Gig Goin – From Newport Grit to Cardiff Glory: The Rogues Impress a Manic at Y Plas

19 October 2025 99 7 5

The Rogues, The Malakites, Redwood City. Y Plas, Cardiff University Friday 17^th October 2025.

It was a big night for Welsh indie. The Rogues hit Cardiff for their biggest headline show yet, packing out Y Plas with the kind of buzz you can feel before the first chord rings out. Support came from two rising forces — The Malakites and Redwood City — both sharpening the edges of a new wave of Welsh guitar music. And in the crowd, watching closely, is none other than James Dean Bradfield of Manic Street Preachers — a legend quietly witnessing the next generation take the stage.

Before The Rogues even hit the stage, Redwood City had already fired up the room with a set that felt like a band right on the brink of something. The Southwalian four-piece blend that wiry, melodic indie energy with a touch of grit — all hooks, heart and tension that keeps you leaning in.

Highlights included Ashtray a tight sharp burst of indie pop urgency; all shimmering guitars and restless rhythm, the kind of track that feels destined for late-night radio rotation. They followed with “Kept In Mind”, a jagged, slow-burner that built from moody restraint into a chorus that hit like a confession shouted into the night. It set the tone perfectly — a mix of melancholy and momentum that runs right through their sound.

By the time “Uptight” kicked in, the crowd was moving — it’s the band’s most anthemic moment, full of bright riffs and that irresistible chorus that begs to be shouted back.

There’s a quiet confidence about Redwood City now — not arrogance, but assurance. The songs land. The chemistry’s real. And judging by the reaction at Y Plas, they’re not just another support act; they’re a band with serious momentum.

Hometown heroes

The Malakites took to the Y Plas stage with the kind of self-assured swagger that only comes from a band playing on their own turf. From the first notes of “Roses On The Doorstep,” their sound filled the room — chiming guitars, pulsing basslines, and vocals that carried both bite and beauty. It’s a song that captures everything about their approach: heartfelt lyricism wrapped in bold, melodic indie-rock sheen.

“Forgotten” followed, a moodier cut that showed the band’s knack for balancing tension and tenderness. There’s a cinematic quality to their choruses — the kind that would soundtrack both heartbreak and hope on the same night. When they rolled into “Lucy,” the energy shifted up a gear; it’s the band’s most instantly likeable track, all soaring hooks and crisp rhythm, landing somewhere between The Snuts and early Blossoms.

They closed with “Only Sometimes,” a fan favourite that swelled into a euphoric finale — the kind of ending that leaves the crowd wanting more. It’s clear The Malakites are ready to move beyond local acclaim. On this showing, Cardiff’s next great indie export might already be here.

Taut, melodic, and brimming with energy, every riff landing with precision and bite.

For The Rogues, this was more than a headline show — it was a monumental moment. Cardiff’s Y Plas felt electric from the first notes, as if the room itself was bracing for a band on the cusp of something much bigger. From the opening chords of “1963” and “Skinny Dipping,” it was clear that The Rogues had the crowd in the palm of their hand: taut, melodic, and brimming with energy, every riff landing with precision and bite.

New material showcased a band evolving fast. “Way Out” and “Take It Easy” were both confident steps forward — melodic, hook-laden, yet retaining the raw indie grit that first made them a name to watch. When they played “Oh Gena,” released that very day, the audience’s reaction confirmed its instant-classic potential, and “She Wants Me Dead” hinted at a future single that could define their next chapter.

The setlist was paced perfectly, alternating high-energy bursts with more introspective moments, keeping the crowd hooked throughout. The final run — “Slap Bang,” “Foolin Around,” debut single “Lizzy” — and an encore of “Chemical Dream” brought the night home with a euphoric rush, leaving the audience buzzing and a room full of witnesses to a band very much in their element.

The Rogues’ headline show at Y Plas wasn’t just a gig — it was a statement: a band stepping into its moment, eyes on the future, and a city already taking notice.

Oh Gena is out now to buy

Words by Stephen Howell
Photos kindly provided by Tom Damsell.

Written by: Ian.Lamsdale

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