Words by Willow Shields

Since the boom of seaside tourism under the reign of Queen Victoria, when the weather starts to sneak above fifteen degrees people start to flock to The Sea. It is now May and Brits are still recoiling from the sudden start of summer, escaping their offices, cramming onto trains and making their way down to Brighton. On the 14th begins Brighton’s most iconic music festival: The Great Escape. The setting of the best new and upcoming music, spread across most of the city’s music venues, some fitting 50 others sitting 5000. It promises to be one of the best years yet and so we thought we’d put together a list of who we’re most excited to see when we cram ourselves into the sweatiest rooms possible for four days straight.

CURRLS

WEDNESDAY | PAGANINI BALLROOM | 7:15PM

Currls are a Brighton-based powerhouse, sonically blending insane riffs with the countenance of future pop stars. Front woman Holly Deana spoke to us for Groupie Vol.III and described their sonic vibe as “Empowering, Garage-y and Fun. As boring as those three words are, I think that would encapsulate basically what it is. Because we just want to make people think that they can do anything they put their mind to, and have fun at the same time!” See them for yourself on BBC Introducing’s stage at Paganini Ballroom at 7:15pm on Wednesday.

TRAMPOLENE

WEDNESDAY | TGE BEACH STAGE - THE DEEP END | 7:30PM

Trampolene are Swansea’s sonic marmite. Even within the Groupie TGE team there is equal and opposite love and hate, co-existing magically and in perfect harmony. This writer is reminded of being enthusiastically regaled with the story of a certain Groupie contributor being picked out of the crowd at a Trampolene show and being serenaded by the ever charming - in a Noel Fielding adjacent way - frontman Jack Jones. We are looking forward to a repeat this time round. Find them at The Deep End on Wednesday by following poetry on the wind.

LONNIE GUNN

WEDNESDAY | PAGANINI BALLROOM | 10:15PM

Headlining BBC Introducing’s stage on Wednesday is Lonnie Gunn. Imagine a sort of fairy-slash-harpie crossover possessing the human form then pair that with gory and gut wrenching symbolism, you've got Lonnie Gunn. Like an animal head in a haunted hunting shack covered in lace and bows. Absolute Perfection. There you go, you are convinced. I will see you at 10:30pm on Wednesday in that definitely haunted ballroom and we will dance together.

SUNDAY 1994

THURSDAY | TGE BEACH - THE DEEP END | 7:15PM

Groupie Recommends: starting your Thursday evening with bloodthirsty depression fuel! Sunday 1994 are everyone’s new favourite band. The transatlantic trio will transport you from olde American church pew to a traditional English pub with a beer in hand in a single set. And you’ll love every second. Having praise from anyone who comes across them, punter and journalist alike, they are set to be a gigantic hit worldwide within the year. Catch them early for bragging rights; Thursday at TGE Beach Stage, The Deep End at 7:15pm and/or Friday, Komedia Basement at 2:30pm.

LUVCAT

THURSDAY | CHALK | 7:15PM

Luvcat has proved she is a pop star a million times over already. The second she steps on stage she’s able to enthral and bowl over any audience. Having sold out all UK dates and now USA tours, she fills the sad-haunting-girl shaped hole in everyone’s hearts they didn't know they had. She is glitz, she is glamour, she has a wicked sense of something about her and anyone who’s experienced a Luvcat show is yearning for the day they can see her again. If you dare, you can start your yearning journey on Thursday at Chalk where she’ll take to the stage at 7:15pm and/or Komedia Basement on Friday at 9:30pm.

WESTSIDE COWBOY

THURSDAY | PAGANINI BALLROOM | 7:15PM

Westside Cowboy are a mystical quartet making timeless rock music that strokes your hair and tells you “it’ll all be okay.” Their sonic form is reminiscent of greats of the 60’s, 90’s and 2020’s with influences picked perfectly ripe, like an apple tree. Westside Cowboy are made of so much more than the sum of their parts, they are dynamic and just have something about them. Find me and tell me what you think it is on Thursday, 7:15pm, Paganini Ballroom. Or on Wednesday at Hope and Ruin, 9:15pm. Or on Saturday TGE beach, The Deep End at 5:15PM. Seriously, I need to know what their secret is, so I can have it and keep it forever like Sauron’s ring.

PICTURE PARLOUR

THURSDAY | TGE BEACH - SOUNDWAVES | 10:15PM

Proper Rock’n’Roll. Something red and lacy that gets you up and dancing. You’ll find something worth finding in Picture Parlour’s sonic seduction. Formed in Manchester, now based in London and winning hearts across the country, the duo and band have shining stars and expansive arena’s in their near future. Their razor sharp discography leaves you with guitar riffs and choruses rattling around the skull for weeks, they have mastered leaving a sticky sweet taste in an audience’s mouth. Catch their one and only set on Thursday at TGE Beach’s Soundwaves at 10:15PM or regret it forevermore.

UGLY

FRIDAY | PLAYERS | 6:15PM

Made of harmonies and fairydust, Ugly are fresh off playing their biggest show ever at Village Underground. Hailing originally from Cambridge, Ugly have been knocking around London venues for over half a decade curating a committed cult following. They bring a sense of am-I-on-the-set-of-the-wickerman to any stage they decree to play upon. They told Alicia Tomkinson for Groupie Vol.IV “I think we do convey some parts of our personality in the music and especially in the recording process when it’s slightly more experimental and we’re throwing in ad-libs left right and centre. All these things help us develop more, vocal-wise.” “I would say our humour comes through more than anything, a lot of banter’s going on behind the scenes. We like to think we’re hilarious by doing loads of weird things.” They will be playing in Players at 6:15 on Friday, and then at 12:15pm on Saturday at Horatios.

PEM

FRIDAY | UNITARIAN CHURCH | 7:30PM

Bristol based fallen angel Pem will grace the stage of Unitarian Church on Friday and this writer cannot think of a better landscape to experience the vulnerable majesty of Pem’s soundscapes. Soaked in deep blue water from an enchanted wishing well, Pem’s discography explores grief, gut health and other tear jerking subjects. You will find yourself floating in a cloud of adoration. You can also find Pem at Dust at 11:15pm on Thursday, if you can't make it to church.

NIA SMITH

FRIDAY | THE ARCH | 8:45PM

Brixton’s Nia Smith brings honey smooth vocals to The Arch on Friday evening, guaranteed full body chills with a little bit of moving and grooving throughout. Laced with silky baselines and reggae influenced drums, Nia Smith’s vocal is at the forefront of her art. Raised on “all the big voices” “Michael Jackson, Nina Simone, Tina Turner, James Brown,” (Rolling Stone, 2024), her childhood influences are clear in Nia Smith’s discography, her emotive lyricism promises that her future stardom is here already. Catch her before Wembley so when she plays it you can brag that you saw her in a tiny venue in Brighton.

GETDOWN SERVICES

FRIDAY | REVENGE | 9:40PM

Categorically the most fun you'll have for the whole week is guaranteed if you muscle your way into Getdown Services at Revenge at 9:40 on Friday night. The duo are chaotic, frenzied and super duper fun. With hits under their belt such as ‘Crumbs’, ‘Crisps’ and ‘Cream of The Crop’ they never take themselves too seriously, but they know how to make a banger of a tune. This writer recalls a fleeting interaction with one of the Getdown Servicemen on a street in Bristol where I promised them an interview. I for one am hoping that comes to fruition on the beachfront of Brighton in the next few days. Seriously, go to Revenge, you won’t regret it. Unless you do and therefore neither Groupie or I will be held legally or financially responsible. But I will make you a t-shirt that has ‘BORING’ written across it in big red letters. You’re welcome.

ENGLISH TEACHER

FRIDAY | TGE BEACH - THE DEEP END | 10:15PM

Friday’s headliners are Leeds’ English Teacher, longtime friends of the mag and 2024 Mercury Prize Winners for their debut album ‘This Could Be Texas.’ which was a home run big hitter with fans and critics. Before that, they snuck me and Rosie Carne into Green Door Store where I asked them various silly questions and some very serious ones for Groupie Vol. III. “What was the moment that you knew you wanted to do music?” Doug responded by accusatively “Are these questions slowly getting more deep?” To which I, for absolutely no reason, shouted “I tricked you! Lulled you into a false sense of security!” and to you, reader, the general public and the band I apologise for that. I must stop drinking before interviews. After that Lily asked for me to specify the question, and Lewis answered, “I don’t know if I had a moment but I know what sort of age. I decided pretty last minute to do music at uni, I didn’t really know what I was going to do and it made me realise.” To which Lily agreed. Catch them at TGE Beach’s The Deep End at 10:15 on Friday.

JAMES MARRIOTT

FRIDAY | KOMEDIA BASEMENT | 11:30PM

James Marriott’s tagline is that he’s a Youtuber-Turned-Musician, you expect it to be just…fine, but it's really not. Mostly, James Marriott’s universe is fun, bouncy and covered in glitter, and we ignore that depression corner over there. What else to say about James Marriott other than I am completely enamoured with him and his music, Groupie (seriously) recommends: James Marriott’s newest single ‘Toothache’ and it’s counterpart ‘I Don’t Want To Live Like This Anymore.’ I once asked him if he liked planes and he said “sure.” That was after I asked him if he liked music and he said “no, I hate it,” I promise I’m good at this, sometimes. I was very, very nervous. Come down to Komedia Basement at 11:30pm on Friday to see me with heart eyes and sweaty palms.

WELLY

FRIDAY | HORATIOS | 11:15PM

Our new favourites Welly will headline the DIY Stage at Horatios on 11:15pm on Friday and the rumour mill is hot with theories that they’ll be making balloon animals and drawing caricatures while they bounce around to their unique take on british pop. If you haven't heard, they've ditched their school uniforms and are proudly displaying their GSCE score sheets on their amplifiers, so make sure you go along to berate them about failing french. They also play Paganini Ballroom on Thursday at 10:15pm, and The Jetty on TGE Beach at 4:30pm on Friday.

LEMONSUCKR

SATURDAY | THREE WISE CATS | 3PM

Brighton’s new bffs Lemonsuckr (FKA Rugrat) are beige suit clad rockers about to break into the mainstream. Their searing riffs and catchy choruses are just one element of what Lemonsuckr your new favourite band. They’re a quartet of very secretive musicians, alls very hush hush at the moment, no one knows the plans but them. To find out the rest you have to Three Wise Cats on Saturday at 3pm, We’ll be calling the register at 2:50. We have loose plans to trek around Brighton to find the best ice cream, we’re very excited.

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