Focus Wales announces first 60 acts for May 2023 event

Focas Wales say their festival will welcome 20,000 attendees, and see over 250+ acts from Wales and around the world descend upon Wrexham across 4th–6th May.

Today FOCUS Wales are thrilled to reveal the first 60 new music acts for their 2023 edition.

Among the first acts announced, are… The fierce, funny, post-punk soloist BILLY NOMATES who headlines Llwyn Isaf on Thursday 4th May, hot on the heels of their national TV debut on the BBC’s Later with… Jools.

This will be followed up by a show from North Wales own critically acclaimed band THE JOY FORMIDABLE at The Rockin’ Chair. Friday 5th May will see SQUID headline Llwyn Isaf, following the release of their top 10 debut album Bright Green Field (WARP records), and a string of worldwide festival performances in 2022 including Primavera Sound, and Glastonbury.

NEUE GRAFIK ENSEMBLE bring an explosive show featuring the UK’s finest musicians in new jazz. Also that night will be dance music pioneer, A GUY CALLED GERALD, best known for his hit single ‘Voodoo Ray’, which became a touchstone of Manchester’s acid house scene.

Closing the festival on Saturday 6th May 2023 will be the multi-award-winning band THE CORAL, headlining Llwyn Isaf, followed by a show from DREAM WIFE whose new single LEECH has earned rave reviews from NME, and The Guardian, amongst many others.

More artists announced today include:

Acid Klaus | Adwaith | Afro Cluster | Al Lewis | Band Pres Llareggub | Ben Ottewell | Camera | Cerys Hafana | Dafydd Iwan | DEIJUVHS | Delta Radio | Dilletante | Dresden Wolves | Edie Bens | Gallops | George Boomsma | Go Go Machine Orchestra | Grubb & Eedens | Gwenifer Raymond | Hannah Grae | Hannah Scott | Heather Ferrier | HMS Morris | IMMERSE | ISLET | Juice Menace | Katherine Priddy | Kidsmoke | LEMFRECK | Maddie Morris | Mantaraybryn | MINAS | MOJA | Mooi | N’famady Kouyate | NoGood Boyo | Opus Kink | Paddy Hanna | Parisa Fouladi | Prima Queen | Sad Boys Club | Sage Todz | Shelf Lives | Skunkadelic | Sophie Jamieson | Sophie McKeand | SUN | TVAM | VRï | Walt Disco | Will Joseph Cook | Ynys | 

With circa 500 international industry professionals due to attend the 2023 festival, FOCUS Wales has become Wales’ biggest music industry event, with three days of panels, keynote talks, and industry advice. First industry announced includes: Lauren Down (End of The Road Festival), Cecilia Soojeong Yi (DMZ Peace Train Festival, South Korea), Claudia Ferigo (Suns Europe, Italy), David Silbaugh (Summerfest, USA), John Kerridge (Glastonbury Festival), A Guy Called Gerald, plus lots more.


FOCUS Wales 2023 takes places 4th, 5th, 6th May across various venues in Wrexham.