Focus Wales is working in partnership with Wales Arts International, Arts Council of Wales, and the Welsh Government office in North America to showcase a selection of the best new Welsh artists in Austin, Texas this March for SXSW 2022! More information available here.
The event will take place at Swan Dive, 615 Red River St, Austin TX.
There will be complimentary drinks at 7:30pm for those who RSVP before the show starts at 8:00pm. The show is for SXSW 2022 badge holders only.
Featuring these amazing acts:
BUZZARD BUZZARD BUZZARD
Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard draw from classic ‘70s rock with a distinctly 21st century twist, dragging the sounds of T-Rex and Steely Dan kicking and screaming into the 2020s. Frontman Tom Rees’ distinctive lead vocal feels instantly reminiscent of the likes of Marc Bolan, whilst the raw, reverb-heavy twangs of the guitar take us back into the sweaty 21st century. The quartet’s energy is in full-throttle, showcasing their trademark ability to create compelling garage-pop with maximum fuzz. Following their debut EP The Non-Stop in 2020; their new album, Backhand Deals, is out on 2/25.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
THE ROYSTON CLUB
The Royston Club are an exciting new band from Wrexham that blends strong pop songwriting chops with breezy indie rock arrangements, leading Gigwise to label them “the new band from Wales most likely to do a Catfish” (referring to breakout Welsh band Catfish & The Bottlemen). 2021 saw The Royston Club fly past four million streams on Spotify alone, sell out a debut vinyl run in 24 hours, and sell out a 12-date debut UK headline tour.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
THE SCHOOL
THE SCHOOL are a pop band from Cardiff on Elefant Records. Their debut album ‘Loveless Unbeliever’ was released in 2010 and produced by Ian Catt (Saint Etienne, The Field Mice). It appeared in over 70 ‘Best of 2010’ lists, was 6 Music’s Album of the Day, Rough Trade’s Album of the Week and Radio Nowhere’s Album of the Year.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
MACE THE GREAT
An exciting force of Grime and Hip-Hop in Wales, Mace The Great hails from Cardiff. Having won a Triskel Award at the Welsh Music Prize 2020, and garnering the support of the likes of BBC 1Xtra, BBC Wales, ITV, S4C and more; Mace The Great is now primed for a huge 2022. Following from the release of his critically acclaimed EP ‘My Side Of The Bridge’ released March 2021 via the MTGM label, Mace The Great has been nominated for a Welsh Music Prize 2021, unveiled as Welsh Ambassador for Independent Venue Week, attended the MOBO Awards as part of Class 22 and has been selected to be the first Welsh MOBO artist to perform and showcase at SXSW 2022.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube
BANDICOOT
Reclaiming for a new generation the poetry of Dylan, the stark beauty and unhinged rock and roll of mid 70s John Cale, and Badfinger’s melancholic timeless song craft, this is Bandicoot. Their live performances spin euphorically from stomping glam rock n roll to art-pop sensuality at the drop of a note. Their sound flows like post industrial city blues through Swansea’s rain-soaked concrete streets. Following enthusiastic support for their recent singles from the likes of 6 Music, KEXP and Radio X, Bandicoot will release their debut album, ‘Black After Dark’ in March 2022 on Libertino Records, before taking their raucous, overflowing live shows to the SXSW showcase festival in Austin, Texas, and Future Echoes, Sweden.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
CARA HAMMOND
Cara Hammond is a singer-songwriter from North Wales, currently based in London. Influenced by female artists such as Amy Winehouse, Lianne La Havas and Lana Del Rey, Cara’s music is an eclectic mix of indie pop, neo soul and folk. Cara has self released 3 EP’s and in 2019 Cara signed to the independent label Oswaldo, where she has released a number of successful singles. During the pandemic, Cara taught herself how to produce, leading to the release of her first self produced EP ‘twenty four hours’. Cara has just finished her new EP ‘Nice Girl’, which was co-produced with Sebastien Sternberg and Pedro Vito, and also features a song co-written with Blair MacKichan (Sia’s ‘The Greatest’).
