Interview With Grab Promotions

Grab Promotions concerts at Clwb Ifor Bach used to be a monthly highlight of mine. Always featuring the best up and coming acts, whether from the valleys, Cardiff itself, or the odd touring American band. When Grab Promotions took a year out, lets be honest, we were all sad. But now having been firmly back into the local music scene for a while, Greg Barton puts on gigs in a variety of venues all over Cardiff, even as far as Swansea. Promoting undergrounds acts such as Devil Sold His Soul, Twin Atlantic, The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster to stars the likes of You Me At Six, The Blackout, Kids In Glass Houses, Gallows and well, just too many to mention.

Site – Grab Promotions

How did you first get interested in music promotions? What were some of the first gigs you put on?
    I’ve always had a passion for music and live events. The first event I was involved with was Compass Point Music Festival 2003 in Coopers Field, Cardiff, headlined by Funeral For A Friend on the rock day. A great success and great attendance for the outdoor festival.

You’ve come from putting on locals every now and again to an endless list in venues from Clwb to the Great Hall, how has the journey been for you? Any memorable moments?
    It’s been an incredible journey to date, booking Feeder to play an intimate gig at The Point before the venue closed was a great personal highlight of mine. Also I have a few highlights from 2010 that stand out: Sold-out shows: Professor Green at Millennium Music Hall, Cardiff / Midasuno Reunion Show at Millennium Music Hall, Cardiff / Funeral For A Friend at Sin City, Swansea.

Where did the name Grab Promotions come from?
    From me (it’s my initials).

What clubs/venues did you go to growing up? Are they an influence on you now?
    I always visited Clwb Ifor Bach and Cardiff Barfly growing up to watch live music, so at first it was an odd experience promoting in venues that I grew up in. I’d say they both had an influence on me as I saw so many great bands over the years perform at both venues.

How did you get involved with Djing, did that happen before you became a promoter or after?
    DJing happened after becoming a live music promoter. I couldn’t find a DJ in time for a clubnight concept I had so I decided to do it myself, the rest is history…

How would you describe the local scene at the moment?
    It’s starting to hit a vibrant wave of new bands coming through. It’s a growing concern of the lack of live music venues currently though (with Cardiff Barfly, TJs and The Globe closing in recent years.

What advice would you give to up and coming DJs/Promoters?
    It’s not as glitz and glam as people make out it is – it’s a very tough and hard industry. You need to have a lot of determination and enthusiasm to succeed as well as knowing how to promote events properly to their full potential.

Will we see you sticking to events in Wales or do you plan to take on the UK under Grab Promotions?
    I plan to continue promoting local and world-wide talent and progress within my profession as a live music promoter.

Any local bands you’d recommend to keep an eye out for in 2011?
    Exit_International / Café Zurich / Save Your Breath / Town / Tiger Please / Man Without Country / Race Horses.

If you could go back to any era, which would it be?
    Definitely 80’s power rock.