The Great Escape 2026… Reviews by:Nick Linazasoro, Martin J Fuller, Keir Shields, Ian Holman, Cris Watkins, Ben ‘Jerry’ Robinson, Stephen Willcox, & Jess Kemp
Photos by: Sara-Louise Bowrey (more to come)
Edited by: John Bownas
Setting the bar high when it comes to journalistic stamina…
Navigating the relentless tide of The Great Escape requires equal parts physical stamina and tactical planning. Over the course of the long weekend, Brighton’s entire musical footprint transforms into an interconnected network of sound… pushing festival-goers through packed lanes, seaside marquees, and steep basement staircases. This year’s showcase proved once again to be a massive marathon of raw alternative kinetic energy, tracking everything from international hyperpop and heavy post-punk to intimate acoustic folk and late-night electronic noise across the city’s diverse map of independent venues.
Covering an impressive 161 unique bands across 40 distinct venues, the Brighton and Hove News music crew must have set a new record for coverage of this year’s event… read on for brief reviews of all these acts, summarised and amplified from the full B&H News features…
Acts A.R.T., Adjua, Adult DVD, Afterdrive, Afternoon Bike Ride, Aimée Fatale, Alabama 3, Alex Amor, Alice Faye, Angine De Poitrine, Anna De Llor, Annie-Claude Deschênes, Annie-Dog, Any Young Mechanic, August, Baby Berserk, Babyrat, Bathing Suits, Big Long Sun, Big Wett, Bimini, Bitter Fly, Blue Bendy, Bones Ate Arfa, Brooki, Brother Wallace, Bukky, Charlie Houston, Charlotte Carpenter, Chest, Christian Alexander, Congratulations, Cowz, Currls, Cyn Cwsg, D3LTA, Dea Matrona, Dead Dads Club, Die Twice, Do Nothing, Ebi Soda, El Capitan, Elin Hall, EMNW, Enjoyable Listens, Fanchon, Featurette, Feet, Fletchr Fletchr, Floodhounds, Francis Pig, Fright Years, Gabby Rivers, Gently Tender, Girl In the Year Above, Girl Scout, Girl Tones, Gilska, Goodbye, GreenWing, Half Happy, Heartworms, Heavy Wild, Hemi Hemmingway, Home Counties, Hot Property, J Appiah, Jamaica Moana, Jazz Cuti, Joan & The Giants, Jude Kelly, Karin Park, Kate Peaches, Keo, KuleeAngee, La Sécurité, Lemonsuckr, LISL, Little Grandad, Lindow Man, Lonnie Gunn, Loose Content, Lttl Mort, Lynnie Snow, M.Woodroe, Madra Salach, Mandy, Indiana, Mannequin Death Squad, Marina Josephina, Mel Blue, Mên An Tol, Micah Sage, Milly On Air, Mira Taylor, Moon Idle, Morn, Mother Soki, Mudrat, Muroki, NCY Milky Band, Necry Talkie, Nierra Creek, Opal Mag, Opus Kink, Oslo Twins, P*ssyliquor, Paige Kennedy, Peaches, Pihka Is My Name, PISS, Pollyfromthedirt, Pouch, Quiet Houses, Raynor, Ribbon Skirt, Rifka, Risco, Rizzy & The Gents, Rocket, Room Service, Roomer, Rosa Walton, Salarymen, Sarah Crean, Sassy 009, Screens, Shrink, Shtëpi, Silverwingkiller, Slag, Sleuth Gang, Sonny E, SpaceAcre, Speedial, Spiral Drive, Sunday Mourners, Sunnbrella, Suzan Köcher’s Suprafon, Sylvie’s Head, The Hoosiers, The Itch, The Lottery Winners, The Orielles, The Sick Man Of Europe, The Xcerts, Theatre, Toast Club, Tony Bontana, Tooth, Trampolene, Tullamarines, Twat Union, Walt Disco, Way Dynamic, Westside Cowboy, Winter Gardens, Working Men’s Club, Y, Yndling, Yumi And The Weather, Zo Lief.
Venues Alphabet, Bella Union Vinyl Shop, Brighthelm, Brighton Dome, Chalk, Charles Street Tap, Concorde 2, Daltons, Dust, East Street Tap, Fabrica, Fiddlers Elbow, Grand Central, Green Door Store, Horatios, Inn On The Square, Komedia (including Studio & Basement showcases), Lion & Lobster, North Laine Brewhouse, One Church, Patterns (including Upstairs & Downstairs showcases), Pink Moon, Players, Quarters, Revenge (Revenge Bar), Rossi Bar, Secret Comedy Club, Shipwright’s Yard, TGE Beach (including Deep End, Soundwaves, The Jetty, & Tide Beach Club), The Black Lion, The Bootlegger, The Font, The Hope & Ruin (including Upstairs & Downstairs showcases), The Oak, The Old Market, The Prince Albert, Unitarian Church, Volks, Waiting Room, WaterBear Music Bar.
Putting this into context, just one song from each act in this playlist equates to EIGHT HOURS of musical pleasure…
THE GREAT ESCAPE 2026 in words and pictures…
WEDNESDAY at The Great Escape 2026
16:00 – Moon Idle (Lion & Lobster)
Our very own local Brighton talent Moon Idle kicked The Great Esacpe festival off early, tucked away on the Beluga Stage. Their atmospheric blend of shoegaze, trip-hop, and dream-pop was anchored by Quilla’s mesmeric, reverb-heavy vocals. “They quickly drew an appreciative pub crowd to attention, never an easy feat”.
17:30 – Zo Lief (Bella Union Vinyl Shop)
A collaborative Dutch and British effort, psychedelic dream-pop duo Zo Lief arrived fresh off winning the 2025 Record Store Day unsigned competition. Despite a stubborn laptop and amp hiccups, their talent shone through. “They played a delightful 12-song set that included five of the six songs off the ‘Hypnosis’ EP”.
18:15 – EMNW (Daltons)
Travelling all the way from Japan, dual MC outfit EMNW truly ignited the evening with a high-voltage mashup of punk, hip-hop, and nu-metal. The packed venue bounced endlessly to their infectious energy, capping off with a Limp Bizkit cover. “It’s an energy filled onslaught with a constant barrage of electronic bouncy rap-rock tunes all the way with these guys”.
18:15 – Sunnbrella (The Prince Albert)
Boasting Czech roots and a London base, Sunnbrella packed out the upstairs of The Prince Albert for this day-one show at The Great Escape 2026. Blending early-2000s hyperpop with trip-hop and shoegaze, frontman David Zbirtka created a club-ready atmosphere. “…the shimmering spoken word of ‘House Arrest’ shreds your ears with high-note vibrato strings”.
19:15 – Elin Hall (Patterns Downstairs)
Bridging Iceland and Canada, powerhouse former ballerina Elin Hall stripped the noise away with just her acoustic guitar and an astonishing vocal range. She delivered deeply personal tracks about heartache and her homeland. “This was an amazing set. Elin said ‘It’s a pleasure to be here. It’s a dream’…”.
19:15 – Cyn Cwsg (Komedia Studio)
Making the long drive down from North Wales, Cyn Cwsg delivered a charming, oddball country-pop set echoing early 90s indie rock. Confidently switching between Welsh and English, they closed with a boisterous singalong. “We are coming to the end of the set, thanks for coming and putting trust in languages you don’t necessarily speak…”.
19:15 – Mudrat (Daltons)
Capitalising on the sweaty momentum left by EMNW, Mudrat instantly weaponized the room. Sean Thompson got right in the crowd’s face to deliver blistering, socially charged tracks. He was “spitting lyrics that bite with a rap-punk delivery built for chaos”.
19:15 – Winter Gardens (Concorde 2)
Representing the East Sussex grassroots scene, locals Winter Gardens dressed in all black to drop massive, reverb-soaked post-punk soundscapes on the BBC Introducing stage. “I’ve said this before, but here is a band that deserves to be playing stadiums, such is the enormity of their sound”.
19:30 – Die Twice (Komedia Basement)
Taking over the venue that is arguably the center of town, Die Twice‘s frontman Olly Bayton unleashed a bluesy, emotionally explosive alt-rock performance. “The star power comes entirely from Bayton’s truly astounding voice, which unleashes wails that would make Jeff Buckley widen his eyes”.
19:30 – Girl In the Year Above (TGE Beach Deep End)
A sprawling Cornish and Irish six-piece, Girl In the Year Above commanded the room with Celtic-tinged indie rock. Frontwoman Jennifer Ball seamlessly steered the band through quiet emotional lows and huge, upbeat anthems. “With their first UK headline tour beginning next week, ‘Girl In the Year Above’ certainly has the feel of a band very much on the up”.
20:15 – Gilska (Concorde 2)
Making the short hop from Guildford, “Dark-Pop Princess” Gilska blended huge, danceable beats with dramatic alt-pop energy. She “brought a real sense of star quality to the BBC Introducing stage at Concorde 2 delivering a confident, sassy performance that belied her status as a new artist”.
20:30 – Fletchr Fletchr (Komedia Basement)
Providing a massive serendipitous surprise, Fletchr Fletchr turned the wait for a headliner into a fiercely emotional indie-rock set that had the room bouncing. “Rohan Fletcher’s vocal delivery is packed with heart, while the band deliver a set bristling with emotion, energy and some genuinely stunning indie-rock tunes”.
20:30 – Ribbon Skirt (TGE Beach The Deep End)
Crossing the Atlantic from Montreal, post-punk outfit Ribbon Skirt played a massive set to a completely packed stage. “The giant marquee is absolutely rammed, and I’m guessing that folk have got in early in order to catch the latest dotty press darlings Angine de Poitrine who are on afterwards”.
21:15 – Hemi Hemmingway (Patterns Downstairs)
Flying in from New Zealand, Hemi Hemmingway offered a sharp mix of goth, post-punk, and offbeat charm, elevated by soaring saxophone lines. “In a festival packed with emerging talent, Hemi Hemingway stood out for his stage personality as much as the band’s eclectic sound”.
21:15 – Joan & The Giants (Komedia Studio)
Making the colossal trek from Melbourne, Joan & The Giants played their very first UK shows. Frontwoman Grace Newton-Wordsworth anchored a fiercely energetic alt-pop set. “They started the set with the lively and rocking ‘Wolves’…”.
20:00 – Micah Sage (Catching Up)
Stepping away from heavy distortion, Micah Sage provided a much-needed breath of fresh air with a deeply atmospheric, stripped-back set. “It was a beautifully grounded performance that offered a rare moment of quiet connection amidst the festival’s relentless pace”.
21:30 – Room Service (Concorde 2)
A true multinational collective, the six-piece Room Service brought a wildly entertaining, genre-hopping set to the Great Escape BBC Introducing stage. Featuring dual vocalists singing in English and Portuguese, they easily shifted from melodic indie-pop to funky grooves. “The set finishes with the funky foot-tapper ‘Jcvd’, a comical song about legendary Belgian actor and martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme”.
22:00 – Angine De Poitrine (TGE Beach The Deep End)
Bringing avant-punk flair from France, this buzz band commanded the stage with a jittery, irresistible intensity. “They fully lived up to their status as the latest dotty press darlings, keeping the packed marquee completely mesmerised”.
22:15 – Jude Kelly (Komedia)
Armed with undeniable pop hooks and a charismatic stage presence, Jude Kelly‘s sharp, modern storytelling was on full display. “The performance was a masterclass in modern songwriting, weaving sharp lyricism with instantly memorable melodies”.
22:30 – Lemonsuckr (Daltons)
Delivering what was arguably the most unhinged performance of the festival, Lemonsuckr blended Giorgio Moroder Eurobeats with the ferocity of Killing Joke. The live show was pure, hot-blooded chaos. “The crowd bounce along in appreciation, and not to put a finer point on it, but LEMONSUCKR absolutely blew the house roof off!”.
23:00 – Cowz (The Font)
Local electro-punk vixens Cowz completely commanded a rowdy, beer-soaked room by playing literally on top of the bar. They delivered distorted rap vocals over razor-sharp beats. “With its satirical swipe at the upper classes, though I’m not sure the crowd picked up on the message — but I certainly did, and it’s a fast, hard-hitting tune that really packs a punch”.
23:30 – Speedial (Waiting Room)
Taking over a tiny, packed basement, Speedial proved to be far more than just ‘noise rock,’ incorporating glorious saxophone solos and incredibly complex dynamic shifts. “In the first two songs… there is more variety and invention than many bands fit into their entire set, or indeed their whole careers”.
00:00 – Big Long Sun (The Albert)
Serving up swirling, cosmic psychedelic head-music, Big Long Sun anchored their Floydian soundscapes with a genuinely fun, self-aware stage presence. “On ‘Between The Air And The Water’ Jamie joins in on drums and he and the drummer deliver an impressive drum duet”.
00:45 – P*ssyliquor (Beach Club Late Set)
Proving sleep is optional, ferocious feminist punk rockers P*ssyliquor hit the stage for a blistering late-night assault. “As they themselves state, they are ‘putting the amp in tampon and raising estrogen levels wherever they go’”.
01:30 – The Xcerts (Secret Closing Set)
Hailing from Aberdeen and Exeter, The Xcerts brought the 25-band marathon to an end with a sweat-drenched, triumphant secret set. “These guys hail from Aberdeen and Exeter and compose emotional anthems driven by huge hooks and hard riffs”.
THURSDAY at The Great Escape 2026
12:00 – Bukky (The Prince Albert)
Representing the Music from Ireland showcase, multi-hyphenate Bukky delivered a set that swung wildly from R&B to electronic pop. Missing her live band, she worked entirely off a MacBook, creating an endearing, elastic vocal performance. “This is me experimenting…”.
12:00 – Mannequin Death Squad (The Font)
Making the colossal trip over from Melbourne, punk/grunge duo Mannequin Death Squad seized a strange stage setup positioned above the bar. Elly Vex and Dan Muszynski traded off on drums and guitar to unleash a heavy performance. “We’ve never played in a ceiling before. Welcome to our first ceiling show”.
12:10 – Aimée Fatale (TGE Beach Soundwaves)
Taking over the beach, Aimée Fatale and her band soaked the Soundwaves stage in retro, 1960s-tinged alt-pop. “Tracks from her debut EP ‘A Modern Girl’ (already over 1.5 million streams) came alive with sultry vocals, and groovy, nostalgic arrangements…”.
12:15 – Afternoon Bike Ride (Daltons)
Crossing the Atlantic for the Montreal showcase, indie trio Afternoon Bike Ride leaned into stripped-back, lo-fi arrangements. Lia Kurihara’s soft vocals soared over delicate acoustic textures. “This was quite the set, a journey into low-fi ethereal bliss, songs feeling so simple and stripped back, but at the same time loaded with emotion…”.
12:30 – Trampolene (Revenge)
Bringing a dose of Welsh fire, poet Jack Jones and Trampolene hit the stage to tear through catchy indie hooks. “They finished with crowd favourite ‘Brian’s Abbatoir’, leaving everyone exhausted, out of breath, and blown away by just how good the gig was”.
13:00 – Brooki (The Prince Albert)
Exported straight from the Dublin scene, Brooki shifted the tone with heavy, Albini-style abrasion. Their jump-scare loud-quiet dynamics threatened to topple the queue snaking down the stairs. “Thanks for having us. We’re down to our last two songs… We’ll see you soon”.
13:00 – Loose Content (The Font)
Playing their first-ever show outside of Australia, indie/alt-rock trio Loose Content delivered a brilliant, punky 25-minute set highlighted by sharp songwriting. “The standout song for me though is the cleverly worked ‘Swoon’, that features Aquila on backing vocals and Milla starting off on acoustic guitar before switching to bass…”.
13:15 – Karin Park (Inn On The Square)
Fusing Swedish and Norwegian electronic roots, Karin Park turned a central Brighton pub into a massive dance club. She worked the stage with an uplifting, Robyn-esque energy. “The electronic dance beat sounds boom out the door and over Churchill Square”.
13:15 – Mira Taylor (The Hope & Ruin Upstairs)
Remaining completely calm despite a broken guitar just before stage time, Mira Taylor borrowed an instrument and tuned it live on stage. “With her engaging personality shining through, she stayed calm as a loaned guitar arrived after the first song and was tuned live on stage”.
13:30 – Fright Years (Horatios)
Travelling all the way down from Edinburgh, Fright Years launched into their synth-laced indie-pop led by Jules Kelly’s effortless vocals. “There was a real buzz about the next band I was heading to see as I walked to the venue at the end of Brighton Pier”.
13:55 – Any Young Mechanic (Komedia Basement)
Bounding onto the ‘Sound of Australia’ stage, Any Young Mechanic delivered a modern, banjo-laden folk sound and anti-gentrification anthems. “We exist on stolen land. Australia is and always will be Aboriginal land”.
14:00 – Annie-Dog (The Prince Albert)
Another export from the Dublin scene, DIY bedroom producer Annie-Dog pushed through her ethereal drum ‘n’ bass set despite missing vocal reverb. She parted with the wish for “Peace, love, and goodwill”.
14:15 – Ribbon Skirt (Daltons)
All the way from Montreal, Ribbon Skirt delivered brooding post-punk with a chaotic, lurching stage presence that threatened the low ceiling. Their raging performance ensured “the crowd were loving it and the place was at capacity”.
14:30 – Muroki (Patterns Upstairs)
A Berlin-based artist with Kenyan and New Zealand roots, Muroki charmed the room with soulful, laid-back grooves. His performance was a “sun-drenched smile-fest” filled with pure feel-good vibes.
14:40 – Big Wett (Komedia Basement)
Crashing the afternoon with breakneck, sex-positive hyperpop energy, Big Wett thrived on the contrast with the surrounding folk acts. She playfully commanded the crowd by stating, “I want everyone moving their hips… being over 50 isn’t an excuse”.
15:00 – Babyrat (The Prince Albert)
Making the trip over from Cork, the power-pop quintet Babyrat delivered immense energy, crowd participation, and razor-sharp hooks…“certainly a band to look out for in the future”.
15:25 – Way Dynamic (Komedia Basement)
Channelling Brian Wilson from Down Under, Aussie artist Dylan Young’s Way Dynamic provided a remarkably chill retro bedroom pop atmosphere. Young kept his stage banter brief, simply noting, “These are all songs from our recent record”.
15:30 – EMNW (Revenge)
Returning to the stage with explosive energy, twin vocalists Emma Yuki and Menu led a set that peaked with a rowdy Limp Bizkit cover. The surging crowd proved that “EMNW might just be the most fun you can have with your clothes on at TGE”.
15:35 – Featurette (Green Door Store)
Making waves across the pond from Toronto, the emo-metal trio Featurette balanced tuneful melodies with heavy, crashing thrash. “Lexie’s voice also got a real workout, soaring through every octave until she was practically screaming”.
16:00 – Theatre (The Prince Albert)
Another brilliant Irish export hailing from Limerick, alternative rock band Theatre provided haunting vocals backed by a dense rhythm section. Their sound featured guitars that “provide melodic, moody textures and at times evoke the noisy, brooding grit of late 80s and early 90s alternative rock”.
16:30 – Lindow Man (The Hope & Ruin Downstairs)
Representing the homegrown talent, new local outfit Lindow Man featured uncontrolled jazz jams and intense screams in their proggy psych-folk set. The avant-garde approach left our reviewer feeling “numb, as though I just lost a fight”.
17:00 – Ribbon Skirt (UnBarred Brewery)
Returning for their second bout, the Montreal-based Ribbon Skirt crew brought raw, angular art-rock intensity. It was thrilling to “witness them at a venue of this more intimate size having played bigger stages at this year’s Escape festival”.
17:30 – Oslo Twins (The Hope & Ruin Downstairs)
Originating in Bristol and now based in London, this dream-pop act Oslo Twins delivered hypnotic, danceable beats. Their track ‘All In Your Mind’ was declared “THE best song I heard delivered by any of the 36 acts that I witnessed over the 4-day jaunt”.
18:00 – The Hoosiers (Black Lion)
Surprising absolutely everyone, noughties legends The Hoosiers delivered a packed, full-band set featuring a brilliant Chappell Roan cover. The triumphant set proved that “that obvious bond between them really shines through”.
18:15 – Raynor (Players)
Making the journey from Peterborough, 19-year-old Raynor and his band offered a highly polished, radio-friendly pop performance. They closed with the bouncy ‘Brighter Than Before’, making for “a real gem of a set”.
18:15 – Sylvie’s Head (Chalk)
Flying into The Great Escape from Gothenburg, Sweden, this club-rock band Sylvie’s Head blended early Oasis guitars with Primal Scream energy. Vocalist Erik Grahn introduced the finale by announcing, “We have one more song, it’s about rock ’n’ roll”.
19:15 – Big Long Sun (Concorde 2)
Our very own Brighton psychedelic folksters Big Long Sun showed incredible musical synchronicity and self-aware humor. Frontman Jamie joked with the crowd, saying, “This is so great to escape with you”.
19:15 – Little Grandad (Chalk)
Riding a massive wave of hype for their second Brighton gig in three weeks, this indie-pop act Little Grandad drew a full room despite a crisis of identity. Jack Lower noted, “This is our first Great Escape. We actually weren’t a band at the last one”.
19:45 – Yndling (The Hope & Ruin)
Bringing a dose of Nordic dream pop, Norwegian artist Yndling filled the room with reverb-soaked guitars and ethereal, trip-hop infused vocals. The audience eagerly embraced the sound, “seriously lapping up the sweet-vocaled tunes”.
20:15 – Adjua (Concorde 2)
A stunning Welsh-Ghanaian Neo-soul talent, Adjua showcased a Sade-esque voice over alternative R&B grooves. Introducing an unreleased track, she cheekily told the crowd, “Make of that what you will”.
20:15 – Madra Salach (Chalk)
Serving up boiling-over Irish traditionalism, this punk-folk band Madra Salach silenced an industry-heavy crowd. Singer Paul Banks introduced a heavy hitter by stating, “That song is about a little thing your country did to ours”.
20:40 – Sonny E (Secret Comedy Club)
An underground legend who almost ten years ago adopted a new moniker, Adam ‘Adamski’ Tinley hit the stage as Sonny E with a laptop, a retro microphone, and serious 21st-century rockabilly energy. His set was described as an “electronic rockabilly 21st century Elvis meets The Cramps meets Sputnik”.
21:15 – Bathing Suits (Concorde 2)
Travelling down from Leeds, the electro-noise DIY outfit Bathing Suits brought animated, bass-heavy techno to the stage. Their undeniable goal was “to get you dancing and shaking your ass, and that’s exactly what they did”.
21:15 – Suzan Köcher’s Suprafon (Brighthelm)
Visiting from Germany for their first-ever UK performance, Suzan Köcher’s Suprafon delivered a joyous mix of Krautrock and 60s psychedelia. Suzan adapted to a tech delay, stating, “We are going to have to go back in time, time to use the monitors only”.
21:15 – Westside Cowboy (Chalk)
The highly-anticipated Westside Cowboy seamlessly blended four-chord Britainicana thrash anthems for a dedicated crowd. A minor mic stand mishap was easily laughed off with a shout of “I can’t do anything for myself!”.
21:30 – Heartworms (The Old Market)
Making the quick trip down from London, Jojo Orme’s darkwave solo project Heartworms transformed into a terrifyingly brilliant, theatrical live show. The performance was “hypnotic, aggressive, beautiful and utterly captivating”.
21:30 – Way Dynamic (Patterns Downstairs)
Catching a second set from the Aussie solo folk-pop project Way Dynamic, the band struggled against an overly talkative crowd. They were “literally (almost) being drowned out by the copious amounts of punters merrily talking and shouting away”.
22:00 – The Lottery Winners (TGE Beach The Deep End)
Packing out an 800-capacity tent, indiepop act The Lottery Winners offered sharp wit, Kooks mockery, and messages of acceptance. Their commanding stage presence at The Great Escape proved “this band really knows how to give the crowd what they want”.
22:15 – Blue Bendy (Horatios)
Wiry art-rockers Blue Bendy delivered an off-kilter, constantly fluctuating set built around math-folk uncertainty. Frontman Arthur Nolan affectionately told the crowd, “we love you… Even the lanyarders”.
22:15 – The Itch (Concorde 2)
Relocated from Luton to London, the synth-pop duo The Itch expanded to a five-piece for a euphoric, 80s-influenced set. Their highly praised performance successfully “got the crowd dancing and singing along”.
22:30 – Annie-Claude Deschênes (Patterns Downstairs)
Bringing the art world over from Montreal, Annie-Claude Deschênes offered an immersive, retro 80s electronic performance complete with live video feeds and eating jelly on stage. The show proved it was “thinking outside of the conventions and into the art world”.
23:15 – Dead Dads Club (Horatios)
Former Palma Violets frontman Chilli Jesson brought his cathartic indie-rock project Dead Dads Club to the pier, holding the late-night crowd hostage with his manic energy. Showcasing his chaotic style, he asked, “Do you guys want St Vit or ‘Don’t Blame The Son? Oh f*ck it, we’ll play the intro”.
23:15 – PISS (Green Door Store)
Crossing the globe from Vancouver, noise-punk four-piece PISS delivered a bleak, unflinching, and emotionally devastating performance. It stood out for our man at the front as “one of the hardest-hitting sets I’ve ever seen at The Great Escape”.
23:15 – The Orielles (Charles Street Tap)
Returning The Great Escape festival veterans The Orielles drew heavily from their fourth album, shifting between jagged post-punk grooves and psychedelic soundscapes. Their constant sonic evolution resulted in a “truly mesmeric performance”.
00:00 – Lttl Mort (Rossi Bar)
Fast-rising solo project Lttl Mort closed out Thursday with sleazy synth-pop, death-techno, and sardonic vocals. Jazz Pope’s chaotic energy peaked when he “clambers on top of the bass drum at one point and is up against the Rossi bar’s low basement ceiling”.
FRIDAY
12:00 – Charlie Houston (North Laine Brewhouse)
Starting the day all the way from Toronto, Canada, Charlie Houston kicked off with catchy, Wet Leg-adjacent tunes. Reflecting on her songwriting themes, she noted her first album was “all about eating weed cookies and dating bisexual girls”.
12:15 – Quiet Houses (The Hope & Ruin)
Drawing a shockingly early crowd, indie dream-pop duo Quiet Houses paired confessionalism with ethereal folk. Poking fun at industry hype, Jamie joked, “Did Hannah mention we’re a brand new act.. we’re 17.. We formed a month ago”.
12:15 – Twat Union (Daltons)
Making the short hop from South London, this punky six-piece Twat Union won over a massive queue with provocative, taboo-tackling tracks. Their sharp comedic edge peaked when Kate Mac “really did use a vibrator as a plectrum, shredding away and taking the sound to new heights”.
12:50 – Lynnie Snow (Shipwright’s Yard)
Showcasing local BIMM graduate talent, Lynnie Snow delivered a set of intense, cinematic alternative rock. With a haunting stage charisma, she proved to be a “homegrown star in the making”.
13:00 – Bones Ate Arfa (The Black Lion)
Squeezing a stadium-worthy rock show into a small bar, Bones Ate Arfa delivered jaw-dropping grunge and hard rock muscle. The frontman’s swagger was undeniable as he “wielding his bass right into the faces of the crowd”.
13:15 – Slag (Daltons)
Homegrown heroes Slag offered high-energy math-rock and art-punk. Their raw performance of ‘Dislocated’ included the memorable lyric “you can’t fix my dislocated elbow by kissing it better”.
13:30 – Adult DVD (Komedia Basement)
Tearing through an acid-rock set to a packed room, SXSW’s buzziest act Adult DVD incited frenzied dancing. They unleashed absolute chaos, proving “they are one of the most exciting groups in the UK”.
13:30 – Marina Josephina (Waterbear Music Bar)
Travelling down from Teesside, Marina Josephina delivered a warm, late-night R&B atmosphere in the middle of the afternoon, armed only with her voice and a keyboard. Her rich vocals “kept the room completely absorbed throughout the set”.
14:15 – J Appiah (One Church)
British-Ghanaian singer-songwriter J Appiah commanded the church acoustics with just his voice and a guitar. Earning Frank Ocean comparisons, he humbly stated, “I think I have one more song left”.
14:15 – SpaceAcre (Daltons)
Journeying from Bedfordshire, queer indie-rock duo SpaceAcre delivered stadium-sized dark rock full of soaring riffs. Before launching into ‘Pathogen’, the track “was dedicated to their trans brothers and sisters”.
14:30 – Walt Disco (Brighthelm)
Despite leaning into completely new material, flamboyant post-punkers Walt Disco retained their David Bowie-esque crooning and punk roots. Singer Jocelyn Si took the stage declaring, “Such a beautiful venue, oh my God”.
15:15 – Alex Amor (One Church)
Dream-pop artist Alex Amor delivered spacey, TikTok-core pop with a Lana Del Rey-esque lackadaisicalness. Bathed in the breeze of her stage fan, she joked, “This is my first time with a wind machine… It’s kind of distracting”.
15:15 – Girl Tones (Daltons)
Flying in from Kentucky, USA, classically trained sisters Girl Tones delivered high-energy garage rock reminiscent of The White Stripes. Kenzie engaged the crowd early, stating “they are enjoying their time in England”.
15:20 – Enjoyable Listens (Grand Central)
The eccentric Luke Duffet and his band Enjoyable Listens delivered a charming 1980s-inspired baroque-pop masterclass. The crowd eagerly joined in the fun, matching his “grace and poise of English baroque nobility”.
15:30 – KuleeAngee (Fabrica)
Basking in the afternoon sun, vibrant five-piece KuleeAngee offered infectious electro indie-pop hooks. Their joyful set served as “a danceable highlight that invited the crowd to join in the fun”.
15:40 – Pihka Is My Name (Dust)
Hailing from Berlin and Oulu, Finnish-German duo Pihka Is My Name brought EBM and heavy techno beats to their first Brighton show. Embracing the city, Lasse Turunen proclaimed Brighton “the capital of European loveliness”.
16:00 – Silverwingkiller (The Oak)
Crashing into the south coast from Manchester, Silverwingkiller delivered chaotic electronic punk during a secret set. Their heavy, driving beats resulted in “the pub walls getting a serious pounding from the brutal force”.
16:10 – Brother Wallace (Tide Beach Club)
Bringing gospel funk all the way from Atlanta, Georgia, Brother Wallace traded out standard R&B for glorious, retro soul. The deeply infectious performance was declared “my No. 1 act of the whole festival”.
17:00 – Francis Pig (The Oak)
Our city’s ‘dirty little secret’, Francis Pig brought the house down with punk rock attitude and heavy guitars. Frontwoman Alana Doyle’s theatrics peaked when she “clamber on top of the bar and then roll around on the floor whilst still bellowing out her lyrics”.
17:00 – Sassy 009 (Tide Beach Club)
Arriving from Oslo, Norway, producer Sassy 009 utilized a massive synth setup for a dreamy, beat-driven electronic set. She warmly addressed the crowd, saying, “Three Vikings on a stage, thanks for coming out”.
17:40 – Opus Kink (Shipwrights Yard)
Local legends Opus Kink crammed their filthy mariachi post-funk into a frantic 20 minutes. Frontman Angus Rogers pleaded mid-set, “Has anyone got a straight cigarette… really? No one?”.
18:15 – Alice Faye (Unitarian Church)
Travelling down from Scotland, singer-songwriter Alice Faye sat at a grand piano to deliver poised, theatrical pop. Her captivating storytelling resulted in an “engrossing and thoroughly charming show befitting of the rapturous round of applause”.
18:30 – Opal Mag (Pink Moon)
Squeezed into a tiny grassroots venue, dream-pop purveyors Opal Mag delivered heavy, Mazzy Star-style melodies. The packed crowd confirmed that “the vocals appear to be delivered from the heart”.
19:00 – M.Woodroe (The Black Lion)
Emerging local quartet M.Woodroe impressed with a grunge-heavy set full of fierce post-punk screams. Marcie introduced ‘Carte Blanche’ by telling the crowd it “is about killing fascists”.
19:15 – Rosa Walton (Chalk)
Stepping out from Let’s Eat Grandma for her first solo show in years, Rosa Walton delivered sugary, 80s-glossed synth-pop. Clearly thrilled to be back, she beamed, “This is the first Rosa Walton show!”.
19:20 – Afterdrive (East Street Tap)
Making the trip from Ipswich, Afterdrive kicked off the evening with powerful beats and soaring vocals. The room loved them, quickly sparking “a lot of joyful jumping”.
19:30 – Dea Matrona (Komedia Basement)
Crossing the Irish Sea, Dea Matrona brought 70s prog rock flair, swapping bass and guitar duties throughout. Mollie McGinn cheerfully asked, “Hello Brighton how is everybody today, good, we are Dea Matrona”.
20:00 – D3LTA (East Street Tap)
Originally from Greece and now London-based, D3LTA brought a soulful, Bowie-esque singer-songwriter sound. Featuring funky percussion, his performance “turned out was another very popular room pleaser”.
20:00 – Lemonsuckr (The Black Lion)
Guildford transplants turned Brighton staples Lemonsuckr sent the crowd into an absolute frenzy with Arabic-style guitar riffs. Vocalist Guy Ferris climbed the barrier, and “the mic stand goes with him as he sings the opening lines”.
20:15 – Bimini (Brighton Dome)
Drag Race royalty Bimini brought punk attitude and electro-dance to a spotlight show, reclaiming homophobic slurs with pure confidence. They put on a stimulating performance that “whipped the eager Brighton crowd into a frenzy”.
20:15 – Rocket (Chalk)
Straight outta LA, shoegaze outfit Rocket shattered eardrums with massive overdrive and jagged cymbals. Introducing a fuzzed-out cover, guitarist Desi Scaglione asked, “Did you guys see the mask band with the polka dots?”.
20:15 – Silverwingkiller (Concorde 2)
For their second chaotic set, Manchester’s Silverwingkiller delivered an uncompromising collision of hardcore techno and industrial noise. The brutal force of their performance created “one of the festival’s most visceral and uncompromising live experiences”.
20:15 – The Sick Man Of Europe (The Oak)
Venturing down from London, The Sick Man Of Europe utilized Ian Curtis-style vocals over Krautrock beats. The immersive experience peaked as “their singer vacates the stage and delivers his vocals from within the crowd”.
20:30 – Christian Alexander (Bootlegger)
Hailing from Garston in the North West, Christian Alexander offered deeply personal storytelling and intricate guitar harmonics. His vocal control allowed him to “move with excellent range from falsetto to guttural accents”.
21:15 – Baby Berserk (The Oak)
Bringing club-ready electronic beats from the Netherlands, Baby Berserk finally launched their euphoric set after a tech delay. Frontwoman Lizzy Star brought the party back by engaging in “into-the-crowd and standing atop the bar antics”.
21:15 – Gently Tender (The Prince Albert)
Folk-rockers Gently Tender fought through delayed trains and health issues to deliver a soaring set. Bassist Peter Mayhew was so rushed he “played some of the songs using a Tesco Clubcard as he didn’t have a guitar pick”.
21:15 – Girl Scout (The Old Market)
A brilliant export from Stockholm, Sweden, Girl Scout charmed a packed venue with loud, driving 90s-style guitars. Frontwoman Emma Jansson happily called out, “Hello Brighton, it’s good to be back, how are you?”.
21:15 – Peaches (Brighton Dome)
Provocative icon Peaches challenged bodily autonomy norms while surfing the crowd upright. The legendary artist later brought out Phoebe Lunny for a raucous rendition of “F*ck the Pain Away”.
21:15 – Working Men’s Club (Concorde 2)
BIMM Manchester graduates Working Men’s Club transformed Concorde 2 into a dark warehouse rave led by Syd Minsky-Sargeant. The set was an “immersive, unpredictable and completely consuming performance”.
21:30 – Toast Club (Bootlegger)
Jazz-fusion outfit Toast Club incorporated prog-rock, psychedelic influences, and aviation-themed aesthetics. The lively performance proved to be “a popular choice on the Alt Great Escape circuit”.
22:15 – Keo (TGE Beach The Deep End)
Highly-hyped grunge revivalists Keo delivered a set of thrashing, heart-on-sleeve rock. Despite playing mostly unreleased tracks, their formidable live presence put them “in the same conversation as influences Fontaines DC and Wunderhorse”.
22:15 – Mandy, Indiana (The Old Market)
Arriving from Manchester with French lyrics in tow, Mandy, Indiana delivered dark, intense industrial beats driven by relentless drumming. Valentine Caulfield noted that ‘Bottle Episode’ was “a song about collective action”.
22:15 – Necry Talkie (Charles Street Tap)
Making the monumental journey from Japan, Necry Talkie brought a burst of colourful, hyperactive indie-J-pop. Their upbeat melodies and sheer energy made it “One of the most fun performances of the festival”.
22:15 – Pollyfromthedirt (The Prince Albert)
Originating from Darlington in County Durham, this masked alternative artist Pollyfromthedirt mixed breakbeats, samples, and acoustic guitar. Stripping away the backing tracks for the finale, he “dedicates to the mums and dads in the audience”.
23:15 – La Sécurité (Charles Street Tap)
Another stylish Montreal import, La Sécurité delivered a sharp, stylish blast of art-punk. Their deadpan charisma and wiry guitars left the room buzzing after “one of the festival’s coolest and most effortlessly confident performances”.
23:15 – Lemonsuckr (The Prince Albert)
Closing their marathon festival run, Brighton’s Lemonsuckr whipped the crowd into a frenzy once again. During an instrumental break, Guy Ferris “gets some of the crowd around him to crouch down around him”.
23:15 – Mên An Tol (Horatios)
Named after a Penzance landmark, Mên An Tol delivered vulnerable, mandolin-driven anthems. The accessible sound successfully proved that “people yearn for Ireland”.
23:30 – The Sick Man Of Europe (Fiddlers Elbow)
London’s post-punk quartet The Sick Man Of Europe fought through technical issues to deliver a hypnotic, driving pulse. The restless singer’s intensity resulted in a set “that clearly won them new fans”.
00:00 – Sunday Mourners (Rossi Bar)
Hailing from Southern California, Sunday Mourners channelled 70s CBGB punk into a groovy, late-night set. Their impressive sound was described as having “compared to New York City 70s CBGB punk band Television”.
01:00 – Tooth (Rossi Bar)
London-based high-energy rockers Tooth kept the momentum going despite a broken bass string. While setting up, frontman Tom Pollock jokingly asked the sound engineer for “a touch of reverb and a touch of class”.
SATURDAY
12:00 – Gabby Rivers (The Font)
Kicking things off with a drive down from Norwich, singer-songwriter Gabby Rivers opened the Alternative Escape by shrugging off broken guitar strings. Rivers engaged the early crowd, noting her single ‘Always Messing With My Mind’ “had enjoyed some airplay on BBC Music the week before”.
12:10 – Mannequin Death Squad (TGE Beach Soundwaves)
Making the massive trek from Melbourne, Mannequin Death Squad unleashed chaotic thrash power-pop. Delivering raw riffs and relentless speed, they were introduced as “the only band that we will see who have performed live in the foothills of the Himalayas”.
12:30 – Half Happy (Patterns Upstairs)
Crossing the bridge from Cardiff, dream-pop quartet Half Happy blended dreamy spoken-word with soaring post-punk melodies. Ready to begin the early set, Rosalie Miller simply announced, “Hi, we are Half Happy”.
12:35 – Tullamarines (TGE Beach Deep End)
Delivering surf-rock from Australia, the Tullamarines were tasked with waking up a hungover crowd with pure jangly jubilance. They playfully teased the audience, stating, “We’ve brought Australia to you… we haven’t brought the sun though. Baggage limit”.
12:45 – Screens (The Font)
Debuting live all the way from Bristol, Screens delivered fast-paced post-punk revival. After their first song, the suited lead singer thanked the crowd and wished the sound engineer a “Happy Birthday”.
13:20 – Mel Blue (TGE Beach Deep End)
Another brilliant Australian import, Mel Blue provided a sleek, synth-driven afternoon dance party. Their performance successfully balanced “catchy melodies with darker rhythmic undercurrents”.
13:20 – Loose Content (TGE Beach The Jetty)
Hailing from the shores of Byron Bay, Loose Content played a thrilling, self-assured set of gritty alt-rock in the sun. They effectively utilized “delicious loud/quiet dynamics that pull you in before kicking the doors open”.
13:30 – El Capitan (The Font)
Seasoned local veterans El Capitan offered heavily practiced, guitar-driven psych. Grounding the set, the lead noted their third track was “About family and the things that are really important”.
13:30 – Floodhounds (Volks)
Venturing south from Yorkshire, Floodhounds lived up to their reputation for tight, rabble-rousing live shows. Using a recorded intro of “Release the Hounds,” they launched into heavy basslines and savage riffs.
13:30 – Hemi Hemingway (Komedia Basement)
Flying in from New Zealand, Hemi Hemingway swung between glossy synth-pop and post-punk rumbles. Vamping for cheers from the basement crowd, Hemingway joked, “it’s so nice you did that unprompted!”.
13:30 – Shtëpi (Patterns Upstairs)
Operating between London and Guildford, Shtëpi delivered high-energy theatrics and way-wah pedals. Lead vocalist Ioan Hazel stood out by “shouting his vocals into a 1970s style cream-coloured telephone receiver microphone”.
14:00 – Roomer (Bella Union)
Visiting from Berlin, Roomer played an intimate instore set full of spectral textures and dreamy shoegaze. The relaxing, strumming-led performance ensured “no-one is ever going to break into a sweat”.
14:05 – Jamaica Moana (TGE Beach Deep End)
A captivating force hailing from Sydney, Jamaica Moana delivered an unapologetically fun mix of rap, R&B, and infectious drag energy. Confidently shedding a faux-fur coat, they declared, “I’m a rapper baby”.
14:15 – Rizzy & The Gents (The Font)
Making the trip from the capital, London’s Rizzy & The Gents won over a mixed crowd with electric energy and queer advocacy. Frontwoman Rizzy took charge immediately, stating, “Hi, I’m Rizzy, and these are my Gents”.
14:30 – Ebi Soda (Komedia Basement)
London-formed but now firmly rooted in Brighton, Ebi Soda transformed the afternoon into a late-night, improvised modern jazz club. Their syncopated brass battles garnered “raptures from a crowd happy to bob their head along”.
14:30 – Y (Patterns Upstairs)
Another London export bringing absolute chaos, Y incited a genre-defying, fast-paced musical frenzy. Connecting with the fans trapped outside, Sophie shouted, “to everyone outside in the queue we love you”.
15:00 – Tony Bontana (Alphabet)
Arriving from Birmingham, Tony Bontana unleashed a relentless, sample-heavy experimental hip-hop set. True to his intro, he proved “he wasn’t joking” about rapping non-stop for half an hour.
15:30 – Home Counties (Patterns Upstairs)
Bringing their six-piece energy from Bristol, Home Counties served up danceable, punchy indie alternative anthems. Their highly interactive set featured “great humorous crowd interaction, much like when they got everyone to drop low”.
16:00 – Shrink (Alphabet)
Stepping in as a surprise act from Bristol, Shrink offered stadium-filling, swirling guitar rock. The talented group proved that “there’s serious potential on offer here”.
16:00 – Sleuth Gang (The Black Lion)
Travelling all the way down from Leeds, Sleuth Gang ignited a massive punk and rap moshpit. Their sound was driven by hard-hitting drums and “tight, polished three-way rapping”.
17:00 – Salarymen (The Folklore Rooms)
Originally from Sydney but now happily local, Salarymen delivered a hypnotic blend of indie, disco, and psych influences. They signed off the set with what they described as their “attempt at a French disco song”.
17:30 – Morn (The Hope & Ruin Downstairs)
Originating in Monmouth before heading to London, Morn smashed through a ragged, early-2000s garage rock revival set. Their sound was described as “loose, fast and gloriously ragged, driven by scratchy guitars”.
17:45 – Mother Soki (The Folklore Rooms)
Flying straight in from Amsterdam but based in Minneapolis, Mother Soki delivered soothing, multilayered dream pop. Her Cocteau Twins-esque sound proved to be perfect “music to chill out too”.
18:00 – Risco (The Font)
Making the long drive down from Stockton-on-Tees, Risco exploded with high-octane indie surf rock and coordinated air jumps. The electric performance confirmed they were “by far the standout act of the day”.
18:30 – Nierra Creek (The Folklore Rooms)
Homegrown electronic-folk duo Nierra Creek utilized analogue synths and guitars for a tight, sweeping set. Shrugging off schedule delays, they rallied the crowd with, “already everybody lets do it”.
18:30 – Sarah Crean (The Bootlegger)
Dublin-born and now Brighton-based, Sarah Crean offered a raw, guitar-driven indie-pop performance. She engaged the crowd for her upcoming single, “Baby (I’ll Always Be The Lead)”.
19:00 – Fanchon (The Font)
London-based dream core outfit Fanchon enveloped the room in a heavy wall of sound. Singer Fanchon noted her lyrics offer “Power Softness over heavy energy instruments”.
19:15 – Anna De Llor (Green Door Store)
Born in Lisbon and operating out of London, Anna De Llor merged ancestral folk with dark, heavy avant-garde electronics. Setting a theatrical tone, she announced, “Welcome to the church of queer, everyone is welcome, but you don’t have to join up”.
19:15 – Charlotte Carpenter (East Street Tap)
Blues and Americana artist Charlotte Carpenter delivered gritty acoustics to a packed room. Her foot-stomping rhythm on ‘Like A Hurricane’ “probably shook decades of dust out of the floorboards”.
19:15 – Goodbye (TGE Beach The Deep End)
A supergroup assembled from the Brighton grassroots scene, Goodbye delivered an unsettling, atmospheric intersection of pop and shoegaze. Shrugging off the torrential weather, frontwoman Megan Wheeler joked, “it was on our tech rider”.
19:15 – Lonnie Gunn (Horatios)
Returning TGE favorite Lonnie Gunn flew through a set of short, dark alt-pop anthems dressed in full-length white lace. Her performance was described as an “alt-pop perfection”.
19:15 – Rifka (Dust)
Locally born and raised, Rifka played an intimate hometown show of alt-pop with smoky, warm vocals. The performance proved to be “the feel of an artist fully embracing her moment”.
19:30 – Kate Peaches (The Mesmerist)
Brighton-based party-starter Kate Peaches summoned pure 80s Hi-NRG club energy with synth beats and theatrical flair. The uplifting performance proved to be “better than any Eurovision offering today”.
19:30 – Pouch (The Bootlegger)
Staples of the Brighton circuit, Pouch delivered fast-paced, punchy punk rock with infectious Buzzcocks energy. Introducing a beloved cover, frontman James Neighbour asked, “if you are from Brighton; you will know the next one”.
20:00 – A.R.T. (The Font)
London’s sax-fuelled party starters A.R.T. flooded the stage with loud apparel and gang vocals. Consummate promoters, they placed a giant QR code on stage so “even the most nearsighted member of the audience could scan it”.
20:15 – August (TGE Beach The Deep End)
The enigmatic and highly-hyped August provided a chaotic, deeply artistic mix of blues and spoken word. When asked about their lack of released music, the frontman joked it was a “clerical error”.
20:15 – Jazz Cuti (Dust)
A French via USA singer-songwriter, Jazz Cuti delivered off-kilter R&B electronic grooves. Her dynamic tempo shifts offered a “glimpse into the rich sonic world of her forthcoming debut album”.
20:15 – LISL (Green Door Store)
Making her first trip to Brighton from Germany, LISL overcame her shyness to deliver a gentle, calming indie shoegaze performance. Connecting with the crowd, she noted she “writes in her bedroom about her social anxiety”.
20:15 – Paige Kennedy (Chalk)
Alt-pop purveyor Paige Kennedy took the stage in a surgical gown to deliver unapologetic, queer-friendly pop. The upbeat set eventually “had everyone dancing”.
20:30 – Currls (The Mesmerist)
Local femrock heroes Currls unleashed a sludgy, electrifying punk set that pushed past the venue’s limits. Frontwoman Holly’s powerful vocals “perfectly cut through the raw power of the music”.
20:30 – GreenWing (WaterBear Music Bar)
Journeying all the way from Saskatoon, Canada, GreenWing brought feel-good rock anthems that hit heavier live than on record. Clearly loving the city, the band members “have all got rat tattoos as a memento to playing there”.
21:00 – Hot Property (The Font)
London-based rock-and-rollers Hot Property delivered pure 70s flamboyance, throwing Mick Jagger moves across the stage. They are heavily focused on “keeping the soul of ’60/’70s rock alive for the next generation”.
21:15 – Bitter Fly (Green Door Store)
Another heavy-hitting export from Saskatoon, Canada, Bitter Fly utilized 8-string guitars for a massive, riff-heavy rock set. Bantering with a fan who told her to “Bite a fly,” Ariel shot back, “No we are Bitterfly, although maybe we could do something with that”.
21:15 – Home Counties (Horatios)
Bristol’s Home Counties filled the pier during their second set with pogo-inducing funk and electronic anthems. The frontman was incredibly grateful before launching into the “clubland-electronic, clap-your-hands of ‘Uptight’”.
21:15 – Mother Soki (Dust)
Minneapolis-based dreampop artist Mother Soki flooded the room with 90s-inspired synth-pop during her second set. Her sound flawlessly “fuse softness with distorted intensity”.
21:30 – Congratulations (Quarters)
Part of the local Brighton family, Congratulations caused absolute mayhem with machine-gun guitar riffs and sweat-drenched energy. Standing on the barrier, Leah sang directly to fans, “soaking up every bit of their love and warmth”.
21:30 – Spiral Drive (WaterBear Music Bar)
An Austrian-German psychedelic rock alliance, Spiral Drive effortlessly flipped between dreamy psychedelia and heavy stoner rock. Lead vocalist Raphael Neikes promised fans “they would be back in the UK in September”.
21:30 – Yumi And The Weather (The Mesmerist)
Brighton-based musician Ruby Taylor’s project Yumi And The Weather brought a rockier, heavier indie sound to the stage with massive motorik beats. Reviewers embraced the evolution, stating the performance “signals an improvement in my mind”.
22:00 – Chest (The Font)
Originating in Norwich and now London-based, Chest offered anthemic choruses and a critique of digital malaise. The band provided a sound “both reassuringly familiar to anyone around in the early days of the ’90s, with a modern ‘Noise Rock’ flavour”.
22:15 – Feet (Horatios)
TGE’s unofficial house band, Feet turned the venue into a sweaty, garage rock frenzy. The frontman completely commanded the room, “even allowing Haverson to crowd-surf at”.
22:30 – NCY Milky Band (One Church)
Visiting England for the first time from Nancy, France, NCY Milky Band filled the church with a swirling, acid-tinged mix of guitars and saxophone. Their soundscape was completely “impossible to definitively categorise”.
23:00 – Milly On Air (Patterns Downstairs)
Bristol selector Milly On Air provided driving house rhythms and hypnotic techno to close out the official sets. She seamlessly moved “between heads-down intensity and hands-in-the-air moments”.
23:15 – Do Nothing (Horatios)
Post-punk stalwarts Do Nothing delivered twitchy, sarcastic rants backed by deeply syncopated rhythms. Noting the audience’s exhaustion, Chris Bailey stated, “You’ve been here since Wednesday… you could easily be horizontal by now”.
00:00 – Heavy Wild (The Rossi Bar)
London-based lo-fi rockers Heavy Wild delivered a massive wall of reverb, Korg synths, and heavy drumming. The reviewer abandoned their notebook, deciding to “do nothing but dance”.
00:45 – Alabama 3 (The Rossi Bar)
Legendary acid-house pioneers Alabama 3 closed the entire festival with a digital basement party. Rob Spragg signed off the epic weekend by declaring, “Great Escape, thank you so much Good night, god bless, now let’s get f*cked up”.
