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THE GREAT ESCAPE ANNOUNCES IRELAND AS LEAD COUNTRY PARTNER

October 14, 2010

SUPER EARLY BIRD DELEGATE TICKETS ON SALE
QUEENS HOTEL DEPOSIT SCHEME ANNOUNCED
AND ARTIST REGISTRATION NOW OPEN.

The Great Escape is delighted to announce that Ireland is their lead country partner for the 2011 event.  Previous lead country partners have included: Canada (2006), France (2007), Norway (2008), New Zealand (2009) and Australia (2010) – all of whom have seen notable success for their bands and business since being part of The Great Escape. Ireland has been chosen due to its continually excellent live music and recording scene and with a host of new talent emerging from Ireland this is the right time for the Irish artists and music businesses to be in the foreground at The Great Escape.
 
Eugene Downes, CEO of Culture Ireland, commented: "More than ever before, Irish artists are defining Ireland's global reputation as a leader in imagination and innovation.  Irish musicians and bands are great ambassadors for Creative Ireland at important international showcase events such as The Great Escape. We were pleased to welcome the TGE team at Hard Working Class Heroes last week, following which, we are delighted that Ireland has been chosen as the spotlight country for 2011. We look forward to working with the organisers and our partners at FMC through Music From Ireland (www.musicfromireland.org) to generate further opportunities for Irish bands to reach new audiences and markets"
 
The Great Escape has established itself as an international market place for new talent. As well as showcasing the best new British artists and key UK music industry figures attending, bands and delegates fly from all over the world to be present, including from; Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain and the US.
 
The Great Escape takes place in Brighton, UK over three days and nights between 12th and 14th May.  with a total attendance of over 15,000 people including 3,000 industry professionals. A variety of insightful industry talks, panel debates, targeted networking sessions and key note interviews are run alongside performances from 350+ new local and international artists, themed parties and club nights in over 34 different venues.
 
Artist highlights from the 2010 programme included: Tinie Tempah, Ellie Goulding, Chase and Status, Marina and The Diamonds, The Cribs, Sleigh Bells, Broken Social Scene, The Big Pink, Esben and the Witch, Chapel Club, Angus and Julia Stone, Hurts, Everything Everything, Delphic, Darwin Deez, I Blame Coco, Egyptian Hip Hop, Wild Beasts, Mount Kimbie, Fenech-Soler, Daisy Dares You, Rox, Warpaint, Best Coast and Fionn Regan.
 
Previous years have seen a whole slew of now-famous acts cutting their teeth at The Great Escape. A few highlights include: Noah & The Whale, Foals, The Magic Numbers, Mumford and Sons, The Joy Formidable, Crystal Castles, Yeasayer, Vampire Weekend, Friendly Fires, The Cribs, The Maccabees, Laura Marling, Adele, CSS, Kate Nash, Glasvegas, Ladyhawke, The Enemy, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Gossip, Klaxons, Mystery Jets, Gurrumul, Holy Fuck, Raghu Dixit and The XX.
 
In 2010 The Great Escape Convention saw over 100 high-profile speakers giving music industry professionals key insights into the business via the event’s 3-day programme of keynote talks, Q&As, debates and networking events. Highlights of the Convention (hosted by PRS for Music, we:LIVE and Music Ally) included a keynote talk between legendary NME scribe and acclaimed author, Nick Kent and noted music journalist Garry Mulholland,  an insight into the emerging Indian market with last year’s Young Entrepreneur Award winner Vijay Nair and The Great Escape co-founder Martin Elbourne, and The Future of Radio Debate, hosted by BBC 6 Music’s Matt Everitt (and devised by The Zeitgeist Agency).
 
Other 2010 highlights included a keynote conversation between Universal Music’s Francis Keeling and Music Ally’s co-founder and CEO Paul Brindley, an interview with HMV’s Simon Fox by CMU’s Chris Cooke and a keynote speech by PRS for Music’s Will Page on What is Driving the Boom in Live [Music]?
 
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Brighton’s Great Escape can claim to be the urban festival with the most improbable venues…The three day event throws up one big dilemma: do you stick with trying to see bands you already know, or follow the crowds of A&R men in the hope of seeing the next big thing?
– The Guardian
 
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The venues are unusual, the bands are often unknown, and there are more of them than you could possibly hope to handle. But that’s the beauty of this three day event: a chance to spot future talent. Don’t plan for any sleep, though…
– The Independent
 
Britain’s answer to SXSW…The Great Escape festival in Brighton is a cornucopia of vital new music and conferencing for industry pros.
– Mojo
 
2011 TICKET, REGISTRATION
– Super Early Bird Delegate Tickets are now on sale for £80 www.escapegreat.com/buyTickets/ <http://www.escapegreat.com/buyTickets/>
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