Today, Chris T Popper and I are heading south to Brighton and our first visit to the Great Escape festival.

There are a whole host of bands we’re looking forward to seeing, from the South American punk-pop of Las Kellies, the angst of Gambles, the spectral folk of Mirel Wagner and the junkyard blues of the Amazing Snakeheads, to the stoned slacker indie of Dune Rats and the growling garage of Theo Verney.

Perhaps best of all though is that element of surprise, the anticipation of stumbling across something new that makes an event like this such good fun. And there is plenty of scope for that here with over 400 bands playing sets. Happy days.

Until then, have a listen to some of the highlights that we have already picked out – these are all high on our must-see list…a twenty five song salute!

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