LFay: Opening the first New Music Stage bill at York Theatre Royal on Saturday
FOR the second year running, Aesthetica Film Festival is playing host to the Aesthetica New Music Stage as part of its Music At Aesthetica programme.
Designed to support emerging talent, this event brings together ten breakthrough British and Irish acts making waves in the music scene already, whether in indie, folk, jazz or pop, before they explode onto the world stage.
Supported by TALENTBANQ, Caffè Nero, Innovate UK, Leeds Conservatoire, Imagesound and Beggars Group, performances take place across two sessions, 1pm to 3.40pm and 6.10pm to 8.50pm, with five acts in each one.
Who are the acts for the New Music Stage?
LFay, 1pm to 1.20pm
LFAY is a lyricist and vocalist from rural Norfolk, crafting a vibrant sound that fuses old-school hip-hop, urban jazz and neo-soul with elements of jungle, drum & bass and breaks.
LFay delivers playful yet insightful observations on the impact of isolation and youth experience, drawing inspiration from her free party and rave culture roots, while incorporating textures and imagery influenced by the pirate radio scene of the 1990s. Her music has been featured on BBC Radio 1, BBC 1Xtra, Capital XTRA and BBC Introducing, where she has been named a One Tto Watch 2026 for Suffolk and Norfolk.
Katherine Aly, 1.35pm to 1.55pm
KATHERINE Aly is a rising alt-pop artist known for her genre-defying sound. Her distinctive orange aesthetic and a commitment to pushing creative boundaries have garnered praise from the press including Wonderland, Notion and Earmilk. BBC Introducing described Aly’s songs as “educational”, reflecting her distinctive lyrical approach and incisive perspective on relationships.
Her music operates as a form of “humorous anthropological research”, set against an hyperpop soundscape that fuses alternative pop with an experimental edge. Her work has received airplay on BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music and support from BBC Introducing Scotland, who . named her as their Future-Ready Artist of 2026.
Lepani, 2.10pm to 2.30pm
LEPANI is a Fijian-born, New Zealand-raised independent artist, songwriter and producer. Blending alternative pop, R&B and soul and drawing on a diverse range of influences to create a smooth sound, his music has gained 14 million streams across digital platforms.
Since making Manchester home, he has immersed himself in the grassroots scene, performing regularly in venues across the city and building relationships with fellow artists. Lepani has performed internationally too, including at Pacific Roots Festival in Amsterdam. His upcoming project explores vulnerability, mental health and his challenging relationship with his music career.
Chisara, 2.45pm to 3.05pm
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY artist Chisara mixes radical hope with punk, curiosity and philosophy in their Afro-art-pop sound, making music that asks you to shine your light on the world while interrogating the chaos and contradictions at its core.
Chisara’s voice, lyricism and skilful storytelling has led to achievements across theatre, film and visual arts, including a George Butterworth Award; choreography for Steve McQueen’s Blitz; mentoring from Brian Eno through Netflix’s composer programme and recognition from BBC Introducing London, The Great Escape, The Roundhouse, Tate Britain and the National Theatre.
Circe, 3.20pm to 3.40pm
BRIGHTON artist, writer and multi-instrumentalist Circe makes cinematic dark-pop, where huge synths, distorted guitars, strings and layered vocals collide with sharply drawn storytelling. Taking cues from Björk, FKA twigs and Kate Bush, her sound filters visceral electronics through something more romantic, atmospheric and melancholy.
Her music has appeared in Netflix’s Crew Girland Elite; Amazon Prime’s Hanna and Channel 4’sMade In Chelsea. Circe has toured with The Midnight, as well as headlining Latitude Festival’s BBC Introducing Stage and The Great Escape. Jack Saunders of BBC Radio 1’s Next Wave called Circe “insanely talented and definitely someone we are backing”.
Pavey Ark, 6.10pm to 6.30pm
PAVEY Ark are a cinematic indie-folk band from Hull, making music wherein atmospheric vocals, strings and horns glide over finger-picked guitar, melodic bass and complex percussion. The result is a sound that evades immediate comparison. Pavey Ark are known for sublime live shows, having played SXSW Texas, the Glastonbury Acoustic Stage and Cambridge Folk Festival.
Their second album, 2025’s More Time, More Speed, was mixed by producer Paul Butler and selected for Record Store Day 2026, with a live in-store performance at Rough Trade. Debut album Close Your Eyes And Think Of Nothing (2020) was lauded by Uncut and Record Collector, receiving airplay on BBC Radio 6 Music.
PH, 6.45pm to 7.05pm
MANUFACTURED in Northwest London, lyrical rapper PH’s modern alternative sound blends old-school hip-hop with influences from cultures around the world. He has collaborated with Soulja Boy, The Game, Onyx and Swayvee, as well as producers including Oliver Bassil, who has worked with NBA YoungBoy and That Mexican OT.
PH’s 2024 collaboration with rising artist SoloCelo, You Girl has become a summer anthem, amassing more than one million streams. The pair followed up with Hell N’ Back. PH has travelled to Lagos and Rio de Janeiro to create music and visual content, including a Hollywood-style video aired on Nigerian television.
WineMom, 7.20pm to 7.40pm
DUBLIN four-piece WineMom WineMom are stepping their way firmly to the forefront of the Irish music scene. Led by powerhouse frontwoman Rosanna, their sound draws parallels to Fleetwood Mac and Blondie.
In their first year, they supported Kingfishr, Jane’s Addiction and Deacon Blue, as well as making a surprise appearance at Electric Picnic. Debut EP Grand Affair came out in April 2026. Now WineMom are excited to bring their self-styled brand of “Nostalgia Rock” to the rest of the world.
Other People’s Leisure, 7.55pm to 8.15pm
OTHER People’s Leisure (OPL) are making waves on their own terms. The Scottish electronic duo of Craig A and Craig P craft immersive live performances using analogue hardware, digital production and multi-projection visuals, creating melody-driven music that translates seamlessly to their expansive sets, with lyrics adding emotional depth and drawing from a background in songwriting.
Taking influence from Bicep, Caribou, Four Tet and Junior Boys, OPL make indie-infused electronica that “sits equally at home on the dance floor and the journey home”. Their debut release earned support from BBC Introducing and a placement on Apple Music’s New In Dance playlist.
Roe, 8.20pm to 8.50pm
DERRY songwriter Roe describes herself as “an emotional car crash with free will and an impulse to write”. Roe’s influences span Irish singer-songwriters such as Orla Gartland to American artists Medium Build and Rainbow Kitten Surprise.
Through live performances at Reeperbahn, SXSW and a UK arena run supporting Snow Patrol, she has connected with audiences all over the world. Her 2022 debut album That’s When The Panic Sets Inwas called “an exceptionally sophisticated succession of confessional songs” byThe Irish Times. Everything since has been made without a label or publisher on her own terms and with a small, dedicated team around her.
ALONGSIDE the day of live music, the programme features a talk by Jess Iszatt, presenter of BBC Introducing on BBC Radio 1, an industry panel featuring Futuresound and Beggars Group and networking opportunities with Universal Music, Rough Trade Records and Domino Recording Company. For the full festival programme and tickets, go to: asff.co.uk.
Jess Iszatt: BBC Introducing presenter giving a talk at Aesthetica Film Festival