The Great Escape runs across Brighton from Wednesday May 13th to Saturday May 16th, with over 450 artists performing across 35+ venues.
Music From Ireland, who promote Irish music artists at key international showcase events are supporting over 20 Irish acts at this year’s festival – one of the stronger Irish contingents the festival has seen. Here’s who’s on their roster this year for The Great Escape.
Annie-Dog
Dublin newcomer Annie-Dog has built significant early buzz via revered indie label Dance To The Radio – home of Far Caspian, Low Hummer and Youth Sector. Her self-produced shapeshifting pop takes in Grimes and PinkPantheress, and she’s already picked up early support from BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, Radio X and RTÉ 2FM, plus coverage in Dork, DIY, So Young and The Line of Best Fit. Taking her name from a Smashing Pumpkins deep cut – and receiving praise from the band themselves on social media. Thursday Prince Albert 2pm, Thursday Dust 9:15pm.
BABYRAT
Bursting out of Cork City with what they describe as ‘bitch-pop’ – a sound landing somewhere between The Strokes and Olivia Rodrigo, with razor-sharp riffs and anthemic choruses. Thursday Prince Albert 3pm, Friday Soundwaves 7:15pm.
Black Nylon
Warped, shimmering sounds with a heavy rhythm section and lyrics that pose questions about the listener’s relationship with the universe – a band formed from the debris of initial projects with something emotionally polarising at their core. Thursday Soundwaves 1pm.
Bleech 9:3
Dublin four-piece who became a word-of-mouth wonder in a matter of months, opening for Shame and building an early press and radio following before a three-night residency at London’s Blue Basement. Formed around songwriters Barry Quinlan and Sam Duffy, with a backstory rooted in parallel teenage chaos. Confirmed for Electric Picnic in August. Thursday Komedia Basement 11:15pm, Friday The Deep End 7:15pm.
Brooki
Dublin four-piece formed in 2023 blending raw emotion with atmospheric guitar lines and the kind of cinematic quality that suggests a band who have been listening to a lot of the right things. Strong word-of-mouth reputation building on the live circuit but deliberately no releases as yet. Thursday Prince Albert 1pm, Thursday The Deep End 4pm.
BUKKY
Nigerian producer, songwriter and guitarist raised in Ireland, making music shaped by Frank Ocean, The Strokes and Outkast. Slow-building, deliberate and deeply felt – a genuinely distinctive voice. Has appeared in Little Simz’ ‘Young’ video and built a strong London grassroots following at venues including Camden Assembly and The Shacklewell Arms. Thursday Prince Albert 12pm, Thursday One Church 8:15pm.
Dave Lofts
Raw, anthemic songwriter storytelling with nearly 8 million global streams and 305,000 monthly Spotify listeners. Comparisons drawn to Sam Fender and Dermot Kennedy. A growing audience extending well beyond his live following. Thursday The Jetty 3:30pm
Dea Matrona
Belfast duo who self-released a debut album that broke into the Top 10 indie charts and have built a fanbase through relentless touring. Fresh off supporting The Beaches in the UK and with a new album Hate That I Care landing June 5th. Friday Komedia Basement 7:15pm.
Gag Reflex
Irish-German grunge band drawing from gothic literature – Diane Seuss, Sarah Kane – with a sickeningly sweet poetry that gets gutted by coarse outbursts. Chaos and catharsis. Friday Dust 2:30pm.
Girl In The Year Above
New to me. Cornish/Irish band led by singer-songwriter Jennifer Ball are newly arrived on the scene and very intriguing. ‘Ode to The Glory Days’ just released and debut single ”Mama, My Heart Is Achin’ arrived in March – both songs showcasing a swoonsome indie pop songwriting vibe in the style of The Last Dinner Party but more folkie. Feature in the Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man soundtrack too. They support the Kooks at the big beach show on May 13th.
Dublin and Belfast shows in June.
Jamie McIntyre
Galway songwriter whose summer single ‘Over Galway Town’ went viral with over 2.5 million Spotify streams. Hand-picked by Gavin James to support him in Paris on his European tour, he’s also worked with Imelda May and played Electric Picnic. His EP Chapter 23 has surpassed 750,000 streams. Friday Queens Hotel 8:15pm.
Jonique
Solo project of the Irish songwriter formerly known as the frontperson of alt-rock two-piece Fräulein. Her new direction is more intimate, cinematic and expansive – songs exploring identity, memory and belonging, reflecting on growing up mixed-race in a small town in the North of Ireland. Personal and widely resonant in equal measure.
Kingfishr
The Limerick indie-folk trio headline a Spotlight Show at Brighton Dome Concert Hall on Thursday night – a separately ticketed show outside the main festival wristband and the biggest Irish slot of the weekend. Eddie Keogh, Eoin Fitzgibbon and Eoghan McGrath’s breakout track ‘Killeagh’ spent 18 weeks in the Irish Top 10 and went four times platinum. For me? Not for me. Thursday Brighton Dome Concert Hall 9:30pm.
Madra Salach
One of the Irish bands of the moment. The north Dublin alternative-folk six-piece’s debut EP It’s a Hell of an Age reached number 3 on the Irish Albums Chart in January, a sold-out UK headline tour followed in March, and they’ve recorded a BBC 6 Music Maida Vale Session and been confirmed for Primavera, Roskilde and Electric Picnic. We’ve been covering them since their first single in September 2025. Two slots this week. Thursday Chalk 8:15pm, Friday The Deep End 9:15pm.
Proderics
Brooding indie rock project of a songwriter/producer whose viral hit ‘strangers’ featuring melodybloom has built a growing following. Friday Concorde 2 7:15pm.
Really Good Time
Dublin power trio blending desert rock, post-punk and 2000s electro energy. Steve Lamacq’s roundtable drew comparisons to early Queens of the Stone Age crossed with The Walkmen. They’ve played everything from semi-legal shows on sheep farms to 7,000-capacity Irish festival stages – a band whose live reputation precedes them. Thursday Patterns Downstairs 7:30pm.
Reggie
Dublin artist Reggie has been building quietly but the collaborations speak to where the industry’s attention is landing – recent work with Fred Again and Belters Only puts him in serious company. A name that’s been circulating in the right circles and The Great Escape slot feels like the moment he steps into a wider conversation. Friday Tempest 3:30pm.
Sell Everything
Dublin DIY project rooted in late-night sessions and worn-out tape decks, blending swirling textures with off-kilter grooves. Intimate and expansive. Friday Players 7:15pm, Saturday Patterns Downstairs 7:15pm.
SexyTadhg
Trad-punk queer songwriter whose recent single ‘The Slag of Carlow Town’ and EP announcement have been picking up serious traction – Amy Lamé on BBC 6 Music has been an early champion, and the Sluttrad tour sold out quickly. A genuinely distinctive and funny live proposition who fits The Great Escape’s appetite for the unexpected. Thursday Revenge 9pm.
Sugaboo
Dublin rapper from Kimmage building significant underground momentum – 18k Spotify monthly listeners, a sold-out Whelan’s headline show and recent US touring. Rooted in the Dublin DIY underground with no industry fluff. Friday Patterns Downstairs 7:30pm.
THEATRE
Limerick five-piece who have spent a year writing and building their live set largely in the shadows while the spotlight has been on Irish music broadly. Ethereal rock blending folk and shoegaze, with gorgeous melodies and the stunning vocals of frontperson Maeve. The kind of band who become the discovery of someone’s festival weekend. Thursday Prince Albert 4pm, Thursday Komedia Basement 10:15pm.
Full schedule at musicfromireland.org/the-great-escape-2026 including all 20+ acts and specific set times.
There’s also a networking brunch at Kooks on Thursday May 14th from 10:30am to 11:45am – RSVP via the FMC link if you’re industry and attending.
Festival wristbands at greatescapefestival.com.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
