The Great Escape Festival 2010 review

Overview

The Great Escape Festival keeps getting bigger, and better!

Photo by by Tom Bunning

Being the third year we have had the honour to cover this fantastic new music festival we had a very good idea of what we were in for! Now in its fifth year, the UK’s answer to South by South West was bursting at the seams with a wealth of gigs at venues throughout the city, showcasing local, national and international talent, giving attendees the usual insight in to what will be hot this year!

With the yearly complaints coming from local bands and promoters that enough isn’t done to showcase the amazing live music scene within Brighton The Great Escape organisers added a new level to the festival enabling established and aspiring promoters the chance to host events under the new ‘Alternative Great Escape‘ umbrella.

With sunny days and not a spot of rain we had the first dry Great Escape, impromptu gigs were held in a wealth of random places including acoustic-ska act The King Blues taking things to a whole new level by playing a series of truly unique shows in the sewer system under Brighton Pier. Breakfasts, bbqs, parties, conferences and networking events were held to give industry bods, enthusiasts and artists alike the chance to learn, share and meet, and with people traveling all over the world to attend this event it has to be said that the people behind this event do a fantastic job!

Highlights for Brighton Calling this year were: Levi’s Ones To Watch’s amazing selection of up and coming talent from around the globe which they seamlessly served up at our favorite hotspot Audio, including Fortune, These New Puritans, Kid Bombardos and a fantastic secret gig on the terrace with Futureheads. We also loved The Recommender V’s Source Party at The Black Lion and Beyond Retro’s daily shows that each served up performances from an array of London and Brighton based acts.

With full support this year from Brighton Council and whispers before this years event was even over that plans were under way to make next years festival even bigger we will no doubt be wishing our lives away!

Gig Reviews

The Robot Heart @ Fortunes of War

The Robot Heart, a Brighton based 4 piece were kicking off events at beachfront watering hole Fortunes of War, their myspace hosted recordings of haunting harmonies had intrigued me and as they began their set it was clear that these guys had fine tuned something seldom found on the Brighton Scene….read more

Rich Aucoin @ The Queens Hotel

After a short hop to the Queens Hotel it was time for a set from Nova Scotia’s Rich Aucoin who is making quite a stir with his set of neon electro pop which constantly demands crowd engagement. Rich sees his musical project as a mission to create a euphoric communal experience, with emphasis on the feelings and happiness that it creates….read more

Rob The Rich @ Beyond Retro

This year the organisers of The Great Escape made a new addition to the festival, offering local promoters the opportunity to organise additional events outside of the scheduled line up. After a number of gigs at Brighton’s newest and quite possibly largest vintage clothes shop After a number of gigs at Brighton’s newest and quite possibly largest vintage clothes shop….read more

Agitator @ Beyond Retro

Holding back to catch one more act at one of the festivals most alternative venues, a vast warehouse like building with a glass roof offering fantastic light that even the iphone can capture decent snaps, and since my camera decided to quit on me as I tried to photograph my first band of the day it was a blessing….read more

Levi’s® OnesToWatch® Warm Up @ Above Audio

Taking over Audio for the third year running Levi’s® OnesToWatch® had another fantastic line up spanning the 3 days, made up of national and international acts who are set to make waves on this years festival circuit. Between 5 and 7pm local DJ Matt Allfrey, who can be found playing for popular indie night Stonelove…read more

Kid Bombardos @ Audio

Kicking off the nights gigs through Levis Ones To Watch was French 4 piece Kid Bombardos, an all male group, most of which are just 19 years old! Bursting onto the stage they instantly pulled the crowd closer as they belted out guitar heavy indie tracks that were laced with beautiful, fast riffs that kept me fully coherent….read more

Futureheads @ Audio Terrace

Indie veterans compared to most of the line up of up and coming new artists and bands, the Futureheads were the festival’s highlight act. On the Levi’s Ones To Watch stage, a few lucky folk were treated to an exclusive, surprise gig by the Futureheads. It was the perfect setting for this outdoors secret gig….read more

Othello Woolf @ Beyond Retro

Othello Woolf, AKA Oliver Woolf, is the epitome of suave and a quintessentially English gent of the highest calibre. Catching his set at Beyond Retro as part of the Great Escape festival we were in for a bit of a treat. Dressed up to the nines in a crisp tailor-made suit and nicely pressed shirt… he pretty stylish too….read more

The Recommender v The Source Party @ The Black Lion

Having kicked off festival proceedings slightly later than my partner in crime, it was time to take hold of the musical baton and race down to the Black Lion pub.. which in my eyes was one of the most anticipated events of the Great Escape calendar. The key people behind this event were Brighton’s number one blogger….read more

La Shark @ Beyond Retro

On the last day of the festival and while hangover blues were at their highest I managed to stumble on a band that revived my spirits and made me realize why this festival which such a gem. Witnessing a secret performance from La Shark, at vintage clothing haven, Beyond Retro….read more

Is Tropical @ Prince Albert

Appearing on stage in slightly intimidating looking lace bandanas that covered most of their faces, this London trio were up next to impress the Great Escape revellers at Brighton’s best live music venue The Prince Albert. Mixing what seemed to be sheer pop dance catchiness of Foals with much of a rock edginess….read more

Interviews

Interview with Fortune – 14.05.10

Prior to their set with Levi’s Ones to Watch at The Great Escape Festival we caught up with Fortune. This super cool French four piece played a blinding set on the Friday, their electro-pop revival is flying the blue, white and red flag for electronic, synth-indie. The whole set showed evidence of tracks influenced from a variety of genres, from classic pop to electro and disco. .. read interview

Interview with Summer Camp – 15.05.10

Jeremy Warmsley is a singer/songwriter with two critically acclaimed solo albums under his belt, Elizabeth Sankey a reputable writer for NME and Platform.. together they make up the anonymous Summer Camp Having only been together for less than a year they already seem to be causing a stir in the music scene. Brighton Calling caught up with them at the Great Escape Festival .. read interview

Interview with Born Ruffians – 15.05.10

This musical trio Born Ruffians appeared on the indie scene back in 2006. Having toured with the likes of Franz Ferdinand, Caribou, Hot Chip they are earning themselves quite a reputation. We met up with Toronto’s Born Ruffians just before their performance at The Great Escape festival 2010. They have a new album entitled ‘Say It’ coming out, which is available from 1st June 2010..read interview

Photography

Photos by Nic Serpell-Rand and Tom Bunning