FOCUS Wales is very excited to announce a new swathe of 2018’s headline performers, plus another flurry of exciting new acts.
Opening the festival will be GENGAHR! After the release of their first single ‘Fill My Gums with Blood’, GENGAHR were immediately invited to play at Glastonbury Festival 2014. The band’s debut album received great critical acclaim in 2015 ‘A Dream Outside is an oddly soothing blend of dark romance and gentle psychedelia’ NME and their hotly tipped new album is set for release in 2018. After extensive festival appearances and touring, including a tour with The Maccabees, Gengahr will headline Central Station on Thursday 10th May.
BILL RYDER-JONES - co-founder of The Coral, will be headlining the second night of the festival on Friday 11th May. Since going solo in 2008, Bill has released 3 albums and written film scores, as well as producing, and appearing as a session musician for artists such as Arctic Monkeys, Graham Coxon, and Paloma Faith. In 2015 Bill Ryder-Jones released his most celebrated album to date, West Kirby County Primary. ‘He’s produced something of a masterpiece – a collection of timeless songs that effortlessly cohere and transcend.’ Clash Magazine
Closing the 2018 festival will be THIS IS THE KIT, the nom de plume of Paris based Kate Stables, who has been in musical existence since the 00s. Ten years, and four albums later, across tours and festivals and the adoration of her peers: Guy Garvey, The National, Sharon van Etten among them, This Is The Kit is one of the most sought after live acts in the UK.
Other acts announced include: Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci founder EUROS CHILDS, BOY AZOOGA who have recently signed to Heavenly Records, DREAM STATE, YUCATAN, HAIKU SALUT, BABY BRAVE, ADWAITH, ME AND DEBOE, and TABLE SCRAPS.
FOCUS Wales has become Wales’ biggest music industry event, with three days of panels, keynote talks, and industry advice. Latest speakers to be announced include: Martin Elbourne (GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL), Rich Walker (4AD RECORDS), John Robb (LOUDER THAN WAR), Chris Hawkins (BBC 6MUSIC), Desiree Vach (SNOWHITE RECORDS), ELUNED HÂF (WALES ARTS INTERNATIONAL), Michael Lambert (WIDE DAYS FESTIVAL), Scott Long (NOVA SCOTIA MUSIC WEEK).
Published on 01 December 2017 by Ben Robinson
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