If your band’s hungry for bigger stages and wilder crowds, this is your chance. This Feeling By The Sea crashes back into Bridlington Spa this August—a prime launchpad for the next generation of breakout artists.
Two new acts will have the chance to jump on the bill alongside heavyweights like Lottery Winners, STONE, The Lilacs, Finn Forster, and a whole lineup of fresh talent.
Applications are live now (here) and close at 6pm on Friday July 25th. One local act from Yorkshire will be chosen by BBC Introducing’s Jericho Keys to kick off the Friday festivities, while Radio X’s John Kennedy will crown a national winner to open Saturday’s main stage. Winners will be revealed on July 31st.
“This Feeling are most certainly a movement,” says Keys. “A gang of music fanatics, where the artists are at the heart of everything they do. It’s a buzz to be on this ride with them. Don’t miss the bus.”
Kennedy agrees: “This Feeling and new talent go hand in hand. Discovering and nurturing fresh artists is at their core, and they do it brilliantly.”
Past winners have seen their careers turbo-charged by this festival’s spotlight. Last year, Manchester’s Alex Spencer dropped his Where Do We Go From Here? EP — earning spins on Radio 1’s Future Pop and snagging a support slot with The Black Keys. Breeze unleashed the towering anthem “Devil’s Hymn” earlier this year and are gearing up for a set at Y NOT? Festival.
Meanwhile, Ruby J has gone from Bridlington’s ballroom to stages with The Lathums and Jamie Webster, and Leeds-based about-faces have scored repeated BBC Introducing airplay. All of which shows just how much momentum a single set here can create.
And the 2025 line-up is as stacked as they come:
Friday belongs to Lottery Winners, who crashed the UK charts with a second No.1 album, KOKO, and spent the summer converting entire stadiums on tour with Robbie Williams.
Saturday is all about STONE, whose debut Fear Life For A Lifetime is still ringing in ears across Europe. Their high-octane live show is one of the most exhilarating experiences in British music right now.
On the rise too is Finn Forster, fresh from an acoustic stage set in Bridlington last time, now graduating to stadium gigs alongside Stereophonics.
The Lilacs have been on a tear too — after storming Isle of Wight’s Big Top (with the performance airing on Sky Arts), they opened for Sting and are set for their biggest headline show yet at Manchester Academy this November.
And if you needed one more reason to grab a ticket, The Sway have just joined Saturday’s line-up. Their indie-pop hooks and Scouse swagger lit up Glastonbury last weekend, and their new single “In Season” is already sparking quite a stir.
All of the above goes to show just how much This Feeling By The Sea is a celebration of the DIY spirit and a catalyst for tomorrow’s headliners. So get applying and be in with a chance to be part of something truly special.
Catch you in the front row—or better yet, rocking the stage yourself.
Tickets + Artist Applications: thisfeeling.co.uk/bythesea
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