What do you need at an indie rock festival? Especially at the seaside. Why, rock of course. A glance at the merch’ list and there it is…
Sticks of rock branded with “This Feeling” for a quid. Not seen that before at a gig. Many of the punters were far more interested in the self-service beer machines though!
So, here we are at the second This Feeling By The Sea Festival, which was launched last year at Bridlington Spa with headliners Red Rum Club and The Lathums.
This year it is back in the same stunning Art Deco 3,800 capacity venue on the sea front, with The Royston Club headlining day one, and The K’s topping the bill on day two.
Three acoustic acts each day on the second stage and eight bands on the main stage each day, so a total of 22 acts across the two-day event.
All of those appearing have come up through grass roots gigs run by promoters This Feeling, and some have been booked for stages curated by This Feeling at festivals such as The Isle of Wight and Y Not?
This Feeling stage more than 300 shows in circa 40 UK cities and towns each year and they always give local bands a leg up and a chance to play support to bigger names.
They work with more than 1,000 bands and artists and many who have gone on to big things are grateful for the early exposure they got with This Feeling.
Noel Gallagher, Carl Barat and Serge Pizzorno are among the stars who praise the work This Feeling do to support new bands and artists.
The 2024 festival’s Friday main stage lineup features Breeze, Megan Wyn, The Sheratons, The Crooks, Spyres, The Rosadocs, Pastel and The Royston Club. The three acoustic stage acts are Beth Pilling, Sunbeam and Finn Forster.
Compere for both days on the main stage is ex-Soccer AM presenter Fenners. The DJ in between the acts on the main stage for day # one is Jericho Keys from BBC Introducing, and on day # two it is John Kennedy from Radio X.
Saturday’s lineup is Alex Spencer (a Music Republic Magazine tip for the last two years), The Slates, Dirty Blonde, The Kairos, Casino (who we also tip), Seb Lowe, The Clause and The K’s. The three acoustic stage acts are Serotones, Frankie Dobson and Mae Armstrong.
Bridlington Spa is one of the loveliest venues I have been to across the years and a perfect home for a festival.
Bridlington’s history goes back to Roman times – and in the Middle Ages, Bridlington Priory was built in 1113 AD. The town’s port attracted much shipping and trade – the harbour dates back to 1235.
Artist David Hockney lived in Bridlington from 2005 to 2013. Amy Johnson the legendary aviator took her first steps towards a flying career in the area. Dad’s Army filmed several scenes in and around Bridlington. The band Seafret are from Brid’.
Bridlington Spa is an art deco dance hall, theatre and conference centre, and popular wedding venue which opened in 1896.
The ballroom has a stunning glass dome and ornate, circular frieze in the ceiling, which our snapper Liam Battersby became “obsessed” with, as you can see with the many times he included it in his photos from the festival!
It is a popular venue on the UK touring circuit for concerts, with a capacity of 3,800 [including the balconies which were not in use for this festival]. It was here that Oasis played their final indoor concert in August 2009 as a warm up for the V Festival before splitting up. [I think I heard a rumour they may get back together soon!!!!!]
The organisation of the festival was flawless, all the bands and artists ran on time. With just two stages and both indoors, no issues with the weather or any scheduling clashes. Pleased to say there were no rip-off bar and food prices [unheard of for a festival usually!], and the staff were all very friendly and helpful.
A wide age range of audience and everyone very well behaved – whereas many gigs and festivals these days seem to have a bunch of people throwing their beer around – bloody bonkers at those prices – but not so at This Feeling By The Sea.
A very cool and chilled vibe – everyone respectful of each other. If you were there on your own, male or female, it was a very safe and happy space.
It seemed that pretty much 100% of the audience stayed right up to the end of the event too. Very good sound for all the bands and artists on Friday, apart from for the compere Fenner, the ex-Soccer AM presenter who you couldn’t hear properly.
Having seen all 11 main stage acts and all three acoustic stage acts on Friday, I can safely say there was not one band or artist who did not deserve to be there. They all went down well and did a good job.
Worthy headliners The Royston Club pulled in lots of their own fans as did The Rosadocs: The latter of whom got a huge cheer when they announced they were from Sheffield, of course another Yorkshire location.
The Royston Club from Wrexham formed in 2019 and released their debut album, “Shaking Hips And Crashing Cars”, last year, which dented the Top 20 album chart at # 16.
One of my favourites on Friday was talented Manchester-based Welsh teenager Megan Wyn, who has opened for The K’s and appeared at The Isle of Wight Festival. We will be covering her in her own right soon…
Rising stars Pastel from Swansea delivered a strong set of their dynamic brand of indie rock, but with their lighting engineer dousing them in low red light for a lot of the set, which doesn’t lend itself to great photographs.
Liverpool’s The Kairos and The Sheratons from Leeds were sounding superb too.
Roll on day # two. Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside…altogether now! Right, where’s that stick of rock? I bet Battersby’s nabbed it!
- Tickets are on sale now for next year’s “This Feeling By The Sea” at the same venue in Bridlington. Dates for your diary: Friday 29th & Saturday 30th August 2025.
Check out Saturday’s coverage in our “Live Zone”, with lots more gorgeous photographs from our ace snapper…
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