Why The Great Escape is one of the best festivals in the UK

PHOTO: TGE PRESS

What could be better than seeing a range of independent artists at grassroots venues near the beach?

The Great Escape is an annual music festival held in Brighton. It takes place in May each year and hosts hundreds of up-and-coming artists from various genres and countries. The event began in 2006 and has been described as “The SXSW of the United Kingdom”.

The four-day festival will be held from the 15th to the 18th of May in 2024, with over 500 artists performing across 35 venues in the city. Alongside live performances, the event features a conference for music industry professionals, who can gain new insights into the industry from a range of speakers.

I first attended The Great Escape in 2018, after a friend won free tickets, accommodation and beers through a social media competition. It took two overnight coaches and nearly 12 hours of travelling time from Newcastle to London, but The Great Escape became one of my favourite festivals to attend. It is incredibly easy to get to Brighton via train or coach from London, so luckily my trip is significantly shorter than previous years.

There is a great number of artists you’re able to see at the festival, but it can take a lot of planning and organisation to manage your time effectively. The majority of the venues involved in the festival are small and independent, so it is always best to arrive early to performances to not miss out. Having smaller venues as part of the event is a great thing for upcoming bands, ensuring that they aren’t performing in 700-capacity rooms whilst 25 other artists are performing at the same time throughout the city. 

The weather is usually pretty warm at this time of year, meaning that if you need a rest, you can always sit and have a rest on the beach. There is also an abundance of beer gardens around the city, but it is worth looking on the event website to see whether the bars are involved in the festival. If they are, it might mean that there is a queue around the block to gain entry.

The venues involved in the festival are gorgeous, with my particular favourites being The Old Market, Patterns and The Mucky Duck. The majority of venues involved in the festival are very close together, but if you are unfamiliar with the area, it is worth checking Google Maps to ensure you’re not walking the wrong way. The streets of Brighton are lovely, but it can be easy to walk up the wrong road and find that you’ve arrived at the entirely wrong place.

As the festival is a champion for new music, you’re likely to hear a lot of artists that you’ve never heard before. There is often a smattering of bands that I’ve seen before, which is nice as I can organise my day around the artists I really want to see. The majority of artists performing have a fairly small following, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve your support. Over the years, so many artists I have seen performing at the festival have grown in popularity, meaning it is a great way to catch performers before they rise to large touring status. The 2018 lineup featured AJ Tracey, Celeste, Self Esteem, Joy Crookes, and Maisie Peters, artists who have grown exponentially since playing at The Great Escape. In 2024, it is not likely that you would be able to catch any of these artists in such an intimate capacity.

It can be difficult to decide on who to see at the festival, but as the venues are so close together, I often look at which venue I am closest to, and have a wander over. As you pay for a weekend ticket, you don’t have to stay for the whole of an artist’s set if you’re not feeling it, and you can use the festival app to research the bands you are planning on seeing ahead of time. There are often many journalists attending The Great Escape, meaning that there is a great range of previews and recommendations posted online ahead of time. I find these guides incredibly helpful, as it can feel overwhelming trying to pick which bands to see out of a long lineup.

For music industry professionals, The Great Escape is a great way to network and meet up with friends. Many networking events are held by music and media organisations. These can include bar meetups, brunches and activities in the evening. In 2023, I attended the festival alone, but I bumped into so many people I knew. Networking events can seem daunting, but there’s a good chance you will know someone attending. Networking events are usually for people with a delegate ticket, so it is worth checking in advance.

The Great Escape is a great way to meet new people and discover your next favourite band. Event tickets are really worth the price, when you think about how many artists you can see over the four days. I’ve made lifelong friends from going to this festival over the years, and although I will never recover from the hangovers and sunburn I end up getting, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.