Friday March 27th 2026
Bay City Rollers are set to perform at the festival (photo by Natalia Aronowicz)
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Organisers of Fringe by the Sea have announced new acts for North Berwick’s Fringe by the Sea, featuring Rudimental and Blur’s Alex James.
East Lothian’s award-winning, independent multi-arts festival has added seven more ‘iconic’ shows to this year’s line-up alongside unveiling a new partnership with The Famous Grouse, Monkey Shoulder, Drambuie and De Kuyper.
Kicking off the festival’s 2026 opening night will be chart-topping dance act Rudimental (31st July), known for their emotive, high-energy sound and hits ‘Feel The Love’, ‘Not Giving In’ and ‘Waiting All Night’.
Blur’s Alex James performs his show Britpop Classical on August 1, brings the unforgettable anthems of the 90s to life fusing the raw energy of the era’s biggest hits with the backing of a full orchestra and special guests to be announced.
Maribou State (8th August) are English electronic music duo Chris Davids and Liam Ivory with their acclaimed live show. To date, they have released eight EPs and three studio albums, Portraits (2015), Kingdoms in Colour (2018), and Hallucinating Love (2025) also remixing for the likes of Alpines and Lana Del Rey.
Making his only Scottish appearance this year in North Berwick, Levi.sct, (9th August) is a German pianist redefining classical music by fusing it with modern beats and contemporary sounds.
Many more shows have been announced including soul legends Kool and The Gang, Scottish indie-pop icons Belle and Sebastian and popular Bay City Rollers. Acclaimed documentary-maker Louise Theroux is also hosting a show but tickets sold-out quickly after release.
Ian Hislop is set to perform at the festival
Fringe by the Sea has also announced a new partnership that will bring a line-up of well-known drinks brands to this year’s festival. The Famous Grouse, Scotland’s number one whisky, will join as a Community Partner, alongside Monkey Shoulder, Drambuie and De Kuyper.
Neil Barker, UK Managing Director at William Grant & Sons, said:
“Fringe by the Sea has become one of Scotland’s most exciting cultural festivals and we’re delighted to partner with the team this year. As Community Partner, The Famous Grouse – alongside Monkey Shoulder, Drambuie and De Kuyper – is proud to support an event that brings people together through music, conversation and culture in the unique setting of North Berwick.”
The festival is welcoming back The Lighthouse as a community partner. The Lighthouse Live Stage returns with a packed programme of free live music, showcasing rising stars, local talent and festival favourites across the ten-day festival. Based in North Berwick, The Lighthouse is a thriving co-working and flexible office hub – home to a community of local businesses, entrepreneurs and creatives, and to the Fringe by the Sea team itself.
Festival Director, Rory Steel said:
“These latest big name additions to the line-up ensures our iconic big top will be bouncing big time this summer. We’re especially excited to be welcoming Alex James’s Britpop Classical, which has just raised the roof on the Albert Hall with the orchestral extravaganza. Closer to home, Scotland’s Rianne Downey who has been enjoying touring with Paul Heaton is another we can’t wait to see on stage. Our audiences keep setting new challenges for us, and we’re sure they’re going to love this latest release of tickets. We’re also thrilled to have Scotland’s favourite whisky, The Famous Grouse, joining our partners, along with kings of the cocktail world, De Kuyper. Slainte to them.”
Tickets for the newly announced events are on sale from 10.00am on Friday 27th March at www.fringebythesea.com .
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