Glastonbury may have sold out five months in advance (a last round of tickets for the Worthy Farm event will go on sale in April), but Irish music fans intent on sampling a UK festival might consider Brighton’s Great Escape.
Dubbed “SXSW-on-sea”, the festival, now in its fourth year, showcases an international contingent of new and established bands in venues across the coastal city. This year’s event takes place from May 14th to 16th.
Among the first wave of acts to be announced are Kildare’s Bell X1. Joining them will be a host of hotly tipped names, including quirky London singer VV Brown, US electro-poppers Passion Pit, and buzz band Micachu and the Shapes.
Past performers at the festival, which prides itself on giving a platform to bands on the verge of a breakthrough, include Foals, Adele, Crystal Castles and Laura Marling.
Early-bird tickets are £39.50 at www.escapegreat. com
