It’s back. The Great Escape Brighton. 2024 version. Yaaay!
After a bit of a setback when more than 100 acts pulled out in protest of Barclaycard’s TGE sponsorship and the bank’s investment business with arms firms who sell to Israel, amid the terrible situation in Gaza, most of the holes were filled by the organisers with replacement bands and artists stepping in to save the day.
The very well organised live music went ahead without a hitch with many hundreds of gigs in more than 30 venues and the free entry fringe on top, plus the conference side of TGE, with VIP guest speakers. Attracting many thousands of music fans to flock to the East Sussex seaside town from around the world.
The eclectic lineup was top notch and included some big names – such as Suede legend Bernard Butler, Chvrches star Lauren Mayberry, the band Wunderhorse, and US singer and songwriter Faye Webster – and many rising stars, and an opportunity for many overseas acts to come here for showcase.
Countries represented including the US, Canada, Austria, Australia, Hungary, Spain, Ireland and Northern Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, Netherlands, Japan (Tokyo), Germany, Wales, Scotland and many areas of the UK, such as a showcase for Yorkshire-based acts. TGE is very focused on brand new artists and bands getting their first taste of festival crowds.
So without further ado, we bring you this gallery of superb images of our choice of the best and most interesting acts from all three days: Thursday, Friday and Saturday; kicking off here with day # 1, and Thursday’s gigs across many different stages and venues, plus some exclusive photo shoots.
Our super snappers Manja Williams and Alex Asprey played a blinder, and ran their legs off around the various venues across the festival to bring you some superb photographs – including many exclusives. Bravo.
- TGE 2025 dates have just been announced: 14th to 17th May 20
Photos: Manja Williams [ Marked $ ] & Alex Asprey [ Marked £ ]
Words: Emma Ledwell
Day # 1 Thursday – TGE 2024
US pop artist Izza’s music has notched up many millions of streams and she has already played US mega-festival Coachella. A rising star at pace and we predict she will rocket to stardom in the next couple of years, globally.
Her high energy set at Patterns singing to backing tracks had the crowd dancing and well into her addictive and on trend-sound. Radio ready and her new single is a real summer anthem.
The young singer/songwriter/producer Izza has a new single “Gentleman” just out – which has already gone viral before its release with more than 80 million views amassed from Izza’s social media teasers.
Izza says she prides herself on creating music that can be used as medicine for those who need it most, and encourages everyone and anyone to focus on self-love and normalize vulnerability. Izza is also an advocate for mental health and has performed at 320 Festival, alongside artists like Chris Martin of Coldplay, Elohim, and Social House.
Resonating deeply with its message of empowerment and refusing to settle for anything less than one deserves, “Gentleman” is about not putting up with boyish behavior and being strong enough to realize your worth.
Izza says: “I wrote this song when I was tired of dating unavailable men and wanting to manifest someone who had all of the qualities of a gentleman. I didn’t want to compromise or receive the bare minimum anymore in order to be in a relationship, and that’s really what this song is a reminder of for me.”
This release follows hot on the heels of, “1-800-Situationship” earlier this year. Next, she will grace the stage alongside Leah Kate on her EU/UK Tour.
The Los Angeles native recently made waves on TikTok, with in excess of 6.6M views on her viral “Revenge Billboards” video, promoting her music in front of her [Editor’s note: ALLEGED] cheating ex’s apartment. Catching the attention of Tinder, the New York Post and women worldwide; the internet blew up around Izza’s cheeky humour and bold moves.
Caleb Kunle at the Prince Albert. Classy soul music, and an energetic live show from Caleb Kunle who draws inspiration from the three places he calls home: Lagos (Nigeria), Laois (Ireland) and London.
The folk and soul at the core of his music are the stories and emotions formed through his exploration of the modern world. His infectious live shows fizz with energy and his deliciously retro vintage soul sound would be a snug fit on the US Daptone label [home of music from Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley and James Hunter] or even Brighton’s own Tru Thoughts Records.
“Think Michael Kiwanuka meets Lee Fields and you’re dreaming the right dream.” Caleb is a real find… All it needs is one spot on “Later…with Jools Holland” and he’ll blow up bigtime. Deservedly so.
BEX is fabulous. At the Prince Albert. Punk with a wild performance and a raw and edgy sound.
A strong DIY ethos, a massive rock fan herself, citing influences including System of a Down, The Pretty Reckless, Rage Against The Machine and Paramore.
2023 Support Highlights: WARGASM, Future Humans, Witch Fever, The Oozes & more.
Summer ’23 saw BEX deliver raucous sets at 2000 Trees, Y Not Festival, Multitude and Misery Loves Company. BEX’s debut EP “SCUM” landed in October last year alongside her first headline tour, with a sell out at London’s Black Heart. 2024 kicked off with BEX supporting Saint Agnes on their UK tour. She’s going places for sure…
It’s only bloody Bernard Butler the Suede guitar legend and one half of McAlmont & Butler, playing a free entry solo gig at the stage-less Black Lion in Brighton on Thursday afternoon for an hour’s set.
Nice warm-up for his imminent headline tour and the gaff was rammed. He was very, very, very good! BB is still King. See what we did there?
Bernard’s latest solo album, “Good Grief”, his first for 25 years, will be released on 5th July 2024.
Hotel Mira is a Canadian alternative rock band formed in Vancouver in 2010. Charlie Kerr on vocals, Mike Noble on bass, Clark Grieve on guitar and keyboards, and Cole George on drums. They played at The Impressive/Planetary Showcase @ The Secret Comedy Club on day # 1 and at the Green Door Store on Saturday.
Fresh from a string of stellar shows at SXSW in Texas. The band, an alternative pop act released their new single “Waste Away” in April which has picked up traction.
Charlie and Mike met as teenagers at a ‘Battle of the Bands’ and developed a mutual admiration for each others’ musical projects, they met Cole and Clark through the Vancouver music scene and formed Hotel Mira. Kerr is a captivating storyteller and the music from Hotel Mira is partly informed by the frontman’s experience as an actor and playwright.
He believes that acting, music, and writing are all the same thing: story-telling. He draws a parallel to his musical project from the scene in the film ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ where Heath Ledger performs on the bleachers for the girl he loves, while taunting the cops after paying the school marching band for backup.
Charlie live on stage performs in a way that feels uniquely part Iggy Pop, part go-go dancer, and part fourth wall breaking experimental theatre. The band has supported many acts including Billy Talent, Fizzy Blood, The Beaches and Frank Lero (My Chemical Romance), and carried out multiple headlining tours of their own.
WE SAY: If “neon-trashy garage rock to festival-sized pop hooks and glam-bop balladry” is your bag, then check in at Hotel Mira asap…
The hottest act of the festival that we caught on day one was most definitely Irish newcomers and future stars, Really Good Time, a very impressive rock band from Dublin.
We saw them at The Prince Albert on day # 1 at 3pm and TGE Beach – Soundwaves on Friday night. Both sets knocked it out of the park.
They released their debut EP “Escape From the Mountain of Spit” in November 2023, with the lead single, “Mountain of Spit” receiving extensive support from Steve Lamacq at BBC6, drawing comparisons to early QOTSA and The Walkman on Lamacq’s roundtable.
WE SAY: Really Good Time are probably the next big band to come out of Ireland. A pint or six of the black stuff on it…
Photos: Manja Williams [ Marked $ ] & Alex Asprey [ Marked £ ]
Words: Emma Ledwell
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