Cardiff’s Noizzefest, organised by the lovely folks behind Noizze e-zine, is returning for its second edition on Saturday the 26th April 2025 following their success in 2024. Expanding the line up venues, this year’s edition will add Clwb Ifor Bach to the existing home that has been Fuel Rock Club, signifying the festival’s growth (and also taking up an iconic venue). Luckily both venues are across one another on Cardiff’s Womanby Street, so you can easily jump between the two.
Headlining downstairs at Clwb Ifor Bach are London’s mighty folk horror metal outfit Forlorn. Fronted by Megan Elliott, whose vocals seamlessly go from angelic hymns to terrifying growls (think Midsommar as an inspiration), they deliver captivating performances. Their new album Aether is also coming on the 28th March, and there is an album release show at London’s The Black Heart to get you ready for Cardiff.
LOUD WOMEN readers will likely spend most of their time at the Fuel Rock club, where the mighty Knife Bride and Orchards are headlining. Knife Bride offer nu-gothica with romantic vocals, but fast, prog-inspired riffs. If you love Kate Bush as much as Bring Me The Horizon and you didn’t know you it’s possible to perfectly blend those influences – Knife Bride are not ones to be missed.
For a completely different mood, Brighton’s Orchards ooze positivity that can only come from perfectly constructed math pop. Their new album Bicker came out on 28th March, so their set promises to be full of new material. I have seen them countless times and every time I leave their set with a huge grin on my face. Expect jumps, high kicks and hijinks.
Mallavora are another outfit to catch at Fuel. The alt-metallers tackle themes of illness and disability with ferociousness and sensibility. Their vocalist Jessica Douek, who is disabled and lives with fibromyalgia, growls and sings lyrics written by the band’s guitarist Larry Sobieraj who channels his experience of living with a chronic illness through music. Mallavora have become alternative music’s fiercest advocates for accessibility, and they commit to only playing venues accessible enough for them and their audience, so if you have accessibility needs and see them on the line up – you know your needs will be listened to.
If pop-punk and good riffs are your cup of tea, arrive early to catch Hertfordshire’s High Regard.
If lots of great, heavy music in one day across an iconic Cardiff street wasn’t enough of an incentive for you, Noizzefest is organised in partnership with Safe Gigs For Women ensuring a safe and inclusive mosh pit, as well as Metal For Good. They also made sure that both venues are accessible: Fuel Rock Club is a fully accessible venue with a ramp and disabled toilet and the downstairs of Clwb Ifor Bach is accessible via two steps at the main door, but the main stage will be located upstairs via four flights of stairs. Anyone with accessibility concerns can contact the organisers who will try and support as much as possible.
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