Kieran Webber
Director and Founder of CLUNK Magazine, CLUNK Events, and other CLUNK affiliate businesses. You’ll probably find me tucked away somewhere sending emails, listening to music, and creating content.
The Great Escape 2025 provided a week of the best new music in one of the UK’s most exciting cities
The journey from Cornwall to Brighton is never an easy one, it’s an arduous 6-7 hour trip up the coast but once through the slew of A-roads and the infamous M25, you are greeted with a coastal city paradise. A city steeped in musical history from the Mods and Rockers of the 60’s through to today’s bustling scene of eclectic sounds. It’s a trip that almost every music fan has to make outside and during The Great Escape.
Upon arriving ont he Wednesday, we made our way into the city centre, a place littered in side streets, independent businesses, pubs, venues, and more. It’s almost overwhelming just how much is on offer not only in the city but for The Great Escape. At every corner awaits the next unique space to watch one of the world’s most exciting artists. You have dark caves such as Three Wise Cats, or the more festival ready set up at Jubilee Square. There really is something for everyone and every taste, sonically and more.
Highlights came from congratulations performance at Jubilee Square, the fledgling band came in with a desire to impress, and it wasn’t long before the crowd was very much in their hands. The band came out adorning a colour coordinated style, with guitarist Jaimie Chellar donning a zoot suit that would make Prince week at the knees. The band fuse a wild energy that is doused in fun – creating something that is undeniably creative, groovey, and unique. It’s rock music for those that love to boogie. It was an arguable highlight of the entire week and one they would continually tip by playing four times across The Great Estate. Watch out for congratulations, they have HUGE potential and we cannot wait to see where they go.
Naturally, we found our way to the Getdown Services show the following day, at the same place as congratulations. They did a quick 3 song matinee for BBC Radio 6 Music, which was broadcast live. An almost impossible challenge for the sweary duo, yet bum was allowed, result. As ever, Getdown Services boasted to as why they are the most exciting band in the country, it was high octane, fun, comical, and bursting in good vibes. Not only is their music wildy infectious, their personalities always shine through. A duo of delightful gentleman in a world full of egotistical pricks. Long may the GDS supremacy reign.
Heading to the cave like room of Three Wise Cats, near the beachfront we got our ears tickled by South London’s newest export Y. It was as wild as everyone had said and the hype around this band is extremely justified. Although it was a 2pm performance, the darkness of the venue, the smell of beer, and intense ferocity of Y made it feel like one of their infamous Windmill, Brixton shows. Was a pleasure and a treat to see such an up and coming act in this intimate space, arguably one of the few times you’ll be able to.
Down the road Men an Tol, a familiar name for us in Cornwall, although not the stone circles but the band were playing in Brighton, for the life of me I cannot remember the venue BUT it was next door to Patterns. Anyways, the rooms was filled to the brim and the excitement for them was palpable. Front row even saw broadcasting legend Steve Lamacq eagerly awaiting their set, not to mention hiding from the gaze of the BBC Radio 6 Music dads. The band came on to the small stage, that was for sure a repurposed dance podium with huge applause and hollers. They have a festival ready sound that is a generous mix of Wunderhorse, The Stone Roses, and even folky elements reminiscent of Mumford & Sons. It is of our humble opinion that Men An Tol are going to be the next big thing.. watch this space.
On Friday we had our ears tickled by Baby Berserk, an artist we’d not heard of before, but a tip off from a friend led us to the Pellagini Hall, a beautiful 18th century dance hall near the beachfront. When it was built, I imagine the last thing they were expecting was a bass-driven Euro-trash inspired dance outfit to be performing, but boy am I glad they did. Baby Berserk turned that glorious hall into a dirty techno rave that was nothing short of intensely wild. Amps were climbed, lipstick smeared, beats dropped. A true highlight of the entire week and one we cannot wait to see again.
And of course, a trip up country is never fully complete until we get to see our buddies FEET, who played twice, once in the Black Lion, a small pub, and second at Horatio’s, a boat themed restaurant/bar located right on the pier. Both sets saw them bring their jagged edged indie and high-octane stage presence that they’ve become widely known for. A great way to end the week and an even better way to have gotten excited for our very own FOOTFEST.
Going into TGE you never know what you are going to get, especially when you come up from Cornwall, these events just don’t exist for us. But we can wholeheartedly say that TGE is one of the greatest weeks on the musical calendar and one we cannot wait to do again all over next year. See you soon Brighton.
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