Four Aussies confirmed to showcase at The Great Escape
Four Australian acts were among the first 50 international acts invited toshowcase at The Great Escape conference in England.
Held in Brighton between May 17 and 19, the event bills itself as “the festivalfor new music”.
It enjoys that sort of reputation as music execs from labels, publishers,booking agents, management and sync overseers come to check out who’s making thelatest buzz.
Altogether, 400 acts will perform in the seaside city.
The first four Australian acts have already started to create a buzz abroad.
STELLA DONNELLY (Pictured)
After her impressive showcase at BIGSOUND in Brisbane in September, the WAsinger-songwriter was regarded by overseas execs as having a very strong chanceto crack it abroad.
Donnelly’s already got international booking representation (Alex Bruford of ATCLive) and management (Philip Stevens) and her current tour through UK and Europeis drawing good numbers.
One of the shows in London sold out weeks ahead.
2018 is the year where the act and her business partners will concentrate ontrying to break the international market.
CITY CALM DOWN
The Melbourne band with a captivating sound (Portishead, LCD Soundsystem andRadiohead are three bands they cite in interviews) who are signed to I OH YOUare this week doing dates in London, Manchester, Glasgow and Paris.
They were picked by The Great Escape to play a mini-version this month calledThe First 50.
They’ve just dropped another track from their forthcoming second record called’In This Modern Land.’
The long-awaited record (which earlier single ‘Blood’ was a stronger indicatorof) is virtually finished.
It’s delayed by the fact they all have day jobs for four days of the week andfocus on songwriting mainly on the weekends.
MANSIONAIR
Their vibe started immediately after they posted the first song they wrotetogether on SoundCloud, and it took off.
Mansionair followed up with irresistible singles as ‘Easter’ and ‘Astronaut(Something About Your Love)’ through Liberation.
They’re currently on a tour through Europe and the UK.
Next year they head to America, where they’re signed to Glassnote, and alreadyconfirmed for their first US festival at The Hangout in May.
PROMISELAND
Australian-born Johann Rashid arrived in New York City in 2014 and immediatelydecided to stay.
His punk & beats show drew acclaim and a rabid following for their controlledchaos, and this year’s ‘Take Down The House’ is easily one of 2017’s best tracks.
Julian Casablancas signed him to his Cult Records label, and dubbed him “TheFuture Prince of Anarchy”.
Promiseland just finished a South American tour with Julian Casablancas & TheVoidz, dropped new track ‘My Shadow’ and is working on his debut album.
He says, “What doesn’t kill you leaves a wound. Pain and pleasure are one maddance played out again and again.
“Run with your monsters, not from them.”
Most of the other acts in the first announce were from the UK.
They included Dream State, Pale Waves, Ebenezer, Moncrieff, Dan Stock, LewisCapaldi, Denzel Himself, Girlhood, Grace Carter, Feet, Hak Baker, Hunter & TheBear and Jerry Williams.
Also represented were France (M.I.L.K), Spain (Bad Gyal), Ireland (AineCahill), Norway (Fred Well), Denmark (Kops) United States (Mikaela Davis),
Netherlands (Naaz, Pitou), Canada (Partner), Sweden (Ruby Empress), South Korea(Say Sue Me) and Egypt (Tamino).