More about: The Great Escape Festival
The best bits of day 1
We've landed in Brighton for the UKs biggest ones-to-watch showcase. With up and comers from around the world heading to the beach, this is definitely where you'll find your new favourite artist.
After we polished off some fish and chips and grabbed our passes, we raced out way around Brighton's many many venues. Here are our day 1 highlights...
Hot Wax @ TGE Beach Stage
I hate the term "ones to watch" but Hot Wax are certainly that. Clearly a band with an affinity for the live environment, anyone who wasn't a fan before heading into that beach front tent certainly will be now. A heavier version of your favourite heavy indie bands, riif-infused rock n roll, there is no getting around the fact Hot Wax are cementing themselves as one of the must see live acts on whichever festival bill they're appearing on. We couldn't recommend them enough! - Dale Maplethorpe
The Last Dinner Party @ Chalk
I think I saw god at the last dinner party show. If all the hype has made you dubious or falling into the familiar toxic trap of automatically disliking acts on the rise - all of that will be pushed aside by seeing them live. With incredible, captivating energy, full scale musical productions including flutes and mandolins, and each song being as catchy as the last; believe the hype. The only critique - Why was no one dancing? - Lucy Harbron
Lime Garden @ Horatios
Lime Garden are a name I’ve heard plenty but never really dove into. But at the end of the pier, staying cool despite some tech issues - the band deliver on good old fashioned alt-indie. Singing about hating work, being sick and tired and other typically relatable plights, I know for sure I’ll be hitting shuffle on Spotify now. - Lucy Harbron
Cucamaras @ Chalk
I got excited about these guys. A humble and familiar indie boy band to kick start the evening. Regrettably I was stuck at the back of Chalk behind a stone-wall crowd which appeared to be composed of entirely middle-aged to old men. Speaking to the band later in the line for Horratios, I asked them for some gum, they said no. They noted that the stillness in the crowd prevailed right to the front row, ‘cept for one (1) absolute groover. I’d love to catch these guys again in a smaller venue with a higher groover count. - Beth Mountford
FIZZ @ Shoosh
Following The Last Dinner Party is not an enviable time-slot, but Fizz somehow pulled it off for their first ever show. It was so refreshingly unique that labels such as “good” or “bad” were far from relevant, though the harmonies were objectively beautiful. The lollipop-adorned stage was whimsical. The "changing positions" chant as an interlude between songs was innovative but a little scary. I felt as though I had stumbled upon an off-the-grid commune doing their best impression of an S Club 7 gig in 2001. Seeing Dodie, Orla Gartland, Martin Luke Brown and Greta Isaac unite for a band that manages to be even better than the sum of their parts - not only was it sonically amazing, it was kinda tear-jerking it was so sweet. - Beth Mountford
See the view from the pit, captured by Ele Marchant:
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More about: The Great Escape Festival
Photo: Ele Marchant
