Welcome to

SOUND PROGRESSION

Creating inspiring opportunities for young people within music

Empowering
Young People

Developing self-confidence, resilience and skills through positive creative expression

INCLUSIVE
PROGRAMMES

Offering a diverse range of music projects to support all abilities and backgrounds

Industry
Professionals

Delivered by a quality team of music experts with specialist knowledge and experience

About Us

Sound Progression is a Cardiff based organisation dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people, particularly those aged 10-25 years and from diverse and/or socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

We promote positive expression, empowerment and confidence building through participant-led music projects and training programmes. Our provision supports a range of abilities and experiences from aspiring singers, songwriters, rappers and bands to music engineers and producers, and those simply wishing to explore their creativity through music.

Our bespoke and tailored programmes are supported through a partnership with Cardiff Youth Service and delivered in well-equipped music studios at youth and community centres across Cardiff. These include North Ely Youth Centre, St Mellons Hub, East Moors Youth Centre, Butetown Pavilion, Llanrumney Youth Club, Powerhouse Llanedeyrn and at the city centre project Grassroots.

Young people

sessions delivered

POSITIVE REVIEWS

Mentoring Hours

MONTHS

Our Programmes

What We Offer

News

Sound Progression has appointed Sage Todz as Artist Manager, strengthening our commitment to supporting emerging Welsh artists into sustainable creative careers.

Sage joins Sound Progression through the InMotion2Industry programme, supported by the Arts Council of Wales and the Ed Sheeran Foundation. Sound Progression is the main Welsh delivery partner for the Ed Sheeran Foundation, creating clear progression routes from grassroots youth music into the professional industry.

An experienced artist and creative practitioner, Sage brings first-hand insight into artist development shaped by lived experience working across grassroots and bilingual music spaces. In his role, he will support artists with development, releases, industry connections and progression opportunities, working closely with artists and mentors across the organisation.

Sage Todz said: “I’m very excited to be stepping into this role with Sound Progression. I’m passionate about providing the kind of support I felt was missing when I began my own music development journey. I really value the opportunity to be part of an organisation that creates tangible and genuine outcomes for young artists.”

Sound Progression Chair Matt Parry added: “Sage brings artistic credibility, strategic thinking, and a genuine ability to connect with artists. His lived experience gives him a clear understanding of what artists need at different stages of their journey, making him an excellent fit for this role. We’re delighted to welcome him to the team and look forward to the impact he’ll have across our work.”

Sage’s appointment marks an important step in strengthening artist management capacity and progression pathways.

What's On

InMotion – Celebrating Welsh Youth Music Talent

Sunday 22 February 2026 | 3pm–9pm | Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff | Free Entry (14+)

This February, InMotion – Celebrating Welsh Youth Music Talent will take over Clwb Ifor Bach for a large-scale, youth-led live music showcase celebrating the next generation of Welsh artists.

Delivered by Sound Progression, InMotion will present over 50 live acts and around 100 young performers aged 16–25, spanning genres including rap, hip hop, indie, alternative rock, folk, R&B, jazz, Afrobeat and DJ-led electronic music. The event is free to attend, open to ages 14+, and is expected to welcome an audience of over 600 people.

InMotion builds on Sound Progression’s ongoing work delivering free, open-access music mentoring across Cardiff in formal partnership with Cardiff Youth Service. The event provides young artists with the opportunity to perform original music at scale, in one of Wales’s most culturally significant grassroots venues.

The programme also strengthens collaboration across the city’s youth music network, with guest participation from partner organisations including Ministry of Life Education, New Era Talent and Cathays Community Centre. This partnership approach supports skills development, audience growth and shared pathways for emerging artists.

Sound Progression has a strong track record of delivering high-quality youth stages and showcases, including at Green Man, In It Together, Big Love, Immersed Festival and Cardiff Music City Festival, and InMotion represents a significant expansion of this work.

The event is principally supported by the Welsh Government’s St David’s Day 2026 Pilot Support Scheme, with additional support from the Ed Sheeran Foundation and the Arts Council of Wales.

Tickets are free (booking required), use the QR code on the poster. Further information is available via Sound Progression’s social channels @sound_progression

BELIevE IN MAGIC: Sound Progression at Immersed Festival 2026

Immersed Festival returns for its fifth edition, hosted by University of South Wales at Cardiff’s iconic Tramshed on 7 March. Bringing together emerging artists, industry professionals, and audiences, the festival has become a key platform for showcasing new talent and supporting progression within the Welsh music ecosystem. This year’s theme, Believe in Magic, celebrates creativity, experimentation, and the transformative power of live music.

Sound Progression is proud to be invited once again as Community Guests, building on our formal partnership with the University of South Wales and presenting an expanded showcase across both the Main Stage and the Waiting Room area. Our involvement in Immersed Festival 2026 has been made possible with the support of Arts Council of Wales and the Ed Sheeran Foundation, whose continued investment enables meaningful, high-quality performance opportunities for emerging artists.

From 3pm–4.30pm, Sound Progression will present three standout acts on the Main Stage. Noon Wolf are a six-piece indie folk-rock band known for rich harmonies, expansive arrangements, and a powerful live presence. Draig fuse hip hop with nu-metal, delivering fire-spitting lyricism and high-impact energy. Also appearing is Aiisha, a newly formed project fronted by rising rapper Replay and produced by Farra the Producer. Blending the raw energy of drum and bass with the depth of a live band, their high-impact set resonates with both ravers and live music audiences.

In addition, Sound Progression will feature a further 13 acts in the Waiting Room area between 3pm and 8pm, showcasing a diverse mix of DJs, solo artists, and duos across pop, indie, Afrobeats, hip hop, grime, and alternative genres. Highlights include DJs Wilson Noir and Duh1g, Welsh indie alt-pop singer-songwriter Wrenna, Cardiff-based RnB artist Samantha, and rising soul artist Isabella Aubin. Alongside these artists, the programme introduces a range of newcomers to Immersed Festival, reflecting Sound Progression’s ongoing commitment to platforming emerging talent across Wales.

Our involvement in Immersed Festival 2026 has been made possible with the support of Arts Council of Wales and the Ed Sheeran Foundation, whose continued investment enables us to create meaningful, high-quality performance opportunities for emerging artists on major festival stages.

Regular Ongoing Programmes

Our new term started on 6th January 2025 with activity across seven centres including North Ely Youth Club; St Mellons Hub; Powerhouse Hub, Llanedeyrn; Butetown Pavilion; Gabalfa Youth Centre and Eastmoors Youth Centre on Tuesday and Thursday evenings as part of Cardiff Youth Service’s open access youth clubs. Just turn up and book your slot!

We are also extending our opening times at our central hub Grassroots, daily Monday-Saturday 11am-5pm, plus staying open longer on Tuesdays and Thursdays till 8pm. Due to the increasing demand for practice and recording facilities, we-re thrilled to announce Sunday Sessions 11am-4pm exclusively for bands aged 14-25!

Thanks to the continued support of Cardiff Youth Service; National Lottery Community Fund’s People & Places Award: Arts Council of Wales’s National Lottery Programme and The Ed Sheeran Foundation.