The Great Escape kicks off again in Brighton, but with a line up filled with so many artists you may not have heard of, how do you decide where to go? These are some of my personal picks, including a few off the beaten track that you might not even be aware are playing!
Daughter
Anyone looking for a captivating performance should head straight to Daughter’s show. Her voice is flawless & her songs tell tales with such emotion it’s hard not to empathise with every single lyric, making it easy to understand why she is set to play four times over the course of the weekend. If you want to see an artist set for big things Elena Tonra is definitely the place to start.
Catch her playing Saturday 14th May at The Fishbowl at 2:30pm or Life at 8:45pm
Daughter – Landfill (taken from the ‘His Young Heart’ EP) by ohDaughter
Smoke Fairies
Ethereal harmonies are the order of the day from this duo who have even found a fan in Jack White when they self-released an early single. Their voices compliment each other perfectly & with dark themes running throughout their debut album Through Low Light And Trees they are perfect for anyone who finds themselves attracted to Florence Welch’s brand of powerful female music.
They will play Unitarian Church on Friday 13th at 10pm
Smoke Fairies – Storm Song by charmfactory
Twin Shadow
Twin Shadow‘s album Forget was one of the highlights of last year that for many will have gone undiscovered. An enthralling mixture of production techniques which provide a fresh and easy to listen to sound that is becoming trendier by the day, he is currently a hidden gem, especially in the UK. Fans of James Blake would be well advised to make an effort to see Twin Shadow, aka George Lewis, over the course of the weekend.
He plays the Corn Exchange on Thursday 12th at 10:30pm
Twin Shadow – Slow by wereofftherails
Frankie & The Heartstrings
I managed to catch a bit of Frankie & The Heartstrings when they played the Park Stage at Glastonbury last year and, as a first introduction, was impressed. Their infectious indie rock songs make them perfect for anyone looking for a gig with a bit more energy & I can guarantee, from experience, that they create an excellent first impression.
The band appear on Saturday 14th at Shipwrights Yard at 4:45pm & Hectors House at 10:30pm
HUNGER by FRANKIE & THE HEARTSTRINGS by leithrecords
The Vaccines
Anyone wanting a buzz band need look no further than The Vaccines. Finalists on Radio1′s Sound of 2011 poll they are being heralded as leading a rock resurgence with their ability to write anthemic songs many established stadium-fillers & festival headliners would be proud of. They are definitely a band you want to be able to say you’ve seen!
They play Corn Exchange on Saturday 14th at 11:30pm
Post Break-Up Sex by The Vaccines
Check out my Spotify Playlist for more artists to look out for at The Great Escape.
