At the fifth edition of Margam festival In It Together, Amy Ford spoke to Welsh indie musician Wrenna, backstage after her Saturday set on the Paddock stage, and delved into the importance of Welsh music festivals.
Old Park Farm in Port Talbot was teeming with bank holiday festival seekers at the annual In It Together festival. Celebrating fifth years on the trot, this one was bigger and better than it ever has been before, with Madness, Aitch and Snow Patrol headlining.
The Paddock stage, meanwhile, hosted 27 Welsh performers over three days, including Megan Wyn, The Now and The Clause. In It Together is the first festival to have an entire stage dedicated to Welsh artists – which south Wales dreampop solo artist Wrenna tells me is an “incredible thing.”
“I really appreciate there being stages for Welsh artists,” she continues, “because otherwise it could easily be lost. So it’s really important that we keep that up.”
Performing at her first ever festival, in the 12pm Saturday slot, Wrenna – real name Lauren Lucas – says, “It’s so great to have the opportunity to meet new people and practice my set.” In the runup to this festival debut, her and her live band had been practicing ever since she got confirmed on the lineup. It’s also her first time wearing in-ear monitors for a gig. “It was a lot of firsts! But I think it paid off.”
Right before the set itself, Wrenna and band were moved to motivate one another. “We huddled and hyped each other up before the set. We put our hands together and said ‘In It Together.’ We are each other’s hype people! Which is so nice.” The festival name became increasingly apt over the weekend – Wrenna was supporting a lot of her friends on the Paddock, and the country-slanted Ranch stage, that day too.
Of the bigger names billed, when I spoke to Wrenna she was anticipating catching Feeder, who she’d seen in a support slot for one of her favourite bands, Stereophonics. “I’m going to sit on a hay bale, have a few cans of cider, enjoy the sunshine, the food stalls – what could be better? I’m spoilt for choice really!”
The celebration of the domestic music industry continued on the main stage, the entire weekend becoming a tribute to Welsh musicians and music-lovers alike as each artist reflected on their experiences in Wales. Saturday headliner Aitch recalled his first ever time performing live – in a small club in Barry Island, believe it or not. Wales is close to his heart for this reason, he said, adding that this was a full circle moment returning to face such an impressive crowd later on in his career. “Isn’t it supposed to rain in Wales?” he asked us, by way of introducing older hit (and AJ Tracey collab) Rain. At which point, as if by magic, it began to rain over the crowd.
North London singer-songwriter MEEK also took to the main stage as a Welsh debutante – spotlighting south Wales drag queen Jolene Dover, who performed alongside the up-and-coming alt-pop musician.
As for Wrenna, the unreleased music she and her band played is due to feature on her EP when it’s released in September. She’s also performing at the Big Love festival in Usk this July – another weekender which prides itself on celebrating Welsh culture. Her next performance will no doubt be full of joy, new music, inspirational talks and carefree dancing, just as her one at In It Together delivered.
In It Together Festival, Old Park Farm, Margam, Fri 22-Sun 24 May
words AMY FORD
