Bunch Of Fives: The Gathering Sounds

The Gathering Sounds returns to Stockton on Saturday 26th September for its biggest edition yet, bringing more than 50 artists across seven vibrant stages for one massive day of discovery and live music. Built around a simple, thrilling concept—catch firm favourites, take a chance on complete strangers, and spot next year’s breakthrough acts today. Heading up the headline slots across the town, overpass take over The Point at ARC following major tours, Tom A. Smith tops the bill at The Georgian Theatre, Basht. lead the charge at KU, Shelf Lives head to ARC2, and TTSSFU leads The Social Room. Joining them in high-profile slots are the likes of VLURE with their cathartic mix of post-punk and 3am rave energy, the fast-moving Esmeralda Road, and the alt-country slacker-rockers Little Grandad.

Spanning seven stages, festivalgoers can jump between an incredibly diverse mix of genres, sounds, and live performances throughout the day. From the dark, industrial shoegaze of PROJECTOR and Glasgow post-punk from Humour to the genre-blurring live chaos of Good Health Good Wealth, the lineup leaves no corner unexplored. The massive bill also features performances from 24 Hours In Paris, Idle Hands, MOSS, The Youth Play, Bloodworm, FLETCHR FLETCHR, Pyncher, M60, Pack of Animals, The Kowloons, Andrew Johnson & The Others, Central Arcade, Honeylight, Park View, Strop, Weathership, Charlie Floyd, Marketplace, Swindled, Daisy Brown, George Bailey, The Dream Machine, Cutscene, Ewan McKenna, Marrick, I See Orange, The Kellows, James Witham, The Cavs, Acetate, Dreaming of Citra, Freight, Office Party, The Ariston, The Public Eye, Wool, Crescent, The Embers, Pawtuckets, Camel Island, Ruby Kelly, and Bodyexitmind.

Here, festival organiser Jordan Kean, tells us about his top five The Gathering Sounds moments…

CVC To The Rescue – We had a nightmare scenario days out from our 2024 festival when our KU stage headliners Fat Dog had to drop out and we had less than a week to find an act of the same calibre to close the festival. Step in CVC, one of the friendliest bands out there who (with days notice) got the crew together, dropped their shifts at work and headed to Stockton to save the day. Finished their set with a cover of Beastie Boys – Fight For Your Right – perfect way to end the night and my favourite karaoke tune ever since.

From Limerick to Stockton – in 2025 a couple of our team made a bucket list trip to Texas for SXSW and had a chance meeting with a lovely Irishman and his band – Dylan Flynn & The Dead Poets. They were blown away by their set over there and convinced them to make the trip over to Stockton later that year. They impressed us just as much back home and we brought them back for a show of their own this Summer which was the best we’ve seen them so far. Keep an eye out for them, they’re going to be massive!

Chart Toppers – Over the years we’ve seen bands go on from the small stages of TGS to commercial success in the charts. None more so than 2025 though which saw past acts The Lottery Winners, The Royston Club and The K’s all hit the very top of the UK album charts. It was one of those moments that gives a bit of purpose to the festival and reassures you that you actually know what you’re doing really. This year we saw ARC headliner Overpass score a top 10 album as well so long may it continue.

Gallus – One of my favourite sets from the last few years and still to this day the only band I’ve seen squirt a bottle of garlic sauce into their mouth on stage. Mental in every sense but they made me a fan for life that day for some strange reason.

Parmos – It wouldn’t be a trip to Teesside without a parmo and many a Gathering Sounds stage manager have lost count of the times they’ve heard, “Where’s the best place to get a parmo around here?” from a band. It’s always amazing to see Teesside’s greatest export getting the recognition it deserves and now I’ve mentioned it I think I’ll be celebrating the close of this year’s festival with one too.