Final day of the 2025 two-day This Feeling By The Sea, which launched in 2023 at the stunning Art Deco 3,800 capacity venue Bridlington Spa on the sea front.
This year for the third edition, the excellent Lottery Winners were Friday’s headliner and the just as excellent Stone the main act on Saturday.
Three acoustic acts each day on the second stage, and eight bands per day on the main stage, so a total of 22 acts across the event.
All of the bands and artists appearing have come up through grass roots gigs run by respected 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?
Noel Gallagher, The Libertines’ Carl Barat and Kasabian’s Serge Pizzorno are among the stars who praise the work This Feeling do to support new bands and artists.
This year’s DJs on the main stage between the acts are BBC Introducing’s Jericho Keys and Radio X’s John Kennedy DJ on Friday and Saturday respectively, with ex-Soccer AM presenter Fenners as the MC.
This Feeling ran a national and regional contest for a few hand-selected acts to win the chance to appear at This Feeling By The Sea 2025. The winners were: [National] Lizzie Esau, appearing on Saturday and Alice SK on Friday, and [Regional] Masi Masi, and Pablo Carrizo, who both appeared on Friday.
A lot more people there on day one, especially for headliners Lottery Winners, than the second day. Not sure why as it was still a strong line-up and good value for money on the last day. Headliners Stone turned in a powerful performance and those who were there responded loudly.
This has been a good year for them so far and they have pulled in decent crowds for their gigs and their other festival appearances. They signed to V2 Records not long ago and have toured with Jake Bugg.
Last year’s acclaimed debut album “Fear Life For A Lifetime”, which dropped in July 2024 via Polydor Records, delivered “a manic cocktail of indie-pop anthems, post-punk intensity and vulnerable acoustic tracks, all with a hip-hop undercurrent.”
Their latest single, “NEVER AGAIN”, which dropped on the 8th of August, went down well with the fans at this show. The track was recorded live and invokes the raw spirit and spontaneity of the band’s house party roots.
Lead vocalist and guitarist Fin Power, son of Cast and The La’s legend John Power, says of the song:” ‘NEVER AGAIN’ is a return to STONE’s loudest and rawest best. The track is a reaction to having had some of our control taken away for a chance of radio or viral success.
“Lyrically the track highlights the emotional journey of turning to sobriety whilst dealing with the fallout of our major label experience. The anger of feeling like a scratch card for the previous label and the feeling of pride that succumbs under the anger drove the writing of the lyrics.”
While writing ‘NEVER AGAIN’, Fin immersed himself in Mike Pondsmith’s Cyberpunk 2077 universe, drawing inspiration from its spirit of resistance. He says: “In the Cyberpunk 2077 universe there is a bar called The Afterlife and if you die in a spectacular way you become a Legend of The Afterlife, and get a drink named after you. Cyberpunk is all about taking down the big corporations.”
This magazine has championed this band for a good while now, formed in 2019 out of the band The Bohos, and when we first covered them, Fin reflected on the motivation to form and be in a band:
“I’ve always wanted to be successful. I remember my first dream job was wanting to be Doctor Who. I wrote my first song at 15, and then by 16 knew I wanted to be in a successful band. So I treated it like that. From the beginning, I only wanted to work with people who were fully dedicated to being in this one band.”
If we had to pick out a band from the two-day TFBTS lineup who we predict will really take-off in the near future, The Lilacs are it.
They smashed their Big Top set on the This Feeling stage at the Isle of Wight, with their show subsequently broadcast on Sky Arts. They then supported Sting, and will play their largest headline show to date, at the 2600-capacity Manchester Academy on November 22nd this year.
* 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, with a capacity of 3,800 [including the balconies which were not in use for this festival]. Oasis played their final indoor concert in August 2009, as a warm up for the V Festival, before splitting up.
Lizzie Esau – wearing her trademark angel’s wings – gets a main stage slot this year with her band, and she deserved it. Winning the chance to perform here. One of those artists who has been topped for success for a good while now.
- Manchester’s Arkayla are ones to watch out for; with a new EP out soon. String set at TFBTS.
- The Sway’s high-spirited indie-pop and Scouse charm was worth a watch/listen, after a glowing Glastonbury debut this year. They have previously supported The Libertines and Jamie Webster. Strong material penned by three of the five-piece band who also share vocals.
Also on the rise at speed are Midlands band Eighty Eight Miles who were on form at Bridlington on Saturday. They’ve earned praise from Fleetwood Mac legend Lindsey Buckingham, Lottery Winners and Blossoms.
A busy summer of festivals, and lots of support for their superb single “Always On The Run”.
Their sound blends the sleek harmonies and bright tones of classic Californian folk-rock with the grit and energy of the contemporary indie scene. Ellie Grice has a voice of distinction that swirls between soulful grace, fiery power and bluesy passion.
- Eighty Eight Miles play Burton on Trent’s Sonic Boom Festival on 13th September, the campus stage headliners. Their set at This Feeling By The Sea was one of the very best of the two days.
Essex lads Lock-In were popular and expect to hear much more from them. For fans of the kind of noise made by the likes of Blossoms and Two Door Cinema Club.
* Honourable mention must go to Manc’ band The Covasettes’ solid indie-pop performance…
- The acoustic Stage offered a classy triple-bill on Saturday from Alice SK, PG Ciarletta and Dylan Robert.
Alice SK is an indie folk artist from Wiltshire, now living in London – inspired by artists such as Joni Mitchel, Lily Allen, The Strokes and gaining vocal inspiration from the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.
PG Ciarletta is the latest singer-songwriter in a long line of Scots with Italian blood making a name for himself with an ever-growing reputation for high energy live performances with an uplifting, anthemic, folk, singer-songwriter and indie rock style.
From writing songs in his bedroom to playing on stages across the UK, the Isle of Wight music festival, on the pitch and roof of Murrayfield Stadium, and with songs played at Hampden park, a lot has changed for the musician in the last few years.
Dylan Robert is Liverpool born and bred – growing up close to John Lennon’s childhood home. Dylan started playing guitar with his best mate Ben Harper when he was 10; .Ben Harper is now Robert’s producer. Hotly tipped since 2024, he deserved this headline spot at TFBTS.
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Check out Friday’s coverage in our “Live Zone”…
Photos by Liam Battersby
Words by Steve Best & Liam Battersby
