Tuesday 19 May 2009

Looking Back At The Great Escape


Last week saw The Great Escape take over more than 30 establishments in Brighton for three fun days of seaside venue pinball.

Calories kicked TGE off with a packed early evening show on the Thursday - a typically tight set boosted by the sing-along front row. This was followed by some hot footing down Pavilion Parade to catch And So I Watch You From Afar play probably their only gig this year in a drum and bass club next to a Sealife centre. Aquarium-rattling ensued. Thanks to all at both Hector's House and Volks for hosting these sets.

Nods also to yes-it-is-Dan-from-Redjetson scary guitar n drum duo Friendship, on-stage cottage pie flingers 4 Or 5 Magicians, very scary Dutch guitar n drum duo The Moi Non Plus, Andy Duckett's fantastic new project Tin Can Telephone (like early Seafood but fun!) as well as It Hugs Back, Pulled Apart By Horses, Marnie Stern, Dinosaur Pile-up, The Joy Formidable and the afternoon Artrocker shows at the Hope.

Tuts go out to Mr TGE for forgetting to display the venue that hot-ticket-for-the-over-30s The Leisure Society were playing on the map in the programme but remembering to list the venue's address...except the address was completely wrong and Day 2's frankly unecessary gale force winds. That said you'd be hard pressed to find a better festival - TGE represents excellent value for money (a 3 day wristband clocks in at around £40 I believe) and is always well-executed by the main organisers and the various venues. The city embraces the festival with open arms but there's none of the price-hiking exploitation associated with camping-based festivals. Inevitably with so many venues plus factoring in the short walking distances involved there are plenty of clashes but such a rich line-up means that while you might not get to see everything you wanted to, you'll come away having seen loads of great bands.

Tickets for TGE 2010 will go on sale soon at a discounted early bird rate.

No comments: