The Great Escape – Seagulls, Fish & Chips + top tunes. What’s not to love?
Marking some of the most exciting dates on any musician or industry folks’ calendar, The Great Escape Festival– set in the seaside location of Brighton, is set to bring a tidal wave of new music talent from around the globe between the 14th and 17th of May 2025. With 35 walkable venues in the heart of the city, this year’s edition promises over 450 emerging artists covering every corner of the genre map- from laid-back indie to adrenaline-fueled club anthems.
Renowned as Europe’s leading festival for new music discovery, The Great Escape invites attendees to take a moment to immerse themselves in art and creativity, whilst offering a strong possibility of catching the next big thing. Whether you’re on the hunt for future headline acts or purely there for good vibes, sunshine and pebble beaches..
With so much to explore, we’ve narrowed down a handful of essential rising acts who are ready to make a serious impact. If you’re craving bold performances and future-facing sounds, make room in your schedule for these standout artists.
Astral Bakers (France)
The Hope & Ruin – 8:15pm Wednesday
French indie quartet Astral Bakers– made up of Theodora, Nico Lockhart, Zoé Hochberg, and Sage (Ambroise Willaume)- meld elements of shoegaze, grunge, and acoustic rock into a sound that’s both dreamy and sharply defined. Following years of work with artists like Woodkid and Pomme, the band released their debut album “The Whole Story” in 2024, earning praise for their dynamic arrangements and understated intensity.
KÄSSY (Austria)
The Hope & Ruin – 12:30pm Thursday; Fabrica – 11:30pm Friday
Katrin Paucz’s solo project KÄSSY is captivating, theatrical, and unfiltered. After years with acts like Oehl and Bilderbuch, she’s solidified her space in the spotlight, with a string of singles leading to her debut EP in early 2025. Her sound shifts from ethereal to destructive, anchored by her powerful voice and fearless self-expression.
Pretty Girl (Australia / UK)
Patterns Downstairs – 12:30am Saturday
Melbourne-born and now London-based, Pretty Girl creates euphoric, emotionally rich dance music mixed with house, UKG, and techno. Featuring delicate vocals gliding over addictive beats, her talent has earned her slots with Fred again.., Bonobo, and a standout Boiler Room set. With a discography full of tracks designed to evoke movement, she’s one of dance music’s most promising voices.
CYBER (Iceland)
One Church – 10:15pm Saturday
The duo behind CYBER– Salka Valsdóttir and Jóhanna Rakel– are masters of chaotic genre fusion and punk-tinged pop, creating rebellious, theatrical live shows. Touring with HATARI and sharing stages with Sevdaliza and Migos, they recently dropped SAD :’(, channels adolescent turmoil into a fiercely expressive, emotionally charged collection that hits with both grit and glam.
sim0ne (Scotland / UK)
The Arch – 12:30am Friday
Viral remixer turned BBC Radio 1 Future Star, sim0ne brings happy hardcore and euphoric hard house to life with a nostalgic twist. From TikTok fame to topping club lineups worldwide, she’s already dominated stages like Glastonbury and DC10 Ibiza, and she shows no signs of slowing down.
Sirens of Lesbos (Switzerland)
Revenge – 9:00pm Thursday; Komedia Studio – 3:15pm Friday
This Swiss collective intertwines pop, soul, and global influences with sharp songwriting. Their single “Call Me Back” showcases collaborations with SadBoi and Kabusa Oriental Choir. With support from BBC legends and gigs across Europe, Sirens of Lesbos are proving why they’re artists creating their own space in the music scene.
Badger (England / UK)
Patterns Downstairs – 1:30am Friday
Badger is making noise- and fast. With viral garage edits and chart-topping tracks like “Backstrap,” he’s a key figure in UK underground dance. His live sets swing from nostalgia to chaos, with huge support from Radio 1 and tastemakers like Skream.
Tickets for The Great escape
Available HERE
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