There’s always more space for events that showcase the best up-and-coming talent, and FOCUS Wales is a brilliant asset to the discovery-centric festival canon. What first began as a solely Welsh festival that highlighted local artists that perhaps weren’t getting the extent of acclaim they deserved outside of their native country, in its over a decade of running it has grown to have a global impact. This year, artists from a comprehensive litany of nations – from Canada to Croatia, Indonesia to Ireland – descended onto the small town of Wrexham to show what they are about.
This year’s event happened from 9th to the 11th May, with 250 artists taking over 20 stages, as well as a conference and mini film festival happening. Wonderland attended, and saw a plethora of hotly-tipped talent who we will invariably being hearing a lot more of in the months and years to come.
We’ve rounded up our seven favourite artists who we caught whilst frequenting Wrexham…
Rum Jungle
Who they are: Australian four-piece guitar band with a dreamy, nostalgic and focused indie rock sound.
Why you should listen to them: Rum Jungle are giving classic guitar-rock a modernistic sprinkling. The songwriting is really strong, melodically they are rewarding, and they’ve got great energy on a live stage.
Listen to their latest release…
Slate
Who they are: Cardiff post-punk rockers adding poetry and progression to the burgeoning genre.
Why you should listen to them: There’s a touch of Dylan Thomas to vocals Shephard’s songwriting, and a Welsh lineage that runs throughout Slate’s small but striking discography. Their new debut EP, “Deathless” is a robust, rousing and deeply affecting project, showing the band’s seemingly limitless potential. Highly impressive and highly creative stuff.
Listen to their latest release…
Lily Lyons
Who they are: London-based songstress impressing with stripped back indie-folky acoustics tunes.
Why you should listen to them: Lily Lyons has control over her music. An adventurous acoustic guitarist and a vivid, thoughtful writer, there’s a Laura Marling edge to her heady vocals and provoking lyricism. She recently shared a subtle and sublime EP, “Fabric”, and will be playing at Glastonbury next month.
Listen to their latest release…
Luke RV
Who they are: South Wales spitter with alt-rap tendencies and a wide-ranging collaboration list.
Why you should listen to them: Spearheading the Welsh rap scene, Luke RV is an artist who brings colour and emotion in abundance. He’s worked with Local, Danny Sanchez and familyperfume, is a regular on the gig circuit in Cardiff – where he supported Bawo, and has recently shared a fresh body of work, “Are We There Yet”, his most explorative to date.
Listen to their latest release…
Skinny Pelembe
Who they are: Genre-fluid Doncaster-crooner who is equal parts rousing and resonant.
Why you should listen to them: You don’t expect the voice of Skinny Pelembe to come from his mouth. It’s a complex voice, dark and brooding at times, carrying a vitality that only few can muster – King Krule comes to mind. Pelembe was one of the most high profile acts performing at FOCUS and with good reason. He’s a brilliant songwriter and an artist arias to step entirely away from convention. Last year’s record Hardly the Same Snake was a significant step forward for the artist – what’s next?
Listen to their latest release…
Mari Mathias
Who they are: Singer-songwriter from rural Wales bringing traditional folk values and gregarious melodies.
Why you should listen to them: There’s a resilience to the music of Mathias. She sings in Welsh, plucks from cavities of folk often left unexplored in the contemporary genre, and delivers delicate and devastating songs that have depth to them, even when you can’t understand what she’s saying. A truly compelling talent.
Listen to their latest release…
Psweatpants
Who they are: London-born, Scotland-based rapper with slick UK rap bangers.
Why you should listen to them: Born-and-raised in South London before moving to Scotland for university and staying up north, Psweatpants is now one of Scotland’s most prominent names in hip hop. Last month he shared “AM/FM RADIO”, an eclectic and lyrically sharp project, and looks set to have a big rest of 2024 ahead.
Listen to their latest release…