A Stone’s Throw Festival has officially revealed the first surge of artists for its fourth and most ambitious edition yet, returning to the coastal musical hub of North Shields on Saturday, May 23, 2026. This year’s celebration of new music is set to be a cross-genre collision, topped by the dual force of dark-pop breakout Luvcat and Manchester’s indie-electronic powerhouses Working Men’s Club.
The initial lineup highlights the festival’s knack for spotting momentum, featuring Belfast’s industrial-punk trio Chalk, the high-energy Welsh outfit Panic Shack, and the cinematic storytelling of Gia Ford. Joining them are rising alt-voice Imogen and the Knife and local North Shields hero Hector Gannet, alongside a deep bench of the North East’s most promising emerging acts.
Since its 2022 debut, the event has transformed the Newcastle coastline into a unique “music trail,” famously turning everything from CBD dispensaries to warehouses into intimate stages. This year, the festival will once again utilise five key North Shields venues: The Exchange 1856, King Street Social Club, Salt Market Social, Three Tanners Bank, and The Engine Room.
To keep the coastal flow seamless, the festival is bringing back its signature transport quirk: a Go North East open-top double-decker bus service included in the ticket price. The service doesn’t just ferry wristband holders between venues; it traditionally features live brass bands performing on the top deck, ensuring the music never stops between sets.
