At Glastonbury this year, three Welsh performers have been chosen to play on the BBC Introducing Stage, showcasing their talent to festival goers after having been discovered from BBC Introducing local shows. Judging from the successes of Ed Sheeran, The 1975, Florence and the Machine and George Ezra, to name a few, the Welsh bands XY&O, Afro Cluster and Plu will hopefully join this list of groups that have played on this stage.
XY&O are a Cardiff electronic band, and the first of the Welsh bands to play the stage. The ex-Exeter University students have been steadily become an up-and-coming band, having played on various BBC Introducing stages and having featured on Huw Stephen’s Radio 1 show. They released their debut EP Shimmer + Shade as a trio, but are currently a six piece. Their fantastic sets have helped to establish their reputation as a live act, and their dedicated online following has helped them to be selectedfor Glastonbury. Their chilled out electro-pop sound makes them easy to listen to, and their live performance at Glastonbury promises not to disappoint.
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Afro Cluster is next up on the stage. The Cardiff based 9 piece seem to be on the course for an exciting summer with countless festivals scheduled. They’re a blend of funk and hip-hop, with notes of Fela Kuti and Snarky Puppy, but their EP We Don Land blurs many genres together to create adistinctive sound. All the different instruments combine to create a jazzy funk beat, with rap from MC Skunkadelic over the top and politically conscious lyrics creating an unexpected but enjoyable mix. Supported by Horizons, a scheme that develops new and independent music from Wales, the company clearly shows that they’ve put their faith in the right hands.
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The third band is Plu, a sibling trio backed by the Horizons scheme. The group sing their own material and traditional Welsh songs in the Welsh language. Their range of instruments including the mandolin, bouzouki and accordion, creates a folksy vibe with tight-knit harmonies. Their second album Tir A Golau appealed to audiences and they’re signed up to perform at many folk festivals throughout the summer.
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The BBC Introducing stage proves time and time again that it has new exciting bands to showcase, and more often than not the acts go on to bigger and better things. Let’s hope that these Welsh acts do the same.
BBC Introducing Stage, Glastonbury Festival, Worthy Farm, Somerset, Wed 22nd – Sun 26th June. Tickets: Sold out. Info: http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/
words BETHAN GIRDLER-MASON