Brighton’s annual Great Escape music festival has been cancelled this year, with an online showcase event taking its place, organisers have confirmed. Along with a miscellany of online music performances, the re-envisioned event will host keynote speakers, talks and debates – among other presentations. The organisers announced via twitter, adding: “We can now confirm that The Great Escape 2021 will no longer be taking place in Brighton this year, however, we will be taking The Great Escape online for the first time.
“On 13th-14th May 2021 you can expect a huge snapshot of the best new artists showcasing their talents, plus The Great Escape Conference featuring the CMU conference strands, keynote speakers, panels, talks and debates as well as dedicated facilities for the industry to come together and network – just without the sea air and dashing between our beloved venues into the early hours…”
Important information regarding The Great Escape 2021 pic.twitter.com/j6s3QYrmE8
— The Great Escape (@thegreatescape) February 26, 2021
The 2020 event was cancelled last year amid complications created by pandemic restrictions, with the hope that 2021 would bring a more fortuitous year. Adding to the news, the organisers also included a message of appreciation for the NHS throughout the pandemic, along with next year’s event dates: “We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the NHS for their extraordinary efforts in rolling out the vaccine, as well as thanking all of you for your patience and we look forward to being together again in 2022 for our belated 15th birthday. It’s going to be a Huge celebration. We’ll see you online in May 2021 and on the beach in 2022.”
Earlier this week Boris Johnson revealed his ‘roadmap out of lockdown’, outlining each step towards a full dismissal of social restrictions on June 21st. Following the Prime Minister’s announcement, a number of festivals have confirmed they will be going ahead as planned later in the year, including Green Man, 2000 Trees and the Reading and Leeds Festival – the latter selling out tickets just two days after the announcement.
Sacha Lord – co-founder of the Manchester Parklife festival – has expressed his optimism that his festival will go ahead this year. “The vaccination roll-out has been incredible and hats off to all our scientists and NHS volunteers,” he told NME. “For once, we can say that we have got something that’s world-beating. It’s phenomenal and we’ve got leading scientists saying they’re confident that everyone will have had their second vaccine by July. We pushed back Parklife to September and we’re confident it will go ahead. We’ve got New Order on the night before and we’re gearing up for success with an 80,000 capacity,””
