FOCUS WALES - DAY ONE
I’ve built up a rather solid fondness for Wrexham over the years. I’m not talking overly glowing reviews on Trip Advisor or family holidays (though I honestly wouldn’t dissuade you from it either), but I did really miss my annual trip here for Focus Wales last year and it feels great to be back in town now.
The music, the mixture of bands, djs, rappers and singers with all manner of industry folk in tow is of course the largest part of why I love it here, but the local venues certainly lend themselves to such a display of culture and creativity. Last night the conference kicked off at The Parish pub, and what a fantastic first evening’s offering at a lovely local boozer.
Everyone last night was showcased via Horizons, a scheme delivered by BBC Cymru Wales in partnership with Arts Council Wales to develop new, independent contemporary music in Wales. Spearheaded by the wonderful Bethan Elfyn, a true cornerstone of Welsh Music who alongside Huw Stephens and their BBC Radio 1 show back in the day, was the first person to ever get me on the radio to chat about Welsh Hip-hop. She was even brave enough to let me host her show once, back in the Chrome Kids days. Anyway, I digress, the real story here is the fantastic new artists that we were privy to last night.
First up was Faith, a singer based in Cardiff who some might remember from 2016’s season of The Voice, and what an incredible start to the show. With a mixture of power and vulnerability, presence and humility she sang a stunning soulful RNB set with more than a hint of Gospel and Dancehall in there too. Backed by classical and contemporary composer Ify Iwobi on keys, the stripped back show hit extra hard and there wasn’t anyone in the venue who couldn’t feel it.
The next band up I shamefully hadn’t put on my schedule but as a few people had already mentioned them to me I made sure I stuck around to catch the show. I’m glad I did because Bandicoot were a wonderfully raucous rock band from Swansea. Taking many influences from late 60s, early 70s sounds, they managed to work it into their own individual style without them sounding derivative. Although it’s probably not quite what I’m looking for here, I would happily go and watch them again.
Whereas the Bandicoot boys were big and bolshy on stage, Rona Mac was a perfect example of unpretentious calm and the music that flowed out echoed that aura. With just a loop pedal and electric guitar she commanded complete attention from me and everyone else in the room. She came with a blend of melancholic bluesy folk and a warm jazzy glow, backed up by an occasional beatbox that truly blew me away. I have to admit I’d not really heard of this multi talented West Walian artist before but I shall definitely be paying attention in future.
Although there is some progress when it comes to female voices amongst the slew of incredible rappers coming out of Wales recently, there’s still a woeful underrepresentation and so I’ve felt a little guilty that I’ve never quite fully connected with the music of Yazmean from Cardiff’s Ladies Of Rage collective. Last night changed everything though, it was almost impossible not to love her up on stage. A cheeky charm that was a much better vehicle for rhymes than the standard rapper’s ego and a strong but seemingly effortless flow that I hadn’t quite caught on the recorded material before. Yazmean certainly stands up against her rap contemporaries and although her lack of over blown airs and graces on stage might not be conducive to pop stardom, her natural ease on the mic made for an enjoyable show.
Rounding off the night was North Walian producer Endaf who makes the kind of House Music that is accessible without being overly commercial, with rock and pop vocals that are catchy but not corny. He had the whole pub dancing, no easy feat given the wide range of musical tastes on display and I noticed the Bandicoot boys singing along to a number of them. One of the local barstaff was so enamoured I think she filmed the entire set on her phone. It is likely just down to English speaking snobbery that he isn’t already huge to be fair, but full respect to him for choosing not to sacrifice his native Welsh language on the tracks and more fool anyone who chooses not to appreciate these great tracks because of it.
Right, I’d better shake this mild first night hangover and get on with today’s schedule. Hopefully see you back here tomorrow. If you’re at Focus Wales and reading this, do say hello if you see me on your travels.
