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From folk-punk to last-generation electronica, from cabaret and spoken word-influenced acts to noise and shoegaze, those who frequently haunt grassroots venues across the country will have by now compiled a very long list of up-and-coming acts which are more than worth the time to get acquainted with. For those who are just now dipping their toes in the excitingly turbulent waters of alternative UK music, however, The Great Escape is perhaps the best possible introduction.
Running in Brighton from May 14th to 17th, the multi-venue festival has packed its line-up with some of the most intriguing names on such a list – a perfect way of discovering what lies under the tip of the iceberg. Here are five picks to get you started.
1 – The Orchestra (For Now)
Defying definitions and challenging expectation, the London seven-piece made it abundantly clear that they were not going to play by any given set of rules when they made their studio debut in late 2024 with an 8-minute-long track replete with structural changing and left-field vocals. Before then, they had already built a reputation for themselves that made them well-known (or infamous?) in the local live music circuit. Both their trajectory and their inventiveness may be reminiscent of Black Country, New Road, but their roots run much deeper: peel back the layers of their ever-changing sound and you will find the footprints of a long history of prog-rock experimentation. True to their name, there is something rather symphonic in how they handle elaborate composition and complex sonorities – this is a band that must be seen live for the full experience.
2 – Alien Chicks
There is no better word than ‘high-energy’ to describe this noise-happy trio, whose sound feels decidedly ill-served by the simple definition of post-punk. There is much more than that to what Alien Chicks are doing, infusing a solid punk structure – even classic in its use off bass as a backbone and confrontational delivery of vocals – with suggestions that range much further afield, as far as avant-garde jazz. With a love of the surreal and a truly exciting stage presence, their live sets are made memorable both by their ability to rile the audience up and by the balance between a tongue-in-cheek attitude and a very serious commitment to music that can hit very hard when it has to. Expect a mosh pit with this one: their setlist typically contains the kind of music which makes it impossible to stand still.
3 – TTSSFU
One of the most charismatic new voices to emerge on the Manchester grassroots scene in recent years, TTSSFU is a one-woman project with a mission. Her debut EP has infused new life into a genre, that of shoegaze/dream-pop, which was starting to feel a little overcrowded and repetitive. Preserving the DIY ethics of the genre, she imbues it with an earnestness and an ability for lateral thinking that make her music feel both refreshing and relatable. This is also an act that must be witnessed live, having gained a well-deserved reputation for electrifying stage appearance and having been in the touring trenches with the likes of Mannequin Pussy and Soccer Mommy. Brimming with personality, unrepentantly sincere in her songwriting, and delightfully chaotic in places, this is an artist who has shown how something completely new may be found at the end of a familiar path.
4 – Man/Woman/Chainsaw
Intense, sarcastic, prone to the creation of beautiful noise and with a distinct performance art streak, this is a band creating art-rock for a new century. The surrealist almost-poetry of their lyrics is a remarkably good fit for the mayhem-inclined sound they have fashioned for themselves, heavy on the dirty guitars but capable of incorporating haunting violin parts in a seamless way. This is another band which defies genre definitions – the ethos is punk, the sound owes more than a few things to 70s rock, the end result is something not quite heard before. Their debut EP, released in late 2024, felt like a relentless ride, with no room for catching your breath, and the same breakneck quality also materialises in their live sets, a true shot of adrenaline which works perfectly in a festival setting. Get drawn in by the playfulness, stay for the musical exploration.
5 – Witch Post
A cross-Atlantic collaboration between Scottish alt-rocker Dylan Fraser and American indie songwriter Alaska Reid, this is a project that draws from electronica, folk, classic rock, and beyond, with a love for atmospheric vibes and no fear of intensity whatsoever. Entrancing and immersive, their music cultivates a predilection for broad sounds, coupling it with a rather sharp edge that it has inherited from a long tradition of Scottish rockers. Its penchant for contamination is proof of the fact that alternative music doesn’t need to sound frantic or dissonant to hit hard – sometimes it is a matter of blending different suggestions together and going deeper rather than louder. Step into one of their live sets for an immersive and even emotional experience, a precious moment of introspection in the middle of the festival chaos.
Chiara Strazzulla
Image: Witch Post - Parker Love Bowling
