| Aberystwyth Arts Centre and FOCUS Wales announce the inaugural edition of a unique festival of audio visual exploration – Trawsnewid : Transform – which will take place in Aberystwyth, on the west coast of Wales, across the 2nd & 3rd February 2024. |
| BUY TICKETS HERE |
Following on from their last fantastic single Neb Arall, Celavi drop their genre exploding album for all to hear.
Known for their heavy guitar riffs in contrast with soft, feminine vocals and bilingual lyrics, North Wales Nu Metal Goth band from Bangor North Wales consists of Gwion Rhys Griffiths and Sarah Wyn Griffiths. With over a million streams internationally the band is on the rise.
For fans of Evanescence, Paramore and The Pretty Reckless.
Dolorem is out now on all streaming platforms.
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.
Hailing from Caerphilly the band consists of Huw Webb (Vocals, guitar), Dan John (Guitar), Dean Powell (Bass) and Michael Nash (Drums).
Stellar Echoes return with their latest single ‘The Light’ in support of their debut album ‘Now Is All There is’.
South Wales based Stellar Echoes fuse elements of alternative, indie and psych rock bringing you a sound
that has been described as not for the faint hearted.
The last single before the album is put out into the world, ‘The Light’ was released on 21st July and is out on
all streaming platforms.
Welsh psychedelic pop person, Blokeacola releases his latest, his EP.
He sports a shiny helmet and has played in other bands for years in the UK. Welsh born he was encouraged by his family musically as his Father was also a musician.
Blokeacola says:
“I feel with the Blokeacola persona I’ve finally arrived at a place where I can balance the gloom with the chortles. My lyrical approach is really just to note down the absurd and regurgitate it because I think we live in very strange times and that’s what I want to reflect. It might be completely deadpan but the jokes are there.”
Appraised by the likes of BBC Radio, Amazing Radio and Louder Than War, this is a talent definitely worth checking out.
The masked mans songs are fun, interesting and full of dark humour. The fantastic EP is out now on all streaming platforms and a new album will be dropping in October.
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’s Gary Crowleyand BBC Wales’s Adam Thomas Walton. Megan also featured in CLASHmagazine as part of The Great Escape Online Festival as well as appearing at 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)
Tom Anthony makes his debut with single “Tearaway”, a punk anthem for the summer.
Arriving in the midst of summer, “Tearaway” is an energetic slice of punk rock goodness from Cardiff-based singer-songwriter Tom Anthony. In this debut single, you’ll encounter big guitars, a heck of a hook, even bigger drums and a story of a world-ending female fury in the tradition of Green Day, Ramones, New York Dolls and The Sex Pistols.
“Tearaway” is out now on all major streaming platforms, and marks the culmination of a 15 year journey back to music from Anthony. Having lost touch with his passion for a decade and a half, Tom finally picked up a guitar again during the first lockdown of the COVID-1 pandemic, which led to the writing and recording of a full album due to be released in early 2024, with “Tearaway” as the first of a series of singles.
Describing his sound as “rock & roll for grownups”, Anthony’s music is a mature blend of rock, blues, punk, jazz, folk and country, with insightul, poetc lyrics rooted in real world experiences. His major influences include David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Oasis and Ryan Adams, resultng in a unique style that straddles genres, taking in the full history of rock music while keeping an eye firmly fixed on the future.
With the release of “Tearaway”, Tom Anthony aims to connect with fans who love rock music that has something to say, to inspire those with a dream of any kind, and to show that it’s never too late to reconnect with the thing you love. As an independent artist, Anthony is excited to share his musical journey with the world, make great records and put on the best show in town
| Apply to play FOCUS Wales 2024 Just one month left until the first wave artist applications deadline! Applications are open to new music artists worldwide of all genres. Apply now via the button below. |
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Anonymous Iconoclasts are back with a brand new, 20-track, album entitled ‘Send In The Suits’ The four-piece band are best known for their ‘anonymous’ status, catchy tunes, dark humour and sardonic lyrics.
Although ‘anonymous’, each member is a well-established member of the Welsh music scene with an enviable CV.
Those who attend the live performances and get a close-up glimpse of the four piece will surely
recognise them from bands such as The Five Darrens, Glee Club, The Bluesters, Heavy Quartet, Miracle Bros, Dansette and The Mummies.
Their new album is cool and laid back with lots of swagger in the beats and riffs, fantastic vocals that evoke Josh Homme to the mind. Excellent!
Out now on all streaming platforms.
Emily Marsden – Editor
#MusicSceneWales
@MusicSceneWales
musicscenewalescymru@gmail.com
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.
‘Murderer’ is out now on all streaming platforms.
Emily Marsden – Editor
#MusicSceneWales
@MusicSceneWales
musicscenewalescymru@gmail.com
Indie Revolution 