There’s a fantastic opportunity available through Horizons open at the moment as the Launchpad Fund is open and taking applications until the 16th November.

Horizons, for those of you unaware, is a scheme delivered by BBC Cymru Wales in partnership with Arts Council Wales to develop new, independent contemporary music in Wales.

The Launchpad Fund is a resource which helps talented artists or bands in Wales to further their music careers by providing them with vital access to finance. They’re awarding grants of up to £2,000 to fund projects for musicians / bands that are starting out on their musical journey, at a crucial point in their development.

Examples of artists / bands that have been awarded grants in the past include:

• Adwaith: for equipment & album PR campaign

• Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard: for a digital PR campaign

• Dan Bettridge: for a PR campaign for debut album & showcase appearances

• Afro Cluster: for finishing album with studio time at Giant Wafer Studios.

• Himalayas: for touring costs and equipment

• Broken Fires: for recording, manufacturing, and promotion of music

Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate and apply for things that they think will take their music careers ‘to the next level’. 

If you have a project in mind and think that the Launchpad fund is for you and/or your band we definitely recommend applying. Even if you’re not successful, it’s a great opportunity to think about projects and how to finance them.

To apply, you’ll need to fill in an application form, and answer all of the questions - then submit (via email) back to Horizons. The deadline for applications is midnight on the 16th November. Don’t miss out!

Here are some useful links for those thinking about applying:

• Horizons Website

• More info on Launchpad + links to the application forms

• Welsh version

• Terms and conditions

Good luck! We hope that lots of you will apply & look forward to seeing what the successful applicants will be doing with their money!

We’re delighted that Horizons & Y Selar have rescheduled their Libraries Week gig featuring two of Wales’ most exciting artists after it was “stormed off” last month.

In the somewhat unconventional setting of the South Wales Miners Library, Horizons & Y Selar present I See Rivers & Eädyth for what will be a magical afternoon of live music. Best of all it’s FREE!

Filmed and edited by Jodie Canwell. LISTEN: iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/mz/album/play-it-cool-ep/1410875932 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/50y0b4AuxvWpH2jlNqGMmg Follow I SEE RIVERS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iseerivers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iseerivers Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/iseerivers Bandsintown: https://bit.ly/ISR-live

I See Rivers are Lill, Eline & Gøril - three girls originally hailing from the Northern, Southern and Western parts of Norway. Now based in Tenby, I See Rivers’ music is beautiful. Dubbed ‘Float Folk’ their memorable melodies and untraditional vocal harmonies their soundscape can be associated with artists such as Fleet Foxes, Sufjan Stevens and Feist. 

Joining them is one of South Wales’ most exciting young musicians: Eädyth. With a stunning sound evoking influences from electronic music, RnB and soul.

Libraries Week (8-13 October) is the annual showcase of all the creative, innovative and diverse activities that libraries have to offer and this year, with a focus on wellbeing, they will showcase how they bring communities together, combat loneliness, provide a space for reading and creativity and support people with their mental health.

Don’t sleep on this one. It’ll be one to remember. Grab your free tickets from eventbrite now.

UPDATE (11:06am 12.10.18) - PLEASE BE AWARE THIS SHOW HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS.

As soon as we hear a rescheduled date we’ll let you know!

What a weekend we’ve just had. For those unaware, Simon & Joe (Swansea Music Hub) organised the second instalment of the Swansea Fringe Festival last weekend & we’re only just about recovering. But we cannot think of any better way of capping off a week of reflection, relaxation & recovery than by seeing two of Wales’ most exciting artists as part of Libraries Week.

In the somewhat unconventional setting of the South Wales Miners Library, Horizons & Y Selar present I See Rivers & Eädyth for what will be a magical afternoon of live music. Best of all it’s FREE!

I See Rivers are Lill, Eline & Gøril - three girls originally hailing from the Northern, Southern and Western parts of Norway. Now based in Tenby, I See Rivers’ music is beautiful. Dubbed ‘Float Folk’ their memorable melodies and untraditional vocal harmonies their soundscape can be associated with artists such as Fleet Foxes, Sufjan Stevens and Feist. 

Joining them is one of South Wales’ most exciting young musicians: Eädyth. With a stunning sound evoking influences from electronic music, RnB and soul.

Libraries Week (8-13 October) is the annual showcase of all the creative, innovative and diverse activities that libraries have to offer and this year, with a focus on wellbeing, they will showcase how they bring communities together, combat loneliness, provide a space for reading and creativity and support people with their mental health.

Don’t sleep on this one. It’ll be one to remember. Grab your free tickets from eventbrite now.

Really exciting news as BBC Radio 1's Academy have announced what their plans are for the week leading up to the Biggest Weekend at Swansea Grand Theatre. We're also incredibly excited to announce that we're part of the week running some workshops, curating some live music and more! We'll get straight to it, it's impossible to list everything that's happening (as there's just so much going on - check out the website) so we'll give you what we're really looking forward to:

Monday 21st May - Thursday 24th May

Oh yeah, and everything is free!

• On Monday Not3s will be playing live and will then join us for a very special lyric writing workshop. 
• Greg James will be hosting a radio workshop on Monday.
• Horizons are putting on an evening of live music with Pretty Vicious, Adwaith, Bandicoot & Stella Donnely on Monday. 

• On Tuesday Marmozets play live and then join us for a special guitar workshop.
• Rachel K Collier is DJing and doing an ableton live workshop on Tuesday
• We're also hosting a 'Get Started In Music' workshop on Tuesday
• James Bay is playing live for Clara Amfo's Live Lounge on Wednesday tickets here

• High Contrast is doing a music production workshop on Wednesday 
• We host a special songwriting workshop on Wednesday 
• Sigrid is playing live on Thursday and will then join us for a second songwriting workshop on Thursday.

• Get behind the scenes with Nick Grimshaw for his Breakfast show on Thursday.
• Emily Eavis will be making an appearance to talk all things Glastonbury

And so much more. We really recommend you check out the website to find out more. See you there! 

We thought that we’d write up a quick blog post to let you know about Horizons and the great opportunity for musicians in Wales available. Today applications for the next round of Horizons 12 have opened and we seriously recommend that you apply.

If you’re a musician, over 16 and based in Wales, this is for you. Horizons/Gorwelion is a scheme delivered by BBC Cymru Wales in partnership with the Arts Council of Wales to develop new, independent contemporary music in Wales. If selected, you’ll a join line up of 12 artists in being supported and mentored by the project with the view of reaching new audiences in Wales, the UK and beyond.

This includes providing promotional and performance opportunities for the artists selected. In the past Horizons have been showcased at the following festivals: Glastonbury, The Great Escape, Festival No.6, Swn, The Swansea Fringe, Eurosonic, SXSW and have even performed sessions at the legendary Maida Vale Studios!

Trust us. If you’re a musician and you’re over 16 and you live in Wales – APPLY!!! It’s such a fantastic opportunity and you could be in with a shout! It’d be great to hear from the Horizons team that lots of Swansea acts have applied – there’s a lot of you doing really great things!

And if you apply and you’re unsuccessful don’t be disheartened! Know that your application was looked at by an experienced panel and strongly considered – and then try again!! Out of the hundred of applications that Horizons get, only 12 are selected, but as a scheme they’re always supporting and shouting about other Welsh talent throughout the year!

Here’s a link to the application page

And to finish, here are some of our favourite artists that have previously been selected for the Horizons 12 in previous years:

Afro Cluster (2016)

Aled Rheon (2015)

Climbing Trees (2014)

Casi (2014)

Mellt (2015)

We’re No Heroes (2016)

Roughion (2016)

& so many more!

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