More about: The Great Escape Festival
Ft. Melin Melyn, Lambrini Girls, Blondshell + more
If we thought day one was good, day two of The Great Escape exceeded all expectations. While the weather might have been gloomy, spirits were high in Brighton as another wave of up-and-coming talent took to the city.
From churches to hotel basements and beyond, we raced our way around Brighton catching as many names as possible. Here are the best bits...
STONE @ Amazon New Music Stage
Stone made me feel like a teenager again. Drinking lager and jumping into a mosh pit, i was mentally 15, or maybe a lad. Out of the whole line up, they were the band i was most excited to see as 'Left, Right, Forward' has been on repeat. A song so catchy it demands to be enjoyed live, and oh boy did i enjoy. Racing through the hits with their snappy lyricism and good old fashioned rock sound on full glorious display, they won't be playing stages this side for much longer as every track feels ready for a stadium. - Lucy Harbron
Blondshell @ The Old Market
I love Blondshell - from single one to the whole debut album, every track is singalong perfection. Nearly losing my voice screaming the words to 'Sepsis' in an older crowd of 6Music dads and fringe-flaunting Chrissie Hynde fans; I don't think Blondshell got the energy she deserved. Maybe the Thursday show would've been vibier as everyone definitely seemed to be there for The Pretenders, but even with a tough crowd Sabrina's voice was stunning and the songs sounded better than the recordings. - Lucy Harbron
Jessica Winter @ Revenge
Taking to the stage armed with a backing track and an abundance of attitude, Jessica Winter thrilled the crowd with some high energy anthems. Working the room with a theatrical flair, her set saw burlesque and dance music meet with euphoric energy. As her stunning vocals chimed out over dance inducing rhythms, smiles could be seen all around. Finally an act who can get the crowd moving! - Melissa Darragh
Lambrini Girls @ Chalk
Lambrini girls were so eager to play they almost started their set early. After words with the sound guy, Phoebe yelled “alright we’re gonna go FUCK - you’ve got ten minutes to have a cigarette and get as drunk as you can.” When she came back she threw her beer over the crowd. The crowd in turn worshipped her. They answered her every call, lifting her up, hoisting her to the rafters, screaming the lyrics, and all while ensuring with such tender care that her mic lead didn’t become tangled amongst them. It was a textbook mosh pit and an exceedingly fulfilling show. - Beth Mountford
October And The Eyes @ Queen's Hotel
The female Iggy Pop. That's how October and the Eyes have been described to me in the past and after seeing them at Great Escape I totally get it. The comparisons aren't in the music itself, rather, the mannerisms of her and the entire band. There's something old school punk and incredibly exciting the way that they carry a set and it was a privilege to be a part of. - Dale Maplethorpe
Tiggs Da Author @ Concorde 2
Commanding the stage from the moment he stepped on it, Tiggs Da Author has to be a Great Escape highlight. Set laced with a disc jockey and brass band, Tiggs brought some much needed variation to the festival. He played a lot of his own songs then dedicated 10 minutes of his set to reeling off features, meaning the gig felt fresh, engaging and exciting throughout. - Dale Maplethorpe
Melin Melyn @ One Church
Amongst the stained glass and peeling back plaster of One Church, beneath the brooding pipes of the resident organ Melin Melyn delivered a set of sheer joy. Dressed in matching supermarket uniforms, it was an immersive experience of a show, deeply satirical and funny, extremely well composed. The band were so tight they seemed telepathically connected, which made them able to pull off some of the greatest transitions I’ve ever seen in a live set. - Beth Mountford
Yonaka @ Chalk
I made one note on my phone during this set, it reads “classic rock.” The guitarist spent a lot of the set turned suggestively to the crowd with his leg up on the amp. And I think that pretty much sums it up. - Beth Mountford
See the view from the pit, captured by Bree Hart:
Grab your copy of the Gigwise print magazine here.
More about: The Great Escape Festival
Photo: Bree Hart
