With tales of frustrated fans being locked out of big-name gigs by the likes of Kooks last year the Great Escape festival did not enjoy an auspicious start.

But the festival has bounced back, and is promising to be better than ever - with even bigger bands confirming they will be playing in 18 larger venues across Brighton and Hove this year.

The Argus can exclusively reveal that joining the 150 plus line-up playing between Thursday, May 17 and Saturday, May 19 will be The Magic Numbers.

Joining them on the bill will be The Rakes, Brighton's own Blood Red Shoes, Shockwaves NME Award tour stars CSS and Mumm-Ra, Mr Hudson and The Library and singer-songwriter Willy Nelson. They will all be hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of last year's acts who later made it to the bigger stages - including The Fratellis, Paolo Nutini, The Feeling and Kooks.

The Great Escape Festival 2007 was launched on Wednesday in the grand surroundings of the Old Courthouse, in Church Street, Brighton.

At the launch event organiser Jon Mac said: "Each day will have up to ten hours of live music for the ticket price of £35."

The festival is also hosting three days of conferences concerning developments in digital music and music in the media.

Mr Mac told The Argus the aim of the festival was to make it inclusive.

He said: "We are keeping the ticket prices low and are backing both unsigned bands and bands on their first or second albums."

Local talent will benefit with the Alternative Escape, a festival running alongside the main event to showcase acts that were unable to get on to the bill.

The Great Escape is joining forces with the Brighton Festival to hold a Thursday night event at the Corn Exchange in Church Street.

French innovators Nouvelle Vague and Quebec's Patrick Watson will headline the show.

And as well as involving 100 volunteers to help run the festival, the organisers have welcomed another city name on to the team - Ish Ali who will be taking the role of production manager.

Mr Ali started the Essential Festival in Stanmer Park, which saw more than 17,000 people coming to see performers such as Fatboy Slim and soul legend James Brown in 2000.

Martin Elborne, event organiser and booker for the Glastonbury Festival, said word was already getting out in the music industry about the Great Escape.

He said: "The rest of the world now sees it as the main European event for new music which has been quite astonishing after just one year."

Responding to last year's complaints he said: "We have tried to get bigger venues this year because the event sold out last year."

He added: "We had 180 bands last year, and are reducing it to 160 this year.

We don't want to get bigger. We are trying to deliver value.

Limited tickets for the full three-day festival cost £35 and are available from www.escapegreat.com or by calling 08700 400076. Tickets will be swapped for a wristband that will allow access to any of the venues taking part unless they are already at full capacity.