FOCUS Wales’ extensive interactive programme now spans 3 days featuring panel discussions, key note talks, networking sessions, performances, and speed meetings. Interactive sessions are open to weekend ticket holders, and day ticket holders within the day of purchased ticket. This year’s conference will take place at Wrexham’s brand new arts and markets centre Tŷ Pawb across 10th – 12th May.
2018 sees the biggest contingent of music industry professionals to descend upon FOCUS Wales to date. Over 100 delegates will be traveling to Wrexham from all corners of the world including USA, Australia, Canada, Korea, Catalonia, France, Netherlands, Estonia, Sweden, Norway and more! They will be here to offer their industry expertise and take advantage of the fantastic line-up of music and arts taking place across the three day festival.
Keynote talks this year come from: Kliph Scurlock – best known as the drummer of The Flaming Lips, Kliph’s passion for Welsh music has since seen him perform alongside artists such as Gruff Rhys, Gwenno, Gulp, and H. Hawkline. Kliph will be discussing his career in music and love of Wales on Thursday 10th May. Joining the conference programme on Friday the 11th Guy Called Gerald – An iconic name in dance music, A Guy Called Gerald stands out for consistent innovation, excellence and refusal to compromise. A Guy Called Gerald kick started Europe’s acid house frenzy with his ’88 classic ‘Voodoo Ray’ and ‘Pacific State’ (as part of 808 State) and went on to lay down the blueprint for jungle / drum n bass.
Panel highlights include ‘The Art of International Showcasing’, ‘Women in Music’, ‘Music for Change’ as well as the return of Digital Innovations at FOCUS Wales, which is to include four panels covering topics from diversity and equality within the digital sector, to maximising fan engagement with digital tools.
FOCUS Wales boasts a fantastic array of speakers at this year’s conference from all areas of the music industry. To name a few: Martin Elbourne (Glastonbury Festival), Una Johnston (SXSW), Sol Parker (CODA Agency), Bev Burton (Killer B), Feedy Frizzi (Moshi Moshi Management) and Rich Walker (4AD).
Visit http://www.focuswales.com/interactive for full details.
Festival Passes are on sale from as little as £40 up to full badged delegate accreditation via www.focuswales.com/tickets FOCUS Wales 2018 takes place over 10th, 11th, 12th May across multiple venues in Wrexham, North Wales. FOCUS Wales is supported by Arts Council of Wales and Welsh Government and Wrexham County Borough Council.
