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The 25 Bands You Must See At The Great Escape

added 14 May 2008 at 16.17

With over 200 bands playing across 25 venues in Brighton at The Great Escape Festival this weekend (May 15-17), the prospect of knowing where to start can be a little daunting.

Worry not as Xfm's expert panel of tastemakers present this handy print-and-keep guide of the 25 key bands that are likely to make your weekend. Read on...

 

Black Mountain
Vancouver's loudest and most hirsute quintet bring their heavy-duty psyche-rock to the coast as they delve into their new album, 'In The Future', as well as their eponymous debut.
Download from iTunes 

Bon Iver
Having locked himself in a Wisconsin log cabin for three months with just a guitar for company, Justin Vernon, AKA Bon Iver,brings some much needed tenderness with him.
Download from iTunes 

Cage The Elephant
Kentucky’s Cage The Elephant are a breath of fresh air in a sea of indie schmaltz sporting monster riffs alonside Harley T-shirts, tight jeans and mirror shades.
Download from iTunes 

 

Friendly Fires
After finding success in amongst the recent fluro-frenzy, Friendly Fires are heavy on the beats, frenzied of performance and utterly deserving of your time.
Find Friendly Fires on iTunes 

Lightspeed Champion
Having radically departed from the sound of Test Icicles, Dev Hynes brings a collection of lush acoustic ballads for your delight and delectation.
Download from iTunes  

Elle S'appelle
Liverpool three-piece Elle S'Appelle are a guitar band that have hit upon the novel notion of having no guitars. Expect electropop and delicious harmonies.
Elle S'appelle on iTunes  

Fujiya & Miyagi
The decidedly un-Japanese Brighton duo Fujiya & Miyagi combine their obsessive love of Krautrock with furious beats with a result unlike that of Neu! at a rave.
Fujiya & Miyagi on iTunes 

Glasvegas
Combining fuzz guitars with heartmelting harmonies, metronomic drumming and lyrics that mirror real life, Glasvegas' star in definitely in the ascendency.

The Hold Steady
The anthemic, literate, bar-room rock from the Brooklyn-based five-piece The Hold Steady is sure to blow the roof off. Glasses aloft and get ready to rock!
The Hold Steady on iTunes  

 

Ipso Facto
This all-girl quartet are fully aware of the value of Duane Eddy's twanging guitar, swirling farfisa runs, primeval drums dredged up from rock'n'roll's  primordial ooze and a set of Louise Brooks bobs.

Ida Maria
Norway's latest indie pop sensation makes a pleasant change from her homeland's death metal thanks to her memorable voice and tunes that won't leave your head.
Download from iTunes 

Late Of The Pier
Nottingham eccentrics don their colourful t-shirts to bring synth-led electro to the crazy folk down at Brighton. They'll fit right in.
Download from iTunes 
 
Mystery Jets
The greatest export from Eel Pie Island in recent years, Mystery Jets have evolved into a relentless tune machine that'll have you dancing into the early hours.
Download from iTunes 

Operator Please
Whip-smart and razor sharp, Operator Please's spunky power-pop is the sound of rottweiller puppies fighting in a canvas sack filled with candy floss and several spoonsfuls of rifined sugar.
Operator Please on iTunes  

Pete & The Pirates
Pete & The Pirates set sail in a ship of indie, navigating its way between the choppy waters of serrated guitars and the more calmer straits of jingle-jangle melodies.
Download from iTunes  

 

Peter Von Poehl
His dad's Swedish, he lives in Berlin and he's huge in France. Peter Von Poehl's seductive indie-pop should travel across the Channel as well as bottle of fine pinot noir.
Download from iTunes 

Robots In Disguise
Supercharged electropunk ladies with lashings of attitude and the tunes to back it up - whether they're about sex, tequlia or the music biz. 
Robots In Disguise on iTunes 

 

Santogold
Blending indie with reggae, dancebeats and a new wave sensibility on the back of her eponymous debut, Brooklyn sensation Santogold is about to leave her indelible mark on 2008.
Download from iTunes 

The Shoes
French electro-clash champs enter the ring following the decisive blow delivered by single 'Knockout'. Noisy and in your face. Just how we like it!
The Shoes on iTunes   

 

The Tings Tings
With The Ting Tings looking like a sure bet to secure this week's pole position in the singles chart, now is probably your last chance to catch them before they go stellar.
The Ting Tings on iTunes 

Vampire Weekend
Brooklyn's preppy four-piece with bite will be reviving the spirit of Paul Simon with their own idiosyncratic take on afro-beat.
Download from iTunes 

 

The Whip
The very essence of New Order lives on in Manchester's dance monster, the Xfm-approved The Whip, who will be blowing up a storm with humungous beats and lashings of groove-laden guitar.
The Whip on iTunes 

Yeasayer
Close friends of MGMT, Yeasayer's stock has risen dramtically through fevered word of mouth thanks to their epic live shows. They will be stars by the summer's end.
Download from iTunes 

 

Back To Great Escape Section

Tagged as Santogold, Bon Iver, The Hold Steady, Operator Please, The Mystery Jets, Festivals, Live

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comments

1. I would just like to promote my mates band
   Pistols and Poets.
   
   they are amazing
   
   they are supporting BLOC PARTY
   @ Dirty south
   162 Lee High Rd. SE13 5PR
   on the 6th July
   1pm-9pm
   +14yr

   Posted by charlotte on 17/06/2008 19:10:15 | report abuse

2. so many good bands...perfect! x-fm 4ever the best radio station..

   Posted by panos on 17/06/2008 01:26:14 | report abuse

3. I'd definitely recommend seeing The Whip live.

   Posted by Alex on 15/05/2008 11:02:55 | report abuse