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Sŵn Festival 2025 - Thursday

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Thursday 16 October 2025 Sŵn Festival  features live music at multiple venues in Cardiff on Thursday evening, Friday evening and all day Saturday. Arriving by train at Cardiff Central from Swindon on Thursday 16 October, the first task was to visit The Canopi and show my ticket to get a festival wristband. Next, a walk to check in at the Travelodge passing the Principality Stadium, festival venues in Womanby Street and the southern wall of Cardiff Castle. There was time for beers in a couple of pubs featured in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide,  The Flute and Tankard and The Central Bar (Wetherspoon), both in Windsor Place, before the festival start at 6pm. Behind the statue of Aneurin Bevan, there was a good position for a photo of the setting sun beyond the walls of Cardiff Castle, during the walk back to Womanby Street. Tiny Rebel Cardiff was the venue for the opening act. The downstairs bar had some cask ales including 'Juicy'. Pushbike Exeter based band  Pushbike were...
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End of the Road Festival 2025 - Sunday

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Sunday 31 August, 2025 A day for wellington boots after Saturday's rain and to guarantee blue skies for Sunday evening at least. Heading to the Garden stage , the footpath passed the Piano stage where Christopher Owens was playing a secret set. Reaching the Garden stage, Jake Xerxes Fussell was seated on stage playing guitar and singing The River St Johns . Press play to hear the end of this song. Your browser does not support the audio element. A standing position at the side of the Woods stage for the 2.15pm was a good vantage point for Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band . The lineup includes pedal steel guitar and the song lyrics were elaborate. Flashes of Orange is an elaborate song lasting over ten minutes and is available for listening below. Your browser does not support the audio element. As clouds gathered, a move to the The Folly stage marquee seemed sensible. New York City based Slow Fiction were already on stage but there was a vantage point from th...
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End of the Road Festival 2025 - Saturday

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  Saturday 30 August, 2025 Having worn wellington boots and carried an umbrella around all day on Friday, these were left at the tent on Saturday for easier movement. This strategy did not turn out well, more about the weather later. Talking Heads stage - Stuart Murdoch It's always a pleasure to listen to writers / musicians talking about their latest books at the Talking Heads stage with views of a field beyond the stage from its wooded setting. Arriving at 11.30am, it was just in time to hear Stuart Murdoch in conversation with Julian Mash about his first novel Nobody's Empire , set in Glasgow , which features three people affected by ME , Stephen, Carrie and Richard. Stuart also read a section from the book and agreed to perform a song. A recording of part of Dog on Wheels can be played below. Your browser does not support the audio element. The Folly Stage - The Sophs, Lily Seabird, Scott Lavene Leaving the Talking Heads stage too late to catch Muireann Bradley ...
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End of the Road Festival 2025 - Friday

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Friday 29 August 2025 Miranda Sawyer - Talking Heads stage  Talking to Julian Mash about her book 'Uncommon People: Britpop and Beyond in 20 Songs' 'I love Liam' (Gallagher) , 'I underrated Suede', 'Pop stars should look like cartoons' [ Link to an edited extract from the book from The Guardian ] John Harris - Talking Heads stage Talking to Holly Dawson about his book 'Maybe I'm Amazed: A Story of Love and Connection in Ten Songs' which also features his son James.  'I love Somerset but they all clap on the on beat',  'James played I am the Walrus 37 times a day'. [ Book review by Tim Clare in The Guardian link ] Good Looks - Woods stage Setlist included ' If it's gone ' - click on play button below for a live recording of this song made here. Your browser does not support the audio element. Cubzoa - Big Top stage The setlist of Cubzoa, featuring Brighton based Jack Wolter, included ' Choke ' - cl...
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