Maribou State – Fringe by the Sea (Music Review)

Since the demise of T in the Park, in 2016, Scotland has been crying out for an adequate replacement. Step forward Fringe by the Sea, a diverse and family-friendly festival that’s situated in the picturesque seaside town of North Berwick.

It should be noted that while Fringe by the Sea is not a new festival, it’s fair to say the calibre of headliners in recent years has increased dramatically. Last year, French electronic legends, Air, brought their Moon Safari tour to the East Lothian coast. This year’s bill has been a mix of live music, comedy, and ‘in conversation’ events, including Belle and Sebastian, Lou Sanders, and Louis Theroux.

Edinburgh husband-and-wife duo Sarah/Shaun kick off proceedings tonight with an uplifting half-hour set of dream pop. It’s a visually captivating performance with singer Sarah McLachlan wowing the crowd with her stage presence, particularly given her outfit choice, donning a large cape, designed to look like wings.

For a band that’s relatively unknown, they hold the crowd throughout, evoking contrasting comparisons with Goldfrapp and Beach House.

Last year saw the release of Maribou State’s third album, Hallucinating Love, and tonight is the band’s only Scottish show this year, as they enter the final month of touring the album. Unlike the largely ambient electronic sound provided on their recorded work, the live show is essentially dialled-up and reworked versions of their back catalogue.

Backed with an immersive light show and a live band, tonight’s set hits hard, and the big blue tent the crowd are housed in (think the Slam Tent from T in the Park) is just one big dancefloor for an hour and a half of Saturday-night raving. Standout tracks ‘Nervous Tics’ and ‘The Clown’ allow Talulah Ruby to hypnotise the audience with her soulful vocals that are the perfect foil for the high-energy percussion and house beats.

With Fringe by the Sea now over for another year, you can bet the team are already working frantically behind the scenes to deliver another knockout line-up for 2027. For the location and vibe alone, it’s an absolute must for your diary.

★★★★★

Photo credit: Lewis Houghton