LIVE: WRKHOUSE w/ Guilty Party & Malika Blu @ Clwb Ifor Bach

Cardiff has a thriving live music scene; we are the first Music City, so this comes as no surprise and WRKHOUSE are the epitome of what makes it full of life. But on Tuesday night, Cardiff truly came alive as WRKHOUSE made their return to the music hub of our capital, following their London live show for Dydd Miwsig Cymru. The atmosphere was electric, with fans hyped up and ready for a night of sonic perfection.

The event was curated by Beacons Cymru in partnership with Horizons for their annual Summit which this year was held over two days and included panel talks and workshops.

Kicking off the evening’s event with an emotive performance was local R&B artist Malika Blu. Her very first gig with a full live band and armed with a collection of soulful, personality-filled tracks, her performance was a highlight for everyone who came to support. The band delivered a powerful experience, featuring punchy instrumentals which accompanied the pure voice of Malika which left the crowd dancing. Her set was cutting, beautiful, and downright authentic, surely winning over new fans along the way. My first time seeing her and the band, but I have to say that she is one to watch for the future with a growing fanbase because of her natural talent and storytelling.

Next to the iconic Clwb stage with a high energy set were Guilty Party. A relatively new band on the scene but prepared with a catalog of punchy, well-crafted songs, their performance was one that kept your attention. The full band provided a unique experience, featuring clever songs which had some great indie and rock tones which left the entire crowd head banging. Their set was personal, fun, and fully electric, making a name for themselves with a new crowd. Ones to look out for in 2025 and a band I would highly recommend seeing live.

Approaching before ten and it was time for the awaited headline act and the band absolutely delivered. This is my seventh time seeing them since the first time last year and I have to say it was one of the best sounding gigs thanks to the talented sound engineers at Clwb. It all kicked off with ‘Byw a Bod’ which is the lead track from their debut EP, this transitioned seamlessly into ‘Time Again’ as it does on that record and has become a staple of their live sets throughout their time as a band. Highlights included ‘Snow’, their latest single ‘Take’ and a beautiful Welsh rendition of the debut single ‘Getaway’. Every track was performed effortlessly live including a collection of the songs back when they first started as 'Lewys'.

The band have big things on the horizon for this year and the future with headline slots in some of the most iconic venues across the country. Hopefully more music will be released soon with a festival slot planned at Focus Wales in May. The band always end on a high and like to jam a lot which adds to the epic experience of their interactive and immersive live sets. Every time they perform it is always phenomenal.

Their ability to sing in both Welsh and English language is a delight and adds to the authenticity of the band. Their funding from the BBC Horizons Launchpad Fund 2024 has massively helped them receive prestigious awards such as the Triskel Award. It was a joy to watch in such an iconic intimate venue with many fans in attendance at a night which was full of talent.

Words: Gareth Rees (@garethreesradio)