Roath Really Did Rock!
Two days, nineteen acts and a community rocked to its knees! RoathRocks 2012 was everything we hoped it would be and more. The fun kicked off friday night with Hobo Bogweed playing a mix of original songs and crowd pleasing covers. Great performances by The Fflip Fflops and Viva la Burn followed and by 8.00pm every room in the Gower Pub was packed to the rafters. Local legends The Chicago Boys took the crowd by storm with a Max Boyce style set and took a comical swipe at front man Calum Ross who was next up with his band The Scarlets. Headliners Calum Ross & The Scarlets finished the night off with an electrifying performance. As bands finished their sets on the main stage many took to an over spill stage and performed again and collaborated with other acts. These impromptu performances were a great chance for any new arrival to catch the bands play. It was said that The Gower Pub had never seen so many people come through their doors as they did that friday night and the only room left for people to dance was on the tables and chairs. A great start to an ambitious weekend.
Saturday started with a glass of water and two paracetamols for most people in Roath after the brilliant night before. At 2pm the show restarted with solo performance from Calum Ross, Jon Fazel & Donna Armstrong amongst others. The afternoon highlight came from The Lovely Wars who made their debut at RoathRocks. A guest appearance by acting legend Stan Stennet had the crowds attention as he spoke about the charity we were supporting that day and in true Stennet style a few jokes thrown in for good measure.
Bands were already setting up on the main stage for the evening performances and crowds quickly filled the main hall. A stunning performance by Jessica Lee Morgan wowed the audience and her acoustic performances of current hits had the youngsters dancing and clapping along, Jess finished her set with the Queen cover 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love', and by this time everyone was up dancing and taking part in a bit of audience participation.
Rock outfit The Peppered Moths literally blew the roof off the venue and legends of the club circuit The Eon Blues Band played a fantastic set which had everyone singing along. Whizzing around town saturday night was Krystal Mills who in between gigs stopped at RoathRocks to perform an amazing 40 minute set. The Chicago Boys took to the stage once more and gave another stunning performance. By the time our final act took to the stage, eighteen acts had already played and front woman Rhian waited anxiously in the wings for her band The Shreiking Violets to step onstage. No other band could have finished the weekend off quite as good as The Shreiking Violets, as they played a loud rock fuelled set the crowd once again took to dancing on the tables.
Apart from the great performances over the weekend a great amount of money was raised for two great fundraisers. Friday nights takings were given to We Are Cardiff to help finance their film Portrait Of A City and the We Are Cardiff guys worked hard selling raffles throughout the evening. Saturdays takings were given to a stroke charity based at UHW and the nurses from C7 worked hard on the BBQ (Tracy) and selling raffles and manning the door.
RoathRocks was an absolute success and there are many people to thank for that success but a massive thank you to Andrew Plummer, Gwenno Ellis Jones, Rhian Marshal, Tracy Verdon and all the staff from C7, WeAreCardiff, Mel and staff at The Gower, Colin & Spud sound engineers, Lucy Barber, Calum Ross, Mo Plummer, everyone that donated raffle prizes, Tony Knapman, Mel Poyser, Stan Stennet and the great Roath Community that turned out to support another great Roath weekend.
Wayne
