Festival Report: @walesgoespop.bsky.social for @godisinthetvzine.bsky.social www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2026/04/10/f... (& thanks to Michael Prince for sharing some pics)

I realise I am now running catastrophically behind, but you miiiiiight still be interested in reading my notebook write-up of the second half of day 2 of @walesgoespop.bsky.social! Some words about Lande Hekt, Sassyhiya, Even As We Speak and Heavenly:

Day 2 of Wales Goes Pop (pt 2)

Further musings from my scrappy festival notebook

intheaprilsun.substack.com

Some clips from our set at @walesgoespop.bsky.social last Saturday have turned up on YouTube ⬇️ youtu.be/kfvivjqHawY?...

I worry that my more musical posts mean nothing to a lot of you… so here’s Even As We Speak at @walesgoespop.bsky.social last Saturday with their gorgeous version of a song that even people who know nothing of Sarah Records might recognise… #SarahRecords #EvenAsWeSpeak #NewOrder #WalesGoesPop

I didn’t get to see the Young Marble Giants live back in the day or when they returned a few years ago so it was especially nice to hear Stuart Moxham play “Final Day” at Wales Goes Pop with the rest of the band watching in the audience! youtube.com/shorts/FOeZy...

Stuart Moxham “Final Day” Live at Wales Goes Pop 2026

YouTube video by Country Mile

youtube.com

Very much looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight, but WHAT a weekend - all the love to @misselizabethlove.bsky.social and the rest of the @walesgoespop.bsky.social team for an absolutely fantastic festival, so good to be back in The Gate too #WalesGoesPop #Cardiff #festival

HEAVENLY kill me every time. I’m dead. RIP me.

I’m guilty of more than a few things and one of them is being under familiar with EVEN AS WE SPEAK and their oeuvre. I do know that people were super excited to see them and now I understand why. I’m laying this one at 1990s Alan’s door.

Like a few of the acts this weekend, I’d never heard of LILITH AI before they were announced for the weekender but they gave good show. @jodiewood.bsky.social was particularly taken with their rocky repertoire.

Back at the Gate for day 2’s proceedings, kicking off with a rambling chat about SARAH RECORDS with @janeduffus.bsky.social and @uncharteredstreets.bsky.social! Like earwigging on pals telling the best stories!

What’s the Spanish for indiepop? You could probably get away with THE YELLOW MELODIES as an answer because they do some final jangle, whether en español ir en inglés! (It’s “pop indie”, apparently)

Imagine all your favourite bands smushed together - a musical thoughtform made solid, if you will - and you’ll get TULPA, which - handily - is also the name of a thoughtform made solid. They do what they say they’re going to do and they do it very, VERY well. Can’t get enough of that sound!

Floaty indie electronica has been just about the one thing missing - save clog dancing - from the whole Wales Goes Pop experience but luckily RED SLEEPING BEAUTY have just put that right with a lovely set of ABSOLUTE NICENESS (with added Amelia Fletcher and Mary from Even As We Speak, not pictured)

Some excellent acts at #WalesGoesPop this afternoon / evening. Particular props for #LandeHekt and #Sassyhiya, which were my personal highlights. #gigs #LiveMusic #CerddoriaethByw #ShoutyBlokesWithGuitars #Cardiff #Caerdydd

Wales Goes Pop! Saturday full of duos with Pink Opaque, The Cords, Lilith Ai, Lande Hekt, and Red Sleeping Beauty

Some notes on the first half of day two of Wales Goes Pop! open.substack.com/pub/intheapr...

Day 2 of Wales Goes Pop (pt 1)

We’re up and out early on Saturday.

open.substack.com

Now, I've not seen @misselizabethlove.bsky.social and The School performing as a five piece band in a very long time but with songs this good, no line-up variation really matters. There's never a bad time to be watching The School or listening to their songs, your life can only be better for it.

I love The Slugs. Am saying in this the least disrespectful way possible, but am looking forward to playing my 5 year old their songs tomorrow, as he will dig.

Day 3 of Wales Goes Pop was as amazing as the two previous days! So many highlights - coming 4th in the WGP quiz, Ynys, Stuart Moxham, The School, Rachel Love & Swansea Sound (complete with Amelia as the Easter Bunny!). Huge thanks to Liz and the team for putting on such an amazing event!

I had SUCH a brilliant time at @walesgoespop.bsky.social and I’m already thinking of how next year can be even better. Lovely people, perfect venue, and GREAT music!

Gig 16 of 2026 and @wcba.bsky.social and I are back at the gate for day two of the @walesgoespop.bsky.social festival. Things kicked off with a Sarah Records talk by @janeduffus.bsky.social and @uncharteredstreets.bsky.social. Fascinating and very entertaining. #walesgoespop

Gig number 17 of 2026, and @wcba.bsky.social and I are back at The Gate for day 3 of the @walesgoespop.bsky.social festival. Up first in the cafe were The NaNaZ - the Waspi army, grey and loud - making a noise that's a lot of fun #walesgoespop

Impossible to regret seeing the wonderful Rachel Love and so brilliant to see her play to this beautiful big enthusiastic crowd at @walesgoespop.bsky.social. Sounding absolutely fantastic.

A slower Sunday @walesgoespop.bsky.social? Never!

Indie-pop pals, are you heading to @walesgoespop.bsky.social this weekend? Me, too. It's a cracking line-up of bands... and @uncharteredstreets.bsky.social (aka Matt from Sarah Records) and me talking all things, err, Sarah Records at about 1pm on Saturday. Oh - and books and zines will be on sale.

Good afternoon from Cardiff, where @walesgoespop.bsky.social just kicked off at a PACKED Paradise Gardens with WOULD-BE-GOODS! Jangly indiepop goodness on a Bank Holiday Friday afternoon - what more could you ask for!

Gig number 14 of 2026 sees @wcba.bsky.social and I at a packed Paradise Garden for a special @walesgoespop.bsky.social bonus show. Up first are @would-be-goods.bsky.social, whose career renaissance continues with another fine Gig, their first in Wales. Excellent stuff!

And so to our headliners. How great are @prolapseband.bsky.social?! So happy they reformed and I got the chance to see them. Just remarkable stuff! And we got Autocade too! ##walesgoespop

What can you say about John MOuse? That man is a force of nature! I haven't laughed so much in ages, loved this! #walesgoespop

I loved British Birds at the Winter Sprinter and so was eager to see them again, and they didn't disappoint. A rollicking good time was had by all! #walesgoespop