Hull performers to take centre stage at Brighton festival

Chiedu Oraka

By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor

Four Hull acts will provide a showcase of the city’s fresh musical talent at Brighton’s The Great Escape Festival in May.

The annual event, which is renowned for its dedication to discovering and celebrating emerging talent, will feature a Hull takeover at the WaterBear Venue on Friday, May 16.

The 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 city’s Music Plan, which was published to support the development and visibility of the music scene in the city.

The four Hull acts taking part, which were selected through a collaboration through The Sesh and The Great Escape team, are:

Fiona Lee

Chiedu Oraka - Hailing from North Hull Estate, 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.

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.

Jodie Langford - Known for her electrifying blend of electro party punk, Langford delivers energetic performances that fuse captivating rhythms with an edge of raw rebellion, drawing listeners into her vibrant musical world.

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.

Jodie Langford

Following their performances at the Waterbear Venue on the Friday, all four acts will then go on to play across the festival stages on Saturday, May 17.

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 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.

O’Phantom

“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 Sesh festival director, will be accompanying the acts and representing the city’s musical talent.

He 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 the city’s music industry, launched the Northern Partner’s Network, a 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 this year.