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.

View this post on Instagram 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-piece Xanadu, psychedelic rock band Pack of Animals, and Irish singer songwriter Jordan Joy.

At the Moth Club that same night, DIY Neu Nights will present performances from electro acoustic trio Compost Compost Compost, Melbourne trip hop trio Dumbhead, and alt rockers Die Twice, and at the Shacklewell Arms, So Young will host sets from Irish indie star State of Grace, indie rockers Spanish Horses, and Scottish folk dream pop band Angelface.

Other performances include Dork presenting electronic noise band Bathing Suits, NME 100 stars chest. , and London singer songwriter Shrink at the Sebright Arms, and Clash presenting alt rock trio Half Star, Welsh singer Tesni, and Cardiff five piece Casual Smart at Folklore.

At Paper Dress Vintage, BBC Introducing will organise sets from Walthamstow rapper simon a., rapper J Casa, and Nigerian singer songwriter Chiderah, and meanwhile, Ones to Watch presents Nashville singer songwriter Aubory Bugg, alt pop singer songwriter Gianna, and Scottish singer songwriter Abbie Gordon at The Victoria.

Tickets for each ‘First Fifty’ show start from just £7.50 and are available now.

Visit here for tickets and more information.