The Great Escape Festival Survival Guide

Like you needed any reminding that The Great Escape festival begins today! The Miloco Team have just touched down in Brighton for the tenth year running to get amongst it all – the gigs, the talks, the parties, and who could forget the free food and drinks!

If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years becoming the season TGE veterans we are today, it’s that you can’t just run head first into the fray, arms flailing in wild excitement about the next three days of music and madness. So gather round children and listen/read to our pearls of wisdom.

First, download the app. Let’s face it, no matter how organised you think you are, after the third welcome party where you take a little too much advantage of the free beer and pizza, your mind will be a bit cloudy. You’re unlikely to remember how to get back to your hotel, let alone when and where you were supposed to see Kiko Bun on night number one.
It’s free and this year is a much better incarnation than its predecessors – for iTunes download here, Android here.

Ok you’ve got the app, but have you got all the other essentials vital for this musical marathon? We’re talking dark sunglasses, a portable phone charger, industrial strength Panadol and enough business cards to cover the floor of the Wagner Hall. You never know who might pick up one of those bad boys – they could be your newest LinkedIn connection, or using it for a roach, who knows? That’s half the fun.

Use the app to organise your gig line-up with the kind of military precision Churchill would be proud of and get yourself out there. Be realistic about the gigs you’ll be able to make – it’s not Glastonbury after all and most venues will take you a considerable time to travel between, what with all the people you’ll inevitably stop and chat with along the way and brag about who you’re going to see next.

Alright now you’re there, it’s time to get your bearings. Find your hotel room and pray to god you remember the number before you end up banging on some poor A&R Coordinator’s door at 4am because you can’t get in to ‘your’ room. Then get yourself down to registration for your delegate wristband that you will flash as ostentatiously as possible so that all the punters will know how very busy and important you are because you’re in “the biz”.

This is where the real work begins: it’s time to mingle. There are a smorgasbord of events around town for delegates to meet, chat and simultaneously be pried/bribed with free food and alcohol. All jokes aside, these are really great events – especially on the Thursday when everyone is still excited and fresh-faced, the looming hangover just a blip on the horizon.
One insider tip: the food at the Audio Network party is good, so good that you can’t stop yourself eating three of the lamb and mint burgers in one sitting. Trust us, it leads nowhere you want to be.
Actually, two inside tips: Try not to get too slaughtered at the cocktail van, you might will end up busting out some dance moves best reserved for 2am at Infernos. Or so we’ve heard…

Getting into gigs can sometimes be more difficult than anticipated. For delegates there’s often a ‘fast-track’ lane for entry which is what your well-spent pounds went towards to ease the process. Keep in mind that for the Spotlight shows you will need to go to registration at 9am on the morning of the gig and be first-in-best-dressed to nab one of the tickets to each of the sold out shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Get ready to throw out some elbows to get to the front of the queue, this is the time of year Brighton turns into the musical equivalent of The Hunger Games – you’ve been warned.

If you’re really desperate to get into the Stormzy show but slept through your three alarms and missed out on a ticket, then you could always try say you’re the manager/tour manager/sweat towel carrier to get in the door. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?

Now it’s late, you’re about 17 pints deep and in need of a feed before you race the sunrise to bed. Word on the street is Brighton institution Market Diner is the best place for all-night fry ups to fill you up, just try make sure you keep it all down.

Alright, we’ll get to the reason you’re all really here: the hangover cure. Aside from the obvious: pace your drinks, drink lots of water, don’t mix alcohol – blah, blah, yeah we know – there are a few gems we couldn’t live without come morning (midday?) when we crawl out of bed looking like Russell Brand circa 2007.

Billies: Known as ‘the perfect hangover cure’ spot there’s nowhere better for a big breakfast. Cheap, cheerful, and with everything from Full English to Eggs Benedict and the best hashes in town. The most expensive thing on the menu is £8 so it’ll help your head as well as your pocket.
Small Batch Coffee: You’ll find these dotted around town (the one on Jubilee Street is the closest to the action/easiest to crawl to), and serve the best coffee in Brighton, the elixir of life
Oatopia: Spot these flapjack food vans around town for a perfect breakfast on the go
Bills: You know, if you want to be a bit fancy about it. Smoothies, rostis and breakfast boards galore
Pho: The name of the restaurant is pretty self explanatory. These are the best in Brighton and can be a good substitute for a greasy full English to help you get back to a somewhat functioning human being

Alternatively you could always go for a refreshing run along the seashore and try your best to sweat out all the alcohol and regret, but if all else fails then a bloody mary and cheesy chips on the shore always go down a treat.

There you have it, now go forth and conquer. We’ll see you on the other side.