Swansea Arena has announced two pre-launch test events curated by Swansea Music Hub (The Swansea Fringe) on Friday 25 February and Saturday 26 February 2022.
The Housewarming test events will see eleven amazing homegrown acts grace the Arena’s stage, including a homecoming headline show from Trampolene, with support from The Now, Inscape and The Vega Bodegas on the Friday, while Prosperina top Saturday’s bill with back-up provided by The Orange Circus Band, Cities, Fallen Temples, Pearler, King Goon and Lost Tuesday Society.
These test shows precede a launch programme at Swansea Arena that includes shows from Royal Blood, Alice Cooper and The Cult, Diversity, as well as comedians, Rob Brydon and Katherine Ryan, in addition to to the venue’s first West End musical, Jersey Boys.
ATG is mapping out an “incredibly exciting future” for the Arena with a focus on bringing “world class shows” to Swansea. General Manager, Lisa Mart said: “The time has finally come for us to fling our doors open and test the capabilities of this gorgeous venue before we open for good in March. What better way to do it than with some ‘Housewarming’ shows for the people of Swansea from some of the area’s most exciting emerging artists. We’re inviting one and all to come along, enjoy some great live music, have a drink, something to eat, and take a look around Wales’ newest, show-stopping venue… we cannot wait to see everyone.”
Swansea Arena is expected to host 160 performances across music, comedy, esports, sport and conference events for an estimated 230,000 visitors each year.
The development of the Arena will be a landmark within Swansea’s city centre and its £135m transformational Copr Bay Phase One project, which is being delivered by the Council working alongside development manager RivingtonHark. Once complete, it will comprise the 3,500 capacity indoor arena and conference centre – next to Swansea Marina – as well as new independent restaurants, city centre apartments, a 1.1-acre coastal park, two new multi-storey car parks, and a new ‘gateway’ landmark pedestrian and cyclist bridge over Oystermouth Road, to provide a seamless passageway connecting the revived city-centre to Swansea’s Marina and its famed coastline.
Swansea City Centre is one of the largest urban transformations currently being delivered in Europe; over £1bn is being invested across the city, allowing Swansea to realise its potential to be one of the most vibrant places to live, work, visit and study in the UK.
The arena also forms part of the Swansea City and Waterfront Digital District project which is being part-funded by the £1.3bn Swansea Bay City Deal.
