Folk Bitch Trio – Komedia
The Komedia basement is full to capacity for the three young Australian women, whose name has been dropped regularly as one to watch over the weekend. The yearning volcano of harmonies quickly silence the room. A set of dreamy beautiful songs ensue. Subtle fuzzy electric and strummed acoustic sit perfectly below the soaring vocals and it gets a rapturous reception from the crowd. They close with ‘God’s a Different Sword’, the lead single from their debut album out in July on Jagjaguwar. (NM)

Hyponosis Therapy – Jubilee Square
No chance of getting into Sex Mask so we leave the Komedia and are drawn to the explosion of sound coming from Jubilee Square. Hypnosis Theory employ a hype man in the crowd to vibe up the regrettably sparse crowd for a punky electro explosion of driving pulsating dance and filth with acid squelches. They are perfect polar opposite to the previous band, and seriously good performers. Those of us lucky enough to witness this show go wild. The Prodigy ought to book them as tour supports. (NM)

Cubzoa – The Beach Jetty
Cubzoa is now expanded to a full band with Lily and Declan on Drums. What we lose in introspective electronica we gain in a country squall that is very different to Penelope Isles while still featuring those distinctive vocals. New single Choke is a promising taste of the debut album, soon to be released on Bella Union. Last track In Two Worlds sees Jack shred with all his might. He is a very good guitarist. (NM)

Fiona Lee – Jubilee Stage
The centrepiece City stage is being hosted by those good people and 6 Music and Huw Sephens, the endlessly enthusiastic Labrador of pop, bounds onto the stage to introduce Yorkshire’s very own Fiona Lee on. What follows is a bucolic rock adventure that meanders through the same musical high roads and by-roads that Freya Ridings and Christine McVeigh have travelled down too. And it’s lovely. (JW)

M(h)aol – Family Store Records
Post soundcheck M(h)aol have a group hug before the feedback starts in a manner reminiscent of the Stooges. The strip down lo-fi sound is really satisfying and Constance’s breathless vocals grip you in the gut and heart, as she drums. IBS from new album ‘Something Soft’ starts with high riff and dirty bass over a rolling floor tom drum. Its a perfect instore set, and sadly their only show of the festival. (NM)

Get Down Services – Jubilee Stage
The first of several performances across the festival and Get Down Services are, perhaps, THE buzz band of the festival. They’re dry and droll and very, very British. The place is packed and everyone seems to antociapte that something special is about to happen. And it does. Highlights include a collective bum shout (which is a band name in itself) and “Dog Dribble” absolutely rocks the tent. For some reason, long lost memories of the Sultans of Ping FC are recalled but GDS are way too good to be labelled a novelty act and this year they are breaking very big indeed. (JW)

Hill Collective – Pink Moon
We walk so far from the door of the Paganini Ballroom for Westside Cowboy, that we might as well head into Pink Moon. Upstairs the Hill Collective lay down deep spiritual jazz of the highest order with perfect double bass, sweet trumpet and scat vocals from Mina of Van Zon fame. The sound is exquisite. A beautiful way to let your slice of Yeastie Boys pizza slip down. (NM)

Luvcat – Chalk
We’re definitely in luv. A smooth and sugary show with a beautifully heartfelt performance at its very centre. And “Let’s Make A Movie” in the best love song told through the medium of filming a sex tape that we’ve heard in a long time. (JW)

Ceann Capaill – Folklore Rooms
Upstairs to a packed folklore for the Bella Union showcase and Caenn Capaill’s debut live show. Declan’s inventive drumming has lit up every band he has played with so It’s perhaps no surprise that this music is light and skittering in its found sounds, scratches and percussion under Declan’s clarinet. A beautiful textured mixture of post rock and Dummy era Portishead. (NM)

Sirens of Lesbos – Revenge
This absolute mashup of a performance puts a big smile on everyone’s face and if tropical breakbeat reggae wasn’t a thing, it is now. And when the band drop a drum and bass 80s synth-styled breakdown the place goes wild. What a show! (JW)

Deadlians – Rossi Bar
After some kick drum delays and stand up comedy about the planet Zoom, Deadlians over from Dublin, kick off a rawkus folky punk racket. Then a working kick drum pedal is delivered. Filthy fiddle and grinding guitar ushers in ‘Rid the land of Greedy Toads’, the title track of their most recent and most excellent album. As they get heavier we are drawn into to one of the most charismatic punk shows we have seen since Viagra Boys. Check this band out. Amazing. Then they pass us the microphone to sing the chorus. All together now: “Secret Garden!”. A perfect Great Escape moment. (NM)

Chameleon Lime Whoopiepie – Patterns Upstairs
Holy. Sh!t. What have we just witnessed!? Japanese retro techno-pop disco-rick?? Hailing from Japan this is CLW’s debut UK show and everyone in the room will be able to say “I was there”. Flanked by Whoopies 1 and 2 (we think they might be bionic cyber rabbits) lead singer Chi- punctuates every manic song with a glorious “Thank yoooou Briiiightonnnn”. It’s a completely and bonkersly brilliant performance and yes, we’re going to say it….”we were there”. (JW)

Hello Mary – Rossi Bar
Hello Mary flood the Rossi bar cellar with amps than you would have thought sensible. We feel for the poor roadie on those spiral stairs. The sound though. The sound. It’s a tiny room full of distorted belly and breeders alt rock. Perfect. They finish on the best song by a mile. A nasty little ripper over an off beat rhythm. It makes really good use of all 12 celestial speakers on the stage. (NM)

The Klittens – Horatios
Wandering down the deserted pier is a spooky experience, especially as we’ve taken a punt and are heading for Horations knowing almost nothing about Dutch band The Klittens. It’s garage-lite with a Santiago-esque guitar sound, singer Yaël Dekker is a fascinating proposition and we’ll definitely be catching them next time they’re in town. (JW)

TRAAMS – Rossi Bar
“Come forward..,five steps… no two…”, and then the best bands of yesterday are in front of our face again. And then dear reader; we climb upon the furniture and dance our sweaty socks of as as the whole rooms erupts in joyous rawkus energy. Love music: love TRAAMS. Simple. (NM)

Maicee – Waterbears
We’re down in the of a black tube and absolutely loving Parisian electronic artist Maicee as she dishes up all manner of Gallicaly sonic delights. There’s drum, there’s bass, there’s R, there’s B, there’s hip, there’s hop and there’s even some Charlie XCX. And we completely love it. (JW)

Preoccupations – Hope and Ruin
Preoccupations see in the witching hour to mark the release of ‘Ill at Ease’ their sixth album, at the Hope. A band we’ve never really paid proper attention to perhaps due to the original name of Vietcong. Shame. They are pushing every button this Protomartyr and TRAAMS loving writer has. A cracking set that is very well received by those present. (NM)

My Precious Bunny – Folklore Rooms
Choices oh my god the choices. Run queue run… in. My Precious Bunny make their debut performance upstairs at the folklore. It’s gentle after the ferocity of Preoccupations but the beauty reals you in. Lilly’s voice is never less than captivating. The seven piece band including sax and clarinet play a lush whimsical art pop. We look forward to hearing more, for these songs will crawl under our skin. The last song hits the best of Arcade Fire. An album next year you say? On Bella Union? Yes please indeed. (NM)

Baby’s Beserk – Daltons
Rum and Coca Cola Bop bop bop!!! Baby’s Beserk pulsate late into night with their post punk rhumba. Lisbet pours water over her head as sings. She then tests what part of the ceiling she can hang off. Given her fearless abandonment to performance and climbing whatever she can in those high heels it’s a wonder an ambulance isn’t required for each show. It brims with filthy synth under the sass of confidence man. Great late night stuff. (NM)

Great Escape – Day 2
Various Venues – May 15th

Words: Nick McAllister and Jason Warner
Photos: Nick McAllister, Stan O’Shea and Jason Warner