THE sixth Swn Festival began in Cardiff yesterday and runs until Sunday with more than 220 bands on the bill.

The festival showcases of some of the best music from Wales and around the world alongside DJs, film and art.

The event was founded by Radio1 DJ Huw Stephens and promoter John Rostron.

Artists include Rusty Shackle, Zervas and Pepper, The Cribs, Welsh rock heroes The Blackout, John Grant, Bright Light Bright Light, Errors, Paper Aeroplanes, Gulp, Scritti Politti, Sweet Baboo and many more.

Since 2007 Cardiff has played host to the annual festival, bringing some of the newest and most exciting local, national and international acts to the Welsh capital.

While focusing on new and emerging acts, Swn Festival 2012 will also play host to some well established headline acts, as well as broadening the programme to include arts-based fringe events.

Swn Festival 2012 will be hosted across Cardiff, including – Cardiff Students’ Union’s CF10, Bacchus (formerly Cardiff Arts Institute), Castle Arms (Angel Hotel), 10 Feet Tall, Buffalo, Chapter Arts Centre, Clwb Ifor Bach, Dempseys, GLAM, Globe, Gwdihw, National Museum Cardiff, O’Neills (Trinity Street), O’Neills (St Mary Street), Cardiff University Students’ Union, The Full Moon (wristband exchange), The Gate, The Moon Club and Undertone.

Single day earlybird wristbands vary between £15 and £26. Tickets can be purchased via swnpresents.com or TicketLineUK.com and from Spillers Records (Morgan Arcade, Cardiff). For details, go to swnfest.com