Your guide to 'The Great Escape' 2025, brought to you by Blonde Vibrations

When you are craving sunshine and good vibrations, there's only one place to be this May. Brighton is about to have a total takeover, picture over 100 emerging artists bringing the city to life with their sound. Whether you want to dance in the breeze by the sea, or discover a brand new artist in a packed out, tucked-away venue, 'The Great Escape' provides exactly what the name suggests - a great escape!

It's time to put your 'Out Of Office' on, and find the very best in new music with your Blonde Vibrations approved guide to this years' line-up.

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Photo via NME

Gia Gray

The Great Escape 2025 marks Gia Gray's festival debut, and it’s a moment that is well deserved. Her sound is intimate and warm, effortlessly drawing listeners in with a dynamic energy that exudes confidence. With vocals that feel effortless and intoxicating, Gia’s music is irresistibly replayable with each track offering something new. Her latest single, 'Deep,' is a soul-soothing track that immediately draws you into an atmospheric world where it’s easy to lose yourself in the depth of her sound.

via Instagram: @catty.mp3

CATTY

CATTY is unapologetic and captivating, unafraid to lay her heart bare with an unfiltered and authentic honesty. Her approach to storytelling resonates deeply with listeners, creating a personal connection with each track. Jumping right into themes of being wronged by past relationships, heartache, and growing through life’s messiness, CATTY’s music is both fierce and emotionally charged. Her identity within the pop music scene is creative and continues to push boundaries. With the endorsement of none other than Stevie Nicks, CATTY is undoubtedly destined for the stars. Catch her now, while you still can!

Chloe Qisha

This is one diva you need to see. If you have not already recognised Chloe Qisha’s stardom, where have you been? Chloe exudes an effortlessly cool exterior across here whole discography, no matter how existential the interior and it feels so real. She doesn't follow trends, she creates them, as she carves out her own place on the pop scene. Chloe's self-titled EP, alongside latest single, 'Sex, Drugs & Existential Dread' are equal parts bold, charismatic, and magnetic. It's no wonder the internet is buzzing over Chloe as her presence gains bigger and bigger traction.

via girlpuppy.com

girlpuppy

We just want to say a huge thank you to The Great Escape heavens for this addition to the lineup. girlpuppy builds worlds around her music and it makes more an immersive, all encompassing listening experience. Her sophomore album, 'Sweetness', serves easily as one of the standout releases of 2025 so far and really is a must listen before this set. girlpuppy's sound feels like a drifting daydream, hazy and nostalgic laced with soft edge laying just beneath the surface. This is a versatile artist whose personality is spilled across every track, we are sure her set will transform you into an immediate fan. Catch you there!

Jo Hill

Jo Hill is an artist that we feel innately possesses that Blonde Vibrations feel. Her latest release, 'ZOOM OUT' is an anthem purpose built to remind you exactly who you are, and encourages you to take a step back, decompress, and lift the weight of life off your own shoulders. Her album, 'girlhood' expands upon similar themes, exploring universally felt experiences with such vulnerability and charm, while still crafting a sound that feels true to her. Jo narrates each track in a way that feels so personal, and it resonates with the listener effortlessly. This is one of the most unmissable sets across the entire festival.

via Maya Whittaker

Luvcat

If you're not familiar with the world of Luvcat yet, you're going to want to hop on and join us for the ride. This theatrical yet mysterious Liverpudlian singer and her discography is alluring and addictive. You may have heard her track 'He's My Man' online, paired with an iconic music video that truly encapsulates the aura around the artist. Luvcat is a one-of-a-kind gem in the current British music scene, mixing up a potion of romantic, gothic and rock-n-roll vibes to ensure that she shapes a unique space in a sometimes repetitive cycle of trendy music. Her live performances are spell-bounding and captivating, you will absolutely see us in this crowd, no doubt in awe at the marvelous Luvcat.

Kayla Grace

Kayla Grace offers a deep and powerful exploration into her identity, both past and present, with her latest EP release, ‘cats can surf’. She presents such strengths in her craft, with insightful lyricism and an effortless ability to draw in listener and reveal the contents of her heart with such vulnerability. Kayla addresses taboo topics of mental health with ease, opening up the conversation and representing a spectrum of human emotion within her work. She balances the light and dark moments, with an admirable ability to craft heartfelt, beautiful love tracks like ‘a leith ross song’, which we can only hope makes it onto the setlist. This feels like an important artist to see, even if you stop by for one song, we doubt you will be able to pull away from this experience.

Before the festival: find out more about 'cats can surf' here.

via Jelani Pomell

Nectar Woode

If anyone’s discography is suited to soundtrack a trip to the sunny seaside, it is certainly Nectar Woode’s.  Her voice offers a radiant escape from the stress and hustle of city life, and she creates a vivid, sun-drenched world that feels impossible not to fully imagine immersing yourself in. With the release of her latest EP, ‘Head Above Water’, Woode provides an optimistic, care-free approach to escaping from life’s pressures, reminding us to share love with the community around us to stop the waves from crashing in on us. This is an artist whose music has the power to change your outlook. You will leave this set feeling a little lighter and with a strength to face the world.

Before the festival: find out more about 'Head Above Water' here.

Mouth Culture

Well if it isn’t Leicester’s Finest! For anyone searching for the best emerging talent in the alternative/rock scene, here is a great place to star. Mouth Culture has already graced the Download Festival stage and joined You Me At Six on their European tour, so it's safe to say they are making a name for themselves quickly. They have an eclectic sound that they bring to their live performances with a fierce energy, which will make for a great festival set. Their next single, 'Ratbag' is set to release on April 11th after gaining hype on their socials, so it's a really exciting time to follow Mouth Culture on their journey.

via Instagram: @aka.rubii

RUBII

RUBII’s sound is a hypnotic fusion of genres that delivers high energy explorations, while maintaining an effortlessly laid back aura. She has an innate knack to create timeless tracks that never fail to feel fresh and youthful. RUBII has a proven track record of consistently releasing hit after hit, and her spot on the line-up is the perfect opportunity to let loose to her music, especially in the city she calls home. It would be rude not to have a dance!

Ruby Duff

If there’s one takeaway from this guide, let it be this: Do not miss Ruby Duff’s set! Her recent EP, ‘Where Do Odd Socks Go?’, has made us instant fans at Blonde Vibrations HQ. Duff is a versatile artist with a diverse catalogue of music, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Whether you are drawn to the bold, dramatic powerhouse tracks or the understated, emotive ballads, Ruby delivers it all. Now is the perfect time to see an artist clearly on a rapid rise in their emerging career. Could Ruby Duff be your new idol?

Before the festival: find out more about 'Where Do Odd Socks Go?' here.

SOFY

Fresh off a sold-out 'Another Tour in Paradise' and riding high on the release of her new EP, 'Another Day in Paradise', SOFY is on a fast track to indie legend status. This might be one of your last chances to catch her before she fully breaks into the mainstream. A must-see on any festival lineup, SOFY’s sound is made for sunshine, and she’s the perfect fit for Brighton’s coastal vibes.

Before the festival: catch up on SOFY's Tuning In episode here.

Still Pigeon

You are guaranteed a great time at a Still Pigeon set, and we are personally ecstatic to finally catch these guys live. It has been a real joy watching this band reach new audiences and drop vibrant, exciting tunes over the last couple of years. With their high energy and modern take on that classic indie sound, they are sure to delight fans old and new. The connection between the band members only enhances the harmony and authenticity of their sound, creating an atmosphere where they are clearly enjoying every moment on stage together. That infectious energy, paired with a collection of tracks that transport you into your own main character movie moment, makes this show one you definitely do not want to miss.

Lather on the SPF, book your train ticket and we will see you there!