Sly Withers
This Australian four piece band brought their energy to Brighton with amazing indie rock tunes, catchy hooks and perfectly timed harmonies. “Passing Through” is a fantastic track. A great example of the quality of indie rock music coming out of Australia right now – strong, polished, and talented. They should be on your radar.
Lab rat
Lab Rat brings his rough and riot music centre stage – “Drunk” is a track made to headbang to, and impressively he switches between rapping and hitting long high notes – song after song. Blending rap, rock, with a bit of hardcore, he delivers a set like a punch to the gut –
Annie DRiusso
Any fan of Mitski and Ethel Cain is sure to love Annie DiRusso, whose lyrically strong and melodic songs are vulnerable and endearing – her vocals weave through catchy guitar chords and you get the feeling that it’s just as intimate for her as it is for you.
Day We Ran
This band is one to watch. With beautiful harmonies and talent in their blood, Day We Ran have a sound reminiscent of the best of indie rock in the 2010’s – they’re original, sweet, and have an infectiously bright onstage energy. “Naked at Your Door” is a great track, with just an acoustic guitar and harmonies syncing together to pick you up and throw you into the heat of a summer memory. Big things are sure to come their way.
Gordi
Gordi makes music for lovers – the kind of vocals and beats that give you chills and make you think “is it okay to cry in front of strangers?”. Cutting between tracks to tell witty jokes and give us intimate background knowledge about her songs, Gordi bends between ballad and indie rock and meets somewhere in between for the track “Alien Cowboy”. The track “Extraordinary Life” will be on repeat long after the festival.
The Dinosaur’s Skin
This act from Taiwan may look like a gag group on account of the giant dinosaur masks they wear on stage – but their music is far from it. Tying together witty lyrics about prehistoric love with lo-fi indie beats, their quirky personas make them as endearing as their songs.
The Great Escape Music Festival in Brighton features more than 450 up and coming acts from around the world in 35 venues around the city.
