Red Rum Club and Adult DVD revealed as first Stockton Calling 2027 headliners

Stockton Calling 2027 has revealed its first two headliners, with Red Rum Club and Adult DVD confirmed for the multi-venue festival when it returns to Stockton on Saturday 27 March 2027.

Liverpool six-piece Red Rum Club will headline the main stage at ARC, while Leeds six-piece Adult DVD will top the bill at The Georgian Theatre. The announcement is the first taste of next year’s line-up, with further headliners and dozens more artists still to be revealed.

Red Rum Club set for ARC headline slot

Red Rum Club arrive at Stockton Calling following a major period for the band. Fronted by Fran Doran, the Liverpool group have built their distinctive sound around big choruses, cinematic guitars and the soaring brass that has become one of their signatures.

A huge 2025 saw the band appear at Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Tramlines and Y Not, tour with The Wombats and play an 11,000-capacity hometown headline show at Aintree Racecourse. Their Stockton Calling appearance will put them at the heart of ARC for one of the festival’s first confirmed headline sets.

Adult DVD take over The Georgian Theatre

Across town, Adult DVD will headline The Georgian Theatre following the release of their self-titled debut album through Fat Possum Records on 25 September.

The Leeds six-piece combine hook-heavy indie, synths and electronics with the pulse of ’90s acid house, creating a live sound built for both the gig room and the dancefloor. The band have received support from BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music, with single Real Tree Lee landing on the BBC 6 Music A-List, and were named among Rolling Stone UK’s Ones To Watch for 2026.

Their growing live schedule has included debut tours of the USA and Japan, SXSW and festival appearances at Glastonbury, Green Man and End Of The Road.

“Exactly the kind of announcement we wanted to start with”

Chris Cobain, of festival partners Tees Music Alliance, said: “This is exactly the kind of announcement we wanted to start with. Red Rum Club are a brilliant live band who have built a huge following through years of touring, while Adult DVD are right in the middle of a really exciting moment.

“Their debut album has just arrived, they’re playing packed rooms and there is a genuine feeling around them that you’re watching a band moving very quickly.

“Putting them into The Georgian Theatre is what Stockton Calling is all about. You’re going to get the chance to see a band at a really exciting point in their career in a brilliant, intimate venue.”

Jimmy Beck, of KU Promotions, added: “Red Rum Club have been friends of ours for a long time and we’ve watched them grow into a band capable of commanding some seriously big stages. Having them headline ARC feels like a perfect fit.

“They’ve built their following the right way – through great records, touring and connecting with audiences – and they’re exactly the sort of band we know will deliver a brilliant headline set at Stockton Calling.

“Then you’ve got Adult DVD at The Georgian Theatre, who are one of those bands everybody seems to be talking about right now.

“And this is only the start. We’ve got a lot more artists still to announce across the festival and we’re really excited about how the 2027 line-up is coming together.”

Stockton Calling returns in March 2027

Stockton Calling has brought live music to the heart of the town since 2010, building its reputation by putting established artists alongside emerging acts. Previous editions have welcomed Sam Fender, Self Esteem, Blossoms, Circa Waves and Reytons, while the 2026 festival featured Hard-Fi, Young Rebel Set, Gurriers and The Molotovs among a line-up of more than 60 artists.

The festival’s multi-venue format allows audiences to build their own route through Stockton town centre. In 2027, music fans will be able to move between ARC, ARC2, KU Stockton, The Social Room, The Georgian Theatre, The Green Room and The Link throughout the day.

Red Rum Club and Adult DVD are the first headliners announced, with the wider line-up due to be revealed over the coming months.

Stockton Calling takes place on Saturday 27 March 2027. Tickets are on sale now via the official Stockton Calling website.