A sound reaction
THE voyage of musical discovery that is FOCUS Wales has announced its first wave of performers for the 2019 international showcase festival, which takes place in Wrexham between May 16–18.
The festival which clebrates music from Wales and internationally has developed a reputation for booking new acts before they hit the big time, and this year’s first wave announcement keeps up the quality control.
Some of the first 50 acts announced for 2019 include:
Hotly tipped Welsh Music Prize winners Boy Azooga return to FOCUS Wales in 2019 after a whirlwind 2018, which saw the band release their debut album, and make their national TV debut via the BBC and Later… with Jools Holland. Psychedelic punk rock duo The Lovely Eggs, “The Lovely Eggs sound like they’ve ventured out to the interplanetary holes of outer space and decided that the one they’ve got is quite all right” Pitchfork. BBC Radio 6 Music A-listers BC Camplight, the moniker of American songwriter and multiinstrumentalist Brian Christinzio. Also on the bill are one of the most exciting live acts from Wales Islet, who return after a brief hiatus, Art School Girlfriend who have recently returned from playing the POP Montreal Festival, representing Wales. Boy Azooga’s fellow Welsh Music Prize nominees and favourites of 6 Music’s Marc Riley, Seazoo, also join the bill, as well as Martyn Joseph, the beloved Welsh folk artist with a career spanning more than 30 years.
Other acts announced include: Ani Glass, Dan Bettridge, I See Rivers, Kidsmoke, Rachel K Collier, plus hotly tipped international artists Iris Gold (Denmark) and Tallies (Canada). To see the full list of 50 acts announced, visit www.focuswales.com
FOCUS Wales has become Wales’ biggest music industry event, with three days of panels, keynote talks, and industry advice, the festival will see more than 250 music industry professional delegates descend upon Wrexham from around the world.
First speakers announced include: Martin Elbourne (Glastonbury Festival), Anika Mottershaw (Bella Union), Bev Burton (Cambridge Folk Festival), Kaptin Barret (Boomtown Festival), Iggy Amazarray (Marshall Arts), Emma Zillmann (From The Fields), Mar Sellars (Mar On Music, Canada), Adam Taylor (Mothership Group), Rebecca Ayres (Liverpool Sound City), Adam Ryan (The Great Escape).
Applications to perform at the festival are still open for UK and international artists via the FOCUS Wales website – the application deadline is December 1.
FOCUS Wales 2019 takes places 16th, 17th, 18th May across various venues in Wrexham, North Wales.
Full three day wristbands for admission to all FOCUS Wales events are available now at www.focuswales.com/tickets
Standard festival tickets start at an early bird price of £35 each.
For more news check out focuswales.com and the festival’s social media profiles on Facebook and Twitter - @focuswales