THE GREAT ESCAPE

Music From Ireland returns to The Great Escape in Brighton, UK again this year, where a number of top class Irish acts will showcase to thousands of international music industry and lovers alike.

The Great Escape 2026 takes place May 13th - 16th.

Irish Artists Announced

  • We are thrilled to announce that Irish indie-folk trio Kingfishr will headline a Spotlight Show at Brighton Dome Concert Hall on Thursday 14 May 2026.

    Hailing from Limerick, Kingfishr have rapidly emerged as one of the most exciting new voices in alternative folk. Formed during lockdown by Eddie Keogh, Eoin “Fitz” Fitzgibbon, and Eoghan “McGoo” McGrath, the trio are known for their soaring soundscapes, emotive lyrics, and anthemic energy. Their breakout hit “Killeagh” – a heartfelt ode to their local hurling club – spent 18 weeks in the Irish Top 10 and went four times platinum.

    Following a standout performance at The Great Escape 2024, their return for a full Spotlight Show promises an unforgettable night from one of Ireland’s fastest-rising acts.

    Standalone tickets for Kingfishr’s Spotlight Show go on general sale at 10AM on Friday 21 November via greatescapefestival.com, with artist and venue presales opening Wednesday 19 November, and a Live Nation presale on Thursday 20 November.

  • Madra Salach met whilst playing in different outfits on the city’s indie scene and bonded over a shared love of the Irish traditional canon which led to them playing impromptu pub sessions. Taking inspiration from the growing experimental folk scene in Ireland, the group added members, instruments and electronic elements to emerge with their own compositions, which are at the same time strikingly modern and written with a voice that could have emerged at any point throughout the last century.

  • Dublin newcomer Annie-Dog has created a significant early buzz with her debut releases via revered indie label Dance To The Radio (Ellur, Far Caspian, Low Hummer, Youth Sector).

    Annie-Dog’s material sees her delve into the shapeshifting pop landscape, incorporating the influences of Grimes and Pinkpantheress within her own sublime self-production, attracting several early plaudits in the process.

    Taking her moniker from a Smashing Pumpkins deep cut (and receiving praise from the band themselves across social media), the indie riser has already won early nods of approval from key tastemakers including Dork Magazine, DIY, So Young Magazine, The Fader and The Line Of Best Fit, in addition to BBC Radio 1 (Jess Izatt ), BBC 6 Music (Deb Grant, Tom Ravenscroft, Emily Pilbeam) Radio X (John Kennedy), RTÉ 2fm (Dan Hegarty & Jenny Greene )and SiriusXM airplay etc etc She has also been included on numerous Spotify editorial playlists and cover features.


  • Really Good Time are a power trio from Dublin, Ireland, blending the raw edge of desert rock with the urgency of post-punk, and the infectious build-and-drop energy of 00s electro.

    Since emerging in 2021, the band have become a live force to be reckoned with, drawing comparisons to a mutant hybrid of early Queens of the Stone Age and The Walkmen (as heard on Steve Lamacq’s roundtable). From their earliest shows (semi-legal) on sheep farms and squats to commanding 7,000-person stages at Irish festivals, Really Good Time have consistently proven their live show is a force that’s impossible to ignore.