RONA MAC // ALYS HARDY // GUY NICHOLAS CHALLENGER

Rona Mac’s grass-roots approach to music is tangible and real, and her live performance is both impressive and transformative. Having recently played support for Willy Mason, Billie Marten, Katy J Pearson, Bess Atwell and Dan Mangan, Rona is beginning to get the recognition she deserves. A truly independent DIY, grass-roots artist from the most westerly tip of Wales, she’s a prolific songwriter carving her own pathway as a queer alt-folk artist. She will be showcasing her new album ‘Honeymilk and Heavy Weather’ at 14 decentralised locations around the UK to move music away from big cities, as well as connecting with like-minded people. Could that be you?

Funded by PRS foundation, Help Musicians and Horizons Launchpad (Arts Council Wales), 'Honeymilk and Heavy Weather' is tenderly written for a lost friend, and her best work to date. For 3 years she has carved these 11 tracks with love, grief and determination, pulling everything into alignment with what lies at its core. There's a dense and heavy story behind this Album, intertwined with themes of love, loss, mental illness, suicide and water. Mac uses the sounds of fire, rivers, ocean and wind amongst these tracks, as well as voice notes, spoken word, and all manner of strange and satisfying sounds. Always in-keeping with honest lyrics, strong melodies, harmonies and riffs that are a trademark of her work, getting her recognition on BBC’s Radio 1, 6 and Wales.

//

Indie-pop artist Alys Hardy is a Welsh multi-instrumentalist from Cardiff. Alys has always travelled, writing along the way and drawing inspiration from the land and the people she follows. Born in the music room in her family home, melody surrounded her. In Retrospect was recorded in an analogue style studio in Borth in Mid-Wales. Alys says “I wanted a real-feel to the music, connecting listeners to what they hear. It is a collection of original songs that are tales of times gone by and lessons for the future.” Expect eclectic, energetic, soulful sounds that will make you want to both dance and cry.

//

Guy Nicholas Challenger has been writing, recording and performing since 2012 and has since released 7 albums, 3 EPs and a handful of singles. Their music is often melancholic and aims to discuss mental health openly and without judgement. Inspired by rock, pop and folk music. Guy produces heartfelt songs about the daily emotions surrounding life, love and loss.

//