The Bug Club

As part of Memo’s ongoing programme of in-house original music nights, we welcome one of Wales’ most distinctive and relentlessly inventive bands to Barry this June.

The Bug Club, Caldicot’s finest, return with their fifth album Every Single Muscle (Sub Pop, 29 May 2026). An 18-track burst of high-velocity garage punk, the record delivers their most focused and punchy statement yet: short, sharp songs packed with hooks, humour and controlled chaos.

Lead single “Watching the Omnibus” sets the tone, with tracks such as “A Good Day for Dying”, “Make It Count” and “My Uncle Warren Drives a Passat” showcasing their ability to combine razor-edged riffs, melodic detours and deadpan lyricism into tightly packed, high-energy songs.

Produced and mixed by Barry’s own Tom Rees at Rat Trap Studios in Cardiff and mastered by Mikey Young, the album captures the immediate, wired intensity that has helped the band become favourites of BBC 6 Music and KEXP.

Lyrically, Every Single Muscle explores the absurdity of being human, filtering bodies, egos and everyday life through surreal observation and dry wit. It is smart, playful garage rock with a conceptual edge, without ever losing its direct impact.

Formed in 2016 by Sam Willmett and Tilly Harris, The Bug Club have established themselves as one of the most compelling live bands in the UK, known for sharp, chaotic, and deceptively tight performances.

With a packed summer tour including a major support slot with Super Furry Animals at Brixton Academy, this Memo show is set to be a standout South Wales date.

Supports to be announced.

Tickets: £17 + booking fees

VISITING THE MEMO

Coming from Cardiff? Barry is one of the easiest live music trips on the South Wales coast:

• Direct trains from Cardiff with late returns (22:55 / 23:15)
• Late buses back to Cardiff Central from Broad Street (22:54 / 23:06)
• Around 10 minutes’ walk from Barry and Barry Docks stations
• Free on-site parking (130 spaces) plus surrounding street parking

STAYING OVER

A range of nearby accommodation options is available in Barry and the surrounding area.

• Premier Inn Barry Waterfront – modern hotel on Barry Waterfront, short drive from venue
• Mount Sorrel Hotel – Porthkerry Road, en-suite rooms with parking and good transport links
• The Mount Rooms – budget-friendly option in central Barry
• Premier Inn Barry Island (Cardiff Airport) – ~1.5km away, easy access by car or taxi
• Gail’s Guest House – affordable B&B with breakfast included
• Three Horseshoes Country Inn – quieter countryside stay a short drive from town

MORE USEFUL INFORMATION

• Booking/ticket information: https://memoartscentre.co.uk/booking-information/
• Find us: https://memoartscentre.co.uk/find-us/
• Accessibility: https://memoartscentre.co.uk/access/