It’s the most wonderful time of the year. We’re off to Wrexham, some bands we shall check them, and have lots of beer. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
That’s right, it’s Focus Wales time. From this Thursday (Wednesday if you’re lucky) the best bands and artists you may not have heard of (but we’ll do our best to change that) will descend on the small North Wales city to reel havoc and heaven.
Here’s a smattering of artists playing and their latest, in some cases brand new, singles for your delectation.
Stick them in your ears and pretend you’re in The Parish, half cut, Silk Cut, at 2am. Boom.
The Family Battenberg – Anteater
Why we love it: because fuuuuucking heeeeelll it’s melting my face. There’s so much fuzz distortion that it strips the skin, the cartilage, the tendons from your skull and leaves puddles of goo on the floor and all over your bare feet (because your shoes and socks have been blown off?!? I’d have thought that was obvious *audible eye roll emoji*)
The Family Battenberg have been away too long, as in releasing brain melting psych rock belters and that they seem to be constantly gigging hither and yon. Their last single ‘Rocket Dustbin‘ came out over a year ago, just before Focus Wales, which begs the question, do they only release singles before they travel north to Wrecsam and flatten the place.
“This is an anti-love song. When unhealthy adoration becomes a quest for romance, or approval in this case, we find ourselves doing strange things. In this story, the protagonist justifies total metamorphosis in the name of subservience. “It’s self-humiliation in the pursuit of a potential suitor’s attention”
Anyone in the new North Walian city on Saturday, get to Ty Pawb at 10.20 in the PM. (Jim Auton)
Diary – Stevie
Why we love it: because Diary are another example of all the good shit coming out of New York. A never ending stream of good shit (except for Trump. He’s bad shit. Actually no, he’s an orange cunt) that eminates from the 5 Boroughs.
It’s a bit jangly, it’s a bit dreamy, but you get the feeling the loud shoegaze elements will come to the for when on stage in North Wales in a few days
You might not always associate the jangly with New York, but there’s that effortless cool that only comes from being born or spent some serious time in one of the greatest cities on earth. They seem to exude that.
They’ll be in three different places in Wrecsam, not all at once. Penny Black on Thursday, Glyndwr TV on Friday and The Parish on Saturday. Do it. (Jim Auton)
Gulp – Always So Far
Why we love it: because ooooooh it’s lovely. It’s got a cowboy guitar riff, it’s got laconic acoustic guitar, it’s like it’s from a modern Western where they’re shooting each other with ray guns. But in a nice way. Ray guns of joy.
Gulp are so called because that’s what you do when you hear them. Probably. Possibly. I made that up but it’s what I did. They are one quarter a Super Furry Animal, Guto Pryce and his wife Lindsey Levin. They first released an LP back in 2014 and haven’t been seen onstage since 2017, so this is a very welcome return.
They’re in The Rockin Chair on Friday night. (Jim Auton)
teethin – My Generation
Why we love it: The new project from Minas, teethin, is a new force emerging from the heart of Wales, blending the raw energy of punk with the pulse of electronic and dance to create a sound that’s as multifaceted as their roots. Today they share their debut single ‘My Generation‘ via Silent Kid Records which comes with a live video.
The lineup includes James Mina (vocals), Emily Kockan (synths), Alex Davies (bass), Greg Davies (drums), and Don Phythian (DJ/guitar), a mismatched yet cohesive unit bound by their shared desire to create something that speaks to the underrepresented and the overlooked. Hailing from different corners of the globe — from the Welsh Valleys to Athens, Ukraine, and the Philippines — teethin’s music reflects the complexity of their origins.
Drawing inspiration from the punk movements of the ‘80s, the rave culture of the ‘90s and the Grime scene of the 2000s, their hard hitting debut single ‘My Generation‘ critiques the feeling of their current generation having no clear voice or movement in music like those decades past. With ominous tones that shift from atmospheric into thundering and bouncing off the walls, James Minas’s vocals are the howl of frustration that seeks to find a voice for the voiceless and a lack of connection. It’s absolutely incendiary and vital. Fearsome. Catch them Friday May 9th, 12:00 am Thu @ The Rockin’ Chair Room 2
Speaking on the track, the band says “‘My Generation’ is a reflection on the cultural and societal shifts we’ve witnessed in our lifetimes so far. Growing up, there were moments in music and art that defined entire movements. Today it kinda feels like that energy is missing and everyone’s tearing each other apart online“. (Bill Cummings)
We Hate You Please Die – Adrenaline
French trio We Hate You Please Die, head to Wrexham in support of their recent vital album Chamber Songs which came out in the Autumn of last year. The standout is the fantastic ‘Adrenaline’ that spikes an assault of clattering post-punk and scurrying riffing and scorched feminist polemic, into your veins.
Back with Chamber Songs, We Hate You Please Die, create a new twist on their dark and urgent punk and riot-grrl influences. This new album uncovers powerful lyrics such as those of ‘Stronger Than Ever‘, a feminist song which advocates freedom; ‘Control,’ an anthem for the right to abortion; or even ‘Sorority’ which is a call to sisterhood. Can’t wait to witness what this French power trio can bring, watch them Thursday May 8th, 2025 6:15 pm @ Ty Pawb Flexible Space. (Bill Cummings)
Xempa – Here As I Stand
‘Here as I stand’ is the emotionally charged and upbeat debut single from exciting new Welsh collective Xempa. Featuring the soulful intensity of The Honest Poet, and joyful playing you can hear the fun they had in the studio writing and recording. A really bubbling stew of soul, blues, funk, 70s jazz and hip hop, it’s a riot of sound, that reminds one of the genius records Stevie Wonder released in his Imperial phase.
They say “Here as I Stand is a declaration of strength, a commitment to self, and a recognition of one’s inner power to move forward, no matter the obstacles.” Plug in to their sound on Saturday May 10th, 2025 8:00 pm @ The Rockin’ Chair Room 2 (Bill Cummings)
Shale – Work Dog
Shale are a four-piece from Cardiff consisting of Samuel (vocals & rhythm guitar), Austin (lead guitar & backing vocals), Rohan (bass), and Zach (drums). Inspired by the likes of The Cure, LCD Soundsystem, John Lennon and The Beatles. Last year’s catchy ‘Fuzzy Identities’ has a pleasingly looping earworm melody, that reminds one of the lysergic psych pop of early Stone Roses. While ‘It’s Not Right‘ has a touch of McCartney and Lennon about its weaving guitar line, yearning melodies and hooks. While ‘Work dog‘ from their EP scampers with a bubbling melodic hooks and addictive percussion, underscored by a knowing that work doesn’t always pay, it licks you all over the face with a great sense of mischief. They say ” at their heart they believe in great pop songs and creating music that people can love.” Even with just a handful of releases so far, Shale hold rich promise and I can’t wait to finally see them live, their set on Friday May 9th, 2025 7:00 pm
@ Hope Street Church is sure to be packed! (Bill Cummings)
Anna Erhard – Botanical Gardens
“The peacocks looked depressed and/He thought they’d be more majestic” sings Swiss songwriter Anna Erhard with a smile, on the charmingly off-kilter and equally delightful ‘Botantical Garden‘. Planting seeds with her music layered in double meaning and black humour and diaristic self depreciation, her fascinating delivery tip toeing through this tuneful strum and bouncing percussion. Imagine if you will the free wheeling wit and word play of Courtney Barnett, a sprinkle of the quirky anti folk scene and give it a twist of European sideways surreal imagery, and maybe you can begin to imagine the witty and beguiling sound of Anna Erhard. What really makes her stand out, is that she can leave behind the hilarities to suddenly evoke some very deep emotions, with an earnestness you wouldn’t expect while listening to the rest of her music. (BIll Cummings)
eat-girls – Canine
French trio eat-girls released their debut album Area Silenzio, lat year on hip German label Bureau B. ‘Canine‘ is one of the standouts, hiccuping vocal ticks, and ominous chants decorate this slice of doomy goth splattered post punk, its experimental but also accessible spinning somewhere between early Cure, the subversive electronica of Throbbing Gristle, and the minimal brutalism of Young Marble Giants.
They have already played a string of festivals last year (Pop-Kultur, Route du Rock Hiver, Waves Vienna, Reeperbahn, Bars en Trans, MENT, c/o pop), and have have a host of shows line up this year (Rock en Seine, Nuits Sonores, Left of the Dial, Sonic City, …. plus Focus Wales, where they play Ty Pawb and The Rockin Chair. (Bill Cummings)
Jessika Kay – Lean In
Why we love it: Every year Welsh hip hop champion Kaptin hosts a open mic and selects some of the finest artists for a stage at Focus. This year he hosts with his sparring partner Jason Camilleri aka Dregz – who you might know from his work with Radio Platfform and Next Up Academy. Kaptin says ” we will be launching a brand new show on Diff Radio in May so to celebrate the fact we are joining forces this year to host a special takeover with some of the best up and coming MOBO artists in Wales right now.”
Jessika Kay is one of those artists, the rising Welsh-Caribbean artist blends fantastic vocal layers, onto her R&B and hip hop influenced cuts, infused with soulful storytelling. Citing icons like Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, and Lauryn Hill as inspiration. Her captivating 2024 track ‘Lean In’ is decorated in her captivating vocal swoops, that have a dreamy, evocative flow above laid back beats, and acoustic flourishes, pulls you close in with a intimate atmosphere, as you imagine deep chats into the wee small hours. One not to miss at Old Number 7 bar. (Bill Cummings)
TJE – Always Hardening
Why we love it: TJE recently released their evocative and intricate new single ‘Always Hardening’, layering skittering beats, evocative synth sweeps, acoustic snatches and a indescribable bewitching vocals of Lindy Versyck that have been compared to FKA Twigs, Eartheater, Björk and with good reason. I will also add in sonic comparisons to latter Portishead, and Four Tet, their innovative sound is riven with elements that pop in and push out, revealing themselves upon each listen. “Day by day/all we do is hate” they sing, it sums up the uneasy feeling of division spreading the world, a call for humanity and empathy in dark times.
The Belgium trio alread made a mark with a debut EP ‘IDOLS‘ and have also been impressing live. TJE are Lindy Versyck, Melvin Slabbinck and Klaas Leyssen. They are crossing the Channel for the first time in May for a short UK tour, on the strength of what we have heard their set at Focus Wales should be one to savior on Saturday May 10th, 2025 5:05 pm @ St Giles Church . (Bill Cummings)
Martha O’Brien – So Fine
Why we love it: Martha O’Brien has a songwriting talent that is so arresting, ‘So fine‘ is gorgeous, tumbling arpeggios peel back layers on her brittle, poetic couplets, delivered with a raw and yet elegant honesty and bravely exploring her fear, as she tries to assure herself that things in a relationship will be fine, when maybe they won’t. There are echoes of the haunting, pared back sound of early Laura Marling or Adrienne Lenker, but this is special and spellbinding work, we hope to witness at Old No 7 at this year’s FOCUS.
Growing up as one of six children, Martha O’Brien is no stranger to choosing her words wisely in order to be heard at the table. Having honed her composition in prose, poetry and academia, Martha now turns her hand to songwriting. Her passion for honest, bare-bones folk is realised with assistance from her brothers: a thoroughly family affair inherited and developing from their Welsh-Irish roots. Martha’s debut EP ‘Caution, Horses!’ packs a myriad of images, ideas and emotions into four songs. (Bill Cummings)
