Art, culture and the best of what’s on in Wales

Mared Williams has solid grounding on the Welsh-language pop-rock scene, with a folky debut album received well in 2021, but will be known better to many for her theatrical CV – most recently taking the title role in Branwen at the WMC, all of which might get a few more people along to these two …

Singerly-songwriterly stuff from the frozen heart of Winnipeg, Canada, with Grant Davidson taking on the Slow Leaves pseudonym for his artisan folky croons. With five albums to his name so far, Davidson’s especially big on musical autonomy, playing and producing everything you hear on record; mooted comparison points include, Nick Drake, Smog and Roy Orbison.

More Canadian representation at Acapela courtesy of Toronto trio Good Lovelies, who operate with a folky framework but have introduced pop elements to their songs over the years. Big news in their homeland – they’ve won a Juno Award, for example, which Canadians apparently care about – they’re more of a word-of-mouth proposition elsewhere.