PREVIEW: 10 Acts To See @ The Great Escape Festival 2015

This week from 14-16 May, The Great Escape Festival is celebrating its 10th birthday in Brighton. Spread over three days in over thirty different venues; 350 musicians are travelling down to the seaside to share their sound with the crowds at this fantastic festival. With so many great acts to see in such a short space of time, it’s hard to know who to make a beeline for. Below are ten acts to watch out for at this year’s Great Escape. (Also, don’t forget that Gigslutz has its own stage as part of the Alternative Great Escape – details here.)

1. Cairo
The Canadian four-piece are playing twice at The Green Door Store on the Thursday. Transcending genre barriers by combining ambient guitar sounds with folk-style vocals, Cairo will appeal to music lovers of all ages and genres. Listen out for ‘A History of Reasons.’

2. Beach Baby
This London four-piece promise to deliver ‘apathetic alternative-pop’ to the Brighton crowd this weekend. Prepare to be swept away on a wave of dreamy guitar riffs and smooth vocals. See them at Coalition this Friday and check out the video for ‘LadyBird’ below.

3. Allusondrugs
The Leeds based band with the controversial name has grungy, angst-ridden guitar riffs, and a singer who looks like the late Kurt Cobain. With songs like ‘Am I Weird?’ and ‘I Should Have Gone to Uni’, Allusondrugs will appeal to rogues, rejects and rebels. Catch them on Thursday at the Festival’s Hub.

4. Pins
A band for the modern Riot Grrrl, Pins are five girls from Manchester who are destined for big things. With tracks like ‘Young Girls’ and ‘Girls Like Us’, expect some excellent guitar music on the Thursday at the Green Door Store and on Friday at the Dome Studio Theatre.

5. Django Django
Proudly returning to The Great Escape this May, Django Django can be caught sharing their infectiously melodic sound at The Corn Exchange this Saturday. Listen out for new single ‘First Light’.

6. Hannah Lou Clarke
Hannah Lou Clarke’s music is the bridge between introvert and extrovert, and it’s this blend of qualities that makes her music so divine. Catch this British songwriter at The Old Market on Saturday and check out the video to ‘Kids in Heat’ below.

7. A.O.S.O.O.N
Marisa Hylton and Manny Folorunso create captivating music together as A.O.S.O.O.N. This South-London two piece will be making waves at the seaside this weekend with their emotionally affecting vocals and melancholy music. Catch them at The Hub on the Friday, and listen out for ‘Under’ and ‘Same Difference’.

8. Dan Owen
This #bluesboy has soul, style, and serious multi-tasking skills. Prepare to be amazed by Dan’s husky voice and harmonica playing. Watch and listen to the video below for ‘Little Red Rooster’ before you see Dan at Spiegelpub (The Hub Stage) on Thursday.

9. Kate Boy
Kate Boy are a Swedish electronic trio who are gaining recognition across the board, so we recommned you get in quick and see them this weekend. Their infectious electronic music will have everyone at Patterns dancing this Thursday.

10. Slaves
Having just sold out two headline shows at London’s Scala, Slaves are smashing their way down to Brighton to spread their majestic punk anthems with the seaside. Expect anarchy, energy and endless fun from Isaac and Laurie this weekend. They’re playing three shows in two days on Friday and Saturday, so it’ll be hard to miss them. Listen out for ‘The Hunter’ and new single ‘Cheer Up London’.

For all the info on The Great Escape, check out the festival’s website here

Kate Crudgington

Kate Crudgington

Kate Crudgington

Assistant Editor for Gigslutz (2015-2017) Now Co-Founder, Co-Host & Features Editor for @getinherears