Enjoy our gallery of superb images of some of the best and most interesting acts from day # 4 [Saturday] of TGE across many different stages and venues, including some exclusive portrait shoots by our brilliant brace of lens legends…
UK festival season has started with The Great Escape 2025 in Brighton…
Blessed with four days of blazing sunshine and decent temperatures, more than 450 bands and artists took over the city’s main venues for four days – Weds 14th May to Saturday 17th – in circa 32 official venues, plus the free entry fringe gigs.
TGE is very focused on brand new artists and giving bands their first taste of festival crowds, and 2025’s edition delivered a brilliantly diverse and vibrant mass showcase for new music and probably some will become arena fillers in years to come. Plus a few major names such as Peter Doherty, Skunk Anansie, Mercury-Prize winners English Teacher, The K’s, The Horrors and Rizzle Kicks.
The festival attracted acts from circa 35 countries around the world such as USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Iran, Faroe Islands, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Indonesia, Brazil, England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland, and most countries across Europe.
Iceland’s Cyber is the experimental electronic, genre-bending project of Salka Valsdóttir (neonme) and Jóhanna Rakel (Joe Boxer).
The band was named after a lipstick that both found themselves using when they became best friends at sixteen. They went down a storm at Fabrica on Friday and One Church on Saturday.
Thousands of fans from across the globe flocked to this eclectic festival which was founded in 2006 – plus there is the conference side of TGE, with VIP guest speakers and industry events all week.
The festival was cancelled in 2020 due to the Pandemic, and it was an on-line virtual event in 2021. Last year, 2024, there was controversy when many acts pulled out in protest at Barclaycard being a sponsor.
But the event is back with a bang in 2025, hailed a big success by fans and the bands and artists who performed, and this year the organisers made sure the city that hosts the event had many of their own bands and artists getting a chance to shine.
Music Republic Magazine was invited along for the third consecutive year of our coverage of the festival, to soak up the atmosphere and for our snappers to capture some stunning photographs; catching a bunch of cracking bands and talented artists in action.
Our fab photographers Alex Asprey and Manja Williams were out and about for us on all four days, covering a slew of bands and artists in many venues, including the headliners and some smaller fringe gigs. The eclectic lineup really was top notch…
The Great Escape Festival next year is scheduled for 13th – 16th May 2026.
We have been tipping The Molotovs for a long time. Siblings Issey and Matt (with a drummer) are one of the UK’s hottest young bands.
Still in their teens, they have already been headhunted by legendary acts including The Libertines, The Sex Pistols, Adam Ant and Blondie for tour support.
American rock giants Green Day were also early converts, flagging the band both on stage and in interviews.
The Molotovs released their debut single, “More More More” in March. They are signed to Marshall Records.
Kita Alexander is a pop singer-songwriter and ARIA award nominated artist based in Byron Bay, Australia. Last year she released her debut album “Young In Love” via Warner Music Australia.
With more than five million monthly listeners on Spotify, Kita has garnered in excess of 288 million global streams across her catalogue of pop-anthems, including the 2 x ARIA Platinum single “Hotel”, the ARIA Platinum “Between You & I” and 2 x ARIA Gold singles “Damage Done” and “Like You Want To”.
Kita won many new friends at Fabrica on Friday and TGE Beach – The Deep End on Saturday.
Emeree is the project born by Melbourne musician, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Gabrielle Emery.
Her music confidently shines alongside contemporary R’n’B fusion artists RAYE and Cleo Sol. The homage to classic soul in the ilk of Amy Winehouse is woven into Emeree’s self-produced records.
Combining her four-octave vocal range, Motown grooves, 90’s R&B flair and warm production, as a writer, her lyrics often explore the realms of sexual identity and female empowerment with addictive honesty.
Emeree’s music has generated more than 50 million streams, and it has had millions of views on TikTok. She pulled a good crowd for her Saturday lunchtime slot at TGE Beach – The Jetty. Her superb set included her new single “Spring Cleaning”. A gifted artist worth seeking out…
Baby Berserk were one of the best acts of the festival…
The Dutch trio from Amsterdam packed Daltons on Saturday night and Paganini ballroom at The Old Ship on Saturday…
Baby Berserk was founded by Mano Hollestelle, Eva Wijnbergen and Lieselot Elzinga. Known for their blend of music and fashion, Baby Berserk captures the essence of contemporary nightlife, balancing the raw energy of a live band with the infectious pulse of club music.
“Slightly Hysterical Girls With Pearls” dives headfirst into the vibrant chaos of modern culture. It’s an album that delivers tracks that range from the hypnotic allure of media-fueled entertainment to the fierce battle cries for equal rights and personal freedom.
French band Edredon Sensible offered up a unique set jazz; kind of trance meets minimalist jazz – “almost primitive.” “Explosive…”
Two relentless polyrhythmic drummers and two tenor and baritone saxophonists playing in infinite loops.
They went down well at Jubilee Square on Saturday afternoon and at The Hope and Ruin on Friday.
CLT DRP are bloody fantastic. Chalk on Saturday night was full and the band and the fans were well up for it…
CLT DRP have been turning heads on the live scene for the last few years. These electro-punk renegades have cultivated a dedicated fanbase across the UK and Europe,
With elements of punk, electronica and heavy pop, the band have created an uncompromising sound that’s uniquely their own.
French band Last Train really brought their ‘A game’ to TGE. They played The Wing at Brighton Centre on Friday night and a storming and sweaty set at Volks on Saturday afternoon. C’est Magnifique!
The Lyon four-piece was formed in the 2010s, Jean-Noël Scherrer, Julien Peultier, Timothée Gérard and Antoine Baschung gained a strong following with their first two albums and toured with Muse and Placebo.
In 2024 they released “Original Motion Picture Soundtrack”, an orchestral reworking of their songs, but the new album marks their true return to form as a rock band.
After naming their first two albums, “Weathering” and “The Big Picture” respectively, the simplicity of the title for Last Train’s third record is striking.
CLT DRP back on home soil for their TG appearance at Chalk. Really cool band…
Canada’s Bad Buddy… Two fabulously raucous shows at Three Wise Cats on Thursday and Green Door Store Saturday.
Cubzoa…
Jack Wolter is an English musician who makes music and visuals under the moniker Cubzoa. For his slot at TGE on Saturday at The Arch he was solo. He also played TGE Beach – The Jetty on Thursday and Komedia on Friday.
Jack is also one half of the band Penelope Isles and plays guitar for CMAT.
Described as a blend of folk, electronica, and “sun-damaged pop”, his music is self-produced at Bella Union Studios and mixed by Graham Walsh. Cubzoa’s debut LP is set to be released on Bella Union later this year.
Storry. A sizzling set at TGE for this uniquely gifted artist who shot to fame via the TV show The Voice in 2024, winning a four chair turn and choosing to be on on will.i.am’s team, reaching the final where she finished as a runner-up.
The Canadian two-time JUNO-nominated singer-songwriter, visual artist, and advocate is known for her genre-blending sound and powerful lyrics. With influences from r&b, hip-hop, and pop, she creates emotionally resonant tracks that explore themes of empowerment and resilience.
She has shared the stage with legends like Lizz Wright, Sting, and Beverley Knight. Storry embarked on a headline UK tour in April 2025 following a sold-out performance at the London Jazz Festival.
She wowed with her vocals at TGE 2025; at Dust as part of the ‘iluvlive Black British Music’ showcase, [which also featured Olympia Vitalis along with DeeRiginal and JERUB] and a set at Green Door Store.
Dina Koutsouflakis was born in Canada to Lebanese and Greek parents. Raised in Toronto, Ontario, she studied opera at college and University. After studying yoga in India, she turned to music. Her debut LP came out in 2020.
One of the most gifted artists at the festival this year, for sure…Fabulous exclusive portrait pix from our wonderful Manja Williams, here…
- This superb band, The Deniros, were busking in Ship Street in the centre of Brighton across the TGE weekend and made a lovely noise. The London-based rock and soul band deserve an official slot next year.
Canadian band Dump Babes rammed out The Green Door Store on Thursday and The Prince Albert on Saturday night.
Formed in 2019, this group delivers “irresistibly danceable and surprisingly heavy psych-pop tunes.”
Hailing from Treaty 6 Territory (Saskatoon, SK), Aurora Wolfe and her pals dropped a music video, two singles, and an album in Spring 2024.
Photos by:
Alex Asprey (captioned AA)
Manja Williams (captioned MW)
6 x images supplied by the festival’s PR (captioned TGE) – Includes shot top of the page of Defences at Volks
Words by Steve Best
* Check out our coverage of day 1, 2 & 3 in our “Live Zone”…
