Imagine wearing a scratchy hand knitted sweater and playing flat out rock n roll music in a stuffy, dilapidated English country cottage … well that’s what it’s like to be a Silver Line.

Formed by two brothers who were uninspired by the current landscape of guitar music, decided they were going to make music that turns them on. Since meeting Kindo (drums) and Joe Cartwright (bass) in 2019, they have consistently sold out their hometown gigs, have had plays on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 6 Music, Radio X and have played festivals from England to America.

JP is a 21 year old from Wrexham, who’s been working on his music for just 2 years now, and already has numerous releases under his belt.

Ostara Days, Samhain and Unity blend genres such as folk and hiphop with the darkness that only a producer steeped in drum and bass can bring. Their lyrics include bi-lingual (English-Welsh) storytelling through rap and song, with many of their tracks beginning life round a campfire on a guitar. Ostara Days and Samhain are married, and this three-way musical collaboration came to life when Unity brought her experience in local music communities and projects to support the couple to work with her on creating a unique sound, which delves deep into the underworld and explores all aspects of human existence.

Unpredictable, sweaty, fiery: CLOUDSURFERS is without a doubt one of the most promising bands emerging from the Dutch garage punk scene right now. Fueled by the twin drummer setup the band easily sets every crowd on fire!

After the release of their 2021 debut album Don’t Know What Hit Me, Cloudsurfers went on to play over 50 shows in 2022, including major festivals like Paaspop, Vestrock and Zwarte Cross. In the meantime they’ve recorded a second album, mixed by the inimitable Michael Badger (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, SONS) and set for release late 2023, promising to be even more energetic and unstoppable.

Alien Feelings come from Wrexham in the industrial borders of North Wales armed with choruses that prove there’s only one thing better than a singalong: a shoutalong. Loud and aggressive, theirs is the anguished howl of the backwaters where there’s little else to do but play punk rock and get stoned.

Josh, Ryan and Tim knew each other in school where they spent most of their time discussing Slayer, Reel Big Fish, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Beatles, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Nirvana, Green Day, Pink Floyd and The Who at the expense of an education. Numerous musical endeavours in local bands ensued until they were the last men standing.

In 2019, Alien Feelings formed and promptly got banned from ever playing their town again. Someone at their local asked the band to improvise a song about their town. The jaunty tune about inbred smackheads that followed was ill-received. Alien Feelings make music for those whose love of roaring guitars, pulsating bass and thundering drums equip them to make the connection between The Jesus and Mary Chain, Nirvana and Stereophonics.

Hanorah is multidisciplinary artist based out of a small studio filled with cats, canvases, and glittered tape recorders in Montréal’s west end. With years of touring under her belt (including several television appearances and supporting the likes of Mavis Staples and Lee Fields), she recently took time to plunge back into song writing and forge a new musical direction. What emerged was a collection of songs highlighting the overlap between maturity and the enduring charm of playfulness. Music that journeys through emotions of the past and present, as she blurs the lines between the recurring cycles of time, choice, and circumstance. In short, her first full length album ‘Perennial’. A work packed with RnB grooves and soulful ballads as it digs deeper into Hanorah’s musical roots to explore the lush tones and textures of her voice.

Ivytide is an indie pop band from Montreal, Canada. founding members, Nathan Gagné (vocals, guitar), Jamie Snytte (guitar) and Kyle Ruggiero (bass) met at a recording studio, where they started to develop a chemistry in their songwriting. A mutual love for lo-fi indie music led to the production of bedroom pop songs with intricate, but catchy melodies, which float on top of well thought-out instrumentation.

Yohvn Blvck, born Edwin Yohance Hull in St John’s, Antigua, 1995, can be found continuously breaking boundaries in Canada since immigrating in 2013. Notable for his unique sound, charisma and exuberant performances, Blvck is an up and coming artist drawing from his Island roots with influences from hiphop, rnb and rock. He is truly in his element whether in the studio or on stage, where he alternates between reveling in and surrendering to his own vulnerability.

Born in Sudan, bred in Edmonton Canada, destined for stages around the world; Mouraine is a name to pay attention to. His debut EP Bigger Dreams, released via Birthday Cake Records in 2021 received props from Complex, The Source, CBC, Earmilk, Exclaim!, RANGE, If It’s Too Loud, Hip Hop Canada and more. After hustling in the underground for the past few years, Mouraine is quickly making moves to emerge into the limelight on the brink of his breakthrough full-length album, In Search of Gold. Slated for release in the spring of 2023, the project is a collaboration with producer duo deadmen (Begonia, Royal Canoe, Ashleigh Ball, Ian Sweet), with features from his brother MOTO, Canadian R&B icon JRDN, and a few surprise appearances. The songs delve into Mouraine’s personal life story and deliver an intimate vulnerability complemented by captivating stories, bold lyricism and colossal beats.

“There comes a time in every artist’s career to pursue their unimaginable creativity, to find themselves and their sound. “In Search of Gold” is metaphorically a representation of my life journey. I’ve always thought that chasing possessions was going to fulfill me. But I realized that to find gold is to find your purpose, peace, and happiness, and that’s what this album means to me.” – Mouraine

As a young, first-generation immigrant to Canada, Mouraine first learned to speak English through his insatiable appetite for music. Hip Hop, Rap and R&B lyrics became his teacher, his solace, and his inspiration to use this language as a tool for self expression and survival. By the age of 11 he began writing, recording and performing original music that would lead to sharing stages with the likes of Mac Miller, J.Cole, T-Pain, Big Sean, Pusha T, Classified, and Shad. Mouraine’s music has been placed in Footlocker Ads, played live at Toronto Raptors NBA games, awarded him accolades from his community and peers, and continues to infect audiences around the world. A seemingly endless source of energy, there’s no denying that Mouraine has a magnetic ability to pull people in and make them feel a part of his music and message.

Queen of Harps is a Scottish / Malaysian-Chinese Rapper, Harpist, blending poetic flow, spoken word, bars and harp compositions to claim the title ‘hip-hop-harp’. Kicking off the new year, she made it to the shortlist, and became one of the 4 acts to reach the finals of BBC Introducing Scottish Act of The Year 2023. Her heartfelt lyrics touch on experiences of trauma, divulging her past with sincere transparency. Inspiration is drawn from early Hip-Hop, but she collaborates with producers across all genres, from Jungle to Drill. Her sound harnesses elements of oriental infusion and her very own harp samples.

Telgate are a fiery aggro-Glam band from South Wales with a duty to start riots in 6″ platform boots!

KINGKHAN is a Cardiff based rapper and producer bringing a fresh take to the current sphere of UK rap. After self releasing his debut album ‘Lovesongs & Melodrama’ in 2019, he made a name for himself in the South Wales music scene, getting slots at notable music festivals throughout Wales and the UK. His unique style of production blends detailed instrumentals with melodic hooks and lyrics that often span across different genres, whilst still holding his influences on his sleeve.

E1EVEN is an exciting new artist coming from Cardiff in South Wales.

Lizzi£ Squad are Korrupted & North H, two versatile upcoming artists living in North Wales but both originally from Portugal with African backgrounds. They proving themselves to be one of the most exciting groups out of Wrexham city, independent with no label and they’ve also opened stage for big names like Afro B, Dappy and many more. Representing their reality, pain and struggles and determined to stand out all through their unique sound.

“I’m just trying to find the cleverest way to say I’m sad and hope it helps”

Dave Acton is a rapper hailing from Wrexham, Wales. Influenced by the likes of Joe Budden and Mic Righteous for the vulnerability and honesty they display in their music and battle rappers like Lunar C, Illmaculate and Shox the Rebel, Dave attempts self therapy with his extremely personal songwriting and creative lyrics.

Darren Ford, aka 4Dee, has been right at the heart of the Welsh hip hop scene since the early 1980’s. His involvement in hip hop in the Welsh capital of Cardiff can be traced back to 1983 as one of the area’s original b-boys. We’re pleased to welcome 4Dee in Wrexham for his FOCUS Wales debut in 2023!

Just two 30 year old sexy, depressed goddess’ with songs of being broke, heartbroken, high and the baddest in the game. With sweet melodic vocals, cut throat rhymes and nostalgic riddims courtesy of Miss Mercy Jane, we will take you on a Trip to Nostalgiavillie, bringing you something you didn’t know you needed but now can’t live without.

5 piece Progressive Metal band from the North Wales coast. Taking pride to bring the tightest, most disgustingly heavy riffs, enriched with melody, vocal diversity, dirty electronics, and impacting lyrical themes.

Dundee born, half Scottish half English, MC Salum encapsulates all things that make a modern artist; MC, producer, rapper, collaborator, and visionary. His sound is laden with a variety of influences, the future of music which has learnt so much from the past. His infectious character draws people to him with each release, asserting a youthful presence in the Scottish scene. He collaborate s closely with his good friends and his talent for scouting guest vocalists makes each track fresh and exciting. Together they have fused a sound of experimental R&B with alternative hip hop, all under the umbrella of zany pop.

5 piece femme powered hip hop group, NADUH, write, engineer, and produce all of their music – meaning they have crafted a sound that’s truly representative of their collective energy – spreading unity consciousness through R&B infused beats that hit every chakra, laced with buttery-smooth vocals and herstorical lyrics. This one-of-a-kind group aims to shatter earthly constructs and help their audience access higher realms of consciousness while entertaining their urge to twerk.

Skunkadelic is the moniker of Cardiff based Tumi Williams, a trailblazing emcee, artist and educator making giant strides in the UK hip hop scene today. His erudite lyrics and signature rich baritone can be heard across his solo work ‘Musically Drifting’, ‘No Time’ and as a collaborator with the likes of The Allergies, Ty, Stagga, Magugu, Mazbou Q, Mr Woodnote and Band Pres Llareggub. He also fronts the nine piece Welsh afro-funk collective Afro Cluster who are currently working on their eagerly anticipated second album following 2021’s celebrated debut ‘The Reach’. Skunkadelic’s multi-genre aesthetic is always refreshing, taking inspiration from the cerebral sensibilities of jazz rap (ATCQ, The Roots, Guru, The Pharcyde, De La Soul) and blending it with the invigorating sounds of his ancestral Nigeria (Fela Kuti, Tony Allen) culminating in an authentic voice empowered by generations of diverse music.

When ‘The Reach’ arrived in 2021 it was met with rave reviews and national airplay from the likes of BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music as well as a great international reaction including praise from Chuck D on his hip hop radio show. Afro Cluster have benefited from many great opportunities since and Skunkadelic continues to write and tour the UK extensively with the group, particularly on the festival circuit with Glastonbury, Womad, SXSW, National Eisteddfod, Greenman, Shambala and Boomtown remembered as stand out moments on their journey. Skunkadelic’s solo output has recently seen the beginning of a new project with Cardiff based producer Mesijo releasing ‘No Time’ in 2021, a catchy exploration of afrobeat, rap and electronica. He has also taken a very outside-the-box approach with another exciting creative endeavour combining his love of hip hop with what might ordinarily be considered a peculiar form: opera! ‘House of Jollof’ commissioned by Music Theatre Wales and Fio is an imaginative amalgamation of opera, afrobeat, hip hop and live cooking which is presented as a mini pop-up theatre show. On its first national tour it has been very well received and harnesses the talent of multiple actors, musicians, directors, chefs and producers to bring its story to life. This prolific body of work has seen Skunkadelic be selected for the PRSF ‘Power Up’ programme; an initiative supporting black music creators and professionals in the field as they navigate the arts sector. It aims to break down barriers and foster meaningful change in an unbalanced and unfair industry that has needed it for some time!

Hailing from the bowels of East London Deijuvhs is an artist who continues to resonate with a rapidly increasing number of people drawn in by his tenacity to break the wheel when it comes to strict genre norms and unabashed authenticity. Taking inspiration from Punk, Metal, Drill, Jungle and many more otherworldly genres, Deijuvhs seamlessly blends and moulds all the sonics into a perfect unique amalgamation and refuses to be placed into a box as he continues to keep exploring how far his distinctive sound will take him. No one sounds quite like Deijuvhs.

Juice Menace, Cardiff’s CEO, is 21 and is paving her way into the industry. With an impressive run of singles to date including Sundown, No Speaking and more recently 24sand FUPTHECLUB, whilst shutting down Leeds festival in summer 21, she really is one to watch. 2022 brings an impressive run of live shows off her strongly built foundation including The Great Escape, Glastonbury and Splash festival in Germany. Her ability to flow over any beat and rival any rapper is catching a lot of people’s attention and is developing her an ever growing core fanbase that backs the artists every move. Juice Menace is just at the beginning of her journey, as an adept and whip-smart lyricist, flawless performer and the leading creative mastermind of her career to date, she’s proving worthy of the “CDF CEO” title already fondly awarded to her by her peers and dedicated fanbase.