The festival has previously seen appearances from some of the world's biggest touring live acts including Gary Numan, Echo and the Bunnymen, Killing Joke, and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.
The event has also showcased two winners and a further 21 nominees of the Mercury Prize including Suede (band), Jarvis Cocker, Self Esteem, Fontaines DC, Tricky, Barry Adamson, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Jah Wobble, Saint Etienne (band), Leftfield, Maximo Park, Young Knives, The Horrors, Wild Beasts, Ghostpoet, Young Fathers, Soak (singer), Anna Meredith, Georgia (musician), Porridge Radio, Black Country, New Road, Nova Twins, and Yard Act.
Some of the notable artists that have participated in Q&As with a live audience have included Killing Joke, Gary Numan, Yard Act, Leftfield, The Cribs, and The Jesus and Marychain.
[5][6] Echo and the Bunnymen, Spiritualized, and Johnny Marr headlined the festival, with performances also from The Fall, Young Fathers, and Public Service Broadcasting.
Echo and the Bunnymen, Gary Numan, and Maximo Park headlined the festival, with performances also from Goat Girl, Art Brut, Algiers, Terry Hall, Squid, and The Luka State.
The Jesus and Mary Chain, Fontaines DC, and John Cale of the band The Velvet Underground headlined the festival, with performances also from Black Country New Road, Self Esteem, Nova Twins, The Wedding Present, and Heavy Lungs.
Following a spike in the Omicron variant of Covid, much of the line-up was changed in the weeks heading into the festival though, to account for artists that were no longer able to travel or perform.
2023 saw new collaborator Chris Hawkins (BBC Radio 6 Music) join the festival, hosting artist conversations in front of an audience.
In May 2023, it was announced by NME[12] that Sleaford Mods, The Cribs, and The Selecter would headline the festival, with performances also from Bob Vylan, The Vaselines, Big Special, Hinds, and Skids.
Focusing on Spiritualized's performance, the publication noted "the band gave 2025 a grandiose launch",[15] while Dork magazine stated "Rockaway Beach is still the best way to blow out the cobwebs and start the year strong".
The Quietus called the festival "Truly enjoyable,"[17] The Guardian saying it's "a weekend of diverse indie rock that's often as bracing as the wind whipping off the Channel,"[18] and Dork (magazine) has said "There's no better way to start the year than Rockaway Beach.