Leah Wilcox
Leah is a soulful powerhouse – it’s no mystery the influence Americana and country has on her music – she has a handful of catchy ballads and feet-stomping tracks. Accompanied by smooth harmonies from her bassist, ‘The Wine Song’ showcases her vocal prowess – if you’re looking for a singer/songwriter headed towards good things, look no further.
The New Eves
With guttural harmonies, spoken word poetry, and folk-inspired violin and cello chords, The New Eves command a trance like attention. It’s like being front row at a seance or a Nordic sacrifice – they howl and play heavy drums and switch between violin and guitars and even the flute. They’re unique and dedicated to pushing the boundaries of the many genres they draw from – it’s refreshing and gripping – you want to howl with them.
Common Goldfish
The four-piece English group enter the stage draped in suits and ties – poking fun at the 9-5 with tracks like ‘Serious Life’ which is filled with bluesey riffs and polished with some synth, indie chords, and charisma. A cool, curated sound.
Rabo
For their third show ever as a band, Rabo look more at ease on stage than I would expect. The lead singer has a stunning, strong voice – her song ‘Tiptoes’ will certainly join the upper ranks of coming-of-age indie pop tunes similar to artists like Olivia Rodrigo. Emotional, folk-inspired, with a bit of bedroom pop, she’s a joy to hear live.
Gloin
Full of proper punk edge, Gloin come alive performing their tracks. Heavy bass, techno keyboard and scratchy vocals churn together and make it hard to turn away – and hard not to bang your head along.
Bayboards
You might think they’ve jumped out of the 80’s based on their painted jumpsuits and bleached hair, but Bayboards are riding the indie pop wave – with strong vocals and dancey riffs, they’re full on, and the energy is infectious.
Bishopskin
This seven-piece band play every instrument in the book (yes, even a clarinet) to weave together a melodic mix of folk, indie, and soft rock. It’s as fun to listen to as it is to see all of their interactions on stage – with genre bending tunes and deep brassy vocals from the lead singer, it’s great to see a band with this many members play together so well.
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.
