Day two of The Great Escape found us stumbling upon an 80s hero in the afternoon before heading back to the pier for one of Sløtface’s six appearances over the weekend and ended with a rammed midnight show from The Charlatans.
Nick Heyward, Black Lion
Nick Heyward (yes, that one – as almost every blog post begins…) was in Brighton to play some of his new album ‘Woodland Echoes’ which he’s been promoting with a Pledgemusic campaign. He seemed almost as surprised as the audience to find himself in the Black Lion playing a free set, but the pub was pretty busy, Nick relaxed and friendly (taking sips from a fan’s cider between songs) and the audience enthusiastic. The album songs started slowly but from the third song in, the amazing ‘Love Is The Key’, it was clear it’s a quality album with Nick sounding as tender and romantic as he ever did in his Haircut 100 days. Nobody gets to do an encore at the Black Lion but Nick was allowed one, and he played an old tune – not one of his more famous songs but it was an absolute delight. Welcome back Nick. (JS)
Sad13, Hope & Ruin
Closing the first of Love Thy Neighbour’s unofficial free Great Escape parties this year, Sad13 understandably pull a large crowd of punters with their ear to the underground. The band stems from the solo project of Sadie Dupuis (of Massachusetts alt-rock favourites Speedy Ortiz), this configuration performing in Brighton for the first time having only met one another last week. You wouldn’t know the freshness of the association if Dupuis hadn’t mentioned it though, so tightly do the four-piece fit together around her guitar and keyboard led songs. ‘Just A Friend’ tilts to the slanted song-structures of Belly, ‘Line Up’ is a driving piece of new wave pop and ‘Hype’ caps things off with a warning to recognise your privilege (easy to forget out there in the embrace of the industry this weekend). (SH)
Sløtface, Horatio’s
We first came across punk pop stars Sløtface at 2014’s Slottsfjell festival in their native Norway and it’s a delight to have seen their star rising on these shores since, even if we kept missing their occasional Brighton shows. We finally catch them again at, incredibly, their sixth and final slot at The Great Escape this weekend, dragging a lively crowd along with them to the end of the pier. Debut album ‘Try Not To Freak Out’ is still a few months away so fun and fiery recent singles ‘Magazine’ and ‘Empire Records’ share set space with a smattering of new songs. No-nonsense leader Haley Shea ends up in the crowd for exuberant finale ‘Shave My Head’ before Sløtface line up stage-front to take a deserved bow. (SH)
Sweat, Mucky Duck
How fitting that sleazy London outfit Sweat should be found in the lascivious-sounding environs of the Mucky Duck this evening, closing another off-grid Alternative Escape showcase. Lit from below, willowy focal point Dante Traynor preens through unsettling opener ‘Be Complete’ (“Before you there were others / And after you there will be others again”) like Jarvis Cocker with the gawky Sheffield awkwardness replaced by the nocturnal spirit of Iggy Pop’s Berlin crawl ‘Nightclubbing’. The group’s joy in generating their rich and strange electro grooves lifts Sweat out of the gutter however, with Traynor grinning merrily as he leaps from the drum kit and dives into the throng. (SH)
The Charlatans, The Haunt
It’s rare to see such a big queue outside The Haunt and this one stretches all the way round the building, even leaving a polite gap for car park access. This happens sometimes when big bands play little venues and it’s all part of the excitement, and frustration, of The Great Escape. You’ve got to get there early. The venue is soon full to bursting for The Charlatans and they enjoy a hero’s welcome as they walk on stage bathed in red light. Classics like ‘North Country Boy’ still sound great alongside the new single ‘Plastic Machinery’ and the crowd surge forward, hands reaching out to lead singer Tim Burgess. It’s shows like this that makes ignoring gig fatigue and staying up past midnight worth it. (MT)
The Great Escape, Friday 19th May 2017
Words by Jon Southcoasting, Mike Tudor and Stuart Huggett
Photos by Jon Southcoasting and Mike Tudor
The SOURCE team covered all three days of The Great Escape 2017.
Check out our reviews from Thursday and Saturday.
We’ve also got a review of the Alternative Escape here.
