Entrance to Connect Festival 2022- Picture Source: Donald Erskine

Fourteen years since it was last held, Connect Festival burst into life at the weekend and rose from the ashes. The inaugural event to take place at the Royal Highland Showground in Edinburgh, it ran from 26-28th August.

Boasting cult-followed headliners in IDLES, The Chemical Brothers and The National – the musical cornucopia in the capital was full of delights. Marketed as a more ‘mature’ festival, Connect set out to provide an alternative festival for a more leftfield group of music-lovers.

Connect Festival 2022 Line-up. Picture Source: Connect Festival

City Live attended the Sunday of the festival, with the site remarkably clean for the final day of the festival, not doubt aided by the forgiving weather keeping the terra firma, firm. The day kicked off with some self-care sessions, including cold water baths and some breathwork – no doubt a saviour for those entering a third day in the heat, but not a necessity for day-trippers.

Hamish Hawk kicked off the Tiny Changes ‘Gardener’s Cottage’ intimate stage, his poetic lyrics with his blend of Morrisey-esque vocals and David Byrne-esque dance moves was a captivating watch. Hawk also played later on the Guitars & Other Machines stage.

Hamish Hawk on The Tiny Changes Stage. Picture Source: Donald Erskine

Black Country, New Road opened the main stage – ‘The Grand Parade’ – this multi-faceted, multi-instrumentalist laden group blended saxophone, violin, flute, guitar, bass, accordion, keys and drums into a unique sound which ebbed and flowed extremely well.

Black Country, New Road opening The Grand Parade. Picture Source: Donald Erskine

4/6ths of Admiral Fallow then took to the Tiny Changes stage with charm and wit from frontman Louis Abbott. Starting with a freestyled soundcheck song before segwaying into an album-spanning stripped-back set. With harmonies and heart-warming instrumentals galore, Abbott and co were the perfect finale for the intimate stage. Admiral Fallow also played later on the Guitars & Other Machines stage with their full ensemble and did not disappoint, playing with vigour and a fleshed-out fully amplified sound.

Admiral Fallow on the Tiny Changes stage. Picture Source: Donald Erskine

Bombay Bicycle Club were the first in a three-course guitar band buffet that closed the main stage. Bringing their upbeat, pop-infused indie rock that erupts into singalong chants and choruses – they got the early evening crowd dancing. Standouts from their set included ‘Everything Else Has Gone Wrong’ which ends in an affirmation chant which instils positivity in times where it is needed more than ever. Their set also harked back to their first album with ‘Lamplight’ being another highlight, before closing with ‘Always Like this’. They are a band who have grown exponentially since their early 2000s inception and are ageing like a very fine wine – a must-see.

Bombay Bicycle Club on The Grand Parade Stage. Picture Source: Donald Erskine

With The Grand Parade stage now painted in sunset red, and the crowd buzzing with excitement, Glasgow’s Post-Rock stalwarts Mogwai erupted onto the stage volcanically. The wall of sound created by Stuart Braithwaite, Barry Burns, Dominic Aitchison, and Martin Bulloch sent shockwaves into the stratosphere, no doubt. For the most part instrumental, Mogwai manage to captivate their audience both sonically and physically. Planted on the ground, you stand in Blown-Away Man style, just trying to hold onto the edge of the earth – as they try their best to blow you off of it. Despite their decibel-busting abilities, Mogwai do turn to some softer notes from time to time (Ritchie Sacramento), but they are definitely not a band for those that require the full function of their ears the next day!

Mogwai on stage with their ‘Mogwai Young Team’ logo. Picture Source: Donald Erskine

Headliners, The National, were the main course for the day – a delectable closing act for a weekend full of wonders. Walking on to ‘I Can’t Forget’ by Leonard Cohen: Matt Berninger, the twin brothers Dessner (Aaron and Bryce), and brothers Scott & Brian Devendorf the tight-knit, road-worn outfit take their battle positions and prepare for their first Scottish show since 2019. What followed was an engulfing, communal experience. Berninger launched himself into the crowd on multiple occasions, the adoring masses enveloping him in their sweaty embrace. As the crowd swallowed him, they took the vocal reigns and boomed every line in perfect time.

The National on Stage at Connect Festival. Picture Source: Donald Erskine

A career-spanning set saw nearly every album of The National getting a run-out – and some new tracks being paraded out. Highlights included ‘Bloodbuzz Ohio’, ‘I Need My Girl’, ‘Light Years’ and ‘Mr November’. As well as getting in amongst the crowd, Berninger and Dessner’s charm in the in-between moments came in spades. Before playing ‘Slow Show’ they joked: “This is our only song that gets played at weddings, we’ve always considered ourselves more of a divorce band!”

Lightshows show changing moods as The National get more brooding. Picture Source: Donald Erskine

Finishing their set with fan-favourite ‘About Today’, the rousing ballad to the dying flame of love, The National rounded off a euphoric set with pure, vein-injected catharsis. Having played a surprise set on the Tiny Changes set earlier in the day and dedicating the same song to the late Scott Hutchison, emotions ran high as the song came to a close. This dedication was re-affirmed as the band walked off as ‘My Backwards Walk’ by Frightened Rabbit (Hutchison’s band) played out to the Edinburgh crowd. A nod to the fact that Frightened Rabbit would no doubt have been attending, or on stage, had he still been around.

Coming to the close of The National’s set. Picture Source: Donald Erskine

Following a few years of disruption, every festival has been finding its feet, this makes Connect feel not too out of place in the live event environment. The new site at The Royal Highland Centre worked well, albeit with some teething issues – you found yourself with more than a little background noise from other stages during some performances, a rearrangement of stages should rectify this. Overall, Connect serves its desired purpose: it gives a space for alternative music fans in Scotland to gather and see their favourite acts. Let’s hope there isn’t another 14 years before we re-Connect again.

★★★★☆ - With some teething issues, Scotland’s alternative music fans once again have a place to congregate at CONNECT.

REVIEW: Connect Festival – Sunday, 28th August 2022