POP legends The Jacksons and Grammy-winning synthpop band Hot Chip are among the first names to be announced for this summer’s Fringe by the Sea.
Tickets for the 10-day North Berwick festival went on sale at 3pm today (Friday).
Among those confirmed for the event, which gets under way on August 2, are The Jacksons.
Consisting of original members Tito, Jackie and Marlon Jackson, The Jacksons, with their combination of musical talent and spectacular choreography, put on a show that includes all their mega-hits made famous with their brothers Jermaine and Michael Jackson.
Inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Jacksons have five number one albums, 18 number one hits, 17 top 10 albums and 17 top 40 singles, and will entertain the town on August 9.
Ibiza favourites and Grammy Award-winning Hot Chip are renowned for their DJ sets all over the world.
On the festival’s opening night, they will team up with Hayley Zalassi, who has quickly stamped her name on the UK’s underground music scene.
Also confirmed for the festival is prolific actor Richard E Grant, who has appeared in more than 80 films and television shows, ranging from Gosford Park to Can You Ever Forgive Me?
With his book ‘A Pocketful of Happiness’, he tells stories from his life, entwining tales from his extraordinary time in showbiz with uplifting reflections on love and loss.
Also confirmed are slapstick comedy performers Trash Test Dummies, award-winning journalist news anchor and presenter Clive Myrie and Horrible Histories.
The curtain will come down as the uplifting House Gospel Choir close the festival on August 11, supported by North Berwick’s own Gospel Choir.
Rory Steel, festival director, 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.”
North Berwick Trust have announced their support of Fringe by the Sea 2024 as a master partner with three years' of grant funding, totalling £32,000.
The hub of the festival will once be again in North Berwick’s Lodge Grounds, where the trust will showcase its work as well as support the involvement of other community groups at the event.
The Economic Impact Report (EIR) for last year’s Fringe by the Sea, undertaken by MKA Economics, shows that the festival is now a major financial boost for North Berwick and the county as a whole.
The net additional impact of visitor spend during the 10 days between August 4 and 13, when the 14th FBTS festival was held, was about £7,313,884.
The figure is up by 14 per cent from the previous year, with visitor numbers also increasing.
Last year’s event attracted 74,750 people to the area, 31 per cent up on 2022.
Go to fringebythesea.com for tickets and more details.
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