Photo: Press
The Great Escape in Brighton has been a brilliant showcase for young talent for a decade now. From synth-pop, to solo artists, to promising producers and every shade of indie under the sun - it's given a showcase to the likes of Royal Blood, Years & Years and countless more. This year's festival is set to be pretty special indeed.
To give you a chance to take-in the incredible line-up, we're highlighting a collection of new artists, set to take advantage of the unique platform. Don't miss out on the chance to see the likes of Anteros, Blossoms, Lady Leshurr, Dilly Dally, Mura Masa and Let's Eat Grandma all in the same location.
Without further ado, here are the 28 artists you have to see at The Great Escape:
1. Formation
One play of 'All The Rest Is Noise' is all you'll need to become a fan of Formation. It's a bouncing, minimalistic sing-along that could come straight out of any LCD Soundsystem album. In a short space of time Formation have proven themselves capable of crafting dance-pop earworms with real ease. With a headline show booked at Village Underground and an upcoming Great Escape performance, get on board at the ground-level.
2. Amber Arcades
Amber Arcades recently featured on our list of the most exciting Dutch bands you need in your life, and it's no wonder why. We've exceptionally impressed with their blend of a variety of styles, from shoe-gaze to electro, Amber Arcades are truly hypnotic. And, with these uniquely floating, yet esoteric tracks, they cannot be ignored.
3. Beach Baby
Like Amber Arcades, Beach Baby double-down on hazy-hooks and bleached sounds to great effect. Already getting air-time in the likes of Radio 1, 6Music and XFM Beach Baby are destined for big heights. And, what sounds better than a cool drink and swaying along to Beach Baby's gorgeous rhythms, come festival time?
4. Anteros
Rising London band Anteros have already created a bit of a cult hit, with their delcious, sparkling single - 'Breakfast'. However, they are by no means a one-trick pony. 'Blue' sees the band shapeshift into a more intoxicating, darker prospect, entirely. Dream-pop prowess and a charming knack for the mesmerising make Anteros an obvious one to watch.
5. GILLBANKS
GILLBANKS, the project of Sam Gillbanks remains a rather mysterious entity. What is apparent, is the brilliantly fashioned qualities of his songs. 'Anxious?' is a shifting, Pixies-like delight where a slow build, suddenly becomes a propulsion of clattering, jagged guitar sounds. Elsewhere latest track 'Childhood' is a cracking, distorted rock track - make sure you're there to see it live.
6. PAUW
The second in a double-header of all-caps bands, PAUW's rich summery sounds are something to behold. A particular favourite, 'Shambhala' is a blistering, psychedlic thing of beauty. Having recently sold-out their first club tour, and with an album on the way now's the time to catch them in person.
7. Lady Leshurr
Birmingham-based rapper Lady Leshurr went viral in 2015 with her third freestyle, a part of her popular 'Queen's Speech' series. On-point production, and a focused-flow littered with humorous asides makes this fact rather unsurprising. I challenge you not to be repeating, "Brush your teeth" after listening to the 'Queen's Speech 4' below.
8. Let's Eat Grandma
Duo - Rosa (16) and Jenny (17), both hail from Norwich and “have been BFF’s since the age of 4". But there's no signs of immaturity here. 'Deep Six Textbook' is a canny representation of their bewitching ability, and at that age it's quite frightening really.
9. Girli
Hearing Girli for the first time it would be understandable if you're first question was "Just what the fuck is happening?" Well, perhaps if you weren't already familiar with the PC Music crowd. 'Girls Get Angry Too' is a blistering tirade symbolic of their brilliant ability. Full of trembling bass, and raw vigour, you're implored to believe them when they, "Girls get angry too / I'm a Samarui Princess I'll smash you" - cue airhorn. It's like retro game music filtered by an old Smash Hits, a Haribo packet and pure rage.
10. Blossoms
We know you've eard the brilliant Blossoms by now. The Stockport five-piece have proved the endless appeal of melodic indie-rock. To their immense credit, the band came sixth in BBC's Sound of 2016, and were the only guitar-band in the select list. Citing influences from the Arctic Monkeys to Abba, singer Tom Ogden said "we're working-class, five lads just doing it because we love doing it" - long may it continue.
11. The Big Moon
Juliette Jackson leads this indie outfit with nonchalant vocals, underpinned by wiry, splintering electric guitars. 'Nothing Without You' is typical of their longing, pop-inflected retro rock. Past single 'Sucker' was a breakthrough track for the band, all snarling and thunderous. Both, represent The Big Moon's potential, but also their current ability to release barbed tracks that demand a repeat.
12. Kiwi
It was Duke Dumont who exposed DJ, producer and general wonder-kid Kiwi, aka Alex Warren back in 2015, with the release of his 'Animals' EP on Dumont's Blase Boys Club imprint. A clever short play that stretched the limits of electro and house - A side 'Short Tail' went on to be nominated for a 'Best of British' award for track of the year, and was listed in the top 10 tunes of the year by DJ Mag. These accolades illustrate Kiwi's all-too rare ability to make stomping tracks with real variation and hard-hitting progression.
13. Clean Cut Kid
Infectious synths, and bouncing beats accompany Clean Cut Kid's mesmerizing lyrics on 'Vitamin C'. And, it's with this optimistic, immediacy that Clean Cut Kid enter the pop-scene. According to the band, "they're Firing out new songs on an almost daily basis", an impressive feat, and a sign they'll be forever hunting down the perfect tune. 'Vitamin C' is one of those, and we reckon they'll have a fair few more, come The Great Escape.
14. Cash + David
What we've heard from Cash + David so far suggests they're carving a path of simmering electro tracks backed by haunting vocals. It feels at once like a less discordant Purity Ring and a barely restrained Chvrches. Whatever it develops into, we're excited.
15. Dilly Dally
Dilly Dally announce themselves on 'Desire' with a frantic reverberating buzzing, giving way to a vocal wail - and at once it feels anthemic. With a lush backing vocal, it's twitching with, well... desire. The Canadian band have obvious inspirations from The Strokes to The Pixies, but it never feels tired. Deceptively simple songs such as these will creep up on you, and will amaze you live.
16. Mura Masa
Restless UK dance producer Lxury comes to mind when hearing Mura Masa's piercing, electronic echoes. The story goes after playing guitar, bass, drums and singing in local punk, dardcore, and gospel bands as a teenager, he discovered Ableton Live at the age of 16 and began making trap music. Since then his tracks have been played all across the BBC and while proving himself with a number of sold-out live shows, Mura Masa is set to wow festival-goers. No doubt he will.
17. Chastity Belt
Julia Shapiro's languid, dreamy lyrics humorously accompany Chastity Belt's driven instrumentals. Formed in college the band's sly pop-punk is perfect for a dry summery day, lying around on a green campus. Chastity Belt are agile, deft, silly, and ultimately really exciting.
18. Milk Teeth
'Brickwork' the first song from Milk Teeth's Vile Child album is almost Feeder-like before it explodes into top gear. And, it's there they find a thick, distorted, grungey sound that is really thrilling. 'Swear Jar' sees them restrain themselves a little more, with a rare downbeat tempo that is certainly alluring. At just under three minutes it could be played again and again. Fingers crossed an encore is in the offering.
19. Klyne
Obvious reference points to Holland’s Klyne include The Weeknd, and the more seductive sides of The xx’s back catalogue. Klyne creates an arresting sound that is more than able to drag you into the dark, slowly but surely.
20. dressmaker
East-London post-punk band dressmaker excel in creating vicious walls of sound that give way briefly, like The Wytches. On 'Love Me' distorted guitars ring-round while the refrain, "You love yourself and New York" is repeated with growing intensity. It's frantic, and it's kind of brilliant.
21. Black Honey
Originating from Brighton themselves, the indie, shoegaze outfit have been flying relatively under-the-radar, despite mounting support. The woozy sonics recall some dusty highway littered with sand-dusted motorbikes - which sounds kind of ludicrous, but I guess Brighton does have a beach.
22. Catholic Action
Catholic Action came to prominence in their hometown of Glasgow after a series of rapturously recieved gigs. Following these performances the group are set to release a debut for Luv Luv Luv Records, the label behind Spector, Only Real and Splashh. They sound like the extremely underappreciated This Many Boyfriends, and have a bouyant indie quality that is not to be taken lightly.
23. Jodie Abacus
Influenced heavily by his DJ father Abacus has an eclectic palette that includes the likes of Hall & Oates, Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, A Tribe Called Quest, Paul McCartney and more. Abacus is part of a the bubbling South East London music scene, and 'Good Feeling' represents the brighter, funkier qualities of the burgeoning area. And, it sounds like the kind of up-beat thing you'd listen to as you ran out of work at 5pm on a friday night.
24. Spring King
Surf-punk band FIDLAR are a good comparison for Spring King, who on 'Who Are You' fully capitivate the carpe-diem nature of a primally good song. Their extensive touring has made them battle-ready for Brighton and you'd expect them to blow away a crowd ahead of their new album.
25. Pink Oculus
Part soulful disco-destroyer and part hard-hitting rapper, Pink Oculus' unique sound is fully exhibited in hit, 'SWEAT'. It's definitely down and dirty, and we can't wait to see more from the singer, who has released a slow trickle of impressive tracks for the past two years.
26. Rationale
Rationale used to be a rather mysterious figure, but after selling out London's Scala and with increasing radio-play by the likes of Annie Mac he appears to be quickly and confidently climbing the popularity ladder, with Rationale's distinctive and powerful vocals really standing out.
27. Tim Vantol
Promising folksy singer Tim Vantol sounds like Frank Turner mid- 'Love, Ire and Song' era. Capable of some real foot-stompers, we're excited to see the singer in a special solo performance to create an authentic sing-along at The Great Escape.
28. GEORGIE
The Mansfield-based singer songwriter has been compared to the likes of Carole King and Fleetwood Mac. And, with a strong live performance history, beginning at the age of just 14, GEORGIE looks set to stun, with her nostalgic, aching voice.
