42 new escapees today announced their plans to join the other outlaws already flocking to THE GREAT ESCAPE 2012. The 42 new acts will be perpetrating a veritable crimewave of shows in 30 venues across the city.

New acts set to hit the seaside town this year include legendary house pioneer DJ LEO ZERO, disco-rock leftfielders WE HAVE BAND, Norfolk based electro-bumpkin NATHAN FAKE, groove-metal up setters THE DEFILED, rapturous indie stalwarts TRIBES, soulful songstress REN HARVIEU, Chicago raconteur WILLIS EARL BEAL, soul revivalists THE MILK, Australian psych set POND, poetic scribe CHRIS T-T, dub-reggae soloist HOLLIE COOK and hip-hop noise master DAN LE SAC.

THE GREAT ESCAPE is also pleased to announce that RED STRIPE LAGER will be sponsoring this year's street gigs. Festival goers should keep their eyes peeled for the Red Stripe van that will travel to each of the street gigs - it is an interactive work of art that has been designed by British artist, Rose Stallard. To find out where the street gigs will be, sign up for the official Great Escape text service (text ESCAPE to 80039*) or follow the van's progress @redstripelager.

FORD return to The Great Escape again this year and will be filming more exclusive sessions for BANDSINTRANSIT.COM. Fans should visit the site to see exclusive sessions from this year’s GREAT ESCAPE plus a host of other acts including DRY THE RIVER, CITIZENS!, SPECTOR and MICHAEL KIWANUKA.

THE GREAT ESCAPE will once again be deploying a fabulous central hub for the use of all festival goers. This is where you pick up your wristbands and can buy official Great Escape merchandise. There is also a licensed bar serving Red Stripe Lager, Kenco 2 Go hot drinks and snacks like Cadbury’s chocolate and Tyrrells crisps. Oh, and then there’s the music. Bands will be playing throughout the day. DOC MARTENS will be providing a photo booth for the area. Also look out for the Metahub, a great interactive screen installation at the Festival Hub. Click the Metahub link on the official TGE app to share your favourite moments of TGE and see if you make it onto the big screens.

The complete list of new acts is as follows: TRIBES, REN HARVIEU, FILTHY BOY, POND, CHRIS T-T, THE MILK, WILLIS EARL BEAL, DAN LE SAC,  ZEBRA AND SNAKE, WE HAVE BAND,THOMAS J SPEIGHT, JAKE MATTISON, EUGENE MCGUINNESS, DONOVAN WOODS, DJ LEO ZERO, GORGEOUS GEORGE, THE BOTS, SAM SURE AND GIACOMO, HOLLIE COOK, RAZIKA, CLEAN BANDIT, FRENCH FILMS, THE CROOKES, CHILDHOOD, SUNLESS 97, ECHO LAKE, RED INK, NATHAN FAKE, THE DEFILED, KINNIE THE EXPLORER, LITTLE JINDER, KARIN PARK, DEAR PRUDENCE, LOVEPARK, VINYL JACKET, MAUSI, HYDE & BEAST, FRISKA VILJOR, THE ROYAL CONCEPT, BIG WAVE RIDERS and AGENT SIDE GRINDER.

The Alternative Escape will be returning to TGE once again now larger than ever before, taking in over 20 additional venues to the core TGE programme. The Alternative Escape allows promoters, media partners, record labels and anyone else interested in promoting live music to host their own creative showcases as part of the wider Great Escape Festival. Acts to appear on this year’s Alternative Escape bill include DISCLOSURE, FRONTIERS, HOWLER, 22, THE CHAPMAN FAMILY and EAGULLS.  On top of this there will be special showcases and secret guests presented by the likes of Sofar Sounds and Republic of Music.

Tickets available from here