Every May, like clockwork, music industry bigwigs and fans with their finger on the pulse alike descend onto Brighton’s venues, pubs and seafront to mark the arrival of summer at The Great Escape. With a primary focus on new music, the 4-day showcase prides itself on platforming emerging artists from across the globe who are going to define their scenes in years to come.
Check out our list of the sets that blew our mind at this year’s showcase and revel in the hipsterdom of being way ahead of the curve (yes, we’re aware that both PVA and Gurriers are both firmly on the map already, but their sets were too good to omit from the list).
Madra Salach
Thursday @ Chalk
An afternoon slot at Chalk, one of The Great Escape’s largest rooms, sees Dublin sextet Madra Salach provide a masterclass in captivating a rammed venue and holding them in the palm of your hand. Breathing life into traditional Irish sounds and delivering them to the masses, Madra Salach are a live prospect to be reckoned with.
FFO: The Mary Wallopers, Brògeal
SILVERWINGKILLER
Thursday @ Patterns Downstairs
British/Chinese duo SILVERWINGKILLER are rising from Manchester’s basement venues with a cocktail of opaque beatmaking, chaotic song structures and confrontational, frenetic energy. The early hours of Friday morning play host to Yushang and James’ bilingual set beneath the low ceiling of Patterns’ downstairs room.
FFO: Peaches, Marie Davidson
PVA
Friday @ Quarters
Still riding high from January’s release of sophomore album No More Like This, PVA are a band reborn. Techno-imbued synth loops swell as Ella Harris’ aloof vocal plays as a siren call; luring audience ears before disarming the room with seismic moments of release.
FFO: Crystal Castles, Factory Floor
Gurriers
Friday @ Tide Beach Club
Between its ragtag little brother The Alt Escape and an ever-reliable slew of private showcases, The Great Escape boast a secret menu of surprise appearances which can go toe-to-toe with any festival on the calendar. Friday sees sweaty seafront archway, Tide Beach Club, host a stellar showcase of artists courtesy of independent label family PIAS. Sassy 009 and High Vis both take to the stage (set up with a Boiler Room-esque wraparound audience) throughout the day, but it’s Irish post-punk outfit Gurriers who steal the show with the most visceral performance of the whole weekend.
FFO: Fontaines D.C., Shame
bed
Friday @ Dust
Who’d have thought that rave-coded Japanese electropunk would be the big head-turner at this year’s festival? Hailing from Kyoto and Osaka, bed combine hefty basslines and cold cyberpunk aesthetics to usher in the end of the world with one hell of a party.
FFO: Many, Indiana, The Prodigy
featured image: SILVERWINGKILLER video still
