
with any new Elbow material. They’re the
aural equivalent of comfort food. Singer
Guy Garvey’s gruff, cigarette-battered
voice is like a heated blanket on a cold
January morning, or diving into a pool
when it’s 90 degrees out. Once he starts
singing, suddenly everything in this messy
world is in the right place.
This may seem like hyperbole, but
considering the fact that The Take Off
And Landing Of Everything is Elbow’s
first number one album, I’d say that a lot
of you feel the same way. The band have
announced a full UK tour in support of
the album, and will be pulling up at the
Motorpoint Arena this month. The show
will most probably play out like a greatest
hits, but it’ll be interesting to see how
these new songs come across in a live
capacity. Very well, I’m sure, and one thing
you can bet on is we’ll see exactly why the
band finally deserve to be sitting stop the
charts, 17 years after their inception.
Tickets: £30. Info: 029 2022 4488 (IR)
BUZZ 36
TROYFEST
Baskerville Hall, Hay-on-Wye
Friday 2-Sun 4 May
Like live music? Like live comedy? Like Victorian country mansions that have previously hosted
renowned literary figures such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? If you found yourself nodding along
enthusiastically to all of the above then the 2014 Troyfest festival is one that you simply cannot miss.
Starting off in 2011 as a joint birthday party – with 350 people enjoying a handful of local bands and DJs
– Troyfest now heads into its third year, with a growing reputation as a successful music and arts festival.
Although much has changed since the original party, the festival’s ethos remains the same. Regarding
their vision for Troyfest, organiser Stuart Housley says: “We want to showcase a great range of musical
and creative talent, in a friendly atmosphere that feels like a cross between a small festival and an
amazing house party.”
Held at the Baskerville Hall near Hay-on-Wye, the event is unique as it allows guests the luxuries
festival goers are regularly deprived of. Indoor dining, showers and a heated pool are all made
available, and for anyone set on re-enacting their favourite scene from Downton Abbey after a hard
day’s partying, rooms in the country mansion are also available.
This year, there are over 80 acts performing on Troyfest’s four stages. A range of talent will grace the
musical melting pot of a stage with house and drum’n’bass performances intermittently interchanging
with dirty rock’n’roll and a brass band. Regarding this year’s line-up, Stuart enthuses: “This year we’ve
got some great acts including Dr Meaker, MJ Cole [pictured] and Smoove & Turrell.”
In addition to musical performances, Troyfest will also feature a collection of comedy, theatre, and
spoken word acts. Notable arts performances for this year include musical comedy act Abandoman,
theatre group Dirty Protest, and a talk by human rights campaigner and former UK Ambassador Craig
Murray. With the last two festivals selling out, Troyfest 2014 looks set to be another big hit.
Tickets: £75. Info: www.troyfest.co.uk ALISTAIR CORLESS
BANK HOLIDAY MICROFEST
Gwdihw, Cardiff
Sun 20 Apr
This April, Cardiff’s Gwdihw bar and
music venue will be hosting their annual
Microfest, but, looking at the number of
attractions and the lineup gracing the
two stages at the event, ‘micro’ is almost
a misnomer. During the day, both stages
boast an impressive variety of top quality
bands catering for all tastes, including
the Renegade Brass Band [pictured],
Afro Cluster, and British rap icon Ty, plus
local performers such as Ruby Samba
and Harry Davies. Away from the stages,
as well as relaxing in the first rate bar
hosting the event, Rollin’ Hot Dogs will be
providing some classic festival catering,
and the face painting stall allows you to
enjoy all of the above whilst impersonating
the woodland creature of your choice.
Although ‘fun for all the family’ is a highly
overused and invariably inaccurate cliché,
the Microfest really does look like it plans
to deliver. As well as the family attractions
of hot dogs and face painting for the
parents, children, and/or humanities
students, party enthusiasts will be able to
sustain rave-related neck injuries to the
accompaniment of DJ sets from Fat City,
Blue Honey, and Bustin’ Loose.
This is definitely not an event to miss:
whether you’re looking for a beautiful
(weather willing) day out with the family,
or are a hardcore festival veteran, this
promises to be one of summer’s greats.
Admission: 0