News: The Gathering Sounds – First Wave Announcement

The Gathering Sounds returns to Stockton-on-Tees on Saturday 27 September and is bigger, bolder and bursting with new music from across the UK and beyond. Now in its fourth year, the one-day festival spreads over seven town-centre venues (all within a five-minute walk) and cements its rep as a launchpad for the next wave of breakout artists.

The first 20 acts have recently been announced, with 50 more still to come.

Headliners include Dublin indie-rockers Somebody’s Child, fresh from slots at SXSW and BST Hyde Park, and Limerick’s Dylan Flynn & The Dead Poets, who blend Springsteen heart with Radiohead textures. Manchester’s The Covasettes bring singalong-ready hooks, while CARSICK tear up the script with a chaotic cocktail of punk, indie, hip-hop and noise.

Bristol’s Grandmas House channel riot grrrl energy with a post-punk snarl, Florentenes bridge Arctic grit and Floydian flair, and local hero Loren Heat delivers shimmering queer-pop anthems built for big stages.

With new venues The Link and The Green Room added to the mix—and line-ups curated by tastemakers like This Feeling and Under The Influence—2025 is shaping up to be a discovery goldmine.

Early bird tickets are £25 (+ bf) and are available via Fatsoma, offering full access from 1pm to 11pm.