Unless you have been living under a rock, you would probably know that Swansea Fringe was back for 2024 on the 4th and 5th of October. Hailed as the ‘celebration of South Wales’ creativity’, the Fringe brought together the best of music, comedy, spoken word, poetry, and creative performance art.
The guests experienced nearly 100 performances throughout the city thanks to the festival, which takes place in everything from unique art spaces to small-scale music venues:
- The Bunkhouse
- Hanger 18
- Elysium
- Pinatas
- Ty Tawe
- Hippos
- HQ Urban Kitchen
- Secret Location
Friends Ria Elisia from Tonna and Mika from Skewen have gone together to “plenty of festivals” to hear different bands play. Battling cold and rain, the duo stood outside Hanger 18, waiting for their loved bands to play. They particularly enjoyed “Mwn” and “Suns of Thunder”.
The two friends enjoy coming to the Fringe year after year as it gets “them all together”. Ria promptly adds, ” Over the years, there has developed a sort of friendship group or link. It is like going back to your youth and being around people you have met over the years and the music scene that you have always loved.”
There was music, fun, and laughter all along the High Street and music venues throughout the city which saw people from in and around Swansea coming together to celebrate art in all its glory.
Tory from Neath had been following several bands already. Having grown up in Swansea, she was keen to explore new music and new bands in the Fringe festival. She was particularly interested in catching “My Tin Monkey” play live in Elysium, having loved their work previously in the “Solva Edge Festival” last year.
Lloyd, a keen music lover from Bridgend and a frequent visitor to the Swansea Fringe Festival, was excited to “catch some new music that he hasn’t heard before”.
With live music even in the streets, people enjoyed themselves and geared up for more performances, While the visitors to keen to see their favourite artists perform, several organisers were busy making sure that all the preparations are up to the mark and that the visitors and the artists have the best experience.
Ronny Oner, who runs a signs, graphic design and graffiti store in Swansea since 1996, was very busy setting up the Hippos venue for the upcoming performances later in the evening. Sparing a few moments to talk to us, he shared the line-up of performances for the evening.
He remarks, “the purpose of the evening is to bring the local artists together. People are expecting some local hip-hop artists, some EmCee, some amazing DJs. We have got people from all over coming for this. They just come here and party!”
Swansea was in full festive fervour for the two days as the guests enjoyed interactive seminars, meeting new people, supporting local talent, discovering new favourite live bands and performers, and comedy sets.
