In honour of The Great Escape turning ten next summer, it's time to revisit some of the best acts to grace our stages over the past decade. This week we're headed back to 2006 where it all began...

The Cribs(UK)
Played @ The Beach

Honoured with an "Outstanding Contribution to Music' award from NME and the "Spirit of Independence' award at the Q Awards in 2012, lo-fi indie rockers The Cribs were deservedly one of TGE 2006's best. Following the success of 2008 album "Men's Needs Women's Needs Whatever", The Cribs have gone on to headline the John Peel stage at Glastonbury as well as returning to the Corn Exchange for a sensational club show for TGE 2010, with then band-member Johnny Marr. The brothers are currently working on a sixth album expected to be released next year - watch this space.

Gossip (US)
Played @ The Beach

Since 2006, Gossip have dropped their "The', but little else. The genre-crossing dance-punk trio, fronted by the mesmerizing Beth Ditto, have released another 4 albums since material from their first took The Beach by storm back in our inaugural year. Although their sound has evolved (their most recent album, 2012's "A Joyful Noise' is poppier and more dance based) their charisma and high-energy certainly hasn't waned - we can't wait to see what they'll do next.

The Maccabees (UK)
Played @ Concorde 2

Indie rock outfit The Maccabees first played TGE in 2006, returning for two sets in 2009 and drawing a packed crowd for their fantastic closing slot at The Corn Exchange. Since then, the band have had main stage slots at Reading and Leeds, an Ivor Novello award and a Mercury Prize nomination, to name but a few achievements. With support dates for Glasto-headliners Kasabian beginning next month, and a fourth album in the pipeline, The Maccabees don't look to be slowing down any time soon.

Mystery Jets (UK)
Played @ Sallis Benney Theatre

Something of a TGE regular, the Mystery Jets have pulled a packed crowd many times over (they've played TGE four times over the past decade, in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2012 respectively). NME's description of their 2008 set as an "indie party' is an apt testament to their electric live show; although they've no live dates announced at the moment, their performance at the Transgressive 10th birthday bash last week confirmed that they are still as fantastic as ever.

Bat for Lashes (UK)
Played @ The Spiegeltent

Natasha Khan's atmospheric, otherworldly sound has captivated many over the last ten years, with nominations for Brit awards and the Mercury prize following her highly successful second and third albums. The 2012 offering from the psychedelic, magical world of Bat for Lashes, "The Haunted Man' was named "a masterpiece' by The Times, earning her a headline slot at Field Day the following year. Khan's constant innovation and sweeping emotional intensity make her one of the most exciting acts around.

Other stand out artists to have played TGE 2006 include British Sea Power, The Electric Soft Parade, Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly, Howling Bells, Martha Wainwright, Metronomy, Paulo Nutini, Richard Hawley, The Bees and The Spinto Band.

Here is our playlist featuring a few stand out artists from TGE 2006

Words by Eleanor Weinel

The post #TBT - A RETROSPECTIVE LOOK AT TGE 2006 appeared first on The Great Escape.