FOCUS WALES - Part 2
Thursday and Friday Takeovers.
In this next part of our FOCUS Wales feature we want to start introducing you to the takeovers that will be happening across the conference. As we said last time, there are showcases from Larynx Entertainment and Kaptin & Dregz and we will explore more about those below. We will also tell you a little more about some of the other partners.
Having this many Welsh MOBO artists and advocates in one place at the same time really does make the event feel special. It’s easy to forget that this is just one part of FOCUS. We also love to see the support that the artists show each other.
Before we go into the music though, here’s a few of the talks that we are planning to check out while we are there. These kinds of panels, as well as all of the networking opportunities, can be a game changer for anyone looking to make a career in music. If you’re going then make the most of it!
PPL Presents: Data vs Record Sales
PPL and PRS for Music presents: Dance dance dance to the radio – making radio count
PRS for Music Presents: Create Your own Destiny – Build a full time, portfolio career in music through multiple income streams.
Is a level playing field for artists a reality?
LIVE Presents: Artists Journey to Headliner
MVT Workshop: Clear Values Make You Fundable
Okay time to get into the takeovers. We’ll make it easy and keep everything in order, starting with Thursday 8th May.
Larynx Entertainment
Between 16:00 and 18:00, Dave Acton has programmed 4 artists at Old No. 7. who are early on in their career, but who have the potential for a bright future ahead of them.
M.Yesekaon - captivating downtempo hip hop representing UAM from Colwyn Bay.
Courtney Scotto - soulful singer-songwriter from Cardiff blending elements of rnb, pop and jazz.
Mandane DS - a bilingual artist living in North Wales. His music falls into pop, afrobeats + trap.
Chembomusic A powerful but sultry voice with influences from Motown to rnb to hip-hop.
Next Up!
On Friday from 18:40 til 21:30 the Wales Millennium Centre based Next Up project headed up by Dregz and Prendy take over the downstairs of Penny Black with some of the country’s rising stars.
Papaya Noon - Cardiff’s smooth jazz duo championed by Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliot and more.
Bruna Garcia - early 2000s rnb sounds with a fresh, fiery Cardiff meets Cape Verdean energy.
Dazo - Young Nigerian artist now based in Wales, fusing trap, rap and afrobeats.
Cullzia - Mixing up UK urban sounds with the Jamaican styles of his homeland.
Razkid - Uniquely grimey and gallus take on the modern rap climate.
Kaptin & Dregz Presents…
This will be happening upstairs at Penny Black from 20:20 til Midnight. There’s a slight overlap clash with downstairs, for Dregz especially as he’ll be hosting both rooms and performing with his group Xenith. Artist wise it’s a complete mix of generations with seasoned performers and exciting newcomers.
The Xenith Collective - veteran Welsh rap collective with their new live band
Jessika Kay - Cardiff based rnb singer with Caribbean roots and influences.
Kahpun - established reggae, dancehall + afrobeats artist based between Wales and Ghana.
Afro Cluster - this live hip hop meets afrobeat band are already firm festival favourites in the UK.
Open Mic - last year was so much fun that it had to happen again. All rappers and singers welcome. The open mic will be done cypher style, with Kaptin spinning a continuous mix of hip hop, 140 styles such as grime and drill and then dnb to close.
Check our playlist of rap videos from artists performing at FOCUS Wales this year.
Still to come we have takeovers from Starving Artists, Red Roach & CBT and Diff Radio.
Tickets and more information at focuswales.com