For Londoners unfamiliar with The Great Escape: it's the UK's answer to South By South West, but a lot smaller and taking place in genteel and slightly seedy Brighton rather than Austin, Texas. The music takes place at various bars, clubs, halls and other temporary venues across the city, and although it's a key event for music industry types to 'network' (read: drink more than usual), for everyone else it's basically a good excuse to catch loads of cool upcoming bands and DJs.
The big shows at the Brighton Dome on Friday and Saturday nights require a special ticket, but apart from that one wristband will get you into any gigs at the festival. Soundtracking your seaside reverie will be a plethora of hip art rock acts, edgy indie bands, singer-songwriters and a few electronic acts as well. Go and get some seaside air and remember to make constant puns about Brighton rock(ing) – it's the right thing to do.