Super Furry Animals Return to Touring This May
One of Wales’ most renowned bands, the Super Furry Animals, have resumed their tour this month. They have already performed in Dublin and Edinburgh, with upcoming shows on May 14 and 15 in Llandudno, followed by a Cardiff gig on May 16, and several other concerts planned throughout the summer.
The band consists of Gruff Rhys as lead vocalist and guitarist, Huw 'Bunf' Bunford on lead guitar, Guto Pryce on bass, Cian Ciaran on keyboards and synthesizers, and Dafydd Ieuan on drums. Formed in 1993, the band also included actor Rhys Ifans as an early member.
May 20 marks the 30th anniversary of the release of their debut album, Fuzzy Logic.
DJ and presenter Huw Stephens, who is also a cousin of Gruff Rhys, has been a fan of the band since their inception.
Early Excitement and Discovery
When asked how he first discovered the Super Furry Animals, Huw Stephens explained:
"I knew my cousin Gruff Rhys was in a band called Ffa Coffi Pawb in the 90s – my sisters were fans of that band."
"The pop and rock magazine Sothach! was full of pictures of the Super Furry Animals, and their first two EPs, recently reissued as Procreation Percolation, were very exciting."
The Super Furry Animals have bridged the Welsh and English languages from the start, according to Huw.
"I heard them on Radio Cymru at night, and then their singles appeared on the Creation label.
"Suddenly, the Super Furries were on Top of the Pops as well as i-dot [a 90s S4C music show], on the cover of NME as well as Sothach!, on Radio 1 as well as Radio Cymru."
Huw recalls attending early Super Furry Animals concerts as a teenager.
"It was very exciting. Two early gigs stand out: one at the Muni in Pontypridd, where I remember Howard Marks arriving with a huge posse during the show. It felt like something out of a movie.
"The other was at Cardiff University, when news of their first album Fuzzy Logic started to spread. The atmosphere was incredible.
"I was only 16, so it was great fun to be at such an exciting gig.
"I consider myself lucky to have grown up alongside great bands like Super Furry Animals, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, and Catatonia, who really exploded on the scene."
The Band’s Influence on a Young Huw Stephens
Regarding the impact of the Super Furry Animals on his younger self, Huw said:
"Gruff is about ten years older than me, so although he is my cousin and we are friends, I was a huge fan of the Super Furry Animals from the start.
"It was great to see Welsh representation in the music press, but no one was quite like the SFA anywhere else in the music scene.
"When the music press was at its strongest, with NME and Melody Maker as our weekly pop bibles, reading quotes from Bunf, Daf, Cian, Gruff, and Guto every week was very important.
"They were experimental and adventurous in their influences, and their energy was infectious. The Welsh quotes on their single sleeves, like 'Gorau Chwarae, Cyd Chwarae' on the cover of God! Show Me Magic in 1996, were especially cool.
"They turned down a million-pound advertising deal with Coca-Cola. They weren’t afraid to express political opinions. They were talented and completely wild; their influence was significant and complex!"
Artistic Work and Band Image
The Super Furry Animals have a global following, with fans captivated by both their music and the distinctive image the band projects, blending fun and humor.
"The band’s artwork, by Cardiff artists Pete Fowler and Mark James, perfectly complemented their music," Huw noted.
Over the years, the band’s music and notable artwork have become inseparable parts of their identity.
"The giant pandas on the cover of Radiator, the 'pop-up' covers on Guerrilla, the soft plastic sleeve of the Out Spaced CD, and the transparent cover of Mwng were all striking.
"Their influence is unsurprising; this was a diverse band so unique that if you were a fan, you were passionate about them.
"That passion has lasted to this day, but now younger fans want to see them live again, as on their current tour and the big gigs at the Eisteddfod and Llangollen. This will be a chance for many to see them for the first time."
Legacy of Early Albums and Recent Releases
With fans celebrating 30 years since the release of Fuzzy Logic, Huw reflects on how the band’s early records have aged.
"Fuzzy Logic, the first full album from 1996, has aged particularly well. There are tender and poignant songs like 'Gathering Moss' and 'Long Gone,' and playful tracks like 'Fuzzy Birds' about Bunf’s hamster.
"The great thing about the band is you never know what they will do next – they don’t take themselves too seriously, yet their music is inventive, melodic, and of high quality.
"Gruff’s excellent essay accompanying the latest album describes how their love of electronic music was essential when SFA started as a band; their passion for clubs and the dance scene was necessary to their perspective of not wanting to be a typical guitar band.
"Radiator and Guerrilla followed soon after, before Mwng showed another musical side of the band."
The Super Furry Animals have released nine studio albums and recently issued two new EPs.
"The new collection, combining the first two EPs on the Ankst label, sounds great.
"You can hear a bit of the Ffa Coffi influence, I think. They sound loose and ready for the future, like a fresh start, and I think there’s freedom in the production by Gorwel Owen as well.
"The idea of starting something new – there are rare tracks with Rhys Ifans singing on the collection, an early version of 'The Man Don’t Give a F*ck,' and some quite glam-rock tracks. It’s very interesting to hear the band working out who they are."
After more than 30 years of building a worldwide following, many are excited to have the opportunity to see this unique band again, with hopes for more music to come.
Also of Interest:
- Super Furry Animals to Tour Summer 2026
- Super Furry Animals in Pictures
