The best emerging artists we saw at The Great Escape

The Great Escape is an essential showcase for some of the best new bands from not only the UK, but the whole world. Last week, Skiddle spent time in Brighton hopping between sets of some exciting new names. From folk to post-punk and pop, here were our findings, and our picks for some of the most exciting new artists at the festival. 

Search Results

We kicked off our Thursday at The Great Escape with a set from Irish band Search Results at the Prince Albert. It set the tone for the rest of the festival, as they charmed the room with a high-energy set. Playing songs featured on their new album Go Mutant, which will be released on May 23rd, their songs are built on guitar melodies which are constantly twisting and turning, a thrill from start to finish.

Folk Bitch Trio

The allure of Folk Bitch Trio is evident from the start of their set. With harmonies capable of stopping you in your tracks, Komedia's Basement was in a state of quiet reverie throughout. With tracks such as 'The Actor' and 'God's A Different Sword', the Australian's have marked themselves as delicate, yet devastating lyricists. They recently announced that their debut album Now Would Be A Good Time will be released on July 25th, and it will surely be one of 2025's most memorable.

Westside Cowboy

We managed to catch Westside Cowboy not once, but twice at The Great Escape. They captured hearts and minds during their Thursday night slot as Charles Street Tap, where it looked incredibly fun to be a member of the band. With grins from ear to ear and the odd swig of a shared Buckfast bottle, they jumped into songs which saw them switch vocal responsibilities and boasted belting harmonies from a band perfectly in sync. They are a must-see live act in 2025.

Pem

Waves lap over each other in the background of Pem's live show, which isn't the only time nature overlaps with her performance. Her music takes you to some place quiet and peaceful. Switching between keyboard, guitar and a grand old piano when we see her, the room is quiet and within her grasp for songs such as 'Awe'. Imagine being in the most peaceful place you know, that's where her delicate folk arrangements will take you, there's sadness here but beauty too.

Chloe Slater

If you happened to be brought up on a diet of 00's and 2010's indie, the Chloe Slater is for you. Boasting indie rock riffs that get pulses racing, she marries this energy with poetic lyrics about some of society's greatest woes. Her music also crosses over into pop at times too, and her live shows have a palpable buzz to them, which Slater certainly brought to Brighton.

To keep up with the hottest gigs in the UK, head to our gigs page. If you fancy getting yourself to a festival, head to our Festival Finder.

Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.