Electronic fans can immerse themselves in music from the Scottish scene’s most promising musicians at Connect Festival next weekend, alongside performances from award-winning headliners Jon Hopkins, The Chemical Brothers and more.
Connect is Edinburgh’s newest festival experience combining the best in up-and-coming talent and award-winning headliners. This is a festival for music lovers, and the first edition at the Royal Highland Centre Showground in August 2022 promises to be one to remember.
From August 26-28, Connect Festival is set to celebrate Scotland’s electronic music scene with their Unknown Pleasures line-up, which features some of the genre’s most exciting local talent. From Hammer’s hedonistic hits to Taahliah’s energetic electro-pop, the rave-ready sets already known and loved by Scotland’s club loyals will be the unexpected highlight of your weekend.
Hammer is a Belfast-born DJ and producer, boasting a decade-long residency at Glasgow’s legendary Sub Club and sets at world-renowned venues and festivals from Parklife to Panorama Bar under his belt. His time in Glasgow, learning from Sub Club DJ legends and fellow Connect performers Optimo, saw him push the boundaries of dance music to create his warm, rich signature sound. Hammer’s recently sold-out event series, The Hammer Hits, saw him come together with JG Wilkes and Luca Lozano, though he is also a long-time collaborator of Bicep with fan-favourite ‘Dahlia’ establishing him as one of the most exciting DJ/producers in the UK. Hammer fans can catch his set on Friday 26th August at the Unknown Pleasures Stage.
Taahliah
Glasgow-based DJ and producer Taahliah is breathing new life into electro-pop music, confidently establishing her place in the underground queer scenes of Glasgow and Berlin. 2021 saw Taahliah release her debut mini-album ‘Angelica’ to acclaim earning praise from VTSS, Loraine James, and Sherelle – who handpicked Taahliah’s track ‘Electronica Vividness’ to feature on the inaugural release of her freshly launched label, ‘Beautiful’. In the same year, she made history as the first Black Trans artist to be nominated at the SAY Awards. Taahliah can be found making waves at Connect’s Unknown Pleasures Stage on Friday 26th August.
Barry Can’t Swim
Edinburgh-born Barry Can’t Swim is a DJ/producer with a difference. A classically-trained multi-instrumentalist, his background has formed his unique brand of worldly, jazz-infected electronic music. His love for music festivals inspired him to write and release ‘Sunday at Glasto’ back in 2020 ahead of his debut EP ‘Amor Fati’ in 2021, which earned him plays on BBC Radio 1 with praise from Annie Mac and Apple Music’s ‘Up Next UK’ Artist of the Month spot. Connect crowds can dance to the latest drops from his recently released ‘More Content’ EP by checking out the Unknown Pleasures Stage on Sunday 28th August.
Pocket is an electronic music producer based in Edinburgh, named in BBC Radio 1 Introducing and MixMag’s ‘25 Artists to Watch 2022’. With a focus on textured sounds, Pocket’s music strives to be inward and intimate, bringing together gloomy, erratic percussion and bass design with delicate yet playful melodies. Fan-favourite ‘Different Ways to Love You’ and new track ‘Wax’ are guaranteed to get festival-goers grooving, as well as his official remixes for Flume’s label Future Classic and Charli XCX. Pocket will play his hometown festival Connect on Friday 26th August at the Unknown Pleasures Stage.
Nightwave
Maya Medvesek is a Slovenia-born Glasgow-based, DJ, producer, vocalist, club promoter & label boss under the alias of Nightwave. Renowned for her energetic sets, Nightwave is no newbie to the festival circuit having graced the decks of some of the most iconic stages around the world such as Sonar, Isle of Wight and Scotland’s own Riverside. A vast array of releases over the past decade have seen her sound evolve as she explores her many influences from Detroit techno to electro, acid, Chicago house and old rave nostalgia. Dance the day away to Nightwave at the Unknown Pleasures Stage on Saturday 27th August.
Don’t miss a beat at Connect Festival by combining visits to our Top 5 Emerging Electronic Artists with high-energy sets from acclaimed headliners Jon Hopkins, The Chemical Brothers and more at the Royal Highland Centre this weekend.
More at www.connectmusicfestival.com