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Playlist: The Great Escape 2018

By | Published on Thursday 17 May 2018

The Great Escape 2018

We’re deep into the CMU Insights conferences at The Great Escape already, having kicked off with The Education Conference yesterday. Last night we piled out of Duke’s at Komedia – after a productive day sorting out the crisis in music education – at something of a loose end. Thankfully, today the music starts, with Brighton suddenly filled with bands all over the place. Hundreds of them. How to choose what to see?

I favour an arbitrary selection process. Take a punt on someone with a funny name, or whatever venue is closest, or ten acts chosen by some stupid journalist. Speaking of which, here’s a Spotify playlist of bands playing TGE this year.

1. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu – Kimino Mikata
Hey, J-pop star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is playing TGE this year, which I think is an opportunity you can’t pass up. Presumably it’ll be a chance to catch old hits like ‘Pon Pon Pon’, but also a means for her to showcase her new ‘grown up’ sound, as heard on her latest single ‘Kimino Mikata’.

Friday, 9pm – The Arch

2. Pitou – Problems
Singer-songwriter Pitou’s music is filled with vivid lyrics and beautiful melodies placed over arresting vocal rhythms – all in all, simple but carefully considered songwriting.

Thursday, 9.30pm – Unitarian Church
Friday, 12.45pm – Komedia

3. Anna Burch – Tea-Soaked Letter
Anna Burch’s debut album, ‘Quit The Curse’, was released in February, but each song on it feels like you’ve known it for years. None more so than the brilliant ‘Tea-Soaked Letter’.

Friday, 3.30pm – Horatio’s

4. Gaika – Glad We Found It
Warp-signed rapper Gaika blends melodic and mechanical sounds into an always intriguing, often thought-provoking style. ‘Glad We Found It’ from 2016’s ‘Spaghetto’ is an excellent route into that world.

Thursday, 9.30pm – Shoosh
Friday, 7.20pm – East Wing (Brighton Centre)

5. Kate NV – дуб Oak
Kate Shilonosova has explored various genres from post-punk to Japanese genre ‘city pop’. On her latest album, she delves into minimalist compositions, akin to the work of Terry Riley and Steve Reich.

Thursday, 10pm – Volks
Friday, 12.30pm – Queens Hotel

6. G Flip – About You
I suspect G Flip is going to be one of the artists you really need to arrive early for this year, if you’re serious about seeing her play that is. Her debut track, ‘About You’, was released earlier this year and ripped through the internet. Interest and expectations will be high for what else she has to offer.

Thursday, 5.30pm – Beach Club
Friday, 5pm – Beach Club
Friday, 3.30pm – Beach House

7. Art School Girlfriend – Bending Back
The latest signing to Paul Epworth’s Wolf Tone label, Art School Girlfriend released her debut EP, ‘Measures’, late last year. From it, ‘Bending Back’ is an enthralling entry point into her sound.

Friday, 8.15pm – The Walrus

8. Joy Crookes – New Manhattan
Slowly building towards her debut album, Joy Crookes already has an impressive collection on songs behind her. I’m still pretty hooked on her debut single, ‘New Manhattan’ though.

Thursday, 8.15pm – Coalition

9. Mellah – Paseo
Mellah releases his latest EP, ‘Middle England’, next week. I haven’t been able to get the deadpan delivery of lead single ‘Paseo’ out of my brain for weeks now.

Thursday, 3.15pm – Bau Wow

10. Suzi Wu – Teenage Witch
Signed to Lucky Number, Suzi Wu released her debut EP, ‘Teenage Witch’ last September. We’ve been eagerly awaiting more ever since. Something which it seems likely will be found during her two TGE shows.

Friday, 10.15pm – Bau Wow
Saturday, 6.30pm – Shooshh



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