Episode 1 Wales Unsigned

Welcome to the village of Portmeirion.

It is September 2015 and 10,000 people are here enjoying the sun,

the scenery and the sounds of the unique Festival No 6.

We are showcasing performances from some of the best unsigned artists

coming out of Wales.

The word is spreading about this event

and the list of musicians, comedians and writers gets longer each year.

We've been here in Portmeirion this sunny September weekend

filming some great live sessions from Horizons bands,

Welsh-based acts who write and perform their own music.

The Horizons project gives a platform to 12 upcoming acts

from across Wales.

So, let's start with the first of our Horizons artists who have been

playing to the festivalgoers just through here in the Village Green.

This is Cut Ribbons with Clouds.

# Hey

# Hey

# Hey

# Sewn in the seams

# Of my enemies

# When the skies are grey

# We won't make a sound

# As we blow the clouds

# And the cobwebs away

# Hey

# Your electric trance

# My electric prance

# We are the new undrenched

# We are the echo

# In the hands of a distant land

# Where we're crowned kings instead

# Saw all the colours with you

# Kaleidoscopes with a view

# Caught everything that you do

# Cos that's what lovers should do

# Saw all the colours with you

# Kaleidoscopes with a view

# Caught everything that you do

# Cos that's what lovers should do

# Hey

# Hey... #

Clouds is a track... It's really summery, isn't it?

It's very...

It's one of the first synth sounds that we did.

We recorded it in our studio back in Llanelli.

It's a bit of an exploration into where

we think the band is going, you know, that kind of direction,

that big synth lead and kind of soundscape.

# Two hands who know each other

# From under the cover... #

Everything is written with harmonies in mind.

Don't get me wrong, sometimes we split the vocals in verses

and things where Lluan will take some vocals then I'll take

the second half of the verse.

But really, everything is written with harmony in mind,

because that's kind of what we listen to a lot.

We listen to a lot of Fleetwood Mac and things and...trying to do it

in a different way. That's the ethos we're trying to convey, you know?

Without the turmoil!

# Saw all the colours with you

# Kaleidoscopes with a view

# Caught everything that you do

# Cos that's what lovers should do

# Saw all the colours with you

# Kaleidoscopes with a view

# Caught everything that you do

# Cos that's what lovers should do

# Saw all the colours with you

# Kaleidoscopes with a view

# Caught everything that you do

# Cos that's what lovers should do. #

Thank you.

Cut Ribbons were one of the 12 bands chosen at the start of 2015

to be Horizons artists.

The year started with a base camp in west Wales where the bands get

to meet each other for the first time.

They also hear from industry experts who give them

advice about playing live, touring, publicity, radio and social media.

So that's my job, to sort of forge a relationship with journalists.

So I have a very good idea of what those kind of people are into...

Horizons artists can be bands or solo performers,

singing in English or in Welsh.

Or both, just like our next performer,

singer-songwriter Aled Rheon.

# First there was pain

# It hurt a lot

# The pain was saved by the sight begot

# And there were screams

# And bated breath

# Smiles were smiled

# Clocks were set

# Breathe in, breathe...

# Out

# First she crawled

# Next she walked

# You run around all day

# Cover new ground in swathes and eat your greens

# Reach new heights

# Imagine a million worlds and jump inside

# Breathe in, breathe...

# Out

# Just remember to wrap up warm

# And don't forget your home

# And call me when you get there... #

It's called Wrap Up Warm.

It's a favourite of my mother's and it's about growing up.

It's quite an emotional song,

I guess it's a little bit based on my upbringing, I guess,

in a way, cos that's the only thing I could refer back to.

But it's mainly about, you know, the stages that people go through

when they're trying to find themselves as we grow up.

# Breathe in, breathe...

# Out

# Just remember to wrap up warm

# And don't forget your home

# And call me when you get there

# Just remember to wrap up warm

# And don't forget your home

# And call me when you get there

# Find your feet

# Or take flight

# It's a big world out there so take a bite

# Find the one

# Hold on tight

# Future's pulling

# Clocks are ticking

# Breathe in, breathe...

# Out

# Just remember to wrap up warm

# And don't forget your home

# And call me when you get there. #

This is Wales Unsigned, showcasing some of the best new Welsh music.

And next up on the Bandstand stage at Festival No 6, this is Violet Skies.

# Got blood on my hands

# And there's some on yours too

# Hmm

# Now we're in this together

# What are we going to do?

# Hmm

# I've learned from my mistakes

# And they hurt me every day

# And now you've done the same

# And there's a darker shade of grey

# A darker shade of grey

# You can't have her

# You should walk away

# Cos you can't keep me

# Any other way

# And you don't need her

# She is not the one

# Who will hold you

# When the lightning comes

# So when the lightning comes, baby

# And you're screaming out, "Save me"

# Remember that my soul is yours

# Remember that I love you more

# So when the lightning comes, baby

# And you're screaming out, "Save me"

# Remember that my soul is yours

# Remember that I love you more

# Can't sleep at night

# Well, honey, I can't either

# No, I can't either

# We've got to figure this out

# Before the dark gets deeper

# No, no

# No

# Can we shake off the shame?

# This darker shade of grey

# This darker shade of grey

# You can't have her

# You should walk away

# Cos you can't keep me

# Any other way

# And you don't need her

# She is not the one

# Who will hold you

# When the lightning comes

# So when the lightning comes, baby

# And you're screaming out, "Save me"

# Remember that my soul is yours

# Remember that I love you more

# So when the lightning comes, baby

# And you're screaming out, "Save me"

# Remember that my soul is yours

# Remember that I love

# Love is found when we are lost

# Fight for us at any cost

# The love is found when we are lost

# Will you fight for us now?

# Only love is found when we are lost

# Will you fight for us at any cost?

# Only love is found, love is found

# And the lightning comes, baby

# And you're screaming out, "Save me"

# Remember that my soul is yours

# Remember that I love you more. #

Thank you.

One of the nice things about a festival like this is there's

all sorts of areas and venues, each one with a different feel,

and you come across musical performances all across the site.

Our next performance is from Merthyr-based Horizons artist

Delyth McLean.

# You let me drown in your lies

# You saw me fall

# Right in front of your eyes

# You let me drown in your lies

# You gave me nowhere

# Nowhere to hide

# You could have saved me

# Saved me

# You could have saved

# Saved me

# You could have saved me

# Saved me

# You could have saved

# Cos these waves over my head

# Pushing me down, down, down to the riverbed

# Cos the waves over my head

# Pushing me down, down, down, down

# To the riverbed

# You let me drown in your lies

# You saw me fall

# Right in front of your eyes

# You broke every law inside

# You knew you were wrong

# But you put up a fight

# You could have saved me

# Saved me

# You could have saved

# Saved me

# You could have saved me

# Saved me

# You could have saved

# Cos these waves over my head

# Pushing me down, down, down to the riverbed

# These waves over my head

# Pushing me down, down, down, down

# To the riverbed

# A-a-a-ay

# A-a-a-a-ay

# A-a-a-ay

# A-a-a-a-ay

# Whoohoo

# Hoo, hoo, hoo

# Cos these waves over my head

# Pushing me down, down, down to the riverbed

# These waves over my head

# Pushing me down, down, down, down. #

Delyth McLean and band performing at Festival No 6

in Portmeirion in September 2015.

And you can see more from Delyth

and all the other Horizons artists on our website...

Our next unsigned Welsh band come from Aberystwyth.

This is Mellt.

There's an infectious sense of fun about their music

and they've appeared at the Eisteddfod,

in Machynlleth at the Comedy Festival

and of course here at Festival No 6.

This is Beth Yw Dy Stori, What's The Story.

HE SINGS IN WELSH

Thank you.

Watching Mellt during their performance

was Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens, so what does he think of the festival?

This is my second time at Festival No 6.

It's in beautiful Portmeirion, near Porthmadog, and it's just

a beautiful part of the world and it's a beautiful festival.

There's always a great atmosphere,

real excitement in the air when you come here, I think.

So there's loads to see and, you know,

a lot of the daytime stuff, the talks and the sessions that they do

in the day are really interesting, I think, as well as the bands.

Enjoyed watching Mellt on the Bandstand,

the Horizons Bandstand over there.

Seen them a couple of times now.

I think they're a really exciting band from Aberystwyth.

I'm looking forward to seeing Delyth McLean play as well, cos

I haven't seen her before, and Aled Rheon, you know. And Cut Ribbons.

The Gorwelion Stage is fantastic, I think,

in terms of seeing new Welsh talent and bringing them to festivals.

Next up, a band who had an incredibly busy weekend at Festival No 6,

including three radio sessions and a performance

right here at our Bijou Bandstand in the Village Green.

This is HMS Morris.

# I grind my teeth when I'm thinking

# I grind them nice and slow

# I sharpen them to prepare myself

# For when my thoughts arrive on my tongue and go

# I grind my teeth when I'm making love

# I grind them till they glow

# I grind them down to prepare myself

# To see my long way out of you

# Yes, she was grinding, then sliding back and forth... #

Well, it's very nice to catch up with HMS Morris after a very

successful show. How was it for you on the Bandstand?

It was so much fun.

I haven't had so much fun playing a gig for a really, really long time.

Tell us a little bit about the song.

It's just about my problem, I grind my teeth quite a bit

and scare people at night-time with these...

I don't know how I make it, but...

I've controlled it by now but I used to make loud noises

while grinding my teeth and, like, "I don't know how that's possible."

It's like your teeth are having a boogie and trying to pop out of you.

Yes, exactly that.

# Just the way I roll

# I grind my teeth when I'm sleeping

# I'll grind my teeth when I'm old

# Is this the way you want it?

# No

# Is this the way you like it?

# I don't think so

# Is there a way to stop it?

# No

# It's just the way, it's the way

# It's the function in me

# Be honest

# Oh

# Is this the way you like it?

# No

# Is there a way to stop it?

# No

# It's just the way, it's the way

# It's the function in me... #

Heledd, there was a new concept brought into

the HMS Morris show this weekend.

Yeah, we thought, this is the last of our festivals for the summer

so we thought we'd go full-on and do it.

So I rounded up some friends and made them

learn some dance moves and put them in costume, just made them

do a dance routine through our set.

I think it worked out, people seemed to enjoy it, so, yeah.

# Is this the way you want it?

# No

# Is this the way you like it?

# I don't think so

# Is there a way to stop it?

# No

# It's just the way, it's the way

# It's the function in me

# Be honest

# Oh

# Is this the way you like it?

# No

# Is there a way to stop it?

# No

# It's just the way, it's the way

# It's the function in me

# Be honest

# Oh

# Is this the way you like it?

# No

# Is there a way to stop it?

# No

# It's just the way, it's the way

# It's the function in me. #

Thank you very much for coming and we'll see you again soon.

We've been HMS Morris.

Staying on the Dwyryd Estuary now but hopping across to the other side

and looking back at Portmeirion village, we filmed this

special performance with another of our Horizons artists, Hannah Grace.

# Tell me how to be like you

# Live my life as someone new

# Cos every day the same pain begins to feel OK

# And every night I close my eyes and it's there again

# Down on the floor, cut to the bone

# Keep on breaking when you're broke

# And time never heals

# It just seems to make it worse

# Oh, it's got to make you wonder

# How it's supposed to make you stronger

# I guess I have to wait in line

# For good things only come with time

# But every day the same pain begins to feel OK

# And every night I close my eyes and it's there again

# When you're down on the floor, cut to the bone

# Keep on breaking when you're broke

# When time never heals

# It just seems to make it worse

# Oh, it's got to make you wonder

# How it's supposed to make you stronger

# When all you feel is cold

# You don't know what you're feeling

# When all you need is gone

# There's nothing left but needing

# You can't walk in the light

# You're scared of the dark

# Can't be who you are, can't be who you are

# No-one wants to know you

# Nobody knows when you're down on the floor

# Cut to the bone

# Keep on breaking when you're broke

# When time never heals

# It just seems to make it worse

# Oh, it's got to make you wonder

# How it's supposed to make you stronger

# It's got to make you wonder

# How it's supposed to make you stronger. #

So, that's just about it from the hectic and eclectic Festival No 6.

Next time we'll be at the Swn Festival in Cardiff with more

new music from upcoming Welsh artists.

So, to play us out, another song from Llanelli band Cut Ribbons.

This is Walking On Wires.

# Walking on wires and the solitary cuts us

# We're leaving marks

# So deep

# Chasing my hands on a diary I can't reach

# Leaping through fantasies

# Just spanning the centuries

# It's new

# And it's new for you too

# It's new

# And it's new for you too

# Hold on tight this time

# Ba, ba, ba, ba

# Two lost souls defined

# Ba, ba, ba, ba

# Everything's going to be fine

# Everything's going to be fine

# Walking on wires

# Walking on wires

# Ba, ba, ba, ba

# Walking on wires and the solitary cuts us

# We're leaving marks

# Just so deep

# Tethered so high above the bats where our bodies sleep

# Leaping through fantasies

# Just spanning the centuries

# It's new

# And it's new for you too

# It's new

# And it's new for you too

# Hold on tight this time

# Ba, ba, ba, ba

# Two lost souls defined

# Ba, ba, ba, ba

# Everything's going to be fine

# Everything's going to be fine

# Walking on wires

# Walking on wires

# Ba, ba, ba, ba

# Hold on tight, hold on tight this time

-# Hold on tight

-Hold on tight this time

-# Hold on tight

-Hold on tight this time

# Hold on tight, hold on tight this time

# Hold on tight, hold on tight this time

-# Hold on tight, hold on tight

-This time

-# Hold on tight, hold on tight

-This time

# This time

# This time. #

-Diolch.

-Diolch yn fawr iawn.

And the search is on right now for the Horizons bands of 2016.

Details of how to apply are on our website...