Motown legends and Saltburn star revealed as festival headliners of Scotland’s ‘most outstanding’ cultural event
MUSIC legends The Jacksons and acting royalty Richard E Grant are set to headline one of Scotland's top festivals this summer.
Fringe by the Sea - which has just been voted Scotland's must-visit tourism experience for 2024 by Scottish Sun readers - will host a range of different acts.
The incredible ten-day event will come to North Berwick, in East Lothian, from August 2 until August 11 later this year.
The annual festival - which was recently named most outstanding cultural event at the Scottish Thistle Awards - celebrates local stars and attracts international talent which brings thousands to the seaside town.
And bosses have now revealed the exciting 2024 lineup for the extravaganza.
The award-winning festival, which features shows across its music, comedy, conversation, and family programmes, will be headlined by Motown legends The Jacksons.
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The group, consisting of Tito, Jackie and Marlon Jackson, will head to the Big Top on Friday, August 9.
And they are set to put on an amazing show that includes all their mega-hits made famous with their brothers, Jermaine and Michael Jackson.
While Grammy Award Winning DJ Hot Chip will team up with Hayley Zalassi for the Fringe By The Sea DJ nights.
The Ibiza favourites will bring a banging beginning to the festival on August 2.
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Saltburn star Richard E Grant will also be a headliner as he tells stories from his life in showbiz and tales of love and loss with his new book A Pocketful of Happiness.
A comedy circus routine will also impress the festival-goers with their incredible performance on the first Friday of the festival.
The award-winning Trash Test Dummies will take the household wheelie bin to new heights and will deliver a dump truck full of hilarity.
Award-winning journalist, news anchor, and presenter Clive Myrie will also feature as he talks about his life and his deeply personal memoir Everything is Everything on August 11.
And Horrible Histories will also be bringing their stage show Rotten Royals to the festival for some family fun on August 6.
The uplifting House Gospel Choir will bring the festival to a close on August 11 and will be supported by North Berwick’s own Gospel Choir.
Festival Director Rory Steel said: “Off the back of an incredible buzz from 2023, and being named best Scottish festival, we’re excited to be able to announce our feel-good first wave of acts for this year.
"The Jacksons will get the Big Top moving to their legendary Motown hits while on the opening night, Hot Chip DJs and Scottish house queen Hayley Zalassi deliver the dance grooves.
"We’re in for some fascinating conversations from Clive Myrie, seriously uplifting joy from House Gospel Choir and family fun for all with Horrible Histories’ only Scottish stage show.
"That’s just the first taste - and we can’t wait!
"As always, it’s a big team and community effort to make it all happen and we’re hugely grateful to North Berwick Trust for supporting us once again as Master Partner, helping us create connections in community through our diverse programme of culture and arts.”
Rory also told the Scottish Sun: "It's going to be an extravaganza in North Berwick - we have 250 shows with brilliant headline music acts through to fantastic comedians, and figures from politics and literature.
"For our festival, everyone is welcome, it's free to enter and soak up the atmosphere, see the events in the hub then you can buy tickets to see a main act, and it's really accessible for all.
"The number one thing with any event is you want people to enjoy themselves and while they are here they can go to the seaside or have a look around North Berwick, it's a stunning place, and the festival adds to the vibrancy of the town.
"People can also take a wander through the arts and crafts stalls and there will be the street food market, bars, and people can walk along beach.
"Our event is also dog friendly for there will be plenty of water for them to drink and that kind of thing.
"You can expect mega international superstars at the big top, great names from BBC and other TV channels coming to the big tent, we also have a brilliant kids show coming up."
Rory went on to say that he and this team were "deeply humbled" to win the most outstanding cultural event at the Scottish Thistle Awards.
He said: "We're hugely humbled, the festival has been going on 15 years, and has been growing over the last five years.
"We've become a bit of an icon - not only in East Lothian but around Scotland - and to see people vote and give us recognition is really humbling.
"It is a testament to the really hard work people put into it. We have three/four people running it with 60-70 volunteers.
"There is a really strong community thread through everything we do and it's so varied.
"On the stage, we could have Texas one night and then the local drama group on next who rehearse for three months and you have this touching moment when you see how excited the kids are following a big act."
And he promised that more exciting acts are still be be announced.
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Rory added: “We’ve just released the first batch of big names coming to Fringe By The Sea this summer, and judging by how fast tickets are flying out the door, people are super excited by who we have coming.
“With another 200+ events still to be announced, it’s best to keep an eye on our socials over the next few months so you don’t miss out on the very best local, national and international acts coming to East Lothian.”
2024 Thistle Awards
The Scottish Sun has teamed up with VisitScotland to shine a light on the best pubs, restaurants, hotels and visitor attractions the country has to offer.
The Scottish Thistle Awards are Scotland's premier tourism and events awards, recognising the best individuals, businesses, partnerships and events in the industry.
Nominations for this year's Awards are now open.
All the details on how to enter can be found at scottishthistleawards.co.uk
