The MetalTalk Venues Series. The Green Rooms, near Cardiff in South Wales, is the areas loudest and best-kept secret. This grassroots venue is located at Treforest Industrial Estate and was established in 2009. Current Managing Director Jonny Foxhall has been running things since 2018.
This music venue is unique because it is the only place in South Wales that can offer rehearsal space to stage in the same facility. The Green Rooms offers creative spaces, stage hire, affordable venue hire, a licensed bar, and free parking on the doorstep. Add a friendly face in Jonny, who is always happy to help, making this MetalTalk Venue very special.
The Green Rooms has beaten the odds stacked against it. It has endured a flood, a pandemic, monstrous rental inflation, and a near explosion more recently in the area. But thanks to the sacrifices and dedication of Jonny, his team, and some help from the community, much like a true Metalhead, the venue is still here, fighting for what it stands for.
Jonny and his team have used their undying love for the music industry to help countless grassroots bands and artists, whether in a creative space, giving advice, helping set up, or even creating logos. They often go beyond this, too.
The Green Rooms has seen over one hundred video and photo shoots. Recently, the video of the grassroots band Icantdie reached national recognition. As well as supporting promotors, aspiring and seasoned photographers alike, they also offer the experience to lighting and sound students so they are able to complete their studies and go onto adventures such as touring with well-known artists, working on huge festivals, creating their own businesses and making dreams come true.
“Jonny has massively improved the venue,” MetalTalk’s Jade Colvin said. “He is doing everything he can to make these upgrades possible. The stage is something to behold with professional sound and lighting, creating stunning shows.”
The venue has seen its share of big names in the past. Wales’s very own Benji Webbe from Skindred reopened the venue after the flood and following the pandemic. Last year, Janus Stark played feating members of The Prodigy. The Green Room is known as the place where members of Holding Absence started in their original bands. They have also seen visits from bands such as Bullet For My Valentine and Funeral For A Friend using the rehearsal spaces.
Going forward, there will be more shows, with the Showcase events kicking things off. They will promote more renowned gigs and a variety of events for everyone to enjoy. Rock Fit is coming to The Green Room, too, with some surprises along the way.
The Green Rooms’ mantra will always be that it is the home for original, grassroots bands and artists.
2024 is TGR’s fifteenth anniversary, and after everything she has been through, Johnny and his team are making sure this year is her big reawakening. The phoenix is rising from the ashes.
The Green Rooms hosted South Wales Metal 2 The Masses for four years in the past, showing its vital Metal background.
Support grassroots venues. They are vital to the future of music.
You can find out more about The Green Rooms on their website and via their Facebook page. You can email them at thegreenroomsltd@hotmail.com.
To read about other venues in The MetalTalk Venues series, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/metaltalk-venues.
