Twisterella Festival has announced its first wave of acts for its 12th edition, set to take place across multiple venues in Middlesbrough on Saturday 3rd October 2026. Early bird tickets are on sale now from Seetickets.
Leading the first announcement are Glasgow brooding indie quartet Bottle Rockets, Brighton technicolour party-rock outfit congratulations, and one-man glam-punk and coldwave experimenter ELLiS-D. Bottle Rockets won Best Alt/Rock at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards in 2023, were named BBC Introducing’s Scottish Act of the Year in 2024, and are gearing up for an anticipated EP release in May with support from BBC Radio 1 and Amazing Radio UK/US. congratulations arrive fresh off the release of their debut album Join Hands via beloved indie institution Bella Union, blending searing soul-soaked vocals with fuzzed-out guitar solos and circuit-bent synth hooks. Brighton-based ELLiS-D, meanwhile, released his sophomore EP Spill on Crafting Room Records last year with acclaimed producer Shuta Shinona (Hot Chip, Jenny Beth), earning support from BBC Radio 6Music, Radio X’s John Kennedy and the NME.
Also joining the bill for the first wave are Celia Grace, Curiosity Shop, Doss, Gifthorse, Hector Gannet, Robyn Errico, Sarah Johnsone, Scotstown Dance Band, sundayclub (Canada) and The Slow Country. Headliners and further acts are yet to be revealed.
Twisterella takes place across venues including Teesside University Students’ Union and Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt, with its metropolitan, multi-venue format giving festival-goers the chance to hop between stages throughout the day and catch a packed schedule of emerging talent. The festival has cemented its reputation as a vital platform for new music, having previously hosted Sam Fender, Pip Blom, Dream Wife and Prima Queen in addition to early shows for the likes of The 1975, Wolf Alice and Alt-J.
Now in its twelfth year, the festival won an AIF Independent Festival Award in 2019 for its innovative approach to fostering new talent, and its 2024 edition celebrated a milestone 10th anniversary with headliners Chalk, Pom Poko and Martha topping a typically eclectic bill.
Co-promoter Henry Carden said: “It feels good to be announcing the first wave of artists for Twisterella 2026! As always, we’re bringing some of the brightest and best emerging artists to Middlesbrough and we can’t wait for you to discover your new favourite band. It’s such a thrill to book artists that you love and this year’s line-up is no exception. I’ve been caning new music from the likes of Bottle Rockets, Gifthorse and sundayclub as a fan, so to book them for the festival is a good reminder of what it’s all about!”
Full details and tickets can be found at the Twisterella Festival website.
First wave acts: Bottle Rockets, Celia Grace, congratulations, Curiosity Shop, Doss, ELLiS-D, Gifthorse, Hector Gannet, Robyn Errico, Sarah Johnsone, Scotstown Dance Band, sundayclub, The Slow Country
Image credits: Victoria Wai
In this article: Bella Union, Hot Chip, BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 6 Music, Radio X, NME, Scottish Alternative Music Awards, Association of Independent Festivals, Teesside University, Middlesbrough Town Hall, Middlesbrough, Sam Fender, Wolf Alice, The 1975, alt-J. Generated by Wikidata Schema Link Builder.
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