Live music venues in Cardiff

Cardiff venues

Barfly - Castle end of Queen Street **Barfly has shut from 1st September until further notice** - part of the group of six Barfly venues across the UK. You won't get the best sound in this venue and you won't get the best view either, but the atmosphere is great and all the best bands play here. Unless they play:

Clwb Ifor Bach - Womanby Street (road opposite the castle next to Dempseys) - The Welsh Club, so-called because it used to be a members club and you had to speak Welsh to get in, or so the story goes. Now it's a three-level club and venue (usually only ground and top floors are used though) which is host to many a fine band and used by several local promoters. Always worth checking out what's in store here. The regular nights are rock on Tuesdays ('Planet Rock'), indie and funk on Wednesdays ('Popscene') and indie/retro/mixed on Fridays ('The Dudes Abide').

Cardiff International Arena - Mary Ann Street - 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 - three venues ranging from CF10 at about 300 capacity, to Solus at 900 capacity to the Great Hall for big touring bands. CF10 used by SelloutPromotions occasionally. All three sometimes student-only access. Details can also be found at Cardiff Student's Union.

Buffalo Bar - 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.

Cardiff Arts Institute - Park Place. 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.

Coal Exchange - Mount Square, The Bay. 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.

10 feet tall is a three storey venue on Church Street in the centre of Cardiff. Run by the same company who own the Buffalo Bar, reviews suggest the atmosphere is great but the drinks are a little pricey. Much like Buffalo then! There are also suggestions that it might be trying a bit too hard?

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.

Tommy's Bar is the Student Union of Cardiff School of Art, at UWIC Howard Gardens. Fridays are the regular live music nights and it's also available for hire to promotors. Gigs are open to the public as well as students and the bar's a bit cheaper too.

The Point - an ideal building for a live music venue, as of the 27th February it has CLOSED. Please see their website for more details.

The Globe - 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.

Dempseys - Castle St. - random gigs upstairs by local promoters; often an out-of-town headliner with a couple of local supports, usually a good vibe and a reasonable night out.

TJ's - Newport's infamous punk venue. Recent sad news means that TJ's will be put up for sale.

Le Pub - Caxton Place, Newport - the city's alt rock and punk haven with two floors of friendly weirdness, excellent juke box downstairs in the cavern, while bands play upstairs in the attic. Beware their huge, slow myspace page - best look at other sites such as welshgigs to find out who's playing there.

Bristol Biekeller - if you feel like a trip a bit further afield.