first 50 acts revealed for The Great Escape 2021

The first 50 acts have been revealed for new music festival The Great Escape, which returns next May for its delayed 15th edition with 450+ acts at 30+ venues in Brighton, East Sussex, from Wednesday 12th until Saturday 15th May 2021.

The line-up will include hotly tipped break-out artists such as Arlo Parks, Holly Humberstone, BERWYN,Pa Salieuand AMA, as well as 220 KID, who made his Top 10 chart debut earlier this year, and Bree Runway, hot off her debut mixtape release featuring the Missy Elliot collaboration ATM.

With over 400 acts still to be announced including the Spotlight shows, these first 50 acts are broken down by genre, below.

FOLK / AMERICANA
Another Michael | Lizzie Reid | Skullcrusher
Folk and singer songwriter fans will be treated to a host of new talent, including Scottish nu-folk sensation Lizzie Reid, Another Michael’s unique musical presence, as well as dreamy and atmospheric alt-folk by L.A-based artist Skullcrusher. 

GRIME / RAP / HIP-HOP
Bree Runway | Che Lingo | Denise Chaila | Juice Menace | Niko B | Pa Salieu | Tiagz
Following the release of her critically acclaimed debut mixtape this month, The Great Escape is excited to reveal that Hackney rapper and songwriter Bree Runway will be bringing her bold genre-hopping debut to the festival in 2021. Joining the line-up will be Gambian by-way-of Coventry’s Pa Salieu,the genre-blurring rapper tipped by tastemakers as one of the UK’s most pioneering new talent, Cardiff-based rap prodigy Juice Menace, as well as Che Lingo, one of the most unique and exciting lyricists in the UK.

R&B / SOUL
Arlo Parks | AMA | Berwyn | Olivia Dean | Pip Millett | R.A.E
The Great Escape is ecstatic to bring the soulful and poetic shady vocals of London-based artist, poet and songwriter Arlo Parks to the Brighton seaside, alongside alternative R&B singer AMA, the unique blend of hip hop, R&B and nostalgic 90s sounds of singer, songwriter and rapper R.A.E, as well as BERWYN, who broke onto the scene in 2020 with his magnetic, honest and vulnerable debut mixtape and a show-stopping Jools Holland performance of his first track Glory.

POP / DANCE
220 Kid | Aaron Smith | Alex Amor | Baby Queen | Cole LC | Cmat | Gabe Coulter | Lucy Blue | Luz | Mae Muller | MICHELLE | Poutyface, | Remi Wolf | Tayo Sound | Thomas Headon
Full of ecstatic fizz and electronic buzz, the exciting, eclectic world of Remi Wolf is coming to Brighton for 2021. Also heading across the Atlantic, six-piece collective MICHELLE will showcase their sleek grooves and bouncy beat-making. Meanwhile, Thomas Headon will be swapping the beaches of Australia for the south coast seaside, bringing his synth-heavy brand of bedroom pop along for the ride. Other acts on the bill include the potent emotion of Aaron Smith andanthemicpop princess Baby Queen.  

ALT / INDIE
Blu Detiger | Geese | Holly Humberstone | Joey Maxwell | Kennyhoopla | The Magic Gang | Matilda Mann | Molchat Doma | Newdad | Oscar Lang | Peach Tree Rascals | porij | Voodoos | Walt Disco
Alternative and indie music fans are in for a spectacular array of artists for 2021. Perhaps no artist has garnered as much attention this year as Holly Humberstone with her intimate, drivingdebut, Falling Asleep at the Wheel, becoming an instant fan favourite. Brighton’s very own The Magic Gang will grace the festival with their infectious rhythms, while New York native Blu DeTiger will perform her icy cool earworms, laden with upbeat optimism and classic indie charm.Oscar Lang’s dream-like soundscape will captivate fans new and old while the club-ready beats of KennyHoopla will have everybody ready to sad-dance.

PUNK / ROCK / METAL
Bob Vylan | Chubby & The Gang | GENN
Fresh from their blistering 2020 debut Speed Kills, no amp will be safe from thunderous  furore of Chubby and the Gang. Brighton-based GENN will be serving alternative post-punk madness with a fun twist, while the raw energy and fierce political fire of hardcore London-duo Bob Vylan will shake the very foundations of The Great Escape 2021. 

JAZZ
 Emma-Jean Thackray
No stranger to The Great Escape, Emma-Jean Thackray will bring her groove-heavy sound to the seaside. A prolific musician, remixer, DJ and band leader, Thackray is one of true stand-out stars of the UK’s thriving jazz scene. 

OTHER
Bad Boy Chiller Crew
Bradford’s very own Bad Boy Chiller Crew will bring the party to Brighton with their banging bassline-inspired anthems and tongue-in-cheek lyrical flair which has made them infamous up and down the country.

Early bird tickets are on sale, currently priced at £70 for a 3-day adult ticket. 

buy tickets now >

A festival ticket gives access to the core venues, subject to each venues' capacity.

A small number of the shows will take place at The Dome in Brighton; to ensure guaranteed access to Dome Shows, attendees will be able to top up their festival wristband for a small fee, or purchase separate gig tickets.

Delegate passes also available.

Note: over 18s only.

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