Get on our Wavelength: new music film festival at FBTS 2025
GET ON OUR ‘WAVELENGTH’
FRINGE BY THE SEA LAUNCHES NEW MUSIC FILM FESTIVAL
featuring Irvine Welsh, Mogwai, Tim Pope, Redolent, Since Yesterday & more…
Fringe by the Sea is adding a film strand to its ten day multi-arts programme presented in August in East Lothian, celebrating the stories of the sounds and soul of Scottish music.
With support from Screen Scotland, Fringe by the Sea’s music film festival Wavelength will focus on the magic created when music and film come together and encourage audiences to consider the role of film in the journey of Scottish music, be it touching global scenes or inspiring hometown dreams.
A diverse programme of ‘Seaside Screenings’, director chats, gigs linked to film and more will be shown at the festival which takes place in North Berwick’s Lodge Grounds between 1-10th August 2025.
Events will be hosted in the festival’s iconic Big Top and around the Festival Hub with the majority of screenings taking place in a new airy and atmospheric Dome venue with headset cinema making for a fully immersive screen experience for festival-goers. Festival partners, Samsung Electronics, is providing a premium UHD MicroLED technology videowall for the screenings.
The Wavelength programme has been curated by a team passionate about both music and film. Co-curators presenter, writer and DJ Vic Galloway and filmmaker Lewis Gourlay have joined forces with the creative team at Fringe by the Sea and, with support from music documentary festival Doc ‘N Roll, developed a distinctly spirited Scottish celebration of screen and sound.
Commenting on the creation of Wavelength, Fringe By The Sea Festival Director, Rory Steel, said: “With the launch of Wavelength, Fringe ByThe Sea is bringing a brilliant new film element to our ten day extravaganza. It’s only through the support of Screen Scotland and Samsung, and collaboration with other local organisations and businesses that we are able to continue to evolve our wonderful seaside festival while retaining the strong community values that make Fringe By The Sea so special.”
“As well as the very best of Scottish culture coming alive on screen, in gigs and through chats, our extensive community work will see young, local bands mentored in music video-making and on-site activities and animated screenings for children during the festival.” added Rory Steel.
“As a Music Film Festival, ‘Wavelength’ seamlessly integrates into the wider program at Fringe by The Sea and adds a unique cinema experience to the already successful multi-arts festival. We’ve curated a selection of films relevant to our audience, with work featuring some of Scotland’s biggest bands and highly creative work from local film makers. Music and film lovers of all ages and backgrounds are in for a treat, not just with the films themselves, but also the surrounding events that amplify the experience with in-depth Q&As, live performances and guest curated music video playlists.” Lewis Gourlay – Co-Curator
“I’m delighted to be involved with the inaugural ‘Wavelength’ Music and Film Festival as a co-curator and event host in 2025, part of the excellent ‘Fringe by the Sea’ programme. Music and the moving image have been intrinsically linked for many decades, and ‘Wavelength’ is about celebrating that magic in different ways. I’m looking forward to films concentrating on heritage Scottish acts and new music, as well as onstage discussions, LIVE performances, pop video playlists, animations and more. Being beside the seaside makes the whole event more memorable, unique and fun too. Beautiful North Berwick always comes to life with ‘Fringe by the Sea’ each year, and ‘Wavelength’ is another fine addition.” Vic Galloway
The programme will run from 1st – 10th August and feature the following, plus more to be announced:
Writer Irvine Welsh will open the festival with his take on the power of music and film together. Sharing with his ‘Seaside Archive’ – a curated playlist of music videos – he’ll also take us on a dance-able journey of film and tunes, in a family-friendly rave.
Director Tim Pope has worked with the likes of David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Queen, Sioux & the Banshees and Scotland’s Strawberry Switchblade. It was with The Cure, however, that his name was cemented in the music video hall of fame, producing over 30 of their videos.
25 years of cult Scottish band Mogwai was marked by the release of a documentary shedding light on the band’s journey from their Glasgow roots. Mogwai: If The Stars Had A Sound will be screened in the Dome. Stuart Braithwaite from the band will be part of a post screening discussion – and catch his Indie Disco DJ set later in the day.
Dinny Greet explores the enigmatic rise of Scottish band Redolent, winners of the Scottish Album of the Year, from obscure gigs to surprising financial windfalls, an unexpected record deal and a hopeful yet uncertain future. With post-film chat and special live performance.
Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scottish Girl Bands unearths Scotland’s Girl Bands from 1960 onwards, missing from the ranks of global success; artists whose work was, and continues to be, ignored by the selective bias of a male-dominated industry. Writer Carla J. Easton joins us to discuss and to perform as part of Hen Hoose.
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra will present the music of Bond in a stunning Big Top finale to the week, set to film.
As part of Fringe by the Sea’s ongoing commitment to support the youth arts scene and culture, Wavelength will also engage youth bands to make their own fresh film content to tell the stories of the new sounds emerging from the county. Sound & Seen will be developed with East Lothian Council Arts Service.
With a focus on targeting a youth audience, a special Under 25s subsided ticket will be available for Dome screening events.
Further additions will be made to the programme, with event details and tickets released over coming weeks and the full programme available in early June.
Sign up to be the first to know about programme details and ticket releases at GET ON OUR WAVELENGTH at www.fringebythesea.com/wavelength
About our partners:
Doc’n Roll Films is a female-led film agency that platforms and champions marginal voices in the music industry; we are passionate about DIY spirit, independent film and music of all genres. Our mission is to celebrate music subcultures by providing a unique platform to support creative, compelling and unforgettable documentaries that celebrate the performers, labels, scenes and stories.
East Lothian Council’s Arts Service offers a high-quality, wide-ranging programme of cultural activities for residents. As part of this the East Lothian Youth Music Forum, ELJam, aims to support, promote and develop youth music activity across East Lothian for all young people aged 25 and under, providing spaces for them to develop their skills through activities including studio sessions and vocal coaching, connect with each other, and perform live at events across the region. https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/eljam
World Headquarters is a North Berwick-based boutique creative studio. Founders Gav & Gem began their careers by directing music videos for artists such as Belle & Sebastian, Echo & The Bunnymen and Sir Paul McCartney. The pair subsequently worked at numerous celebrated advertising agencies in London before moving home to Scotland in 2012. They continue to create integrated campaigns and video content for brands both large and small, contributing to Wavelength with branding support.
Wavelength is supported with Premium Direct View MicroLED Technology from Samsung Electronics.
Bamboo Geodome film screening venue supplied in partnership with Atlas Domes.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Fringe by the Sea is East Lothian’s multi-arts festival, presenting a diverse programme of music, comedy, book, family, wellbeing events and more from its friendly and vibrant hub in the seaside town of North Berwick. The festival runs from 1-10th August 2025.
Further information: Fiona Duff fiona@duffpublicity.com 07710 419762
About Screen Scotland:
Screen Scotland drives development of all aspects of Scotland’s film and tv industry, through funding and strategic support.
Screen Scotland is part of Creative Scotland and delivers these services and support with funding from Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Find out more at screen.scot and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
To see our latest news releases, visit the Screen Scotland News section. For media information about Creative Scotland, please visit the Creative Scotland Media Centre.