Nestled in North Wales, far from the bulk of the country's population, Wrexham hosts Wales' premier music festival: FOCUS Wales. With approximately 20,000 attendees, FOCUS showcases over 300 bands, nearly half of which hail from Wales. The festival attracts delegations from across the globe, from Sweden to New Zealand, and features numerous panels, talks, and film screenings across various nightclubs, churches, and venues. The small team organizing the festival acts as cultural ambassadors, promoting Welsh talent at similar events worldwide, such as SXSW. Nevertheless, this is their flagship event, a significant weekend that unites alternative music enthusiasts in a small North Walian town that has recently gained a more Hollywood-like cultural reputation.
This year, FOCUS runs from Thursday to Saturday. Kicking off the festivities on Thursday afternoon is Tokomololo. The North Walian artist crafts a soulful style of electronica reminiscent of Caribou, and his solo performance utilizing multiple synths, microphones, and laptops is captivating in the HWB tent. Afterward, it's a quick trip across town to nghtclb for Heartpiece. The Cardiff trio (typically a four-piece) is illuminated by stark lighting, which complements their raw slowcore/emo sound. Their combination of deep, restrained vocals and dynamic shifts (picture Sun Kil Moon covering Nirvana) is impressive and maintains its power despite their reduced lineup.
These festivals often involve moving back and forth across a town or city center, so it's back toward Wrexham's main arts hub, Ty Pawb, for Talulah. The Welsh neo-soul/jazz singer is an up-and-coming talent, and her Friday set is a refreshing and uplifting experience. As the warm evening sets in, the next two performances elevate the energy of FOCUS. First up are the well-loved Cardiff indie band Half Happy, who showcase an excellent stage presence and operate like a polished machine. Following them, around the corner in The Parish, Em Koko presents a standout set of the weekend. The fantastic and delightfully eccentric frontwoman, along with her band, delivers new tracks that blend elements of Ethel Cain, M83, and Nine Inch Nails, leaving the audience excited about their future.
To end the night, The Rockin’ Chair hosts three thrilling sets in succession. Manchester trio YAANG delivers an electrifying performance of trance-inducing, psych-dance-punk. Next up is Mclusky, the iconic Welsh noise rock band, who open with their classic ‘Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues’ and energize the crowd for 45 minutes. Frontman Falco quips, “this is a new one, if you want to check your phones.” The evening concludes back in Room 2 with Cardiff’s teethin. During soundcheck, frontman James Minas is so hyped that it feels like he could punch a hole through the venue wall. He channels this energy brilliantly into half an hour of bold electronic punk, further demonstrating teethin’s distinctive vision and thrilling live performance. A band on the brink of significant achievements.
After such an intense Thursday (where attendees, band members, and delegates are known to revel late into the night), Friday tends to be a more relaxed affair. The weather is still glorious, and the atmosphere in Wrexham remains upbeat, even with a few hangovers. Martha O’Brien treats a sizable afternoon audience at The Royal Oak pub to her serene folk, striking an emotional chord. Following a recommendation from Half Happy guitarist Gav, it’s over to FOCUS’ ‘main stage’ Llwyn Isaf. Under the expansive tent, local band Hazmat serves up an entertaining mix of grunge/shoegaze/nu metal that, while not entirely original, effectively showcases a great frontman and stage presence that belies their youth.
After a brief detour down the road to Ty Pawb to see Danish rocker Hjalte Ross, it’s back to nghtclb for a mixer hosted by Wales’ Forté Project, which attracts a significant portion of the country’s music scene. Kicking off with indie group Shale, the mixer is a welcome opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces and gain insights into the crucial work Forté is doing to support Welsh musical talent. Speaking of Welsh talent, at Penny Black, skilled Cardiff rapper Razkid delivers an excellent set, seamlessly transitioning between chill and upbeat tracks with impressive grace. Raz stands out among Wales’ sharpest contemporary rappers performing at FOCUS this year, showcasing a vibrant sound that is currently flourishing in the region.
The night at Papa Jupe’s T.C. wraps up the Forté mixer. Having seen this six-piece band numerous times, this may be their best performance yet, both in terms of sound and energy. Their surf-disco-sleaze-rock feels particularly funky that evening, bolstered by prominent bass in the mix. The band’s humorous and confident performance rivals the energy of the previous night’s
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Although located in North Wales, far from most of the country's population, Wrexham is home to Wales' premier music showcase.