It’s been three full years since annual new music extravaganza The Great Escape last took to Brighton’s multitude of seaside haunts. After an all-too-lengthy enforced break in play, we’re finally heading back to the south coast’s pebbled beaches – and we’re stoked to reveal the line-up for Dork’s official showcase.
Taking over Horatio’s on Thursday, 12th May – yep, the venue at the bottom of Brighton’s iconic pier – we’ll be bringing along Vlure, Swim School, Malady, Kills Birds and Unschooling for a night of new music and requests that everyone keeps well away from the edge.
Here’s a rundown of the acts playing Dork’s stage, via the medium of daft questions about the seaside. Because how else are you deciding who to see? Exactly.
Thursday 12th May, Horatio’s, Brighton Pier
What’s your usual order from the fish and chip shop?
Alice: Can’t go wrong with classic fish and chips, but also, love a smoked sausage with salt and sauce. For some reason, you can only get the sauce in Edinburgh, and I have no idea why. Everyone else is missing out.
If you had your own pier, what would you put on the end of it?
Alice: An open music venue – I don’t know what it would be called or how safe it would be, but playing a set on a pier during sunset in summer would be a vibe.
Have you ever had an altercation with a seagull?
Surprisingly I haven’t, and I would never want one; maybe The Great Escape will be my first time.
What’s the best ice lolly?
Percy: Twister 100%.
What’s the furthest you can swim?
Percy: Not very! As soon as my legs can’t touch the bottom, it’s dangerous territory.
Have you ever had an altercation with a seagull?
Percy: It was the hottest day of the year in 2020 and I was in Margate with a few friends. Lots of leftover chips knocking about. Flock of seagulls came to claim what they thought was theirs. Chaos ensued.
How big a fan of the seaside are you, out of 10?
Nina: 100/10, seaside forever. I hope when I die, I get reincarnated as a whale.
If you had your own pier, what would you put on the end of it?
Nina: A private club for ocean explorers and sea enthusiasts ONLY.
What’s the furthest you can swim?
Nina: Until the point when the water gets too deep to see the bottom. I refuse to go further.
Have you ever had an altercation with a seagull?
No, but I made friends with a seagull once on the day before the pandemic shut everything down. I was sitting by the beach, and it approached me, and I fed it chips for an hour.
Have you ever had an altercation with a seagull?
Vincent: Never. I have always had good experiences with seagulls. It’s like with dogs: just a matter of feeling.
What’s the furthest you can swim?
Vincent: I just got back into working out at the municipal swimming pool. I can do maybe three or four laps without being too tired. One day I would like to be able to cross the Channel.
Have you ever had an altercation with a seagull?
No personal altercations, but Conor did see a boy getting leathered by a seagull outside Glasgow’s Central Station. The seagull came for the chips but left wae beef.
What’s your arcade game of choice?
We’re well versed in Tetris from having to pack this wee van full of backline every night.
How big a fan of the seaside are you, out of 10?
We are all 20/10 fans of the seaside; we love chips and tinnies on the beach.
We’ll be bringing you coverage from The Great Escape across the weekend and beyond, so keep locked to Dork’s socials and readdork.com for more.
