Every May in Brighton, the UK’s music industry descends on the seaside town for the Great Escape, the “showcase” event that has helped to launch the careers of everyone from Stormzy and AlunaGeorge to Fat White Family and Anna Calvi.
Crowds pile in to dozens of venues, as punters and A&R spotters try to get a glimpse of acts who may have the unique spark needed to become break-out stars, but at this year’s event something was missing: more than a third of the bill.
