Fringe By The Sea has announced the first wave of acts who’ll be performing at the North Berwick festival this year. The festival will take place from Friday 2–Sunday 11 August and tickets for all announced shows are on sale now. 

Headlining the festival is a giant in music history, The Jacksons, featuring Tito Jackson, Jackie Jackson and Marlon Jackson. They’ll play their hits ‘ABC’, ‘I Want You Back’, ‘I'll Be There’, ‘Rockin' Robin’, ‘Blame It On The Boogie’, and many more on Friday 9 August. 

On Friday 2 August, Grammy award-winning dance act Hot Chip will play North Berwick for a DJ set alongside special guest Hayley Zalassi, a Glasgow-based DJ and producer of house music bangers. 

In books, veteran actor Richard E Grant will make an appearance on Thursday 8 August to discuss his memoir A Pocketful Of Happiness. Expect to hear anecdotes from throughout his life, including his breakout role in Withnail & I and his recent turn in 2024’s cinematic cause célèbre Saltburn. 

Also on the cards is child-friendly clowning Trash Test Dummies (Friday 2 August), edutainment masterclass Horrible Histories: Rotten Royals (Tuesday 6 August), an in conversation with journalist Clive Myrie (Sunday 11 August), and free-flowing fun from the House Gospel Choir (Sunday 11 August). More acts will be announced in the run up to the festival. 

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. 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.’

Fringe By The Sea will take place from Friday 2–Sunday 11 August. Tickets for all announced shows are on sale now; main picture: Mr Smith Aerial Photography.