Cwmcarn live music pub relaunches itself after revamp.
Vinny and Anja Franco have been running the Cwmcarn Hotel for seven years now. They immediately put their stamp on it, installing a stage in the back room, giving the place a funky makeover and giving the beer garden a festival vibe. They started putting on live bands with a booking policy that was a lot more progressive than the usual valleys fare of ‘Sensational Vocalist’ or ‘Superb Duo’. Dub War, Henge and The Last Tree Squad are just a few of the long list of original bands that have graced their stage.
In 2019 they opened up a restaurant and named the whole project ‘The Fork ‘n’ Tune’.
When Vinny told us they were ‘relaunching’ the venue I was sceptical. I thought it was a slightly overblown way of unveiling a new mural on the wall, or whatever it is that they had done. But I was taken aback when I walked in.
The stage has moved through ninety degrees, a custom built PA has been installed by Sain Sound and half the bar has been walled off to create a new space at least twice the size of the old venue. This doesn’t feel like a relaunching of an old venue, it feels like a new, completely different venue. My cynicism immediately faded away.
As we arrived, Nookee were sound checking. Vinny bounced across the dancefloor to greet us, his long flowing dreadlocks following behind him. We shook hands and he explained that the bespoke sound system, which wouldn’t look out of place in a jungle bar, had literally only just been completed a few hours before. Our mate Bruno, DJ and all-round sound meister, nods approvingly and tells us in his distinctive French accent, the sound system is amazing.
This is Megan’s first visit to the pub, so I take her out to the beer garden, where every effort has been made to recreate a festival vibe. From the continuation of the funky murals, through the subtle strings of lights, to the firepit at the back.
We chat with friendly locals and are joined by Carlton Brodin, front man with the Carltones, who are playing their debut gig tonight. We chat about his current home town of Hackney and chat about mutual friends from the North London music scene. Eventually, band mate Richard Glover, bass player with Dub War and Bad Sam, calls Carlton back upstairs ready to start the show.
We follow behind and get ready for the opening ceremony. Vinny says a few words and local legend Nigel uses scissors to cut the ceremonial ribbon wrapped around the stage.
The Carltones then proceed to swoon the healthy sized crowd with a selection of rootsy reggae tunes. I’ve not knowingly seen Carlton in action before, although he’s been around the block a bit so I might have. He has a sweet voice and plays guitar like someone that has had a lot of practice over the years. It’s a mellow cheerful vibe, very different to the sound I’m used to from ‘The Glove’, who cooly sits playing acoustic bass with shades on. It’s mostly original tunes with a few covers thrown in, like the Clash’s ‘Bankrobber’.
Eventually we regroup back out in the beer garden to continue our comparisons of the South Wales Valleys and London.
It’s not long before we hear the dulcet tones of Nookee drifting through the air, so we head back up to check them out.
A year ago today I proposed to Megan in a restaurant in Nice, which means one year and one week ago, we were watching Nookee perform around a pool in a villa up in the mountains of the Côte d’Azur. They are young (comparatively) but have talent way beyond their years, many of them having grown up with musical parents.
They display a cool swagger that sits perfectly with their funky, soulful vibe. Retro, but with a modern twist. The dancefloor is filled with gyrating hips and blissed-out grins.
To wind the night down, we head back out to the beer garden for one last chill. We get to hear possibly the line of the night. Richard Glover, on seeing Carlton with an empty glass, asks if him he wants a pint. When Carlton says yes – “Well, ask Vinny to buy you one when you go and get our petrol money”.
Eventually we have to tear ourselves away in search of late night food. The journey to the door lasts a lot longer than it should as, now the band has finished, the beer garden is full of old friends that we hadn’t realised were even in the venue.
Eventually, we make it out into the night satisfied that yes, it wasn’t just a decorating job. This is a new venue. A venue unique in the valleys of South Wales. A venue that has ambitions to put on original artists. It’s important to remember that venues like this are the lifeblood of the music scene. It’s essential to keep them alive. And I think there’s going to be life in this venue for some few years to come yet.