Swiss Artists perform at The Great Escape Festival

Evelinn Trouble, Velvet Two Stripes and Peter Kernel perform at the Great Escape showcase festival in Brighton.

The Great Escape is one of the most popular festivals in Europe. It is aimed at both music fans and industry professionals and takes place in 30 venues across Brighton for three days every May. Industry talks, debates, networking sessions and keynote speeches and interviews run alongside showcases and concerts of 350 local and international artists. There are also numerous themed parties and club nights. Founded in 2006, the Great Escape focuses on new artists and aims to facilitate new connections and business relationships. It attracts 15’000 festival goers. This year’s edition takes place from 16 to 18 May and is already sold out.

Swiss Business Mixer Thursday 16 May, 12.00h, at the Komedia Studio Bar

This year, for the first time, Swiss Music Export in collaboration with Fondation SUISA and Pro Helvetia will be hosting a „Swiss Business Mixer“. This will take place on Thursday 16 May, 12.00h, at the Komedia Studio Bar, 44 – 47 Gardner Street, Brighton. During this event, three bands from Switzerland will be playing showcases, Evelinn Trouble 13.30h, Velvet Two Stripes 14.30h and Peter Kernel 15.30h. These three bands are also performing during the official festival program.

17.5.2013, 15.30h, THE HOPE: Evelinn Trouble http://www.evelinntrouble.com

17.5.2013, 21.30h, BRIGHTHELM: Peter Kernel http://www.peterkernel.com

18.5.2013, 18.30h, COALITION: Velvet Two Stripes http://www.velvettwostripes.com

24 year old Evelinn Trouble from Zurich is undoubtedly one of the most exciting young artists in Switzerland. The daughter of a Swedish jazz singer mother and a Swiss music fan father, she says: „I knew I was a singer from the moment I could think.“ She received piano lessons from her mother at an early age, but her musical life really began when an uncle passed on his guitar to her when she was still in primary school. Shortly after, she began to write her own songs, eventually forming an all-girl punk trio, Lorry. She released her first album in 2007, playing and recording everything by herself. The same year, she toured as a backing singer with Sophie Hunger. Restlessly creative, her music is constantly evolving. Whilst her last album „Television Religion“ mixed ancient analogue synthesizers with punky aggression, the recently released „The Great Big Heavy“ is once again more guitar-driven and not a million miles away in spirit from P.J. Harvey.

Peter Kernel are a Swiss Canadian art-punk band formed by graphic designer Aris Bassetti (guitar, voice) and filmmaker Barbara Lehnhoff (bass, voice). In their own words, they play „music anyone can play in an attempt to satisfy man’s basic human instinct: a beat, something loud and a few words – primary rock.“ The band was formed in 2005 to compose the soundtrack for an experimental musical, „Like a Giant in a Towel“, directed by Barbara and performed at the Locarno International Film Festival in 2006. Two years later, the band released their first album, „How to Perform a Funeral“. Soon after, they were invited to support the Canadian band Wolf Parade on their European tour. Since then, Peter Kernel have shared concerts and tours with many other fine bands, including Mogwai, Cat Power, Wild Beasts and Kurt Vile. Their second album „White Death & Black Heart“ was released by French label Africantape. They have also collaborated with a number of friends on an „audiovisual experiment“, „Il Pomeriggio Non Si Sa Mai Bene Cosa Fare“, consisting of a 12″ vinyl record and a video.

Velvet Two Stripes – „Switzerland’s hottest new export“, according to Clash magazine – are sisters Sara and Sophie Diggelmann, and Franca Mock. Armed with drums, guitar, bass, a few effect pedals, theirs is a feral rock’n’roll born and raised in a filthy dark hole somewhere between the Cramps and the White Stripes. Live especially, they are a fearsome force of nature. Their first UK release, the appropriately titled „Fire“ EP, will be available from 20 May.

Swiss Artists perform at Brighton’s Alternative Escape

More Swiss music can be sampled at the rock-driven 3rd Alpine Thunder showcase presented by Simon Perk’s Sonic Circus & the Störsender Label at Brighton’s Alternative Escape at The Loft, Brighton, 18 May.

12.00h Between Hopes and Dreams http://betweenhopesanddreams.tumblr.com
12.20h The Rude Company http://www.rudecompany.ch
13.00h Stereo Baby http://www.myspace.com/stereobabymusic
14.10h Hulk City http://www.hulkcity.com
14.50h The Birthday Girls http://www.the-birthday-girls.com
15.30h Shelta Flares http://www.sheltaflares.ch

Also at Brighton’s Alternative Escape at The Loft, Talent Scout Agency presents the „Swiss Music Night 2013“ featuring ChickPeace, Undiscovered Soul, John Caroline, Asool and Cachet. 18 May, 19.00 – 23.00h.

http://www.mamacolive.com/thegreatescape