The Great Escape - Friday Review

The second day of The Great Escape began at Komedia Studio for some European power-pop from BABA SHRIMPS. Having been around a few years now, they played a set encompassing tracks from their 2014 debut  ('I Don't Wanna Hide' being the highlight) as well as new stuff from their forthcoming album ('Road To Rome').

The most packed venue of the weekend was Patterns for promising Liverpool band PARIS YOUTH FOUNDATION.  Based on the vast numbers of people that squeezed into this small Brighton bar, they are destined for bigger stages very soon. They played an accomplished set, the highlight being debut single 'Losing Your Love', a powerful track with Foals-like guitars but laid back vocals.

The venues didn't get any quieter, as Latest Bar was packed to the rafters for Welsh rock trio THE SANDINISTAS.  Frontman Dan Hagerty was confident in both the band's music, and his interaction with the crowd which bordered on becoming a stand-up show at times. The set was packed with short, fast paced, catchy rock tunes, and despite being only a few months into their career there was a mini sing-along in the crowd for 'Ready To Blow' and 'Down On The Street Today'.

The East Wing of the Brighton Centre saw the return of CHILDHOOD who are back making new music for the first time since acclaimed 2014 debut album 'Lacuna'. With eight musicians on stage, the songs were often a complex mix of different styles, and at times the set seemed perhaps overly ambitious.  However the change in direction from the dreamy pop of Lacuna will no doubt be developed over the coming months and the forthcoming second album should be interesting to hear.

The VEVO-sponsored Wagner Hall stage was then the setting for IDER who appeared to attract a crowd that was 99% industry, which bodes well for the commercial future of the RnB/pop duo. However it didn't make for much of an atmosphere as the performance was greeted with almost total silence - both during and after each song. The vocals were impressive but the music itself was rather bland, and gave the impression they have found a formula which they believe will be commercially successful and have every intention of sticking to it.