FESTIVAL NEWS : CONNECT FESTIVAL DAY TWO ROUND UP

As the sun set across the Connect festival ground for the second night, fans were ready for something special as the legendary duo, The Chemical Brothers, made their epic appearance. With the atmosphere electric, the steely, magnetic groan of ‘Block Rockin’ Beats’ echoed out into the crowd, with a roaring cheer revellers swayed as if waves crashing into shore – a sight to see. The set was laced with nostalgic bangers from ‘Go’ and ‘Dig You Own Hole’, to a sensational cover of New Order’s ‘Temptation’. Yells of ‘Don’t Hold Back’, ruptured as an encore of ‘Galvanise’ boomed; a shower of balloons falling as the first note hit, what a way to see out Saturday at Connect. 

Renowned for his epic live shows which intricately infused UK garage with everything from ambient textures to house, jazz and R&B, Bonobo arrived at Connect with a bang. Reserved, he lets his music do the talking, and with an unbelievable set, characterised by genre-bending eclecticism and groovy melodies he had the audience in a dance induced trance. From their humble beginnings as a group of school friends drawn together by a shared passion for music, to Connect’s Grand Parade stage, The Twilight Sad opened with ‘Kill It In the Morning’ with their bass heavy grooves and James Graham’s signature twangy vocals permeating into the very heart of the crowd. An ode to melancholia and life in all its struggles, the band played alongside Frightened Rabbit’s Grant Hutchinson, covering their track ‘Keep Yourself Warm’. Incorporating elements of psychedelia and breakbeat drums, Caribou; the moniker of Dan Snaith, crafted a dreamy, euphoric set – reminiscent of the sweaty club basement we’re all too familiar with. 

Fresh off a Brits Rising Star Award, Holly Humberstone opened with ‘Vanilla’, whispering the lyrics ‘So tell me I’m wrong to think we’re far from having fun’ – teasing the audience, they screamed the chorus back to her “And I could go on and on and on!” delighted Holly smiled out at the waves of Connect revellers before saying “I haven’t been to Scotland in so long, I forgot how good it was!”. Chloe Moriondo, the self-confessed “internet kid” was beaming, telling the crowd “This is my first time playing in Edinburgh, I am sooo excited!”, and opened her set with the track ‘Body Bag’. Leading figures in Glasgow’s burgeoning underground scene, Lucia & The Best Boys take cues from the likes of Cocteau Twins and Siouxsie and The Banshees, to craft a totally spellbinding sound of 80s synths and smouldering electric guitar.

The alt.rock collective, Opus Kink stormed the Guitar & Other Machines stage to screams of “I love you!”. Flaunting a wild, thunderous energy, they stunned crowds’ the field over. Connect revellers checked into The Joy Hotel, enjoying a smorgasbord of vintage pop. Running on stage draped in a Scottish saltire, Edinburgh’s Swim School proved exactly why they’re one of the most exciting young bands to emerge from the capital in recent years, floating delicately between genres – from 90s grunge to indie pop, lead singer Alice Johnson was ecstatic, screaming “I wanna see your hands up!”. Picking their name from a ‘band generator’, NewDad were always destined for endearing irreverence as singer Julie Dawson combines her quirky lyrics with mammoth guitars, leaving the audience awestruck and craving more. Matt Maltese and his thoughtful ruminations on love, life and loss have seen him gain a rabid following and they were out in force today, building an immediate intimacy with them as he struck his piano keys, basking in the warm reception of his Connect crowd. As excited punters  made their way to the main stage, Kathryn Joseph looked up from her keyboard and through giggles she spoke coyly, “I don’t blame you, that band probably knows their notes” before an explosion of eccentric sound filled the dusk air. Leading lights in the early 90’s shoegaze scene, Ride defied expectations with a stripped back set, playing their 1990 debut  ‘Nowhere’ to the buzz of their cult following. 

It’s only day 2 but word was already spreading, the Unknown Pleasures tent is where the party’s at. With a blinding set from Glasgow’s own Nightwave, on-hand to keep the party vibes going well into the afternoon, along with Dance System, Krystal Klear and headliner Erol Alkan, it was an unstoppable tour de force of unadulterated electronica and a feel-good atmosphere. 

Stuart Braithwaite & James Graham of The Twilight Sad and Mogwai respectively were ‘In Conversation’ at the Speakeasy – enthralling audiences as they divulged their careers in the Scottish rock scene and the personal influences that shape their sound. Since winning the Hammer and Tongue Award in 2013, Leyla Josephine has gone from strength-to-strength with her poetry and spoken word. “I’m a poet from Glasgow now residing in Prestwick … don’t go there’, she said in a deadpan tone, the crowd laughing. From anecdotes about depression to mint viennetta’s, her autobiographical routine spanning her life (so far) – kept the crowd in hysterics. 

The Tiny Changes X Gardener’s Cottage welcomed Connect revellers in for another day of unique acoustic performances. Performing ‘Old Bear’ to the intimate crowd, Cloth made their return after a Guitar & Other Machines set on Friday. Lizzie Reid made her appearance to rapturous buzz and applause, there’s a first for everything it seems with Lizzie saying “This is one of the first times I’ve played piano, so my whole body is shaking right now.” 

There’s only one day of Connect 2022 left, as an epic Sunday sees an indie rock masterclass with The National headlining the Grand Parade stage alongside Mogwai, Bombay Bicycle Club, Little Simz and MORE.