Hailing from North Wales, Maines is a combination of Post-Rock, Punk, Shoe gaze and noise rock. The band have previously released two EPs and two singles.
Maines have self released their latest album ‘Sometimes We Live’, which is a reflection of their struggles over the past three years, the pandemic, losing two band members and vocalist Dave moving to Reading for 18 months and was recorded at Penmaenmawr at Orange Sound Studio.
As the band continue to develop their sound they stand poised, ready for an exciting journey ahead. On the release of their brilliant debut album they have become and exciting band on the rise.
Check out their debut album out now on all streaming platforms.
Hailing from Anglesey is solo artist Josh Weaver, Josh has been writing music for many years and playing gigs for a decade now, playing regularly on the North Wales scene.
His music covers all types of genres and will have you dancing, laughing and at times even crying. Josh covers many topics, even difficult ones as of October last year with his independently released single ‘I’m Fine’, a song all about men’s mental health, all royalties for the first 12 months are going to charity.
He takes his inspiration from the likes of Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Oasis and Blink 182.
His latest album ‘Love, Loss & Mental Wealth’ is out now on all streaming platforms.
This year Wrexham are celebrating a whole decade of Wrexfest! From indie rock vibes to soulful ballads, there is something for everyone at Wrexfest. Dive into a world of music, arts and culture right in the heart of Wales’ beloved town. To top it off most events are free, experience top entertainment right on your doorstep. So whether you are looking to dance to fresh beats or relive classic tunes, Wrexfest is the place to be this weekend! Let’s celebrate community, culture and connection.
AWAY WE GO’ is the fourth video in a series of five music videos to be released by the band created by award winning Ukrainian Filmmaker Taras Merenkov.
This video for the single ‘AWAY WE GO’ is taken from the Druids and Bards album and was filmed by Jason Griffith.
Notably, Taras won an award for the video he shot for the band for their video for ‘The Hurt Within’. Merenkov’s hazy cinematic style of direction really emphasises the music and makes a formidable visual, filmed on location in the band’s local vicinity in Wales.
‘AWAY WE GO’ is taken from the band’s critically acclaimed album ‘Druids and Bards‘ which is out now via Welsh label ‘Yr Wyddfa Records’.
‘Druids and Bards’ has been championed by Gary Crowley on BBC Radio London and playlisted on Amazing Radio’s A List, Steve Lamacq on BBC 6 Music and with BBC Radio Wales support from Huw Stephens and Adam Walton. It’s fair to say that North Wales Psych-Rock Band Holy Coves have had quite the year!
Through long time friend and Producer David Wrench (just mixed the new BLUR album), ‘Holy Coves’ were put in touch with Texan Producer Erik Wofford (The Black Angels / Explosions In The Sky) and have built quite a magical working relationship, one where Wofford found himself on Mixing and Mastering duties for the ‘Druids And Bards’ album and it has certainly contributed massively to their new sound and ethos.
The track ‘AWAY WE GO’ is the work of Welsh Singer/Songwriter, Scott Marsden and was Recorded at Pehhesgyn Hall Studios, Menai Bridge Anglesey, Produced by Scott Marsden, John Lawrence (Gorky Zycotic Mynci ) & Owain Ginsberg ( We Are Animal / Hippies vs Ghosts) and Mixed by Erik Wofford (The Black Angels) in Austin Texas USA.
Scott has said of the inspiration behind the track and video:
“The line ‘ All I see is you and me ‘ was written for my wife. She’s my soulmate,
We’ve been through so much together, Whenever I sing this I think of her.”
And further
“This record is about stepping out of the darkness and into the light”
The physical copies of the Druids and Bards album sold out within just two months and the band are set to release another coloured vinyl pressing shortly.
This year has also seen Holy Coves touring the whole of the UK and they have plans to do so again before the end of the year. During their earlier tour of the UK they took in festivals such as the Isle Of Wight Festival where they enjoyed playing to a packed out tent on the This Feeling stage.
Following on from the absolutely brilliant ‘Polaroid’ and ‘Better Of You’ Megan Wyn has decided to go in a different direction, now with a band behind her and removing both previous tracks from streaming she has released a fantastic ‘debut’ single with a more mature sound titled ‘You Don’t Get It’.
The Welsh singer songwriter from Anglesey has been on the festival / tour scene since she was 16 years old. Megan describes this track as “her coming of age” song.
Megan Says: When I was 16, I moved from a very small town on Anglesey to Manchester, which is, of course, a much bigger city. With starting such a different chapter in my life, I experienced a lot of overwhelming feelings that I didn’t quite understand or expect to feel, which is where I got the line, ‘You don’t get it cause you never have.’ This song is me explaining to myself that it’s okay to feel those feelings. Although I had an overwhelming feeling of homesickness, I knew that this was the right step in order for me to grow as a person. This song is all about that journey.”
The indie rock chick has a phenomenal voice. With her undeniable talent and at such a young age, there’s no surprise that her fan base is growing quickly.
‘You Don’t Get It’, sounds like a cut from the Ayoade classic, Submarine. It is a quintessentially British sounding record full of hope and desperation in equal measure.
What makes it different to most records in this area of music though, is the way in which Megan has drawn upon her influences new and old. Her love of Amazon’s blockbuster series, The Six, almost oozes out of your speakers as her PJ Harvey-esque croon delivers ear worm after ear worm.
Rare that an artist is effortlessly cool whilst calling upon pop sensibilities relentlessly. Wistful but assured in equal measure, it sounds exactly like a teenager figuring themselves out.
She has previously been championed by the likes of BBC London’sGary Crowleyand BBC Wales’s Adam Thomas Walton.Megan also featured in CLASHmagazine as part of The Great Escape Online Festival as well as appearingat the Isle Of Wight Festival, on the This Feeling stage, and the iconic River Stage.
With another single pencilled for release before the year is out and a handful of festivals and shows to announce for the end of 2023 and early 2024, Megan is putting a line in the sand and stepping directly into the spotlight an artist like herself deserves.
You can catch her live in the UK at the following shows
05.08.2023 – Cosmic Cape – Chester
09.09.2023 – Tha Knows Festival – Sheffield
20.10.2023 – YES Basement – Manchester (Headline Show)
03.11.2023 – Kazimier Stockroom – Liverpool (Headline Show)
The sensational rising talent, Ren from Dwyran on Anglesey, North Wales is the gift that keeps on giving. A bedrock of talent, the Isle of Anglesey is also home to the likes of Holy Coves, Megan Wyn and Caine Jones-Williams.
In 2022, Ren released “Hi Ren”. The video went viral and appeared in both the United Kingdom and Worldwide Trending Music Video Charts on YouTube, and had 6.8 million views in two months. Ren has spent many years battling a serious illness that left him bed ridden for upto 23 hours a day, despite this he has made countless amazing songs, and has also been raising awareness of mental health issues and most recently raised a significant amount of funds for the RNLI, a charity close to his heart after the loss of a close friend. Ren has been a member of Brighton based busking bands Trick The Fox and The Big Push.
Following on from his beautifully emotive single ‘Suicide’ he now graces us with ‘Murderer’. Ren draws you in with his groovy beats and genius lyrics. You can’t help but listen to every single fascinating word from beginning to end. He’s a true storyteller/poet/bard!
Somehow genreless he keeps his fans on their toes with each release. A truly exciting, unique talent. He is able to connect to his fans through his raw truths and layered songs. Ren is a force to be reckoned with and it’s exciting to hear each release.
Hailing from the North Wales Coast, The Montagues are a five piece alternative/rock/indie band that deliver a layered, anthemic and melodic sound derived from a childhood of rubbing shoulders with holiday makers and day trippers from all over Britain.
Known for their driven melodies, powerful bass lines and infectious hook lines they literally embody everything people love in modern indie rock. It gives you nostalgic feelings of Kings Of Leon and their past summer releases.
I’ll Be Alright has high octane delivery, a force to be reckoned with. The chorus really makes the song come alive, it’s full of passion and emotion, melancholy almost and melodic to the end. The song has fantastic energy, one you can imagine hearing at a festival. It’s definitely a summer favourite!
The band consists of Jack Mayall (Guitarist), Jack Wells (Drummer), Oli Harman (Keys) and Kyle Parry (Vocals and guitar).
The band have received airplay on BBC Introducing, Merseyside and Wales.
Nu metal, goth band CELAVI from Bangor, North Wales consists of Gwion Rhys Griffiths and Sarah Wyn Griffiths. Flying the flag for Welsh Metal, CELAVI have over a million streams internationally and have been supported by Amazon Music, being added to their ‘Best New Bands’ and ‘Breakthrough Rock’ editorial playlists, while receiving support by BBC Introducing on BBC 6 Music and BBC Introducing in Wales.
Neb Arall translated into English means Nobody Else, Neb Arall is an empowering, know your self worth song with a message to be your own main character, to be you. The song is full of heavy guitar riffs, complimented by Sarah’s soft vocals, this makes a great contrast! Add the fact that the band offer bilingual tracks (Welsh and English) and you have something completely unique and special.
Upcoming Gigs
9th July – Rock The Castle, Flint 29th July – HMV Cardiff 5th August – Cader Rocks, Machynlleth 19th August – Le Pub Newport 8th September – Green Rooms, Treforest
Wrexham band The Royston Club return with their fantastic and eagerly awaited debut album ‘Shaking Hips and Crashing Cars’. With their fresh, upbeat indie rock sound, this album will have you singing along with their highly infectious hook lines. For the fans they have released an exclusive deluxe pink vinyl and very limited bonus 7″ vinyl with three acoustic tracks.
These guys are definitely ones to watch in the years ahead. After only being on the circuit for two years the band have already completed two headline tours selling around 8,000 tickets. They are favourably Supported by BBC 6Music, Radio 1, Radio X, BBC Wales and among others.
The band consists of Tom Faithfull (Lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Ben Matthias (Lead guitar) Sam Jones (Drums), Dave Tute (Bass).
The Royston Club describe the record as “A raw, frenetic crowd of songs, through which you can hear the drunken nights spent screaming our favourite songs at the top of our lungs and the consequent hangovers, each bouncing gig and its dormant green room, the freedom of touring along with the panicked inner nag to get a real job. The brotherly love we have for one another and the burning appetite to make music that we cherish and enjoy.”
“A lot of the lyrical meanings and stories told on our album are very melancholic and bitter, yet the accompanying music is very upbeat and ‘danceable’. I really liked this juxtaposition and the idea of people dancing along to a song about depression so tried to encapsulate that in an album title. The album is a collection of stories and feelings from the past three years of our lives. The late teens and early twenties are frantically transformative for everyone, and these are some cherry-picked moments from our experience of those years.”
North Wales alternative rock band The Pastimes made a huge announcement at Focus Wales International Showcase Festival 2023. At the end of their set at The Wynnstay Arms in Wrexham the band announced that they had just played their final gig as The Pastimes and will be moving into a brand new era known as Sister Envy. Followed by another huge announcement that they have signed to North Wales independent label and management Yr Wyddfa Records. The very next day Yr Wyddfa Records officially announced that the band will join Holy Coves on Welsh singer songwriter Scott Marsden’s label. Exciting times are ahead for this new label and already very strong stable of bands with their exciting second addition.
Indie Revolution 