U.K.’s Great Escape Fest

U.K.’S GREAT ESCAPE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FIRST WAVE OF ARTISTS

Broken Social Scene

The Great Escape, Europe’s acclaimed music festival and industry conference has announced the first wave of acts for its landmark fifth annual Brighton, U.K. outing. Taking over 30+ venues throughout the city and hosting over 350 bands playing across three days, the event will once again showcase rising stars, as well as give fans the opportunity to see some of the most loved bands around in pleasingly intimate surroundings.

Opening the 2010 festival season in style and running from May 13-15, this year’s Great Escape has confirmed Manchester’s Delphic will be bringing their much lauded indie-rave hybrid to southern shores. Tipped as ones to watch by all in 2010, and already garnering almost universally high praise for the debut album Acolyte, this may be the last chance you get to see the band before they make the leap to filling the stadiums that their anthemic warehouse-pop hints at.

Also confirmed for this year’s event are drum ‘n’ bass overlords Chase and Status. Having built a reputation as one of the most blisteringly on-point live acts in dance music, it’s guaranteed to be nothing short of breathtaking to witness them dropping the heavy bass pressure.

Canadian über-group Broken Social Scene, who are currently putting the finishing touches to their fourth album, will be crossing the Atlantic to join the action with their incredibly engaging baroque-pop. The festival will also be set alight by quirky new wave bliss from the sublime Marina and The Diamonds, hooky electronica from the BBC‘s top tip for 2010 and BRITS Critics Choice winner Ellie Goulding, cutting edge Basque folk funk from Crystal Fighters, intergalactic rockabilly-esque folk from Sheffield duo Slow Club, experimental synth sounds from Philadelphia’s Cold Cave, Brighton’s very own Esben & The Witch, lush and icy electro-pop from Hurts, garage rocking duo Japandroids, psychedelic surf rock from Real Estate, swampy ragged blues from Timber Timbre, indie rock with a side of calisthenics from Darwin Deez, hazy bedroom pop from Best Coast, punky power-popsters The Cheek, primal soundscapes from Wild Palms and psych action from Kiwi band Ruby Suns.

Early bird tickets, that not only get you in to see all the bands but will also get you access to outdoor gigs, afternoon shows, club nights, after parties and much more, are on sale now for a mere 45 Euro here.