The Great Escape announces ‘First Fifty’ 2027 launch shows with Bathing Suits and more

The Great Escape has announced the ‘First Fifty’ – a series of launch shows for the 2027 edition that will see performances from Bathing Suits, Xanadu, Chest., Jordan Joy and more. READ MORE: NME’s top 10 shows from The Great Escape 2026 The new run of launch shows come ahead of the hit UK festival set to return to Brighton next May – running between May 12 and 15. It will play host to over 450 up-and-coming artists and hotly tipped talent across over 35 walkable venues, alongside the music industry-led TGE conference. Now, to celebrate the upcoming edition of the festival, organisers have announced a run of ‘First Fifty’ shows, which will see seven venues in East London host a series of intimate gigs from what it describes as “some of the most exciting emerging music talent from the UK and beyond”. Set to be a one night celebration of new sounds, the venues are all spread around Hackney, and 20 artists are already lined-up to perform – spanning from across indie and alternative genres, to punk, pop and electronic. Taking place on Thursday November 12, Oslo will join forces with Ticketmaster New Music to host performances from Belfast indie fusion band Esmeralda Road, London five-p...