Key Points
- Old studios of S4C located in Parc Ty Glas, Cardiff, have been converted into One Louder Studios – a new music hub.
- One Louder Studios provides up to 11 professional rehearsal rooms as well as creative spaces for musicians and artists in Cardiff.
- It provides rooms for bands with equipment for rehearsals, DJ desks, professional music equipment and “Listenback” recording equipment.
- It is a six-month pilot scheme that may be extended if required.
- One Louder Studios is collaborating with the community interest company, Mannau Cerddoriaeth Caerdydd for the management of this music hub.
- This development has the financial backing of the Cardiff Growth Fund of Cardiff Council.
- The Cardiff Music City program includes One Louder Studios’ music hub development.
- Musicians such as Lacertilia, TinkerBrain and Breichiau Hir have welcomed this new option for rehearsals in Cardiff.
- One Louder Studios has an experience of 17 years in running rehearsal and recording facilities in Newport.
Cardiff (Wales Times) October 09, 2026 – Former S4C studios in uk/local/cardiff/">Cardiff have been transformed into a new music hub offering local musicians and artists access to up to 11 professional rehearsal and creative spaces, as reported by Amelia Jones of Nation.Cymru.
The new facility, located at Parc Ty Glas, is intended to give Cardiff-based musicians somewhere to rehearse, collaborate and develop their skills. It also aims to create networking opportunities across the city’s music community.
The project will begin as a six-month pilot. According to Nation.Cymru, there are plans to extend the operation based on demand and its impact on Cardiff’s music community.
What Does the New Cardiff Music Hub Offer?
The hub provides professional rehearsal and creative rooms equipped with flexible configurations. These include arrangements for band rehearsals, DJ decks and the latest professional music equipment.
Each room also features “Listenback” recording facilities, allowing musicians to replay their sessions at a later date. This gives artists the opportunity to review their rehearsals and creative work after leaving the studio.
One Louder Studios brings experience from operating music rehearsal and recording facilities over 17 years at its Newport studio. The company is now working in partnership with Mannau Cerddoriaeth Caerdydd to deliver the Cardiff hub at Parc Ty Glas.
Mannau Cerddoriaeth Caerdydd is a community interest company established to support the development of new music spaces in Cardiff. It will operate the new facility and bring together partners, funding and resources to create opportunities for musicians, artists and the wider music community.
Why Has Cardiff Council Supported the Project?
The project has been supported by Cardiff Council’s Cardiff Growth Fund. It also forms part of the Cardiff Music City initiative, which aims to unlock Cardiff’s potential as a thriving music city and support opportunities for musicians, venues and the wider music sector.
As reported by Nation.Cymru, Cllr Jennifer Burke, Cardiff Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Events, said the council’s support for the new recording and rehearsal facility at Parc Ty Glas was “further evidence” of its commitment to the health of Cardiff’s music ecosystem.
She said:
“High quality, accessible recording and rehearsal spaces are vital components of any city’s musical infrastructure – they’re places where creative communities grow and where local artists at every stage of their careers can explore, develop and refine their work.”
Cllr Burke added:
“It’s going to be really exciting to hear the music that emerges from One Louder Studios in the future.”
How Have Cardiff Musicians Responded?
The opening has been welcomed by musicians from across the Cardiff and Newport area, according to Nation.Cymru.
Matt Fry, from the band Lacertilia, said: “We are so happy that One Louder has opened up a much needed rehearsal space in Cardiff.”
He said the local scene was “overflowing”, which made booking available slots at other studios difficult.
“Knowing that there’s a quality studio around the corner, with plenty of practice rooms, run by people that know what they are doing, is music to our ears! Looking forward to our next jam there!” he said.
Akvile Petraityte, from the band TinkerBrain, said having a new Cardiff rehearsal facility was “great” because it gave the band more options when planning rehearsals.
She added that it also created “an opportunity to meet new people”.
Rhys Morgan, from two-time Welsh Music Prize nominees Breichiau Hir, said the band had been recording and rehearsing at One Louder Studios in Newport for “the best part of a decade”.
He said the Newport studio had become “a big part” of the band’s sound and story.
“Having this facility in Cardiff is a huge opportunity for young bands to hone their craft, and benefit from One Louder’s expertise in the same way we have,”
he said.
What Have the Operators Said?
Alana Ellmes, Director at One Louder Studios, said Cardiff had “always been one of the best places to experience live music”, with a wealth of venues, young musicians, talent and creativity.
She said: “We want to be part of the infrastructure that makes it one of the best places to create music as well.”
Ellmes said she was “delighted” to support the opening of the new music hub in Cardiff and to bring One Louder Studios’ expertise to the area.
“We want to provide musicians with accessible, high-quality, professional spaces where they can rehearse, record and create,” she said.
She described the former S4C Studios site as a “particularly exciting location” for the company.
“We’re proud to be bringing a new chapter of music-making to a building with such an important place in Wales’ creative history,” she said.
Ellmes also thanked Cardiff Council and the Cardiff Music City initiative for support that helped make the expansion possible. She said the company looked forward to welcoming musicians to the studios over the coming weeks.
Why Is Access to Rehearsal Space Important?
Philip Smith, Director at Mannau Cerddoriaeth Caerdydd CBC, said access to high-quality, affordable and professional music spaces was essential to the strength and sustainability of Cardiff’s music community.
He said: “We’re delighted to be working with One Louder Studios to bring this new hub to Parc Ty Glas and to create more opportunities for musicians and artists to rehearse, collaborate, develop their work and connect with one another.”
Smith said the project was about “more than providing rehearsal rooms”.
“It’s about investing in the infrastructure that musicians need to build careers and ensuring that Cardiff remains a city where creativity and music can thrive,” he said.
He added: “We’re excited to see how the hub develops and, most importantly, to hear the music that comes out of it.”
Background of the Development
The new hub has been created at the former S4C Studios site at Parc Ty Glas. The building has an established place in Wales’ creative history, according to One Louder Studios director Alana Ellmes.
One Louder Studios has operated rehearsal and recording facilities in Newport for 17 years. Its expansion into Cardiff is being delivered with Mannau Cerddoriaeth Caerdydd, a community interest company created to support new music spaces in the city.
The project received backing through Cardiff Council’s Cardiff Growth Fund and is connected to the Cardiff Music City initiative. That initiative seeks to strengthen opportunities for musicians, venues and the wider music sector across Cardiff.
The facility will initially run as a six-month pilot. Its longer-term future will depend on demand from musicians and its effect on Cardiff’s music community.
Prediction: What Could This Mean for Cardiff Artists?
For Cardiff musicians, the development could increase access to professional rehearsal space in a city where existing availability has been described as limited by local artists. Matt Fry of Lacertilia said booking slots at other studios had been difficult because the scene was “overflowing”.
If demand supports an extension beyond the six-month pilot, the hub could provide a more stable base for bands, solo artists, DJs and emerging musicians to practise, record sessions and collaborate. The inclusion of Listenback facilities may also help artists assess and improve their work between rehearsals.
For the wider Cardiff music sector, the project could strengthen the city’s creative infrastructure by connecting musicians with Mannau Cerddoriaeth Caerdydd, Cardiff Council support and the Cardiff Music City initiative. However, its long-term impact will depend on whether the pilot proves sustainable and whether the spaces remain accessible and affordable for local artists.
