Preview: The Great Escape

The Great Escape is not as some may believe a conference celebrating the brilliance of John Sturges’ 1963  prisoner of war camp epic. Nope, no Steve McQueen on motorcycle or Charles Bronson tunnel digging heroics will be seen over the three days in Brighton. Sun, sand sea and …bands is the order of the day and we mean lots of bands! Think SXSW with a view of the English Channel and hopefully not the sprawling, corporate, band whoring mess that the Austin, Texas event has become in recent years.

In its first year of conception The Great Escape will see over 170 acts playing across 10 venues over the three days (May 18-20). New and established bands from across the globe are crossing oceans, traversing mountain ranges and braving British public transport to play. Gigwise is overjoyed to be a media partner with The Great Escape and we plan to bring you extensive day to day coverage including the usual reviews and news.

Now like any festival with so many bands playing all at once there are bound to be clashes on the bill, don’t it just piss you off when two of your favourite bands are playing at the same time! Well, fear not, for Gigwise has taken time out from writing salacious stories about Pete Doherty’s latest exploits to draw up a must see list to guide you through the 72 hours.

So here goes…

Day 1 – May 18

You Say Party! We Say Die!
The Vancouver five piece kick off their UK tour with this show and will be playing material from their next album ‘Hit The Floor!’ which is due out on our fair isle in June. They are purveyors of beat laden stripped down punk of the highest order mixing Pretty Girls Make Graves hardcore sensibilities with Le Tigre's left field amateur dramatics.

Where: Pressure Point    When: 7pm

Spleen United
Gigwise first saw Spleen United at Eurosonic in Holland last January and we have to say that though we went in knowing nothing about the Danish band by the time we left we were enormously impressed. Their blend of experimental synthesizer movements with some pristine pop hooks is a joyous one. You may never have heard of them but don’t let that put you off.

Where: The Albert    When: 8pm

Rumble Strips
Sounding like Dexy’s Midnight Runners in a moment of southern styled, bluesy madness Rumble Strips are the latest offering from Transgressive’s seemingly never-ending conveyor belt of brilliantly off the wall bands. If last single ‘No Soul/ Motorcycle’ is anything to go buy expect plenty of odd-ball, 80’s referencing treats from the Londoners.

Where: Pressure Point    When: 9pm

The Spinto Band
It may have taken seven self released albums for the world to realise that Wilmington's Spinto Band are in fact brilliantly good but now the secret is out. With their debut album 'Nice & Nicely Done' due on May 29 they are set to be one of the highlights of the three and are definitely not to be missed. Get there early because Audio will no doubt be rammed!

Where: Audio    When: 10pm

Best of the Rest: Humanzi (Concorde 2, 8pm) Mumm-Ra (Sumo, 8:15pm), Disco Ensemble (Engine Rooms, 9pm), Holy **** (Ocean Rooms, 9pm), The Morning After Girls (Concorde 2, 9pm), Kid Harpoon (The Albert, 9pm), British Sea Power (The Zap, 9:45pm)