ThisIsTheMusic

For two days, Bridlington Spa was transformed into the beating heart of the UK indie scene as This Feeling By The Sea returned with a stacked lineup of established favourites and rising stars. Hosted by Fenners, This Feeling By The Sea 2025 wasn’t just a gig, it was a weekend-long celebration of indie music at its finest full of indie fans hungry for big tunes, energy, and future headliners.

Friday Highlights
The night belonged to the Lottery Winners, who battled through electric shocks on stage yet never let it faze them. In true showman style, they turned adversity into fuel, showing exactly why they’re one of the most in-demand and influential party bands around today. With trademark crowd interactions, unshakable charisma, and an endless supply of bangers, the band transformed the Spa into one giant singalong. Tracks like Turn Around, Start Again and the euphoric UFO were belted back at them by a crowd that simply didn’t want the night to end. Their resilience and humour in the face of the technical issues only added to the legend of their set.

Wigan 4-piece, Stanleys brought their trademark jangly guitar hooks and melodies with unmistakeable Northern charm, their anthems ringing out with an assurance that confirms why they’re quickly becoming one of the most talked-about emerging artists on the indie scene. What stood out most was the chemistry between the band: tight musicianship, an easy confidence and the kind of synergy that comes from working hard and years of playing together.

Finn Forster followed with heartfelt passion, delivering one of the most captivating sets of the festival, blending heartfelt lyricism with stunning vocal that had the audience handing on every note. Hi performance of Broken Game was a real highlight, showcasing the stunning depth and range of his vocal.

Tom A. Smith showed why he’s widely regarded as one of the most exciting young artists on the scene right now. With a commanding stage presence, he delivered razor-sharp riffs and lyrical depth, highlighted by his latest single Fashion and the powerful I Don’t Want You To Have To Remember Me For Longer Than You Knew Me. It was a set that mixed youthful energy with maturity, hinting strongly at the stadium stages he’ll no doubt be gracing in the future.

The Bracknall brought a swaggering performance that mixed grit and groove in equal measure. Their sound is huge, built for big rooms, and they delivered it with complete conviction. Special mention goes to Jude from The Slates, who stepped in on bass for the set — seamlessly slotting in and helping elevate what was a sensational set and one of the most talked about on day 1 of the festival.

Sunbeam brought a strong stage presence and proved they know exactly how to work a festival crowd, their interaction lifting the energy in the room. Tracks like This Is the Life and Hometown stood out, resonating with fans and showing why they’re becoming such a dependable live force.

Cruz, were a band I’ve wanted to see for ages and they spoke in depth of the ThisIsTheMusic meets Podcast of their excitement of playing at Bridlington Spa ( Watch on You Tube; Spotify) and, injected their set with real energy, blending tight musicianship with anthems like Hold On and Disco Colour Beams that had the crowd fully invested from start to finish.

Pablo Carrizo is an artist that ThisIsTheMusic have championed since thge release of his debut single and he delivered a truly memorable set on the acoustic stage and winning the crowd over with a stunning vocal performance. His debut track, Summerhouse was a beautifully delivered moment, while his cover of Sam Fender’s Reign Me In carried both weight and emotion, cementing his reputation as a rising star to watch.

Saturday Highlights

Saturday’s headline slot was taken by STONE, who stormed the stage with raw power and energy. Their raw power and intensity certainly made an impression, with crashing riffs and snarling vocals shaking the walls of Bridlington Spa. It was the kind of performance designed to hit hard and leave a mark, and for many in the crowd it absolutely did.

The Lilacs delivered a set bursting with energy and confidence that felt like a band stepping firmly into their prime. Their sound is a mix of soaring indie-rock melodies and gritty, guitar-driven choruses, blending heartfelt lyricism with the kind of anthemic punch that makes crowds move. There’s a freshness to their music, but also a nostalgic nod to classic indie, giving them a broad appeal that resonated right across the room.

They brought the house down with a run of huge songs — Grace shimmered with emotional weight, Vicarage Road had the room bouncing, while Sticky Dancefloors turned the Spa into exactly that: a sweaty, euphoric mess of movement and voices. Closing with Sally, they left no doubt about their ability to command a stage, their set bursting with an electricity that showed why they’re rapidly becoming one of the UK’s most exciting live acts.

The Covasettes had the crowd bouncing with their festival-ready indie bangers, while The Sway delivered a triumphant set fresh from Glastonbury and YNot, proving they’re riding a wave of momentum.

Lock-In owned the stage from the moment they walked on, delivering set full of swagger and high on energy that had the crowd at Bridlington Spa bouncing throughout, proving why they’re quickly becoming one of the most talked-about live bands on the circuit. Their set was a whirlwind of energy, charisma, and crowd connection, with every song hitting like a statement of intent.

Highlights included the punchy Red Stripe Remedy, the anthemic Against The World, the sun-soaked Sun Kiss, and the euphoric I Caught Feelings. They also gave the crowd a taste of what’s to come with their brand-new single Amsterdam, which went down a storm and showed just how much momentum they’re building.

Frontman Benjy Leak was a force of nature throughout, working the stage with fearless charisma before scaling the speaker stack in a jaw-dropping finale that had the crowd roaring. By the end of the set, it was clear that Lock-In weren’t just performing, they were owning the night. This was a band seizing their moment, and judging by the reaction in the room, they’re destined for much, much bigger things.

Eighty Eight Miles were nothing short of breathtaking, delivering one of the most memorable sets of the entire weekend. Front and centre was Ellie Grice, whose soulful vocal, bursting with fiery power and bluesy passion elevated every track to something truly special. It’s the kind of voice that feels destined for much bigger stages, commanding the room with ease and leaving the crowd in awe.

Songs like Hi and Always On The Run highlighted the band’s ability to marry heartfelt lyricism with soaring, anthemic choruses that demand to be sung back. The chemistry on stage was electric, with the band feeding off the energy of the crowd and turning their set into a celebration as much as a performance.

By the time they left the stage, it was clear they’d made a lasting impression, the kind of “I was there” moment fans will be talking about when Eighty Eight Miles inevitably rise to even greater heights.

Lizzie Esau opened proceedings on day 2 and really captivated the early comers with her sharp lyricism, commanding vocals and a phenomenal stage presence.

This Feeling By The Sea 2025 was more than just a seaside gig — it was a celebration of the UK’s vibrant indie community. Being there in the room, shoulder to shoulder with fans who live and breathe this music, felt special. There was a real sense of community, of witnessing not just great performances but the future of indie unfolding right in front of us. From the party-starting resilience of Lottery Winners, to getting goosebumps from Eighty Eight Miles, huge singalongs with LOCK-IN to feeling the floor shake when The Lilacs played, it was the kind of weekend that reminds you why live music is so powerful and proved why This Feeling continues to be the home of rock ’n’ roll’s next generation.