The Great Escape Announces its FIRST FIFTY Acts

The Great Escape Festival’s line-up announcement of its first fifty acts also, famously, doubles as its inaugural FIRST FIFTY events: a teeming season of gigs taking place across London, all to welcome in its soon-to-follow Brighton-based festival.

Today, The Great Escape has unveiled its FIRST FIFTY live launch to take place 17-19 November 2021. Seizing eight venues across East London, the three jam-packed days will provide coveted opportunities to catch The Great Escape’s stellar line-up performing live. FIRST FIFTY also encompasses an online showcase along with the festival’s very first launch show to take place in The Great Escape’s birthplace of Brighton.

Kicking off on Wednesday 17^th, Notion (yes, that’s us!) will take the reigns with a residency at Night Tales. Rap prodigy ENNY, powerhouse Tems, and upcoming artist Finn Askew will be in full force.

In Hackney Wick, DIY is hosting in Studio 9294 with Priya Ragu, Sipho, Lime Garden, and Daisy Brain onside. Meanwhile, in Hackney Social, GUAP will have KAM-BU, Deema, and Conor Albert serving tunes. NT’s and Off Licence Magazine will team up to celebrate the creme de la creme of grime with Miso Extra, BXKS, and Dreya Mac. Over at Oslo, Dork will have Ivor Novello-winning Mysie, Delilah Montagu, JADA, and Kwaku Asante mesmerizing listeners. Paper Dress Vintage will play host to So Young, who will be offering the freshest new music from KEG, Wu-Lu, and Hussy. At the Sebright Arms, TGE will see Unschooling, Powerplant, and Hamish Hawk rocking the stage. Clash at The Victoria will have Malady, The Clockworks, Gallus, and Dea Matron impressing on guitar.

On the bill for Thursday 18^th, The Great Escape will showcase the world’s greatest musical talent from screens, with a follow-up to TGE Online 2021. Los Angeles’ Wallice, Maple Glider from Melbourne, Toronto-hailing Crown Lands, Gustaf, Charmaine, CV Vision, Sycco, Lunar Vacation, TEKE::TEKE, Kills Birds, DORA, Gabriels, Adam Melchor, Enumclaw, EFÉ, Ur Monarch, Someone, Alice Pisano, Johanna Warren, and Conchúr White will be on the bill.

The final day of FIRST FIFTY will swoop over to seaside destination, Brighton, with Chalk the venue to head to. TikTok popstar Sam Ryder, Isabelle Brown, and HEIGHTS will perform.

The Great Escape Festival itself will become the stomping ground of over 450 artists to watch across 35+ walkable venues. The music industry’s TGE conference will also be held during the festival. TGE will return from 12-14 May 2022 in Brighton.

Tickets for each FIRST FIFTY gig are available to purchase here, while tickets for The Great Escape festival are on sale here.