The 2019 edition of The Great Escape takes place next week from Thursday 9 May to Saturday 11 May, for this week's playlist we hand over to those in the know for their top tips of who to catch down in Brighton...
Doe – Labour Like I Do
Stephanie Phillips, singer and guitarist in Big Joanie
I've loved Doe's approach to alt-rock ever since I heard their song Avalanche. Their new album Grow Into It is just as good and one of my favourites is Labour Like I Do, an ode to emotional labour. We bumped into them at SXSW this year which was a welcome surprise. Hopefully we'll bump into them again at The Great Escape.
Doe play The Prince Albert, 4pm, Saturday 11 May and Big Joanie play Green Door Store, 9.15pm Saturday 11 May.
Westerman – Confirmation
Issy Dacre, events manager, MPA Group
Westerman is a must see. Encapsulating soothing layered vocals, deep haunting folk instrumentals and eighties synth-pop roots, each song takes you to a different dimension. Check out Edison and Mother Song to get you started.
Westerman plays Hideout, 4pm, Friday 10 May and Patterns Downstairs, 8.15pm Friday 10 May
Aitch – Wait
Phil Taggart, DJ, BBC Radio 1
I've been obsessed with Aitch since I saw him doing a freestyle on Kenny Allstars on BBC 1Xtra last year. I haven't seen him live yet but I expect it to be Antarctic it's so cold!
Aitch plays Patterns Downstairs, 9.45pm, Friday 10 May and Paganini Ballroom, 8.30pm, Saturday 11 May
Lewsberg – Terrible
Liv Willars, founder, One Beat PR
I discovered Lewsberg last year and was instantly hooked on their classic sound. Reflective songwriting, taut guitar lines, a deadpan delivery from singer Arie, soft grooves and squalling guitar flourishes all made up a sound heavy with pop hooks and experimental seams. Fans of Velvet Underground, Parquet Courts, Modern Lovers and Ought, don’t miss out!
Lewsberg play Horatios, 10.45pm, Thursday 9 May and Komedia, 1.15pm, Friday 10 May
BIIG PIIG – Raze: Plan B
Rich Legate, artist development manager, Attitude is Everything, also in the band Childcare
Jess Smyth is a really exciting artist and it's not just because of a deluge of buzz; lots of people already really, really like her music. Anyone with an EP in their discography titled Big Fan of the Sesh has my interest and the music behind the title is worthy of the name. Her tracks are a playful blend of neo-soul and jazzy hip-hop - very nice. She's been selling out shows in London already, the last one at Village Underground was glorious. Get to know.
BIIG PIIG plays The Deep End, 7.15pm, Thursday 9 May and Shooshh, 8.15pm, Saturday 11 May
Miink – Yellow Dust
Joe Frankland, senior grants and programme manager, PRS Foundation
The artist I’m most excited to see live for the first time is Miink, who recently received our Momentum funding. His voice brings to mind Rhye’s Mike Milosh but his is a more globe-trotting, intriguing sound. He plays Komedia Studio Bar on the Friday night.
Miink plays Komedia Studio Bar, 10.15pm, Friday 10 May
Kaiit – OG Luv Kush pt. 2
Jamz Supernova, DJ, BBC Radio 1Xtra
You'll thank me later for this! The Australian artist Kaiit might just become your new muse! Jill Scott declared Kaiit as her and Erykah Badu's love child! Thanks to a tip off from a friend she was one of my favourite discoveries from last year. Her soulfulness knows no boundaries and I bask in her fearless energy!
Kaiit plays Ditto Stage, 4.40pm, Saturday 11 May
Drinking Boys and Girls Choir – National Police Shit
George Gargan, founder, Damnably
DBGC hail from conservative Daegu in South Korea where they make their own DIY punk scene and write killer songs about the repressive toppled government and Korean culture. It's fun, feminist, political amazing to see live and makes pop-punk cool for those (like myself) who are not fans of the genre.
Drinking Boys and Girls Choir play Komedia Studio Bar, 7.15pm Friday 10 May and Patterns Upstairs at 1.15pm, Saturday 11 May.
Doe – Labour Like I Do
Stephanie Phillips, singer and guitarist in Big Joanie
I've loved Doe's approach to alt-rock ever since I heard their song Avalanche. Their new album Grow Into It is just as good and one of my favourites is Labour Like I Do, an ode to emotional labour. We bumped into them at SXSW this year which was a welcome surprise. Hopefully we'll bump into them again at The Great Escape.
Doe play The Prince Albert, 4pm, Saturday 11 May and Big Joanie play Green Door Store, 9.15pm Saturday 11 May.
Westerman – Confirmation
Issy Dacre, events manager, MPA Group
Westerman is a must see. Encapsulating soothing layered vocals, deep haunting folk instrumentals and eighties synth-pop roots, each song takes you to a different dimension. Check out Edison and Mother Song to get you started.
Westerman plays Hideout, 4pm, Friday 10 May and Patterns Downstairs, 8.15pm Friday 10 May
Aitch – Wait
Phil Taggart, DJ, BBC Radio 1
I've been obsessed with Aitch since I saw him doing a freestyle on Kenny Allstars on BBC 1Xtra last year. I haven't seen him live yet but I expect it to be Antarctic it's so cold!
Aitch plays Patterns Downstairs, 9.45pm, Friday 10 May and Paganini Ballroom, 8.30pm, Saturday 11 May
Lewsberg – Terrible
Liv Willars, founder, One Beat PR
I discovered Lewsberg last year and was instantly hooked on their classic sound. Reflective songwriting, taut guitar lines, a deadpan delivery from singer Arie, soft grooves and squalling guitar flourishes all made up a sound heavy with pop hooks and experimental seams. Fans of Velvet Underground, Parquet Courts, Modern Lovers and Ought, don’t miss out!
Lewsberg play Horatios, 10.45pm, Thursday 9 May and Komedia, 1.15pm, Friday 10 May
BIIG PIIG – Raze: Plan B
Rich Legate, artist development manager, Attitude is Everything, also in the band Childcare
Jess Smyth is a really exciting artist and it's not just because of a deluge of buzz; lots of people already really, really like her music. Anyone with an EP in their discography titled Big Fan of the Sesh has my interest and the music behind the title is worthy of the name. Her tracks are a playful blend of neo-soul and jazzy hip-hop - very nice. She's been selling out shows in London already, the last one at Village Underground was glorious. Get to know.
BIIG PIIG plays The Deep End, 7.15pm, Thursday 9 May and Shooshh, 8.15pm, Saturday 11 May
Miink – Yellow Dust
Joe Frankland, senior grants and programme manager, PRS Foundation
The artist I’m most excited to see live for the first time is Miink, who recently received our Momentum funding. His voice brings to mind Rhye’s Mike Milosh but his is a more globe-trotting, intriguing sound. He plays Komedia Studio Bar on the Friday night.
Miink plays Komedia Studio Bar, 10.15pm, Friday 10 May
Kaiit – OG Luv Kush pt. 2
Jamz Supernova, DJ, BBC Radio 1Xtra
You'll thank me later for this! The Australian artist Kaiit might just become your new muse! Jill Scott declared Kaiit as her and Erykah Badu's love child! Thanks to a tip off from a friend she was one of my favourite discoveries from last year. Her soulfulness knows no boundaries and I bask in her fearless energy!
Kaiit plays Ditto Stage, 4.40pm, Saturday 11 May
Drinking Boys and Girls Choir – National Police Shit
George Gargan, founder, Damnably
DBGC hail from conservative Daegu in South Korea where they make their own DIY punk scene and write killer songs about the repressive toppled government and Korean culture. It's fun, feminist, political amazing to see live and makes pop-punk cool for those (like myself) who are not fans of the genre.
Drinking Boys and Girls Choir play Komedia Studio Bar, 7.15pm Friday 10 May and Patterns Upstairs at 1.15pm, Saturday 11 May.
