Tonic Music had the pleasure of bringing our coalition of music and mental health awareness to Shiiine On Festival, in Minehead over the weekend.
With tunes from the likes of Dub Pistols, The Lightning Seeds and Starsailor still buzzing around in our heads, the Tonic Music crew arrived home from our jam-packed weekend at Shiiine On Festival.
From Friday 15th to Sunday 17th November, music fans from all walks of life came together in celebration of Shiiine On. The festival was alive with performances from legendary and up-and-coming musicians, spoken word artists, comedians and more.
We arrived on Thursday and set up our stall in the charming Scoop Ice Cream Shop, making use of its indoor and outdoor spaces.
Sharing the venue with the fascinating Spike Island Unseen: Stone Roses Exhibition, we were surrounded by iconic photos, ticket stubs, and memorabilia from The Stone Roses history. It was a great way to meet the Shiiine On community, with the exhibition sparking countless conversations about the intersection of music and mental health.
Saturday: Kicking Off the Entertainment
Saturday marked the beginning of our exciting programme in the Scoop Ice Cream Parlour. Starting as we intend to go on, Indie Cult Club kicked off the day with a high-energy DJ Set of well-loved indie anthems, setting the tone for the day.
Next came a fantastic acoustic performance by Adam Ficek from Babyshambles, featuring tracks from his new EP.
Forging a truly authentic community atmosphere, Adam was later joined by the amazing talents of Joei Supernova and Ecko, who treated the audience to a blend of timeless classics and fresh originals.
The day ended with a collaborative DJ set featuring Adam, Joei, and DJ Bioux, turning the space into a vibrant celebration of sound and togetherness.
The space encompassed a warm and welcoming atmosphere that epitomised what Tonic Music stands for, using music to bring people together and spark meaningful connections.
Music fanatics spilled into the room, as the stage was set for an intimate interview with Ian Broudie of The Lightning Seeds, hosted by Adam Ficek, who shared heartfelt stories about his music and experiences with The Lightning Seeds.
One of the most poignant moments came as Ian spoke about his relationship with the late Terry Hall, a close friend and collaborator. His reflections on their bond and Terry’s enduring legacy filled the room with a palpable sense of shared memory. It was a powerful reminder of music's ability to connect us, bringing people together through shared experiences through music and emotions.
The shared conversation felt like a celebration of the stories, friendships, and emotions that shape the music we love. It was a privilege for the Tonic Music team to witness such candid storytelling, creating a moment of true connection between Ian, Adam and the audience.
The Tonic Music crew headed down the the main stage for The Lightning Seeds' set, which electrified the room with their multi-decade spanning soundwaves of infectious rhythms and euphoric melodies. The crowd was alive with nostalgic joy, belting the lyrics of hits such as, “Pure,” and “Three Lions” in unison- perfectly capturing the essence and impact of live music and the shared experience.
Sunday: A Packed Tonic Lounge
By Sunday, the Tonic Lounge was the festival’s place to be. The room was packed from afternoon to evening as we danced to incredible DJ sets and indulged in some spirited singalongs, including an “Unbelievable” session that left everyone laughing and singing.
The day featured electric performances by James Atkin from EMF and Tonic Music patron, Barry Ashworth from the Dub Pistols, whose sets turned the ice cream parlour into a full-blown rave, transforming the formerly quaint space into a sea of bouncing gig goers (see the video below).
Resonating deeply with Tonic Music’s mission of the relationship between music and mental health, The Dirt and Leon the Pig Farmer’s own Jack Horner, captivated the room with his raw and powerfully authentic spoken word pieces- sharing his lived-experiences of rising from the darkest places and battling demons through the lens of poetry, music and expression.
To close out our weekend, James Walsh from Starsailor joined Barry Ashworth in our Tonic Lounge, for an engaging session of storytelling, musical and 90s retrospection and candid revelations.
Transitioning into a beautiful acoustic performance by James Walsh, the whole room was immersed and it was wonderful to witness the positive relationship unfolding between music and community; the intimate setting truly bringing his performance to life.
Wrapping up the day with a bang, the room is pure electric as Barry Ashworth takes over the decks, cranking the energy to full throttle. The room was liquified as he set the stage for the night ahead, spinning an electrifying mix of dub, electronica, and rock.
Seeing Starsailor perform live was a highlight for the Tonic Music team, made truly special by James’s heartfelt onstage shoutout to Tonic Music. Moments like these remind us how vital our work is and how recognition from artists allows us to extend our support to even more people in the music community. As James Walsh eloquently acknowledged, music can be a lifeline- and we are committed to being there for those who need it most.
Two Fantastic Exhibitions
Over the weekend we shared our space with two fantastic exhibitions, the Spike Island Unseen photography and clothing exhibition and Mick Peek’s fantastic graphic designs and photography. Bringing an additional artistic aspect to our space, it was so wonderful to get to know the artists and photographers behind these works. Mick kindly donated some fantastic prints to our raffle, and so one of our supporters was lucky enough to take a little piece of the gallery home with them. Seeing Mick’s use of his old ticket stubs (a memory of gigs not so commonly found now) and record covers to create tangible memories of shows was wonderful, and added so much to our experience. As keen vinyl collectors at Tonic Music we loved having these pieces on display above our donated vinyl!
Thank You
Our first Shiiine On was a fabulous experience in every way, from the fantastic staff at Butlins, our amazing visitors and the wonderful artists who came and shared their time and talents with us. A particular thank you so much to James and Steve for hosting us at Scoop and allowing us to raise so much awareness of the support we offer. Shiiine On is a truly amazing festival, with something for everyone, and we hope you all enjoyed the Tonic Lounge as much as we enjoyed dancing with you!
