Photo: WENN

The Great Escape Festival Tickets

Touted as the British SXSW, The Great Escape got off to a typically British start: late and with a massive queue as hundreds of revellers tried to catch a Brit Award winner.

The forecast rain stayed away allowing the sun the shine on what always feels like a seaside suburb of London which, for three days has been flooded with music. Whatever you're after, The Great Escape caters for it, there's everybody from the iconic Billy Bragg to undiscovered favourites playing every street corner, shop, pub, even restaurants, there's no escaping great live music this weekend.

The hotly tipped Tom Odell kept the crowds waiting with a sound check that overrun by a good half hour but it was well worth hanging around for. Playing in some beautifully ornate makeshift venue the blonde haired singer immediately wowed with his incredible voice and songs that went from epic pop to delicate storytelling leaving no stone unturned. The short set included Odell's three singles and a few from the forthcoming album which sound highly promising.

The buzz is well deserved and he set the bar high for the rest of the festival, little lived up to it despite The Family Rain's valiant efforts at the Green Door Store whilst Curzes failed to win over the packed crowd at The Black Dove.

The Great Escape gets into full swing on Friday (17 May, 2013) with the likes of Temples and Klaxons.