IN what feels like a monumental shift in both spotlight and talent this year, eight incredible bands flew the flag for Scotland at Brighton’s The Great Escape in epic style. The UK’s festival for new music has incredible pulling power, with hundreds of bands and thousands of delegates from all over the world making their way to the seaside to uncover and discover talent. Spotlight shows with Slaves and Rag ‘N’ Bone Man tipped the line-up as really exciting buzz bands like Goat Girl, Confidence Man and Anteros filled venues from vintage shops to garages and iconic music venues including The Green Door Store. There’s booze, there’s noise and there’s mass amounts of excitement much of which came from the Showing Scotland shows run by Creative Scotland.

Kicking off at the break of noon on Thursday, Glasgow’s Emme Woods took to the stage with an impressive crowd for an early kick off. Frontwoman Woods has an undeniable hold over the audience, wherever and whenever she plays and this industry audience were no different. Her signature hip trusts and smile give a glimpse into her style which can only be described as charismatic, charming and beautiful. This is one of the many times TTV have caught Emme Woods live and today they’re showing growth and settlement as a band. The peak of the set is always ‘I’ve Been Running’ and today is no different, the trumpet, melody and tempo lifting the crowd into cloud Emme Woods, let alone 9.

A band we’ve seen more than a dozen times over the years, The LaFontaines were up next and what prevailed can only be described as an expert performance. This was the band’s first gig together in a while and you could tell they were delighted to be back. Despite their back catalogue and credentials – T in the Park performances, international gigs – this is The Fonts’ first time in Brighton. Unleashing new tracks during the set, we were treated to a rockier sound. A couple of these new tunes were capable of national airplay at first listen. Expertly crafted with the hook to catch on. Kerr Okan got up front and person with the crowd, jumping around the stage, onto amps and into the mind of the crowd with comments like “we signed yet?” “Is this just a room full of Glasgow” met with hysteria from the crowd. He’s a star, what’s next for The LaFontaines? We’ll let the new record do the talking.

The Van T’s attracted a massive crowd and as the reverb rocketed through the venue and with that the electricity of their performance grabbed everyone’s attention. For TTV, this is a band who we’ve seen grab the crowd by the balls, hold a crowd like putty in their hands and really drive an audience into insanity. We’re talking mosh pits, crowd surfers, stage invasions. But today, it’s a mellow affair; this is an industry-filled room after all but what doesn’t escape the band is their chemistry. And for that, the room is transfixed. This is a really special performance, it’s one that screams growth and stature, they’ve done so much and yet have so much more to show. We’re eager for more tunes and more performances; they’ve certainly got it in them.

Be Charlotte is on a pedestal in the eyes of the Scottish music industry and it’s not just the boombox she stands on as her angelic voice rides electric beats. She’s a young star that’s done so well thus far, playing shows in SXSW, South Asia and selling out gigs around Scotland. What really resonates as she takes to the stage in Brighton’s Brighthelm with a huge crowd at her mercy is, what’s next? Where will this performance go? Will it be epic, will it take things to another level? We’re not sure it transcends the parameters she’s set in the past, but this is a different type of gig. ‘Machines That Breathe’ breaks out of the set and all is confirmed, Be Charlotte is a true showcase of Scotland.

TeenCanteen could have been cursed with a hungover crowd, late to attend the first gigs of the day after a night of partying at the countless late events around Brighton. The venue was packed though, filled with what appeared to be fans and industry peeps alike, they’re pop tunes lifting the mood of those in the Brighthelm. The band have just been announced on the longlist for this year’s Scottish Album of the Year Award so it’ll be interesting to see how the rest of 2017 pans out for the band.

Without a doubt, Saint PHNX stole the show. Not only at the Showcasing Scotland event, but they were one of the highlights of all the bands we caught across the packed festival schedule. The Glasgow band are as ever today on fine form, full of the chat and bravado plus they’ve got the tunes to turn them into a band that fit right onto a Radio 1 playlist. Their charisma and effortlessness on stage gave them the appearance of a band who’d been doing this for years. Single ‘King’ is a bonafide hit and a song that we can picture across festival stages time and time again. Watch this space….. Check out their recent session below:

Paisley rapper Shogun debuted a video for ‘Vulcan’ on Youtube in 2016 and attracted attention up and down the country, earning over half a million views and gaining plaudits from the likes of Stormzy. Following in the footsteps of the latter (who made a name for himself with freestyle ‘Shut Up’), it’s fair to say that Shogun is now one of the most promising acts Scotland has to offer. His set during Showcasing Scotland was yet another display of how Shogun is brining Scottish grime to an international stage.

The second of the two bands we brought to TTV HQ ahead of The Great Escape, Spinning Coin were the final band to perform during the Scottish Showcase to yet another packed out crowd. A by-product of Glasgow’s DIY scene and one that sits perfectly alongside inspirations like The Pastels and Orange Juice, Spinning Coin are signed to Domino and their performance at Showcasing Scotland’s showcase was testament to that signing. The band are a different class, tight and floating in a cloud of hypnotic tunes. Check out their TTV session below: