Qobuz back in Brighton for The Great Escape, hosting The Qobuz Sessions and industry event with AIM
Music streaming and download platform returns to the English seaside to showcase emerging talent and support the independent music community
Paris, 07 May 2026 – Qobuz returns to The Great Escape festival as a sponsor for the third year running. The artist-first, independent music streaming and download platform has a long history of supporting live music, particularly events showcasing emerging talent. And Brighton’s annual ‘festival for new music’ fits the bill perfectly.
Taking place in the historic English seaside town known for its independent streak and love of live music, The Great Escape runs from 13–16 May. Qobuz will host two official events across the festival programme.
The Qobuz Sessions at The Great Escape
Once again, the platform is running The Qobuz Sessions at The Great Escape – a series of live performances at Komedia Basement. Taking place on Saturday 16 May from 12:00 to 16:00,
the show features live performances from the following acts and set times:
Flora Hibberd (12:30) – expect delicately-packaged melodies from London-born, Paris-based artist’s debut full-length album, Swirl. Influenced by Hibberd’s background as a translator, Swirl explores the nuances of language, decoding the slippages where English and French intertwine.
Hemi Hemmingway (13:30) – the New Zealand showman describes Wings of Desire, his 2026 release as “all at once a celebration of a personal triumph, a deep dive into my soul, a massive team effort, a relief, an internal sigh; a project of total self-discovery”.
Ebi Soda (14:30) – the Brighton-formed quintet blends jazz, hip-hop and post-punk energy, while pulling inspiration from the gritty, bass-heavy atmospheres of UK underground rave culture rather than classic jazz. The outfit’s latest release is 2025’s frank dean and andrew.
Native James (15:30) – festivalgoers fearing a Saturday afternoon energy slump should take a dose of Native James. Confessions of a Sinner, the Ipswich-based artist’s latest album, melds hip hop, grime, punk, rock, metal and garage into a sound that is as distinct as it is captivating.
Happy Hour with AIM
On Thursday 14 May, Qobuz will co-host a Happy Hour with the Association of Independent Music (AIM). Running from 17:30 until 19:30 at Dead Wax Social in Brighton’s North Laine, the relaxed networking event brings the music industry together for drinks and conversation at one of the city’s most music-obsessed bars.
Dan Mackta, Managing Director of North America and Northern Europe at Qobuz, said:
“Brighton, UK, in May is becoming a Qobuz habit. And not one we intend to shake off any time soon. The opportunity to be part of an event where discovering new music is the raison d’être chimes perfectly with our approach. We’re looking forward to our Komedia showcase and the industry drinks with AIM, as well as getting lost in the Lanes, only to spill out somewhere unexpected and catch the next big thing playing live.”
