Buzz Magazine

Truck Violence, a four-piece noiserock band from Montréal, are touring the UK for the first time having just released their second LP The Weathervane Is My Body. Tonight’s show at Le Pub is the penultimate date of their 2026 European tour – and the first time I’ve been to the venue for a while. With the Le Pub air con turned all the way up to compensate for a blisteringly hot evening, opening duo Angelystor put on one hell of a show, considering they’ve only played a handful of gigs.

From dazzling West End audiences in Grease and Saturday Night Fever to creating his own dance productions, Adam Garcia has donned many theatrical hats over three decades-plus. Now, returning to Wales in The Bodyguard, he’s embracing perhaps his most understated role yet – but speaks candidly to Antonia Levay.

Wales’ most renowned moveable feast, the National Eisteddfod, is set to have a big birthday in a small village – its story begins in Cardigan circa 1176, and will write its latest chapter in Llantwd, just up the road, in 2026. Antonia Levay tells us more. Buzz’s recent Super Furry Animals cover feature was a reminder that Welsh audiences have always had an appetite for live music, performance and shared cultural experiences.

New Life (BPitch) An influential figure in electronic music scene for more than three decades now, Ellen Allien has been described as the matriarch of the Berlin techno underground. Her BPitch Control label, founded in 1999 and now known just as BPitch, has been the platform for the great majority of her extensive discography, including her 10th and latest album New Life.

Xiu Xiu – Eraserhead Xiu Xiu Eraserhead Xiu Xiu (Polyvinyl) Perhaps best known for their Twin Peaks-inspired album, Jamie Stewart’s longrunning group Xiu Xiu have always done things their own way. Many artists owe much to filmmaker David Lynch, and Xiu Xiu have always been open about their adoration – with this album, a quasi-soundtrack to Lynch’s cult movie Eraserhead, the most potent proof yet.

Animal Nightlife – Koushik Banerjea Koushik Banerjea started late as a novelist, already in his early fifties when debuting with Another Kind Of Concrete in 2020, though the London native has a creditable writing CV which predates that. Perhaps more significant, as regards the exhilarating visions and sociopolitical acuity of his third book Animal Nightlife, is his decades lived in various sharp ends and deep pockets of British culture.

Panda Bear & Sonic Boom – A ? Of When A ? Of When (Domino) Noah ‘Panda Bear’ Lennox’s output, both solo and with Animal Collective, has always sounded lush and beautiful, with an undercurrent of sadness or anxiety. This no longer appears to be the case. In collaboration with Pete ‘Sonic Boom’ Kember, he’s crafted an album that can comfortably be described as goofy. Goofy in an “I’ve paid my dues, now I’m having fun” way and goofy in, well, a goofy way.

« All Events The Gate are largely having a fallow summer, live events-wise, but this looks like a diverting exception. Jazz giant Ellington performed three Sacred Concerts – combining his established mode of performance with the Christian choral tradition – between 1965 and 1973; here, the Capital City Jazz Orchestra and Welsh soprano Claire Watkins will join the Ardwyn Singers. Tickets: £20/FREE under-18s. Have an event you want listed on our What’s On guide?

« All Events The Swansea Good Afternoon Choir, a non-audition community choir led by Dana Jean Phoenix, welcomes singer Abi Beckett for a special summer concert. The singer-songwriter has previously performed with the RAF Cadet Choir for the Prince of Wales, and as a soloist alongside various choirs across Pembrokeshire. Have an event you want listed on our What’s On guide?

« All Events Splat Attack! is the title of a four-band 10” EP from the R*E*P*E*A*T label, who somehow retain the ability to release things like this in the face of all accepted financial logic. The acts featured on it – previous Buzz Ones To Watch Hairdye and Sold For Parts, plus Flatcat and Spwci – are all making their vinyl debuts, and playing this evening. Tickets: £4/£3. Have an event you want listed on our What’s On guide?