Few names have become quite as symbolic over the years than that of Sŵn Festival in their long standing championing of new music and home-grown talent. And whilst it only feels like yesterday we were trudging around the inner city with tired legs and ringing ears, with less than 6 months to go until 2024's wondrous return, the festival have today shared their first announcement.

Taking place from Thursday October 17th to Saturday October 19th. This year’s iteration of the festival sees Sŵn become a proud partner of Cardiff Music City Festival: a three week-long celebration of innovative, accomplished music coming to the city, full of gigs, immersive happenings, residencies, installations, and pop-ups, pushing the boundaries of music, performance and tech.

From Welsh language artists such as Adwaith, Pys Melyn and Mellt to name but a few joining well renown multi-instrumentalist Tom Vek, Art School Girlfriend and Cardiff's very own Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, the running order is already off to an incredible start. And with the festival returning to its pre-pandemic multi-venue disciplinary for all three days, the plethora of acts on offer will only multiply. 

On Thurs Oct 17th, Sŵn will take over Womanby Street with five stages at Clwb Ifor Bach, Tiny Rebel, The Moon and Fuel. Friday Oct 18th and Saturday Oct 19th, meanwhile, sees the festival expand outwards across Cardiff city centre, with extra stages added at Tramshed, Jacobs Antique Market, Cornerstone and Porter’s (Saturday-only), with more venues to be announced soon.

Adam Williams, live manager at Sŵn, offers of this year’s festival: “I’m delighted to finally share the first wave of artists for Sŵn Festival 2024. This year’s event will be slightly different; running from Thursday through Saturday all three days will be fully multi venue, with over 130 artists performing across 11 different stages. We’re also in the process of finalising some exciting guests, stage partners and the return of our industry conference - details of which we’ll be able to share with you soon. Finally, and most importantly, this year’s event will be a key partner within the inaugural Cardiff Music City Festival; a three-week, city wide celebration of music in Cardiff this Autumn.” 

This year’s festival is geared towards being more accessible to the wider community than ever before, with the introduction of payment plans, concession tickets and more opportunities to get involved with the festival through the volunteer programme and a brand new apply to play scheme. Sign up to the mailing list to be notified about when applications open.

Tickets for Sŵn are on general sale now with instalment plans available. Head here for ticketing options and more info: https://swnfest.com/tickets/

FULL LIST OF ACTS ANNOUNCED SO FAR:

Adwaith | Antony Szmierek | Art School Girlfriend | Blue Bendy | Borough Council | Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard | Canty | Clara Mann | Cosmorat | Crinc | Dana Gavanski | Das Koolies | Dushime | Ellie Bleach | Emyr Son | English Teacher | Freak Slug | GANS | Gift | Griff Lynch | Half Happy | Hamish Hawk | Hana Lili | Hannah Diamond | Jane Weaver | Johnny Loves Me | Kitty & Sorry Stacy | Lanterns On The Lake | Malan | Manlikevision | Mared | Maruja | Mary In The Junkyard | Mellt | Mirari | Morn | NewWaveSound.Ent | OneDa | Plantoid | Plastic Estate | Pleasing | Porij | Pys Melyn | Quade | Rachel Lavelle | Razkid | Roddy Woomble | The Secret Jesus Factory | Shtëpi | The Itch | The None | The Wave Pictures | Tom Vek | TWST | University | Wrkhouse | Wu-Lu