The team behind the Great Escape have announced the first artists to feature in the First 50. These bands will all be on next years line up and will play a series of gigs in various venues across North East London on November 12th.

Well technically the observant among you will notice that they have only announced 22 bands but with who is going to quibble when they are this good?

The first to catch our attention is Bathing Suits, who won the annual Steve Strange award, voted for by Conference Delegates, after their performances at this year’s event. Team Source sadly missed them this year, despite Cal from DITZ telling us we really needed to see them. That was our schoolboy error. Since then they have played a much talked about show at the Green Door Store over the summer. We will not be making the mistake of missing them next year.

Similarly French punks Chest have caught the attention of many a Brighton gig goer with their punchy sound that will appeal to fans of Ditz and Idles.

Never afraid to get our hands dirty, and as big fans of all things humus related we are delighted to see Compost Compost Compost are on the bill. While they are yet to release any music videos can be found of them playing across the pubs of London which display an intriguingly nutritious and fertile mix of jazz, electronica and art rock. If you needed further encouragement, they have played gigs with the likes of Oral Habit and word has reached our ears that we need this band in our lives.

The only Brighton based act on the list so far is the emotive sounds of Die Twice. Their mature song writing is making a grab for the epic, perhaps influenced by the moor lands of their native Devon as well as their Dad’s well thumbed copy of OK Computer.

If you are after a more urban sound the soulful falsetto vocals of Chiderah are warm and engaging.

The Great Escape Festival
Various Venues – 12th to 15th May 2027
Tickets available here

First 50 London Event
Various Venues November 12th
Tickets available here