Cardiff music scene: 'The scene is more alive than ever'

With its revitalised docks, the impressive Millennium Centre and a sports stadium that has played host to the FA Cup final, Cardiff is no doubt on a roll.

But what about its music scene, which fared well when its scruffy port was better known for ladies of the night than opera divas? Ten years ago, the Welsh capital was the buzzing centre of a vibrant music scene led by Manic Street Preachers, Super Furry Animals and Catatonia.

Now there is a more steely edge to the sound of the valleys, dominated as it is by a vibrant hardcore set. Most prominent are Bullet For My Valentine, Funeral For A Friend and Lostprophets, who enjoyed a number one hit earlier this year with current album Liberation Transmission on indie rock imprint Visible Noise. Even cuddly pop rockers, The Automatic, grew out of this scene, playing underage gigs in Cardiff and becoming mates with infamous screamo merchants Jarcrew.

However, it's Lostprophets who are currently winning teen hearts in the States, before they embark on an arena tour next year in the UK. And while the earlier generation of Welsh bands have moved on to major labels, they still use indie labels for side projects. Super Furries frontman Gruff Rhys is set to release his sweet solo single "Candylion" next month on Rough Trade, ahead of the release of an album next year of more experimental, though still melodic, material than his usual output .

Another long-established outfit, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci have now disbanded, though their former members continue to work in and around Cardiff. Earlier this year, Euros Childs stuck to his quirky pop guns with solo album Chops, while former sidekick Richard James embarked on a more folk 'n' country-influenced direction with The Seven Sleepers Den. He now lives in the Pontcanna area of the city along with Childs and most of the Super Furries.

His album was put out on Cardiff's Boobytrap Records, originally set up as a monthly singles club by Booby Baz and Huw Stephens. The latter now promotes Welsh music as a Radio One presenter, so Baz has been joined by Dean Proctor, a mouthy south Welshman happy to cash in on the fame of the last wave of famous Welsh bands, though he sees it as something of a mixed legacy.

"The scene is definitely more vibrant and alive now than ever. There has never been a shortage of amazing bands in Cardiff, making running a singles club a piece of piss. There are more promoters, venues and bands than I've ever known, though on the downside, if I hear one more Stereophonics soundalike I may top myself."

Boobytrap is set to release "Wanna See You Die" from the Richard James album as a single in the new year, while its latest signing is Frommar, a typically intense outfit from nearby Newport. Proctor, though, still gnashes his teeth over missing out on the hotly-tipped Los Campesinos!, a jangle pop group made up of Cardiff University students and already making a splash with their sunny sound.

"They're probably the most fought over band in the industry at the moment," Proctor sighs, suggesting the band are poring over contacts from nine labels.

Los Campesinos! are set to feature on Twisted By Design's This Town Ain't Big Enough For The 22 Of Us, a showcase of local talent out at the end of the month. On the bright side for Boobytrap, in a pleasing spirit of cooperation, the larger My Kung Fu label is set to release Seven Sleepers around the world next year and put out a vinyl version in the UK, around the same time as Proctor puts out the single.

Kung Fu is part of the Plug Two organisation, a radical departure for the Welsh music scene as the region's first press and plugging agency. Since it was set up three years ago, the firm has expanded into club promotion and band management. Founder John Rostron believes Plug Two's unique position is in part due to the sudden success of so many Welsh acts 10 years ago.

"Back then, there was no label that could put out a record worldwide and nobody had a chance to do it. By the time bands had thought of it, they were already in London. And it has cast a shadow. After a sunny period it always feels like there's a vacuum even when there's still things going on."

Local talent was supported by the likes of the iconic Ankst Records, which specialised in Welsh language recordings, though its ambitions were limited in scope. Now Plug Two is set to put out the intriguingly downbeat colourformoney selection from Drone, alter ego of Cassidy Phillips. This Swansea native, again currently a student at Cardiff, is part of the area's small but vibrant electronica scene that Rostron tapped into by promoting venues and supporting club promoters around Cardiff.

"There is a growing number of bedroom producers and nights in Cardiff that we support," Rostron explains. "When we met Cassidy, we were promoting the venue as well as the club promoter."

This particular night was run by Machine Records, another local label with a definite electronic bias. When the label started, there was no scene to connect with, though gradually it has built up a formidable roster of artists that have started to come out of the studio and now perform live at regular Cardiff showcases.

Plug Two, meanwhile, has benefited from the support of the Welsh Music Foundation (WMF), an organisation set up to support the country's creative industry. Its prime mover is Huw Williams, once a member of Eighties indie staples The Pooh Sticks and former manager of Newport's 60 Ft Dolls. Rostron has been on a music management course, though also praises the WMF for supporting Welsh music.

"It's great having people fighting your corner," Rostron says. "When we couldn't go to music conferences, or didn't need to, the WMF would be there spreading the word. And they take a strategic view, looking at the problems we face like the lack of venues of a certain size here in Cardiff."

His label may not be in a position yet to challenge the majors that snapped up bands such as Catatonia and Gorky's, but at least Richard James can release a record that fans around the world can snap up. Beyond the shiny new buildings, Cardiff is as industrious as ever.