BIMM students give stellar performances at The Great Escape in 2022

Sunshine, good vibes and a list of bands to die for. That’s what The Great Escape Festival had in store for Brighton in 2022. The best bit? BIMM students from all over the country also had their chance to shine on Thursday afternoon to a packed room upstairs at The Hope & Ruin. And the pictures speak for themselves.

Over the course of the afternoon, we were treated to six highly distinctive BIMM acts – each of them impressively slick, bold and oozing experience that the crowd couldn’t get enough of.

Freddie Lewis (BIMM Institute Bristol)

First up was Freddie Lewis and his band from Bristol – a six-piece pop outfit with a twist. Freddie also writes poetry and frequently utilised spoken word in his music to great effect. Freddie’s charisma and engaging style instantly warmed up the crowd. He delighted the audience with his funk and jazz-influenced sound. Highlights included his beautiful track ‘Belljar’ which was full of unexpected twists.

The Nu (BIMM Institute Birmingham)

Following this was four-piece rock band The Nu, led by BIMM Birmingham’s Songwriting course graduate Darius Zaltash. Their blend of rock and electronica brought an altogether heavier feel to the room. A roaring crowd were keen to get involved, with set highlight ‘Living it Up’ reflecting the euphoria in Brighton that day.

Phoenix Laoutaris (BIMM Institute London)

A real treat for the afternoon was Phoenix Laoutaris’ set. Phoenix, accompanied by a DJ, performed her unique fusion of RnB and Drill. She combines 90s hip-hop grooves with the infectious production of 00s Garage, as showcased in her single ‘Flowers’. With already well over 1 million streams on Spotify, it’s clear that the BIMM Institue London student is destined for big things.

Manta (BIMM Institute Manchester)

Next up, we took a trip up north to Manchester with Manta, an experimental pop/rock crossover artist with infectious melodies. Ranging from the moody to the upbeat, this polished band sure knew how to speak to everyone in the room with their music.

Bicurious (BIMM Institute Dublin)

The last two sets of the day were both duos – but don’t be fooled, they couldn’t have been more different. Bicurious was the penultimate act, with Gavin Purcell from Dublin and Taran Plouzané from France, on drums and guitar respectively. They treated us to their rhythmic, riff-based, rocky soundscapes that were almost hypnotic in nature.

ARXX (BIMM Institute Brighton)

To end the BIMM stage for the afternoon we were so lucky to have Alt-Rock female duo ARXX who brought their phenomenal energy to a fully packed room. Lead vocalist and guitarist Hannah Pidduck’s vocals paired perfectly with the powerful drums of Clara Townsend. The duo’s vibe was intense, heavy and bursting with chaos. It was the grand finale everyone dreamed of.

It was such a pleasure to see the incredible standard of musicianship on show. The huge variety of styles, compositions and performances were a testament to the creativity of our BIMM Students. Our students, staff and graduates also played a large role throughout the entire Great Escape Festival, through their work busking, volunteering and organising events.

We’re already looking forward to next year!