Live Review: FOCUS Wales International Showcase Festival (Part 2)

 

You know you're having a great time at a festival when each day blurs into the other with the level of quality acts remaining at a constant high. If time itself is not as linear as we like to attribute it to be, then proof positive comes from FOCUS this year. In part 2 of our FOCUS Wales review, Jim Auton and Stephen Birch boarded the musical Delorean in Wrexham and stayed at a steady 88mph before crashing back to reality.

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Sustinere open the main tent on Friday with guitarist Rob absolutely shredding the living shit out of his illuminous green Telecaster. They sound MASSIVE on the big stage and they've worked tirelessly to get the opportunity; you can see they're having a blast. No mention of the unmentionables, they are more akin to early Silverchair or Reuben. Which is an excellent thing for men of our particular vintage and proclivities. 

Hazmat appear then as if by magic, continuing the Silverchair sound but with added Deftones. These Wrexham lads have been building something over the last few years and they are becoming a live force to be reckoned with. Shove it. In your ears.

Sustinere

Bloodworm are introduced to the hotbox that is The Parish at the bottom of the hill, where the vicars and priests (st)rolled down to from Evensong for centuries. The Nottingham-based trio play a set heavily informed by gothic post punk, with The Cure and Bauhaus obvious touch stones. It’s packed which is understandable for a hyped band in a tiny room and they go down a storm.  

Kidsmoke are just indie pop magic. It’s a hometown festival for them, so a late night set at Rockin' Chair isn’t an issue and it’s naturally packed to the rafters. When you’re starting to flag after two days worth of imbibing and walking they are what you want to hear to pep you up. Campfire Social are also locals and stalwarts of FOCUS and have recently represented the festival at both New Colossus and SXSW. It simply wouldn't be the same if we didn't catch at least one of their sets and they don't disappoint - quite simply they never do. 

Lemfreck is just the tonic. Live the man is a cross between N.E.R.D and Kendrick Lamar and had the crowd in the palm of his hand. His band are tight and sometimes the guitarist lets loose. When he raps, Lemfreck has an excellent flow in his own inimitable Newport style. Even the most beardy of beard-strokers are busting out their moves to this. Simply sensational. 

JoethePoet

There are not too many stories at FOCUS this year that can rival that of JoethePoet. I (Stephen) meet him early on Thursday and we talk Hip Hop outside Ty Pawb. He tells me he has travelled on his own to perform from L.A and I can't help but ponder the culture shock of North Wales and how much he must feel outside of his comfort zone. His weekend appeared to be going wrong when hotel issues meant he was unsure of where he was even going to stay at one point. Thankfully by the time he performs on Saturday, it's clear there is a big talent here to compliment the character. New Single 'All I Know' is an absolute jam and he looks taken aback by an appreciative crowd singing along. I find myself singing it at random intervals for the rest of the day.  

Martha O'Brien is a recent discovery for us here at NNWNF and her set at one of the smallest venues at the festival, The Royal Oak, is a delight to behold. She works her way through songs from her brilliant late 2024 EP Caution, Horses!, the apex of which is a bewitching version of EP highlight 'Rat Wedding'. Sadly, the talking in the room from the back of the bar does make it hard for these delicate songs to land in the way they should, but Martha makes the most of it with an exquisite performance. The room will be much bigger and more attentive when she returns in the future. 

Full disclosure, Georgian were a late tip and a bit of a shot in the dark on Saturday, but clearly there were a fair few of us in the same boat early in the day, so The Parish was once again bursting the mercury. The band have been turning heads in Manchester with a love of 60s' psychedelia, chamber pop and Western soundtracks, as well as more contemporary acts infusing their music. You can't keep your eyes off singer Georgia McKiernan, with her voice a powerful and striking presence and the band play suitably intriguing foils, allowing her to take centre stage but complimenting with an assured balance.

 

Half Happy

I (Jim) said Kathryn Joseph would make me cry and she did, saying that “a lovely man had asked for this next song”, which was me in the preview where I said I’d be the one blubbing in the corner. She promptly made me start blubbing in the corner to “From When I Wake, The Want Is”; one of the most devastatingly beautiful and sad songs I have ever heard in my entire life. There is perhaps no better place to hear Kathryn than in a church, despite - as she points out - her thoughts, words, and song themes. Her organ and voice reverberate round the magnificent medieval church like a dream. I’ve said it before, we need to reclaim these incredible buildings for more important work.

Speaking of a change in work processes, if you’re not Cardiff's Half Happy, STOP making dream/indie pop records because Conversation Killer has done just that - killed the conversation. One of the Best EPs of 2024 and they’re imperious in The Rockin’ Chair - and very lovely people. Our review of Conversation Killer is also the most read review in the ENTIRETY of this blog - by a long, long way. Seriously, it's not even close Babs.  

The Family Men asks us “ come forward, are we scary?” ..yeah actually you are a bit. I thought everyone in Sweden were happy? He probably is and they're having the time of their lives but he cuts an intimidating figure and this is definitely not for everyone. Perhaps that makes it even more fun as the crowd look shaken to their very core.

The Family Men

It's bloody hard work to get in to watch WRKHOUSE as it’s heaving in the ground floor part of Penny Black, but everyone is having a brilliant time, so we run upstairs for Baby Schillaci, who are possibly the most intense band of the weekend. Having spoken to the guitarist and drummer after Bloodworm the day before, it seems - inexplicably - people mispronounce their name. Who doesn’t remember Tito Schillaci, Italy’s plucky, diminutive striker from Italia 90?!? Why are people so young these days? What is actually happening? All of these questions presumably have a suitable answer somewhere. None of that matters though by the end of their set as they have suitably laid waste to all and sundry. 

The Family Battenberg are as ball bouncingly brilliant as expected and were last year, even if mic issues caused problems during the epic “Runny Hunny’ and dead guitars later on. ‘Anteater’ would floor an aardvark at a hundred paces. ‘Fuzzy Features’ is the psych wig out we all need to close the set and for some, the whole festival. Surely next year, the big stage awaits.  

Then almost as soon as it began, FOCUS Wales is over for another year. We walked countless steps, drank gallons of the amber nectar and have seen some of the best live music we've seen for quite some time. If only every weekend could be like FOCUS weekend then the world would be a much better place. 

Until next year Wrexham, it's been a blast.