A MAJOR Scottish music festival has announced it will not take place this year.
Connect Music Festival, which is held at the Royal Highland Showgrounds outside Edinburgh, said it would “take a break” in 2024.
However, organisers said that they would still be putting on “Edinburgh Summer Sessions” shows at the same venue.
A statement on social media said: “We've decided to take a break with Connect Music Festival in 2024 to take the time to build the next edition of the festival, to make sure it flourishes, evolves, and continues to offer wonderful experiences for all the fans.”
It went on: “As the venue was so well received, is very accessible, and was a delight for those attending the two most recent editions of Connect – as well as for the stunning concerts with The Killers and Paolo Nutini – we will in the meantime continue hosting Edinburgh Summer Sessions at the same location on the Royal Highland Showgrounds.
“So far, Becky Hill and Catfish and the Bottlemen have been announced with supporting lineups and more days to be added soon. We hope to deliver a similar experience at these shows which, in the future, will sit alongside further editions of Connect Festival – utilising the grounds and excellent facilities that are quite unique for an outdoor event.”
Responding to the news on social media, one user wrote: “Best of luck on your sabbatical. Only around for a short time but your lineups were always streets ahead of everyone else. Recharge and come back fighting.”
Another added: “Gutted – 2023 was EPIC!!! Come back soon!”
A third wrote: “Gutted, loved last year and my wife and I were wondering if you'd be back! Summer Sessions it is!”
Connect Music Festival launched in its new form in 2022, picking up from a festival which had been held in Inveraray in Argyll in 2007 and 2008.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here