Festival Review: Docks Fest – Cleethorpes
05/07/2025
Photo by: Alex Brown – AMBGY Photography
Cleethorpes may not be the first place you’d expect to see some of the UK’s biggest indie names take the stage but on July 5th, Docks Fest proved it’s quickly becoming a staple on the northern festival circuit.
Held at Meridian Showground, this was only the second edition of the festival but it already feels like a mainstay. The lineup boasted a trio of heavy hitters! The Charlatans, Ash, and Maxïmo Park, a dream bill for fans of 90s and 2000s alt-rock and indie anthems.
From the moment we arrived, the vibe was feeling good, local music lovers mixed with die-hard fans who had traveled from further afield, all drawn by a lineup that most wouldn’t expect to see on the Lincolnshire coast.
We arrived with enough time to grab a pint of Docks Beers’ own home-brewed ales and ciders, an immediate win. One of the standout perks of Docks Fest is that you’re not being rinsed for some overpriced, watered-down lager. Instead, you’re handed a quality local brew that actually tastes like a proper pint. It’s the little things like this that show the organisers genuinely care about the experience.
We made our way to the stage just as local band EVER were kicking off. At only 17 years old, this lot are already causing a stir and for good reason. You don’t get flown out to LA to record an album with Green Day producer Rob Cavallo unless you’ve got something special.
As they took to the stage, it was clear these lads were totally at home up there. Confident, composed and loud… Louder than you’d expect from a local band playing early afternoon at a seaside festival but it worked. ‘Overdrive’ was a real attention-grabber, pulling more and more people towards the stage as its energy spread through the crowd.
New track ‘Breathe’ offering a deeper glimpse into what we can expect from their upcoming debut album. A hypnotic, grungy groove underpinned the whole track. It was moody, compelling and showed a maturity well beyond their years.
I overheard a few people around me throwing out comparisons to Royal Blood and Muse, then, out of nowhere the band launched into a blistering cover of Muse’s ‘Hysteria’! Bold move. Muse isn’t easy to cover at the best of times, never mind in broad daylight at a festival in Cleethorpes but they smashed it. Tight, powerful and unapologetically confident.
They wrapped up their set with ‘RIOT’ and by the time they left the stage, they’d definitely picked up a fair few new fans. EVER already look built for the big stages and if this performance is anything to go by, the next year or two is going to be massive for them.
We went for a little wander around the festival grounds and ended up bumping into loads of familiar faces. The Grimsby glitterati were out in full force, members of Orphan Boy, Shines, Healer, and Mint were all spotted soaking up the atmosphere. These in-between moments were a great chance to catch up with old mates we hadn’t seen in a while too. There was a real feel-good energy running through the whole site, like the town had come together to celebrate something proper special.
Coach Party were a band I walked into pretty naively, I didn’t know a great deal about them beforehand but the moment they hit the stage, it was obvious they belonged much higher up the bill. From the first note, they commanded the attention of the Cleethorpes crowd with total confidence.
The set took us on a real journey. Harder-hitting tracks like ‘All I Wanna Do Is Hate’ and ‘Micro Aggression’ packed a punch and carried a sharp, cathartic energy but it wasn’t all noise and fury, tracks like ‘Be That Girl’ revealed a more delicate, emotional side to the band, proving just how much range they’ve got. That dynamic contrast made their set feel layered and powerful, rather than one-note.
There’s a constant and valid conversation around the lack of ladies on major festival lineups. Coach Party aren’t just flying the flag for that cause, they’re proving they’ve got the sound, presence and talent to be right up there with bands like Wolf Alice. On this showing, they’re not far off.
Photo by: Alex Brown – AMBGY Photography
There was a real buzz building before Corella took the stage, the venue was filling up fast and the excitement was electric. The band has strong local ties with frontman Joel Smith being a Grimsby lad and the crowd was more than ready to give him a proper homecoming.
Corella are the definition of a great festival band, their tunes are infectious and absolutely reek of summer. Whether you wanted to be down the front bouncing about, or chilling at the back letting the music wash over you, Corella had you covered. Their sound hits that sweet spot between anthemic and laid-back easy to love and impossible to ignore.
‘Waterfall’ was the one I’d been most looking forward to and as a big indie fan, it ticks every box for me. Live though, it reached another level entirely. There’s something about the way Corella perform it that amplifies every hook, every chorus it was one of the standout moments of the day.
Mid-set, Joel pulled a mini Madonna move with a quick costume change, not into sequins or owt but into the brand new Grimsby Town away shirt, which had only gone on sale that morning. Docks Fest even had a GTFC merch stall on-site, which only added to the hometown pride. As he wore the shirt, the sun came out, the wind calmed and the band launched into a brand-new tune, I believe to be called ‘Rewire’ which felt like a fresh, promising step forward.
They closed the set with fan favourite ‘Barcelona Girl’, which sent the crowd into one last frenzy. Joel jumped down, opened up a mosh pit and when it crashed in on itself, he was right in the middle of it grinning from ear to ear and bouncing with the rest of us whilst it was raining pints of beer.
What a set, what a welcome home
Between the main stage sets, GI Media hosted a second stage exclusively for VIP wristband holders and it was a proper gem. Stripped-back performances gave the area an intimate, special atmosphere, showcasing some of the town’s top talents. The lineup featured the brilliant Jaz Beeson, Lola & The Cosmic Getaway, Roulette, Alex Henderson, and Dean Fox, with the evening headlined by one of Grimsby’s most loved artists, Leon Blanchard. It felt like a celebration of local talent in its purest form.
The VIP area itself was another level, complete with its own exclusive bar and surprisingly plush toilets. We’re talking sea kelp soap and sleek little cabin-style cubicles. It’s those kinds of thoughtful touches across the whole site that showed Docks Fest wasn’t cutting corners, it was going all in.
Even the big screens flanking the main stage were a welcome addition, not something you usually see at smaller festivals and they really added to the professional feel. Shoutout to the portaloos too, I know it sounds strange to praise toilets at a festival but with regular cleaning from on-site attendants, they were genuinely spotless. Festival loos are usually the first thing to be moaned about but this time, I couldn’t find a single thing to fault across the site.
Photo by: Alex Brown – AMBGY Photography
Maxïmo Park are tailor-made for festivals. They’ve got a die-hard fanbase but their appeal stretches far beyond that, perfect for casual listeners too. It’s easy to forget just how many great songs they’ve racked up over the years and live, they bring an energy that takes those tracks to another level entirely.
They opened with ‘Girls Who Play Guitar’ and right from the first note, the energy burst off the stage. The Cleethorpes crowd was instantly drawn in, moving, singing and fully along for the ride.
Frontman Paul Smith won the crowd over early, dropping a bit of local knowledge. He said he’d driven through Grimsby and thought it was “nice,” which got a good laugh. He added that he’d carried on to Cleethorpes to see the coast just before launching into the fitting ‘The Coast Is Always Changing’.
By the time they hit ‘Our Velocity’ midway through the set, it felt like a proper turning point. The entire festival seemed to lock in at once, the energy, the crowd, the band… Everyone was in sync. It was one of those moments where you realise this is what festivals are about.
Smith kept the local references coming, thanking the crowd with a cheeky, “You could’ve gone to the beach or to The Swashy.” That line was met with laughter and knowing nods. If you’re from the area, you’ll know exactly what he meant. If you’re not, count yourself lucky. God knows who told him about The Swashy (Cleethorpes’ most notorious nightclub), but I’d put my money on Lloyd Griffith, who was compering the day.
One of the standout moments for me was ‘Versions of You’. Among all the bangers, it was this slower, more emotional track that really shone. Sometimes it’s not the biggest hits that leave the biggest mark.
They closed with the anthem ‘Apply Some Pressure’, and it was the perfect send-off. A huge, cathartic release that left Cleethorpes buzzing. A truly unforgettable set from a band still operating at the top of their game.
As evening rolled in, Docks Fest entered its golden hour, that magical moment when day fades into night. The sun dips, the lights kicked in and a new energy sweeps over the crowd. It was the perfect setting for two heavyweight acts with over 60 years of music between them, Ash and The Charlatans. With 29 years since the release of Ash’s debut album ‘1977’, and 35 years since The Charlatans dropped ‘Some Friendly’, we were in for a masterclass in indie longevity.
Photo by: Alex Brown – AMBGY Photography
Ash hit the stage first and it didn’t take long to realise that their energy hasn’t aged a day. They opened with a one-two punch of ‘A Life Less Ordinary’ and ‘Angel Interceptor’, instantly sweeping the 40-somethings in the crowd into a warm wave of nostalgia. For a moment, we were all back in the mid-’90s, wide-eyed and buzzing.
But Ash aren’t just a retro act, they’re still a force. When they dropped ‘Orpheus’, the vibe shifted and the crowd especially the 30-somethings came alive. The pit kicked into gear, pogoing in full glory as that massive riff tore through Cleethorpes.
Then came the hat-trick: ‘Oh Yeah’, ‘Walking Barefoot’ and ‘Shining Light’, back-to-back brilliance. It felt like we were getting two sets in one, part mid-’90s, part early-’00s but the songs were so timeless, it was easy to forget which era they came from. The band looked genuinely thrilled and Tim Wheeler was grinning like he’d time-travelled back to the peak of Britpop himself.
And then… ‘Kung Fu’, A pit opened up and in a moment of booze-fuelled brilliance (or madness), I decided to throw down some absolutely dreadful drunken Jackie Chan moves in the centre circle. Needless to say, the pit closed in, I hit the deck, lost my sunglasses and got picked up by a bunch of equally grinning, sweaty strangers. Classic mosh pit etiquette, go hard, fall hard, help each other up.
As if the set hadn’t already peaked, the band closed with ‘Girl From Mars’ and ‘Burn Baby Burn’, two absolute classics that could close any gig on their own. It was one last chance for everyone to squeeze out whatever energy they had left. No doubt, the following morning, there were plenty of 40+ year olds nursing bruises, aching knees, and sore hips but also saying, “What a set.”
Photo by: Alex Brown – AMBGY Photography
One thing I never thought I’d see in my lifetime was The Charlatans playing in my hometown but here we were and it was actually happening.
As the band took to the stage, they looked genuinely up for it, with Tim Burgess beaming as always. There’s something so infectious about that smile, he looks just as excited now as he must’ve done at their first ever gig. You can tell he still loves this.
It didn’t take long for the groove of ‘Forever’ to ripple through the field, pulling the crowd into sync with the band’s rhythm. They followed it up with ‘Weirdo’, one of my personal favourites. There’s something darker and moodier about that tune, it showcases The Charlatans in one of their rawest, most natural forms. A slightly unexpected start, maybe but it worked.
Then came the crowd-pleaser, ‘North Country Boy’. Three songs in and the band had the entire Cleethorpes crowd exactly where they wanted them, hooked, singing and totally present.
This gig also marked the start of a new era for The Charlatans. With album number 14, ‘We Are Love‘, now announced, they treated us to a run-out of the title track for only its second ever live performance following its debut at Castlefield Bowl just two days before.
That’s the secret to their longevity, evolution. They’ve never made the same record twice and that ability to adapt and grow has kept them relevant for 35 years. The new track still sounded unmistakably like The Charlatans but also fresh like something new had clicked into place.
Just in case the new material had lost a few casual fans, they pulled the crowd right back in with a huge blast of ‘One To Another’. As people clambered onto shoulders (to the obvious disapproval of security), Tim didn’t seem to mind, he waved, pointed and smiled at the risk-takers. It was a proper festival moment.
They wrapped up the main set with ‘The Only One I Know’ and ‘How High’, unleashing massive singalongs that gave the crowd’s lungs a serious workout. It was so good, some of the less seasoned gig-goers even began leaving thinking it must be over.
Of course, it wasn’t.
The encore arrived, and they kicked off with cult favourite ‘I Don’t Want To See The Sights’, before delivering the ultimate closer, ‘Sproston Green’. That track is The Charlatans’ DNA. As always, they dragged out the outro stretching the groove, riding the wave and refusing to let the night end quietly. It’s the perfect farewell.
When it finally ended, there were smiles for miles. People were genuinely stunned that they’d just witnessed one of the most iconic British bands of the last 40 years in our sometimes-beautiful, often-run-down seaside town.
Since Docks Beers opened Docks Academy, they’ve steadily been putting Grimsby back on the musical map, bringing through huge names and rising talent alike but with a venue thats intimate, there’s only so far you can grow. Enter Docks Fest a natural evolution that’s allowed them to go even bigger and with lineups like this year’s and last, they’ve made one thing absolutely clear, Docks mean business.
It’s a genuinely exciting time for music in the area. Five years ago, the idea of seeing bands like this here was nothing more than a dream. But now? It’s real, it’s here, Grimsby is back and singing louder than ever! See you in 2026.
