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2020 will mark the 10th anniversary edition of the FOCUS Wales international showcase festival in Wrexham, winner of Best Festival for Emerging Talent at the UK Festival Awards...
...and recently shortlisted for a European Festival Award. The festival will see over 250+ acts from Wales and around the world descend upon Wrexham across 7th – 9th May. Today, FOCUS Wales are thrilled to announce legendary musician Richard Hawley will be one of the special guest headliners on the Friday night of the 2020 festival.
As well as releasing a string of solo albums that have managed the rare feat of being both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, Richard Hawley has worked with a host of impressive collaborators – including Arctic Monkeys, Manic Street Preachers, and Shirley Bassey. In 2019, his ninth studio album Further achieved his joint highest chart entry at number 3. In the two decades that have elapsed since Hawley jettisoned band life first with The Longpigs and then as Pulp’s guitarist the 52-year-old has forged one of the most diverse careers in modern music. Richard Hawley will be playing William Aston Hall at Glyndwr University as part of FOCUS Wales 2020.
Amongst the other 50 acts announced today are…
Legendary Hacienda DJ Graeme Park, pop punk’s next big thing BRONNIE, Rosehip Teahouse who made BBC's top 'ones to watch' list for 2020, everybody's favourite festival brass Band Pres Llareggub, and exciting new Radio 1 favourite twst, plus lots more announced, including artists from Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, and Scotland.
Announced for the FOCUS Wales conference today is Janice Long (BBC). Janice was the first woman to have her own daily show on Radio 1. Summed up recently, The Radio Times quoted “This woman made a seamless segue from Radio 1 to Top of the Pops to a late-night slot on Radio 2 without any dampening of her passionate fire for music, old and new. Her knowledge of music is encyclopaedic; audience engagement remains her motivation. And, lest we forget, Janice championed Primal Scream and was the DJ who gave Amy Winehouse her first radio session.” Janice will be in conversation with Chris Hawkins (BBC Radio 6Music) on Thursday 7th May.
FOCUS Wales has become Wales’ biggest music industry event, with three days of panels, keynote talks, and industry advice, the festival will see over 400 music industry professionals descend upon Wrexham from around the world. Speakers announced include: Allison Shaw (Manic Monkee, USA), Jason Mayall (Fuji Rocks Festival, Japan), Lisa Schwartz (Folk Alliance), David Silbaugh (Summerfest, USA), Henca Maduro (New Skool Rules, Netherlands), Emma Zillmann (Blue Dot/Kendal Calling), and Julie Weir (Sony Music).
Published on 26 January 2020 by Ben Robinson
