The Great Escape Festival 2023 - Preview Part 2
Brighton’s Great Escape festival began in 2006 and has been a beacon of light for new music ever since.
As we approach this year’s festival, we pick out (in alphabetical order) our favourite acts to look out for. Here is part two of run down.
Brighton’s Great Escape festival began in 2006 and has been a beacon of light for new music ever since.
As we approach this year’s festival, we pick out (in alphabetical order) our favourite acts to look out for. Here is part two of run down. (Read part one here)
Sammy Copley
The Irish artist casts minds back to the days of 2007 when Laura Marling emerged to stardom. Classic songwriting married with a supreme vocal.
Key Tracks: To The Bone / Irish Goodbye
Spangled
Their expansive sound has headline act oozing from its blood. It’s the sound of a band with one hand on their destiny and the pushing at end of the galaxy to make things bigger.
Key Tracks: That Farm In Dunham / Charlie Hills
Moreish Idols
The Cantebury outfit are utterly vital indie-rock! From Sea Power to Fontaines DC to Pavement, their warped magic is to die for.
Key Tracks: Chum / Hangar
The Murder Capital
The second album has been a joyous breakout moment in 2023. Guttural feeling and punk integrity to their core.
Key Tracks: Don’t Cling To Life / Ethel
The Kairos
The Liverpool outfit are toying with the 00s hook-heavy scene and more expansive rock music with the skill of seasoned masters.
Key Tracks: The Thick Of It / P.O.P
The Heavy Heavy
The Brighton band taking the early Bee Gees and Hollies for a trip with to the Laurel Canyon.
Key Tracks: Go Down River / Miles and Miles
The Facades
Wigan four-piece The Facades are a mesh of beguiling psyche and wry post-punk.
Key Tracks: That Letter / Beautiful
The Goa Express
The finest indie band in a generation.
Key Tracks: Second Time / Everybody In The UK
The Chase
Nottinghamshire’s The Chase are a ball of ska, punk, indie-rock magic. Ferocious and raw angst meets the hallmarks of great youth culture in their anthems.
Key Tracks: I’m The Man / Trumpet
The Dream Machine
The only natural heir to The Coral’s throne!
Key Tracks: Always On My Mind / Sweet Mary
Click the image below for tickets:
Top 10 EPs of 2022
What another great year for new music 2022 has been. Here are our favourite 10 EP’s of the year:
10. The Lunar Towers - Hurry Up and Wait (Full review here)
There’s a ramshackle beauty to Sewell’s vocals which evokes Pastels’ Creation Records era. The abrasive yet beautiful delivery gives them a joyous us versus the world sonic!
9. The Skinner Brothers - Lonedom (Full review here)
Frontman Zac Skinner’s vocals should be iconic by now. On this latest offing, he has the gruffness of beans on Toast, the insolence of Jamie T but, crucially it’s his soul-boy persona that shines brightest.
8. Andrew Cushin - You Don’t Belong (Full review here)
Although it leaves you hollow and despairing, the heart will remain full for this is a young man reminding us all that a working-class hero is still something to be!
7. The Chase - Not The F**king Game Show (Full review here)
Raucous garage punk sitting between The Stranglers and The Velvet Hands. James’ great keys light up this explosive affair alongside the scintillating guitars.
6. JW Paris - Stuck In A Video
Powerful and unhinged punk rock!
5. The Reds, Pinks, & Purples - Everything Holy (BBC Radio Session)
Their windswept beauty and melancholy is perfectly encapsulated in this incredible BBC session.
4. The Clockworks - The Clockworks (Full review here)
It’s felt like an age since social commentary and great characterisation were a part of our lives. There has been great polemic in recent times but, ‘Money’ goes further. It unites the town crier with the poet and is destined to reel in fans from all strands of the alternative world!
3. Andy Bell - Untitled Film Stills
The Ride guitarist has had a phenomenal run in 2022 with Ride, his solo album but, this EP is the pièce de résistance. An atmospheric masterclass.
2. Pastel - Isaiah (Full review here)
Their time with John Squire at Knebworth was clearly well spent. On ‘S.O.H.O.’ the ‘Second Coming’ and ‘Do It Yourself’ strut comes out to play. Great and immediate hooks combine with Yate’s Chris Helme vocals to bug everything out.
1. Priestgate - Eyes Closed For The Winter (Full review here)
If The DMA’s made a Cure record, this would be it. Dream pop-psyche flirting with the lighter gothic moments of Robert Smith’s eyeliner magic. Frontman Rob Schofield switches from a popper Farris Badwan in the verses to the broken gruff soul of James Geard (Sissy & The Blisters) or Alexander "Chilli" Jesson (Palma Violets) in the pain-ridden end.