Brighton: Home of Punch and Judy, Fish and Chips and the Green Party. But also home to a party of quite a different nature: The Great Escape Festival.
Founded in 2006, the festival has welcomed revellers to the shores of Brighton for a decade, and we cannot wait for what the festival has in store this year. So, read on to discover why you should pack up your knapsack and (attempt) a Southern Railway journey down to the coast this Spring.
1. The festival draws similarities to Northern counterpart Live at Leeds, in that it is spread across small venues in Brighton. Find yourself propped up at one bar watching Anna Straker or head across to another venue to see Childhood perform. The charm of frequenting several independent venues trumps being stuck in a muddy field, weaving between half eaten and extortionately priced burgers and chips (I think so anyway).
2. Variety is key here. If indie music is not your thing, and there is A LOT of this, then don’t fret. Electronica, dance, folk and rap music, to name a few, can be heard bubbling away across the city over the three days.
3. One of the best things about TGE is the organiser’s request for bands to play each year. This means that if you want to get coverage at the festival as a band or artist, all you have to do is apply on the festival’s website to be in with a shot. Unfortunately, artist submissions are closed for this year, but don’t hesitate to put yourself forward for next year’s festivities.
4. A light needs to be shone on the Spotlight Shows at TGE. Festival coordinators deem these set of shows to be extra special. This year, Slaves host a Pier Party, quite in keeping with the Brighton vibe. Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, whose rise to fame was slow but suddenly meteoric, joins Ray BLK, the South Londoner everyone is talking about on the 20th May to perform. You do have to pay a bit more for these shows, but how can you turn down the chance to see Slaves tear up the Pier (literally?)….
5. Finally, there’s no untangling yourself hungover from a condensation soaked tent to greet a chilly and muddy morning with beer cans strewn across the horizon (okay, bit much, but still). The joys of attending The Great Escape are that you can go home to a warm bed at the end of the day, as the festival provides accommodation for you. Although reasonably expensive as we draw near to the start of the festival, the prospect of a shower and lie down after moshing to Slaves will seem like a dream.
So there you have it. The Great Escape does exactly what it says on the tin: the chance to lose yourself in this hedonistic party on the South coast you won’t forget.
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