Indie By The Sea

About Indie By The Sea

Winter Gardens Blackpool, behind Blackpool Tower, takes Indie By The Sea 2027 into Blackpool for an indoor indie rock weekender. It is the first edition. The event runs from 1 to 2 May 2027 after first public announcement coverage in August 2026.

Lineup and Programme

The bill draws on late-1980s and 1990s British guitar music, spanning indie rock, Britpop, Madchester and baggy. Announced acts include Ocean Colour Scene and Peter Hook & The Light. Indoor live music runs across the weekend. The named rooms are the Empress Ballroom and Pavilion, with after-hours parties led by Bez and broadcaster and journalist John Robb.

Who Is It For?

The audience is adult-leaning, centred on fans of late-1980s and 1990s British guitar music. Under-14s need an over-18 adult. The venue states there is no minimum age of admittance.

The Venue and Site

Winter Gardens Blackpool sits at 97 Church Street, with the festival using the Empress Ballroom and Pavilion. The combined Winter Gardens complex has a capacity of up to 7,000. Venue facilities include bars, cafés and restaurants, with named spaces including Empress Coffee Bar & Bistro, The Floral Lounge and The Old Victoria.

VIP tickets cover a dedicated area, a private bar, Empress Ballroom seating and priority access to Pavilion sets. The venue also runs an accessibility scheme and accessible tickets.

Travel to Indie By The Sea

Winter Gardens Blackpool is in central Blackpool.

• Rail: Blackpool North Station is about 10 minutes’ walk from the venue.
• Road: Drivers reach Blackpool via M6 Junction 32 and the M55, leaving at M55 exit 4 and following the A583 into central Blackpool.
• Local approach: Venue routes use Church Street, Talbot Road, Abingdon Street and Leopold Grove, with Adelaide Street and Alfred Street named nearby.
• Parking: There is no on-site public parking. Nearby car parks named by the venue include Houndshill Shopping Centre multi-storey, Central Car Park, Talbot Road Multi-Storey and open-air parking at Adelaide Street and Alfred Street. Blue Badge spaces are available in those car parks.