[Brighton] The Great Escape 2025 *** Official Festival Thread ***

[jackalbion]

Thursday 11:16-11:46 in the Komedia Basement

Top Band!

 

[Hamilton]

Definitely recommend The New Eves.

The amount of free gigs increases every year. It's incredible. Feels like it might be more than the official event now?

Anyone have any free gig recommendations for anything a bit different?

The Orchestra (for now) are playing the Alt Escape. That will be worth a listen for something different.

 

[morematey]

Westside Cowboy were absolutely magnificent at the Hope and Ruin last night. I must avoid the temptation to follow them around the rest of the festival rather than seeing other new bands….

Tonight it’s like a battle of the bands with them playing straight before Man/Woman/Chainsaw at the Charles St. Tap. For me the best 2 new bands at the moment (M/W/C are also great live). Just a shame the venue sucks……

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

My son loves this festival, has his 4 days planned.

I make my debut Saturday, looking forward to….
88 miles
Rosadocs
Sunbeam
Molotov
Gauci

 

[CHAPPERS]

Accidentally had a few pints and then tried to get in to Jubilee Square, the Albert and the hope and ruin and all were packed out so just went home. Poor stsrt on my part but I was solo and couldn’t be arsed with queues. Horatios for Water Machine first up today

 

[El Presidente]

You’ve not lived until you’ve experienced lesbian fembot bubblegrunge

 

[Hotchilidog]

Excellent first day Traams, Knives and Bones Ate Arfa all superb, Shooting Daggers were ok but they followed Knives who were just superb.

Looking forward to today, no idea what my highlight will be today. Horatio's and Charles Street Tap seem strong late on so hopefully I can get into one or the other late on.

 

[CorgiRegisteredFriend]

If you like The Horrors they have been added to the line up tonight on The Beach

 

[Pogue Mahone]

We saw Holiday Ghosts and Traams at Patterns, Goodbye and SLAG at Jubilee Square last night.

Traams were brilliant - an absolute sensory overload with driving rhythms. SLAG also excellent.

Unfortunately working today, so starting with Joshua Idehen at Komedia at 7.15.

 

[Hamilton]

The Bug Club putting in a great shift at the Paganini.

Great fun

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

6 music now

 

[Hamilton]

I saw what was probably the happiest gig I’ve ever seen at TGE yesterday in Joshua Idehen. Pure joy.

Managed to squeeze in 8 artists and pretty much enjoyed them all.

In order of enjoyableness…

Joshua Idehen

Chloe Qisha

Citizen Papes

The Bug Club

Dump Babes

Laurie Wright

Laundromat Chicks

Nancy Williams

 

[Hotchilidog]

Possibly one of my favourite TGE days. Dump Babes, Stella Bridie, Bottle Rockets, Coach Party, Hot Wax (although I couldn’t see them at the Black Lion) Armlock at a record shop pop up, Luna Kills, Sunday, Brogean, Chloe Qisha, The Klittens and ManWomanChainsaw. Absolutely knackered.

Kicking off at The Black Lion at noon for Wynona Bleach and Jayler today

 

[CHAPPERS]

More successful yesterday. Saw Water Machine (great), Patche, Sex Mask, Oreglo, Elinborg (incredible Faroese singer) and The Horrors (excellent). Also a couple of duds thrown in but that’s to be expected. Really fun day. Bit of an odd experience at Fabrica which was one in one out when very empty which led to us missing Nectar Woode.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Loved last night. As @Hamilton said, Joshua Idehen was just magnificent, joyful, life affirming.

We then headed for Horatios. Yes and Maybe were okay, enthusiastic and tight - pretty standard indie rock. The Orchestra (For Now) were great - what an amazing collection of musicians. The drummer was incredible.

Then Charles Street Tap. Westside Cowboy were very good, but the acoustics in that venue aren’t great. Finished with Man/Woman/Chainsaw - loved them.

A full day today, mainly based around the beach, and later, Chalk. Hopefully the sunshine will be back.

 

[CHAPPERS]

If you are wondering what to do first up today I really would recommend Elinborg at Three Wise Cats.

 

[CorgiRegisteredFriend]

The Bug Club putting in a great shift at the Paganini.

Great fun

Unfortunately there was no room in the inn when I arrived so made my way to Horratios for punk band Soapbox who were, if you like a bit of angry delivery, excellent. They are playing later today at Daltons. If you go decide to go and moshing is beyond you then avoid the front. The lead singer was quite literally pushing people forward from the sides.
Today will be mainly at the beach venues from about 5 onwards.

 

[CorgiRegisteredFriend]

Oh and Laundromat Chicks at Hope were very good and playing again today.

 

[keaton]

I often think the annual Great Escape thread is some Mornington Crescent in-joke with some of the band names mentioned

 

[Ali_rrr]

We saw Holiday Ghosts and Traams at Patterns, Goodbye and SLAG at Jubilee Square last night.

Traams were brilliant - an absolute sensory overload with driving rhythms. SLAG also excellent.

Unfortunately working today, so starting with Joshua Idehen at Komedia at 7.15.

Traams really are brilliant. Snuck in at The Hope and Ruin after the Derby home playoff game back in 2014. They perked my mood right up. Shame the away leg where you took us up to put it right down again!


Still has to be one of my favourite festivals of all time. Some mates of mine over here go every year because they love Brighton so much (plus their work pays their tickets and accommodation but still). Is there another festival out there except perhaps Edinburgh Fringe where you can explore a city so well?