Gathering Sounds Festival 2026 lineup: Tom A. Smith headlines in Stockton-on-Tees

The Gathering Sounds Festival will return to Stockton-on-Tees in September 2026, with the second wave of its lineup revealed. Sunderland singer‑songwriter Tom A. Smith is set to headline the Georgian Theatre on 26 September. The announcement adds acts such as Glasgow post‑punk band Humour, Leeds' Bloodworm, Manchester duos Fletchr Fletchr and Pyncher, plus Pack of Animals, The Kowloons, Andrew Johnson & The Others, Central Arcade, Honeylight, Park View, Strop and Weathership. These join an earlier wave that featured overpass, Basht, TTSSFU, Good Health Good Wealth, M60, Shelf Lives, Charlie Floyd, Swindled and Daisy Brown.

Since its launch in 2018, the grassroots festival has built a reputation for showcasing emerging UK talent, having hosted early performances by The K’s, Lottery Winners, Sports Team, Sophie and the Giants and The Royston Club. Smith, who recently released the EP “Put On A Record Tommy” on Fiction Records, said, “Absolutely buzzing to tell you I’m headlining our stage in The Georgian Theatre for The Gathering Sounds Festival.”

The event will run across multiple venues in the town centre, including KU, ARC, The Link, The Social Room and The Green, curated with national promoters such as This Feeling.