The opening day of The Great Escape delivered just about every season imaginable. Hail hammered the Brighton seafront, torrential rain swept through the lanes, occasional bursts of sunshine teased festivalgoers into optimism, and the cold reminded everyone that perhaps summer isn’t quite here yet after all. Still, none of it stopped thousands descending on the city for another year of discovering their next favourite band. By the end of the day, the step counter had ticked past 22,000. Standard Great Escape behaviour. And this was a short day!
First stop was Fright Years at Komedia, where the Scottish four-piece immediately set a high bar for the day. Frontwoman Juliette Kelly led the band through a set of emotive indie-rock anthems that felt tailor-made for festival season, balancing vulnerability with plenty of punch.
From there it was over to the always dependable Prince Albert for Bureau de Change. One of Brighton’s great pub venues, the Prince Albert remains a favourite for its old-school atmosphere, friendly staff and a band room steeped in history. Bureau de Change made full use of the setting, delivering a sharp and assured post-punk set that suggested this is very much a band with a bright future ahead.
Having caught Lynnie Snow recently at Liverpool Sound City, it was impossible not to make time for another set at The Great Escape — high praise given the sheer volume of artists competing for attention across the city. Snow once again proved captivating, with her heartfelt songwriting and magnetic stage presence cutting through the chaos of the festival with ease.
The night finished down by the beach at the Deep End stage with Canadian duo Angine de Poitrine. The queue stretched well outside the venue and, once inside, it was wall-to-wall people. The packed crowd responded in kind, erupting throughout a set that provided the perfect chaotic finale to a weather-beaten but hugely rewarding first day in Brighton.
Bruce was there to bring you these photos
