The Great Escape 2025: 5 Must-See Sets
The Great Escape 2025: 5 Must-See Sets
Brighton’s annual exposure extravaganza is just around the corner, and with so much talent on offer, it can be hard to decide which artists to prioritise.
Here’s our pick of the five must-see acts at this year’s The Great Escape festival:
Karen Dió
Brazilian born, Hastings-based hellraiser Karen Dió looks set to leave quite the mark on The Great Escape, with her high-energy performances earning her legions of fans worldwide. Fresh off the back of a support tour with Limp Bizkit, Dió has also played with the likes of Sum 41 and Wargasm, and it’s not hard to see why - with a bone-crunching sound, powerhouse stage presence, and fearless attitude to boot, Dió is one of rock’s most exciting new artists, with anthems including ‘Sick Ride’ and ‘So Funny’ certain to transform Brighton nightclub Volks from its usual, rave-favouring self into a raucous stomping ground for one of punk’s fiercest new talents.
Courting
A Liverpudlian four-piece boasting a healthy balance of experimental weirdness and catchy pop melodies? No, not The Beatles, but Courting, the rising hyperpop rockers who have released three albums in almost as many years, with their latest ‘Lust for Life...’, earning them a glowing five-star review from The Observer. Their last appearance at The Great Escape was in 2022, and saw them win over a packed-out Casablanca club with boundless energy, infectious wit, and an endearingly absurd cowbell solo. Expect similar antics this year, but on a significantly bigger stage.
HotWax
Hastings-via-Brighton trio HotWax have had a great couple of years, refining their sound on the road with the likes of The Libertines and Royal Blood. Having released their debut album ‘Hot Shock’ to critical acclaim last month, their return to The Great Escape promises the devilish riffs, brooding basslines and ecstatic drumming which characterise both their debut LP and incendiary live performances. Venomous, ethereal, and anthemic in equal measure, HotWax are carving out their place as one of the UK’s great new bands.
Nectar Woode
London’s Nectar Woode is enjoying a heady rise, with her 2023 hit ‘Good Vibrations’ playlisted by Tesco stores across the country, and famous fan Elton John giving her career advice over the phone. The British-Ghanaian soul star shows no signs of slowing down, looking ahead to an array of festivals this summer, including this unique opportunity to catch the accomplished singer-songwriter in a (relatively) intimate venue.
SOAPBOX
Glaswegian punks SOAPBOX immediately grab your attention, and simply refuse to let go. The Scottish four-piece formed in 2022, and have gone from strength to strength ever since, supporting Kid Kapichi last month and releasing their debut EP ‘HAWD THAT’ last year, with its follow up ‘LOCK IN’ imminent. Brash, boisterous, and uncompromising on record, it’s thrilling to imagine the energy the band will undoubtedly exude on stage, cementing them as one of many essential acts at another brilliant edition of The Great Escape.
Words by Ben Left
