Page updated: 10th May 2009 @ 11.30pm
About TGE:
The Great Escape has established itself as the leading event in Europe for showcasing new talent from around the world, aimed at 'export ready' bands and Industry Professionals. TGE takes place in Brighton, UK and boasts performances from over 300 new local and international artists, themed parties and club nights in over 34 different venues.
Since it's creation in 2006, TGE has brought 100s of new artists from both the UK and abroad to the intimate venues of Brighton including....Pigeon Detectives, Adele, The Whip, CSS, Foals, Friendly Fires, The Futureheads, White Lies, The Maccabees, Klaxons, The Wombats, Gossip!, The Kooks, The Fratellis, The Enemy, Glasvegas, Vampire Weekend, The Ting Tings, Guillemots and Wintersleep.
This page contains my top 10 bands to see at the Festival as well as a link to the fabled "TGE Spreadsheet". Also, newly added 
buttons, which when clicked will play a sample of the band
Thursday:
| Band | Venue | Time |
|
|
The Moi Non Plus | The Arc | 2.30pm |
|
Calories | Hector's House | 7.30pm |
|
Wintersleep | Hector's House | 8.15pm |
|
Bombay Bicycle Club | Concorde 2 | 9.30pm |
|
Hockey | Hector's House | 11.00pm |
|
Filthy Dukes | Ocean Rooms (Ground) | 12.30am |
|
Crystal Fighters | Ocean Rooms (Ground) | 1.20am |
Alternate Thursday Bands:
The Answering Machine, 9.30pm, Above Audio
The Maccabees, 12am, Corn Exchange
Friday:
| Band | Venue | Time |
|
|
Tom Allalone & The 78s | Prince Albert | 12.15pm |
|
The Alexandria Quartet | Prince Albert | 1.00pm |
|
The River Pheonix | Prince Albert | 1.45pm |
|
The Veils | Sallis Benney Theatre | 6.30pm |
|
We Were Promised Jet Packs | The Honeyclub | 7.15pm |
|
The Temper Trap | The Honeyclub | 8.00pm |
|
The Teenagers | Concorde 2 | 9.30pm |
|
Metric | The Honeyclub | 9.45pm |
|
Holy Fuck | Komedia | 10.15pm |
|
80Kidz | Coalition | 12.00am |
|
Ou Est La Swimming Pool | Coalition | 1.00am |
|
Dan Black | Coalition | 2.00am |
|
Magic Magic | Jubilee Square Street Gig | TBC |
Saturday:
| Band | Venue | Time |
|
|
Bang Bang Eche | Concorde 2 | 12.20pm |
|
LightsGoBlue | Concorde 2 | 1.15pm |
|
DJ Pdex | Concorde 2 | 2.00pm |
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Enter Shikari | Concorde 2 | 2.20pm |
|
The Veils | Horatios | 3.40pm |
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Fight Like Apes | Audio | 8.15pm |
|
Pure Reason Revolution | Coalition | 9.00pm |
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The Boxer Rebellion | Coalition | 10.00pm |
|
Geometri (DJ Set) | Concorde 2 | 11.30pm |
|
Evil Nine | Concorde 2 | 12.00am |
|
Freeland | Concorde 2 | 1.00am |
01: Wintersleep
One of last years highlights - for me anyway. A Canadian 5 piece from Nova Scotia specialising in Indie/rock, with shoegaze elements thrown in for good measure. Their latest offering, Welcome To The Night Sky was one of my favorites albums from 2008. It was criminal that only 15 people turned up to see them last TGE (although it meant I got to meet the guys and get my CD signed - I know..Geek!)
Must hear: Archaeologist (Welcome To The Night Sky, 2007)
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/wintersleep
02: Fight Like Apes
Another band helping me out by already having their album in the shops. FLA have already built up a reputation for their fast paced indie pop gems. Most reviews focus around the well structured 'humourous' lyrics and instantly likeable riffs, and on the evidence I have found - there is no reason that they won't impress live. p.s. they have a song called Lightsaber Cocksucking Blues - Awesome!
Must hear: Tie Me Up With Jackets (Mystery Of The Golden Medallion, 2009)
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/fightlikeapesmusic
03: School Of Seven Bells
Hotly tipped for 2009 already, electronica, indie and shoegaze all rolled into one. Imagine MGMT mixed with Sigur Ros...beautiful widescreen songs, taking you on a journey through time and space (not in a Mighty Boosh way...). Dreamy and abstract but the overriding feeling you're left with is one of complete and utter euphoria.
Must hear: Half Asleep (Alpinisims, 2009)
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/schoolofsevenbells
04: The Boxer Rebellion
London based The Boxer Rebellion specialise in epic sounding melodic escapism. Already appearing to have mastered that "Stadium" rock sound, the chance to see these guys at a small venue is too good to miss. If you like Rock music - head over to MySpace and give these guys a listen
Must hear: Evacuate (Union, 2009)
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/TheBoxerRebellion
05: Pure Reason Revolution
I am not going to lie, any review by me would be biased. Rich and I watched them back in 2006, with 12 other people in the Pressure Point and I thought that they were the next big thing. They didn't make it....
But now they are back, and they haved proved that not making has not phased them, and my god the new abum is good. Very good - don't just take my word for it, read the review below.
"A jaw-droppingly ambitious feat…updating the legacies of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin with the earth-shattering heaviness of modern masters like Muse. A riveting live prospect, one of the greatest new bands in Britain…Magical" (RockSound Magazine)
Must hear: Deus Machina (Amor Vincit Omnia, 2009)
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/PureReasonRevolution
06: Bombay Bicycle Club
Another band who played last year - although we did not attend due to being at other events. Anyhow the band who only had an E.P in the public domain are now getting ready to release their debut album and early indications are that it may be quite good.
Must hear: Always Like This (I Had The Blues But Shook Them Off, 2009)
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bombaybicycleclub
07: Hockey
Currently being tipped for success after just two singles, Hockey hail from Portland, Oregon and are already signed to Capitol records. Specialising in catchy hook laden electro indie seems to be exciting a lot of people in the industry and their live show promises to be lively. (Warning: in their worst moments they can stray into Orson-esque sounds). As long as you have no problems with the poppier end of the electro indie sound then you should enjoy.
Must hear: Too Fake (Too Fake (Single), 2009)
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/hockey
08: Enter Shikari!
See, now this is one of those problematic reviews where I am gonna say nothing but great things, but wholeheartedly advise that none of you guys go and see them. ES are quite hard to explain, rock indie and happy hardcore rave all rolled into 1. The vocalist is as likely to scream and shout as he is to sing, the back vocals almost sound like a band following chanting a call to arms. Addictive electro beats, heavy guitar stabs and electro melodies.
Must hear: Mothership (Take To The Skies, 2008)
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/entershikari
09: The Alexandria Quartet
Blurb tbc
Must hear: The Dark Side Of The Blues (The Alexandria Quartet, 2009)
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thealexandriaquartet
10: The Answering Machine
Blurb tbc
Must hear: Cliffer (Another City, Another Story, 2009)
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/Theansweringmachine
The spreadsheet:
So here is the link to my Spreadsheet that details the bands, where they are playing and whether or not I feel that they are worth seeing. Please appreciate that these are my opinions and, as Richard Taylor will tell you, may not always be right (exmaple no.1, in 2006 I may have said the Klaxons were shit, only to then rush out to buy their album, saying they were awesome)
Spreadsheet: Click Here - Last Update: 27th April 2009, 22.49pm
