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.
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]
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
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.
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]