A View From The Savoy: Battle Of The Bands 2025 (Matt Bladen)

Battle Of The Bands, The Savoy, Barry, 31.05.25

So having recently moved MoM Towers to Barry, it was about time checked out what the extremely local scene was. Thankfully a couple of pioneering individuals took it upon themselves to start putting on gigs at The Savoy, a former cinema turned snooker hall. 

These gigs have done well so this year as part of the Glastonbarry Fringe, they went a bit further and booked a four show battle of the bands with the winners receiving all sorts of wonderful prizes including, cash, studio time and a headline set at The Bunkhouse. 

Unfortunately due to my commitments with M2TM I missed the three previous heats however I made over to the final which saw M2TM 2025 alumni Garbage Day Massacre, Paradox To Stay and Exaust who will be playing Day Of Wreckoning. 

Firstly I was struck how big the venue is, it's almost cavernous with a huge high ceiling, a high stage and three separate areas that featured the quieter bar area, then the pool tables and a raised area where the DJ booth is and then the main performance area itself. 

The organisers have made sure to PA is as good as they can get having swapped out most of it so any band's that play there get the clearest and loudest sound they can. It paid off as all three acts sounds bright, clear and heavy as hell when they played. I've seen all three bands this year, some a couple of times but I haven't heard them as well as I did in The Savoy. 

What impressed me though is how full the place was, a £6 a ticket even this spacious venue seemed full to the gunnels, almost the entire Barry metal scene came out to support the venue, the promoters and the bands it was a joy for my heart to see, as this seems to be a very dedicated local following and bodes well future events in the venue. 

It was Paradox To Stay who took the crown on the night but whole night was a triumph as The Savoy proved itself to be a viable addition to the South Wales music scene. Congratulations to everyone involved!