Feeling inspired by a few more exciting music nights – and some news from Michael Eavis...

Apr 4 2008 by Huw Stephens, Western Mail

THERE are a few exciting new nights happening in Cardiff. The Club With No Name, which has large questions marks hanging inside the venue on banners, is just what it says on the tin.

The new venue is putting on a lot of different and alternative music in the capital. I saw Ellie from the country band Silver Spurs play a lovely set there recently – it was her first solo one and it went down well.

There will be a lot of dance music events at the venue soon, with the evergreen Jean Jaques Smoothie playing there, and local breakbeat promoters and DJs Phantom Beats. It’s also the hangout for a new label, Tantrum Records, which has put out an album by local band Sicknote.

Another solo lady making beautiful music is Georgia Ruth Williams. From Aberystwyth and currently in university in Cambridge, she plays the harp and sings. She’s influenced by Bert Jansch and a lot of singer-songwriters normally associated with the guitar.

The power of the internet continues to grow, especially within the media world. When footage from Youtube is used regularly on the news and magazines about Facebook are selling more than traditional magazines you know there’s something happening.

It’s the popular Facebook site that’s responsible for a new night called Hell’s Bent in Cardiff. The site’s group – Who Wants a Gay Disco in Cardiff? – has had a lot of people joining it, and so the night actually started at The Point recently. There will be another event on April 12 before it becomes a regular fixture.

The Glastonbury Unsigned competition, which I have previously told you all about, happened last weekend. The two Welsh musicians who got through did well – Rod Thoms from Neath now lives in London and plays as often as he can. Andrew Hickey is from Wrexham and played with his Merry Maidens, who are made up of musicians from bands like Camera, The Roseville Band and even the manager of Wrexham’s excellent Central Station venue.

Both played strong, enjoyable sets, with Hickey’s performance getting Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis so excited he leapt onstage to congratulate them as soon as they were done. And for the record, Eavis was telling everyone that it’ll be sunny for this year’s Glasto. I’m still keeping my fingers crossed.