It’s been a crazy couple of weeks.

Wales took the grand slam. Young people are protesting all over the country whether it’s against Brexit or to demand climate change action. The sun’s out and there’s real vigour in the air.

But still, our quest continues to find cheap places to hang out in Cardiff city.

Cardiff City return to Premier League football this Saturday, in a match against Chelsea which means there may be a bit of traffic in the west of the city around the ground. Kick off is at 12. More info available on the CCFC site, but I wouldn’t call your average Premier ticket “cheap”.

Want to get more art in your life? Head along to the first meeting at Gentle/Radical’s new space in Wyndham Street, Riverside. Artists and freelancers with an interest in the intersection between social justice and social change and creativity and culture are invited to attend at 5:30 this Thursday. FB.

As regular readers of this column will know, I have a real soft spot for our local comedy scene. This week is no different with a cracking lineup at the Grange which will you have you cackling late into the evening. Show up to the Grange on Penarth Road at about 7:45pm. FB event.

If you prefer improv, Beelzebub pub has its monthly improv night running at 5pm.

The legendary Blue Honey Night Cafe, featured recently on BBC Radio Wales, is host to the Buena Disco Social Club today at 8pm. They describe it as a “smooth groove” and it looks like it will be popular. Best of all I can’t see anything about it costing to get in. FB event if you want to take a look too.

2017 Cardiff Music Awards

Friday is massive. Boulders are holding a Neon Climbing Event for starters, but at £16 an adult ticket I wouldn’t usually call it cheap. Looks really cool, though.

There’s a “Brexit Carnival” on, starting at the Cardiff Museum Steps, from 1pm onwards. FB.

The big event this Friday is no doubt the CARDIFF MUSIC AWARDS! Check out our list of reasons why you should attend here. Maybe not strictly a “cheap” night out at £15 for entry (£10 for students!), but this is probably the biggest event of the week. Look out for Tom, Carys and Sophie from The Sprout, as well as the whole Radio Platfform crew. Not to mention the actual (local) celebs that will be there.

If you’re looking for a cheaper club night, Switch Up Cdf is on at Undertone for £3 from 10pm. FB.

Or if you’re looking for “good beer, wholesome people and great music” head on over to Ride My Bike Cafe for their now-regular Live Music Night. FB. Free to get in, and only runs 6-9pm so a good place to start before heading into town.

There’s yet more comedy, as Lorna Prichard’s Howl comedy night has moved from its usual home of Tramshed over to Penarth Pier Pavilion, a gorgeous venue usually reserved for Snowcat Cinema. There’s a killer line-up of local faces from Ignacio Lopez to Calum Stewart. FB.

Lopez, the true madman, seems to be booked into two comedy shows that night- there’s another over at Cardiff Transport Club at 7:30pm. FB.

There’s also the screening and Q&A of Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story at Chapter. The film features interviews with many now-famous comedians, writers and public figures, talking about their relationship with the man behind the huge fibreglass mask, Frank Sidebottom. Be warned though, it is rated 15.

And last but not least, the 7:30pm slot also features another Chapter event, this one free and unticketed: it’s the Public Uni lecture series, number 24 (!!!), in which boffins present their work to the wider public over a cheeky pint. FB.

You want to go out on a Saturday, do you, cool dude? Well that’s good, because Radio Platfform’s very own Ez Rah will be spinning the decks at Urban Dun Differently. The Differently Artists’ event goes from 5pm at the Moon Club on Womanby St. Here’s a FB event. 

Have a day off, man. #noscrollsunday.

There’s another comedy night this Monday, Rough As at NosDa Hostel. It’s an open mic night and there are always comedians trying out new stuff, as well as ordinary people trying out being comedians. FB event.

Chapter also have another cracking opportunity for you: it’s the MovieMaker event. If you never made it ALLLL the way up to Blackwood for the Wales International Documentary Festival, now it’s time to see what’s lined up for WIDF 2019. It’s free to get in but you need to ring the Chapter box office to reserve your seat. More info on FB as usual.

Ever wonder what you should be doing about climate change? XR Cardiff may have the answers you need at this free talk to be held at the Cardiff Uni school of Music. It starts at 7pm- FB.

Another recommendation from our Radio pals: Dominika Rau is hosting a discussion around sexual harrassment at Bawso. It’s all about how to raise further awareness of the issue. FB.

If you want to get Free and Cheap Things To Do in Cardiff as a handy weekly email newsletter, you can sign up here.

Before you go, please don’t forget to fill in my little feedback form, I want to improve Free and Cheap… so that it serves everyone better! I already have some ideas of what to change thanks to people already filling it in- but please, let’s have a few more!

NEXT WEEK:

It’s time for that ultimate annual battle between Cardiff Uni’s detestable lot and Swansea Uni’s ‘orrible bunch: the Welsh Varsity. If you’re into that kind of thing, probably get your tickets now. Otherwise, prepare to see students making either champions or fools of themselves all over Cardiff (yes, it’s in Cardiff again this year) and general ABSOLUTE SCENES. Expect: the bellowing of ancient battle cries, long since devoid of their original meaning, such as “Your mum cleans Talybont!” Do not expect: hard hitting social commentary or students actually doing their coursework.