Connect Music Festival
Connect Music Festival is a Scottish music festival promoted by DF Concerts. It debuted in 2007 and 2008 on the banks of Loch Fyne at Inveraray Castle, drawing headline sets from the Beastie Boys and Franz Ferdinand. After a 14‑year hiatus the event was relaunched in August 2022 at the Royal Highland Centre Showgrounds beside Edinburgh Airport, pitching itself at “music fans who have grown out of T in the Park. Connect 2022 was headlined by The National, The Chemical Brothers and Idles; the 2023 edition featured Primal Scream, Fred again. and boygenius, attracting about 25,000 attendees over three days. Promoters confirmed a “fallow year” for 2024, stating that Edinburgh Summer Sessions will use the site instead.
The new format of Connect is aimed at more mature music fans 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.
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.
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.
Format
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
2007 Festival
Lineup
Oyster Stage
Guitars & Other Machines
Manicured Noise
Your Sound
The bandstand stage, set for new and rising bands, included performances from Frightened Rabbit, Rick Redbeard, The Kazoo Funk Orchestra, and The Twilight Sad.2008 Festival
In 2008, the festival changed its name to Hydro Connect due to sponsorship from Scottish Hydro Electric. It was held between Friday 29 August and Sunday 31 August.Line-up
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.2022 Festival
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.
| Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| Idles | The Chemical Brothers | The National |
| Jon Hopkins | Bonobo | Mogwai |
| John Grant | The Twilight Sad | Bombay Bicycle Club |
| Jessie Buckly & Bernard Butler | Caribou | Little Simz |
| The Mysterines | Holly Humberstone | Self Esteem |
| Charlotte Adigery & Bolis Pupal | Chloe Moriondo | Black Country, New Road |
| Future Utopia | Lucia & The Best Boys | Rae Morris |
| Maeve | Rachel Chinouriri |
| Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| Optimo | Erol Alkan | Horse Meat Disco |
| I.Jordan | Krystal Klear | Sam Gellaitry |
| Hammer | Dance System | Jamz Supernova |
| TAAHLIAH | Nightwave | Barry Can't Swim |
| KILIMANJARO | Push It | Rebecca Vasmant |
| Nadia Summer B2B DIJA | Karma Kid |