Fringe by the Sea is turning up the volume with Wavelength
– a bold new strand in our multi-arts line-up,
celebrating the stories, sounds and soul of Scottish music on screen.
Curated by DJ and broadcaster Vic Galloway, filmmaker Lewis Gourlay, and the FBTS team, with funding support from Screen Scotland and in partnership with Doc’n Roll, the Wavelength programme is packed with seaside screenings, pop video archives, director Q&As, post-film gigs, and immersive headset cinema in our brand new Dome venue.
Subsidised tickets available for under 25s
Festival highlights include:
Wavelength: Irvine Welsh In Conversation
Saturday 2nd August 2025
The Big Top
1.30pm – 2.30pm
Irvine Welsh, born in Edinburgh and shaped by Leith’s housing schemes, found his voice through Punk and Rave, leading to his explosive debut Trainspotting, which became a bestselling novel and iconic film. Now the author of fourteen novels – including the upcoming Resolution – Welsh opens our 2025 Wavelength programme in conversation with Vic Galloway, exploring the magic of music and film.
Wavelength: Sound Takes: Tim Pope
Saturday 2nd August 2025
The Dome
2.45-3.45pm
Join visionary director Tim Pope as he reflects on his 40-year career in music video and film, sharing stories from his upcoming memoir My Weird Eye and collaborations with legends like David Bowie, Queen, and The Cure. In conversation with Vic Galloway, Tim will also preview future projects – including a Cure documentary – and screen highlights from his groundbreaking body of work.
Irvine Welsh Seaside Archive Family Rave
Saturday 2nd August 2025
The Dome
5.15pm – 6.45pm
A day party with a twist – Irvine Welsh curates a highly danceable playlist in a special Seaside Archive Family Rave. An audio-visual good time for all. Let’s dance!
Secret Lives: The Untold Story of British Hip Hop
Sunday 3rd August 2025
The Dome
2pm – 3.30pm
Secret Lives: The Untold Story of British Hip Hop is a powerful debut film by Eunice Olumide MBE, exploring the overlooked pioneers of the UK’s underground rap scene. Featuring voices from across generations, it examines how technology, accents, and industry biases have shaped – and erased – the genre’s true origins.
If The Stars Had a Sound
Sunday 3rd August 2025
The Dome
6pm – 8.30pm
Antony Crook’s debut feature charts Mogwai’s journey from their 1995 formation to the making of their tenth album As the Love Continues, blending archive footage with intimate lockdown recordings. Following the screening, join band co-founder Stuart Braithwaite for a conversation about the film and Mogwai’s lasting impact on post-rock.
Indie Disco: Stuart Braithwaite & Stuart Murdoch
Sunday 3rd August 2025
Lodge Stage
8.45pm-10.45pm
Antony Crook’s debut feature charts Mogwai’s journey from their 1995 formation to the making of their tenth album As the Love Continues, blending archive footage with intimate lockdown recordings. Following the screening, join band co-founder Stuart Braithwaite for a conversation about the film and Mogwai’s lasting impact on post-rock.
Wavelength Sound & Seen
Monday 4th August 2025
The Dome
7.45pm – 9.15pm
Celebrate the future of East Lothian’s music scene at this special Wavelength showcase, featuring original music videos by under-25 bands Title of your Mixtape, sixteen again, and The Watts. Created through the Sound & Seen project, these videos mark the artists’ full creative journey, supported by Queen Margaret University and East Lothian Council Arts Service.
Sloth
Tuesday 5th August 2025
The Dome
6pm-7pm
North Berwick-based voyagers Sloth deliver an immersive audio-visual experience. Drifting from minimal ambient textures to high desert psychedelia and sun-dazed coastal vibes, their sound wanders freely across genre borders. This set features band-made visuals, blending imagery and sound into a lush, immersive landscape. For fans of early Real Estate, Deerhunter, Emeralds, Slint, and The Ventures.
The Calm
Thursday 7th August 2025
The Dome
11am – 11.45am
Join Simon Heath, composer for film & TV, along with Roxana and Pete from Vilk Collective for an immersive cultural and musical experience featuring the haunting duduk, vocals, and world percussion. Relax on a mat or blanket as the melodic sounds soothe your mind, followed by a nourishing treat and refreshing mint tea to complete the sensory journey.
Dinny Greet, George Cuthbert & Redolent
Friday 8th August 2025
The Dome
5pm – 7pm
Dinny Greet follows the unpredictable rise of Scottish band Redolent, blending animation and live action to tell a story of persistence, identity, and unexpected success. Join us for a Q&A with director George Cuthbert and a special live performance from Redolent.
Wavelength ‘Secret Screening’
Saturday 9th August 2025
The Dome
1.30pm – 3.30pm
Rendered purely though music and image, the film is a profound meditation on the beauty and fragility of nature, the existential crisis facing humanity and the possibility of hope for the future.
From the director of BAFTA Nominated, ‘From Scotland With Love’, a secret screening of a visually stunning new film featuring music from Lost Map released album, ‘We Are The Animals In The Night’.
Q&A with Director Virginia Heath, and Musician David McAulay, hosted by Kevin Fullerton of The List.
Seaside Archive: Music Video Silent Disco
Saturday 9th August 2025
The Dome
4.00pm-5.00pm
Drop in and dance to a specially curated playlist of music videos from the years – selected by tastemakers including Irvine Welsh, Vic Galloway, Carla J Easton, Eunice Olumide, World HQ and Cagoule Film.
Check out the Seaside Archive playlists at: https://www.youtube.com/@fringebythesea
Hello Universe
Saturday 9thAugust 2025
The Dome
7.45pm – 9.15pm
Hello Universe is a raw and electrifying feature length documentary marking the 10-year anniversary of Edinburgh’s psychedelic rock ’n’ roll trio, Miracle Glass Company. A world premiere for Wavelength 2025.
Directed by Tommy Slack, the film follows the band’s journey – from grassroots gigs to international tours, studio sessions with legendary producer Owen Morris, and the harrowing personal tragedies that have shaped their sound and spirit.
Hen Hoose presents MALKA & Carla J. Easton
Sunday 10th August 2025
The Dome
2pm – 3.15pm
A dynamic double bill presented by MALKA’s Hen Hoose, showcasing the best of Scotland’s female and non-binary music scene. Enjoy a live set from the acclaimed MALKA, followed by a performance from Carla J. Easton and her band.
RSNO: The Music of Bond
Sunday 10th August 2025
Big Top
7.30pm-9.30pm
The RSNO presents a stunning program of iconic James Bond themes, showcasing some of cinema’s most memorable music. One of Europe’s leading orchestras, the RSNO brings its world-class sound to this stylish, cinematic night of music that’s sure to leave you shaken and stirred.
Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands
Sunday 10th August 2025
The Dome
4pm – 6.15pm
Written and narrated by Carla J. Easton, this vibrant documentary uncovers the forgotten stories of Scottish girl bands from the 1960s to today, spotlighting the artists sidelined by a male-dominated industry. Blending rare footage, unheard demos, and personal insight, it’s a bold call to remember the past – and inspire the future of women in music.
Don’t miss our Moving Images caravan, featuring short films, music video playlists, and children’s films, along with Animation Workshops for the young ones and drop in film activities in the Kids Zone.
Click here for Film Trailers along with a selection of favourite Music Video Playlists from participating artists.
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