Plan Ahead: Things to Do in June 🦢

Good morning, Swansea!

Summer is nearly here and June is packed with events across the city - Welsh language festivals, supercar racing, half marathons, dinosaurs, UB40 and a brand new live music venue opening its doors on the High Street. There's something for everyone this month, so let's get into it with a quick round-up to help you plan ahead.

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🧗‍♀️ Leading British mountaineer Adriana Brownlee is at Pontardawe Arts Centre, recalling tales of intense journeys through hostile environments and near-death experiences, detailing her impressive climbing accomplishments.

Swansea's High Street has a brand new live music venue (taking over from Elysium Gallery & Bar) and it opens its doors in style this Friday night. Down By Here launches with Afro Cluster (BBC Horizons-approved, veterans of Glastonbury, WOMAD and Green Man), Disco Panther, Suns of Thunder and Mari Purr.

Swansea's Welsh language-led music and arts festival returns with its biggest programme to date. On Saturday, June 6th, the National Waterfront Museum is taken over from 10am to 9pm, headlined by Welsh Music Prize winner and Mercury Music Prize nominee Gwenno.

The Indian Society of South West Wales brings a full day of Indian culture to the Brangwyn Hall - live dance and stage performances, authentic food, jewellery and craft stalls, sari-wearing workshops, henna artistry and more.
10am to 6pm. Adults £4, under-5s free.

Wales' biggest summer running festival is back, starting in front of Swansea Building Society Arena and heading out through the city to Mumbles and back. Whether you're running or just cheering from the sidelines, the Swansea Half Marathon is always a great atmosphere.

We're back in Mumbles for our first Dinner Club of the month. Make new friends over good food, great people - and a lovely part of the city to spend an evening in. Take a quick quiz to get matched to a likeminded table of new friends, followed by drinks at a nearby bar.

One of the most atmospheric festival settings anywhere in South Wales — a working farm with a 14th-century castle and panoramic views of the Loughor Estuary. This year's headline acts are trio James Fagan, Nancy Kerr and Tim Van Eyken, Scottish band Tarran, and Topette!! for the European Dance evening. Workshops, kids' craft activities, camping on site and a dog show on Sunday morning. Book tickets at gowerfolkfestival.co.uk.

A new exhibition to celebrate the launch of Elysium Gallery on Belle Vue Way on June 12th. André Stitt's Estateless uses abstract painting and architectural imagery to explore themes of communal habitation, conflict and trauma. Running through to 25 July. Free to attend.

Three days of live music by at The River House in SA1: Friday night kicks off with Li Harding & Band, Saturday brings String Fellows with Ray "Taff" Williams, The DC Party Band and The Buzzcuts Band, and Sunday closes out with The Chris Keys Band and The Red Hot Pokers.

Tell me what you want, what you really really want… The acclaimed Spice Girls theatre show comes to Swansea Grand Theatre on Saturday evening. A full stage production celebrating one of the biggest pop acts of all time.

A little later than usual this month, Vicky Park Market returns to Victoria Park with over 25 local small businesses, food stalls and independent makers. Free to attend.

The legendary UB40 bring their UK tour to Swansea Building Society Arena, joined by special guests Maxi Priest and Aswad. Tickets available at the box office.

The UK's first major exhibition dedicated to contemporary art kites opens at the Glynn Vivian. Curated by Isabel Griffin, it brings together leading international artists from Bali, Austria, Japan and the UK, transforming the ancient tradition of kite flying into bold, experimental art - with monumental sculptural installations, rare loans and works from private collections. The exhibition runs through to late September, so plenty of time to visit.

Murder Trial Tonight IV: Death of a Landlord comes to Swansea Grand Theatre - an interactive murder mystery dinner experience that blends theatre and audience participation.

After a packed out debut in April, Supercar Club Wales returns to Swansea Airport for a day of demonstrations on the runway from 3 PM - 8 PM, with hot food and drinks available on site.

For the first time since the Natural History Museum opened in 1881, it’s taking a theatrical production on the road - and it’s coming to Swansea Grand Theatre. Life-like animatronic dinosaurs including a T-Rex, Diplodocus and Stegosaurus come alive on stage as the audience travels through the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

One of Swansea's much-loved male voice choirs celebrates six decades of song at the Brangwyn Hall. The evening blends traditional Welsh choral sound with modern arrangements, joined by guest performers Harry's Youth Theatre.

The second Dinner Club of the month - and we’re back in city centre with the easiest and most fun way to make new friends in Swansea - one diner last month gave the experience 5/5 and said she “laughed so much my stomach hurt.”

Rising Newcastle singer-songwriter Andrew Cushin brings his intimate live show to Park Street on Thursday evening. Tipped as one of the UK's most exciting new voices — he's had the Noel Gallagher seal of approval and played Glastonbury — this is the kind of show you'll wish you'd gone to before he's playing much bigger venues. Tickets on the Bunkhouse website.

A cinema screening of the acclaimed documentary, Frida Kahlo, at the Taliesin, exploring the life, art and extraordinary cultural phenomenon of arguably the world’s favourite female artist - exploring Kahlo's life, her art and the extraordinary cultural phenomenon she's become.

Five superheroes descend on Plantasia for a day of photo opportunities, roaming the zoo and meeting young fans. General zoo admission included in the ticket price.

The Gower Festival's golden anniversary fortnight begins on June 29th, with internationally acclaimed musicians performing in the historic churches and intimate venues of the Gower Peninsula. Most performances are already sold out with waiting lists for returns - check gowerfestival.org for anything still available.

That should be enough to keep you busy! As always, I'll keep you up to date with even more fun things to do in Swansea every Sunday.

Andrew

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