Greetings dear readers from the deepest darkest South Walian Valleys. Progress to report down in these parts, XFM are finally set to go live today (Thursday 29th). They will be on the furthest reaches of the FM at 106.8-107.3 and promise to provide a welcome alternative to the beeb and the usual commercial dross.
 
To celebrate their launch Funeral For a Friend are set to play a secret gig tonight at a location to be announced over the airwaves and on t’internet (http://www.xfmsouthwales.co.uk/). And to welcome in the festive season with a Wintery and Welsh theme, the Super Furry Animals have been recruited for a special christmas gig at Cardiff University for the princely sum of £20 (tickets available here http://winterwonderland.trinitystreetdirect.com/opentickets/ticketselection.asp).
 
Elsewhere things are looking somewhat barren in the run up to Santa’s big day. Crowded House (4th December), The Manics (6th), Madness (10th) and Funeral For a Friend (again, 22nd) look to spice up advent in the Cardiff International Arena. Aside from the Xfm gig, Cardiff University Union host The Klaxons with Simian Mobile Disco on the 2nd and The Wombats on the 11th. Finally the tiny Cardiff Barfly will struggle to fit all eight of The Warlocks complete with two drummers on to the stage on the 6th December.
 
Heres hoping XFM can improve the standard of live music as well as freshening up the morning drive to work.

Links
XFM South Wales [official site]