Capital Funding Provided to Support Grassroots Music Venues in Cardiff
Esther and David at Paradise Garden on City Road. Image credit: Jake Rowles
Grassroots music venues in Cardiff have been awarded close to £200,000 through a venues fund.
The grants from Cardiff Council have enabled live music venues including Clwb Ifor Bach, Porters, Chapter Arts Centre, The New Moon, Paradise Garden, Acapela, Tiny Rebel and The Canopi to make improvements and buy essential new equipment.
The funding forms part of the local authority's Cardiff Music City work to protect and develop the city's music sector, which has also seen a new talent development scheme launched in the city's schools, the launch of a new 'Academi' for young musicians, and the first ever Cardiff Music City Festival take place.
One venue to receive a grant was The Canopi, a new grassroots venue and creative space on the ground floor of The Sustainable Studio on Tudor Street.
Julia Harris, who runs the space in the Cardiff Council-owned former Transport Club, said:
'One of the things that was really on my tick list was a space for grassroots music to happen, those first gigs that we need people to have, those first experiences of a supportive venue. So, we're definitely one of those. We're a starter space. We've had such an eclectic lineup of events so far and anything from say, RazKid to hip-hop spoken word, EP launches for folk artists, and immersive kind of band experiences. I feel like anyone can put on anything here. It's kind of all worked and gone really well.
'Cardiff Council have just been instrumental in us getting open. I think we have tapped into some amazing grants that have allowed us to make the venue accessible and also buy new kit as well.'
The New Moon, which opened on Womanby Street earlier this year, was another new independent venue to receive a grant.
Reem Mohammed, the venue's Event Programmer, said:
'Cardiff Council have been really, really amazing throughout this whole process. We have received a grant from them to help with equipment which has been incredible because when we opened the door we really wanted to have high quality equipment and sound for these musicians, so they're really being showcased at their best, and without them we couldn't have achieved that, so we're very grateful.'
Non-profit social enterprise the Queer Emporium is a safe space for the LGBTQ community that also hosts events, with their bigger events for up to 100 people hosted in the Royal Arcade.
Founder and Director, Yan White, said:
'By getting the grant from Cardiff Council, it's meant we've managed to massively upgrade our tech equipment for the events, which means if you come now, you'll see that we have a full lit stage with lights that go up through the Arcade. It's just sort of upgraded everything that we've managed to do, and we're hoping that will result in more people coming in and using the space.'
Outside of the city centre, on Roath's City Road, Paradise Garden is another independent venue feeling the benefit of a grant.
Co-founder of the venue, Esther Taylor, said:
'The support we've had from Cardiff Council has been really good because we can buy equipment instead of renting it and it's saved us a lot of money. It's really helped us to expand the amount of live music that we do.'
Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke said:
'We're committed to supporting, developing and promoting Cardiff's music sector. Grassroots venues play a critical role in the city's music scene and these grants provide important financial support at a time when, like venues across the UK, they're dealing with some significant challenges.
'We will continue to look for ways we can support venues, but the reality is we simply don't have the finances or the power to step in every time a venue finds itself struggling. The best way to protect venues is to use them and I would encourage everybody to book a ticket to a gig at a local venue – you never know, you might discover your next favourite artist.'
The Grassroots Venues Fund was supported by the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund.
The full list of organisations supported is: Sustainable Studios/The Canopi
Porters
4pi Productions
Talent Shack
Clwb Ifor Bach
Acapela
Tiny Rebel
Brewhouse
The Dock
Chapter Arts Centre
The New Moon
Paradise Garden
The Queer Emporium
The Grange Pub
Silkcrayon Studios
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Teen Mom star Kailyn Lowry's son, 15, comes out and reveals why he changed his name to Elliott
Teen Mom alum Kailyn Lowry is celebrating a major milestone with her eldest son, who came out as gay and revealed he now goes by a new name during the latest episode of her Barely Famous podcast. The 33-year-old reality star invited her 15-year-old, whom she shares with ex Jo Rivera, to co-host Friday's episode and give an update on his life. 'It's very important to me because I feel like growing up on TV, it's hard to show who you really are when a camera is in front of you all the time,' the teen said. 'It's almost like you have a TV face. It's harder to be yourself and to be more comfortable.' He went on to explain that he changed his name after no longer feeling connected to his birth name. 'I started going by Elliott because at some point, I wasn't happy with my first name,' he said. 'It just doesn't feel like me.' Teen Mom alum Kailyn Lowry is celebrating a major milestone with her eldest son, who came out as gay and revealed he now goes by a new name during the latest episode of her Barely Famous podcast The 33-year-old reality star invited her 15-year-old, whom she shares with ex Jo Rivera, to co-host Friday's episode and give an update on his life Lowry noted that she believes the switch was partly an effort to separate from the version of himself viewers saw on MTV, and Elliott agreed that was true. He then confirmed he identifies as gay. Overcome with emotion, Lowry broke down in tears as she praised her son's courage, saying she was 'so proud' of him for embracing his identity and calling it a 'brave thing to do.' Her son added, "I'm sick of people coming up with their own stories and putting things in their own words and things coming out on other people's terms about me, because my life isn't entertainment for other people. 'My life is my life and I can do what I want with it. And for people to take things from my life, like personal stuff, is not okay. 'If I want to share it, I should share that on my own terms.' Kailyn also shares son Lincoln, 11, with ex Javi Marroquin; sons Lux, 7, and Creed, 4, with ex Chris Lopez; and son Rio, 2, with fiancé Elijah Scott. In late 2023, she also welcomed twins Verse and Valley with Scott. Overcome with emotion, Lowry broke down in tears as she praised her son's courage, saying she was 'so proud' of him for embracing his identity and calling it a 'brave thing to do' The podcast reveal comes after Kailyn showed off her slimmed down frame with bikini snaps after undergoing a breast reduction. Back in December Lowry revealed she had gotten a breast reduction just before Christmas Eve. She used her Instagram Story to share various post-op selfies as she tracked her recovery and asked fans if they wanted further content detailing her operation. Lowry's surgery came months after she revealed she was told she needed to lose weight in order to be eligible for a breast augmentation. On her Almost Famous podcast in May she said: 'I want to get a boob job, right? I call around. I'm making these consultations to get a boob job. You know what they told me? They told me I need to lose 40 pounds.' She reiterated, 'So 40 or 50 pounds, more like 50 but maybe get away with 40 pounds, before they can even operate on me.' Reflecting on the moment, the former MTV star admitted she was overcome with emotion, 'sobbing' on the phone with a doctor's office as she considered a 'breast reduction, implants [or] lift.' 'I don't even know if I can get my double chin done,' she noted. After welcoming her twins in late 2023, Kailyn admitted she wanted to try the popular weight loss drug Ozempic to drop weight quick to return to her pre-baby body. 'How hard it is to lose weight as an adult, f**k my life. I'm scared,' she admitted on her Baby Mamas No Drama podcast in January 2024. 'I was in the gym five days a week. If you're going to get plastic surgery you have to maintain it.'
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Meet the 80-year-old granny battling billionaires with her Derby ‘superstar' tinged with sadness
Victory in the world's most famous Flat race would be 26 years in the making VIP OAP Meet the 80-year-old granny battling billionaires with her Derby 'superstar' tinged with sadness Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHE is the 80-year-old granny battling the billionaires with her Derby 'superstar'. In what has been billed as the ultimate David vs Goliath showdown, this 'proud Yorkshirewoman' with just six horses is daring to dream in the world's most prestigious race. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Vimy Aykroyd, second from right, is the 80-year-old gran taking on the billionaires with her Derby 'superstar' Pride Of Arras Credit: Steven Cargill / 3 Victory in the Derby would be a dream come true, although tinged with sadness as Vimy's husband David is in care with dementia and is unaware the horse is running in the world's most famous Flat race Credit: PA Meet Vimy Aykroyd, racing royalty, rebel and the owner of 5-1 chance Pride Of Arras. At stake is the small matter of £900,000 for victory, a place in history and a lucrative, money-spinning career at stud for their three-year-old colt. But also the realisation of a dream that started 26 years ago when Vimy first sent horses to trainer Ralph Beckett. Their families are intertwined, with Vimy having spent time with the Becketts growing up. When Ralph, son of trainer William, started his own yard in 1999, Vimy - Lavinia for full - was one of the first to send him horses. In the years since Beckett has pretty much done it all. Millions upon millions in prize money, Arc de Triomphe victory with Bluestocking last year, Group 1s galore and Royal Ascot success. But he's never won the Derby. Over the past decade, the 1m4f race over the undulating, rolling Epsom track has been a happy hunting ground for the billionaire tycoons who dominate the sport. Since 2017 it has been won by either Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed - under his Godolphin operation - or the all-conquering Coolmore group, made up of Irish racing boss John Magnier and British former bookies Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. Only in 2017, with Desert Crown, did it go to someone else - Dubai businessman Saeed Suhail. In fact, you have to go to diamond dealer Anthony Oppenheimer in 2015 for the last sole British owner to win the Derby, when he did it with Golden Horn. It's a tough gig when you're literally battling those with the financial might of an entire country behind them. But Vimy's more than used to overcoming adversity. 3 Sadly Vimy's husband David - her late husband's brother - seen here with Vimy in 2021, is now in a care home with dementia So can he win? Templegate's verdict By Steve Mullen (Templegate) PRIDE OF ARRAS absolutely can win the Derby. It may not have been a vintage Dante he won at York last time but Ralph Beckett's colt showed real class to get the job done. He really enjoyed stepping up to 1m2f and screams that he'll love the Derby distance too. There is lots of stamina in his pedigree but no shortage of speed either. It was good to see him accelerate once getting a gap on the Knavesmire and the Dante winning time was decent too. That was just his second run - and it came after nine months off - so you would expect a lot more from this talented colt. Beckett knows what it takes to win at the highest level and there is still some 5-1 about which looks an each-way bet to nothing. I would be surprised if he was outside the first three in the big race. Mischievous by nature, she wasn't always the best student and racing was in her blood given her grandad won the Grand National in 1891. When women were allowed to ride in Flat races for the first time in 1972 she naturally took part and won on a horse called Old Cock. Personal life took over when she moved to Spain with husband Richard Aykroyd - but he died from cancer in 1997. Vimy returned to London and then Yorkshire, where she married her late husband's brother David, who has been described as 'the epitome of the English gentleman'. Sadly, the Telegraph report that he is now in a care home with dementia and unaware their beloved horse is running in the world's most famous Flat race. Pride Of Arras was 50-1 for the Derby before he won the Dante at York - the key trial for the Epsom contest - last month. Beckett was bullish of his chances in the big one immediately after and there is no doubt he is the big British hope this year. A fairytale story, victory and overcoming odds? Sounds like Vimy Aykroyd all over. FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- The Guardian
Police now say they are investigating shooting of actor Jonathan Joss as possible hate crime
Investigators are looking into whether the sexual orientation of King of the Hill voice actor Jonathan Joss played a role in his shooting death in Texas, authorities said Thursday, walking back a previous statement about the potential motive. Joss' husband has claimed the person who killed the actor yelled 'violent homophobic slurs' before opening fire outside his home in San Antonio on Sunday night. A day after the shooting, San Antonio police issued a statement saying they had found 'no evidence whatsoever to indicate that Mr Joss' murder was related to his sexual orientation'. But during a news conference on Thursday William McManus, the San Antonio police chief, said the statement was 'premature' and that whether Joss' sexual orientation played a role in the shooting 'is part of the investigation'. 'I will own that and simply say again that we simply shouldn't have done that. It was way too early in the process for any statement of that nature to be issued,' McManus said. The police chief said many in the LGBTQ+ community 'are feeling anxious and concerned' after Joss' shooting and that 'a lot of it has to do with that premature statement'. 'The loss of Jonathan Joss was tragic, most heavily felt by the LGBTQ+ community,' McManus said. Texas does not have separate hate crimes charges. But if homophobia is found to have been a motive in the shooting, that could result in a harsher sentence at trial under the state's hate crimes law. 'We gather the facts, and we give those facts to the district attorney's office. And then that hate crime designation is determined at sentencing,' McManus said. The actor's home burned down in January. Joss' husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, has said that they were checking mail there Sunday when a man approached them, pulled out a gun and opened fire. In a statement, de Gonzales said he and Joss had previously faced harassment, much of it 'openly homophobic'. Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, who is a neighbor of Joss, is charged with murder in the shooting. Ceja Alvarez has been released on a $200,000 bond. Ceja Alvarez's attorney, Alfonso Otero, did not immediately return an email seeking comment Thursday. McManus said police had been called to Joss' home and his neighborhood about 70 times over the past two years related to 'neighborhood type disturbances'. 'Sometimes (Joss) was the caller. Other times, the neighbors were calling on him,' McManus said. The San Antonio police department's mental health unit as well as a unit known as SAFFE that works with residents to help prevent crime 'had extensive engagements with Mr Joss, making repeated efforts to mediate conflicts and connect him with services that he may have needed', McManus said. The January fire at Joss' home is still being reviewed by arson investigators, McManus said. Joss lost all his belongings in the blaze and his three dogs were killed. Actors who worked with Joss, along with friends and fans have honored Joss' memory with tributes. 'His voice will be missed at King of the Hill, and we extend our deepest condolences to Jonathan's friends and family,' the show's creators and producers – Mike Judge, Greg Daniels and Saladin Patterson – said in a statement on the animated series' Instagram page.
