The Great Escape Announces First Fifty Shows Ahead Of 2027 Festival
Spanish Horses, Esmeralda Road, Compost Compost Compost and Bathing Suits are among the artists playing the festival’s East London launch on 12 November.
The Great Escape has revealed its first acts for 2027, with a series of First Fifty shows taking place across seven East London venues on Thursday 12 November 2026. The artists on the bill will also appear at the Brighton festival, which returns from 12–15 May next year. Tickets for the November gigs are on sale now, starting at £7.50 per show.
This year’s launch includes a So Young night at The Shacklewell Arms featuring State of Grace, Spanish Horses and Angelface, while DIY Neu Nights brings Compost Compost Compost, Melbourne trip-hop trio Dumbhead and Die Twice to Moth Club. Over at Sebright Arms, Dork will host Leeds electronic noise-pop band Bathing Suits alongside Parisian post-punk five-piece chest. and London songwriter Shrink. Ticketmaster New Music’s Oslo bill brings together Belfast’s Esmeralda Road, Xanadu, Pack of Animals and Jordan Joy.
Elsewhere, Half Star, Welsh songwriter Tesni and Cardiff band Casual Smart will play Clash’s show at Folklore. BBC Introducing takes over Paper Dress Vintage with Walthamstow rapper simon a., rapper and producer J Casa, and Nigerian singer-songwriter Chiderah, with further names still to come. Completing the seven shows, Ones to Watch will host Aubory Bugg, Gianna and Abbie Gordon at The Victoria.
The November gigs offer an early look at next year’s Brighton programme, which will feature more than 450 artists across over 35 venues, alongside The Great Escape’s music industry conference. Tickets for both First Fifty and The Great Escape 2027 are available now.
First Fifty line-up by venue
Oslo: Esmeralda Road, Xanadu, Pack of Animals, Jordan Joy
Moth Club: Compost Compost Compost, Dumbhead, Die Twice
The Shacklewell Arms: State of Grace, Spanish Horses, Angelface
Sebright Arms: Bathing Suits, chest., Shrink
Folklore: Half Star, Tesni, Casual Smart
Paper Dress Vintage: simon a., J Casa, Chiderah, with more to be announced
The Victoria: Aubory Bugg, Gianna, Abbie Gordon
