Massive Sound
Small City.
Two Hats Management, in collaboration with the Pioneer Club, are proud to announce Escape to the City 2026.
Building on the success of Escape to the City 2025 this one-day music festival will showcase some of the best new talent in the independent music scene, including local talent from St Albans.
The event spans across the venue’s two stages and will comprise of 10 artists, with styles ranging from alt-rock to cheeky indie to alt-pop!
The 2026 Lineup
Home Counties return with their second album Humdrum (Submarine Cat Records), a sharp, dance-driven evolution produced by Al Doyle of LCD Soundsystem and Hot Chip. Trading guitars for restless grooves and twitchy synths, the band dissect the chaos of modern life with wit and precision. Dual vocalists Will Harrison and Lois Kelly explore jealousy, self-doubt and overthinking across ten hook-laden tracks that balance melancholy and euphoria. Already acclaimed for their electrifying live shows, Humdrum cements Home Counties as one of the UK’s most inventive new bands.
Prima Queen is a transatlantic indie-pop/indie-folk duo composed of best friends Louise Macphail (based in the UK) and Kristin McFadden (based in Chicago). Known for their melodic songwriting, vulnerable lyricism, and soft yet powerful soundscapes, the duo has drawn comparisons to artists like HAIM and Big Thief.Their music is a mix of indie-pop, indie-folk, and "soft rock,characterized by rich harmonies, diaristic lyrics, and a mix of gentle melodies and angsty, guitar-driven indie.Having built a glowing live reputation through appearances at the likes of Glastonbury, SXSW and Pitchfork Paris in recent times, Prima Queen have already attracted plaudits from all corners of the press landscape (The Guardian, The I Paper, The Independent, The Times, NME, DIY, Dork, The Line Of Best Fit, Clash), whilst their previous five singles have all landed on the BBC 6 Music playlist (Steve Lamacq, Huw Stephens, Lauren Laverne, Craig Charles) to widespread praise.
PUNCHBAG
Colliding the raw unfiltered energy of punk, with the overflowing ecstasy of pop, emerges PUNCHBAG. A new electrifying brother-sister duo, from South London. With fierce tempos and ferocious energy, their music is an explosively cathartic release of raw intensity and unapologetic fun.
Disgusting Sisters are a chaotic electronic pop rock duo of real-life sisters Jules & Josie - raised between the UK and France, bonded by emo music, dyed hair, campsite summers, and a shared obsession with horror movies & cult TV. Julianna drums in London. Josephine makes films in Paris. On Christmas 2024, mid-Twin Peaks binge and wine-fuelled nostalgia, they wrote a song about their mum’s dog - and accidentally started a band. Now, they’re making loud, weird & emotionally charged bangers inspired by their teenage playlists, sibling chaos, and their favourite dysfunctional billionaires (yes, the name comes from Succession). Welcome to the world of DISGUSTING SISTERS: part pop, part punk, fully unhinged.
jo from school
jo from school is an emerging music artist known for her folk-inspired sound, active social media presence and for performing live across the UK. She is preparing to release her first single.
Lonnie Gunn builds an uncanny world, with uncomfortable Lynchian atmospherics against a backdrop of 90’s bone crush guitars, deranged and detuned synthesisers and 2000s emo drama - her deeply confessional vocals veering between childlike innocence and a desperate, howling intensity. Lonnie Gunn recently announced that she will be supporting Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) on the London date of their 2026 European Tour.
The anxious brainchild of artist Jessica Baker, ugly ozo is the sonic diary of a chronic oversharer, laying bare the most confronting corners of the female experience. Taking inspiration from the likes of The Breeders, Wolf Alice, Autolux and NewDad, the musician has garnered widespread acclaim in recent months following the release of EP lead singles
'madonna', 'sink or swim', 'onto a winner' and 'cherry' - written and recorded at REX Studio with longtime collaborator and producer Macks Faulkron (HighSchool, Picture Parlour, She's In Parties).
Having recently completed a Dope Lemon tour support, ugly ozo has also gained countless plaudits across the press landscape (DIY Magazine, Dork Magazine, The Line Of Best Fit, Clash, Rough Trade, Under The Radar). With BBC 6 Music becoming strong supporters (Nathan Shepherd, Chris Hawkins, Amy Lamé - 'Sunday Girl' feature), as well as repeated backing from Radio X (John Kennedy) and KEXP (Cheryl Waters), the indie riser is fast becoming a standout figure amongst the emerging indie elite.
.png)
Woman Wept are the whoresome foursome from London, bringing resting bitch face punk to every stage that will have them. Their signature sound shifts indie melodies into a gritty gear, every guitar lick, lyric, bass line and crash tastefully created to make the patriarchy's toes curl.
Pearlescent
Known for their introspective take on classic British Indie, Pearlescent are a four piece band straight out of Stevenage. Finalists of JuiceBox Live’s Battle of the Bands final 2026.
Natsuma
Natsuma takes inspiration from the rock greats; Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, RHCP and Prince in tandem with her deep love of underground artists like Jai Paul. Her self-produced sound is new, inexplicably addictive, free and vibrant.
Natsuma has been religiously gigging with her own music since she was 17 (legally of course;). She would play open mics around town, go to jams every week and saturate herself in too many bands.
Nat’s first experience with touring was at 19 when she supported Glen Tilbrook (of the band Squeeze) with her solo set on his UK tour around theatres
Alongside that, she gained great acclaim as a session guitarist playing stages like : the mainstage of BST Hyde Park and Boardmasters and the dance tent at Reading and Leeds. To name a few of the artists she played for : Humble the Great, Caity Baser, Jadu Heart, Lexi Carrol and Gretel - who she supported on her UK, US and EU tour, Nat now produces and writes for other artists alongside herself and is cooking up a new project.