First Light Festival Lowestoft announces first headline acts

A highly-respected DJ, prominent comedian and an award-winning poet are among the first confirmed headliners as First Light Festival returns to Lowestoft in June this year.

Celebrations at First Light Festival 2023. Picture: First Light Festival CIC (Image: First Light Festival CIC)

Tens of thousands of visitors will flock to Lowestoft as the free summer solstice celebration hits the South Beach as First Light Festival 2024 is back on Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23.

Sunrise on South Beach, Lowestoft at First Light Festival 2023. Picture: First Light Festival CIC (Image: First Light Festival CIC)

And after 35,000 people had attended First Light Festival 2022 - more than the inaugural event in 2019 - records tumbled last year as organisers First Light CIC said audiences of "more than 40,000 attendees" had descended on the UK's most easterly town for First Light Festival 2023.

Shining a light on local talent and bringing the best of the international music scene to Lowestoft’s South Beach, Genevieve Christie, CEO of First Light Festival CIC, said: "We’re very excited to be back on Lowestoft’s South Beach this June, to celebrate the Midsummer with another packed programme inspired by our unique most easterly location.

Genevieve Christie, CEO of First Light Festival CIC, on the beach at last year's festival. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

"We look forward to welcoming everyone to this year’s festival and encourage you all to get involved, whether it be through the New Dawn callout, as a volunteer or by taking part in our upcoming community projects – see you on the beach!" 

The festival will run from noon to sundown (9.30pm) on Saturday, and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, with a Dawn sunrise programme from 3.30am on Sunday morning.

Additional late-night events will take the celebration to a number of different Lowestoft venues that will be announced soon.

Toby Hammond, East Suffolk council’s cabinet member for economic development. Picture: East Suffolk Council (Image: East Suffolk Council)

Toby Hammond, East Suffolk council’s cabinet member for economic development, said: "We can't wait for this year's event and the opportunity to welcome thousands of people to our beautiful beaches and seafront.

"It's going to be yet another amazing and memorable weekend."

Headliners announced

DJ Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy. Picture: Eilon Paz (Image: Eilon Paz)

DJ Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy - a pioneer in the global dance music community - will play an evening set on the Sunlight Stage on June 22 and a Balearic Breakfast set on Lowestoft’s South Beach on June 23.

One of the festival partner venues, The Seagull Theatre in Pakefield, will host a late-night comedy gig with comedian and author Shaparak Khorsandi.

Comedian and author Shaparak Khorsandi. Picture: Courtesy of Shaparak Khorsandi (Image: Courtesy of Shaparak Khorsandi)

While award-winning poet, writer and performer, Hollie McNish, will be greeting the packed audiences in the First Word Marquee.

Hollie McNish. Picture: Helmi Okbara (Image: Helmi Okbara)

Building on the success of the New Dawn project, now in its second year, the festival is once again inviting young musical talent from Lowestoft, Suffolk and Norfolk aged 14 to 25 to apply to play over the weekend.

The selected New Dawn musicians will perform on the New Dawn Stage and at the East Point Pavilion, with a chosen act on the festival’s main, Sunlight Stage.

The New Dawn stage at First Light Festival 2023 as Sebbuku perform. Picture: Adam Barnes (Image: Adam Barnes)

The New Dawn call out is now open and you can apply online.

Wild beach camping zone tickets are also now on sale online.