THE GREAT Escape Festival, all over Brighton May 12-14

In just five years the event has grown in stature and is reckoned to be Europe’s biggest and best showcases of new music..

For three days Brighton welcomes hundreds of bright young things from across the pond and all over the globe, who are in turn watched by around 15,000 music lovers..

This year’s line-up includes Sufjan Stevens, the Friendly Fires and legions of superb new acts.

The real beauty of this festival is the number of up of hidden gems you can discover in three busy days.

In recent years acts like the XX, Glasvegas and Tinie Tempah have played the festival on their way to wider recognition and soaring sales.

The roster is genuinely global, there are always a large contingent of hot new US and Canadian bands, and in recent years Great Escapers have enjoyed the cream of new Antipodian, Scandinavian, Indian and French talent, and lots more besides.

This year’s “spotlight country” is Ireland, so expect a good number of bands from the Emerald Isle including Mercury Prize nominatees The Villagers

The festival sprawls all over Brighton and Hove in 30 different venues, packing out big traditional concert halls like the Dome, afternoon gigs at the Palace Pier and fab late-night shows at places like the Duke of York cinema.

There are also plenty of secret shows which are announced at the last-minute by text to the TGE faithful.

The event is also a major music industry shindig but to most hardened gig-goers it’s a just a great time and a fab way to see a huge amount of new music.

THREE-day festival tickets are still available from Rounder Records and Resident in Brighton or visit http://escapegreat.com/