This November marks 10th birthday of the Shiiine On Festival in Minehead.

Like any long-running festival, Shiiine has built its own traditions over the years. From Sequin Saturday to Where’s Dylan? and Take It Easy Thursday, these rituals have become part of the pilgrimage to the South West.

It may celebrate the icons and cult heroes of the past, but Shiiine On is no nostalgia trip. This is living, breathing music. 99% of the artists here are still creating, still evolving, still burning bright. Shiiine On is their mecca, a place where legacy meets momentum, and the past collides gloriously with the now.

Shiiine has always had an excellent eye for new bands. They gave mainstage debuts to the fleeting brilliance of The Shakes, the baggy promise of Big Image (formerly Ivory Wave), and the nation's current favourites The K’s. Not to mention their enduring support for the mega-sounding Deja Vega!

For me, the festival’s real magic lies in discovering the new acts, especially those playing the Inn on the Green on Friday and Saturday afternoons. As the hangovers lift and the cider is sipped with one eye closed, the young and hopeful take to the pub stage and take their shot at being the next big thing.

Through the cold sweats and comedowns, the snakeite and smell of guff from the toilets, the ritual of flocking to the pub first is the one I cherish the most. As such, here are our 10 favourite (in no order) Inn on the Green slots from the last 10 years (full disclosure, we missed the initial one, and we forever hang our heads in shame):

Cellar Doors (2016)

Cellar Doors Shiiine On — Image Credit: Brian Cannon

Our first-ever Shiiine set, and what a start! As soon as the San Francisco trip began, I knew I was home. Melodic, psychedelic, and adventurous rock n roll for the ages.

Electric Sheep Inc. (2024)

A breathtaking debut festival performance. The rightful heirs to the thrones, Shaun Ryder and Lou Reed, lit up the intimate venue with their gritty psychedelia and lyrics that could come to define their generation.

The Utopiates (2021)

*Image credit: Shiiine legend Louise Deveraux

At this stage of their career, they were making inroads into the UK scene with their baggy licks and nods to Depeche Mode. Mid-Saturday afternoon, their grooves oozed through the pubs’ ether with an ease that would see them become a staple band of Steve Lamacq’s 6Music show.

Ecko (2022)

Ecko Shiiine On — Image Credit: A Deeper Groove

A rags-to-riches tale of epic proportions. The Ayrshire outfit opened the pub stage on the Saturday and caused a word-of-mouth stir across the weekend. So much so that, when the Shambolics unfortunately pulled out on Sunday night, Ecko stepped in to play to a 1500 crowd.

Theatre Royal (2017)

Not a new band per se, they were, at this point, promoting the release of their fourth album ‘...And Then It Fell Out of My Head’. Nevertheless, their Medway meets Paisley guitars were nothing short of a triumph, cementing their place as the UK’s best-kept indie secret.

Alfa 9 (2019)

Blow Up’ Records signing Alfa 9 delivered a breathtaking array of Laurel Canyon, The Coral, and The Byrds-esque.

The Institutes (2022)

Staying in the Midlands, this time in Coventry, The Institutes gave the festival one its most beautiful performances. Epic guitars and Reid Currie’s delicate vocal melodies were the hand up of the floor we all needed.

Gazelle (2019)

Sadly, the Leicester outfit are no more (frontman Ryan Dunn now has a fine solo project underway). Their relentless Rifles-esque anthems were an absolute riot. Proof that great bands still exist but are not backed enough.

Malakites (2023)

A rush of post-punk tension collided with raw rock ‘n’ roll swagger. Beautifully desperate stuff from the Cardiff outfit who are still making waves now.

Mexican Dogs (2024)

Last year, both on the pre-party on Thursday, and in the hallowed halls of Inn on the Green, the Liverpool outfit bludgeoned the senses with their monstrous riffs.