FOCUS Wales takes Welsh music all the way to Texas before a welcome “back” to Wrexham. Wales’ leading music showcasing organization, FOCUS Wales, has kicked off another strong year in Welsh music, with much still to look forward to.
2024 started with three Welsh artists appearing at the FOCUS Wales showcase at Eurosonic, Netherlands. This is the highest number of Welsh artists to have performed at ESNS in recent years, the biggest and most prestigious showcase event in Europe.
In just the first quarter of 2024, they also delivered a brand new (sold-out) festival, Trawsnewid: Transform, in collaboration with Aberystwyth Arts Centre. This festival featured audio-visual performances from Gwenno, Gruff Rhys, Eadyth, Sage Todz, and many more. It also included a sold-out London show with Adwaith and Melin Melyn for St David’s Day.
FOCUS Wales was originally established to provide the annual new music showcase event for the Welsh Music Industry. However, following its regular programme of year-round activity, including international exports, the organisation has recently been added to the Arts Council of Wales’ portfolio.
SXSW 2024
The team are now looking ahead to the yearly milestone in the international music industry calendar, next week’s SXSW 2024 in Austin, Texas, where an unprecedented seven Welsh artists are confirmed to perform at the official Wales@SXSW showcase, presented by FOCUS Wales, with the support of Wales Arts International and Creative Wales. Gruff Rhys, Islet, HMS Morris, Lemfreck, Aleighcia Scott, Minas, and Otto Aday will all be performing.
Later this spring, the FOCUS Wales festival will take place from 9 to 11 May in Wrexham. 250+ artists are scheduled to perform, including Spiritualized, The Mysterines, The Royston Club, Deerhoof, Snapped Ankles, Flamingods, Adwaith, Antony Szmierek, and many more.
The festival showcases the largest number of Welsh artists and Welsh language artists at any festival.
The festival features artists from copious countries and regions, including:
- Australia
- Balearics | Basque Country
- Canada | Catalonia | Croatia
- Denmark
- England
- France
- Ghana
- Indonesia | Ireland
- Mexico | Mozambique
- New Zealand | Nigeria
- Portugal
- Romania
- Scotland | South Korea | Spain | Sweden
- Ukraine | USA
A spokesperson for FOCUS Wales said: “Over the past 12 months, we’ve taken Welsh music around the world, and there is so much demand for it. With the level of attention that is also on Wrexham right now, it’s fitting to end a brilliant first half of the year with what will be the biggest celebration of Welsh music to date at the FOCUS Wales festival in the city this May.”
The FOCUS is well and truly on Wales in 2024 and there is so much more still to come!
FOCUS Wales takes place from 9 to 11 May in Wrexham City Centre. Festival passes and tickets are on sale now at focuswales.com. To keep up to date with the community, click here.
