Live show by the political punk band The Men They Couldn't Hang at Sin City in Swansea.
The Men They Couldn't Hang play Sin City on Saturday 7 November, their first Swansea date in a while. They're touring new material, so the set will draw from what they've been working on lately rather than just the old songs.
It's a long run for them. They formed in 1984 when Paul Simmonds, Philip 'Swill' Odgers and his brother Jon — all veterans of the Southampton pop-punk band Catch 22 — met Pogues roadie Stefan Cush while busking in Shepherd's Bush. Their first show was at an alternative music festival in Camden, sharing the bill with the Pogues and the Boot Hill Foot-Tappers. The early line-up grew to include Shanne Bradley on bass and flute, and they were championed by the late John Peel. Their first single, a cover of Eric Bogle's 'Green Fields of France', became a hit on the UK Indie charts and a regular in Peel's festive 50.
Their debut album, Night of a Thousand Candles, came out in 1985 with 'Ironmasters' and 'Greenback Dollar'. After signing to MCA, they recorded How Green Is the Valley, produced by Mick Glossop. By 1988's Waiting for Bonaparte, they were gaining European recognition for their political commentary and raucous live shows. They've just come off an acclaimed 40th anniversary tour and a Best Of release, and they're continuing into 2026 with new material to play.
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Sin City is at 14-16 Dillwyn St, Swansea SA1 4AQ. The night runs from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm, and tickets start from £24.
