All about Hydro Connect Music Festival
Connect newly renamed Hydro Connect happens in the fabulous and mystical ancient grounds of Inveraray Castle in Argyll - it's an 18th Century castle and steeped in history. Hydro Connect will be held over the weekend of Friday 29th to Sunday 31st August.
The festival, is specifically designed to be eco-friendly and have linked up with Scottish Hydro Electric who have lots of exciting ways to help people become more green onsite at the festival but also in their everyday lives when they leave the site.
Hydro Connect will bring you 7 stages and many surprises in The Enchanted Forest - in the Unknown Pleasures Tent Vegas and Club Noir will be hosting club nights, there will be an amazing range of food available from the Circuses & Bread Field.
There will be great camping options with spa facilities and Tipis, Yurts and Podpads!- Hydro Connect is organised by the same people who organise T in the Park - quality!
As the last of the snow melts on the hills surrounding Loch Fyne, the picturesque town of Inveraray is gearing up for the return of a very special friend. The newly christened Hydro Connect Music Festival will take place in the fairytale grounds of Inveraray Castle in Argyll from Friday 29th – Sunday 31st August.
Promoters DF Concerts have taken an enchanted castle, added some heather clad rolling hills, bespoke camping, sumptuous seafood, champagne, a touch of fairy dust plus heaped spoonfuls of some of the hottest talent from around the globe and bound it all together to create a unique boutique festival experience.
This year, the Duke of Argyll will welcome a brand new set of music fans alongside another brilliant line-up of artists from across a spectrum of styles connecting to create a musical melting pot in the castle grounds.
“I’m very much looking forward to this year’s Hydro Connect Festival and building on the huge success achieved by the event in year one. We’ve been working hard since the gates closed on last year’s festival to create an even more memorable experience for those who want to appreciate the finest the West Coast has to offer – from music to food and drink and the stunning landscape”.
The Duke of Argyll
Scotland’s favourite sons Franz Ferdinand will perform tracks from their highly anticipated third album, while Kasabian’s processed beats will resonate off the castle walls and back again. Recently crowned Godlike Geniuses Manic Street Preachers and Scotland’s other favourite son Paolo Nutini will be joining them on the bill.
Icelandic post rock pioneers Sigur Ros’ otherworldly melodies will reflect the festival’s gorgeous setting while Nick Cave’s Grinderman will perform in Scotland for the first time acting as the Big Bad Wolf to Duffy’s little Red Riding Hood. Amy MacDonald will make a welcome return to Inveraray while The Coral will treat fans to a very special acoustic performance and festival favourites The Levellers will also put in an appearance.
Roots and Elbow will also be making the journey to Inveraray alongside the charming country soaked talents of Scotland’s Camera Obscura, and the diverse soundscapes of Mercury Rev and Spiritualized.
The bluesy punk rock dance sound of the Gossip coupled with The Breeders and Sia will add more than a little sugar and spice to an unmissable line up that will swell in size over the coming months.
With a bill that deserves an inimitable performance space, Hydro Connect does not disappoint. The event’s Oyster Stage sits in a magnificent natural amphitheatre alongside a babbling brook with the Guitars and Other Machines Stage and the Your Sound Bandstand, supported by the Scottish Arts Council’s Youth Music Initiative, nearby. The showgirl glamour of Vegas and the burlesque drama of Club Noir will both return to the Unknown Pleasures Tent.
One of the most talked about areas of last year’s event was the Circuses and Bread field which was brimming over with delicious foods from Argyll. Festival goers will once again be able to rise early from their tents, tipis and pod pads and sample such treats as hot smoked salmon rolls, organic porridge oats, world famous Loch Fyne oysters and a delicious array of malt whiskies.
Follow the faeries to the far end of the festival site to find The Speakeasy, a space where coffee and conversation, acoustic performances, storytelling and a bit of comedy will be the order of the day. To invigorate the senses, visit the Rest and Be Thankful Spa for a massage or pop into the champagne tent for some bubbly heaven!
Organisers DF Concerts are passionate about live music which is why they strive to ensure that all of their events are as green and sustainable as possible allowing future generations of music fans to enjoy them too. As well as Hydro Connect continuing its CarbonNeutral status, the festival sponsor Scottish Hydro Electric will be helping us to communicate the green message to our audience.
Part of the Scottish and Southern Energy group, Scottish Hydro Electric are the UK's leading producer of cleaner, greener renewable energy.
“Hydro Connect is about offering music fans a totally different festival experience. Last year’s festival was the realisation of something I wanted to do since I first saw the grounds at Inveraray Castle. It is by far the most spectacular festival site I have ever seen in the UK and beyond and the line-up combined with the local produce and some really exciting alternative entertainment makes it the perfect way for music fans to end the summer.
We are really looking forward to working with our new sponsor Scottish Hydro Electric this year who are going to be invaluable in assisting with our pledge to be as green as possible – plus we aim to use as many local suppliers as possible so we are delighted that they are a Scottish company with such a great heritage. Thanks must also go to our funders at HIE Argyll & The Islands and Event Scotland.”
Geoff Ellis, Festival Organiser
“Scottish Hydro Electric is a Scottish based company and we're committed to helping the environment and continually looking for more ways we can help make a difference. We hope that by teaming up with DF Concerts we will be able to help them communicate to the Connect audience the ways in which they can not only be green onsite at the festival but also in their everyday lives when they leave the site.”
Wendy Barbour, Scottish Hydro Electric
Accomodation:
For accommodation packages, tipis and bespoke camping options, www.tangerinefields.co.uk
Travel:
Connect is a committed Carbon Neutral festival so music fans are asked to help our beautiful planet by traveling by coach. Citylink will once again be providing direct buses from key cities across Scotland plus Glasgow airport. Bus tickets are on sale now and must be booked in advance from www.citylink.co.uk or by calling 08705 501 501. Ticket & travel packages can also be purchased together from Ticketmaster at point of ticket purchase.
Parking:
Parking will be available but will be extremely limited and so people are advised to travel by Citylink. If you have no choice but to drive then please try to car share. You must also buy car passes in advance from Ticketmaster by calling 08444 999 990 or online at www.ticketmaster.co.uk
Search for a Festival