The Big One: The Great Escape
Various venues, Brighton -14-16 May
Daniel Fahey - 12 May 2009
What is it?
Essentially, The Great Escape is the indie version of X-Factor
without Simon Cowell or any neck high trousers - unless of course you’re watching east end art punks S.C.U.M..
Some 300 emerging acts from around the globe take over the seaside city of Brighton for three days to show
industry insiders that they’re ready to the become fully-fledged rockstars for their job. A few festival stalwarts –
Kasabian, The Charlatans, British
Sea Power – are thrown in for good measure. There are also industry talks, conferences, debates and panel sessions
for those who are after more than just music.
When and where?
It all kicks
off this Thursday (14 May) and continues through until Saturday (16
May), taking in over 30 venues around the city of Brighton, Sussex.
Who to
watch
Kasabian
After only a
handful of festivals this year, there is one name that seems to be topping each review – Kasabian. See why the swagger
rock lads are causing such a commotion already.
Hockey
Catchy nu-disco from the US with an enigmatic frontman who are guaranteed to get the crowd dancing.
The
Chapman Family
A more aggressive version of Maximo Park, The Chapman Family are noisy, energetic and hitting
playlists at a rate of knots.
One to miss
The Temper Trap
Australian unich indie that rarely teeters above 80’s indulgence.
Playing a rare festival date
Gang Of Four
With only four UK festival appearances in the past five years, the iconic and influential
post punk group are back – don’t miss them.
Inside tip
African Head Charge – Corn Exchange, Saturday
A
cacophony of broken African beats merged together in a Fuck Buttons-sounding landscape. NB not to be confused with the awful
punk rock group American Head Charge.
Be at The Great Escape if you like…
Saving pennies by combining a weekend getaway with a festival. If the weather is kind, days can be spent catching rays on
the infamous pebbled beach and along the end of the pier, while the evenings will give you more musical entertainment than
John Peel’s record collection (almost).
Avoid if you hate…
Queuing
or walking. With one wristband giving ticket holders access to all venues, certain gigs will quickly fill to capacity and
queues will be inevitable. And if you don’t manage to make it into the first venue you fancy, there’s likely to
be a hike to your second choice.
Festival tactics
If you desperately want
to catch one of the bigger acts or NME-touted names, it’s best to get to the gig early doors because the venue will
reach capacity. Plus there is plenty of quality acts further down the bill, so you needn’t worry.
Fashionista
or folky?
Brighton is fashionable enough as it is, but when organisers add a hoard of emerging acts
you’ve got something so forward thinking you’ll need a time machine to take notes.
Alcohol
of choice
Tuaca. This brandy-based liquor is to Brighton, what schnapps is to Austria, so when in
Rome…
Take you mum score – 6/10
She may even be old enough to
remember the likes of Gang Of Four, so why let her miss out on the opportunity to see them live? Let her wander The Lanes
during the day and have a comfy night’s sleep in a good ol’ B&B.
Can I still get a
ticket?
Yes, but there are very few left. Weekend tickets are priced at £49 while
day tickets are available for £18.50 on Thursday, £22.50 on Friday and £25
for the Saturday. Click here to buy The Great Escape tickets.
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