Fontaines D.C., LIFE, Soak and more head to Butlin's for Rockaway Beach 2020

Think festival season doesn't start until May, Dear Reader? Think again. Butlin's Bognor Regis is determined to wring out as much music as possible from the early days of 2020, and Rockaway Beach is here to entice the general public to do the same, slamming away any post-Xmas hangovers left standing. Start the year as you mean to go on, right?

As far as glamorous festival locations go, an out of season holiday resort in January ranks in a field of its own; especially when it's raining sideways, and you've got three hours to wander the 2p pushers until you can check-in for a weekend of adventure golf (we'll keep quiet on who actually won out of Team Dork), pouring fizzy pop all over the bar (who, us?), sparkling gems and new faves.

Rising from hotel rooms adorned with toy ships and snarky looking crabs, Rockaway Beach thrives in pacing itself from start to finish. Forget the mad dash between stages to see bands, here it's all about strolling from one set, over to the arcade Pacman games, and then back for another.

Hype List newcomers Eyesore & The Jinx prowl across the second stage with spaghetti-looped ease, all punk drives and popping licks leaving an undeniable mark (standout number 'Leisure Time' kicks back and forth so much you'd wonder if most of the crowd gathered were suffering from whiplash afterwards). On the other end of the spectrum, The Vegan Leather twist with a charming pop gleam where throwing shapes and revelling in all of its glory is more than encouraged.

Nothing feels rushed across the Butlins resort, a chance to sit back and catch bands in full flight enjoying their first gigs of the year. Rockaway Beach revels in its moments where acts pushing against the boundaries of genre take a step forward.

Penelope Isles are illuminating on a Saturday afternoon, all wistful tones and unravelling panoramic swoons that rightly sees a packed room step away from the air hockey tables to stand in wonder. Opening up a world of their own in their half-hour set, it's nothing short of dazzling.