In looking forward to the 2017 FOCUS Wales which will take place on 11-13 May, the Welsh Government has approved funding to support the event’s growth up until 2019.
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
FOCUS Wales is a not-for-profit organization, established to provide an annual showcase event for the Welsh Music Industry. The event places the music industry spotlight firmly on the emerging talent that Wales has to offer the world.
FOCUS Wales 2017 will mark the festival’s 7th edition, and will welcome over 7,000 people to the town.
Cabinet Secretary for the Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates, said:
“FOCUS Wales has grown steadily since the first event in 2011, and I’m delighted that the Welsh Government has been able to play a part in this growth – and continues to do so as the event reaches the next level of development.
“The event is a fantastic platform for new and emerging talent and brings Wrexham alive each year with all programmed events being held in existing venues across the town – this also means that majority of the economic benefit is felt directly by local businesses.”
Having recently returned from SXSW, Co Founder Neal Thompson, said:
“Wales is a country with its own unique identity and culture and over the past seven years, we’ve been working to develop an event that can present Wales to the rest of the world through showcasing our home grown talent. As FOCUS Wales, we were pleased to be able to attend SXSW in the US and further establish the identity of Wales and the Welsh music industry on a global stage. The support of Welsh Government has been invaluable in the development of FOCUS Wales as a festival thus far and the continued investment over the next three years, at such a pivotal point, will ensure FOCUS Wales reaches its fullest potential as an international showcase for Welsh talent and for Wales itself.”
With over 200 bands performing at venues throughout the town in May, the highlights will include Asteroid Boys, Kizzy Crawford, Bryde, Georgia Ruth, Betsy, Adwaith, Exit International and a whole host of Welsh talent as well as acts from across the UK such as British Sea Power, Cabbage, John Bramwell, Lucy Spraggan and from Canada, Poland, France, South Korea, Catalonia, Norway and many more.
More information is available by visiting http://www.focuswales.com (external link).