The Point is a legendary live music venue and club, in what was, at one time, a fully functional church. At some stage in their careers every decent Welsh band has played this stage including The Stereophonics, Manic Street Preachers and the Super Furry Animals.

The Venue
The gothic St Stephen’s church was a run down and derelict space before The Point breathed some life into it. Found just outside the more commercial part of The Bay, nearer Butetown, it is a beautiful space.

A vaulted ceiling and elevated viewing platform on the second floor guarantees that you have a good view of the stage. There are two bars, but the smaller upstairs bar is rarely opened unless the night is especially busy. There are no nocks or crannies, as the space is open plan, so there is nowhere to hide. The space can feel really empty if the night is not packed.

The People
The promoters, door staff and bouncers are the sort of people who know their bands and music, and will happily talk to you about their passion. Because of its location, i.e. out of town, people have to make an effort to get to the venue. It makes for a crowd filled with a more discerning and dedicated music follower.

With various club nights, the range of people is eclectic; the age group tends to be slightly older than the clubs and music venues in town. Therefore, there are few teenagers and more late twenties, early thirties and older rockers in attendance.

The place was previously faced with closure over noise complaints from residents. A petition and some vital soundproofing saved The Point. The successful petition is a perfect example of how passionate the followers of live music are and how dedicated the fans of The Point are.

The Music
The Point seems to have an unhealthy obsession with tribute bands. All the greats such as The Jam, AC DC, Nirvana and U2 have been given a tribute. These nights are hugely popular, and all the old time rockers come from near and afar for a head banging night.

As well as the varied selection of live bands The Point has various unusual but highly popular club nights. There is a fortnightly rock night called Bogiez, which is a pure rock and metal night. Hell’s Bent is a gay friendly indie disco that was started from a Facebook group and attracts a dedicated fan base, while a monthly Silent Disco has become a legendary night in the social calendar.

The Drink
There are sometimes drink offers on weekdays. On draft there’s Carling, Brains, Strongbow and Guinness. The majority of people can be seen swigging cans of cider or Red Stripe, which cost as little as £2.

The Last Word
Head out of town to this converted church for a rock night, indie or silent disco. Keep a close eye on which bands are playing and you may even become a dedicated fan.