NEWS: Bau Cat, Boutique Feelings, Lime Garden, Bonnie Trash, ISHA, BASYL And Many More Added To FOCUS Wales

Following the first wave of 76 artists, FOCUS Wales unveils another 105 acts for its 16th anniversary edition. Spanning 22 countries—from the USA and Canada to Scotland and Indonesia—this latest announcement reflects the festival’s ongoing commitment to musical diversity and cultural exchange.

The lineup brings together an eclectic mix of emerging voices from around the world. North Wales trio Bau Cat merge cosmic country, blues, and psych-indie with Laurel Canyon warmth and garage energy, their electrifying live shows already earning BBC airplay. Montréal’s Boutique Feelings weave hip-hop, psychedelia and krautrock into ethereal soundscapes, while Palestinian artist BASYL explores identity and connection through soulful, melodic hip-hop. Californian songwriter Caleb Nichols fuses indie folk and power pop with queer-conscious storytelling, and London-based Dutch multi-instrumentalist ISHA crafts dynamic grooves from funk, jazz, and electronics. Beijing’s KyoYoko push art-rock into theatrical, boundary-breaking territory, while Brighton’s Lime Garden offer danceable “wonk pop” with disco flourishes. Austrian prodigy Oskar Haag, the youngest-ever FM4 Amadeus Award winner, brings genre-fluid indie-pop and magnetic stage presence, and Scottish singer-songwriter Becky Sikasa delivers emotive off-pop that explores belonging through vibrant harmonies and colourful arrangements.

The festival continues its strong tradition of showcasing folk, roots and global music in fresh contexts. Ceitidh Mac blends Welsh and modern folk with soaring cello and atmospheric textures that have graced Green Man, Shambala, and Other Voices. Scottish duo Eleanor Dunsdon & Gregor Black reimagine the harp through jazz, classical, and electronic influences, while English musician Esther Swift explores ritual and nature through improvisation and classical composition. JUNO Award-winning banjo virtuoso Kaia Kater brings cinematic folk rooted in Quebec, Appalachia, and the Caribbean, and Scottish fiddler Ryan Young transforms traditional melodies into soul-stirring, contemporary experiences.

For those drawn to heavier sounds, the lineup delivers intensity and atmosphere in equal measure. Canadian duo Bonnie Trash fuse post-punk, goth, shoegaze, and metal into folklore-infused catharsis, while Welsh project EYE—led by Jessica Ball of Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard—conjures gothic electro-doom with ethereal vocals and hypnotic riffs. Groom the Giant channel Welsh mythology through grungy psych-doom, Holy Coves bring atmospheric island psych-rock from Anglesey, and Seoul’s Wah Wah Wah deliver kaleidoscopic, fuzz-soaked energy. Portuguese noise-rockers Sunflowers transform distortion and feedback into chaotic performances that blur experimental pop with existential edge.

True to its name, FOCUS Wales remains a vital showcase for Welsh music’s depth and creativity. Carreg Lafar bring driving, contemporary Welsh folk shaped by international festival experience, while Mellt pair slacker-rock swagger with post-punk bite in their Welsh-language guitar pop. Keys filter psychedelia and ’70s soft rock into sun-warmed melodies, Osgled craft immersive electronic soundscapes, and Cardiff’s Spirited Followers push experimental folk into bold territory, weaving Western, Indian classical, Greek, and avant-garde influences into boundary-blurring performances.

The lineup also offers compelling options for those seeking club-inflected sounds and late-night energy. Jakarta’s Logic Lost delivers brutal, politically charged soundscapes fusing techno, gabber, and metal, while Gothenburg’s Sylvie’s Head tear through hard breakbeats, chainsaw guitars, and Balearic euphoria. Indonesian artist XANDEGA brings club-ready pop that fuses raw emotion and underground energy into dancefloor catharsis.

Across genres, languages, and borders, FOCUS Wales continues to celebrates the thrill of musical discovery—a truly international kaleidoscope where tradition meets innovation, and familiar sounds find new contexts. It’s a festival built on the belief that music transcends boundaries, and that the most rewarding moments often come from the artists you didn’t know you needed to hear.

FOCUS Wales is supported by the Arts Council of Wales, Welsh Government, and PRS Foundation’s Talent Development Network.

Today’s announcement in full:

For tickets, delegate passes, and further information, visit www.focuswales.com.

Additional artist announcements and the conference programme will be released in the coming weeks.