Chloe Jackson-Nott is a Welsh freelance photographer specialising in the music industry. She has studied BA (Hons) Photojournalism at the University of South Wales and BA (Hons) Business Management at The Open University.
Chloe has been in the photography field for 10+ years and has since become a mother to a young boy. She focuses on the music industry the most as she thrives from the energy that translates from the stage to her lens.
Supporting artists/bands big and small is something Chloe enjoys doing and if her images can help push their brand and voice then she will do what she can to help.
We’re pretty sure we didn’t spot Uncle Bryn himself in the audience sadly but maybe if James Blunt appeared during the GlastonBARRY Festival, Bryn would be first in line for tickets.
On tour with James Blunt was Lucy Spraggan. You might remember her from The XFactor singing about Tea and Toast. The funny thing about her performing alongside Blunt is that she tried to reach out to his management a few years ago about touring with him and assumed she’d been ghosted. It was only recently that Blunt found that email in his spam so brought her along on tour with him!
The audience for James Blunt all sat in anticipation as the sarcastic comedic artist came onto stage opening with Beside You. The third song on his setlist would’ve had Uncle Bryn crying with enjoyment as he started singing Wisemen. He played a few classic tracks that filled the room with nostalgia such as Goodbye My Lover and You’re Beautiful and ended the night with 1973.
James Blunt is continuing to tour the world for the rest of the year but so far there are no announced plans for any more UK shows yet!
From a small phone screen on Tik Tok to a nominated BRITs Rising Star, 21 year-old Caity Baser is bringing a new era of pop to the forefront.
Despite its growing popularity, we all know that Tik Tok was likely the most used app during lockdown. Caity started posting videos during the first lockdown and hasn’t looked back since. Her attitude towards her music is inspiring. She knows she’s got a talent, she has fun doing what she’s doing and she doesn’t care what anyone thinks about it. As long as she’s thriving, we’ll continue to see her running around confidently through the streets screaming about her music.
If you attended Depot in the Castle in 2023, you probably remember seeing Caity Baser on the line-up. She made sure that she would be unforgettable. Singing songs about no longer having friendly sex, slut-shaming and haters, Caity’s lyrics are filled with honesty throughout and we love her for that.
The release of her new mixtape, Still Learning, had Welsh fans flocking to Cardiff’s Great Hall and filling the venue. Caity gave bundles of energy from start to finish to the point that she had to remove part of her outfit from sweat.
Fans were treated to some songs with story openers. ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ was introduced with the quote “if you have to question if they like you, then they don’t like you. And that’s a hard pill to swallow.” Her favourite song of the mixtape ‘Oh Well’ included lyrics like “Everything’s f–ked, but it’s okay. Sometimes you just have to say, oh well.” Caity definitely hit us all with some hard truths in Cardiff but we all know it’s exactly what we needed to hear.
Cardiff has been greeted by some fantastic artists already this year but we were able to catch Witch Fever and Big Special as April kicked in last week! Witch Fever were supporting Cassyette at The Globe and Big Special were joined by Grandmas House and Slate on their Clwb Ifor Bach tour stop.
If you haven’t heard of Witch Fever, where have you been? This band is a new era of music made up of four musicians from Manchester; Amy, Alex, Alisha and Annabelle. Screaming confrontational lyrics into crowds of moshers before Amy jumps into the action, Witch Fever are one band that should be on your Spotify playlist.
A personal favourite I’ve managed to catch live a couple of times is Blessed Be Thy. It’s the perfect ‘scream at the top of your lungs’ song. Unfortunately, Amy may have sung too heavily and has recently caught a batch of tonsillitis. They’ll hopefully continue their tour with Cassyette once it’s cleared up – you can find future dates here: Witch Fever on Tour with Cassyette Tour Dates
Making up punk duo Big Special, Joe Hicklin and Callum Moloney, the two started their DIY NOW tour in Cardiff. If we needed one word to best describe these two it’s ‘energetic.’
They’ve been described as wanting us to dance through the darkness and that’s exactly what it felt like they were achieving upstairs in Clwb Ifor Bach. Back last year, Big Special were on stage at 2000 Trees and it’s great to see that they’re only continuing to thrive. With influences from different genres, you’re likely to find a song just for you from this duo.
There’s more chances to catch Big Special as they’re just over the bridge in Bristol next month. They’re also on the line-up for Reading & Leeds this year. You can find all the information you need here: Big Special Tour Dates
Welsh band Punk Rock Factory, recently completed a round of intimate shows across the Welsh valleys and made a stop off in Cardiff’s own Clwb Ifor Bach.
Each night of their tour, the band would showcase a different support act depending on what venue they were in. For their sold out show in Clwb Ifor Bach, the audience were thrilled to welcome Edit The Tide to the stage. High energy and charismatic, this alternative rock band from South Wales were a great way to get the crowd hyped up and sweaty. They have recently released a new single called ‘Ambience’ and have a new debut EP coming out in April called ‘Reflections in Sound’ so keep an eye out for these boys – they have big things on the horizon!
Starting with an absolute banger for all the nerds in the crowd, the boys from Punk Rock Factory came thundering onto stage with a punk rendition of the Pokemon theme song. They then continued into The Little Mermaid’s Under The Sea for all the Disney kids in the crowd. There was even a section where they showed up a lot of us older generations by rocking out to Power Rangers, Gladiators and Thundercats all one after the other.
Moving back into the generation of 2000/2010’s kids, the boys covered the Phineas and Ferb theme song. A couple of weeks prior, they joined Bowling For Soup on stage at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena in front of 7,500 people and performed the theme song there too. Frontman Peej said that they originally asked the boys in Bowling For Soup for AAA passes to enjoy the show, and instead the band were invited on stage to perform and it was an incredible experience for them all.
There was a small point in the show at Clwb Ifor Bach where bassist Benj needed a quick break to sort out his bass. This point of the show came just as the band were about to play the Spongebob Squarepants theme song, and boy… did one audience member know. One woman in the audience was very excited to hear this theme song that the boys continued to wind her up by starting the song but not actually play it.
“Whoooooooo…… thinks this person really wants to hear this song?”
“Whooooooooooooooo….. seriously thinks this person reeeeally wants to hear this song?”
The boys in Punk Rock Factory never fail to disappoint and will be returning to Cardiff on November 2nd to The Great Hall. Find tickets here.
The Blackout, a Welsh rock-band from Merthyr Tydfil, said their farewells back in 2015 leaving many young emo hearts broken. But in the year 2024, they have reunited once more and gone on the road to mend those broken hearts.
Joining the boys on the road were Dead Pony and for their Cardiff show, they welcomed De’Lour to the stage to open the set. Each night a local band open the show and for Cardiff the five-piece band were selected. They thrashed out banger after banger with the songs, Suncrusher, Cold Decisions and Crown. We recommend giving these guys a listen! Dead Pony were second on. They are a Scottish rock-band from Glasgow. Sean Smith said on stage that he is in awe of their chosen band name as it sounds incredibly punk rock. These are another band to keep an eye on – their new single RAINBOWS is out now!
Uproar and nostalgia filled The Great Hall in Cardiff, the moment The Blackout jumped onto stage. Opening the set with This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things, the boys had the audience eating from the palm of their hands immediately. Frontman Gavin Butler, injured his achilies during the Manchester stop on the tour so performed the show in a boot, but props on his for continuing the tour despite the circumstances!
Cardiff successfully made Sean Smith cry three times in total and had poor Bob (James Davies) sat on the floor as he patiently waited for the crowd to stop chanting We Are The Dynamite. During I’m A Riot, You’re a F**cking Riot, there were actual riots in the crowd. The mosh pits got heavy and security intervened at one point but everyone kept each other safe and made sure they were all having the best night. They ended their set as they always do with Save Our Selves (The Warning). It’s usually at this point where Sean Smith would ask the audience to get down but the crowd knew exactly what was expected of them.
We’re so glad to see The Blackout’s return and feel like society has been restored in South Wales. We look forward to see where the boys continue and how they perform at Slam Dunk this year!
After having the privilege of seeing Dream State support Funeral For A Friend in Cardiff’s Utilita Arena, we needed to take the opportunity to see them live their dreams on tour with As December Falls. We managed to catch them during their show in Bristol SWX with other support act Lizzy Farrall.
Lead singer, Jessie Powell, has only been with the band for approximately a year since taking over CJ Gilpin. She has achieved incredible things in this past year and 2024 is looking even brighter for Dream State. The band had a reshuffle of members with CJ Gilpin and Rhys Wilcox’s departure, leaving Aled Evans as the remaining original member. He gathered together a team which included Jessie Powell, Jake Bowen and Tom Connolly. Dream State are a Welsh power force not to be reckoned with.
During their set with at Bristol, the band got the crowd worked up. The energy in the room was static and electrifying. As the music pulsed through the venue, crowd surfer after crowd surfer rode over the barrier channeling the adrenaline of the night ahead.
The physical manifestation of the collective energy and shared passion for the music in that room was incredible. You could see as every person that surfed to the front, they felt safe to do so in that environment and that Dream State felt adored and impassioned by the fans were so involved. Both Aled and Jessie also got involved by hopping into the audience to continue their set. Aled with his guitar to create a circle pit around him as he shredded out the song, and Jessie opening up the crowd with the audience admiring her eclectic vibe. Jessie looks sweet and innocent but then she brings out that devilish powerhouse scream and it’s a completely different aesthetic. It’s incredible to say the least!
Dream State have recently announced some very exciting things for 2024 including a featured slot on a stage at 2000 Trees and a headline tour! They’ll be on tour in March and April followed by 2000 Trees in July. Find tickets for The Dream State tour.
Still Dreaming UK Tour 2024
March 28 – Swansea – Patti Pavilion March 29 – Bristol – Lost Horizon March 30 – Exeter – Cavern April 1 – Oxford – The Bullingdon April 2 – Liverpool – District April 4 – Newcastle – Xerox April 5 – Glasgow – Cathouse April 6 – Sheffield – Corporation April 7 – Manchester – Canvas April 9 – Nottingham – Rescue Rooms April 10 – Norwich – Waterfront Studio April 11 – Northampton – The Black Prince April 12 – Birmingham – Asylum April 13 – Portsmouth – Takedown Festival
In It Together Festival will return to Old Park Farm, Margam in May 2024. Alongside the big three headliners over the weekend, they will be joined on stage with other names like Eurovision and Tik Tok star Sam Ryder, Newton Faulkner, Scouting For Girls, Blue and many many more!
Based in Wales, this festival is known for championing Welsh music and this year they continue to give local artists and names a place on their big stage. Artists like Eleri, Banshi, Niques, Half Happy and ADJUA have been given the opportunity to perform in front of a potential 50,000 people over the course of that weekend. An opportunity that doesn’t come lightly for smaller local artists from the Welsh valleys.
I spoke to these few artists and asked how they felt about being able to be part of In It Together:
“I’m feeling really excited about my first In It Together festival! I can’t wait to see all the amazing artists on the line-up as well!” – ADJUA
“I’m so excited to be playing In It Together again after playing at the first one in 2022. It’s amazing to have a festival of that scale bringing big artists to Wales, and the Paddock Stage with local artists alongside the big names is such a good idea!” – Eleri
“I used to want to perform at this festival and I set it as a goal to get on the line-up, so to be on it now feels so rewarding.” – Niques
Eleri photographed at Tramshed, Cardiff by Chloe Michelle Photography
Niques photographed at Porters, Cardiff by Chloe Michelle Photography
Encouraging local music artists is crucial for fostering a diverse and vibrant cultural landscape. These emerging talents often bring fresh perspectives and innovative sounds that may go unnoticed in mainstream channels. Supporting them not only helps nurture creativity but also contributes to the preservation of unique regional identities.
In It Together have selected more than fifty Welsh artists alongside their star-studded line-up in a celebration of Cymru’s grassroots talent. This grassroots support fosters a sense of community, encouraging a cycle of artistic inspiration that ultimately enriches the global music scene.
Professionally known as Annie Mac, the internationally renowned broadcaster and DJ visited Cardiff to spin some tracks at her event night ‘Before Midnight’.
As DJ Paulette warmed up the crowd, by 8:30pm, Annie Mac popped up behind the decks making her entrance and presence known through her mix. Starting off slow and wearing a black hoodie, she allowed the crowd time to get into the groove and prepare for a heavy next few hours of vibes.
As Annie took control of the decks, she electrified the crowd creating an atmosphere charged with anticipation of the next track. She created a journey of sound to keep the audience entranced and built up the sweat and good vibes as the night continued. Annie certainly knows how to keep the crowd under her spell as the audience responds with cheers and pumped-up dance moves for hours.
Outside her music, Annie is also an advocate for positive and inclusive change. Her popular podcast, ‘Changes with Annie Macmanus’ welcomes guests to chat openly about changes they’ve faced and challenges they’ve overcome.
With 20 years of work experience in her back pocket, Annie Mac has created a strong legacy as a key music industry figure championing female artists and the LGBTQ+ community in the space.
‘Her Before Midnight inclusive clubbing concept that she launched in Spring 2022 has proved hugely popular and sells out within seconds.’
Kids In Glass Houses, a Welsh five-piece rock band consisting of Aled Phillips, Andrew Sheehy, Iain Mahanty, Joel Fisher and Philip Jenkins. With their debut album Smart Casual turning 15 this year, they have reunited and are back on the road to bring nostalgia to the kids who have been fans since 2004.
The band announced their split back in 2014 where they played a final show on Halloween in Cardiff. On their current reunion tour, they have stopped off in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, London, Bristol and finally wrapping up in Cardiff. It felt incredibly fitting to watch Kids In Glass Houses perform on a Saturday in their home city of Cardiff, with The Nightmares as their support act.
The Nightmares are a four-piece band who describe their music as Noir Pop. The Newport band consists of Adam Parslow, Eleanor Coburn, Benjamin Mainwaring and James Mattock. With the staging set up in dark red, the band played songs from their discography with black roses attached to their microphone stands. Their vibe gave a gothic atmosphere with a melancholy crimson feel.
Kids In Glass Houses came onto the stage with bundles of energy. Aled Phillips was running around the stage and showing no sign of stopping until their set was complete. They opened with Fisticuffs and finished with Matters At All. The the eccentric dance moves from Aled, it felt like he was channelling his inner Elvis. With a sea of inflatable flamingos in the crowd, and the chanting of A.L.E.D, the final show on the tour really did end with a bang. The band were incredibly thankful that so many fans were still supporting them and selling out shows and how 15 years since Smart Casual was released has flown by. The band finished off by taking a photo with the audience and included a sign that read ‘BRB…Making A New Album!’
A festival inspired by the instrument that connects us all – the voice
“Llais is Cardiff’s international arts festival, bringing artists and audiences together for incredible live music, thought-provoking performance and inspirational talks.”
Llais Festival began back in 2016 which saw a line-up of Van Morrison, Charlotte Church and Hot Chip. Last years line-up saw artists Cate Le Bon, Midlake and Pussy Riot take to the stage. For 2023, Llais Festival is bringing along The Staves, Bat For Lashes, Gwenno and many more!
(You might recognise Gwenno from the side of Clwb Ifor Bach on Womanby Street as a 38 metre mural!)
During the weekend of October 14-15, we managed to catch the sets of: Angharad Davies, Angeline Morrison, Gwenno, Clare Marie Bailey and Elaha Soroor. What a fantastic mixture of international sound and culture.
Angharad Davies – a Welsh experimental violinist demonstrating a psychedelic experience for the audience in the Cabaret bar. Angharad slowly approached the stage and setting the expectations of her performance. She performed a 52-minute solo violin piece from her single track album titled “Gwneud a Gwneud Eto / Do and Do Again.” The performance provided the room with a sense of meditation and enchantment. Angharad describes the violin as particularly intimate with an endless wealth of possibilities. The low repetitive drones and variety of high pitched scratches truly provided the audience with the psychedelic experience they were promised.
Angeline Morrison – with a focus on storytelling, Angeline performs elements of soul music, folklore, myth and the supernatural. Angeline Morrison’s 2022 album, The Sorrow Songs: Folk Songs of Black British Experience was voted Number One Folk Album of the Year in The Guardian. Angeline shared a touching story with the audience about how she was very close with her grandfather who had dementia. Her hypnotic performance interacted with the audience through precise storytelling. The audience were applauding the end of each song ready for the next.
Gwenno – this was a one- off performance exclusive to Llais Festival, titled ‘Tair Ton | Teyr Ton | Three Waves.’ We were told to expect a ‘sensory feast with added theatrics’ and that’s exactly what Gwenno treated us to. This performance celebrated her three albums with connecting themes and featured unheard live performances from her discography. Gwenno’s performance was filled with stunning lighting and graphics throughout giving the audience a show of visual satisfaction. The crowd came wearing their red hats and ready to be captivated with songs such as N.Y.C.A.W. and Men an Toll from her album, Tresor. Gwenno was a perfect wrap up act on Sunday at Llais Festival bringing along Welsh culture and voice at its finest.
“We’ll start a fire and burn some bridges and make it out of here tonight”
Welsh band, Funeral For A Friend took to the stage at Utilita Arena, Cardiff on Saturday October 14th for their penultimate show of the ‘Casually Dressed & Deep In Conversation’ tour.
From Bridgend, formed in 2001, the band is made up of Matthew Davies-Kreye, Kris Coombs-Roberts, Gavin Burrough, Darran Smith, Richard Boucher and Ryan Richards.
During their Cardiff show, they were joined by American rock band Dashboard Confessional and Welsh rock band Dream State as supporting acts.
Opening the show, Dream State, fronted by Jessie Powell, gave the crowd a rock show entrance they will never forget. Performing their first arena show, Dream State were incredibly thankful to be part of Funeral For a Friend’s anniversary tour. Despite the size of the arena and crowd, Jessie held up her horns and threw herself into the audience, creating her own pit. This Welsh rock band was the perfect start to get this show on the road. Chin Up Princess is a song that will be on repeat for a while.
Dashboard Confessional were second on stage just before Funeral For A Friend themselves. The American rock band opened up with Don’t Wait and continued into songs such as Saints and Sailors and Screaming Infidelities. Bringing the crowd back down to a calm and collected level, Dashboard Confessional were able to maintain interaction with the audience with a special song request from a band member. Chris Carrabba told the crowd that each night on the tour they choose to play a random song from their discography.
Just over 2 hours after doors officially opened, the main show started, Funeral For A Friend were greeted by loud screams from their hometown Welsh fans. They opened with Rookie of the Year and continued into Bullet Theory. Lead singer Matthew Davies-Kreye was lucky enough to celebrate his birthday on home turf during their Cardiff show. Fans were jumping, pits were opened and the band’s 20th anniversary tour was celebrated in style at the Utilita Arena in Cardiff.
We Are Cardiff 