The Great Escape is by far the biggest weekend of the year for this music blog. If we could create the perfect festival it wouldn’t vary much from the event happening in Brighton this May. Imagine a three-day bender, involving dozens of the world’s best new artists, playing on our Brighton doorstep, at venues right across this small, walkable city. Stirred into the mix will be representatives of every major, sub and independent record label, alongside the rest of the UK’s music industry, as well as thousands of music-hungry punters, all poured into our beach-side home, to rub shoulders and schmooze the living daylights out of each other. It’s like a music blogger’s paradise!
Last year The Recommender threw one of the best parties of the weekend, alongside a brand that is well-known throughout our city as it’s ‘going out bible‘, The Brighton Source Magazine. We put five bands on show, including Mirrors, Pope Joan, King Charles, Foreign Office and The Agitator. All of these artists are set to break through this year, proving how ahead of the game this festival can be. There was a one-in-one-out policy on the door all night long, yet this time around we’re stepping up another gear…
At this year’s festival we’re at it again as we throw the mother of all parties. The Recommender vs Drowned In Sound, one of the best established music websites in the world, are going head to head in a co-hosting battle on the Friday night and it’s all set to be the biggest after party of the weekend. Once all the normal daytime and evening showcases are completed we open the doors at one of the best established central venues, Audio, at 11pm and plan on partying hard with four cutting edge bands on show until 4am. It’s already been quoted in magazines as, “possibly the best after party of TGE“, and that it “promises to be a proper party, rather than a chin-stroking showcase“.
The four bands on show over the five hours will be as follows:
ALPINES (11pm – 12pm): Major record deals don’t get thrown around you know. This London duo have real, proper, concrete potential, so catch their self-described ‘night pop’, with all it’s extraordinary drama and room shaking scale, at this intimate venue whilst you still can.
Track – DRIVE
HEY SHOLAY (12:15pm – 1:15am): This bright Sheffield band inject their indie music with a wonderful blend of melody, charm and addictive power. They’ll knock you off your feet with one punchy hit after another, so look out for the many hooks that will be flying your way.
Track – DREAMBOAT
REAL FUR (1:30am – 2:30am): Well known for throwing parties inside strange places, this launderette-loving trio from London will put a smile on your face and movement in your feet. They’re so utterly adorable that you may want to take them home afterwards, but don’t be surprised if they set up a party in your kitchen if you do.
Track – BIRDS
BEAT CONNECTION (2:45am – 3:45am): Their debut mini-album, Surf Noir, has just come out and as a result has worn down the buttons on many a blogger’s keyboard. A little bit disco, a little bit pop, a little bit house, a little bit tropical. A lot of good.
Track – IN THE WATER
All of these bands are currently buzzing like a bored housewife’s sock drawer and come stamped with lots of blog approval. In fact we are deliberately making music blogs a focus of this show, with special VIP treatment to anyone who contributes to a music blog that’s in attendance. More details will be handed out at our secret bloggers meetup earlier in the afternoon. Get in touch for more information.
There’s plenty more you can find out about these artists on our blog elsewhere if you hunt them out. For regular updates, as well as news about the secret bloggers meetup, follow us on Twitter as we build up to the show, plus we promise a turbo-Twitter session during the festival itself, so if you want to come and say hello in person, or find out what we’re up to, then hook up with us on there.
Just like last year, we will be completing our usual geeky, over-indulgent online diary which shows off our daily schedule of shows, so if you want to find out which shows and parties we think are the hottest then look out for that spreadsheet next week.
This. Is. Going. To. Be. Big.
