The Great Escape announces final FIRST FIFTY acts for 2025

THE GREAT ESCAPE 2025
14-17 MAY 2025, BRIGHTON 
 
TICKETS ON SALE NOW  
https://greatescapefestival.com/ 
 
Today, the UK’s leading new music festival, The Great Escape, reveals a further 26 artists to complete the FIRST FIFTY artists performing at the festival. Featuring a selection of the most promising new music from across the globe, the FIRST FIFTY is one of the year’s most exciting tip lists for emerging talent.

Many of the artists will be performing in the FIRST FIFTY live launch this evening, with gigs hosted across eight East London venues to kickstart the run-up to the 2025 festival. Highlights are set to include Brighton based rapper RUBII at Oslo, Luvcat taking to the stage at MOTH Club, Chloe Slater heading to Sebright Arms and The Orchestra (For Now) taking over Paper Dress Vintage.

Today’s new wave of acts includes raw and rising Welsh pop-rock singer-songwriter CATTY, Mercury Prize-nominated jazz group corto.alto, eclectic Worldbeat group Sirens Of Lesbos, anti-establishment, genre-defying rap singer-songwriter Miss Kaninna, Indigenous Australian alt singer-songwriter Tia Gostelow, Viennese indie band Laundromat Chicks and rock, reggae and hip-hop inspired South Summit.

From the world of jazz, the new names also include four-piece London group Oreglo and Mongolian singer-songwriter Enji, while emerging songwriter Daffo and rousing Faroese-Nordic artist Eivør are flying the flag for folk. Nods to indie-rock come from Canadian rockers Nap Eyes and indie-grime genre-blender JD Cliffe, while a selection of bedroom-pop artists including Australian singer-songwriter Nick Ward and dreamy electro-pop act Clara Kimera also join the line-up. 

The FIRST FIFTY is completed by buzzy Chicago rapper Kaicrewsade, indie-pop TikTok stars Zimmer90, grunge-soul singer Ashaine White, London-based harpist Marysia Osu, electrifying brother-sister duo PUNCHBAG, wistful soul-inspired singer-songwriter Nectar Woode, Japanese dance-pop act Chameleon Lime Whoopiepie, promising New Zealand group NO CIGAR, tender Irish singer Ellie O’Neill and Dutch five piece The Klittens

Synonymous with new music discovery and acting as a springboard for rising artists, The Great Escape is the festival for new music. Playing host to over 450 up-and-coming artists and hotly tipped talent across 35+ walkable venues, alongside the music industry-led TGE conference, the festival will kick off the 2025 season from 14 – 17th May in Brighton, England. Tickets for The Great Escape festival start from £81.24 and are on sale here.

With several thousands of music fans from across the country and globe descending on the Brighton seaside for The Great Escape every May, fans are urged to book their accommodation early. Festival dates at recommended hotels are available for booking now via The Great Escape website here.

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100 Artists added to The Great Escape lineup 2024

Thursday 1st February 2024 – The Great Escape today announces 100 new artists set to play at this year’s festival in Brighton, featuring a monumental and dynamic selection of some of the most promising new acts from across the globe and a breadth of genres including pop, electronic, punk, R&B, folk, rap and soul.

Welcoming some of the most exciting new acts to Brighton this May, the latest line-up additions feature sibling hyper-pop duo Frost Children, buzzy American indie-sleaze act The Dare, NYC electronic trio Fcukers, finger-picking blues and roots guitarist Muireann Bradley, Korean post-rockers Jambinai, Melbourne indie-pop trio Tamara & The Dreams and many more

In addition, The Great Escape has also revealed details of 2024’s first TGE Presents show, in partnership with Ticketmaster New Music. The free entry show will take place on 22 February and is the first in a series of monthly gigs set to be held at London’s Old Blue Last in the lead up to the festival. London art-rock six-piece Flat Party will headline the event, with support from gritty punk-tinted five-piece Saloon Dion and gothic shoegaze quintet Velvetine.

Alongside the festival, The Great Escape also hosts the UK’s leading music business conference, which is undergoing a transformation this year as a brand new network of music industry collaborators coming on board to shape its programming with the very best in cutting-edge knowledge and expert speakers. Look out for an exciting announcement on the conference coming soon.

Synonymous with new music discovery and acting as a springboard for rising artists, The Great Escape is the festival for new music. Playing host to over 450 up-and-coming artists and hotly tipped talent across 35+ walkable venues, alongside the music industry-led TGE conference, the festival will kick off the 2024 season from 15 – 18th May 2024 in Brighton, England. Tickets for The Great Escape festival start from £89.25 and are on sale here. 

ALT / INDIE

Flat Party | The Shambolics | The Clause | Tamara & The Dreams | Bnny | Soft Launch | Fabiana Palladino | Nightbus | Bel | DellaXOZ | Rachael Lavelle | Brockhoff | The Dare | Kaeto | Soft Loft | Mali Velasquez | Humane The Moon | Kayla Grace | The Big Day | The Belair Lip Bombs | Platonic Sex | Cruel Sister | The Crooks | The Sheratons | Radio Free Alice | Colour TV | Winona Forever | Velvetine | Saloon Dion | Marathon | Brògeal | Good Neighbours | Faux Real | Man/Woman/Chainsaw | The Life | Fold Paper | Gut Health

The Great Escape has historically championed indie and alternative music and 2024 is set to see the festival continue to support the genre’s upcoming artists with Melbourne indie-pop trio Tamara & The Dreams, Chicago indie-rockers Bnny, American indie-sleaze star The Dare, the unpredictably slick Glaswegian band The Big Day and energetic Hamburg pop-rocker Brockhoff all added to the line-up. They will also be joined by Manchester late-night trio Nightbus and eclectic indie-rock quartet The Belair Lip Bombs.

Art-rock offerings come in the form of London six-piece Flat Party and noise-driven Man/Woman/Chainsaw, while shoegaze fans can get a lo-fi fix thanks to alt-rock soloist Cruel Sister, gothic quintet Velvetine, East London grungegaze duo Good Neighbours and Amsterdam-based post-punk band Marathon. Electronically-infused artist Rachael Lavelle, raw-edged Nashville native Mali Velasquez, Scottish five piece Brògeal and Aussie four-piece Platonic Sex add a folk spin to the line-up, while frenetic post-punk energy will be provided courtesy of buzzy melodic band Radio Free Alice, alt-rockers Saloon Dion, visual artist Kaeto, LA-based glam-rock brothers Faux Real and Canadian four-piece Winona Forever.

Other new indie additions include The ShambolicsThe ClauseThe LifeFold PaperGut Health, Soft LaunchThe CrooksThe SheratonsBelColour TVSoft LoftHumane The Moon and Kayla Grace.

FOLK / AMERICANA / COUNTRY

Elinborg | Anna Mieke | St Arnaud | Muireann Bradley | Lizzie Reid | Amble | Kingfishr | Moira & Claire | Desiree Dawson 

Festival-goers  can also expect to catch an array of exciting talent plucked from the worlds of folk, Americana and country including contemporary singer-songwriter Elinborg, Canadian folk darling St Arnaud, blues and roots finger-picking guitar star Muireann Bradley, Irish songwriter Anna Mieke, Canadian songwriter and baritone ukulele player Desiree Dawson and soulful Scottish serenader Lizzie Reid. Fans who like their folk more full-bodied won’t miss out either, as the line-up also features Irish folk-rock band Kingfishr, three-piece contemporary ensemble Amble and mystical indie-folk duo Moira & Claire.
 

ELECTRONIC / GRIME / RAP / HIP-HOP

KIIMI | Bolis Pupul | Michael Diamond | Coex | t l k | Lucy Tun | Fcukers | YARD

The Great Escape 2024 is also looking forward to welcoming an array of electronic artists to its stages as jazz-fuelled producer Michael Diamond, classically trained producer and vocalist KIIMI, Belgian electro-pop master Bolis Pupul and British-Burmese pop singer and DJ Lucy Tun all join the line-up. The new announcement also features warped NYC trio Fcukers, intense and immersive electro-noise band YARD, Bristol-based producer and vocalist t l k and Irish electronic artist Coex. For fans of rap and grime, TGE 2024 will also play host to a selection of some of the genre’s finest new acts and today’s announcement sees sharp and energetic wordsmith Chowerman added to the line-up.

JAZZ / R&B / SOUL

Romy Nova | Landel | Jackie Moonbather | Ruby J | SHVVN | Hohnen Ford | Caleb Kunle | Forest Claudette | Kuzi Cee

Flying the flag for jazz, soul and R&B at the festival, fans can look forward to catching emotional and energetic Kuzi Cee with his afro-beats and hip-hop-inspired sounds, modern soul storyteller Caleb Kunle, intimate jazz and folk singer Hohnen Ford, blues, jazz and indie-fusion artist Ruby J, multi-disciplinary act Romy Nova and comforting alt-R&B songwriter Forest Claudette. They will also be accompanied by LandelJackie Moonbather and SHVVN.

POP / DANCE

Frost Children | Angélica Garcia | Go-Jo | Mackenzy Mackay | MAD TSAI | Canty | SafeSp8ce | Vox Rea | Beattie | Leah Kate | Begonia | ASHY | Asha Jefferies | Maggie Andrew | Alessi Rose | Uly | Deeps | Tom Lark | Alfie Jukes | Tyler Lewis 

Pop and dance music fans will also be treated to an enticing selection of some of the brightest new artists on the scene, including confessional pop-rock star Leah Kate, genre-bending emo bedroom pop artist SafeSp8ce, Paul Institute alum Fabiana Palladino and luscious noir-pop duo Vox Rea. They will be joined by self-produced silky-pop songwriter Alessi Rose, immersive multi-instrumentalist Uly, bedroom-born alt-pop artist Tom Lark, Australian singer-songwriter and producer Go-Jo, Canadian indie-pop powerhouse Begonia, breakthrough alt-pop artist DellaXOZ,infectious R&B-infused ASHY, Latin-inspired electro-pop artist Angélica Garcia, singer-songwriter Tyler Lewis, gripping genre-hopper Mackenzy Mackay and melancholic pop songwriter Maggie Andrew.

Elsewhere, fans of social media can look forward to raucous hyper-pop from ‘hyper-online’ sibling duo Frost Children, sad queer pop anthems courtesy of American artist and TikToker MAD TSAI and a performance from Brighton’s own TikTok sensation Alfie Jukes.
 

PUNK / ROCK / METAL

Southern River Band | Joe & The Shitboys | Aggrasoppar | Alien Chicks | Aziya | Arrows in Action | Holy Wars | Bound By Endogamy | Dirty Blonde | Johnny Hunter | Unpeople | iDestroy | House of Women | Jambinai | Really Good Time | Full Flower Moon Band | Zheani

This year TGE will also play host to a huge selection of artists plucked from the punk, rock and metal genres. Traditional rock’n’roll fans can strap in for a heady dose of guitar-driven rhythms Australian four-piece Southern River Band, five-piece glam-punks Johnny Hunter and warped rockers Full Flower Moon Band. On the more experimental end of the spectrum, Brixton-based trio Alien Chicks will be offering up dynamic power-punk while Dublin’s Really Good Time will deliver a set filled with convulsive crunk-rock, Switzerland’s Bound By Endogamy will serve up their innovative industrial brand of punk and Australia’s Zheani will bring her boundary-breaking ‘fairy-trap’.

Representing the Faroe Islands’ burgeoning rock scene, queer vegan punks Joe & The Shitboys have also joined the line-up alongside flower-punk supergroup Aggrasoppar. Additionally, rock revellers can catch rising alt-rock star Aziya, buzzy Nashville trio Arrows in Action, heavy alt-rockers Holy Wars, fierce female duo Dirty Blonde, metal maestros Unpeople, Korean post-rockers Jambinai, Bristol punks iDestroy and teen trio House of Women.

Example joins The Great Escape lineup

The rapper, whose fifth studio album will be released in June this year, first performed at The Great Escape to a packed crowd in a tiny 200-capacity venue in 2008; Not long after came the release of ‘Wont go Quietly’ which rapidly climbed to the top of the UK charts and established Example as an artist internationally recognised for his signature sound, mixing hip-hop, electro and rave.

Example said of his performance: “A lot has changed for me since I performed at The Great Escape in 2008 in a pub to about 30 people! I played there again in 2011 so it’s a real honour to return a 3rd time and play on the festival’s biggest stage. It's been an amazing journey – playing all the past hits and loads from the unreleased album 5, I will ensure this is a show to remember!”

Kat Morris, Festival Director, added “It is really great to be welcoming Example back to The Great Escape – from playing at one of our venues with a capacity of 200, to touring internationally and achieving two Number 1 Singles, to this year performing at our biggest venue with a capacity of almost 2000, it just goes to show the incredible trajectory of TGE artists go on to take after performing at the festival.”

Today’s addition completes the line-up for The Great Escape 2014’s trio of Dome Shows*, which already see WILD BEASTSand KELIS, supported by ELLA EYRE, performing on Friday and Saturday night respectively. Other artists confirmed to perform at TGE14 include, JON HOPKINS, CHLÖE HOWL, GEORGE EZRA, JIMI GOODWIN, CHARLI XCX, ALBERT HAMMOND, JR,ROYAL BLOODJOEL COMPASS, RATKING, HOZIER, AUGUSTINES, DRY THE RIVER, MNEK, EAST INDIA YOUTH andKIESZA with more to be announced very soon…

150 artists join The Great Escape 2014 lineup

Devoted to delivering a line-up that justifies the festival's reputation as a mecca for emerging talent and future sounds, today's additions include 2013 Mercury Prize nominee JON HOPKINS, London's R&B phenomenon JOEL COMPASS and Strokes' guitarist gone soloALBERT HAMMOND, JR. Left field rap collective RATKING and resoundingly soulful HOZIER also join the bill, along with indie Brooklyn trio AUGUSTINES and folk outfit DRY THE RIVER.

Aiming to truly represent the full spectrum of emerging talent in contemporary music, BBC Sound of 2014 nominated GEORGE EZRA will perform; Elsewhere, JIMI GOODWIN, frontman of Doves, who has been musically mutating for over 15 years, will take to one of the festival’s stages. Behind-the-scenes songwriter/producer MNEK, whose debut single is due this spring, electronica craftsman EAST INDIA YOUTH and Canada’s KIESZA, currently tearing up the electro-pop dance scene, also join the line-up today.

Critically acclaimed four piece WILD BEASTS*, who yesterday released their highly anticipated fourth studio album ‘Present Tense’, with support from the uncompromising THESE NEW PURITANS*and enigmatic alt-pop ensemble ADULT JAZZ* are confirmed to play Friday night’s Brighton Dome show. The Great Escape are also delighted to announce WAR CHILD, the organisation that protects children living in the world's most dangerous warzones, as lead charity partner for 2014. Together, TGE and War Child will host this musical triptych with £1.00 of every ticket to this show sold donated to War Child.

Jim Benner, Deputy Director of Music & Entertainment, of War Child said: “War Child believe in the power of music which helps us engage people in the vital work that we do, and has raised the money to help children whose lives have been torn apart by war. That belief in the unique power of music is why we are proud to be associated with The Great Escape Festival – a brilliant showcase for the best emerging musical talent from around the world.” 

Kat Morris, Festival Director, added, “We’re truly thrilled The Great Escape and War Child will be working together at this year’s event. The incredible, worldwide outreach work that War Child does is indispensable and hopefully, with The Great Escape’s support, we can help to amplify their message.’

The full list of artists added to the TGE14 line-up today:

A PLASTIC ROSE / ADULT JAZZ* / AFTERPARTEES / AGES AND AGES / AISHA ORAZBAYEVA / ALBERT HAMMOND, JR. / ALEC BENJAMIN / ALL WE ARE / ANGEL AT MY TABLE / ANNA MEREDITH / ÁSGEIR / AUGUSTINES / AZEKEL / BARBAROSSA / BAT AND BALL / BEAR HANDS / BEATY HEART / BEST FRIENDS / BIG SIXES / BIG UPS / BLESSA / BLOODY KNEES / BOKKA / BOY JUMPS SHIP / BRAWLERS / BRIDIE JACKSON AND THE ARBOUR / BRYCE HACKFORD / CASUAL SEX / CATS ON TREES / CHAMPS / CHEERLEADER / COASTS / DEATH AT SEA / DEATHCRUSH / DRY THE RIVER / EAST INDIA YOUTH / EAVES / ELECTRIC EYE / ELLI INGRAM / EMILIE NICHOLAS / EVA STONE / EYEDRESS / FAMY / FÉ / FICKLE FRIENDS / FRANK HAMILTON / FRENCH FOR RABBITS / GALLERY CIRCUS / GAMBLES / GENERATE / GEORGE BARNETT / GEORGE EZRA / GIRL BAND / GLASS OWLS / GNARWOLVES / GO WOLF / GORGON CITY / GRAND ANALOG / GΔRTMΔLEN / HARLEIGHBLU / HAWK HOUSE / HERO FISHER / HEY ROSETTA! / HOZIER / HUDSON TAYLOR / JAMES BAY / JAMIE ISAAC / JAWS / JIMI GOODWIN / JOEL BAKER / JOEL COMPASS / JON HOPKINS / KAN WAKAN / KIESZA / KIT / KYAN / LAKE STREET DIVE / LAURA WELSH / LAZYTALK / LE VASCO / LET THE MACHINES DO THE WORK / LITTLE MATADOR / LIZZO / LOUIS AGUILAR AND THE CROCODILE TEARS / LOVE ZOMBIES / LYGER / LYLA FOY / MIGHTY OAKS / MILKY CHANCE / MIREL WAGNER / MIRROR SIGNAL / MNEK / MOODOÏD / NEØV / NOTHING BUT THIEVES / OLIVER COATES / ONLY RIVALS / PABLO NOUVELLE / PATTEN / PHANTOGRAM / PHORIA / PORT ISLA / PS I LOVE YOU / PUP / RAE MORRIS / RAH RAH / RALEIGH RITCHIE / RATKING / REBEKA / RM HUBBERT / RYAN VAIL / SAM FENDER / SAY LOU LOU / SEA CHANGE / SEAN MCGOWAN / SHINY DARKLY / SIVU / SOLIDS / SOUTHERN / SPRING KING / STONEFIELD / SUN GLITTERS / SUVI / SYD ARTHUR / TAYMIR / TELEGRAM / TENNIS / THE BOHICAS / THE CLAMEENS / THE DISTRICTS / THE DUMPLINGS / THE JOHN STEEL SINGERS / THE NEIGHBOURHOOD / THE NEW TIGERS / THE PEOPLE THE POET / THE TROUBLE WITH TEMPLETON / THESE NEW PURITANS* / THOMAS AZIER / TIGERTOWN / TRISTESSE CONTEMPORAINE / TRUST / UNKNWN / VON HERTZEN BROTHERS / WE WERE EVERGREEN / WEED / WILD BEASTS* / WILD CUB / WONDER VILLAINS / YEARS AND YEARS

Kelis and 99 more added to The Great Escape 2014

The Summer Festival Guide has the lineup details of the first 100 artists added to Brighton's The Great Escape which kicks off in May.

Heading up the lineup is Kelis in the Brighton Dome along with Brit Award nominee Ella Eyre who returns for a second year running.

Kelis

Known as the UK’s answer to SXSW and labelled “The Cannes of the Music World” by Steve Lamacq, the first batch of artists confirmed for 2014 is evidence of the festival’s ability to navigate every genre featuring; hypnotic beat making collective JUNGLE, self-titled “Steak and Kidney Pop” star CHLÖE HOWL, Brighton’s own home-grown rock’n’roll duo ROYAL BLOOD and new benchmark for Pop music CHARLI XCX.

Also joining the line-up is atmospheric 3-piece BLAENAVON, gifted story spinning slacker COURTNEY BARNETT, Liverpudlian quartet CIRCA WAVES, new surf grunge kids on the block DUNE RATS as well as disillusioned outsiders FAT WHITE FAMILY who will bring total intoxicating aberrance to the seaside.

The full TGE 2014 line-up so far:

AMBER RUN / ANDY SHAUF / ARC IRIS / ARTHUR BEATRICE / AS ANIMALS / AUTOBAHN / BABY IN VAIN / BABY STRANGE / BEARD OF WOLVES / BEAUTIFUL BOY / BENJAMIN CLEMENTINE / BLACK CITY LIGHTS / BLAENAVON / BROKEN TWIN / CHARLI XCX / CHERUB / CHLÖE HOWL / CIRCA WAVES / CLEO T / COURTNEY BARNETT / D/C / DARK FOR DARK / DARLIA / DENAI MOORE / DIVE IN / DOLOMITE MINOR / DOOM SQUAD / DOUGLAS DARE / DUNE RATS / ELLA EYRE*/ EROTIC MARKET / FABIENNE / FAT WHITE FAMILY / FEMALE SMELL / FEMME / FLUX PAVILION / FLYTE / FTSE / FUTURE ISLANDS / FYFE / GIANNA LAUREN / GINGER AND THE GHOST / GLORY GLORY / HANNAH GEORGAS / HERMITUDE / HOLY STRAYS / HSY / HUMAN PYRAMIDS / JAAKKO EINO KALEVI / JAY ARNER / JEREMIAH JAE / JEREMY NEALE / JUNGLE / KELIS*/ LABYRINTH EAR / LEON T PEARL / LONELY THE BRAVE / LOVEPARK / MAJOR LEAGUES / MARIKA HACKMAN / MATTHEW AND THE ATLAS / MAX MARSHALL / MICKEY LIGHTFOOT / MONEY FOR ROPE / NEW DESERT BLUES / OLIVER WILDE / ORVAL CARLOS SIBELIUS / OY / PAWWS / PHOX / POWDER BLUE / REJJIE SNOW / ROSIE LOWE / ROYAL BLOOD / RUSSIAN RED / SAINT RAYMOND / SAMARIS / SATELLITE STORIES  / SEPTEMBER GIRLS / SHOPPING / SHY NATURE / SIN COS TAN / SLAVES / STUBBORN HEART / SUNDARA KARMA / THE BONY KING OF NOWHERE / THE CREASES / THE CROOKED BROTHERS / THE DARLINGTONS / THE OSCILLATION / THE SCENES / THEO VERNEY / TOVE LO / TRAAMS / TRAUMAHELIKOPTER / TRAVIS BRETZER / WET / WHITE LUNG / WILSEN / WOMANS HOUR / YOUNG SUMMER / YOUTH MAN / YUMI AND THE WEATHER

The Great Escape adds 100 new bands

The full list of new acts announced today are as follows: A TRIBE CALLED RED / AA WALLACE / ANDY SHAUF / ARCANE ROOTS / ATLAS GENIUS / BABE / THE BALCONIES / BEACH FOSSILS / BIG WAVE RIDERS / BLUE HAWAII / BROOKE CANDY / CAIRO PYTHIAN / CAIRO KNIFE FIGHT / CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN / [CHAMPAGNE] / CONCRETE KNIVES / DANIEL DRUMZ / DEEP SEA ARCADE / DIANE / DIIV / THE EIGHTIES MATCHBOX B-LINE DISASTER / ELISAPIE / EYE EMMA JEDI / FARAO / FIMBER BRAVO / FINDLAY / GIRLS IN HAWAII / GOLDEN FABLE / HACKTIVIST / HIGHASAKITE / HOUNDMOUTH / THE HOUNDS BELOW / HUSKY RESCUE / IGGY AZALEA / INDIANA / IS TROPICAL / JACKIE ONASSIS / JAGWAR MA / JENNY HVAL / JOE BANFI / KAMP! / KIMBERLY ANNE / KINS / KODALINE / LITTLE GREEN CARS / LONDON GRAMMAR / LORD HURON / LOSTALONE / LOWELL / MARIKA HACKMAN / MAUSI / MAZES / MEL PARSONS / THE MIDNIGHT BEAST / MIKAL CRONIN / MO KENNEY / MONOPHONA / MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY / MURDER BY DEATH / MURMANSK / NO CEREMONY /// / AN ON / ONLY REAL / OWLLE / PARLOUR / PARQUET COURTS / PHANTOM / PINKUNOIZU / PLASTER / RAH RAH / REBEKKA KARIJORD / RUBIK / RUEN BROTHERS / SAINT MICHEL / SARAH MACDOUGALL / SAY YES DOG / SHARKS / STEVIE NEALE / STORY BOOKS / SUSANNE SUNDFR / SYRON / TALL SHIPS / TEMPLES / DANCING YEARS / THE ELWINS / THE GRISWOLDS / THE OTHER TRIBE / THE STRYPES / THREE TRAPPED TIGERS / THUMPERS / TODDLA T SOUND / TRIPWIRES / TROUMACA / UNNO / WARM MYTH / WHITE FENCE / WOODS / YAN WAGNER / YOUR FAVOURITE ENEMIES with many more to be announced soon.

We are thrilled to announce that the legendary BILLY BRAGG* will play the Brighton Dome during TGE. Billy Bragg's impassioned outlook has inspired countless audiences and artists alike in his 30-year career. Says Billy, "It's brilliant to be invited to play at The Great Escape alongside such a great roster of new acts. I'm really looking forward to coming back to the Brighton Dome too – I've always had such a brilliant time there.", well we're excited too Billy…

To gain access to the Billy Bragg show at the Brighton Dome, attendees can top up their festival wristband for only £7 per show, or purchase a separate gig ticket for £17.50. Click here to buy. We can't wait to welcome the lyrical veteran for his first performance at The Great Escape, and armed with his new band, things are sure to be explosive when Bragg takes to the stage this May.

This year we've increased the number of shows that are accessible to under 18s. We've added an unmissable all ages matinee which will take place at the Corn Exchange on Saturday 18th May featuring pop culture rap satirists THE MIDNIGHT BEAST + guests. In addition our Brighton Dome Shows featuring BASTILLE and BILLY BRAGG are both 14+. And if that wasn't enough all three nights at Concorde 2 presented by Rocksound are 14+ too. The Rocksound shows so far feature; TITLE FIGHT,SHARKSCHAMPAGNETHREE TRAPPED TIGERS,TALL SHIPS with further artists to be added soon.
 

 

105 bands added to The Great Escape Festival

Songwriter and Supergrass alumnus Gaz Coombes, hard-edged indie poppers Reverend and the Makers, Uber-hip Brooklynites We Are Augustines, and LA riot grrrl sister act Haim.

Temper Trap

New additions Haim said: "We're so excited to play the Great Escape Fest! One of our dreams was to come to the UK and play cause we're such big fans of all the music from out there.

Rae Morris said: 'I played at The Hope on my first tour a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it! I'm from Blackpool so Brighton reminded me a lot of home. I'm a seaside girl at heart so can't wait to be back in Brighton for The Great Escape; i never thought i'd get to go to such a cool festival never mind play it!' 

The full list of bands announced today is: TEMPER TRAP** / BASS DRUM OF DEATH / ST LUCIA

/ PORCELAIN RAFT / GAZ COOMBES / JETHRO FOX / FILMS OF COLOUR / TREETOP FLYERS / HANNAH COHEN / CLOUD NOTHINGS / AMONG BROTHERS / BODY LANGUAGE / RETRO STEFSON / THE BLACK BELLES / BLACK MOTH / WE WERE EVERGREEN / WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS / DROP OUT VENUS / TALL SHIPS / FOSSIL COLLECTIVE / I AM OAK / NOVIKA / BUENO BROS / HANS CHEW / GABRIEL AND THE HOUNDS / ADMIRALL FALLOW / TINY RUINS / FACE + HEEL / DAUWD / ELECTRIC WIRE HUSTLE / REDINHO / LAPALUX LIVE / JAM CITY / PAULA AND KAROL / DEVIN / SOLAR BEARS / REVEREND AND THE MAKERS /

THE BARR BROTHERS / OSO LEONE / JODIE MARIE / CROWNS / THE NATURALS / WE ARE AUGUSTINES / ABI WADE / DOPE D.O.D./ JACK SAVORETTI / TWILIGHT SAD / PHILCO FICTION / RIZ MC / [ME] / TRIPPPLE NIPPPLES / GABRIEL BRUCE / JONAS RATHSMAN/ RANDOM IMPULSE / EJ / DANTE / WILD BELLE / DALEY / REVERE / ENJOYED / SWISS LIPS /

LUCY ROSE / KARIMA FRANCIS / HATCHAM SOCIAL / KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES / NEGATIVE PEGASUS  / JAPE / SAVOIR ADORE / THE BIG SLEEP / NICOLE ATKINS / THE FRONT BOTTOMS / THE CHEVIN / BWANI JUNCTION / BERNHOFT / MILK MUSIC / BOYFRIEND /

MAYBESHEWILL / ODONIS ODONIS / KING CHARLES CERCUEIL / AMATORSKI / MMOTHS

REGAL SAFARI / BLANCK MASS / BIGKIDS / THRONE / PROPER ORNAMENTS / VIRALS / HALLS / CAVE PAINTING / RAE MORRIS / PAUL THOMAS SAUNDERS / PETE PHILLY / ALBY DANIELS / JIMMY EDGAR / WE BARBARIANS / FEVER FEVER / SEAMS / SYKUR / SX / ALEXANDRE DESILETS / MISTEUR VALAIRE

TGE festival-goers, can set up an affordable and perfectly positioned base at Brighton’s JOURNEYS HOSTEL for just £30 per night. Well located in relation to all TGE gig venues, a stay at Journey’s guarantees that all guests receive the lowest price possible for their stay as well as providing a better atmosphere for meeting and interacting with fellow festival goers. It’s got to be better than camping, right?

The festival is world famous for the massive acts who’ve cut their teeth on its stages: highlights include Bon Iver, Adele, Tinie Tempah, Mumford and Sons and Ed Sheeran to name a few. We’re looking to forwards to many more discoveries being made this year.

Other acts already confirmed to play The Great Escape this year are:

Africa Express Sound System**/ Maximo Park**/Dry The River / Spector / We Are the Ocean / Friends / Howler / Zulu Winter / Grimes / DZ Deathrays / Nils Frahm / A Winged Victory For The Sullen / Jamie N Commons / Django Django / Eagulls / Perfume Genius / Com Truise / Δ (Alt-J) / When Saints Go Machine / Sonic Boom Six / François And The Atlas Mountains / Bos Angeles / Young Dreams / Doldrums / Weird Dreams / Young Magic / The British Expeditionary Force / Max Cooper / Jinja Safari / College, Graphics / Slow Down, Molasses / Mojo Fury / Mallory Knox / Hawk Eyes / Peace / Yukon Blonde / Emma Louise / Juveniles / Binary / Sing Tank /The Soft / Karlmarx / Inland Sea / Half Moon Run / Owlle / Princess Chelsea / Mesparrow / Stranded Horse / Avalanche City / Trust / The Darcys / Jordan Cook / Mujeres / Me And The Bees / Seward / Furguson / Mystery Jets/ Booka Shade / Alambama Shakes / Natty / Lianne La Havas / Ema / Forest Swords / Madeon / Erros / Willy Mason / Rolo Tomassi / Foy Vance / Beth Jeans Houghton and the Hooves of Destiny / Micachu and The Shapes / Maxxi Soundsystem / We Have Band / Loney, Dear / Tanlines / New Look / Koreless/ Shabazz Palaces / Toy / Lower That Atlantis / Kwes / Gross Magic / Disclosure / Duologue / Jonquil / Exitmusic / Spoek Mathambo / Haim / Pale Seas / Foxes / Swin Deep / The Computers / The Skints / Antlered Man / Chew Lips / Hooded Fang / Pets with Pets / Tall Ships / Holy State / Wim / Rich Aucoin / Vondelpark / Milagres / Mesparrow / NZCA / Lines / Dillon / Don Broco / Boy / Odonis Odonis / Eighty and a Half / Wet Nuns / Mikill Pane / The Night / Cut Ribbons / Paws / Ben Chaplan and the Casual Smokers / I Ching / Oliver Tank / Gold and Youth / Psychologist / Hot Panda / Fiction / Step-Panther / Pikachunes / Ben Salter / Boxes / Films of Colour / Alunageorge / Flip Grater / Grass House / Husky / JD Mcpherson / Josh Kumra / Lulu James / My Best Friend / Seasfire /Shields / 22 / Jaguar Shark / Violet / Last Dinosaurs / Jordan Cook aka Reignwolf / Jackson Firebird / Massmatiks / Martha Paton

The Great Escape will return to the bustling British seaside city of Brighton from 10th-12th May 2012, presenting festival-goers with over 300 new local and international artists across 30 different venues throughout the city. Running alongside this is the Great Escape convention programme hosting a variety of insightful industry talks, panel debates, targeted networking sessions and key note interviews for industry professionals and music business fans.

**A small number of shows will take place at The Dome in Brighton. The second of the 2012 Brighton Dome Shows to be announced is TEMPER TRAP. To ensure guaranteed access at a Brighton Dome Show, attendees can top up their festival wristband for £7 per show, or purchase a separate gig ticket at www.escapegreat.com


 

Maximo Park, Booka Shade and more for The Great Escape

The full list of new artist confirmations is as follows:

MAXIMO PARK** (Brighton Dome show)

Maximo Park


Core Programme; MYSTERY JETS / BOOKA SHADE / ALABAMA SHAKES / NATTY / LIANNE LA HAVAS / EMA / FOREST SWORDS / MADEON / ERRORS / WILLY MASON / ROLO TOMASSI / FOY VANCE / BETH JEANS HOUGHTON & THE HOOVES OF DESTINY / MICACHU & THE SHAPES / GAZ COOMBES / YAGHT / MAXXI SOUNDSYSTEM / WE HAVE BAND / PORCELAIN RAFT / LONEY DEAR / TANLINES / NEW LOOK / KORELESS / SHABAZZ PALACES / TOY / LOWER THAN ATLANTIS / KWES / GROSS MAGIC / DISCLOSURE / DUOLOGUE / JONQUIL / EXITMUSIC / SPOEK MATHAMBO / HAIM / PALE SEAS / FOXES / SWIM DEEP / THE COMPUTERS / THE SKINTS / ANTLERED MAN / CHEW LIPS / HOODED FANG / PETS WITH PETS / TALL SHIPS / HOLY STATE / WIM / RICH AUCOIN / VONDELPARK / MILAGRES / MESPARROW / NZCA/LINES / DILLON / DON BROCO / BOY / ODONIS ODONIS / EIGHT AND A HALF / WET NUNS / MIKILL PANE / THE NIGHT / CUT RIBBONS / PAWS / BEN CAPLAN & THE CASUAL SMOKERS / I CHING / OLIVER TANK / GOLD & YOUTH / PSYCHOLOGIST / HOT PANDA / FICTION / STEP-PANTHER / PIKACHUNES / BEN SALTER / BOXES / ALUNAGEORGE / FLIP GRATER / GRASS HOUSE / HUSKY / JD MCPHERSON / JOSH KUMRA / LULU JAMES / MY BEST FIEND / SEASFIRE / SHIELDS / 22 / JAGUAR SHARK / VIOLET / LAST DINOSAURS / JORDAN COOK aka REIGNWOLF / JACKSON FIREBIRD / MASSMATIKS / MARTHA PATON / CHEVUE / DEAF CLUB / MAX RAPTOR / STREET CHANT / CHET FAKER

This new list of exciting artists will be joining the host of previously announced artists:

AFRICA EXPRESS SOUND SYSTEM** (Brighton Dome show)

Core Programme; DRY THE RIVER / SPECTOR / WE ARE THE OCEAN / FRIENDS / HOWLER / ZULU WINTER / GRIMES / DZ DEATHRAYS / NILS FRAHM / A WINGED VICTORY FOR THE SULLEN / JAMIE N COMMONS / DJANGO DJANGO / EAGULLS / PERFUME GENIUS / COM TRUISE / (ALT-J) / WHEN SAINTS GO MACHINE / SONIC BOOM SIX / FRANOIS AND THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS / BOS ANGELES / YOUNG DREAMS / DOLDRUMS / WEIRD DREAMS / YOUNG MAGIC / THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE / MAX COOPER / JINJA SAFARI / COLLEGE, GRAPHICS / SLOW DOWN, MOLASSES / MOJO FURY / MALLORY KNOX / HAWK EYES / PEACE / YUKON BLONDE / EMMA LOUISE / JUVENILES / BINARY / SING TANK /THE SOFT / KARLMARX / INLAND SEA / HALF MOON RUN / OWLLE / PRINCESS CHELSEA / MESPARROW / STRANDED HORSE / AVALANCHE CITY / TRUST / THE DARCYS / JORDAN COOK / MUJERES / ME AND THE BEES / SEWARD / FURGUSON

The Great Escape artist announcement and early bird tickets

Amongst the raw talent on display we have rockers DRY THE RIVER, Danish electro-poppers WHEN SAINTS GO MACHINE, Afrotronic super group AFRICA EXPRESS SOUND SYSTEM, hard-core Aussie duo DZ DEATHRAYS, Dalston outfit SPECTOR, currently acclaimed twisted pop bands ALT-J and DJANGO DJANGO, pianist PERFUME GENIUS,  contemporary composers A WINGED VICTORY FOR THE SULLEN and so many more. Europe’s leading festival for new music is also bringing new Catalan Sounds to the British seaside likeMUJERES, ME AND THE BEES, SEWARD and FURGUSON, as part of the lead International partnership with the Institut Ramon Llull. There are more Catalan and Balearic artists to be announced soon. You should brace yourselves music lovers because this will be a year to remember!

 
The line up so far is as follows
BRIGHTON DOME SHOW
AFRICA EXPRESS SOUND SYSTEM – SATURDAY 12TH MAY
 
To access the Brighton Dome Shows, top up your festival wristband for £7 per person or purchase separate gig tickets @ escapegreat.com
*This show is in association with Brighton Festival
 
CORE PROGRAMME
DRY THE RIVER  SPECTOR  WE ARE THE OCEAN  FRIENDS  HOWLER  ZULU WINTER  
ALT-J GRIMES  DZ DEATHRAYS  NILS FRAHM A WINGED VICTORY FOR THE SULLEN
JAMIE N COMMONS  DJANGO DJANGO  EAGULLS  PERFUME GENIUS  COM TRUISE    
WHEN SAINTS GO MACHINE  SONIC BOOM SIX FRANÇOIS AND THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS  
BOS ANGELES  YOUNG DREAMS  DOLDRUMS  WEIRD DREAMS  MUJERES YOUNG MAGIC  
THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE MAX COOPER  JINJA SAFARI  COLLEGE GRAPHICS
SLOW DOWN, MOLASSES  MOJO FURY  MALLORY KNOX  HAWK EYES   PEACE  YUKON BLONDE EMMA LOUISE JUVENILES  BINARY  SING TANK  THE SOFT INLAND SEA HALF MOON RUN  OWLLEPRINCESS CHELSEA  SEWARD  STRANDED HORSE  AVALANCHE CITY  FURGUSON  
TRUST THE DARCYS  ME AND THE BEES  JORDAN COOK 
… AND MANY MANY MORE

 

3 Day Super Early Bird Festival tickets are currently on sale for just £35 BUT there are only a limited number remaining. Previous TGE acts have included world famous names such as Bon Iver, Adele, Tinie Tempah, Mumford and Sons and Ed Sheeran… And this year, with more up and coming talent on display than is strictly fair don’t miss out on the great opportunity to see some of the best new talent at an incredible price.
 
To get your 3 day Super Early Bird tickets CLICK HERE

The Great Escape 2011 Review

The atmosphere was amazing and addictive during the day it was relaxing and chilled with the few venues in the town down all the little winding streets, full of street performers and shops selling all sorts of weird and wonderful things. The venues were spread all over Brighton so you could get a different atmosphere from the different venues. Including the Pavilion Theatre which is a nice pub turned into a venue, to Digital which is a club with amazing banging base. In the evening it came alive on the seafront with venues and bars, the place lit up with people drinking and having a good time.
 
Day One: I got there late Thursday evening and went to pick up my pass. It was already very busy you could hear bands coming out of all the different venues.  I was already thinking in my mind which bands I was going to see.  I had a plan mapped out but it got turned upside down when I got my pass as I walked down to the sea-front and it turned out that 

frank turner

was the place to be, so I didn’t leave for the rest of the night.  There were crowds of people outside the bars and venues enjoying themselves and socialising.  Armed with my wristband, camera pass and anticipation, I went into my first venue to see the band Fight Like Apes. They are a very energetic band that liked to jump about and use the stage to its maximum advantage. They had a large fan base that enjoyed it and joined in with the bands enthusiasm. After that I went down to see Example at the Concorde. It wasn’t too busy but the people that did decide to make the walk down the other end of the seafront were not disappointed. Example sang all his hits including Unorthodox and Won’t Go Quietly and even some new material.  Example was dripping sweat from jumping back and forth around the stage!  I walked back down to the Coalition on the front where I caught Frank Turner, who turned out to be one of my highlights of the weekend. He came out with just his guitar and a smile and wowed the crowd with his acoustic sound and the joy he had from playing his music. He sung hits from his album such as Still Believe and Pass It Along.  Definitely one to watch out for!
 
Day 2: I woke up all ready and excited in my hotel room, by the looks of it everyone else was already drinking and getting into the festival spirit. I took a walk down one of the main streets in the town before the bands started and checked out some of the street performers. Then I made my way down to Above Audio which was a little pub/ bar on the seafront where I listened to a few bands. The Jezabels stood out for me. They are an Aussie 4 piece band with a rich indie sound very enjoyable to watch with great stage presents. I walked down to Life and in the tiny unique venue I caught Mishima, a Spanish indie pop band, they were addictive to watch with songs in both English and there native Catalan. In such a small venue you felt you were in your own little show that no one else new about. 

vision of trees

For the next few hours we just chilled out. I spoke to some of the festival goers who seemed to be making the most of the bars and venues.  They all seemed to be in high spirits and enjoyed being down the seaside. There was a range of ages from teenagers to the more mature all having an awesome time. As the evening grew the next lot of bands started.  I started out at the Brighton Coalition which was a large bar/music venue under the arches on the sea front.  After seeing a few bands i came across Handsome Furs, a great band with lots of energy very exciting to watch. At one point the lead singer ended up in the crowd. The crowd loved this band and the excitement they brought to the venue with their fresh dark sounds. I walked back down to Life, the tiny venue with a great atmosphere. I got to see Visions of Trees that were amazing!  The lead vocalist's voice was gripping with their electronic sound.  I took a stroll down to the Corn Exchange in the town and caught a glimpse of Katy B, and the venue was very busy.  It was what you expect, she’s an amazing and talented artist and is going to go far with her dub step and drum and bass style of music.  She sung hits such as On a Mission, Perfect Stranger and came on for an encore of Lights On. The atmosphere in the Corn Exchange was big with everyone excited to see the next big thing.
 
Seekea
Day 3: We started at the Relentless Bar where I ended up catching Seekae on the outside stage. Such a talented group of people pushing out there dance tunes. I also saw them later that day in the Digital venue which is obviously made for a band like this, the bass was unbelievable, definitely one to watch out for in the future. A bit later on that day I saw Benjamin Francis Leftwich who with just his guitar was amazing to watch the line was huge to get in to see him and I’m not surprised. He is very talented, the crowd loved him, and was singing along. And to top of my weekend I popped in to see Foster The People and White Denim. I was not disappointed with what I choose to end my weekend with, they just blew everyone away. After a packed fun filled weekend I got ready to go home. I really enjoyed my weekend, it’s great to come across bands you would never normally choose to see. Overall The Great Escape was a great weekend with great weather and great bands.