The Great Escape Festival Welcomes 350 Bands to Brighton

Featuring more than 350 of the most important and influential bands playing in 30+ venues across Brighton from May 13th-15th, the team behind Europe’s most anticipated new music festival and industry conference event, The Great Escape are set to unveil the day-by-day, venue-by-venue breakdown of exactly who is playing, when and where at this year’s event. With the full list of all the bands live at www.escapegreat.com we can reveal some of the highpoints of this year’s premiere annual music festival on the south coast.

WHO, WHERE AND WHEN.

Highlights include: Groove Armada, Marina & The Diamonds, Eighties Matchbox Disaster, The Big Pink, Chase & Status, Delphic, Wild Beasts, The Slits, Ellie Goulding, Broken Social Scene…and many, many more!

The Day-to-day breakdown kicks off on Thursday May 13th, with psych-rockers Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster headlining a supreme line-up at the intimate Hectors House, whilst all-girl punk legends The Slits will be playing their angular riffs at the Pavilion Theatre. Friday May 14th will see Manchester’s indie-dance behemoth Delphic storm the Corn Exchange with their anthemic warehouse-pop, plus Wild Beasts, fronted by Hayden Thorpe, whose countertenor vocals have propelled them to worldwide recognition, will be showcasing their baroque stylings at The Pavilion Theatre. BRITs Critic’s Choice 2010 winner Ellie Goulding will demonstrate exactly why she was so hotly tipped at Concorde 2 whilst John McClure will be bring the Reverend Soundsystem to Coalition. Saturday May 15th, the festival’s final day will be closed by drum n bass overlords Chase & Status dropping the blistering live beats and bass at The Dome, Canadian super-group Broken Social Scene will warm up for dance music icons Groove Armada at the Corn Exchange and one of the hottest bands currently on the circuit Marina & The Diamonds will be at Concorde 2. ***We can also announce that Saturdaywill see previously unannounced dreampopsters The Big Pink at the Corn Exchange***.

This year The Great Escape’s country partner is Australia, which has seen them join forces with Sounds Australia to illuminate some of he country’s finest musical exports.

“The calibre of talent coming out of Australia is just phenomenal at the moment and the artists chosen by The Great Escape to showcase at this year’s event is certainly no exception.  Expect both mesmerising and no holds barred performances from the Australians in Brighton this May.  You will find your next favourite band! ”

– Millie Millgate, Export Music Producer, Sounds Australia.

Australian highlights at the show this year include the dark and majestic Blackchords, the luscious Bridezilla, the ethereal Sarah Blasko, pop-country purveyors Oh Mercy, Brisbane’s acclaimed four-piece Violent Soho, Indie-punk-soul from Philidelphia Grand Jury, acoustic popster Paul Dempsey, the piano driven odes of singer songwriter Larissa McKay, dark pop pesky kids that are Teenagersintokyo, electro rockers Art vs Science, indie beatniks Hungry Kids of Hungary, the hook-laden Eskimo Joe and alternative rockers Birds of Tokyo.

Finally, Relentless Energy drink is delighted to return for their second year hosting the innovative secret Street Gigs. The series of impromptu events will be popping up all around town over the course of the three days – on the seafront and in public squares. And if the weather gods frown on us, they’ll be indoors at some of the best venues Brighton has to offer. The past 2 years have seen the likes of Dead Kids, Ida Maria, Turbowolf & Mr Hudson pop up around town. 2010 artists and locations will be announced by The Great Escape’s texting service. A £1.50 one-off fee applies plus standard network rates. All texts after that will be free of charge.  The number will be announced in due course.

Weekend tickets – that will get you in to see all the bands plus give you access to outdoor gigs, afternoon shows, club nights, after parties and lots more – are currently on sale from www.escapegreat.com for £55.00.

There are a few exceptions:

We have set aside a good allocation of space for TGE wristband holders at the Chase and Status show. However, as with all our gigs, entry to it is subject to capacity and so if you’re a massive fan you’ll be pleased to hear that we have also put specific Chase and Status tickets on sale, which will guarantee you access to the show.

If you’ve already bought your TGE wristband you will be able to purchase a single Chase & Status gig ticket for £15. And if not, combined tickets will be available which include a TGE 3 day festival wristband as well as guaranteed access to the Chase and Status show for just £60.

Combined tickets are now available which will get you a 3 day TGE ticket packaged with guaranteed access to Groove Armada. To purchase your combined ticket for £70.

For single tickets to just see Groove Armada for £25.

We have set aside a good allocation of space for TGE wristband holders at the Young Guns show. However, as with all our gigs, entry to it is subject to capacity and so if you’re a massive fan you’ll be pleased to hear that we have also put specific Young Guns tickets on sale, which will guarantee you access to the show.

If you’ve already bought your TGE wristband you will be able to purchase a single Young Guns gig ticket for £8 + a booking fee.