From Teesside’s industrial heart, Middlesbrough, Finn Forster is well placed to be the North East’s next big breakout star. In recent years, Finn has supported Bastille, The Lottery Winners and Stereophonics as well as being named a winner of a Drake YolanDa Award for Emerging Young Artists and named a BBC Introducing ‘One To Watch’ in 2023. We asked a few questions ahead of his appearance at Reading and Leeds Festival this year.
Reading Indie Life: How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t seen you live?
Finn Forster: Vocal driven British Indie Wrapped in Country & Folk.
You are from Middlesbrough. What is the local music scene like?
It’s amazing. I’ve always had grassroots festivals in my area put together by local passionate promoters like Stockton Calling, Twisterella, Gathering Sounds etc. Stockton On Tees around the corner from me has some of the best music venues in the UK all within a mile radius of each other.
You have been supporting The Stereophonics on tour. That must have been an amazing experience!
A real pinch me moment. I’ve learned so much from playing in Europe for the first time and also playing at some of the biggest UK venues like Cardiff Principality Stadium and Finsbury Park. I’m forever grateful to the Stereophonics and their entire team for trusting me to open up the shows this year and just being the best people to be on the road with.
What are your favourite memories of Leeds Festival? What will it mean to be playing it this year?
It was my first major music festival as a 16 year old. I remember travelling stage to stage being mesmerised by it, thinking one day I’ll be playing it, even back then having only just picked up a guitar for the first time, I had a feeling. So I’m buzzing to be playing.
Tell us about your BBC Introducing journey.
BBC Introducing has been a catalyst for me and my journey as an artist, it’s tough going through the up’s and downs of being an artist, especially in the very early days so to get recognition and support from such a major platform is so motivating and inspiring. I’ve started from getting singles played on BBC Introducing, to then getting major playlist support on BBC Radio 2, and just last week opened for JADE at BBC Proms supported by BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 1. I’m a good example of how an artist’s journey is massively impacted by BBC Introducing so I’m so grateful we have it.
Who are your heroes or your influences?
I remember jumping in the car with my Grandad when I was 13 and him having Paolo Nutini’s Sunny Side Up album on CD. I was hooked from then onwards. Chris Stapleton also is a massive influence and then Kelly Jones and Stereophonics, which feels mad to say since all the touring I’ve done with them this year.
Who are you looking forward to seeing on the Reading/Leeds bill on your day?
Definitely Limp Bizkit, Royel Otis & Wunderhorse to name a few.
By the end of 2026 the three things I would like to achieve in music are:
My biggest UK & European Headline Tour to date, first BBC Radio 1 plays, continue releasing a ton of new music!
Fin Forster plays the BBC Introducing Stage at Reading on Saturday 23rd of August at 2:45pm and Leeds Festival on Sunday the 24th.
Reading Indie Life 
Leave a comment