A staple in the diary of any self respecting live music fan, Brighton's Great Escape returns this May with a plethora of emerging talent in tow, and we have selected 5 of our must sees.

Last updated: 11th Apr 2018

Originally published: 9th Apr 2018

Image: The Great Escape (source)

Potentially the UK's biggest showcase of new live music, The Great Escape Festival takes over Brighton once again this May, for its annual sprawling seaside party. 

More than 500 artists will grace over 60 venues throughout the city, alongside a selection of keynote speeches, debates, and panels discussing wider issues affecting the industry. This year also sees the festival introduce their brand new 2000 capacity site, complete with two new venues, bars, food areas and pop up performance spaces, all set right on Brighton Beach.

With a line up that boasts emerging and established artists from around the globe, Skiddle's editorial team have singled out a few personal highlights from The Great Escape line up that we'll be sure to catch between Thursday 17th May - Saturday 19th May.

Forever Cult

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The Leeds punk rockers are signed up to the ever blossoming Clue Records label that also includes Allusondrugs, NARCS and Avalanche Party and in many ways are a perfect representation of the sort of music that is shaking the Yorkshire city to its core at the present.

With their searing riffs, thundering drums, sneering vocals and a sensational bassist in the form of Alex Greaves, they truly live up to DIY Mag's description of them as "a bratty, beaming slice of perfectionist punk" - with latest single 'Usurper' a perfect example of that. Live, they're a force to be reckoned with and as well as tearing up their home city, the band have already brought the noise across the UK in emphatic fashion in the early part of 2018. 

White Room

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The five piece are easily one of the most promising bands in the country at the moment, and through their charming psych pop magic are as addictive to watch as they are to listen to. With songs built upon solid rhythms, striking guitar lines and incredible harmonies shared between lead singer Jake Smallwood and bassist Josie McNamara, White Room engulf you in swirling psychedelia before stinging you with killer hooks.

A hometown gig, The Great Escape will be the perfect chance for the band to perform to a crowd no doubt already familiar with them and anyone else catching them for the first time will see why they have already supported Paul Weller on tour and are described by the Modfather as a band who "just get better and better"

The Regrettes

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Super sweet vocals deliver cutting lyrics as female fronted LA four piece The Regrettes take garage rock into their own hands. Their 2017 debut album, Feel Your Feelings Fool! is a heady combo of 60s inspired, lo-fi surf rock and catchy punk riffs, resulting in a perfect, coming of age, journey of a record.

They have built up an ever growing, fiercely loyal army of fans and are 100% a must to catch at The Great Escape - we predict they won't be playing small stages for very long at all.

Amelia Ward

Goat Girl

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You've definitely been living under a rock if you've not heard of Goat Girl yet. One of UK guitar music's most exciting new contenders, the London based all female foursome play The Great Escape following the release of their debut self titled album earlier this month, which continues to rack up accolades from the country's media. 

A meandering, nonchalant affair, it documents the bleak prospect of post adolescence in a overcrowded, underpaid capital, with respites of dark wit and genuine humour, with listless echoes of The Libertines. Having built the album around their live sound, we will be sure to see them on stage in Brighton this year.

AW

Teleman

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Indie pop outfit Teleman have always been there in one way or another. If you were a 00s indie fan, you'll recognise the measured, understated vocals from much loved indie band Pete and the Pirates, with three of the quartet being previous members.

Having developed their sound, Teleman offers a more mature, but ever uplifting output. If you're after depth and heaviness, you're in the wrong place, but at their Great Escape set you can expect mesmerising, bittersweet vocals and motorik influenced indie to dance to. 

AW

Grab Great Escape tickets below.