AFTER day one of the Great Escape yesterday, which set Brighton alive with an atmosphere of anticipation, today we welcome the festival back for the first full day of live music.
Wednesday was a neat introduction to the three-day main event, with industry pros providing an insight into the inner workings of the modern-day music world, followed by an electric launch party at Jubilee Square.
But now everyone has found their hotels, and the formalities are over, it’s time to party, so here’s our guide to today’s hottest shows.
The K’s – 2.30pm – MVT Stage
The K’s are the band we all wanted to grow into when we were 16: all-out indie rockers. Impressive they’ve maintained the sincerity then, given most groups of this style sound cliché – but it’s all genuine here.
Expect uplifting rock and roll, catchy guitar hooks aplenty and the odd pint to drench you from across the crowds.
Sinead O’Brien – Amazon Stage – 4.15pm
Sinead sits in a genre of her own – witty lyricism and poetry exploring the mundanity of life, set to alternative guitar rock.
Her shows, however, are anything but boring. Entrancing vocal effects with light guitar hooks from her razor-sharp backing band put the Irish singer in a position where she faces no competition.
Katy J Pearson – Komedia – 8.15pm
The breakthrough star has exploded in the two years since the album and has struck the perfect balance of energy and “chill” with her music: with buoyant pop riffs fused with melancholic folk guitar.
Albums don’t come much more complete than Katy J Pearson’s debut, Return – and neither do gigs.
Billy Nomates – 9.15pm – Komedia
Tor Maries, playing as Billy Nomates, is the latest to break on to the post-punk scene, having struck up a friendship with big names including Sleaford Mods.
The singer from Leicester has become known for putting on adrenaline-heavy gigs, with Komedia the perfect site to host a night of mayhem.
Yard Act – Komedia – 11.15pm
Led by James Smith, the four-piece from Leeds have shot to fame and play the first of two shows this weekend, fresh off their first American tour.
Combining bass-heavy, thundering tracks with satirist lyrics, Yard Act have been championed by BBC 6 Music DJ Steve Lamacq, with their recent debut album The Overload reaching number two in the UK charts.
For the full schedule head to greatescapefestival.com
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