Horizons on BBC Wales: Supporting acts with unique experiences

Hello folks! Or 'shw mae' as we say in Wales!

I’m Bethan Elfyn, and I've been hosting a new music show for a number of years (with Huw Stephens at Radio 1 for 10 years), and now as part of Saturday night's 6 hour new music marathon on BBC Radio Wales. My show is followed by the legend Adam Walton who you should try to discover for genuine music love & unique presenting style – and we’re both part of the BBC Introducing family with a passion for sharing the most exciting music from Wales.

What’s on the Horizon?

Since last summer we’ve been developing a unique project here in Wales called Horizons, as BBC Wales in partnership with Arts Council of Wales launch a scheme to support new music like nothing we’ve seen before. Taking a few tips from BBC Introducing we’ve decided to take bands to Wales’ finest festivals this summer, but Horizons has one key difference, we’re pushing and promoting 12 artists over the next 12 months, looking for unique experiences, radio opportunities, and even international situations for these bands. Yes, focusing on a small group to see if we can really push people to the next level, and encourage the audience here in Wales to support some new talent.

In March, we called for bands to send their music in. In April, via a panel, we chose the 12 bands from the hundreds of entries, and launched the project with a big gig at the first festival of the year at Focus Wales in Wrexham – a gig headlined exclusively by Kids in Glass Houses.

Since then, we’ve had some of the Horizons gang head to Glastonbury, T in the Park with BBC Introducing, play with the 80 piece BBC National Orchestra, play the Isle of Eigg in Scotland, take over an art gallery, play three castles, and one of the best experiences was the huge crowds by a beautiful airstream at Hay on Wye Festival.

From the first day, the project has certainly had a great effect here in Wales, drawing attention to these new artists with TV trails, photoshoots, pop videos on location, and plenty of radio support on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.

One of my favourite videos so far is from a band from Wrexham called Seazoo, on a morning around Hay on Wye, when they caused some curious glances as they joyusly sang their way around the town’s bright bunting filled streets.

Our featured artist this month it’s the spectacular The People The Poet. I’ve openly wept on air when hearing the tragic tales from genuine fans that has formed the touching songs on their unbeliveable album The Narrator.

Check out their exclusive profile here.

I’ll be back to tell you more about the whole 12 bands on the project over the remainder of the year, but for now, do follow our twitter feed to get all the updates from the myriad weekends of festivaling @horizonscymru.

Thanks for reading, Beth