Words by Lucy Fudge
Spread across four days and over 30 venues, The Great Escape Festival in Brighton is a hot spot for new and emerging talent. Each year, over 450 incredible musicians will perform across the city, with previous line-ups including Adele, Charli XCX, and The Last Dinner Party. With so many incredible names and venues to choose from, the jam-packed lineup can be quite overwhelming, so we’ve compiled a list of ten acts you definitely won’t want to miss.
The Pill
From the Isle of Wight, The Pill are unlike anything else currently on the scene. Their satirical brand of punk-pop-rock is both entertaining and hilarious. This chaotic duo is well-practised at taking the awkward parts of life and turning them into a party, with their punchy and in-your-face tracks.
Maïcee
French musician Maïcee is a bit of a musical chameleon, moulding the boundaries of genre to fit her creativity, leaving no road unexplored. From club influences to more classic pop and rap, Maïcee is carving out her space in the industry on her own terms.
Kayla Grace
Known for her sincere and shocking tracks about grief, love and heartbreak, Kayla’s palpable understanding of the world far exceeds that of the average 22-year-old. Consistently drawing the attention of Radio 1 and Spotify, the second single from her recent EP ‘cats can surf’ appeared on Radio 1’s Future Pop and landed her the cover spot on Spotify’s “Our Generation” playlist.
Folk Bitch Trio
Ethereal harmonies and candid storytelling may not be what you’d expect from a group called Folk Bitch Trio, but that’s what they deliver in spades. From Melbourne, these three are sure to shock and enchant crowds with their gorgeous vocals and acoustic guitars.
Catty
If you haven’t heard of Catty by now, you’ve got some major catching up to do. Born and raised in Wales, Catty’s fusion of 80s glam-rock and queer-pop had propelled her into the spotlight, with her debut headline show selling out in under fifteen minutes. With over 3.7 million streams on Spotify, Catty is continuously proving that she was born to be an icon.
Better Joy
As the sun starts to come out, the perfect soundtrack can be found in the discography of Manchester alt-pop musician Better Joy. Her delicate and blissful lyrics and 80s-inspired guitars create a beautiful backing track for springtime walks or sitting in the park.
Loren Heat
A newer name on the queer-pop scene, Loren Heat lives up to her name thanks to their rich, smouldering vocals and pulsating drumlines that can ignite any room. Laced with queer yearning and dark pop influences, Loren is showing all the signs of a future queer-pop icon.
LUNA KILLS
If you’re a fan of something heavier, LUNA KILLS might be what you’re looking for. Since 2019 this Finnish band have conquered stages across Europe, showcasing their exhilarating fusion of modern metal and electronic music.
NADUH
Canadian quintet NADUH is redefining the meaning of a girl group and smashing expectations out the window. Their empowering, groovy hip-hop-infused R&B is guaranteed to get everybody up, moving, and talking.
Chloe Qisha
Since releasing her first single last July, Chloe Qisha has amassed over 680,000 monthly Spotify listeners across her seven songs. Her deadpan delivery layered with funky instrumentals and stunning harmonies forms her exciting style of ultra-catchy alternative pop.
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