good weather on day two of The Great Escape showcasing tasty acts and under-the-radar talents

The Great Escape 2016

Thursday 19th to Saturday 21st May 2016
various venues, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 9NA, England MAP
early bird £59.50 for the weekend (+booking fee)

Daily capacity: 15,000

The weather remained on its best behaviour - mostly - for day two of Great Escape, with a busier bill as the weekend approached. It was a day on which countless bands staked their claim to be the next big thing, with an overwhelming selection of tasty acts and under-the-radar talents to choose from.

One of the day's highlights took to the stage as early as 11:30 in the morning, before many had risen out of bed or arrived in the city for the day. Blossoms have by now exceeded their status as an up-and-coming band, and are well-established as a leading light of the indie pop scene. Their morning acoustic set at Wagner Hall was well-attended for the time of day, showing just how far they have come so quickly.

The other stand-out early destination was The Hope and Ruin, where the Don't Panic, We're From Poland was set to commence at half-past twelve. It didn't, in fact, get going until considerably later due to "technical difficulties". Few walked away from the queues, and were rewarded with an intimate and eclectic set from Brodka, a major star in her native country and an emerging name further afield.

There was also a second chance to see Otherkin, and Anna Of The North on day two, as a number of bands appeared for the second or even third time. Everywhere was, again, well-attended - and even large venues like the Paganini Ballroom didn't seem sparse in turnout. Tiny Ruins performed there, first alone and then with Hamish Kilgour, as the final act of a New Zealand showcase in the afternoon.

Bigger names were on offer at Wagner Hall, including the mighty talents of West London singer Rukhsana Merrise. Already adored at Glastonbury and other festivals, her outdoor set was announced late and proved an entertaining addition to the schedule, with the bright weather giving the whole affair an appropriately summer feel.

Wagner Hall, in its enclosed but nonetheless outdoor setting during the day, was not the only place to catch the music in the sun. The New Road Stage featured mostly lesser-known acts, with the undoubted highlight being the star potential of Emmi. Her slightly eclectic pop has everything to suggest she's a future gem, and although the crowds at the stage weren't always more than casually interested in the performances there, she grabbed the assembly's attention more than anyone else.

Friday evening started at a pedestrian pace, with little on offer at first; U.S. musician Kevin Garrett was one of few eye-catching names, while The Bosco Theatre screened Suede: Night Thoughts for those looking for something a little different. Jake Bugg was the major star on show, though, with two sets at Wagner Hall announced via the festival's app. Both were, as would be expected, popular.

With the music on offer a little bit more limited, crowds were instead drawn to the street performances of Brighton Fringe. Although not actually part of Great Escape itself, they added to the atmosphere of the weekend, and the organisers would do well to make sure future editions coincide with such festivities again. The best of the performances was the acrobatic Jamaicans, whose interactive show dazzled on the Saturday evening.

The music itself eventually picked up thanks to bands like King No-One. Their indie pop kicked off an evening of BBC Introducing entertainment, so it's worth looking out for the other names - Idles, Vulgarians, Tibet, and The Anchoress - in the future. The bookends were the highlights, and King No-One are flashy enough to suggest the brightest of careers ahead.

It It Anita were a loud option at Latest Music Bar in the early evening, while Alina Orlova performed as part of a tie-in with the Latvian and Lithuanian music industries to showcase a number of their acts over the weekend. Brighton band Black Honey were also huge on home territory, drawing massive crowds to Wagner Hall - perhaps the festival's most essential venue - for one of their typically brilliant sets.

By Friday evening it was noticeable, however, that few bands failed to draw a good audience. While this was perhaps not surprising for the most-hyped bands, even the relatively unknown names played to a decent crowd. In just one example of how new fans were being won over across the city, Irish singer-songwriter Bry was ecstatic that a handful of unfamiliar fans from his midday show had re-appeared for his evening slot.

Komedia was a little less vibrant on the Friday at Great Escape, but still threw up some raucous moments. Soulful pop maestro Samm Henshaw, who supported James Bay on tour last year, was the performer of the venue's most lively set of the day.

Rukhsana Merrise's set also went down well, although Banfi were slightly less exciting, lost a little amidst the noise of more interesting bands.

The late night offering on day two was disappointing compared to the first, with Blossoms on-stage again and an Eagulls performance the two highlights. Letherette were billed for a performance running as late as 3:30 AM, by which time most had retired to bed ahead of Great Escape's busiest day - after a Friday with much to see.

review by: Katy Blackwood