Mark Daman Thomas is a practicing musician based in Powys, Wales. Active as a songwriter and performer since 2004, he has released music in his band’s Islet and Attack + Defend and his solo project ‘Farm Hand’. Islet signed to Fire Records in 2019 and the latest album ‘Eyelet’ was released in March 2020 to critical acclaim including being shortlisted for the Welsh Music Prize.
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He has over 15 years of live and touring experience, including in the USA, South Korea, Japan and Europe. Mark has recorded live sessions for BBC Radio 1, BBC 6Music and BBC Radio 3. In 2006 Mark co-founded vinyl specialist independent label Shape Records.
In 2013 Mark was selected for PRS Foundation’s two-year Professional development programme “New Music Plus”. During this time Mark received bespoke training at arts venues around the UK to enhance creative programming, marketing and business skills. Partnered to work with Chapter in Cardiff, this relationship led to the development of From Now On Festival. Mark has programmed stages at Green Man, Swn & Focus Wales.
Currently Teaching:
Mark’s research is focused on live performance and songwriting.
Chapter in Edited Collections:
Daman Thomas, M E (2020) Digital performances Livestreaming music and the documentation of the creative process. In: The Future of Live Music. Bloomsbury Academic, pp. 83-96.
Conference Papers:
Daman Thomas, M. E (2018) Livestreaming: will musicians start playing the game? The Future of Live Music Conference, 7 June 2018, University of Central Lancashire (Unpublished)