Line-Up Announced for Aesthetica New Music Stage at York Theatre Royal

As part of this year’s Aesthetica Film Festival, 10 breakthrough music acts will be competing live at York Theatre Royal on Sat 08 Nov as the city becomes the UK’s epicentre of music discovery. This year’s line-up is a showcase of exceptional breadth and originality, with artists who have performed at SXSW, Glastonbury and Kendal Calling, appeared on The Voice and received plays from BBC Introducing, Radio 1 and Radio X.

The Aesthetica New Music Stage is a bold, innovative platform like nothing else in the country — dubbed as the UK’s version of SXSW and a first-of-its-kind national music competition embedded within a world-class film festival. With collaborations from Universal Music A&R and opportunities for national airplay across Caffè Nero, the festival is creating a pipeline that connects grassroots talent with national and international audiences.

Spotlighting fresh music across genres, the event will give audiences the opportunity to hear new voices, discover tomorrow’s stars, and be part of shaping the future of UK music.

The line-up includes the following acts:

• BLÁNID – With a rich, storytelling voice that has graced BBC Radio 1 and RTÉ, BLÁNID has earned over a million streams and toured the UK with folk legend Judy Collins. Her music blends grief, ecstasy, and everything in between, marking her as a star in the making.
• Jemma Johnson – The self-taught multi-instrumentalist is taking alternative pop to new heights. With Radio 1 airplay, festival slots from Tramlines to MiCannes, and collaborations with major UK artists, her live presence is nothing short of magnetic.
• Crazy James – A rapper forging his own path through sheer craft and consistency. Known for blistering flows and commanding live sets, Crazy James has turned grassroots energy into headline moments across London and beyond.
• Ewan Sim – Blending indie, pop, rock, and soul into songs of intimacy and power, Ewan Sim has sold-out shows in Manchester and recently impressed audiences at SXSW London. His voice is already earning national attention.
• Daisy Gill – Liverpool’s retro-pop sensation brings powerhouse vocals and modern production. Her rare four-chair turn on The Voice UK and 10 million TikTok views show she’s a rising star whose anthems stick with you.
• Dilettante – The art-pop project of Francesca Pidgeon delivers dazzling, groove-laden sets that have taken her from Manchester basements to SXSW and NXNE. Signed to EMI North and praised by MOJO and Uncut, her sound is as inventive as it is infectious.
• Kengo – A songwriter and vocalist who channels honesty and lived experience into music that bridges emotion and spirit. These tracks are rich in lyrical depth and melodic sensitivity, speaking about connection, healing and resilience.
• Tarian – A Welsh artist blending hip hop with emotive pop and classical roots. With over 2M streams and a loyal TikTok following, Tarian is a genre-defying talent to watch.
• Isabel Maria – Just 19, Isabel Maria has already won major cultural awards and been celebrated by Rolling Stone for her raw, alternative pop songwriting.
• Pleasure Centre – An alt/art rock quintet from the North Yorkshire coast, Pleasure Centre conjure delicate melodies and euphoric walls of sound inspired by shoegaze and Radiohead.

The New Music Pass (£21) gives audiences full access to all ten acts in one day. Enjoy free flow in and out of the York Theatre Royal — drop in for a set or immerse yourself from start to finish. Audience members will also have the chance to vote for their favourite act, playing a direct role in launching the UK’s next big star.

This is more than a music stage — it’s an innovation in live music and festival programming, giving artists a national platform and audiences a front-row seat to the future of UK music. Don’t miss this chance to experience a festival within a festival, where creativity, performance and discovery collide.

The Beyond the Frame programme at York Theatre Royal also includes three other unmissable evening events:

• Comedy Night: Sophie Duker & Friends on Wed 05 Nov at 7.30pm – featuring some of the sharpest, boldest voices in stand-up. Featuring Sophie Duker (Taskmaster champion and star of Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week and Frankie Boyle’s New World Order), Eleanor Tiernan (BBC3’s Stand Up For Live Comedy, Radio 4’s The News Quiz) and Bella Hull (Comedy Central Live, ITV’s The Stand Up Sketch Show, and BBC’s Stand Up for Live Comedy).

• Silent Cinema & Live Score with the Dodge Brothers on Thu 06 Nov at 7.30pm – a dazzling collision of classic cinema and live music as The Dodge Brothers bring their acclaimed live score to Beggars of Life (1928), a landmark American silent film starring Louise Brooks. With renowned film critic and BBC presenter Mark Kermode on double bass and harmonica, and joined by the extraordinary Neil Brand – celebrated silent film accompanist and star of BBC Four’s Sound of Cinema – on piano, this electrifying ensemble transforms a black-and-white masterpiece into a full-blooded cinematic event.

• Mark Kermode: In Conversation with Jenny Nelson on Fri 07 Nov at 7.30pm – hear from the Co-Authors of Mark Kermode’s Surround Sound about the magic of Film Music. Join Britain’s best-known film critic Mark Kermode and award-winning radio producer Jenny Nelson for an unmissable evening of cinematic insight, sharp wit and passionate debate. Together, they explore the power of film music, inspired by their new book Mark Kermode’s Surround Sound. From cult classics to blockbuster scores, expect passionate discussion, revealing stories, and plenty of chances to ask questions and join the debate. This is a night of honest, hilarious, and deeply informed film talk you simply won’t hear anywhere else – from the definitive voice of British cinema.

Find out more information and book your tickets here. 

York Theatre Royal is also the  venue for the ASFF 2025 line-up of film screenings and masterclasses (05-09 Nov). More details on booking festival passes can be found on the Aesthetica website.