Grab your sunnies and update your railcard, the 20th anniversary of The Great Escape 2026 is only a few days away.
The country’s finest coastal jamboree returns once more signalling the official start to festival season at So Young HQ. But if you’ve left the military-grade planning a little too late then fear not, this guide should be more than enough to give you an introduction to what to check out this year. Consider this your essential Great Escape 2026 starter pack. You’re welcome.
Wednesday
Angine de Poitrine
All eyes will be firmly cast towards TGE Beach – The Deep End come the opening hours of the festival thanks to the astral spangling of Quebec’s Angine de Poitrine. Melding oblique math rock rhythms with disquieting microtonal songwriting, the otherworldly Canadian duo are psychedelic, absurd and utterly fun. One of the must-see sets of the festival, without a doubt.
Sword II
Atlanta trio, Sword II are an act on the lips of many critics and heads alike, so siphoning off some time for one of their two Wednesday sets is crucial. After their triumphant 2025 LP ‘Electric Hour’, Sword II have firmly established their position as one of the most interesting indie-rock voices speaking right now. Noisy, hazy, slacker-pop with blurred edges and intimate lyrics never sounded so refreshing.
pollyfromthedirt
One of So Young’s absolute essential acts of the festival, pollyfromthedirt plays his first show of The Great Escape on Wednesday evening at Green Door Store. Hypnagogic and lysergic, Darlington’s pollyfromthedirt infuses hazy indietronica with UK Bass weight and psychedelic Beach Boys vocals. One of the most original acts to break through of late, pollyfromthedirt is quickly on the rise – don’t miss out a chance to see them at this nascent stage in their career.
the healing power of horses
Mysterious Cambridgeshire duo the healing power of horses take to the Green Door Store on Wednesday evening, in what is already turning into a hotly anticipated set. Following the hushed release of their debut EP ‘tape’, the healing power of horse’s gentle take on slowcore-inflected lofi indie is refreshing and inventive and well worth your time.
Flooding
If moodier sounds are to your tastes, then Kansas City trio Flooding are certainly worth a look-in at the Prince Albert on Wednesday. Distorted and eye-wateringly dense, Flooding’s noisy fusion of slowcore and post-hardcore is as exciting as it is weighty. Check out their latest EP ‘Object 1’ and we’ll see you in the pit.
Thursday
BROOKI
Kicking off one of the festival’s most stacked days is Dublin alt-rock trio, BROOKI. Both swirling and dreamy with soaring vocals and planing Cocteau Twins-esque guitars, BROOKI are delicate but muscular, unafraid to sway into more distorted, wilder territory at wish. Varied and emotive, BROOKI are the best way to kick off your Thursday at The Great Escape.
Madra Salach
Madra Salach have been without a doubt one of the finest breakthroughs in recent memory. Following in the hallowed footsteps of Lankum, John Francis Flynn and Lisa O’Neill, Madra Salach (‘dirty dog’ in Irish) transmute traditional Irish music into something wholly new and contemporary via droning harmoniums and heart wrenching narratives of life under late capitalism. Following their spellbinding EP ‘It’s a Hell of an Age’, Madra Salach are poised for the big time. Get down to the So Young stage at Chalk at 20:15 for what is set to be one of the festival’s best performances.
little grandad
Melding 90s guitar rock with alt-country songcraft, little grandad are intricate and tight as an oyster. Combining rainbow guitar writing with the scuzz of Pavement, little grandad weave bolshy country tales through spotless, shimmering harmonies and an English sense of humour. Infinitely interesting and absurdly talented, check out their Thursday afternoon show at the So Young stage at Chalk.
Westside Cowboy
Headlining our stage at Chalk this year come one of the fastest rising indie acts of recent memory, Westside Cowboy. Fresh off supporting Geese for their UK tour alongside a duo of stellar EP releases, Manchester’s Westside Cowboy create electrifying, US inspired indie-rock rooted in British suburban life. Spirited performances and gleaming compositions are the quartet’s bread and butter. Get down early to ensure a place for these guys – it’s certain to reach capacity quicktime.
PISS
One of the most highly anticipated acts of the festival, Vancouver’s PISS are set to deliver a performance of emotional heft and sonic diversity. Combining performance art, poetry, noise rock and hardcore punk to deliver wrenching, cathartic and devastating treatises on politics, identity and injustice, PISS are undoubtedly one of the most exciting and powerful acts on the lineup. 23:15 at the Green Door Store – see you there!
Friday
MORN
Some of the most interesting new sounds are coming out of Wales in recent years, and the rural farmlands of South Wales are no exception with the emerging post-punk upstarts MORN. After a flurry of taut, angular singles and a champion homecoming set at Green Man last year, MORN are one of our must-see artists at The Great Escape. Absurdly tight and blisteringly fierce, don’t regret missing this set.
Tony Bontana
Birmingham polymath Tony Bontana plays his first of three sets at The Great Escape with an afternoon set at TGE Beach – The Jetty, or a later show at Revenge. Dynamic, varied and infinitely interesting, Tony Bontana’s style of experimental and abstract hip-hop is woozy and wholly intoxicating. If the drumless, alternative style of hip-hop à la Earl Sweatshirt or MIKE is your bag, then come discover your new favourite artist in the inimitable Tony Bontana.
COMPOST COMPOST COMPOST
An abstract and spacious electro-acoustic act, COMPOST COMPOST COMPOST are a cryptic and inviting new group showcasing their wares at One Church on Friday evening. Delicious vocal writing and warm acoustics are met with chattering and open electronics which should pair beautifully within the church’s halls. Get sat, get settled and enjoy the ride.
Tommy Barlow
Cambridge’s Tommy Barlow is a masterfully intricate artist working right now and his performance at Dust should be one of the most touching and sonically beautiful sets this weekend. Combining ambient soundscapes and electro-acoustic arrangements with gently auto-tuned baritone vocals, Tommy Barlow marries the worlds of Bon Iver with Djrum to create something touching and fragile.
BED
Fusing techno with harsh noise guitars, Tokyo’s BED are unquestionably one of the world’s most blistering noise rock acts working today. Through a keen punk ethos and live-or-die onstage performance style, BED have proven themselves as a force to be reckoned with on recent touring stints throughout the country. With what is set to be a cataclysmic performance, make sure you get down to their 1am Friday show at Dust.
Saturday
Truthpaste
After a stylish bevy of quirky, genre-defying releases, Truthpaste are almost certainly one of the broadest and sonically diverse groups on The Great Escape lineup. Combining folktronica with twee, post-rock, and even JRPG-influenced electronics, Truthpaste are a sight for anyone thinking all musical ideas have been exhausted. See them at Horatios and have your mind expanded this Saturday afternoon.
The Slow Country
For fans of widescreen, technicolour folk rock, you won’t find better this weekend than Manchester-by-London septet, The Slow Country. Expansive, rousing and cinematic, The Slow Country have proved their mettle off the back of a quiver of sharp, rootsy singles and stirring live performances. Waterbear Venue at 13:30 is calling, you know what to do.
Henry Coke
Confessional and intimate songwriting is Henry Coke’s specialty, and we’re excited to see what he’s got on offer at Dust on Saturday afternoon. Following his stunning debut single, ‘Out Of Time’, Henry Coke has delivered tender and reflective singer-songwriter gold and is certainly a prospect worth seeking out this week.
Tooth
Leading the charge for the British flavour of emo-inflected indie, Tooth are a vibrant and exciting prospect quickly building an audience for themselves. Spritely yet heartfelt, Tooth’s upcoming EP and live reputation has built an ever-growing fanbase for their garage-y alternative sound. Make sure you see them before they’re massive – Saturday is your best opportunity we reckon.
August
Soulful art-rock that blurs the edges between the best of dad-rock and the warped edges of contemporary psychedelia, August are a breath of fresh air in every way. Hearty and stirring, August are certainly a beautiful way to begin closing out your few days on Brighton’s shores. We hope you had a lovely time.
The new issue of So Young is out now. Buy in print here. Read the digital edition below. Subscribe to receive every issue here.