Tens of thousands of visitors will flock to a coastal town once more next year as organisers of the UK's only free beach festival announced its return.
A "shimmering solstice celebration" will make a welcome return to the South Beach in Lowestoft as First Light Festival 2024 is back on Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23.
With 35,000 people attending First Light Festival 2022 - more than the inaugural event in 2019 - records tumbled at this year's bonanza as organisers First Light CIC said audiences of "more than 40,000 attendees" descended on the UK's most easterly town for First Light Festival 2023.
Now organisers are preparing for "a weekend of unique performances and events under the solstice sun" next June as the first sunrise of British midsummer is marked.
Local musicians are being urged to get involved as First Light Festival organisers launch their Playbreak callout with the chance to play across multiple stages at 2024's festival.
The opportunity is open to any music act who lives, works or gigs regularly in Lowestoft and its surrounds.
Acts can play any music genre or style, but must be over the age of 25, with those younger than 25 invited to apply for the festival’s New Dawn programme, which will launch in the new year.
All applicants will have their music heard by a panel of local and regional experts, with one act selected to play a headline slot on the festival’s main Sunlight Stage.
Playbreak was first launched for 2023’s festival, with 49 acts responding to the callout - with eight selected to play during the festival weekend.
Helen Hayes, the festival’s music co-ordinator and part of the panel, said: "The success of Playbreak in 2023, which saw local acts performing alongside international artists, demonstrated that the quality of musicianship in our area is as good as any."
Applications for Playbreak are now open until 5pm on Friday, November 3 online at https://firstlightlowestoft.com/get-involved/playbreak-callout/
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