From ABBA to Taylor Swift: Here are Cardiff University’s best music-loving societies

Cardiff University currently holds 200 societies, and plenty of them hold a strong passion for music. Whether you’re an aspiring guitarist, a DJ, or just a huge ABBA fan, Cardiff will certainly have something for you. Many of these societies hold a diverse range of socials, such as club nights, clay making or even karaoke!

Everyone’s constantly listening to music, so why not join one of these societies and find some more songs for your playlists?

Live Music Society

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A post shared by Live Music Society (@lmscardiffuni)

If you enjoy performing music, or just appreciating it, this is the society to join. Live Music Society currently hosts an open mic night at Gassy’s every Tuesday, which is the perfect opportunity to perform to a crowd, to connect with people to find band members, or just to listen to talented students perform. From going to a couple of these open mic nights myself, it is a really friendly, supportive atmosphere full of students and an incredibly accessible way of attaining publicity if you’d like to perform.

Alongside their regular weekly social, they also host band T-shirt bar crawls, quiz nights, and karaoke. This society is a staple for anyone who enjoys music, no matter the genre of what you enjoy.

Alex Stephens, LMS President, told The Cardiff Tab: “I played at the open mic and even got my first gig with the society. I’ve also met so many friends who I couldn’t live without anymore, and I’ve found some of my new favourite bands.”

GRIMSOC (Goth Rock Industrial Metal) Society

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GRIMSOC is Cardiff’s longest-running goth, rock, industrial and metal society. Their range of socials feature club nights at every single rock club in Cardiff, such as Fuel Rock Club, Metros, and The Moon, as well as karaoke nights, corpse paint nights, movie nights and quiz nights.

This society is one of the most fun to be a part of and joining is a great way to meet people who enjoy a diverse range of alternative music, whether it’s throwback emo songs or modern deathcore. Their Instagram page posts a monthly gig round-up of all of the alternative gigs in Cardiff happening during that month, which is great in helping support Cardiff’s local music scene, and making gig-buddies through the society makes it even greater.

This society is also partnered with Fuel Rock Club, the biggest dedicated rock and metal venue in Cardiff, which means that society members enjoy a 10 per cent off drinks there.

“Grimsoc is an inclusive family that makes everyone feel safe and welcomed. It’s been amazing to meet like-minded people,” says Alix, the treasurer of GRIMSoc.

Lana Del Rey Society

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What easier way to find fellow fans than by just joining this society?

The Lana Del Rey Society is the first one in the UK dedicated to appreciating the artist, and they host a range of sober, and non-sober events; making it a welcoming, social environment for every fan.

Some of the most-favourited socials include cocktail nights, film nights, and club nights!

Emma, the society’s secretary, told The Cardiff Tab: “It’s a chance to meet people with the same love and appreciation for our serene queen”.

ABBA Society

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This society is a staple for anyone who likes ABBA, no matter where you discovered them. They host an array of creative, unique socials such as wine glass painting, vinyl painting, pub crawls and club nights across a variety of venues.

We’ve also joined the society previously at one of their events before, so we can confirm it’s a great group to join.

“ABBA Society is welcome to all, whether you’re a die-hard fan or just like the Mamma Mia films. Our socials provide the perfect place to meet new people in a great variety of environments, from our YOLO events to our recent challenge-filled pub crawl. We host at least one sober social a month to ensure all our members feel included and have an opportunity to meet people of similar interests in whichever space they feel comfortable,” says Hannah Courts, president of the ABBA Society.

Alternative Music Society

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Alternative Music Society is a newer society at Cardiff Uni, catering to all fans of indie, shoe-gaze, grunge and more. If you enjoy post-punk club nights, DIY craft nights, house parties and gigs, this is definitely the society to join.

When asked about the society, Joe, AMS’ secretary said: “What I think sets AMS apart is our breadth. Whether it’s punk, new wave, grunge, indie, post-punk or anything else we try to be as inclusive as we can. It’s a great way to meet new people to just about music with and, for people new to Cardiff, a good way to discover which alternative venues there are.”

Taylor Swift Society

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There’s no doubt that Cardiff is full of Swifties after they took over town when she performed last summer, but this society is where to connect with them all. Their socials include club nights at YOLO and Revs, movie nights, and plenty of craft events. For example, they have organised magnet-making, friendship bracelet making and scrapbooking socials which are all perfect to show your love for Taylor, and to support the charities the society stands by.

“A lot of our members also really enjoy the society because it feels like a safe space, everyone is always so mindful and friendly, a lot of people actually come to our events by themselves but they’re never actually alone because everyone makes friends so quickly and everyone is always up for a chat,” says Vanessa, their social media secretary.

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• We asked Cardiff students their favourite live music venues
• Five up and coming students band you’ll want to know about
• An official guide to Cardiff’s must-see record stores