The Great Escape 2025: Brighton’s New Music Mecca Delivers Again
Brighton’s annual new music extravaganza, The Great Escape, once again proved its mettle, transforming the seaside city into a pulsating hub of emerging talent from May 14th-17th. Reviews from across the national and specialist music press hail the 2025 edition as a resounding success, living up to its reputation as “Europe’s leading festival for new music“.
For detailed reviews check out these posts from our friends at Sussex News…
Despite the sheer volume of over 450 artists across 35 venues, the festival maintained its focus on discovery. Melodic Magazine highlighted the “diverse mixture of artists and genres” as a key strength, while Rolling Stone UK praised its ability to “showcase rulebreakers, innovators and artists who could be the stars of tomorrow.”
Among the standout acts, Brighton locals Currls delivered a “riotous, anarchic, garage rock sound” that was “nothing short of an injection of adrenaline” (Clunk Magazine). HotWax captivated audiences with their “venomous, ethereal, and anthemic” live performances, solidifying their place as “one of the UK’s great new bands” (When The Horn Blows).
Festival-goers embraced the challenge of navigating multiple venues, often finding unexpected gems. Dork noted Sunday (1994)’s ability to make “pained indie pop feel celebratory,” while So Young Magazine lauded Westside Cowboy, calling them “the top draw in Brighton” and confirming “the hype is worth it.” The Great Escape 2025 truly underscored its vital role in unearthing the sounds of tomorrow.
TGE25 Gallery
All photos by Sara-Louise Bowrey – full day-by-day galleries over on FLICKR
