The Great Escape announces First Fifty live shows 18 Sep 2024
FIRST FIFTY, THE LIVE LAUNCH OF THE GREAT ESCAPE 2025, RETURNS TO EAST LONDON ON 13 NOVEMBER 2024
LUVCAT | BRÒGEAL | RUBII | CHLOE SLATER | THE ORCHESTRA (FOR NOW) | KONYIKEH | BETTY | RAY BULL + MANY MORE
THE GREAT ESCAPE 2025 ANNOUNCES FAROE ISLANDS AS LEAD COUNTRY PARTNER
BBC INTRODUCING | CLASH | DIY | DORK | UPSET | GAY TIMES | NOTION | THE INDEPENDENT | TICKETMASTER NEW MUSIC
CHARITY PARTNER
AUDIOACTIVE
14-17 MAY 2025, BRIGHTON
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
https://greatescapefestival.com/
Taking place across eight East London venues, the FIRST FIFTY live launch is partnering this year with BBC Introducing, DIY, Dork, Notion, Ticketmaster New Music, Clash and the festival’s exclusive news partner The Independent to present live performances from the freshest emerging talent on Wednesday 13th November.
Returning as the festival’s exclusive news partner this year, The Independent will continue its commitment to championing emerging talent. The news outlet will host an evening of new music at The Shacklewell Arms with performances from Scottish folk-punk five piece Brògeal, playful and precise Irish rapper Curtisy, and femme-queer alt-rock trio Queen Cult.
Ticketmaster New Music will host an evening of emerging talent at MOTH Club, featuring dark and playful theatrical-rock from Liverpool’s Luvcat, Manchester bedroom-based shoegazer TTSSFU, and grunge-laden melodic angst fourpiece Keo.
BBC Introducing are set to take over Oslo for a dynamic evening of new music featuring Birmingham RnB inspired rapper RUBII, vibrant and ear catching melodies from Tottenham’s common goldfish, and soulful singer-songwriter and producer Saïna.
At the Sebright Arms, Manchester based sprechgesang indie artist Chloe Slater, electrifying Irish five-piece Cliffords, and hazy psychedelic daydreamers The Stingrays will take to the stage in an evening of music hosted by Dork.
At Paper Dress Vintage, Clash will present the seven strong fidgety power-pop group The Orchestra (For Now), static-soaked LA artist ulrika’s bedroom, and lo-fi indie rocker mudi sama.
Notion will showcase an exciting selection of artists at Folklore, with hotly-tipped sets from soulful and expressive rising talent Konyikeh, Irish sensation and breath-taking street performer Allie Sherlock and mesmerising soul songwriter Jessy Blakemore.
Over at The Victoria, DIY will host a buzzy bill of new music featuring Brooklyn-based retro-pop duo Ray Bull, versatile and nostalgic Malaysian-born alt-pop artist Chloe Qisha and fresh electronic sibling-duo Disgusting Sisters.
To complete the evening’s festivities, The Great Escape will be taking over Two Palms with an unmissable night of new talent as throwback indie electronic artist Betty, experimental soul-funk polymath Loshh and genre-bending Faroese singer-songwriter Elinborg each take to the stage.
Additionally, The Great Escape has announced the first wave of partners for its highly anticipated 2025 edition, including this year’s Lead Country Partner, the Faroe Islands.
The Great Escape has been blown away by Faroese artists before, with performances from the likes of Joe & The Shitboys, Aggrasoppar, Elinborg and Brimheim. Stepping into the international spotlight as Lead Country Partner at this year’s event, The Faroe Music Export office will now programme a bigger selection of the country’s hottest talent than ever for 2025.
Glenn Larsen, Head of Faroe Music Export said “The music scene in the Faroe Islands has really taken off in the past few years, and we’re seeing Faroese artists making a big impression not only at the major showcase festivals in Europe but touring around the world as well. It is undoubtedly impressive that such a small, remote country can offer so much, both in terms of quantity and quality, but also across genres. After gaining more global attention, alongside some great successes and “you had to be there” moments at The Great Escape, we are now extremely happy to be the lead country partner at what we see as the most exciting and well-curated showcase festival in the UK. I'm sure we won't disappoint anyone, quite the opposite”
Rory Bett, CEO of MAMA Festivals & VIP Nation Europe shared: "It's a privilege to highlight the incredible talent coming out of such a unique nation as the Faroe Islands. We’ve enjoyed some great shows from Faroese artists before and we can’t wait to see the full breadth of talent and creativity coming out of the Faroese musical community this year. I’ve no doubt it’ll enrich another brilliant edition of The Great Escape.”
The Great Escape Festival also unveils the first wave of media partners for 2025 with Clash, BBC Introducing, DIY, Dork, Gay Times, Notion, Ticketmaster New Music, Upset, and The Independent - the festival’s exclusive news partner on board for this year’s festival.
AudioActive, a non-profit organisation that creates social change through music and develops emerging talent across the south coast, has been announced as charity partner for next year’s festival. Members of AudioActive alumni that have gone on to grace the stages of The Great Escape and beyond include Ardee, Frankie Stew, Harvey Gunn and patron Rag'n'Bone Man.
With several thousands of music fans from across the country and globe descending on the Brighton seaside for The Great Escape every May, fans are urged to book their accommodation early. Festival dates at recommended hotels are available for booking now via The Great Escape website here.
Synonymous with new music discovery and acting as a springboard for rising artists, The Great Escape is the festival for new music. Playing host to over 450 up-and-coming artists and hotly tipped talent across 35+ walkable venues, alongside the music industry-led TGE conference, the festival will kick off the 2025 season from 14 – 17th May in Brighton, England. Tickets for The Great Escape festival start from £81.24 and are on sale here.
TICKETS FOR TGE 2025
greatescapefestival.com
#TGE25
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THE HEADLINES
Do Spotify’s AI Playlists change how algorithmic discovery actually works? (see Features)
A&R 2026: We lost "R" (see Opinion)
Do most artists peak with their first album? (see Analysis)
Court battle over unpaid royalties could have implications for the industry in the streaming era (see News)
Luminate released its 2025 year-end music report (see Reports)
Impala sets out crucial questions on UMG/Downtown, AI, sovereignty and more for EU & music sector (see Comment)
Spotify’s new co-CEOs highlight what’s ahead for the company (see Digital)
Music publishers sued by X in growing licensing battle (see News)
Call on EU to clamp down on unauthorised ticket reselling (see News)
Lucian Grainge outlines UMG's 2026 plans in staff memo (see News)
Skye Newman wins Radio 1's Sound of 2026 (see News)
Spotify now lets you share what you’re streaming in real time with friends (see Digital)
Streamed and retail entertainment sales grew four times faster than UK economy in 2025 (see News)
UMG announces collaboration with NVIDIA to pioneer responsible AI for music discovery, creation, and engagement (see News)