At Aesthetica, creativity is not a single act; it is a conversation – a meeting point where ideas, stories and sound collide. For 15 years, our film festival has been a place to witness fresh voices in cinema, to see the world through new perspectives. This November, we take that ethos further, launching the UK’s first National New Music Stage and New Music Pass – a platform where emerging music talent meets the cinematic experience, creating a space where discovery and innovation are inseparable.
This is unprecedented in the UK. Often compared to SXSW, Aesthetica now extends beyond film, becoming a cultural ecosystem where audiences can experience tomorrow’s music within the same vibrant frame as independent cinema. Our Director, Cherie Federico, reflects: “Aesthetica has always been about discovery – about bringing new voices, stories, and ideas to audiences. The New Music Stage gives audiences the opportunity to discover tomorrow’s stars. It’s about creating a cultural hub where film and music collide, ensuring that artists have the chance to be heard on both a national and international scale.”
This year’s line-up speaks to the extraordinary breadth of the UK’s music landscape. BLÁNID enchants with an ethereal storytelling voice, already streaming to millions and backed by BBC Radio 1. Jemma Johnston, a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, layers alt-pop textures with magnetic live energy. Crazy James commands attention with razor-sharp lyricism, while Kengo channels lived experience into music both raw and powerful.
Across genres and continents, the stage continues to surprise. Ewan Sim blends indie, pop, and soul into performances of striking intimacy, while Daisy Gill charms with retro-pop brilliance that captured four turns on The Voice UK. Dilettante, the art-pop project of Francesca Pidgeon, dazzles with boundary-pushing sets – from Manchester to SXSW stages – proving that experimentation can be infectious.
Fearless new voices complete the programme. Tarian, a Welsh artist fusing hip hop with classical roots, has amassed millions of streams. Isabel Maria, at just 19, crafts songs of unflinching honesty. And Pleasure Centre, an alt/art-rock quintet from North Yorkshire, close the line-up with immersive soundscapes that echo shoegaze and Radiohead, a finale that mirrors the cinematic textures we celebrate at the festival.
Yet the New Music Stage is more than performance; it is a commitment to nurture creativity. In collaboration with Universal Music A&R and national partner Caffè Nero, we are building bridges between grassroots talent and national audiences. Pablo Ettinger, Founder of Caffè Nero and Owner of TALENBANQ, explains: “There is nothing like this anywhere else in the UK. By working with Aesthetica, we are creating a national stage for discovery and giving artists the support they need to take their careers forward. It’s about creating pathways, reaching audiences in new ways, and shining a spotlight on talent that deserves to be heard. Aesthetica is the perfect home for this kind of innovation.”
Music now joins film, comedy, and performance in our Beyond the Frame programme — from Taskmaster champion Sophie Duker to film critic Mark Kermode, as well as live scores for silent cinema. Together, these strands form a dynamic cultural dialogue where sound, image and performance seamlessly intertwine — an invitation to experience creativity without borders.
At Aesthetica, we see art not as separate disciplines, but as conversations between mediums — spaces where ideas are born, challenged and reimagined. The New Music Stage is our next chapter in that story: a stage where discovery is both the destination and the journey.
Words: Anna Müller
Discover More and Listen to Acts: asff.co.uk/music | Book Your Tickets and New Music Passes Here.
Aesthetica Film Festival runs 5–9 November 2025 in York, UK.
The New Music Stage takes place on 8 November.
