The weather remained foul for the final day of The Great Escape, but spirits were high as we headed into the home stretch of another brilliant week on the south coast. Saturday belongs to the Australian contingent at the beach stages, with artists taking over all three venues and flying the flag in style.
One of the early highlights came from Loose Content, opening proceedings at The Jetty — the outdoor stage temporarily renamed “The Ones To Watch” for the day. The Byron Bay trio brought their melodic indie-rock to a crowd that kept building, quickly getting everyone fully invested.
Over on the Soundwaves stage, AU favourites Joan & The Giants delivered one of the most emotional sets of the day. Hearing their stunning new single “Mamma Don’t Cry” live was something special, with frontwoman Grace Newton-Wordsworth commanding the room with a powerful and heartfelt performance. Proof, yet again, that the quieter moments can land just as hard as the anthems.
Another AU favourite in Salarymen brought their gorgeous hazy, sun-drenched pop to Brighton — even if the weather was doing its best to suggest otherwise. Their shimmering set still struck a chord, ahead of another run of UK shows supporting DMA’S.
It was also my first time catching sleepazoid live, and they absolutely blew me away. Easily one of the highlights of the weekend, the band more than held their own on the big stage at The Deep End with a tantalising blend of grunge, shoegaze and post-punk-infused alt-rock.
Ngaiire is an artist I’ve seen many times over the years, and it’s always a thrill. To catch her bringing that same magic to The Great Escape felt like a real blessing amidst the chaos of the festival.
The night — and our time at The Great Escape for 2026 — came to a close with a taste of Japan via a showcase from 8bite, wrapping up four days of incredible music, wild weather, endless walking and unforgettable discoveries. Until next year, Brighton.
Bruce was there to bring you these images.
