There’s a music festival in North Wales, ready to welcome performers – from local up and coming artists to international stars – for hundreds of performances, across multiple stages. You’d be forgiven for thinking I’m talking about the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen, but instead, this one has a very different flavour.
Just down the road in Wrexham, there’s another event that is about to celebrate its 15th year of elevating Welsh musical talent and showcasing music from around the world.
FOCUS Wales 2025 is all set for a stellar year, welcoming over 22,000 people to the city, building on the success of the 2024 edition. Last year, the likes of The Mysterines, Fat Dog and local boys The Royston Club topped the bill. Previously, legends like Peter Hook, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Coral and Self Esteem have headlined.
This year is no different – Thursday night has Dublin’s post-punks SPRINTS closing out the day. Friday will see genre-blending Londoners Nova Twins setting the festival alight with their trademark high energy live performance and Saturday closes out with Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys.
Alongside the performances, FOCUS Wales Music Conference will host panels, seminars, and discussions led by experts from various sectors of the music industry. The 2025 conference theme, “A Healthier Future for Music,” will explore topics related to the well-being of performers and industry professionals, as well as the sustainability of venues and revenue streams.
The FOCUS Wales Film Festival returns on May 9th and 10th, showcasing a selection of short and feature films from Wales and around the world. Alongside this, there will be industry panels and networking opportunities, encouraging collaborations and connections for filmmakers.
Festival passes are now available, which will give access to all 300+ performances, conference sessions, and film screenings. Individual event tickets are on sale for some performances. For more information on ticket options and pricing, visit the official FOCUS Wales website – https://focuswales.com/
