PLUS BATTLE OF THE BANDS COMPETITION DETAILS

Wakestock is synonymous with supporting the best talent on the Welsh music scene and this year is no different. FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND are joining the bill at this years festival. Formed in 2001, the band have released five studio albums, seven EPs and sixteen singles including hits like Streetcar, Into Oblivion and Juneau. The band are currently holed up in the studio working on their forthcoming sixth studio album. 

STRAIGHT LINES hail from South Wales. Having spent a large chunk of 2011 in the studio recording their second album ‘Freaks Like Us’ between support slots with The Subways and Funeral For A Friend , Straight Lines are on an upward spiral that doesn’t look set to finish anytime soon. With new video/single ‘Half Gone’ out now and an album to follow this week, this band is heading for great things in 2012.

Back in August 2011, a new artist emerged on the scene with a remix of Amy Winehouse which attracted loads of attention and was rumoured to be the work of James Blake (one hell of a compliment). In actual fact the remixer is IFAN DAFYDD and he’s just been added to our line up. With the release of “No Good / Miranda” on Push & Run, Ifan Dafydd firmly set himself in the UK dance scene. His follow up of “Treehouse / To Me” dropped in January and is something a little different, but equally as impressive as his debut.

AL LEWIS is a singer-songwriter from North Wales whose sound is reminiscent of the classic singer-songwriters of the 70s, delivered with a modern twist. Al released the album ‘In the Wake’ at the start of 2011 and has been gathering support and praise from  the likes of Steve Lamacq and Bob Harris.  He is also a favourite of Chris Evans on BBC Radio 2. Al performed a 12 date UK tour and was shortlisted for the inaugural Welsh Music Prize. He will return to Wakestock after first appearing back in 2008.

Joining him are SEN SEGUR, a young psychedelic pop rock band from Penmachno, Wales who perform mainly in the Welsh language. They have a new EP, ‘Penrhydd’, with four tracks of great progressive tunes. With an average age of just 17, Sen Segur are but seedlings amongst the flowers of the Welsh music scene and are ones to watch at this year’s Wakestock.

Another great act on the bill are Y BANDANA, a Welsh language alternative rock band that formed in Caernarfon in 2008. They are known for combining humorous lyrics with catchy melodies. Their highly energetic, half naked sets are a magnet for young crowds from Caernarfon down to Cardiff. The band released their debut album last year and have achieved great success in the Welsh language rock scene. 

If you are in a band and fancy playing at this year’s festival, this week sees the launch of the Wakestock Battle of the Bands competition. We have been inundated with applications by bands wanting to play at this year’s festival who were clearly attracted by the incredible line up.  Sadly we just can’t accommodate them all. However, there is still one slot free on this year’s bill and we want to fill it with the hottest new Welsh talent. Your band could take to the stage alongside the likes of Ed Sheeran, Calvin Harris and Dizzee Rascal.

So if you think you have got what it takes to open the stage at Wakestock, all you need to do is send your application through to [email protected]. It should include a short biography of the band, links so we can listen to some of your songs and some information about the gigs you have already played as a band. The team at Wakestock HQ will then prepare a short list of finalists and the final decision will be down to Radio Cymru DJ Lisa Gwilym. Lisa hosts her own flagship music show every weekday evening on BBC Radio Cymru. She’s a true champion of new music and has been a BBC Radio Cymru presenter since 2003, having always taken a keen interest in Welsh music talent. Lisa will be judging a shortlist of ten bands from the entries we receive and we are thrilled she will be selecting the winner of our Battle of the Bands Competition.

The winning band will open the East Stage at the festival on Sunday 8th July.  This is a fantastic opportunity if you are an unsigned act trying to get a break in what is a hugely competitive industry. good luck!