Brighton, already a staple in the UK’s touring circuit, becomes a city of hope for developing artists in the month of May via The Great Escape. Along with music fans and the most dedicated ‘early adopters’, The music industry, home and away, commits itself to the seaside for four days of the most exciting new music that the UK (and beyond) has to offer. Taking over the city’s most infamous venues as well as transforming its cafe and club spaces, The Great Escape invites a growing list of artists to showcase their music to those most excited by the prospect.
With 100 additional new artists announced as recently as the end of March, we’re getting to the point where planning our schedules feels essential. To begin our recommendations it feels essential to highlight our stage in partnership with The Great Escape. On Thursday, we take over Brighton statement venue, Chalk. Joining us will be Manchester’s Westside Cowboy, Dublin’s Madra Salach, London band, little grandad and from Sweden, Sylvie’s Head. From dance infused rock n roll to americana laced indie rock, we can’t wait to be in that room with you all. Get down early.
Outside of our stage bias, and looking deeper into the now 450 strong lineup of artists who will join The Great Escape to celebrate the 20th edition of the festival, here are a few names for your lists. If bands like Bleech 9:3 and Tooth are high on your agenda for this year’s festival, we’d also encourage you to attend performances from post-punk band Black Nylon, noise pop group, Brooki, Leeds based indie band, the north and the ethereal rock of Limerick’s Theatre.
At the softer, but far from quiet, end of the festival’s lineup, Dermot Henry delivers classic folk story telling whilst pollyfromthedirt, The Healing Power of Horses and Glasshouse Red Spider Mite all arrive with a leftfield approach to a more delicate alt rock. Commanding patience and silence.
London’s 1000 Rabbits and Glasgow’s Tanzana should be in your plans if you have a penchant for theatrical art-rock, and for those with a party in mind, Tokyo group, bed, ‘Cardboard Duo’, Angine de Poitrine, Leeds band, bathing suits and Manchester’s Silverwingkiller will up the intensity.
Rounding off our recommendations, London based artist, Tommy Barlow blends folk roots with field recordings and an education in electronic music to create layered experimental songs. And to finish, prolific Birmingham rapper and multi-instrumentalist, Tony Bontana will be performing tracks from new album ‘My Name’. You should head down.
With the above just a snapshot of the exciting new talent heading to the seaside in May, the full lineup of this year’s The Great Escape, which also includes The Kooks, Lime Garden, Peaches and Heartworms, cements its place as the one stop shop for new music discovery. We all now have a month to prepare for all of those steps and to make a plan to get into all of those shows. Good luck.
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