last few festival tickets remaining
Iconic headliners and the hottest new arrivals on the scene flock to HowTheLightGetsIn Hay 2023 to be part of an unmissable Bank Holiday weekend in Hay-on-Wye.
From Welsh Music Prize-winning songwriting legend Gruff Rhys to genre-hopping experimental composer Anna Meredith and BRIT Award-winning indie stalwarts Belle and Sebastian, every taste is well and truly catered for in this spring's most eclectic and forward-thinking music lineup.
Described by Pitchfork as “one of the most innovative voices in British music”, Anna Meredith is a genre-crossing composer and producer whose work straddles the worlds of contemporary, classical, art pop, electronica and experimental rock. In 2019 she released the Mercury Prize shortlisted LP FIBS to critical acclaim – named both Electronic Sound’s Album of the Year and Pitchfork’s Best Experimental Album of 2019.
With sold-out headline shows around the UK including EartH, Scala, Oval Space, Barbican and Queen Elizabeth Hall in London as well as appearances at Glastonbury, Latitude, Green Man, End of the Road, Transmusicales and SXSW festivals, she was awarded an MBE for Services to Music in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
With support from The Sunday Times, Uncut, Q Magazine, The Line of Best Fit and DIY, Anna has scored for film and TV programmes including Paul Rudd’s dark comedy Living With Yourself and the award winning Eighth Grade for A24.
Welsh Music Prize-winning Gruff Rhys is a songwriter, producer and BAFTA-winning storyteller from Wales, who has consistently sought a variety of outlets for the spectrum of muses behind his creative flights. Formerly known as the frontman of Super Furry Animals – a band that has been able to achieve that rarest of mixes, artistic adventure with popular devotion – he blended fuzz-filed rock, pure harmonies and cutting edge electronics, while with his other guise, Neon Neon, Rhys has documented the lives of maverick car maker John DeLorean and Italian activist and publisher Giangiacomo Feltrinelli in widescreen style.
With their blissful melodies, his solo records have explored untapped areas lyrically too. His first, 2005's Yr Atal Genhedlaeth, revelled in Welsh puns; 2014’s American Interior celebrated the unlikely yet influential 18th century explorer John Evans; Babelsberg offered a baroque take on the modern world in 2018; while a year later Pang! created a multi-lingual mash-up, driven by folkish bleeps crafted in collaboration with South African artist-producer Muzi.
“Gruff Rhys has yet again crafted another pop gem of an album” - NME
With a legacy spanning three decades, Belle and Sebastian have truly earned their place in music history. The unique, unpredictable, and fiercely loved band have a plethora of accolades and plaudits to their name including winning the “Best Newcomers” BRIT in 1999, selling out the Hollywood Bowl, and contributing to the soundtrack for an array of films (Juno, The Power of Nightmares).
Zero 7’s debut album ‘Simple Things’ sold over a million copies and was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, with the band also put forward as 'Best Newcomer' at the Brit Awards. Collaborating with artists including Sia, Sophie Barker and Jose Gonzalez, their third LP was also nominated for a Grammy Award. With the pair currently working on a new studio album, you might hear a few snippets on the dancefloor.
Now two decades into her career, Nerina Pallot’s rich and varied back catalogue suggests an artist determined on carving her own path. The release of her critically acclaimed second album Fires drew comparisons with Joni Mitchell, Fiona Apple and Tori Amos, and spawned hit singles “Everybody’s Gone To War” and “Sophia”, plus Brit Award and Ivor Novello nominations.
While building a faithful live following, subsequent albums have seen her follow her creative muse wherever it takes her. Her 2022 seventh studio LP I Don't Know What I'm Doing is a glorious and accomplished labour of love - at once both intimate and expansive.
“Impeccably conceived and expertly rendered” – The Skinny
All Day Breakfast Cafe are a seven-piece all-female group who have crowned themselves as South London's favourite disco band.
As a band they model themselves as your own personal hype women, with songs about self-love, positivity and ending toxic relationships. Hailing from the London jazz scene, they've been championed by NPR as well as 6 Music’s Jamz Supernova and Steve Lamacq. Exploding onto the live scene with performances at Wilderness, Boomtown and London Jazz Festival, they love to bring the party to their shows with breakfast-themed games like egg-and-spoon races, pancake flipping contests and dance-offs. They're on a mission to spread disco-joy and to get everyone dancing!
From serenading the dimly-lit corners of East London pubs to courting interest from several major record labels, agents, promoters and publishers in a few short months, The Last Dinner Party have burst forth gloriously into the guitar music renaissance.
Opening the main stage for The Rolling Stones last year, the band lead audiences through the soaring crescendos and pin-drop silences of the most debaucherous dinner parties, gathering a dedicated and growing company of attendees with every performance.
Conceived during a wine-stained evening in Brixton, the name embodies a musical and aesthetic ethos of decadence, mystery, spectacle and charm. Finding artistry in the intersection between the beautiful, sublime and grotesque, the band are guided by their favourite Romantic poets and Gothic novelists.
You are cordially invited.
Melin Melyn are one of the most exciting acts to emerge from this next golden generation of Cymru artists, pushing forward on a less travelled bridge between psychedelia, surf, folk and alternative rock. The love child of legends and fellow countrymen Gruff Rhys and Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci (to name a few), Melin Melyn have received praise from NME, DIY, The Independent and The Line of Best Fit for their joyous tracks. The six-piece are not so much round pegs in square holes as they are determined to throw the whole box out.
“Idiosyncratic surf-poppers” - NME
An anarchic stage show? Ginormous pop tunes? Sing-alongs so huge you can see them from space? It can only be Club de Fromage, London's premier (and most fun) pop party!
Still wowing the crowds after 16 years, multiple arena headlining sets at the likes of Glastonbury, Latitude and Isle of Wight festivals, via 2 huge Hammersmith Apollo shows,
this is pop as it should be: huge, glorious and silly!
Bring your dancing shoes for a riotous time with confetti, huge balloons and a set that'll have your face sore from grinning from ear to ear. Abba, Cher, Swift, Styles, Tyler, they are all on the list for your delectation. It's not cheese, it's Fromage!
“One of the 118 ‘Legendary London Clubs’ of the past 54 years” Time Out
“One of the least pretentious and most entertaining nights in the capital” Evening Standard
TC & The Groove Family are a 10-piece collective whose music celebrates the coming together of cultures, and the unity that music can provide for everyone. Driven by drummer Tim Cook, their live shows are powerful and dynamic, exploring grooves and genres from the UK and around the world, including afrobeat, breakbeat, jungle, jazz and highlife.
The band have played alongside afro-fusion legends K.O.G & The Zongo Brigade and London jazzers Yussef Dayes, Pyjaen and Cykada. With support from Jamz Supernova and Craig Charles on BBC Radio 6 and Emily Pilbeam on BBC Introducing West Yorkshire, as well as being playlisted on Jazz FM, they have made a name for themselves on the UK live circuit.
Rachel Sermanni is a Scottish based singer/songwriter that makes the mundane moments mystical. She brims with dreamy indie-folk pop that speak of the struggle and desire to Flow, to love, to live, to feel. Sometimes, her songs speak of the rare moments of quiet-still, found in the midst of this struggle and desire.
“She has an uncanny ability to turn personal experiences into captivating stories” – The Line of Best Fit
A self produced band emitting funk grooves, laptop beats, and emotional dance tracks, Bristol + London based Tungz operate out of a home-studio-come-head-office where the core values are sleek minimalism, clean lines and future-funk breakdowns. The company line continues to be towed by means of a loungecore French-dance aesthetic coloured by 70s AM rock synths, tightly tuned percussion and guitar licks so richly sophisticated they ought to have a Beverly Hills postcode.
Well versed in poetry and performance, Allysha Joy’s potent lyricism, unique musicianship and killer vocals have garnered legions of attentive fans the world over. She’s an integral member of the Melbourne soul jazz scene, known as part of the acclaimed 30/70 Collective & for her own equally revered solo work. Sharing the stage with the likes of Sampa the Great, Ezra Collective, Bradley Zero and Children of Zeus, her debut album ‘Acadie : Raw’ won ‘Best Soul Album’ at the Music Victoria Awards, and was nominated for ‘Best Jazz Album’ at the Worldwide Awards.
Fresh from an acclaimed support run alongside indie titans Wet Leg, London risers Malady are excelling at an impressive rate. Garnering significant support from Stereogum, NME, The Sunday Times, The FADER, DIY and Clash, as well as countless spins across BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music, their heady mix of post-rave beats and indie grooves have cemented their soaring reputation throughout the emerging landscape.
“This eclectic four-piece are slowly carving their place amongst the emerging indie elite” - Dork
Praised by BBC 6 Music, BBC 1XTRA and The Independent, Sans Soucis's timeless and unique songwriting is interspersed with melancholy and hope. Drawing inspiration from Laura Mvula, St. Vincent and Lianne La Havas, she brides the gap between the pop and jazz world, with an all-embracing soulful and folk flavour.
"Exudes pop excellence" - The Line of Best Fit
Cerebral, physical, conceptual, poppy - Dublin's Æ MAK defies classification. Sonically similar to Sia, Grimes and Paul Simon with the limbs of a young David Byrne if he were captain of the Battlestar, she has supported Tune Yards, Django Django and Warpaint across the globe.
“Breaks the mould, extraordinary” – The Line of Best Fit
Accomplished kora playing maverick Jally Kebba Susso is a UK based griot, forging a new trajectory of sound for the West African harp. Jally Kebba skilfully blends the traditional sounds of the kora into his own heady jazz concoction that is immediately accessible and uplifting, yet filled with nuances and intoxicating rhythmical layers. Playing sold out shows at The Royal Albert Hall, Jazz Café, Wilderness Festival and Shambala, expect an electric live performance.
British-Bengali multi-instrumentalist Tara Lily has developed a unique perspective on music and global culture from an early age. She has spent her life absorbing a multitude of sounds and genres from her surroundings, ranging from alternative R&B to classical jazz and traditional Bengali folk music.
It was this intriguing blend of sounds and her deep understanding of the worlds they come from which caught the attention of the likes of Virgil Abloh, Gilles Peterson and Motown Records UK, who signed Tara as their first British artist.
“Spellbinding” – The Guardian
Former frontman of The Correspondents and one of Britain’s most in-demand festival
acts, Mr Bruce creates a unique and unparalleled live experience. Lyrically candid yet flamboyant in delivery, the bendy-bodied performer’s solo show is nothing short of spectacular.
“Music grooves like a bastard” – Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music)
Born out of deep collaboration between long-time friends Kweku of Ghana and Tom Excell (musical director of Nubiyan Twist), Onipa represent a fiery collaboration between some of the heaviest players on the UK live scene.
The 5-piece combine deep afro grooves, electronics and fierce energy in an effervescent celebration of cultural and musical encounters. Onipa have already played major live shows including Glastonbury The Great Escape, Eurosonic and SXSW - where they were picked as festival highlights by KCRW & New York Times.
“Riotous beats and irresistible delirium” – The Guardian
A finalist in 2021’s BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge Introducing talent search, Nottingham singer songwriter JERUB is an authentic storyteller with a heart-warming take on pop and indie.
Standing out as an artist whose music is filled with depth and raw emotion, his authentic storytelling is deeply inspired by the realities of life. With support from BBC Radio 1, 6 Music and BBC Introducing, he’s dazzled audiences at Dot To Dot, Latitude and Splendour.
TAPESTRI is a band sparked by a chance meeting between Welsh singer-songwriters Lowri Evans and Sera Zyborska at Festival Interceltique de Lorient in the summer of 2019. Fuelled by their passion for Roots and Americana music and the desire to form a bilingual female-fronted band, they have carved out songs that take their musical colours from a broad palette that includes Americana, Roots, Folk and Country and sing in harmony from the heart.
They have been championed on BBC 6 Music, Radio 2, playlisted on BBC Radio, performed everywhere from Greenman, Underneath the Stars and Festival Number 6, from Wales to Europe to America.
“Brilliant every time. Not many bands are as good live as on air” – Tom Robinson (Fresh on the Net)
Few artists make an impression on their first release quite like Seraphina Simone. Over a refined collection of self-produced songs imbued with such a strong sense of self and impeccable artistry, Seraphina has firmly stuck her flag in the pop landscape.
Dreamy and effervescent earworm pop with hooks that lodge themselves into your brain, Seraphina has generated support from The Line of Best Fit, Clash and Reflector Magazine – she’s a star here to stay.
“She has whittled a sound that’s wholly her own.” – The Line of Best Fit
G-Force brings the heat at some of the coolest bars and clubs in the South West with his fired-up blend of disco and house anthems. He’s been making a name for himself on the festival circuit with appearances at Wilderness, Shindig and LakeFest as well as residencies for FunkyTown, Getting Jiggy and running his own hugely successful Funky Sensation club-nights - he’s a man in demand!
New kid on the block, and super talented DJ, producer and vocalist Honey B McKenna is a regular across the late night circuit in South Wales. Star performer at Hereford's brand new Jam Factory and Lupa, she is also co-founder of the Discography Lessons record label which donates 10% of yearly profits to mental health causes. Her tracks have received airplays and support from industry heavyweights, including BBC Introducing, BBC Radio Wales and Buzz magazine.
Vivid People have hit the ground running since their inception in early 2022. Hosting raucous boat parties on the Thames and huge clubbing nights at Hoxton’s Colours, Village Underground and E1 have caused huge ripples across the nightlife scene. They’ve brought the nostalgia of the discotheque back to party heads all over the capital, with their focus on 80s, 90s and disco anthems connecting with clubbers young and old. Head honcho Charlie Master Magri is the musical mastermind behind the brand and he’ll be bringing rising star and resident DJ Not Just Jade with him to HTLGI. Head down to the dance tent on Saturday night, and bring your shades - things are about to get Vivid!
HowTheLightGetsIn resident DJ Max Galactic is back for 2023 - expect soul-shaking disco debauchery and dance floor bangers - it’s glitter, sequins, big smiles and even bigger tunes with Max on the decks! His feel-good, uplifting vibes and energetic performances have seen him light up festivals from Wilderness, Secret Garden Party, Latitude and Camp Bestival, alongside knockout warm-up sets for Craig Charles, Norman Jay, Jo Whiley and Rob da Bank. Max will be DJ-ing for us every night, keeping the vibes rolling alongside a brilliant line-up of DJs right across the weekend!
Jump on the disco express for our Sunday night finale with superstar DJ MyMateKate. Resident at the stunning Conduit clubs in Mayfair and Covent Garden, her marathon 6 hour sets take London’s most exclusive clubbers on a weekly journey through delicious grooves, disco infused bangers and feel good party anthems. Her festival pedigree is impeccable, spending the summer providing the soundtrack for Boomtown, Wilderness, Isle Of Wight, Leeds, Secret Garden Party, Latitude, Kendall Calling and Shambala. She’s going to take you on a 1st class ticket to disco heaven!
Saint Boy are a London based indie folk trio, delivering gorgeous three part harmonies with intricate guitar parts and stunningly emotive lyrics. Taking inspiration from artists such as First Aid Kit, Rising Appalachia, The Staves and Leonard Cohen, Saint Boy are proactive members of the London music scene - having made notable performances at The Camden Assembly, The Slaughtered Lamb and The Archway Tavern.
DJ, producer and remixer Jet Boot Jack is pretty much royalty in the modern world of disco. Amassing over 9 million streams and 31 million TikTok views for his disco house remixes of Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Jamiroquai, he’s clocked up more #1’s on Hypeddit's disco chart than any other artist. Behind the decks, he's supported The Chemical Brothers, Professor Green, and Fat Freddy's Drop, as well as playing for renowned brands including Hed Kandi, Ministry Of Sound and Wilderness Festival. With repeated airplay on BBC Radio 2 show, as well as from underground DJs Horse Meat Disco and Jamie Jones, Jet Boot Jack pushes the boundaries of disco and house - merging the old with the new, the familiar with the different, the vintage with the cutting-edge.
Performing in front of thousands at the Principality Stadium Cardiff and the Six Nations Championship, the Blaenavon Male Voice Choir can trace their roots back to 1873. Touring extensively throughout the UK, Europe, USA and Canada, they will be closing the festival weekend off in style.
“Show stopping” – LA Times
We are delighted to bring back our Blue Moon Tent this year, shining a spotlight on the best local talent in Hay. Discover your next favourite act in the cosy confines of the venue, where you can settle down for live sets across the whole weekend.
Artists:
Drew Flanagan
Nigel Davies
Mr H
The Unoriginal Smirkins
Hawk Howard
Ceri Ridge Hillbillies
Brent Wakeford
Benjamin Parker
Andy Grant
Robert Gallie
Lullaboon
Alan Maskell
Peiriant
Fiddlebop
Jon Sanders
Alex Seel
Lilian Grace
Jupiter Guitar Duo
The Hallelujah Joes
Smith & Johnson
Paddy Fraine
The Hanging Bandits
Rhuddin
Rhiannon Scutt
Tia Meraki
Charlie James
Gareth Rees
Detta Kenzie
Bowen
Revue
Still Ear
Ian James
Mark Richards
The Jukes
MoJam
Johanna Warren
Robert Whyte
Owen Harris
Eddy
Rebecca Hurn
Chris Bradshaw
Jakey Boy Hughes
BBC Music Introducing in Hereford & Worcester will be back over the festival weekend for a Sunday morning showcase, exhibiting some of the best local talent around! Join Andrew Marston at the Stage to discover your next favourite act.
House of Figs is a collaboration between two prominent Bristol-based artists, Beth Calverley (The Poetry Machine) and Bethany M. Roberts (Hands of the Heron / Hedera). Bethany conjures soundscapes with her voice and pedalboard, creating an otherworldly choir around Beth's tenderly powerful poetry.
Headlining events at Bristol Poetry Festival and Komedia Bath, and performing at Green Man, WOMAD and Bristol Harbour Festival, they explore complex feelings around anxiety, loss, belonging and womanhood, cocooned in a sonic sanctuary of ambient textures.
"A great collection with an honest, real theme." - Benjamin Zephaniah
Winner of the Aberystwyth Arts Centre Ian McKellen Award 2020, Cerys Hafana is a Welsh triple harpist, pianist and composer. Though very much steeped in the classical and Welsh folk tradition, she takes inspiration from a wide range of musical influences to create her beautiful soundscapes.
“Cerys stands out with her commitment to Welsh folk music, both of the past and the future” - Dafydd Rhys (Director, Aberystwyth Arts Centre)
Torture and the Desert Spiders is a left-field garage project based around the song writing of New Jersey-raised artist, Anna Kunz. With a fluid line-up, the sound ranges drastically from heart-breaking ballads to intensely jagged post-punk pieces. Having shared the stage with The Lounge Society, ARXX and Pillow Queens, they are proving themselves to be an esteemed live act.
"Torture and the Desert Spiders have emerged from isolation and announced their arrival loud and proud” - Fast One Last
London born and bred, Vivid People resident DJ and energetic party starter Not Just Jade is out and about each and every weekend - rocking dance floors as diverse as Printworks, The Steel Yard and Brixton Jamm. With regular performances for Sink the Pink, Hotbox, Jungle Kitty and Nostalgic, she’s just as comfortable playing intimate gigs full of soulful grooves as she is dropping underground house and garage bombs in some of the city’s most famous clubs. She’ll be taking it back to her roots with a party set full of 80s, 90s and disco bangers - with infectious dance grooves and vocals you won’t be able to resist!
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