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If you’re planning a trip to the UK, May is not a bad time to go. For one, the weather could be on your side (no promises) but mostly because it gives you the opportunity to go to The Great Escape (TGE), one of my favorite festivals for new music. It takes place in mid-May in bustling Brighton on England’s South Coast – just about an hour’s train ride from central London – and showcases 450 emerging artists from all over the world in more than 30 venues across the city. They’re all within walking distance, plus a pop-up site on the beach with three stages. Expect a lot of walking… And a lot of stressing out about catching all the bands you want to see. Some only play once, but many will have two or three sets, which makes it a little easier to fit everything into your schedule. That being said, I’ve never made it to all the gigs on my list… But I always return with so many amazing musical memories. These are some of my favorite moments from this year’s festival in seagull city (it will make sense when you get there).

Stella Bridie (AU)

Full disclosure: I gravitate towards all things Australian (except for Vegemite - if you know you know). But the references for this Melbourne muso were also right up my alley: “... think the lyricism of boygenius, the emotional grip of Ethel Cain, and the edge of Olivia Rodrigo.” I caught her afternoon set at Komedia Basement – one of the two stages in the beloved Brighton venue and Great Escape staple. The minute she started singing, I instantly thought of another Stella (and Australian) with the last name Donnelly, who I saw at the exact same stage in 2018. I’m a huge fan, so that’s a compliment. Now, I am also a fan of this Stella with the last name Bridie. She was warm and charming on stage, her voice as captivating as the songwriting and storytelling, with only a year of live performance experience. I enjoyed it so much that I also caught some of her set at Fabrica that same night.

Florence Road (IE)

I didn’t know much about Florence Road when I made my way to TGE Beach where the band would be playing one of the festival’s biggest (pop-up) venues, The Deep End. I had heard names like The Last Dinner Party and “a Phoebe Bridgers-meets-Cranberries vibe” mentioned in the description of the Irish indie-rockers so there was no way I was going to miss it. The four childhood friends (Lily Aron, Emma Brandon, Alibhe Barry and Hannah Kelly) gained popularity after posting covers on TikTok - everything from Kate Bush and Billy Joel to Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter and Dominic Fike – and the three singles they have released so far show an equally wide range; from pop-punk to acoustic ballads to a more garage-rocky vibe. Their enigmatic sound and confidence on stage was so compelling – Lily Aaron is a natural front figure – and I am really excited to hear more from them.

Tamara Mneney (FO)

In the arches under Kings Road, running along Brighton’s famous beach, you’ll find several bars and venues. One of them is WaterBear – run by a music college with the same name – where I ventured to see Tamara Mneney on Thursday night. The small, cave-like venue actually fits up to 150 people, but it’s divided into more ‘rooms’ so the performance space itself is smaller. 

Mneney is part Tanzanian, part Faroese and based in Copenhagen, though her upbringing in the rugged landscapes of the Faroe Islands has not infused her music with the “nordic melancholy” of many other Scandinavian artists. On the contrary, her mix of RnB, soul, and hip-hop is deeply inspired by icons like Lauryn Hill, Toni Braxton, Beyonce, Whitney Houston and Little Simz. If I hadn’t known she was Scandinavian, I wouldn’t have pinpointed her as such – the words “international sound” popped up in my head several times. For this stripped back set, she was accompanied by only a backing track and a drummer and I would love to see her with a full band. But she is definitely one to watch.

Chloe Qisha (UK)

There’s something so recognizable yet so hard to define about Chloe Qisha’s sound. The Malaysian-born, London-based artist reminds me of Chapell Roan, early Christine and the Queens, a little bit of Griff, maybe some Olivia Rodrigo. Qisha played one show during the festival and I was sure it would be packed so I made my way to Patterns early. The venue is located close to the waterfront, opposite of Brighton’s iconic pier, and holds two performance spaces wherein the basement – where Qisha would be playing – is the biggest, with a capacity of 300. The low-ceilinged, club-like room was already filling up when I arrived and soon after I got a notification from the festival app: “Patterns Downstairs is at capacity with a long line.” The room was boiling when, first the band, and then Qisha finally entered the stage. She just oozed coolness: from the way she moved, to the way she talked and introduced the songs (and called them all “she”). There’s something theatrical about her, yet super composed – even when “letting loose.” A part of me wants her to fall more out of character, but it is equally intriguing. The quality and catchiness of the music is undeniable. I still have “21st Century Cool Girl” stuck in my head.

Billianne (CA)

During The Great Escape, Brighton’s iconic Green Door Store – an independent venue and nightclub based in the arches of the city’s Victorian Railway station – transforms into Canada House, showcasing a range of, yes, Canadian acts. One of the first artists on Friday’s schedule was Billianne. You might have seen her hugely successful 2021 cover of Tina Turner’s “The Best” on TikTok. It sparked a flame that has only grown stronger since.She has released her first EP, supported names like Half Moon Run and KT Tunstall, performed at SXSW earlier this year. This early afternoon gig confirmed that she is someone to keep on your radar. She was a natural on stage; I was surprised when she declared that she was losing her voice, having just come off of a tour supporting Amber Run. She still sang beautifully. Nothing less than a perfect start to the day.

Tjaka (AU)

These guys blew my mind. I’m still not exactly sure how they ended up on my list – despite them being Australian, I had never heard of them before. It might have been the didgeridoo-like instrument in their press photo that intrigued me. Either way, I am glad I made my way to Jubilee Square – a pop-up stage on Jubilee Street in Brighton’s centre – on Friday afternoon. The party started the second this trio (Geoff Fabila, Jake Fabila and Felix Fogarty) plus drummer (Luke Fabila) walked on stage. Their eclectic sound is based in hip-hop, but is an absolute melting pot of electronic beats, funk, reggae, dance, and insanely tight rap flows. That didgeridoo-like instrument is a “didjeribone” – a modernized version of the traditional Aboriginal instrument that slides like a trombone. 

I don’t think Jubilee Square had seen this explosion of energy coming – I definitely hadn’t. 

I wouldn’t consider myself a hip-hop fan, but for the 30 minutes that this set lasted, I definitely was. Tjaka’s energy was infectious and they had the crowd hooked; everyone clapped and threw hands in the air on their command, which is quite rare for music industry festivals like this. I could go on about how much I enjoyed this gig but my point is: if you ever get the chance to see Tjaka live, you cannot miss it. No matter what kind of music you are into. 

Drax Project (NZ)

On Friday night I was torn between several gigs that started roughly around the same time, and I ended up trying to (and succeeding in) catching a bit of all of them. I heard the first few songs of Dice at Brighthelm and then quickly made my way to Jubilee Square a five minute walk away. As I reached Jubilee St., I could hear the heavy beats and saxophone – and I started running. I could not miss more of Drax Project. The four-piece began as buskers in Wellington, New Zealand with only drums and saxophone -–hence the name Drax – and their mix of pop, R&B and jazz have since earned them both headline tours and festivals slots around the globe and support gigs for names like Ed Sheeran, Lorde and Camila Cabello. And with good reason; they are an incredible live act with an energy that transcends the stage instantaneously. I’m glad they made my running to get there worthwhile.

Kita Alexander (AU)

The beautiful Fabrica – a church turned art and event space, nestled within Brighton’s historic lanes – was the perfect setting for my last concert at TGE 2025, and with no other than Australian pop star on the rise Kita Alexander. The Byron Bay-based singer-songwriter has a knack for honest lyrics and infectious melodies and entered the stage barefoot and with the ease of a seasoned performer. At just 29 she has already spent more than a decade in music but it wasn’t until last year that she released her first full-length album, Young in Love. She has penned hits with both Morgan Evans and Fisher, and just supported Dua Lipa on an Australian tour, so this seemed like a last chance to see the rapidly rising star in such an intimate setting. Her voice, songs, and charisma definitely can – and will – fill up way bigger rooms.

One more thing: Walking around Brighton you’ll also come across a lot of music that isn’t part of the official TGE lineup, so keep your eyes and ears open! On the very first day of the festival, I caught fresh-out-of-SXSW, Danish punk-jazz trio Smag På Dig Selv (SPSD) at the beachview venue Daltons. One drummer, two saxophonists, absolute instrumental intoxication. If you get a chance to see them live, GO!

Also check out: 

South Summit (AU) - breezy indie-reggae-rock fusion

Folk Bitch Trio (AU) - captivating boygenius vocal harmony vibe

Luvcat (UK) - mysterious and theatrical indie rock 

Miss Kannina (AU) - hard-hitting hip-hop with a poignant message

Rio Sterling (UK) - super green but Bruno Mars better watch out

Cat Ryan (UK) - upbeat indie for fans of Bombay Bicycle Club and Vampire Weekend

Sad to have missed/would loved to have seen more of: Nxdia (UK), Total Tommy (AU), English Teacher (UK), Tia Gostelow (AU), Jools (UK), Ava McKechnie (IR), jazzygold (FO), Annie Dirusso (US), Dice (AU) - and many more! 

The Great Escape Festival 2025 took place May 14-17.