Joining forces with Access Creative College and BBC Introducing, First Light Festival’s New Dawn Stage has quickly  gained a reputation for being the place to see the hottest young music acts from East Anglia.  Following an open call-out, we work with a panel of industry professionals to select the New Dawn headline and programme an exciting mix of sounds for the festival weekend.

Finn Doherty is our 2024 New Dawn headliner and will perform with his band both on the New Dawn stage and on our main Sunlight Stage on Saturday 22nd June. Originating from Norfolk and graduating from Norwich’s Access Creative College, Finn has relocated to London where he has been developing his idiosyncratic pop sound and is promising to deliver an electrifying set!  Finn has strong connections to Lowestoft as his grandparents live in the town and so this is a real homecoming gig for him!

We are also delighted to have partnered with Latitude Festival for New Dawn 2024 and our headline act, Finn Doherty has also been offered the amazing opportunity to perform there in July. In a hat-trick of achievements, Finn has also been tipped by BBC Introducing in Norfolk and Suffolk as One to Watch!

The New Dawn stage will be hosted by BBC Introducing in Norfolk and Suffolk’s Angelle Joseph and the whole team will be with us over the weekend for a New Dawn Takeover.

There will also be a New Dawn takeover across the weekend in East Point Pavilion.  Young technicians from Access Creative College and Ipswich-based Brighten the Corner’s Festival’s Tune Up project will work with our professional tech team across the weekend. 

New Dawn Stage

Saturday 22 June
12:30-13:00  Jack Wylie
13:45-14:15  Sophie the Great
14:45-15:15  Magnolia
16:00-16:30  Kitty-May
17:15-17:45  Arthur Black
18:30-19:00  Lottie Gray   
20.00-20:30 
Finn Doherty

Sunday 23 June
11:00-11:15  Sign Along With Jessica
12:00-12:30  Juliet
13:15-13:45  Afterdrive
14:45-15:15  Queen Dogs

As well as our main New Dawn Stage, this year New Dawn artists take over East Point Pavilion for two days of emerging sounds at our seafront hub.

New Dawn Pavilion Takeover

What is New Dawn? 

New Dawn is our year-round youth music project that connects emerging musicians from the East with gigging, artist development and career progression opportunities.  Since 2022, over 300 young musicians have applied to play and over 90 of them have played at the festival.  This year, we’ve supported New Dawn acts to play at various events across the region, offered New Dawn Step-Up opportunities to 6 young musicians, giving them the chance to work alongside professional musicians such as Tom McRae and Annie Dressner and hosted various networking and career development seminars including a zoom session with Jesse Quin from the band Keane. 

 

          

 

Access

Performances are viewable from the beach and Jubilee Parade. Please note this is public access and not a managed viewing area. Seating is not provided

New Dawn 2023 Highlights

Sophie The Great

New Dawn - 22/06/2024
13:45-14:15

Magnolia

New Dawn - 22/06/2024
14:45-15:15

Kitty-May

New Dawn - 22/06/2024
16:00-16:30

Jack Wylie

New Dawn - 22/06/2024
12.30-13.00

Arthur Black

New Dawn - 22/06/2024
17:15-17:45

Lottie Gray

New Dawn - 22/06/2024
18:30-19:00

Finn Doherty

Sunlight Stage - 22/06/2024
20:00-20:30

Sign Along With Jessica

New Dawn - 23/06/2024
11:00-11:30

Juliet

New Dawn - 23/06/2024
12:00-12:30

AFTERDRIVE

New Dawn - 23/06/2024
13:15-13:45

Queen Dogs

New Dawn - 23/06/2024
14:45-15:15