The Great Escape festival is set to showcase artists from all over the UK and Europe, with 9 Irish acts now added to the line-up.

The online music version of the coveted event will be free to access this year via The Great Escape's website. Delegate passes can also be purchased here.

Music From Ireland's showcase will take place on Thursday, 13th May and will feature: Hot Press Hot for 2021 Cavan band The Zen Arcade, bedroom indie-pop artist Smoothboi Ezra, Waterford hip-hop drummer/producer/rapper Alex Gough, Dublin alt-pop stalwarts Soda Blonde and North Dublin indie rockers MELTS.

MCD Presents Showcase will see Kilkenny singer-songwriter Robert Grace, Dublin R&B sensation Aby Coulibaly, alternative R&B Dubliner Monjola and post-punk rock outfit SPRINTS take to the stage.

Most of the acts were filmed in the Olympia Theatre, Dublin in April by South Paw Productions under Covid protocol.

“The UK is a vital market for Irish acts making that next career leap and the Great Escape has been an incredibly important moment in that build," Angela Dorgan commented on the line-up news.

"Music from Ireland’s showcasing of these acts to UK and international buyers, bookers, labels etc will help them grow in that market and beyond. It is especially heartening in a post-Brexit and Covid world to see such a diversity of Irish acts showcasing at TGE21”.

Also taking to the stage are Holly Humberstone, Remi Wolf, Alfie Templeman and TV Priest, among others.

The Great Escape is an annual showcase of UK and European music to bookers, festivals and agents from around the world and is a key showcase event for artists breaking markets and airwaves.

Music from Ireland is the Irish Music Export Initiative funded by the Government through Culture Ireland, supported by IMRO and run by First Music Contact to showcase Irish music internationally. This year MFI is funded to cover the events, such as ESNS, SXSW, The Great Escape, Iceland Airwaves and more.

Founded in 2005, Culture Ireland - part of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht - works to generate international opportunities for Irish artists and supports Irish artists as they gain global contracts and develop their careers. In 2017, Culture Ireland reached 3.5 million live audience members and 7 million online viewers through the 450 Culture Ireland supported events presented by Irish artists.

The countdown to #TGEOnline is on. Have you signed up to access our music channel?

Registration is free and you’ll have access to unmissable performances from 160+ of the best new artists including @thebbccofficial, @HolHumberstone and @remiwolf. 🔥 https://t.co/xUQM4RzQuK pic.twitter.com/TYjnc3ykT5

— The Great Escape (@thegreatescape) May 6, 2021

Image credit: Ruth Medjber