Thursday, 3rd April 08

The Ting Tings, The Futureheads, The Fratellis*, Laura Marling,
Friendly Fires and The Automatic are amongst the latest acts announced to perform.

The countdown to the Great Escape Festival continues, now with just six weeks to go. The best of new music from the UK and around the world is being added to an already extensive and exciting line-up.

The impressive list of bands continues to grow with: The Ting Tings, The Futureheads, The Fratellis*, Laura Marling, Friendly Fires, The Automatic, Vashti Bunyan, Vetiver, Telepathe, Alphabeat, The Bookhouse Boys, Slow Club, Peggy Sue And The Pirates, Dead Kids, Eugene Mcguiness, Bobby Cook And The Sleepers, Esser, Lets Wrestle, Matthew Sawyer, We Haunt Wizards, The Lionheart Brothers, Aids Wolf, Dash Delete, Times New Viking, Turn Coat, The New York Fund, Strange Death Of Liberal England, Fanfarlo, Sunset Rubdown, Aids Wolf, Cage The Elephant, Future Of The Left, George Pringle, Jeremy Walmesly, Late Of The Pier, Okkervil River, Post War Years, Rolo Tomassi, The Mae Shi , Nina Nastasia, The Twilight Sad, Silje Nes, Cassey And The Cassettes, Fryars, The Black Angels, Kid Harpoon, A.A Bondy, Artifacts For Space Travel, Cheeky Cheeky And The Nosebleeds, David E. Sugar, Envy & Other Sins, Flambouyant Bella, Gentle Friendly, Hold Fire, Lucero, Mono Bright, Mumford & Sons, Ox Eagle Lion Man, Pivot, Restlesslist, The Boat People, The Slips, The Video Nasties, Thomas Tantrum, We Smoke Fags, XX Teens, Yelps, Friends Of The Bride, Alessi, Boniver, Johnny Flynn, Broken Records, Saul Williams, The Click Click, Opera House, The Whip, Hauschka, Frightened Rabbit, Tom Brosseau, and A Place To Bury Strangers all being added to this year’s line up.

Other exciting bookings include: The Wombats, Vampire Weekend, Iron and Wine, Young Knives, These New Puritans, Lightspeed Champion, Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, Crystal Castles, The Hold Steady, The Subways, Black Mountain, Black Lips, Pete and the Pirates and many more. For full line up please go to www.escapegreat.com

A great Grime and Hip Hop programme has also been put together featuring: Wiley, Soweto Kinch, Cadence Weapon, Beardy Man, Inner City Dwellers, Mumdance and Tomb Crew.

The Great Escape team are fresh back from an amazing couple of showcase events held at this year’s SXSW. The Austin venue ‘Maggie Mae’s’ was rammed to the gunnels for performances from the likes of The Wombats, FM Belfast, Reykjavik!, Magic Wands, Brooklyn, Ungdomskulen on the Thursday night and The Parisians, The Fashion, Beat Union, Kreif, The Whip, Scouting for Girls on the Friday.

A strong focus towards breaking International acts in the UK means that The Great Escape put a new country under the spotlight every year. This time round the focus is on Norway and so far Ida Maria, The Lion Heart Brothers, Ungdomskulen and Sigh & Explode have been booked to perform.

"Making Norway the lead country at this year’s Great Escape is something we are looking forward to with great excitement, especially as it coincides perfectly with the launch of our UK office and our increased focus on the British territory. There is a wealth of exciting talent coming out of Norway these days from the riff based roaring power-trio of Ungdomskulen , to the new and hotly tipped screamo/hardcore band Sigh & Explode. The Norwegian music scene is known for its diversity and innovating fresh sounds. At the Great Escape you'll be able to explore all of these and other exciting acts from Norway"
Jonas Vebner, Norway Music Export

"In the years we’ve been running The Great Escape we’ve had some fantastic artists from all over the world, but one country we’ve always been able to depend on for cutting edge talent is Norway. With the launch of Music Export Norway’s London office this year and the emergence of some new and exciting bands we feel the timing is perfect to make Norway our lead country for The Great Escape Festival & Convention, 2008."
Jon Mcildowie, Great Escape Festival

Following the success of last year’s program of Alternative events, The Great Escape Festival are once again giving bands, managers, record labels and promoters the chance to showcase their acts at The Great Escape by promoting their own gig, club night or party during the festival. The event will be included in the Alternative Escape section of the program and a website logo will be provided to include on your publicity. In return we ask that you allow Great Escape delegates and wristband holders in to your event for free.

If you have an existing event that falls on these dates or you would like to organise an event please contact info@loutpromotions.co.uk for more information. All Alternative Escape events are subject to approval by the Great Escape Festival organizers andall information for your event must reach us by 4th April 2008 to guarantee entry.

Three day tickets are now £45 and single day tickets start from £18.50
All tickets are available through www.escapegreat.com, the ticket line 0870 907 0999 and through cash box offices Rounder, Resident and The Dome box office (Brighton) and Stargreen (Oxford Circus)

*entry to The Fratellis show is guaranteed with a separate ticket or combined 3 day festival / The Fratellis ticket which can be purchased through www.escapegreat.com

"Red Stripe is proud to support this tremendous event and confirms our commitment to supporting good honest music"