The Great Escape Preview

09 May 2025 - Editorial

The Great Escape Preview

We don’t want to jinx it, truly, but have you checked the weather app for next week..? FULL SUN, across all four days. Given we’ve been hosting stages (RIP Sticky Mike’s) shooting sessions or working at TGE in various professional guises for 13 years now, the forecast feels a little too good to be true. In 2025you may no longer find us still on the beach at 5am (RIP my twenties), but we’ll still be centre left at as many showcases as we can access, most of which we’ve listed below. Tonnes of new talent getting attention, of course, many of whom we’ve already featured here in our old Compass column and are certainly worth seeing, but for this preview we’ve tried to keep it to acts with something still available for you - publishing, records, live, etc.

The Conference is also running at Leonardo’s Waterfront again, full line-up of sessions and day by daybreak downs can be found via their site.

Bear in mind there are over 450 acts across the schedule, and we have a word limit here, so you can use this playlist, or download their app for the most up to date info.

Starting earlier this year with a largely local focus for the Wednesday, top of our list is Goodbye, playing at 8.15pm in Jubilee Square. They’re doing two unofficial shows on the Friday if that’s preferable: Unbarred brewery at 6pm, plus the Honeymooner showcase at 10pm over at Pipeline. Their last slot isn’t until Saturday evening at Prince Albert, but do catch them if you can - we’re lucky enough to have heard some demos and know a bunch of you would be keen. No records, publishing or agent - imagine that won’t be the case in a couple of weeks.
Also on Wednesday, local lot SLAG have a couple of shows - Heaven is the latest single and despite the tongue in cheek bio and daft/fun name, the music is solid and interesting - we’ll be at one of the following: Weds - Patterns, 6.15pm. Weds - Jubilee Square, 9.15pm. Fri - Daltons, 12.15pm.

Glastonbury Emerging Talent comp winners Westside Cowboy have been receiving extra attention, technically still with Heist or Hit/Nice Swan but signed to Island for the album - worth watching if you’re yet to see them.Another Island act we’ll take a second to flag is Mitch Sanders - Bristol based with Mayo roots (and a beaut vocal) catch him downstairs at the Hope & Ruin on Wedseve. Also at the Hope & Ruin (and on a two-EP deal with Nice Swan) are The Stingrays - publishing available,agent is Caitlin at ATC.

Moving onto Thursday, Irish duo Search Results are at The Prince Albert from midday. Komedia is hosting the first of two Sounds Australiashowcases, with Amelie Farren from12.10pm, followed by Day We Ran and many more. The Aussie contingent is always worth making time for, year in year out. This link has all acts and times, (including Palme d’Or winning actor/musician REDD) Perth’s South Summit, and much hyped Miss Kaninna too. From Iutriwita/Tasmania and now based in Naarm/Melbourne, this month marks two years since debut single Blak Britney was released, here if you haven’t heard it. With a growing reputation for their live show, you’ve three chances to see it while at TGE. Thursday, Komedia Studio at 2.25pm, Friday, 8.30pm in Komedia Basement, and Saturday3.50pm, at The Jetty/Big Sound stage. No UK/EU agent attached yet.

Meagre Martin are based in Berlin and have two shows on Thursday, 1.30pmat the Bella Union record shop, and 9.30pm at Hope & Ruin. Released their debut album and follow up EP on German label Mansions and Millions, theyhave management but no international label, publisher or agent. Another with publishing still available is Bria Salmena - signed to Royal Mountain (CA) and SubPop (ROW), Bria plays Green Door Store on Thursday, 3.35pm.Management is Alex at Collected Sound.

Charles Street Tap from 7.15pm is where you’ll find London-based trio Green Star - video from them is here. Oreglo are at Revenge from 8pm, and if that’s your vibe we’d suggest the OMEN mag showcase earlier on Thursday too, over at One Church, with nine-piece Bishopskin headlining. 11.15pm at Patterns, downstairs, you’ll find JD Cliffe - a fast growing fanbase and some high profile support means this will be busy - head there early if you want in. Come midnight at Rossi Bar you can see The Itch - signed to Fiction, and with Sarah and Ed at ATC for live, publishing is still available. Canblasterplay Patterns downstairs, that’s at 1.15am. 

Come Friday, we’ll be aiming to catch Jerub, that’s 3.30pm in the Komedia basement, more from him via this link. The Tempest hosts South Korea’s Jacqui, that’sFriday at 6.30pm. We’ll be seeing France’s Max Baby, 7.15pm, also on Friday, at Dust - more info here. At 8.15 over at Charles Street Tapyou’ll find Brit duo Good Health Good Wealth - we’re also keen to catch Chicago’s Kaicrewsade, that’s 8.30pm at Patterns - worth some time out to listen if you’re yet to. Also on Friday, this time at The Arch, 8.45pm, we can’t wait to see Nia Smith - and purely for pleasure, as we’re fairly sure this is a long done deal... Regardless, ‘Personal’ is one of our favourite tracks of the last year, shout out to Dom Valentino too.

Saturday is a great one to spend by the beach - the aforementioned Big Sound stage, plus all of these to tempt you into that later train. Vocal Girls have their own showcase on the pier from 12.30pm - including Dog Race, who we still love. We’ll be catching Newcastle’s Hannah Robinson at The Hope and Ruin, 7pm, before heading down to Horatios for KULEANGEE’s last few songs too. Old faves CLT DRP are at Chalk, that’s at 9pm.

There are so many to choose from, plus the usual parties, off grid shows and the conference too. We’ll be down to see what we can and say hello to you all- reach out via IG.

Have fun, be safe, see you in Brighton.

Words: Ruth Kilpatrick