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Edinburgh Live

National

Abbie Meehan

First look at Edinburgh Connect festival starting today at Royal Highland Centre

Connect Edinburgh Royal Highland Centre Idles Jon Hopkins Bombay Bicycle Club Chemical Brors

A brand new music and entertainment festival is kicking off in Edinburgh this evening, and its organisers have shared an exclusive first look around the site.

Connect Festival will take place from Friday, August 26 2022 until Sunday August 28 2022, and boasts heavyweight headliners such as The Chemical Brothers, IDLES, Bombay Bicycle Club and The National. Event manager Katt Lingard has told Edinburgh Live about what we can expect from the new festival starting in a mere couple of hours.

Katt said: "What's really key about Connect is that it's about so much more than just the music. The music is exceptional - I haven't seen a line-up like this all summer.

"But it's the other experiences that we wrap around it and try to really bring to the forefront as well. Like comedy, spoken word, debates and conversations. We're working with some really interesting local charities as well that are music-orientated and environmentally-oriented.

"We also are working on some extra special spaces and experiences that you can take part in. Like the chef's table, working with Barry Bryson who is a hometown hero in Edinburgh in terms of the food events that he puts on.

"And really it's a chance to think about connecting with like-minded people. After a couple of years of people feeling separated and not getting to see their favourite bands and their favourite people and now you can have all of that in one place.”

The festival is spread across the Royal Highland Centre, with a main stage, a street food area called the Forage & Feast section, and even a more relaxing section, called the Rest & Be Thankful area, for those looking to find their "inner zen". Katt has found it difficult to pick her highlight for the whole weekend, but encourages everyone to join in with all the activities on offer.

Katt continued: "I certainly encourage everybody to go and spend some time in the middle and get involved with our wellness activities and jump into this speakeasy as well for our talks and panellists and comedians that are in there. There's a lot of known names and there's some of the most renowned acts from this year's Fringe Festival in there, so it's a fantastic chance to get to see them in Edinburgh at Connect.

"Also, I'd really recommend the Tiny Changes x Gardeners Cottage, we've been working with the Tiny Changes charity throughout the planning phase to create a really special, intimate environment there where it's stripped back. It's just about the act, the music and the people, the fans that want to connect with them about it. So it will be a really special place.

"Other than that, we've obviously got an incredible line-up which is so diverse and has so much depth and breadth across it. There's plenty to see and do. There won't be a boring minute.”

Katt has also revealed the artists she is most looking forward to seeing, adding: "I’m excited to see IDLES. I haven't had a chance to catch their live show yet and I know that they are going to bring something really different and special to Connect. But for them to be followed up by Jon Hopkins afterwards is something I never ever thought that I would see. So I’m really excited about that.”

Check out our photo story below for a first look at the Connect Festival in Edinburgh.

For more information about the Connect festival, read on below for further details.