The Great Escape 2024 reaches its finale, with the action climaxing on Saturday. Hundreds of acts have already played the Brighton showcase, with many more descending on the south coast for the last day of this year’s festival.
The line-up underwent extensive changes, with a number of groups boycotting The Great Escape due to financial ties to Barclays. The bank has invested in companies related to the Israeli military, sparking protests from the BDS movement.
The Bands Boycott Barclays project was launched by DIY punk band The Menstrual Cramps, with over 120 artists dropping out of the Great Escape line-up. For comprehensive information on the boycott and its objectives, visit the Bands Boycott Barclays social media pages.
Saturday represents the final day of The Great Escape – here are five essential acts from the line-up.
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deary
Cult shoegaze imprint Sonic Cathedral are hosting a special stage takeover at the Great Escape. An imprint who very much leads at the avant-garde of the shoegaze / dream pop / noise rock nexus, their stable includes everyone from Lush co-founder Emma Anderson through to new gen groups like the excellent Whitelands.
The label showcase is richly deserved, and we’re spotlighting London duo deary. CLASH caught them supporting Slowdive last year, an atmospheric set that dwelled on melody, and lyrical ideas that seemed to exist in the nether-regions between dream-like, and waking reality.
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Ebb
First establishing themselves across the indie live circuit, Ebbb are going from strength to strength. Freshly signed to Ninja Tune, the enigmatic trio showcase a breadth of influences across debut double-single ‘Himmel/Swarm’, a distinctive offering that reflects on post-punk, donk, techno, ambient, folk and pop all at once. Stretching between propulsive melodies, textures and range, producer Lev Ceylan, vocalist Will Rowland, and drummer Scott MacDonald offer a refreshing approach to their craft, describing their material as ‘Brian Wilson meets Death Grips’. With their debut EP ‘All At Once’ on the horizon, the hybrid sound-shifters are keeping their cards close to their chest, sharing hints and glimpses of their next steps through a string of live dates.
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Slow Fiction
New York group Slow Fiction have caught attention with a series of riveting singles. Snapped up by key UK tastemaker imprint So Young Records, the band blend fuzzy effects with a palpable urgency in their sound, leading to something truly vital. With only a handful of tracks online, live is truly where it happens for Slow Fiction – each show feels like an event. Playing one of the final sets of The Great Escape, this is an amazing chance to catch your new favorite band.
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Fran Wolf
Tracing the cross-over between orchestral compositions and the avant-garde, Fran Lobo transports her listeners into a subversive, other-worldly soundtrack. Last year’s debut album ‘Burning It Feels Like’ saw the artist extend her vocal range across flecks of R&B and electronic experimentation, a polished collection of tracks that come full circle. Making her entrance de ella in 2015, the North London singer-songwriter exudes a strength in her vision of ella, amplifying her message of ella through poetic lyricism and piercing performances that have welcomed collaborations with Coby Sey, Space Afrika and Wu-Lu. Also forming part of Deep Throat Choir, a female and non-binary collective of vocalists who lend their focus to community and self-expression, Fran Lobo continues to nurture her craft with purpose and intent.
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King Hannah
On its release, no one was truly sure where to play King Hannah’s debut album ‘I’m Not Sorry, I Was Just Being Me’. Sharply honest songwriting, it sees from dream pop to post-punk, sketching out its own vivid realm. As time has gone on, it’s clear that Liverpool duo Hannah Merrick and Craig Whittle are developing into something special – new album ‘Big Swimmer’ is a triumph, and live, the band is a cataclysm of noise and melody, allowing light and shade to effortlessly intertwine. Potent and dynamic, King Hannah’s musicality is blossoming with every single show; part of the final day of The Great Escape, their rise is something to be held.
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