Focus Wales receives Wrexham civic recognition – “We are so proud to have it in Wrexham”

Now in its 10th year FOCUS Wales will be taking place in Wrexham between 7th and 9th of October.

The not-for-profit organisation was established to provide an annual new music showcase event for the Welsh Music Industry and it has since been nominated and won several prestigious awards.

Over the weekend Wrexham will welcome over 250 bands, playing across 20 stages to over 15,000 festival goers.

The event also features conferences involving international music industry insiders as well as platforms for the arts and film.

In recognition of the events significant and meaningful contribution to the community that has brought civic pride to Wrexham, the festival organisers were awarded the Wrexham Civic recognition at the full council meeting yesterday.

In awarding the recognition, Wrexham Mayor, Cllr Ronnie Prince said: “This event is a great showcase for creative and emerging talents. It’s grown significantly since its launch over a decade ago, and in doing so has given a fantastic international platform for musicians and the town. The success of the event is testament to the hard work of Andy, Neal and Sarah, as well as all the many volunteers who help the event run smoothly.”

FOCUS Wales Co-founder Neal Thompson said: ”On behalf of all of us at FOCUS Wales I’d just like to say that it’s an honour and we’re very happy and thankful in receiving this civic recognition from Wrexham Council.

“Wrexham Council have always been supportive and helpful.”

“It’s been a tough time recently for everyone in the live music industry and we’re really looking forward to seeing everyone get back to it, be it the bands and artists, people working behind the scenes, our many volunteers, as well as the many thousands of live music fans who will be visiting Wrexham during the festival.

“Thanks again, and we look forward to once again filling the town centre with the sounds of live music!”

“Diolch.”

Co-founder Andy Jones told the meeting, “I would just like to extend our thanks to Wrexham widely, and to the council for this acknowledgement and for the continued support that we’ve received over the over the 10 years of our organisation, and hopefully long into the future.”

“Basing our event in Wrexham is really important to us. We’re often asked ‘why Wrexham?’ with an assumption that at some point we would move our events to Cardiff. We are firm in our belief that Wrexham does this event really well, and it’s down to a lot of hard work, and a huge collective effort of the whole community.

“We are proud to have it in Wrexham, and proud to continue to have it in Wrexham.”