Florence Road, Man/Woman/Chainsaw, The North, Billboard Style, World News, nomi., Marla Kether, Yeemz, Kyla Kilzer & Max Noir and more complete our first wave of artists for 2027. Catch them live tonight across seven East London venues.
Our FIRST FIFTY line-up for 2027 is complete. Today we’re adding 30 more artists to the bill, giving you an early look at the new talent from across the UK and beyond that’s heading to Brighton from 12–15 May 2027.
Irish indie rock quartet Florence Road (pictured) lead the latest additions. They’re fresh from a sold-out Irish headline tour and have their biggest UK and European run to date lined up for next spring. They’re joined by London art-rock outfit Man/Woman/Chainsaw, whose acclaimed debut album Cannonball landed in August, and by three of the most talked-about bands around right now: The North, Billboard Style and World News.
Also on the bill are rising soul and R&B talent nomi., bassist, producer and DJ Marla Kether, and cellist and singer-songwriter Yeemz, who arrives straight off tour with Phoebe Bridgers. Closer to home, Tru Thoughts duo Kyla Kilzer & Max Noir pair Brighton-based singer-songwriter Kyla’s vocals with Max’s mix of garage, alternative R&B and hip-hop.
Germany takes the lead
With Germany confirmed as our Lead Country Partner for 2027, German acts Violet and Louis Ottley join the line-up. Next May also marks ten years of the ZEITGEIST New German Talent Showcase at The Great Escape, and 12 emerging German artists will perform as part of the anniversary programme.
A truly international bill
The latest additions come from all over the world. From New Zealand there’s Awning. Australia sends Divebar Youth, Public Figures and Fade Evare. From Ireland come For Nina, Tadhg Nolan, Croithe and Aniar, along with Swiss band Lone Assembly and French artists Cécile Lacharme and Eat Girls. Rounding out the announcement are Silver Gore, Bank Holiday, Painkiller, MURPHY, The Rose Hips, TRAVO, Allegra Krieger and studio20.
They join the artists we’ve already announced, including Esmeralda Road, Spanish Horses, last year’s Steve Strange Award winners Bathing Suits, recent Triskel Award winners Casual Smart, Australian trio Dumbhead, Irish singer-songwriter Jordan Joy, French band Chest. and many more.
The FIRST FIFTY line-up (A–Z)
Abbie Gordon · Allegra Krieger · Angelface · Aniar · Aubory Bugg · Awning · Bank Holiday · Bathing Suits · Billboard Style · Casual Smart · Cécile Lacharme · Chest. · Chiderah · Compost Compost Compost · Croithe · Die Twice · Divebar Youth · Dumbhead · Eat Girls · Esmeralda Road · Fade Evare · Florence Road · For Nina · Gianna · Half Star · J Casa · jo from school · Jordan Joy · Kyla Kilzer & Max Noir · Lone Assembly · Louis Ottley · Man/Woman/Chainsaw · Marla Kether · MURPHY · nomi. · Pack of Animals · Painkiller · Public Figures · Shrink · Silver Gore · simon a. · Spanish Horses · State of Grace · studio20 · Tadhg Nolan · Tesni · The North · The Rose Hips · TRAVO · Violet · World News · Xanadu · Yeemz
FIRST FIFTY Live: tonight in East London
To celebrate, our FIRST FIFTY live launch takes over seven East London venues tonight, Thursday 12 November. It’s your first chance to see some of the artists heading to Brighton next May, hosted by some of our favourite partners in new music.
Ticketmaster New Music present Esmeralda Road, Xanadu, Pack of Animals and Jordan Joy
Oslo, 1A Amhurst Road, E8 1JB · 16+ · Tickets
DIY Neu Nights present Compost Compost Compost, Dumbhead and Die Twice
Moth Club, Valette St, E9 6NU · 18+ · Tickets
So Young present State of Grace, Spanish Horses and Angelface
The Shacklewell Arms, 71 Shacklewell Lane, E8 2EB · 18+ SOLD OUT
Dork present Bathing Suits, Chest. and Shrink
Sebright Arms, 31–35 Coate Street, E2 9AG · 18+ SOLD OUT
Clash present Half Star, Tesni and Casual Smart
Folklore, 186 Hackney Rd, E2 7QL · 18+ · Tickets
BBC Introducing present simon a., J Casa, Chiderah and jo from school
Paper Dress Vintage, 352a Mare Street, E8 1HR · 18+ · Tickets
Ones to Watch present Aubory Bugg, Gianna and Abbie Gordon
The Victoria, 451 Queensbridge Road, E8 3AS · 18+ · Tickets
See them first in Brighton
The Great Escape is the festival for new music. Every May, more than 450 emerging artists play across 35+ walkable venues in Brighton, alongside our industry-led TGE Conference, to kick off the festival season. Plenty more artists are still to be announced, so this is just the start.
Buy tickets for The Great Escape 2027
Follow @greatescapefest and @thegreatescape for the latest news, and join the conversation with #TGE27.