The Great Escape will complete its annual takeover of Brighton next week with hundreds of artists taking to stages across the city centre between May 15 and 18.
The music festival is known for cherry-picking the very best up-and-coming talent with attendees given the chance to see future arena headliners in intimate settings. That looks to be the case once again in 2024 with rising stars aplenty, as well as some names already boasting millions of monthly listeners.
With so much on the schedule, CelebMix picks out 10 acts you can’t miss at The Great Escape next week.
Bradley Simpson
Friday, Players, 17:15 – 17:45
A big name sure to pull in crowds at The Great Escape, there’s a lot of hype over Bradley Simpson’s solo project. The Vamps frontman has only released debut single ‘Cry at the Moon’ in March but the track, which packs plenty of punch, has already racked up hundreds of thousands of streams. The star stops off in Brighton this month ahead of a headline tour later this year.
vaultboy
Thursday, A L P H A B E T, 14:30 – 15:00
With nearly three million monthly listeners on Spotify, the playful production of vaultboy is no secret. You’re guaranteed to have heard viral track ‘everything sucks’ and that’s set to be a live music moment to remember, but there’s so much more the star will no doubt squeeze into his set.
Kenya Grace
Thursday, Players, 21:30 – 22:00
Kenya Grace followed up the iconic ‘Strangers’ with her acclaimed debut album The After Taste this year. Armed with that UK number one and a record full of sultry dancefloor fillers, she’s one not to miss.
twst
Thursday, One Church, 15:30 – 16:00
Friday, Patters downstairs, 02:15 – 02:45
The artist behind last year’s ethereal banger ‘Catch Me (Beautiful Fall)’, twst plays twice across The Great Escape weekend. That track, which was named in CelebMix’s Top 10 singles from 2023, is a spine-tingling three minutes but ‘Sugared Up’ and ‘Off-World’ are just two others sure to be on your playlists after a twst show.
Gretta Ray
Thursday, One Church, 22:15 – 22:45
Saturday, TGE Beach – Soundwaves, 14:55 – 15:20
A triumph when supporting Maisie Peters on tour in the UK last year, Gretta Ray’s sun-kissed pop seems made for Brighton. The Australian is another with two performances over the weekend – her charming lyrics are gloriously quotable and make it more than worth putting both in the schedule.
NOAHFINNCE
Friday, TGE Beach – The Deep End, 19:15 – 19:45
NOAHFINNCE has only just touched down back in the UK from a headline tour over the pond and will bring his show to Brighton. The 24-year-old knows how to whip up a frenzy – CelebMix witnessed that at The Dome last year – and released his brilliant debut album GROWING UP ON THE INTERNET in March.
Fred Roberts
Friday, Komedia Basement, 12:30 – 13:00
Friday, Revenge, 18:45 – 19:15
Fresh from releasing his coming-of-age debut EP, Fred Roberts will bring his own brand of Troye Sivan-inspired indie-pop to Komedia Basement and Revenge on the Friday of The Great Escape. Heartbreak is the staple for the 21-year-old, who packages it up in guitar-led bangers and stripped-back ballads.
Keiynan
Thursday, A L P H A B E T, 13:30 – 14:00
Saturday, TGE Beach – Pirate Studio Stage, 15:45 – 16:15
Keiynan’s discography is bursting with character that comes from his eclectic influences and growing up in the arts. You may know the 32-year-old from his roles in The Flash and Love, Simon but it’s through his music that you get to know the Australian best.
Nieve Ella
Friday, Komedia Basement, 20:15 – 20:45
It’s incredible to think that Nieve Ella only started releasing music in 2023 with nothing short of a stratospheric rise since then. It’s easy to understand why with full-throttle tracks and a fearlessness to wear her heart on her sleeve grabbing attention on last year’s Lifetime of Waiting EP.
Olivia Lunny
Thursday, Patterns downstairs, 19:15 – 19:45
Canadian star Olivia Lunny knows her way around a pop hit. The 25-year-old supported Eurovision winner Loreen on tour in the UK last year and has a Young Canadian Songwriter Award to her name. Tracks such as ‘HEARTBREAK ON REPEAT’ are must-hears for pop lovers.
Who are you making sure not to miss at The Great Escape 2024? Let us know @CelebMix on X.
