Hayley Williams Announced for the Great Escape 2020

Festival Crowd Header

The Great Escape is excited to announce that Hayley Williams will be performing at this year’s festival on Friday 15 May 2020

Speaking of the performance, Hayley Williams comments “Wow. I am going on tour. Myself. It’s not Paramore and truthfully, it’s just a little terrifying. But if I know anything, it’s that there’s no safer place (besides at home with my dog) than to be on a stage, in front of the people who I’ve grown up singing my lungs out for. There was a time I thought I wouldn’t tour Petals For Armor. What a joke. I must.

It’s going to be so satisfying to feel the energy of a crowd that close again, especially while performing songs that feel so vital for me; songs I have never performed before for an audience.”

Rising to acclaim as the vocalist of genre-neutral Grammy-winning band Paramore, Hayley Williams staked her claim as a masterfully innovative and evolving singer-songwriter with this year’s debut solo EP Petals For Armor I. Lead single Simmer marked Williams’ first new music release since Paramore’s chart-topping 2017 album After Laughter which landed at #1 on Billboard’s Alternative Albums chart, and #6 in the Billboard 200. Williams has also seen a plethora of successes in collaborations with the likes of Chvrches, Zedd and American Football.

Speaking of Petals For Armor I, Williams said, “I’m so ready and so incredibly humbled to get to share this project with the public. Making it was a scary, empowering experience. The songs just keep getting more personal”.

The Great Escape, the festival for new music, will be kicking off festival season playing host to over 500 up and coming artists across 30+ walkable venues, plus a music-led conference from 13-16 May 2020 in Brighton, England. Artists playing this year include Aitch, Nasty Cherry, Fontaines D.C., Arlo Parks, Ashnikko, Demob Happy, Svalbard, House Of Pharaohs and Strange Bones.

Celebrating 15 years in 2020, The Great Escape is pulling out all the stops at this year’s milestone festival. With more than 200 acts still to be announced, there’s much more to come for The Great Escape 2020.

Published on 14 March 2020 by UKFG

Recent News More news

  • Beloved UK festival Bloc hints at 2027 reunion

    Founders George Hull and Alex Benson of UK festival Bloc have hinted at a 2027 reunion event after relaunching the brand as a micro-home business. The festival, known for its innovative electronic music, was a holiday park fixture in the early '10s.

  • Southbank Centre Seeks Festival of Britain Memories in 75th Year

    Southbank Centre is looking for memories of the 1951 Festival of Britain, a national exhibition following WWII and austerity. The event aims to showcase the achievements in arts and science of the UK.

  • Kanye West to Headline Wireless Festival

    Kanye West will be headlining Wireless Festival, marking his first performance in the UK. Fans are eager to see the iconic rapper take the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable event.

  • Liz Hobbs brings Discovery Festival to Darlington

    Former world champion water skier Liz Hobbs is bringing a new series of weekend music festivals to the UK this summer, with one taking place in Darlington. The Discovery Festival will feature music acts like Five, Marc Almond, and Ella Henderson.

Upcoming Festivals Browse all

  • Winter's End Progressive Rock Festival

    9 April - 12 April 2026

    Winter's End Progressive Rock Festival 2026 Winter's End Progressive Rock Festival returns to Chepstow from 9–12 April 2026, hosted at the historic Drill Hall on Lower Church Street. This intimate ind...

  • Coachella

    10 April - 19 April 2026

    Coachella 2026 Coachella 2026 takes place over two weekends at the Empire Polo Club, Indio, California, from 10–12 April and 17–19 April. This renowned festival combines music, art, and culture in a v...

  • Modern Era

    10 April - 12 April 2026

    Modern Era 2026 Modern Era returns to London from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 April 2026 at the New Cross Inn, 323 New Cross Road, Paddock Wood. This three-day festival celebrates cutting-edge metal music...