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The Great Escape concluded last night in the way that good festivals deserve, with so much quality on offer it was tough to choose who to squeeze in for the finale. The predicted rain never materialised over the weekend, leaving Brighton sun blushed as festival goers couldn't get enough of live music.
American young punks The Orwells excited the packed out Haunt with an energetic performance fuelled with fun, romance and youth, exactly what was needed when you thought that you couldn't digest any more music. With a frontman in Mario Cuomo the band have a fresh feel with a hapless and chaotic attitude as he towered on stage, there is something mesmerising about him and his bandmates, maybe slightly more-so than their shambolic music.
It was then the ever improving Swim Deep. The Birmingham boys just keep getting better and master catchy indie tunes and dreamy pop equally well. 'Honey' is vibrant, it is easy to get lost amongst the floating 'She Changes The Weather' and then there's 'The Sea' that shows maturity and ambition. The fresh-faced quartet kept spirits high with their uplifting tone and final number 'King City' ticked all the boxes for a band worth getting excited for.
The final headliners were Tribes who performed on the eve of the release of their sophomore record, Wish To Scream, with a set of the best bits from Baby and a few from its follow up, highlighting why this band are about to become one of the most important bansa in this current wave of guitar groups. New tracks such as 'Dancehall' and 'Sons & Daughters' sat well amongst 'Corner Of An English Field' and 'Sappho' but the progression is obvious and this was a great way to end three days of brilliant live music, in a city that embraces creativity at an event that brings focus to emerging artists and well sourced talent.
Bring on #TGE14!
