Team LOUD WOMEN was invited to enjoy a multitude of artists at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton and it was empowering to see so many women and non-binary artists on stage. It’s not often that we get to say that there were too many acts for us to cover all the performers but we definitely tried our best to get through as many as we could. This festival is a great opportunity for artists to show off their skills as there are always plenty of music biz types wondering around to find the next big talent, and all of the artists we got to see definitely deserve to be recognised and supported.
Wednesday – First day of the festival
First set of the night for us was Sword II at Green Door Store, an American band that blends shoegaze vocals with rock and grunge sounds. It was a real opener to what the night was going to bring, rooms filled with people, open to discovering new bands even if it means listening to them from the other room. The aim for Sword II is to not run away from the very real issues going on in the world right now by making fairy tale music but facing it head on. With songs like “Passionate Nun” which speaks out about changes in trans bathroom laws, the band is doing everything they can to use their voices as a statement and a reminder that everyone needs to get involved for change to happen.
We were then off to The Prince Albert to see an electrifying punk band Bureau De Change, luckily just a 2 minute walk because the room was packed 15 minutes before the set started. Whilst sound checking and waiting to start their set Bureau De Change lead vocalist Flora was heard saying “this is so f** crazy” as the room continued filling till there was no way to enter. They might not have gotten the moshpit they were looking to see but the audience was definitely moving and grooving. Especially as Flora shouted “suck my dick” straight at the audience. Which is part of their EP, Are You flirting With Me? Written to empower women to not give up and stand up high because they are not alone in their experiences of the world. And even in a filled room the crowd managed to create an opening for Flora to bring her wild energy in the crowd.
Next up at The Prince Albert was Tummyache who play their first gig as a married a couple. This alternative rock band creates cyclical music that is raw and personal whilst adding a political note. And maybe that’s why the audience was in absolute awe of their music. They lean heavily into atmosphere, tension, and gradual build-ups instead of the traditional punk rock theatrics. If you give in to the music, Soren Bryce’s ability to shift vocals from soft shoegaze tones to shouted punk grunge take you on an emotional rollercoaster. And I definitely do not mean that in a bad way. Having not been able to get back in to the filled room I spent half of the set listening from the door and the experience let me disappear and connect even in a overly crowded environment that usually causes unease.
With 3 amazing bands already enjoyed we ventured down to the beach but the crowds had beat us there and most venues were at full capacity. So what did we do? We followed the sound of headbanging guitar riffs to the one venue that still had some room. And Volks did not disappoint with Ugly Ozo drawing us through the door. This sister duo covers deeply vulnerable topics drawn from personal experiences of being a woman, a sister, and growing up at Isle of Wight. Having started by writing music with friends and for friends Jessica Baker has created a space in which you can both deeply connect to your inner self whilst also disappearing in the riffs of the music and let go off all your worries.
To end the night we headed back to the Green Door Store to listen to the soft and calming voice of Arima Ederra. The crowds had begun to disappear making the performance feel intimate and after more than 4h of high energy punk rock this was definitely what was needed. Ederra breaks musical barriers with a fusion of soul, R&B and notes of pop. And even with the mishap of backing tracks choosing to not work as quickly as wanted she absolutely owned the stage. With her kind presence the room felt like a hug, what a wonderful way to end the night!
