The Indie Scene hosted a stage at The Great Escape
We hit max capacity, and we had a hoot.
Photo: Kamala Adams
In May, we hosted our first-ever festival stage at The Great Escape, and honestly, it felt like the perfect fit. As an independent music publication run entirely by volunteers who are constantly listening to music, never shutting up about it, and always searching for the next chill-inducing song, a festival that champions new and emerging artists is basically our idea of heaven.
We’ve admired The Great Escape for years because of its commitment to spotlighting fresh talent, so being invited to officially host a stage this year was a real honour. As we hung our little Indie Scene bunting at the side of the stage at the Waterbear Venue, the excitement really started to build. Not just because we were part of the festival, but also because we had the chance to showcase artists we genuinely love.
Photo: ugly ozo by Kamala Adams
Alt-rock duo ugly ozo kicked things off with an electrifying set. Exploring the messy, unfiltered corners of the female experience, the band’s gritty riffs and unrelenting punk energy saw tracks like jackpot and hi, how are you? go down a treat and set the tone for the rest of the day. Huge shoutout to the guy dancing at the front who somehow brought headline-level enthusiasm to a midday set (and had some seriously impressive moves) — you were an inspiration.
Photo: The Slow Country by Kamala Adams
Next up, self-described “slacker-folk” seven-piece The Slow Country brought their warm, sprawling sound and effortless chemistry to the stage. Featuring personal favourites Firing Line and Amy Stew, the band’s charming set made the entire room feel wrapped up in their positive energy, and honestly, they were just a whole lot of fun.
Photo: Bug Teeth by Kamala Adams
Then came genre-bending band Bug Teeth, whose hypnotic sound gives an ethereal edge to darker experiences. With stunning instrumentals and vocals that cut straight through everything around them, their set felt both fragile and ferocious. Pulling from dream pop, electronic ambience and breakbeat, the band crafted a set that somehow felt both otherworldly and intensely real.
Finally, moving between noise and melody, Hank closed out The Indie Scene’s first stage. The heavier side of the band’s sound captured emotions of heartbreak, loss and grief, while their mesmerising performance led the room into a trance-like rhythm of head-nodding.
Photo: Hank by Kamala Adams
It was such a fun day, and it was amazing to see so many people connecting with these artists in person. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who came down, watched a set, had a dance, and even queued to get in. So, here’s to many more!
All photos by Kamala Adams.
You can also find this article in print. Pre-order Issue 2 of The Indie Scene Magazine here.