THE GREAT ESCAPE 2008

The Great Escape in Brighton has cemented itself alongside America's SXSW and Holland's EuroSonic by providing breaking bands with a platform to impress music industry bigwigs.

The Gossip, Jack Penate and Mercury Music Prize winners Klaxons have all cut their teeth at the seaside festival which holds more than 200 gigs across various venues in the city.

This year the event is set to be the largest yet and festival goers can chose to see the bands on a gig-by-gig basis or buy a all-encompassing festival wristband which will give them access to the 25 plus venues.