June 30, 2021
We are excited to reveal the first details of our 2021 festival programme, with a diverse music line-up that’s sure to get you moving.
Amongst the acts set to play in the shadow of the epic Granton Gasholder will be Scottish indie legend Pictish Trail, electronic maestro Rival Consoles and electro-pop star Hannah Diamond.
Other acts include afro-funk mega-band Ibibio Sound Machine and Manchester-based indie band The Orielles, alongside rising stars from the UK and Scottish music scene.
The line-up is just one part of our multi-arts festival, showcasing a diverse programme of music, visual art, theatre, dance and spoken word, alongside a series of creative collaborations.
View the full programme so far in our What’s On section.
Or go straight to grabbing your tickets on Citizen Ticket.
We’ve got lots more to come, but here’s a quick look at the programme so far…
Been waiting for the last year and a half for a decent party? Wait no longer! Come down for the opening event and help get the party started.
The whole festival will kick off with a reprise of The Call: an inspiring project conceived at the height of lockdown by composer Esther Swift, summoning 20 of the best, most eclectic Scottish musicians and conducting them from across the gasworks site with huge flags.
The stages will burst to life with performances by Edinburgh-based luminaries Calum Easter and Hamish Hawk, paving the way for one of Scotland’s most significant talents, all the way from the Isle of Eigg – Pictish Trail. Not The main stages will then burst to life with local luminaries Callum Easter and Hamish Hawk, plus magical singer-songwriter Tiberius b, all paving the way for one of Scotland’s most significant talents, all the way from the Isle of Eigg – Pictish Trail.
Not only is his Scottish indie-pop the kind to let your spirits soar, but there is a joy and mischief at the heart of his live performances, and we fully expect the opening night to feel like the celebration we have all been waiting for.
A guitar-driven, lyric-laden adventure to the musical stratosphere with a set of bands picked for their euphoric, melodic appeal.
Bringing together a strong female-driven line up, this night brings good vibes through great songs, telling stories and infectious hooks. From locals Midnight Ambulance, Bikini Body and Swim School, plus Glasgow’s Mitchell Museum and Cloth, be swept along in a non-stop night of song after quality song, as the music alternates between the two music stages; building through an uplifting set by rising star Katy J Pearson until The Orielles whip us up into a post-disco-punk frenzy to take us on a journey through the interstellar pop cosmos.
Imagine, after 18 months of NOTHING, you held a huge party. Imagine an 8-piece afro beat funk band turned up to play… imagine the dancing!
The weekend starts here with rousing new tunes from Mother All Mighty and Broken Records frontman Jamie Sutherland, continuing to build as electronic duo Maranta present a set created in collaboration with visual artist Chell Young; combining visuals and sounds to make something utterly unique and remarkable.
The party will really get going with party-jazz fusion 5-piece Astrosnax until it finally explodes with Ibibio Sound Machine, combining Nigerian beats and vocals with jazz horns and dance floor beats. This is the party we have been dreaming of! Expect grooves, moves and afro funk; charismatic performances, a visual feast and a damn good party.
On Saturday, come on a journey to the future of pop, culminating with widely acclaimed Hannah Diamond, described as “a new kind of pop star”… part of the groundbreaking PC Music collective, a label that has achieved cult status as purveyors of “hyperpop”. Expect tunes that combine massive beats and sounds with crystal-pure vocals and emotion-laden melodies.
The night also features Caro ♥, Easyfun and Future Get Down appearing in an unbroken sequence of performances that will build and build, letting you feel all the feels, dancing with a tear in your eye.
Elsewhere, Post Coal Prom Queen are celebrating the end of the world, joined by cyberpunk hip hop visionaries, special musical guests, and feature visuals rendering the phenomena of the end of days in glorious technicolour.
Closing night at Hidden Door will build-up slowly, from ambient Sunday sounds rising through lush post-rock soundscapes to emotive electronic compositions. With tunes from Tupper Werewolf, Harry Bongo, Super Inuit, Wozniak and Gefahrgeist, the evening will crescendo towards a special collaboration between artist/film-maker Florence Richardson, AV artist Sarah James, electronic musician The Reverse Engineer and ambient composer Daniel Garcia. Their set will resonate with the incredible setting, creating a unique multi-sensory experience.
As the sun sets over the giant industrial structure of the gas holder, we hand the music over to Rival Consoles to lift this evocative, cinematic evening into a rousing, electronic closing party.
Having trouble picking a night? Have a listen to our Spotify Playlist for inspiration!