Our Picks From This Year’s Focus Wales Festival

Thousands of music fans flocked to venues across Wrexham last week  for the annual Focus Wales festival.

Now in its fourth year Focus Wales kicked off proceedings last Wednesday, signifying the start of four days of live comedy and music.

The event saw over 150 acts perform in venues across the town centre, including Central Station, the Royal Oak, the Catrin Finch Centre and warehouse space, 3b.

Over the weekend we headed over to some of the multiple venues around town playing host to the Focus Wales festival armed with the hope we may even stumble upon the next great music or comedy talent. With over 150 acts spanning across 14 stages we were, admittedly, spoilt for choice.

While many regular local favourites such as Camera, Heal the Last Stand, Andy Hickie, and Baby Brave (to name but a few) returned to play once more, there were also some new Wrexham-based breakthrough acts taking to the stage this year. Though we were unable to get round all of the venues here’s a selection of some of our personal highelights…

Mizkai, a DJ playing Gameboy(!) soundtracks, was one of the first acts to launch the festival at Central Station Venue during Wednesday’s pre-show. The Wrexham-based DJ proved she was more than just a glowing tribute to computer games. Wearing a garland of lights around her neck that suitability matched her Decora-influenced outfit, it was safe to say her look matched her unconventional sounds.

Within seconds of her opening track, the act quickly became even more radical. A person wearing a suit and sporting a bunny head (something that might be more akin to a Miley Cyrus music video), alongside a female dressed in futuristic attire took centre stage to dance the night away.

The Gameboy inspired Mizkai at Central Station

One of the biggest acts at the event were Welsh rockers Kids in Glass Houses, who performed one of their last group performances  in 3b on Priory Street.

Known for their hit singles, Give Me What I Want, Undercover Lover and Matters At All, the band performed at the festival as part of the newly launched ‘Horizons’ stage.

The Horizons scheme has been developed by BBC Cymru Wales and Arts Council Wales to help support and promote new and emerging talent in Wales.

As part of the ‘Horizons’ Project, headliners Kids in Glass Houses performed a stand out acoustic performance for BBC Radio Wales. During the evening the band played a second performance at 3b, showcasing some of their greatest hits.

Friday at the Royal Oak, High Street, was suitably nicknamed ‘Folk at the Oak’ by crew at the venue. There were back-to-back performances by local artists that day entertaining a constantly lively and bustling audience.

Local Jamie Wrecs, who has recently returned to the UK following his time as resident artist at Ibiza Rocks, lifted the energy with his indie sounds and melodic covers, in time for the final act – Darren Eedens. Darren’s unique Canadian folk music commanded the attention of the entire pub and his superb vocals, Banjo and guitar-playing caused the pub to break out into an impulsive and energetic song & dance. He claimed it was his ‘best gig ever’, with reactions from the crowd suggesting many reciprocated his feelings about the performance.

Darren Eedens plays the aptly dubbed ‘Folk at the Oak

The penultimate gig, and for us one of the stand out performers of the week, came from We are Animal at Undegun. The North Wales natives provided a packed out crowd with their unique and infectious indie rock sounds.

Some more favourites and recommended bands to look out for include Wrexham’s own Seazoo and Kidsmoke, as well as Bloodflower, Obelisks, Kardemimmit and Kids in Glass Houses.

Local favourites Heal The Last Stand play at Wrexham Museum