Having finally brought the global tradition of 'live-in' festivals to Sydney in 2006 and 2007, The Great Escape returns for its third year in 2008, with the grounds of Newington Armory once again playing host to a jam-packed weekend of music, camping and more.

This year The Great Escape is moving to a new date, the first weekend in October – the 'Labour Day' Long Weekend (October 4 & 5). The Great Escape will be kicking off the 2008–09 Festival season with a bang, seizing the opportunity to be the party starter and avoiding the Festival fatigue that sets in as the season grinds to a close at Easter.

The Great Escape's first incarnation in 2005 (as the Cockatoo Island Festival) was held on Sydney Harbour's Cockatoo Island and utilised abandoned buildings and warehouses as exhibition rooms, concert halls and shopping/food venues.

Featured bands included Art Of Fighting, Decoder Ring, The Wailers and Youth Group.

During Easter 2006, The Great Escape launched at Newington Armory. 

Nearest suburbs to Newington Armory include the 2000 Olympics village, Newington & Sydney suburb Silverwater. Newington Armory is about 30 minutes (by car) from central Sydney, the journey being just over 20 km.

On the northern fringes of Sydney Olympic Park and nestled on the southern banks of the Parramatta River, the Armory is flanked to the east by Newington Nature Reserve. Featured bands for the first festival at Newington included Sigur Ros, Silverchair, Martha Wainwright, The Herd, The Black Keys, Bernard Fanning and Expatriate.

In 2007, The Great Escape was also held over the Easter holidays. Wolfmother, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Hilltop Hoods, The Vines, Ben Kweller, Fourplay, Missy Higgins, The Living End and Kaki King played.