Connect Music Festival

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Connect Music Festival
Jarvis Cocker performing on the main stage of the inaugural Connect Music Festival held on the banks of Loch Fyne on the west coast of Scotland, UK
Genre	Alternative rock, Punk rock, Indie rock, Dance
Location(s)	Inveraray Castle, Loch Fyne, Argyll, Scotland
Years active	2007, 2008, 2022, 2023

Connect Music Festival is a Scottish music festival. It took place at the Royal Highland Centre Showgrounds in Edinburgh in 2022 and 2023, having been revived from the previous format of the festival, which was held in the grounds of Inveraray Castle, located on the banks of Loch Fyne in Argyll, Scotland, in 2007 and 2008.

The new format of Connect is aimed at more mature music fans^[1] and welcomed headliners such as The National, The Chemical Brothers and Idles in 2022. Jon Hopkins, Bonobo, Mogwai, Little Simz, and Bombay Bicycle Club are amongst the names to have played in 2022.

The 2023 festival included headliners Primal Scream, Fred again.., boygenius, and Loyle Carner along with Franz Ferdinand, Young Fathers, Confidence Man, Friendly Fires, Arab Strap and many more.^[2]

As well as a diverse music programme, Connect highlights the importance of wellbeing and community throughout the event with a plethora of comedy, spoken word, visual arts, and exceptional locally sourced food and drink, alongside a wellness programme featuring yoga, cold water therapy, life coaching, breathworks and motivational talks.

For 2022 and 2023, Connect teamed up with Scotland-based charity Tiny Changes, which was set up in memory of Frightened Rabbit singer Scott Hutchison. The Tiny Changes x Gardeners Cottage featured acoustic sets from musicians as well as secret sets which are announced on the day. The 2022 festival saw headliners The National play a secret acoustic set to rave reviews.^[3]

In February 2024 the festival promoters DF Concerts announced that 2024 will be a fallow year for the festival, with the Edinburgh Summer Sessions taking place at the location instead.^[4]

The revived festival is composed of four stages of music and two other areas:

• The Grand Parade - Main Stage hosting the headline acts and other bands
• Guitars & Other Machines - More popular and less well known music acts
• Unknown Pleasures - Electronic and Dance acts
• Tiny Changes x Gardeners Cottage - Acoustic and secret sets
• The Speakeasy - Comedy, live podcast recordings, sustainability talks, spoken word
• Rest & Be Thankful - Yoga, meditation, breathworks

The festival was held between 31 August and 2 September 2007.

The bandstand stage, set for new and rising bands, included performances from Frightened Rabbit (Saturday), Rick Redbeard (Saturday), The Kazoo Funk Orchestra (Sunday), and The Twilight Sad (Sunday, playing directly following headliner Björk).^[5]

In 2008, the festival changed its name to Hydro Connect due to sponsorship from Scottish Hydro Electric.^[6] It was held between Friday 29 August and Sunday 31 August.

Artists performing included Manic Street Preachers, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, Amy MacDonald, Sigur Rós, Goldfrapp, Paolo Nutini, Kasabian, Glasvegas, Mercury Rev, Gossip, Elbow, Duffy, The Coral, Ladytron, The Roots, Sparks, Crystal Castles, Young Knives, Santigold, Joan As Police Woman, Gomez, Foy Vance and Noah and the Whale.

On 22nd February 2022, it was announced that organisers DF Concerts would be bringing back Connect in its new home of Royal Highland Centre Showgrounds, Edinburgh, on 26-28 August. While this new edition of Connect is not a camping festival in the traditional sense, there was luxury and boutique camping facilities available, including pre-pitched bell tents. There was also four hotels all within walking distance of the festival site due to its proximity to Edinburgh Airport.

Talking about the relaunch, CEO of DF Concerts Geoff Ellis said that the reason for choosing this location was due to the public transport links, helping make the event more sustainable.^[7]

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (February 2024)

The 2023 edition took place on 25–27 August.