Local artist spotlight for music festival return

Dozens of acts are to descend on Brighton as The Great Escape music festival returns to the city.

Up-and-coming acts from Brighton and across the UK will play gigs at various locations in the city this weekend, putting a spotlight on home-grown talent from the area.

The festival will also feature three nights of BBC Introducing shows giving a platform to some of the local rising stars from Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

A music conference will also take place alongside the event, discussing the future of the industry and the issues facing it.

With a packed schedule of gigs, the festival will be spotlighted by standalone shows from The Libertines frontman Pete Doherty in Marine Parade on Wednesday, and Rizzle Kicks, who will play at the Brighton Dome on Friday.

BBC Introducing's stage will host three nights of shows at the Paganini Ballroom at the Old Ship Hotel from 14 to 16 May.

Local artists to take the stage include all-female Brighton three-piece Currls and garage rock trio Bones Ate Arfa.

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