Top act aim for new music venue

The new venue, known as SUB29, will be situated in the Millennium Plaza

A new 800-capacity live music venue in the centre of Cardiff hopes to attract bands and artists who currently leave the city off their schedules.

Promoters behind SUB29 hope it will fill a gap left by the demise of a similar-sized venue in Cardiff Bay.

They are want to attract an audience from outside the city.

SUB29, on the Millennium Plaza near the Millennium Stadium, is close to public transport and backers say gigs will finish before last trains and buses.

Steve Bines, who is part of the team behind the SUB29, which opens on 16 November, said that since the closure of the Coal Exchange in Cardiff Bay about a year ago it had been difficult for music promoters to find suitable venues in the city for certain bands.

Our aim is to finally offer a venue suitable for the tours that continually leave Cardiff off their schedules Steve Bines

"We either have small venues like Clwb Ifor Bach or the 500-capacity Point.

"Then there's a massive gap before we get to the 1500-capacity Great Hall at Cardiff's student union," he said.

"We're hoping SUB29 will fill that gap.

"Our aim is to finally offer a venue suitable for the tours that continually leave Cardiff off their schedules and by working closely with both local and national promoters, we are confident that we can put Cardiff firmly on the map."

Mr Bines said he also hoped the venue would play host to nights and provide support slots.

"We are fully aware of how exciting and vibrant the local music scene is and will ensure that it is well represented in the venue with showcase nights for local labels, unsigned artists and support slots on bigger tours where possible," he said.

The opening night will feature bands from the local label Tantrum Records.

Already booked to play SUB29 are country fusion band Alabama 3, Ben Ottewell, who is also known as Gomez's lead singer, and dance act Stanton Warriors.

Meanwhile, across the city, the former Globe cinema in Roath is to reopen as a 350-capacity music venue.

American roots/folk singer Michelle Shocked is the opening attraction on 8 November.