Clwb Ifor Bach
11 Womanby Street, Cardiff, CF10 1BR
Tel: 02920 232199
Located on Womanby Street, a narrow alley located across the road from Cardiff Castle, Clwb Ifor Bach – you might find it referred to as ‘Y Clwb’, or merely ‘Clwb’, or ‘The Welsh Club’ if three easily-pronounced words of the native tongue is deemed a shade taxing – opened in 1983. It was initially a members’ club, one which sought to promote the Welsh language in Cardiff. While much of north and west Wales speaks Welsh as a primary language, Cardiff and the surrounding area is considered English-speaking first and foremost; this is reflected in the music that has emanated from the city over the decades, yet once Clwb Ifor Bach began to establish itself as a music venue, bands and artists from the breadth of Wales found their way through its doors.
Ten Feet Tall
11a - 12 Church Street, Cardiff, CF10 1BG.
Tel: 02920 228883
After the success of Buffalo on Windsor Place, Beatbox Bars Ltd have enlisted the help of Lee Broom, of award-wining London based design firm Makilee to design their second venue. 10 Feet Tall is a new 3 storey independent café bar and live music space at 11a and 12 Church Street, Cardiff.
http://www.thisis10feettall.co.uk/
The Coal Exchange
Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF10 5EB
Tel: 07971 212540/07971 212535
The Coal Exchange reopened on Tuesday 3rd November. Major redevelopment was planned but this has fallen through so Cardiff gets back a great venue! A larger venue for known touring bands, as well as more bizzare events such as tattoo conventions.
http://www.coalexchange.co.uk/
Cardiff International Arena
Mary Ann Street, Cardiff, CF10 2EQ,
Tel: 02920 224488
Cardiff's biggest venue for touring bands, excluding the monsters who play the Millennium Stadium. Some gigs are all seated which is very annoying, but not a bad venue to see a big band in.
CF10/Solus/The Great Hall
Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3
Tel: 02920 874000
three venues ranging from CF10 at about 300 capacity, to Solus at 900 capacity to the Great Hall for big touring bands. Details can also be found at Cardiff Student's Union.
Buffalo Bar
11 Windsor Place, Cardiff, CF10 3BY
Tel: 02920 310312
Buffalo Bar has established itself as an adequate, intimate live music venue hosting an eclectic mix of bands much loved by true modern day open-minded indie types. Coupled with Buffalo's unique atmosphere and loyal clientèle, a gig at Buffalo can make for a cultured night out.
http://www.myspace.com/wearebuffalobar
Cardiff Arts Institute
29 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3BA
Tel: 02920 231252
Cardiff's newest live music venue is very much an all-round arts institute. With a wide variety of often free events happening every night of the week, the Cardiff Arts Institute also calls itself a canteen and serves food all day.
http://cardiffartsinstitute.org
Millenium Music Hall
Millennium Plaza, Cardiff, CF10 1LA
Tel: 02920 340737
Millennium Music Hall used to be known as Bar Risa (and still is referred to), next to the Cineworld cinema on Millennium Plaza. A considerable capacity of 800-odd people means it's a venue for the larger band. Conveniently next to the train station so could prove to be a popular venue.
http://millenniummusichall.fatsoma.com
The Point (Now Closed)
Mt Stuart Square, Cardiff, CF10 5
Tel: 02920 460873
The Point - an ideal building for a live music venue, as of the 27th February it has CLOSED. Shame.
The Globe
125 Albany Road, Cardiff
Tel: 02920 452151
a new venue on Albany Road in Roath, it avoids having to go into town for those living on that side of the river, but only if you're happy to listen to a stream of mainly dad-rock and folk bands. A good venue say most that go, the only one of its size in Cardiff.
http://www.theglobecardiff.com/
Toucan club
23 Womanby Street, Cardiff, CF10 1BR
Tel: 02920 342818
http://www.toucancardiff.co.uk/
Rococo
95 St Mary Street, Cardiff, CF10 1DX
Tel: 02920 398179
his is an independently owned cocktail bar—and a pretty cool one at that. It sports a dark polished wood floor, funky 70s textured orange wallpaper and exposed brickwork.
Other parts of the walls are plastered in equally glorious brown and gold wallpaper and, still with that 70s theme, there are brown and orange ottomans (poufées to you and me) to sit down on. There’s a big mirror on right with its Rococo logo stamped on it and an S-shaped continuous banquette near the window, as well as booth-seating at the back. In between there are potted plants, plasma screens and stools line the bar on the left which are overhung by big and bold black and white lamps. To finish off the whole effect are abstract paintings and the sounds of funky grooves, breakbeats and soulful house which fill out the room at the weekend.
http://www.myspace.com/rocococardiff
St Davids Hall
The Hayes, Castle, Cardiff, CF10 1
Tel: 02920 878500
It hosts the annual Welsh Proms, the Orchestral Series attracting renowned conductors and performers and the biennial Cardiff Singer of the World competition. As well as classical music it also plays host to jazz, soul, pop, rock, dance, children's, r&b, musicals and other forms of world music, as well as light entertainment artists like Joan Collins. The foyers in the centre are open and have regular free performances from often local groups, and the many foyers, balconies and bar areas are also used to host art exhibitions. It also has its own Celebrity Restaurant, on top of the numerous bars.
http://www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk/
Pen & Wig
1 Park Grove, Cardiff, CF10 3BJ
Tel: 02920 371217
The Pen and Wig is a cosy pub in the centre of Cardiff, albeit tucked away down a side street. As well as serving up lagers, ales and spirits, the pub provides a wide-ranging menu until 10pm. Also on offer are a variety of board games for hire and a quiz from 8pm on Tuesday evenings and comedy nights on Mondays from half 8. There's also televisions, usually tuned into bbc news 24, darts, a pool table and a beer garden out the back, for lazy summer evenings
Le Pub
1 Caxton Place, Newport, NP20 4BN
Tel: 01633 221477
The city's alt rock and punk haven with two floors of friendly weirdness, excellent juke box downstairs in the cavern, best look at other sites such as welshgigs to find out who's playing there.
Dempseys
15 Castle Street, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF10 1BS
Tel: 02920 239253
This traditional Irish pub attracts a lot of regulars, unusually so for a City Centre pub, probably because the bar staff are friendly and welcoming.
decor is red, cream and dark wood, with a separate room behind the reasonably sized main bar area.
Upstairs is a 100 capacity function room for hire for private occasions.