From Bangor to Bangalore – Houdini Dax and the Horizons experience

Owen Richards is the bass player for Cardiff-born band Houdini Dax, who have been chosen to be part of the Arts Council of Wales and BBC Wales Horizons scheme this year.

Last week, we found ourselves in yet another hidden corner of Wales as part of the Horizons scheme. We had no idea what to expect from our weekend workshop in the frosty autumnal countryside. 

As we parked up, we were greeted by a friendly, unassuming gentleman who introduced himself as Dai. He offered to show us to where everyone was staying, and so we walked with him towards the lodge. On our journey, we asked whether he worked at the site. He explained he was actually doing a talk. 

By the time we had made it to the lodge, we had managed to extract that he was the former executive of the Sanctuary Group, overseeing Rough Trade Records, Trojan Records, managing Iron Maiden and much more. We had to wait until his talk that evening to also find out about being David Bowie’s press officer and managing The Stranglers.

This was just the latest example of the incredible surprises that the BBC Wales and Arts Council of Wales Horizons scheme has thrown up. Since being announced as one of the 12 artists on the scheme, we have travelled the length and breadth of Wales, performing, recording and learning. 

Throughout the summer, we have played some brilliant festivals which we have never performed at before, from the fascinating Hay Festival to the beautiful Gŵyl Gardd Goll; from the magical Festival No.6 to the downright mad Gŵyl Gwydir. The audiences have all been fantastic, and we can now proudly claim that we know how to pronounce most festival names (especially Dinefwr).

Away from the fields of tents, our music has also popped up unexpectedly in some very different fields - sports fields to be precise. Being chosen to cover the legendary ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ to soundtrack the Welsh Euro Qualifiers has been great fun for us. I highly doubt that our old Whitchurch High School PE teachers would’ve believed that our faces would be fronting a BBC Wales football campaign ahead of Gareth Bale...but judging by the results, I’d say it’s working...

A few weeks ago, we were suddenly informed there was an “80% chance” we were going to India. This was something so out of the blue, so huge, that we were convinced it wouldn’t happen. The confirmation day came and passed without word, so we decided to go for a consolation curry instead.

But before the daal of disappointment could be eaten, the news came – Houdini Dax were going to tour India. It’s such an incredible opportunity that we’re still sceptical even while receiving our Hepatitis jabs (better safe than sorry). Having spoken to Zervas and Pepper, who went over last year, we cannot wait to immerse ourselves in the country.

Our tour starts in Calcutta, to play NH7 Festival (the Indian equivalent of Glastonbury). We then fly to Mumbai for a showcase in the fantastically named Blue Frog, before another flight to Bangalore to end in another NH7 festival. 

Our experience with Horizons is far from over, with a Maida Vale session not long after we return to Blighty. However, we can already say it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of our career!