As you may have guessed from the name, SOFA SESSIONS, involve COMFY SOFAS that you do not want to get up from with intimate ACOUSTIC GIGS from your favourite local bands, such as Otto, Yasmine & The Euphoria, Laura Power etc. We have created our own LITTLE LIVING ROOM space in the Tramshed and have recorded more than 10 performances in it. The set has been designed by USW students specially for Immersed!
Without further ado, let me present you our headliners.
OTTO is a singer-songwriter who has recently signed to Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart’s label Bay Street records. He has been part of the Forté project last year. His lovely tenor, warm melodies and folky instrumentation works perfectly with what we have imagined this stage/theme would be like. He's performing on the main stage as well as the acoustic set, where he plays with Mari Mathias. If you would like to feel even more immersed, pun intended, make a cup of tea before Otto’s set, it will make you all fuzzy inside.
YASMINE & THE EUPHORIA are another wonderful Forté project artist from last year, and lucky for us - USW alumni. They are a 4-piece band from South Wales with a 70s inspired sound. Be warned: you will be enchanted and a number one fan by the end of their set. Which set you ask? To be honest, you should watch both if you can. The main stage one because it is epic and empowering, and the Sofa Session’s one because it will make your heart melt. Tune in if you would like to know what sirens are like and let Yasmine’s voice and Jac Kelshaw’s guitar take you somewhere else.
This year’s headliners all seem to have had an involvement with the Forté project, because the magnificent singer, LAURA POWER has been part of it last year too. Her style is unique, and she has this powerful, yet melancholic alto that give you goosebumps. We are honoured to have her join our acoustic stage this year. Please do not forget to listen to her performance as well, you have got to love someone with a power-suit.
These were our wonderful headliners for this year’s acoustic set. But our list of talented musicians that we would like to showcase does not end here.
KATIE LOU, a prevalent singer-songwriter who wrote lots of songs during lockdown, some of which you will be able to listen to on the 31st.
RED TELEPHONE is a Cardiff based psychedelic rock band. The combination of their experimental ethos and a wide range of modern influences has created a truly unique sound – and is brought into a whole new light by the sofa sessions. This is a really special performance from the trio, consisting of Declan, Kieran and Tobias – so we hope you will enjoy it.
THE RIVERS are an indie-rock trio made up of Dan, Evan and Nathan, and they are from Merthyr Tydfil. You will all be very pleased if you tune in and listen to Dan and Evan perform the acoustic version of some of their best songs on our sofa.
DELAY consists of lead singer CLEM - who writes all the songs and has formed the band too, guitarist Alan Van Nguyen (also known as WEN), Drummer Owi Davies (also part of metal band Equinox), and pianist Megan Owen. Their music is inspired by Jorja Smith, FKJ, Anderson Paak, Amy Winehouse, and Portishead. Each member is a student on the Popular and Commercial Music course at USW and have helped in organising Immersed this year.
Other performers and bands that are worth listening to are the following:
TOBY BURTON is a folk singer songwriter and guitarist from Sheffield whose influences include City and Colour, Paolo Nutini and Lewis Watson. Toby is a fantastic lyricist and his beautiful songs have landed him slots supporting Meadlowlark, Seafret and Izzy Bizu, as well as appearances at Looe Music Festival, Underneath the stars, and now, Immersed! Festival 2021, where he will be singing some of these heart-warming tracks specially for you – enjoy.
JUNIOR MITTY, an Immersed festival legacy. He helped organise Immersed last year and now, we can welcome him back this year as a performer! His one-of-a-kind acoustic set of songs have been filmed in his own living room.
JACK VILL, another student of USW and Immersed organiser, and if that is not enough, he is a talented songwriter with a unique body of work – some of which you will be able to see and hear on the 31st.
EMMA MAE, a Leicester-born, Cardiff-based singer songwriter gives us an acoustic performance filmed in her uni – USW’s Atrium. Emma has also been a big part of putting this festival together and will be sharing her experience after this wonderful performance.
SADIE, Hungarian singer-songwriter with the talent of pulling off a mesmerising and cathartic performance, while making it look effortless. You will get the chance to hear her brand-new songs from her upcoming EP, do not miss out!
JAMES CLOUTMAN is a singer/songwriter from Southampton, inspired by Barns Courtney, Beartooth, Frank Turner etc. His music is very intimate and personal, just perfect for our acoustic theme.
TERI & HANA are performing from their home studio and their main genres are new age and folk pop. Both play multiple instruments and have tendency to think and perform outside the box.
We thank all these wonderful performers their kindness and amazing work that they have done, to help!
TEENAGE CANCER TRUST. This important organisation has been a big help for a lot of teenagers and young adults battling with this disease, therefore any support that they can get is worth it.
Please TUNE IN on SUNDAY, THE 31ST of January to see all these people mentioned above and maybe chip in a small donation for a good cause!
DO NOT FORGET: the BLANKET, FUZZY SOCKS and TEA would go perfectly with the Sofa Sessions’ theme.
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And of course, watch this space every week for exclusive interviews, behind the scenes photos and much more!
The Immersed! Blog team