FOCUS Whales Festival And Conference Announces SXSW Showcase

Leading British festival and conference FOCUS Wales has detailed its SXSW showcase, set to take place at The Townsend on Wednesday March 14th, with doors at 7:30pm. The showcase will feature the brightest music that Wales will offer the conference, with performances from Rachel K Collier, Doc Daneeka, Himalayas, Stella Donnelly, Dan Bettridge, and Christopher Rees. FOCUS Wales is presenting the showcase in partnership with Wales Arts International.

Says FOCUS Wales co-founder and booker Andy Jones of this tremendous opportunity:

As the organizers of the national new music showcase festival in Wales, it's a real privilege for us to be able to present a showcase at SXSW, that will bring together an exciting collection of some of the best emerging talent that Wales has to offer the world.

Learn more about each of the showcasing artists below the showcase address and set times:

Set times:
1am Rachel K Collier
12am Doc Daneeka
11pm Himalayas
10pm Stella Donnelly
9pm Dan Bettridge
8pm Christopher Rees
7.30pm Doors open

Rachel K Collier by Phoebe Maria Montague-Warr

Swansea-born singer, songwriter, and producer Rachel K Collier's achievements include co-writing and featuring on several successful records to date, including the 2013 smash summer hit "Boom Boom (Heartbeat)", which peaked at number 12 in the UK Singles chart, and Mat Zo's Grammy-nominated Album "Damage Contro," which peaked at number 1 on the iTunes Dance Album Charts. She also wrote and featured on the comeback single from legendary garage producer Wookie, "2 Us." She is currently in the studio working on new music.

Doc Daneeka (12am)

Doc Daneeka by Manon Tarasconi

House DJ and producer Doc Daneeka recently released the mix tape "WALK.MAN." He has received significant support from BBC Radio 1 for his most recent release, gaining the attention of the majors through the process. 2018 is set to be a big year for him.

Himalayas (11pm)

The Cardiff garage/indie band Himalayas offers seductive guitar lines and groovy bass parts driven by an avalanche of drums. After releasing their debut EP, Ecstasy, in 2016, Himalayas embarked on a heavy live schedule playing all over the UK, including Swn Fest established by BBC Radio 1 host Huw Stephens. Himalayas released two singles in 2017, including "Thank God I'm Not You," which has been streamed more than 4 million times on Spotify.

Stella Donnelly (10pm)

Raised between Swansea in Wales and Quinns Rocks in Western Australia, Stella Donnelly got her start singing Green Day songs in her Aussie high school rock band, eventually turning her interest to jazz and contemporary as an adult studying at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. In 2017 Donnelly released her debut EP, Thrush Metal, and was met with critical acclaim. The five-track release is bold and unapologetic and has forged Donnelly to the forefront of the new guard of Australian songwriters.

Dan Bettridge (9pm)

At just 24, Dan Bettridge already has the kind of growl and richness you'd expect from a blues and soul singer twice his age. The young artist not only knows his Stax from his Motown, but his penchant for fast muscle cars cuts him from the same cloth as some of the wildest musicians to come out of Nashville. Dan, however, hails from Ogmore-By-Sea in the Vale Of Glamorgan. Following taste-maker acclaim for his first release of the year, Heavenly Father, from CLASH and The Line of Best Fit among others, Dan recently released the new track, "Blame."

Christopher Rees (8pm)

Welsh singer-songwriter Christopher Rees has released 7 albums to date. Critical acclaim followed from major music magazines like MOJO, Uncut, Q and radio support from Bob Harris on BBC Radio 2. In 2017 he released The Nashville Songs - a collection of songs co-written in Music City, USA with Nashville writers/performers like Mando Saenz, Rick Brantley and Amy Speace. A passionate performer, Rees employs a wide range of roots styles from vintage old-time country to upbeat Rockabilly.

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