5th July 2025

Legendary indie band The Charlatans have today been confirmed as the headliners for next year’s DocksFest, North East Lincolnshire’s largest live music festival.

The Charlatans complete the lineup of bands including Ash, Maximo Park, Corella, Coach Party, EVER and Last of the Wonder Kids all of whom will appear on the festival’s main stage on Saturday 5th July 2025 at Meridian Showground, Cleethorpes.

Tickets for DocksFest 2025 are on sale now, get them here: https://docksacademy.com/event/docks-fest-2025/

Since breaking through in 1990 The Charlatans have become one of the UK’s most beloved and enduring bands, their indie roots the focal point of a sound that has taken in everything from psychedelia to soul and funk via country rock. The band has had three UK #1 albums (‘Some Friendly’, ‘The Charlatans’, ‘Tellin’ Stories’) and another seven Top 10 records. Their iconic hits include ‘The Only One I Know’, ‘One To Another’, ‘North Country Boy’ and ‘How High’ and many others.

Their journey hasn’t been without immense challenges, notably the tragic losses of keyboardist Rob Collins in 1996 and drummer Jon Brookes in 2013. Yet the band – Tim Burgess (vocals), Martin Blunt (bass), Mark Collins (guitar) and Tony Rogers (keys) – have continued their storied legacy. Their previous album, 2017’s ‘Different Days’, achieved their highest chart position since 2001, and was hailed by The Guardian as “their best album in 20 years.”

Will Douglas, festival founder and Director of Dirty Docks, Docks Beers and Docks Academy, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome The Charlatans as next year’s DocksFest headliner. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to their sound, they will be the icing on the cake to what is an already fantastic line up. It gives me goose bumps to think we will be watching them bring the curtain down on Docksfest 2025 as the sun sets over Cleethorpes.”

Chris Gadd, festival founder and Director of Dirty Docks and Director of Stage & Light, the Stallingborough based company responsible for the festival’s staging, light and sound, added:

“It’s great to see a band like The Charlatans coming to Cleethorpes to play our festival. It still amazes me that we have a destination event like this on our doorstep. We feel privileged to be bringing such a great line up of live talent to the area and look forward to announcing which local artists will be playing the VIP Tent Acoustic Stage in the new year.”

Earlier this year more than 4,000 people flocked to Cleethorpes for the inaugural DocksFest, which was nominated for ‘Best Small Festival’ and ‘Best New Festival’ in the UK Festival Awards 2024.

The 2025 event will again be hosted by Grimsby comedian, actor and presenter Lloyd Griffith. Staged by Dirty Docks Ltd, in collaboration with Grimsby brewery Docks Beers and venue Docks Academy, the festival promises to be a vibrant celebration of music, street food and great beer and should be an unforgettable experience for festival-goers.

Tickets for Docksfest 25 are on sale now from https://docksacademy.com/event/docks-fest-2025/

or via SeeTickets here: https://docksfest.seetickets.com/tour/docksfest