The Great Escape opens in Brighton with Angine de Poitrine and Ribbon Skirt

The Great Escape 2026 begins on 13 May in Brighton, and the opening-night story is especially indie-relevant because Québec duo Angine de Poitrine step in to headline the Opening Beach Party at The Deep End, with Montreal post-punk band Ribbon Skirt supporting.

The slot had originally been connected to The Kooks, but after that plan changed due to injury, the festival turned the opening into something more discovery-focused. That feels appropriate for The Great Escape, which has long positioned itself as a springboard for new and emerging artists. Angine de Poitrine bring an idiosyncratic microtonal jam-rock energy, while Ribbon Skirt add a sharper post-punk edge.

Together, they make the beach party feel less like a safe heritage moment and more like a statement about where new music can go next. With hundreds of artists across Brighton during the festival, 13 May marks the start of one of Europe’s most important discovery weeks for indie, alternative, electronic, hip-hop and experimental music. Source: https://www.recordoftheday.com/news-and-press/angine-de-poitrineannouncedtoheadline-theopening-beach-partyat-the-great-escape-2026 ; Festival: https://greatescapefestival.com