As always, this year’s Great Escape promises to be bursting with the world’s most exciting new acts. But it wouldn’t be Great Escape without an Alt Escape, with local promoters and bands putting on their own DIY events, showcasing the city’s famously vibrant underground. These are our top picks, diaries at the ready…
SNAYX + PANIC SHACK
THURSDAY
VILLAGE
Brighton locals SNAYX have recently made waves on radio and live with their explosive, gritty pop, with fans amongst Jack Sauders and supports with alt-rock giants Kid Kapichi, Nova Twins and Tigercub under their belts.
This Thursday show at Village also features Panic Shack. The Welsh five piece’s witty, melodic punk has gathered shows alongside Pip Blom and Big Joanie, and plays across 6 Music and Radio 1.
If you’re after a show that will undoubtedly go off, this is the one. Dr Martens recommended.
SNAYXSTONED & STARVING
FRIDAY
THE BRUNSWICK
This all-dayer in the atmospheric basement of the Brunswick showcases the city’s very best alt, psych and garage, all for free. Featuring Ellis D’s epic post punk, BN1 favourites Hutch and their lush sun-psych, Lyena’s ‘non-family friendly’ punk, fuzzy noise-pop from Hadda Be, Safety Jacket’s off-kilter indie and Maximillian’s uplifting alternative.
Of course, it wouldn’t be the Alt Escape without a few secret headliners, and we have it on good authority that this show’s main act just dropped a banger of a single…
HUTCHLOVE THY NEIGHBOUR: NO FRIENDS IN THE INDUSTRY
ACROSS ALL THREE DAYS
THE HOPE & RUIN + FIDDLERS ELBOW
Love Thy Neighbour’s free unofficial Great Escape shows are their biggest yet, across two venues, on all three days of the festival, at the Hope & Ruin and Fiddler’s Elbow.
Love Thy Neighbour is a much loved institution, so it’s no surprise they’ve attracted some big up and coming acts, including DITZ – just back from a European tour in support of their Pitchfork approved debut album – and Lime Garden, who recently shared stages with New York alt-pop giants Sunflower Bean. The lineup also comprises Bristol duo Mumble Tide, noise pop trio Byker Grove Fan Club, GROVE, Naima Bock and Joe & the Shitboys.
DITZ
ANSWER THE CALL
THURSDAY
PRESUMING ED’S
Collect Call and the brilliant people behind “The Sound of Brighton” documentary have teamed up with Presuming Ed’s Cafe and Bar to present a showcase of some of Brighton’s electronic musicians, as well as their favourite bands and songwriters.
The lineup reads like a hotlist of Brighton’s biggest alternative exports, including many BN1 favourites like Hanya, Collect Call, Nature TV, Nighthouse, Nierra Creek and Safety Jacket. The show also features the debut performance of the new ambient project “Apollo’s Library.”
The showcase runs until 9pm and will feature eclectic and dancy tunes courtesy of a Collect Call DJ set.
Dresscode: boilersuits!
FRESH 22
THURSDAY
THE FOLKLORE ROOMS
IN TRANSIT & 369 have announced their addition to the Alt Escape, in association with Gigsluts and Electric Palmtrees, at the Folklore Rooms. The show presents some of the UK’s freshest singer songwriters, leftfield trance pop happenings, electronic musings and post-punk mayhem. This all dayer’s got it all, and you’re highly likely to go home with a few new favourite bands.
Starting at midday and finishing up towards midnight, it kicks off with M-Filed, Mumble Tide, Charlotte Spiral and Jodie Nicholson, with the electronic and stripped back sounds of Vanity Fairy, Enjoyable Listens, Stal Kingsley and grime artist Priincess Kemz, followed by pure pop music with the likes of Natalie Shay, Kaiyra and Sabrina Kennedy, to indie acts, Rainn Byrns, Happy Science to Niall the Urchin and with a noisier post-punk finale of Stephen EvEns (charming sound merchant) to Dead Patrons – who will ‘blow your ears off in a really good way.’
Kaiyra Inna Sadkova
