REVIEW: THE GREAT ESCAPE FESTIVAL 2012
Brighton and Bristol have that same vibe – laid back, creative, full of opportunity etc etc – but just how does its city festival compare to Bristol’s Simple Things or Dot to Dot?
Well, for starters, it takes place on one what could be the sunniest weekend of a very temperamental month and who wouldn’t want to be by the sea on a lovely late Spring day, or three? Then there’s the line-up; with the likes of The Temper Trap, Django Django (who everyone was trying to see, resulting in queues full of disappointed punters) and Maximo Park on the epic bill and the sheer amount of venues involved – meaning Brighton’s abuzz with excitement all weekend.
Starting on the Thursday day (when most ticketholders are probably still at work), makes for a slow start but by the time Cloud Nothings take to the stage of Above Audio at 10ish, the place is rammed. And it’s not difficult to see why. Their at times introspective, Death Cab For Cutie-esque brand of rock makes for compelling watching. With tiny sniffs of Weezer and The Hold Steady, they play a fan-winning set. Noteworthy acts from earlier on in the day include the adorable Francois and the Atlas Mountains, whose hilariously choreographed dance moves somehow compliment the dreamscapey half English/half French, slightly twee (but in a good way) indie numbers. And Gemma Hayes, America’s answer to Laura Marling – a girl with a guitar, a voice to die for and a cache of country-tinged ballads.
For some though, the main festival events in the Dome, Corn Exchange and Komedia, weren’t the main draw – with hundreds of people heading to the Pav Tav for the Alternative Great Escape. With a stage run, on the Friday, by the indie label – Alcopop! it’s talent heavy with the likes of Katie Malco, Stagecoach and My First Tooth. But the piece de resistance was Tall Ships, whose storming late night set, punched you in the guts with the raw energy of ‘Sappy’ style Nirvana and the soaring, singalong style of Dry The River, who are there to witness their recent tourmates’ performance. Which brings us onto another top performance from the awesome Dry The River.
Bizarrely, despite their massive sound, Dry The River, at times, seems dwarfed by the venue (Corn Exchange). It’s a late slot and while they pull in a good-sized crowd, it shoulda been rammed. I mean these guys are good, really fuckin good. Their surprisingly unique brand of anthemic folk-tinged indie balladry, layer on layer the songs build into a massive crescendo of epic proportions – like ‘Yes’ by McAlmont and Butler or much of Arcade Fire’s back catalogue. A definite highlight of the festival.
Throw into the mix a bunch of industry stuff and second to none networking ops and The Great Escape might just win out over all the city festivals.
Words: Laura Williams
