Entertainment in Swansea

A 450-capacity multi-purpose cultural venue, Pontardawe Arts Centre in Port Talbot, around 10 miles from Swansea, has a long history of live music stretching back to 1996. With a broad musical remit spanning rock, classical, jazz, soul, funk and world grooves, they’ve welcomed well-respected names including Big Country and Fairport Convention. They also offer regular tribute and theme nights alongside the live music.

Fittingly for a country that has given the world Stereophonics, Manic Street Preachers and Feeder, Swansea has a strong live music and gig scene. The Scene Club, a mile from our Swansea City Centre hotel, puts on regular live music and battle of the bands nights, as well as more niche affairs including goth events and heavy metal nights. Open until 3am every Friday and Saturday night, the club is on Plymouth Street near to the Grand Theatre.

We love a good pun, so it’s only natural that we’d give a thumbs up to From Busk Til Dawn, a two-day festival of live music and busking held during the summer across the city. Launched in 2009, the scheme gets local musicians out and playing to crowds at 12 central locations, including Swansea Castle, Oxford Street and outside the bus and train stations. You never know, the singer or act you just walked past could be the next Tom Jones!

Poet Dylan Thomas rightly looms large over Swansea and is celebrated with the Dylan Thomas Theatre. The venue hosts a wide variety of productions, including dance groups, music festivals, plays and cabaret acts, as well as stand-up from the likes of Eddie Izzard, which we think Dylan would definitely approve of.


Based in the Maritime Quarter, Dylan himself was a member in the early 30s. The theatre now attracts over 15,000 visitors a year for its eclectic and entertaining program.

Located on the university campus, the Taliesin Art Centre is a multi-purpose venue that hosts everything from cinema screenings to art exhibitions and live gigs leaning towards jazz and world music. Big names like Jamie Cullum and Billy Cobham have played in recent years, while the site is also home to the Egypt Centre and an important collection of Egyptian artefacts and exhibits.

Head 10 miles down the coast and you’ll find Port Talbot and the Princess Royal Theatre, an 800-capacity space that offers the full range of theatre events from opera and musicals to children’s shows, stand-up comedy and an annual pantomime. Big names that have recently played there include Paul Young, Jason Manford and The Teletubbies.

For the full rundown of the Swansea Grand Theatre, a stunning 1,000-capacity Victorian theatre that puts on everything from opera to pantomimes, head to our dedicated page.

To find out more about the home of Swansea City Football Club and the Ospreys rugby team, check out our dedicated page on Liberty Stadium.