This year at The Great Escape, we’re turning the spotlight toward the city that makes it all possible—Brighton. From record stores and rehearsal rooms to late-night basement gigs, this city pulses with the spirit of independent music. And in 2025, we’re giving Brighton’s homegrown talent the space it deserves across our official lineup.
We’re proud to present an incredible wave of local artists taking to our stages this May, spanning genres, scenes and generations of sound. Whether you’re into fuzzy guitars, punk energy, experimental electronics or dreamy indie pop, Brighton is serving it up.
Catch must-see sets from rising stars like Ava McKechnie, Rubii, Lonnie Gunn, and George Bloomfield, plus boundary-pushers including CLT DRP, Bones Ate Arfa, and Goetia. Legends return as well—Rizzle Kicks are back in town, bringing the energy that put Brighton on the map with a special Spotlight Show at Brighton Dome. Find out more about our Spotlight Shows here.
Also joining the bill: Badger, Big Long Sun, Bighead Tea Drinkers, Chitchat, CURRLS, Ellis. D, Frances Mistry, Goodbye, Holiday Ghosts, HotWax (pictured), Ideal Living, Jordi Alkema, Ladylike, Polite Bureaux, Route 500, Slag, The New Eves, Van Zon, VOWER, Welly, and many more still to be announced.
This isn’t just a celebration—it’s a declaration. Brighton has always been a creative epicentre, and in 2025, we’re making sure that’s heard loud and clear. Whether you’re local or travelling in, this is your chance to discover the next wave of Brighton talent before the rest of the world catches on.
Let’s celebrate the city’s sound.