A word from the co-founder and president Adelaide Daws: Starting at Cardiff University in 2022 I had trouble finding like-minded people, as someone with a strong aversion to clubbing, socialization was particularly difficult for me. Aside from what my friends over at Live Music Society provide, I felt there was a gap in what could be a thriving alternative scene if the heavier gothic rock and industrial mental persuasion of GRIMSOC is not for you. I co-founded the Alternative Music Society over the summer after my first year with a friend who has since left the committee but without whom the society would not exist.
We founded AMS intending to create a space for like-minded people to share an appreciation of alternative music, making a historically male-dominated scene accessible to all. I wanted to society to be free from the pretentious attitudes often associated with alt-music listeners, welcoming everyone from classic rock and hardcore punk fans to listeners of ethereal psychedelia, shoegaze, and neo-soul/funk-rock fusion. Since starting up in September we have become a thriving society with 100 wonderful members and a plethora of events on offer.
We hold bi-weekly socials and are currently working towards many exciting collaborations with a range of societies and alternative music venues across Cardiff. If you haven’t found your people yet at university and our society sounds like your kind of thing, get in touch over Instagram @ams_cardiff with any questions and we will make sure you are welcomed into the society to meet new people and bond over a love of great music. A word from our newly elected Vice President Isabel Lunson: “When I started out at University this year, I knew I wanted to take part in something, but I wasn’t sure whether I wanted that to be a sport or a society.
Going to the freshers' fairs I was overwhelmed with options, I could join pretty much anything I wanted which was amazing, but everything got booked up so quickly, so I never got around to attending any ‘give it a go’ sessions or buying any memberships. I had heard of AMS, and it sounded like my cup of tea with lots of gig socials and opportunities to waffle about music. So soon after freshers, when some of my friends mentioned there was a bar t-shirt pub crawl, I knew I had to go.
I ended up having a wicked night and meeting some of my closest friends, every person I spoke to was incredibly welcoming, friendly, and down to earth. From struggling to make friends at the beginning of uni, I’ve now found a group full of lovely people (with pretty good music tastes) to be a part of. When I put myself forward for vice president, I didn’t think I would be voted in, but I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone.
I can’t wait to watch this society grow and help put on amazing socials where everyone is welcome and included.