Sarah Crean, Cardinals and Darren Kiely amongst first fifty acts announced for The Great Escape

The first fifty acts set to play The Great Escape festival in 2024 have been announced, with the best and brightest in homegrown talent amongst the festival's current lineup, including Sarah Crean, Cardinals and Darren Kiely.

Ahead of tonight's #FIRSTFIFTY live launch, we’re thrilled to announce the full First Fifty acts who will be joining us at #TGE24! 🚨

As well as a HUGE Spotlight Show with @fayewebsters! 🔥

Hit the link for more info and to get your tickets for 2024! 🎟👉https://t.co/qs5232hCVr pic.twitter.com/bCa8KTy946

— The Great Escape (@thegreatescape) November 15, 2023

Currently based in Brighton, Clondalkin singer-songwriter Sarah Crean's enrapturing poetic introspection and dreamy sonics have firmly cemented her as one of Ireland's most exceptional voices. At the forefront of her distinct artistry is an intimate and confessional sense of lyricism, steeped in virtuosic guitar work and lush, wistful ambience. Drawing from the guitar-based grit of Japanese Breakfast and the gossamer atmospherics of Men I Trust, Crean's indie-inflected tracks are astute tapestries of inward-reflection and lived experience; interrogating the melancholic throes of love, life and loss. Releasing her new EP Death By Laundry and single 'The Subtle art of Past,' 2023  has been a busy year for Crean, seeing her support the likes of Blackpink at Hyde Park, and most recently, touring the UK alongside Canadian singer-songwriter Haley Blais.

Sarah Crean. The Subtle Art of Past music video.

Channelling the shimmering effervescence and chorusy guitars of '80s indie and steeped in resonant shades of Big Music, the rich, cinematic sound of Cardinals has already garnered them critical attention; earning the enviable support of Fontaines D.C.'s Grian Chatten, who dubbed them "one of my favourite new bands" during an interview with Radio 1. High praise no doubt! With moody echoes of post-punk, the Cork-based sextet's music is an eclectic, gothic amalgam of shoegaze, Irish trad folk and alternative music, mining ambitiously enveloping and atmospheric sonics.

Cardinals by Emily Cardona

With a keenly honed penchant towards folk-infused storytelling and traditional Irish instrumentation, Darren Kiely's journey as a musician began at just five years old, as he learned the tin whistle, later picking up the fiddle at eight, and eventually teaching himself to play guitar as well. Darren began
singing in 2019, quickly drawing attention for his powerful, fervent voice and heartfelt vocal delivery.

After winning numerous honours at a national level in Irish traditional music, Darren journeyed to New York in 2022 to continue developing his own music and sound. Since then, Kiely has accumulated 3 million global streams, seeing inclusion in Ireland's top 50 charts, with his debut single 'How Could You Love Me,' 'Ella' and his most latest track, 'Time To Leave.' Darren also took part in our On Our Radar Q&A for Hot Press last month.

Darren Kiely

Also amongst the acts announced are US-Indian Carnatic musician and songwriter Sid Sriram, Mancunian indie-pop quartet Corella and alt-pop singer-songwriter Faye Webster.

A full list of newly announced acts for The Great Escape 2024:

Automotion // Aysanabee // Babymorocco // Battlesnake // Big Special // Bishopskin // BODUR // Cardinals // Carsick // Corella // Cosmorat // Darren Kiely // DARTZ // Eaves Wilder // Ebbb // Emmeline // En Attendant Ana // Erin LeCount // Eve Owen // Faye Webster // Fiona-Lee // Food House // Friedberg // Gia Ford // Hana Lili // Jacob Alon // King Isis // LVRA // Malice K // Mock Media // No Windows // Olivia Lunny // Oscar Browne // Picture Parlour // Ray Laurél // Rum Jungle // Sailor Honeymoon // Sarah Crean // Sid Sriram // SILA LUA // Sid Sriram // Sirens Of Lesbos // Solaariss // The New Eves // Tom Rasmussen // Trout // Ugly // Victoria Canal // YHWH Nailgun // Zach Templar