Hull City Council is supporting four local acts at the highly anticipated The Great Escape Festival in Brighton this May, where a vibrant showcase of Hull’s freshest musical talent will take centre stage.
Four exciting local acts will be performing at the festival, 16 and 17 May, joining a lineup of some of the most promising new music acts from across the UK and beyond.
The Great Escape Festival, an annual event renowned for its dedication to discovering and celebrating emerging talent, will feature a Hull takeover at the WaterBear Venue on Friday 16 May. Local music industry representatives will be on hand to support the selected acts, further solidifying Hull’s growing reputation as a hub for innovative musical talent.
This pilot will explore how Hull can connect its talent with the national music industry and audience. It also a key part of Hull City Council’s ongoing efforts to nurture and promote local music and builds on the success of the city’s Music Plan, which was published to support the development and visibility of the music scene in Hull. The city’s commitment to providing opportunities for emerging artists and creating a sustainable music ecosystem is clearer than ever with this collaboration.
The four Hull acts which were selected through a collaboration through The Sesh and the Great Escape Team and representing the city at The Great Escape Festival are:
Chiedu Oraka
Hailing from North Hull estate, Chiedu Oraka’s unique sound blends grime, rap, and street culture. Recently awarded Newcomer of the Year at the Northern Music Awards, Oraka is quickly making a name for himself as one of the most exciting talents on the scene. Discover Chiedu Oraka
Fiona-Lee
With her distinctive guitar-driven anthems, Fiona-Lee crafts songs that captivate through remarkable storytelling, weaving gritty indie sensibilities with powerful emotional depth. Discover Fiona-Lee
Jodie Langford
Known for her electrifying blend of electro party punk, Jodie Langford delivers energetic performances that fuse captivating rhythms with an edge of raw rebellion, drawing listeners into her vibrant musical world. Discover Jodie Langford
O’Phantom
With a sound that blends atmospheric electronics with ethereal vocals, O’Phantom’s performances promise to deliver a distinctive experience at the festival, adding an innovative twist to Hull’s representation at The Great Escape. Discover O’Phantom
They will then go on to play across the festival stages on Saturday 16 May.
The showcase is a proud moment for Hull, which continues to make strides in establishing itself as a key player on the national and international music scene. The event will provide a unique opportunity for the city’s most exciting musical acts to gain exposure and connect with industry leaders, while also demonstrating the value of supporting homegrown talent.
Kath Wynne-Hague, head of culture, place and city centre at Hull City Council, said: “As we grow the city’s reputation as a music city with ambitions of UNESCO Music City status, this pilot is the first of many partnerships where we explore how we can support the city’s talent and build sustainable music links with festivals and events across the UK and further afield.
“The Great Escape Festival G is an incredible platform for our local talent to shine on a global stage.”
Daniel Mawer, from O’Phantom, said: “To be part of The Great Escape Festival and represent Hull is an incredible honour which has made the last year’s hard work as an independent artist all worthwhile.
“To be included alongside some of Hull’s finest artists is an accolade we won’t forget for a long time and to see Hull engage with industry feels like a necessary next step for a city that has renowned industry acts and incredible talent bubbling under the surface.”
Mark Page, local venue owner and Humber Street Festival Director will be accompanying the acts and representing the city’s musical talent, said: “The Great Escape Festival is renowned for connecting artists and musicians to industry leaders which could bring new opportunities to these local artists and the wider music community in Hull.”
Hull Music Net, a platform to help grow Hull’s music industry run by Stewart Baxter and Jenni Harrison, launched the Northern Partner’s Network, a powerhouse collective of Northern-based partners coming together to form a united voice to support the music sector in the North of England, at The Great Escape Festival last year, and will also be part of the group attending to support the artists from the city.
After the festival, there will be a review to under understand its impact and success and plans put in place to explore how Hull City Council can develop sector and business partnerships to sustain a Hull presence and stage every year.The Great Escape Festival takes place between 14 – 17 May to experience Hull’s finest talent live and discover the next big thing in the music industry.
