The Great Escape

Various venues, Brighton, Thursday, May 19, to Saturday, May 21

HAVING celebrated its tenth anniversary last year, Brighton’s annual festival of new music, The Great Escape, has just announced its first wave of artists for 2016.

Internet sensations Oh Wonder are set to headline the first Spotlight show at All Saints Church, in The Drive, Hove, on Thursday, May 19, with support from Shura and Mura Masa. The duo rose to fame by releasing a song a month on their Soundcloud site, attracting thousands of fans.

Also on the bill for the festival, which takes over more than 30 music venues across the city in May, are former Great Escape headliners Mystery Jets, in support of their forthcoming new album Curve Of The Earth.

Also announced are hotly tipped acts including Norwegian songbird Dagny, 16-year-old winner of the 2015 Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition Declan McKenna, post-punk quartet Beach Baby, trash-poppers Trudy, and soul/folkster Rukhsana Merrise.

Adding to the experimental side of the bill are Lithuanian cabaret-tinged songstress Alina Orlova, the noisy brash of Elle Exxe, bedroom pop producer Conner Youngblood, recycled instrument creator Owen Rabbit and 18-year-old Will Joseph Cook.

And there will be sets from Saint Sister, Isaac Gracie, Dilly Dally, Brighton’s own Tigercub and Scottish electro-popper Kloe.

For the first time the festival has announced a 16+ age limit.

“It allows us to welcome a different type of new music fan to the festival,” says event manager Kevin Moore.

“2016 is a big year; we’re so excited to come back full throttle, launching a new website as well as a bold new brand to create a fresh face for The Great Escape. We wanted to find a connection to the place, the people, the music and the importance of the event.”

Earlybird three-day tickets cost £49.50. Separate tickets for Oh Wonder at All Saints Church cost £15/£8. Visit www.greatescapefestival.com