Top Picks from Brighton Beach for The Great Escape 2025
Discovering new music is an exhilarating experience, especially amidst the vibrant energy of The Great Escape Festival in Brighton. This annual event has earned a reputation as Europe’s premier festival for emerging talent, showcasing a diverse lineup of artists across various genres. For music enthusiasts looking to uncover the next big thing, navigating through bustling seafront venues or stumbling upon a hidden gem in a basement bar can lead to memorable encounters with rising stars.
Sim0ne, a rising talent, has swiftly ascended from a bedroom DJ/Producer to BBC Radio 1’s Future Star of 2024. Hailing from Edinburgh and based in London, this dynamic artist has garnered global acclaim, embarking on tours in Australia and Asia. Known for her high-energy performances blending hard house and happy hardcore, sim0ne has received attention for viral remixes like “Say Yes To Heaven,” which caught the eye of Lana Del Rey and led to an official release.
KÄSSY defies categorization, seamlessly shifting between various roles as a singer, instrumentalist, producer, and performer. Her music is a complex blend of contrasting emotions, navigating between intense emotional depth and moments of apathetic indifference. With a unique sound that oscillates between beauty, paranoia, and outright grittiness, KÄSSY’s artistry promises a captivating sonic journey.
Ziyad Al-Samman infuses his Syrian and Jordanian heritage into his psychedelic disco-pop creations, delivering electrifying live performances that draw inspiration from eclectic musical influences. Drawing from his love for artists like Prince, Pulp, Gorillaz, and Amr Diab, Ziyad’s debut EP, ‘Pleasure Complex,’ invites listeners into a world of stroboscopic frenzy and sonic bliss.
Corto.alto, the moniker of Glasgow-based musician Liam Shortall, blurs the lines between traditional jazz sensibilities and modern electronic production. Described as a jazz traditionalist raised in the digital era, corto.alto’s music incorporates elements of improvisation, broken beat bounce, and bass-heavy dub, offering a fresh perspective on contemporary jazz fusion.
Emerging in 2018 under the enigmatic pseudonym Kousto, this artist draws inspiration from the renowned French explorer Jacques Cousteau. With a growing reputation in the music scene and critical acclaim for releases, Kousto has garnered support from industry heavyweights like The Shapeshifters, Honey Dijon, and Folamour.
With hundreds of artists performing across multiple stages in Brighton, crafting a schedule may seem daunting. Still, the thrill of discovering your next favorite artist amid the festival’s bustling atmosphere makes it all worthwhile. Embrace the spirit of musical exploration, keep your ears tuned for new sounds, and embark on a sonic adventure during The Great Escape Festival 2025.