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:

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...

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...

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

@thelovelybasement.bsky.social are actually lovely, and indeed were playing in the basement (well, kinda). Super catchy, I enjoy them a lot ##walesgoespop

Nova Scotia's The Boojums bought an international flavour to proceedings, and were ace. Charisma by the bucket load, but with the tunes to match, let them into your life! ##walesgoespop

Upstairs to the theatre for @simonloverules.bsky.social (& the Old Romantics) for his blend of silly and heartfelt, this was great fun #walesgoespop

Gig number 15 of 2026, and @wcba.bsky.social and I are at The Gate for day 1 of the @walesgoespop.bsky.social festival. Garage noiseniks Bramwell kicked things off in the cafe and made a glorious racket. Check out their recent single on @precrecs.bsky.social #walesgoespop

An absolutely blissful set of finely calibrated restraint from @thelovelybasement.bsky.social at @walesgoespop.bsky.social tonight culminated in my first (I think) sighting of duelling melodicas. Every other element there as expected - blissful chug, mild blasphemy and gorgeous lyrics.

Day one of Wales Goes Pop was as epic as expected! So many highlights but will single out The Would-Be Goods, Simon Love, The Lovely Basement, John MOuse & Prolapse! @walesgoespop.bsky.social

If you're attending @walesgoespop.bsky.social this coming weekend you might like to ease yourself in with my radio show from last night - 14 songs from 14 of the bands playing - a gwledd o fwyd of indie-pop delights. Featuring The Cords, Heavenly & much more x www.mixcloud.com/jonathanship...

Anyone looking forward to seeing Even As We Speak, Heavenly (and other @skepwax.bsky.social artistes...) et al at @walesgoespop.bsky.social this weekend might like to know that, on the Saturday, you can also hear me chatting to @janeduffus.bsky.social about Sarah Records. So if there’s [1/3]

#nowplaying on untidyradio.com - an hour of @walesgoespop.bsky.social, a dip into The Modern Antiquarian & a short contribution from @durutti74.bsky.social! & such a great set of songs from @skepwax.bsky.social, @smoxham.bsky.social, @would-be-goods.bsky.social & @thelovelybasement.bsky.social.

If you missed the show - or just want to hear it again - it'll be on our Mixcloud at mixcloud.com/noiseboxradio before you know it - oh, and while you're there, check out @assistant.bandcamp.com's own @walesgoespop.bsky.social preview - miraculously, none of the same songs were played!

Incredible line-up this year, a massive tip of the hat to the Cardiff crew that keep the flag flying!

This is just so lovely, thanks for totally getting WGP 🥰

Great preview here of @walesgoespop.bsky.social. It'll be a glorious weekend and we're proud to be a small part of it. Only Sunday day tickets left so act fast if you want one!

Last tickets left for Sunday Fri/Sat (+weekend) sold out The ONLY places for spares are TWICKETS (face value, create an alert) and GIGANTIC's waiting list. There may well be a few last minute spares so make sure you're signed up and get notified first : ) Ignore facebook comment scammers innit x

Swansea Sound headline the Sunday at @walesgoespop.bsky.social after an amazing weekend of non-corporate indie bands

We've been busy making pop plans and are very excited for 2026 🩷🪩 First @walesgoespop.bsky.social is coming up fast and the line-up is stupidly good 🤩 Check it out and grab a ticket at www.gigantic.com/wales-goes-p...

Coming up fast folks! @walesgoespop.bsky.social - three days of fabulous line ups! 😍😍😍 1, 2 & 3 day tickets at www.gigantic.com/wales-goes-p...

Sul / Sun 05.04.26 @walesgoespop.bsky.social The Gate | Caerdydd See you there x

I am delighted to be opening the main stage at @walesgoespop.bsky.social on Friday the 3rd of April at 5:35pm.

Not long now until our Easter UK tour. Really looking forward to playing Hebden Bridge and @walesgoespop.bsky.social in Cardiff (both for the first time) and Birmingham (for the first time since we were youths). Some tickets still available via Linktree in Bio if you fancy a Prolapsey night out.