The Great Escape – Recommended!
The Great Escape is chock full of talent. Never has this city of ours been swamped with so much of it. Well, not since last year… Over 400 acts from around the globe will descend upon Brighton for three days of new music., many of whom have not been here before. For ticket holders and music lovers it’s the perfect opportunity to find your favourite new band…
Here are 10 great options for your perusal. They may not be the best, but they are certainly worthy of your attention:
TRANS
Bernard Butler, Jackie McKeown, Paul Borchers and Igor Volk make up new band Trans, who’ve just released Trans Green, part of a limited series of EPs they are releasing via Rough Trade. Psychedelic jangle pop rubs shoulders with elongated, Neil Young (circa Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere) style rhythmic jams and krautrock influenced loose grooves. And loads of guitar…
Website:
www.transrecordings.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/transrecordingsofficial
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/@__Trans__
WHERE?
DOME STUDIO – 10th May 12:15am – 1:00am (Sunday morning)
SMOOVE + TURRELL
Old school funk and soul vibes from the Newcastle boys and whose new album Broken Toys is being released on Brighton label Jalapeño Records. Utterly upbeat, you will probably have heard some of their music on all sorts of TV programmes and ad campaigns. With a seven piece band in tow this could be a little gem of a gig.
Website:
www.smooveandturrell.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/smooveandturrell
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/SmooveTurrell
Soundcloud:
www.soundcloud.com/smoove-and-turrell
WHERE?
BERMUDA TRIANGLE – 8th May 3:30pm – 4:00pm
PHANTOGRAM
Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter make up this upstate New York duo, creators of bewitching and big electro pop, but with added dreamy folk stylings, synth menace, hip hop and RnB beats and glitchy techno. Hints of deconstructed 70s Bowie abound too on new album Voices, available at end of June. Original stuff, and already making a big impression here in the UK and the States.
Website:
www.phantogram.net
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/Phantogram
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/Phantogram
Soundcloud:
www.soundcloud.com/phantogram
WHERE?
DIGITAL, 9TH May, 9.45pm
BRIDIE JACKSON & THE ARBOUR
Dark-folk atmospherics mixed with joyful harmonies are the speciality of this awesome all-girl Newcastle four-piece, a band who excel in a live setting where their mix of percussion, cello, xylophone, fiddle and guitar is spacious and dynamic, complimenting the sometimes eerie, sometimes joyous voices. Debut album New Skin has just been released
Website:
www.bridieandthearbour.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/bridieandthearbour
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/BridieAndArbour
Soundcloud:
www.soundcloud.com/bridieandthearbour
WHERE?
KOMEDIA, 9TH MAY, 12.30PM
SPEIGELTENT (OUTSIDE), 9TH MAY, 8.30PM
ARC IRIS
Formerly of The Low Anthem, Arc Iris is the new project from Jocie Adams, whose debut album was released recently on Bella Union. She’s roped in a large collective of musicians to help her realise her ambitious, sprawling music which takes in many influences; from indie folk to outlaw country, and from orchestral pop to cabaret. Visceral, soulful, and above all, imaginative.
Website:
www.arciris.net
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/arcirismusic
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/arcirismusic
Soundcloud:
www.soundcloud.com/arc-iris
WHERE?
BRIGHTHELM – 9th May 9:30pm – 10:00pm
DOME STUDIO – 10th May 11:15pm – 11:45pm
CHAMPS
Brothers Michael and David Champion (aka Champs) have been, er, championed by all and sundry; their elegantly constructed melancholia is deeply atmospheric, moving and at times, euphoric. The brothers distinct harmonies are spellbinding, and their alt-rock and folk music is both cathedralesque and homely as they subtly soar and dive, maintaining an incredible momentum throughout their debut album Down Like Gold.
Website:
www.champschampschamps.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/champschampschamps
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/CHAMPSOFFICIAL
WHERE?
UNITARIAN CHURCH – 10th May 8:15pm – 8:45pm
COURTNEY BARNETT
This deadpan and very witty Aussie mixes up charming country-roots with occasional bouts of Nick Cavesque instrumentation. But it’s her brilliant storytelling qualities, both lucid and erudite, that nails it. With song titles such as Canned Tomatoes (whole), Don’t Apply Compression Gently, and Avante Gardener, her imaginative and yet matter-of-fact vignettes are compelling. Check out her debut album The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas.
Website:
www.courtneybarnett.com.au
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/courtneybarnettmusic
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/courtneymelba
Soundcloud:
www.soundcloud.com/courtney-barnett-milk
WHERE?
THE HAUNT – 8th May 9:15pm – 9:45pm
KOMEDIA – 8th May 3:20pm – 3:45pm
DOME STUDIO – 10th May 12:15am – 1:00am (Saturday morning)
LITTLE DRAGON
Formed back in 1996, Little Dragon continue their upward trajectory (see them later in the year at the Corn Exchange), and developing their music, never sitting still. Their constantly evolving mix of RnB, electro, pop and dance features strong melodies and, of course, the singing of charismatic frontwoman Yukimi Nagano. New album Nabuma Rubberband is their fourth, and another winner.
Website:
www.little-dragon.net
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/littledragonpage
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/LittleDragon
Soundcloud:
www.soundcloud.com/littledragon
WHERE?
BRIGHTON COALITION – 8th May 10:00pm – 10:45pm
JON HOPKINS
Intelligent dance music may be a patronising phrase, but Hopkins dance-orientated music IS thoughtful; sometimes brutal, sometimes tender, but always interesting. He uses analog synthesisers alongside his racks of manipulating gear, producing an intoxicating journey into sound. Last year’s Immunity was ranked by many as one of the year’s very best.
Website:
www.jonhopkins.co.uk
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/jonhopkinsmusic
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/jon_hopkins_
Soundcloud:
www.soundcloud.com/jonhopkins
WHERE?
CORN EXCHANGE – 11th May 1:00am – 1:45am (Sunday morning)
PHOX
Very playful seven-piece from Baraboo in Wisconsin (best look that one up…), and newcomers to these shores. Expect something very special, their fresh amalgamation of afro-caribbean grooves, rock, psychedelia, americana and soul is topped up by the marvellously easy-on-the-ear vocals of Monica Martin.
Website:
www.phoxband.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/phoxband
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/PhoxBand
WHERE?
DOME STUDIO – 8th May 9:45pm – 10:15pm
