The annual take over of Inverness is about to take place. XpoNorth is back.
Yes, it really has been an entire year. It's June and, once again, Inverness is preparing for its yearly invasion. Eden Court opens its doors and in floods every possible branch of the creative industries in this country. From technology developers and interactive artists to local directors films being screened, discussions taking place on the music industry, equality and how we are developing creatively as a country, you genuinely don't know what you'll come across moving from one room to the next.
It's easy to see how the event holds the title of 'the countries leading creative industries festival' when you glance around the multiple levels of Eden Court alone. The place is always bustling with attendees, which is in contrast to what we expected when heading up to the festival for the first time last year. Before, we would get strange looks off our closest friends when we'd mention the festival. (The same strange looks we used to get when we spoke about SXSW, so that's saying something at least.) The rise of this festival has been relatively quiet unless you've been part of it - then you have likely felt the tremors everytime someone mentions the words XpoNorth.
This is a festival we adore. Supporting the industry we're directly studying, creating the jobs we plan to fulfil and at the same time hosting an event which isn't all lectures on how to write a script but instead holds workshops, gives the chance for people to have 1-2-1 meetings with those in the industry, chances to have your work shown/heard and showcases a variety of talent for two days solid.
What we love the most is its grassroots connection to the Scottish upcoming music scene. It's where we see our favourite local bands play to (and try to impress) a new crowd, before watching them graduate to a larger venue at next years festival. And that is what you see. People, whether its musicians or visitors returning year after year. There is a real excitable atmosphere surrounding the live music part of the event and even with the less than perfect weather (like last years torrential rain), nothing can dampen anyone's spirit. The festival pushes local music venues to their absolute limit capacities but it is always worth it.
That's enough from us fussing over how much we love this festival. What we are both here for is to talk about the live music line up (and what a line up it is!).
Who we thought we'd start off with is a band we can't stop talking about, Edinburgh boys Retro Video Club. They've featured in our playlists, we mention them all the time on social media and we even snuck them into our student radio show playlist (which we're still proud of).
This festival is the best chance you'll get to catch this band live this year. After XpoNorth, the band have a headline gig at King Tuts, as part of King Tut's Summer Nights showcase, before opening for Bastille at the Edinburgh Summer Sessions. (Yes, you read that right, BASTILLE!) The band are set to play at midnight in Hootanannys on Wednesday. Before RVC take to the stage, there are sets from Parlimo, ACRYLIC and TAMZENE. If you were at last years festival, you might have caught TAMZENE's very intimate piano set in the Penta's Hotels bar which we loved. (And if you followed us on Instagram at the time, you probably watched her entire set via our story.)
Opening the venue on Thursday night are our favourites in Luna The Professor. Only forming as a band last March, the Glaswegian indie four-piece have quickly made a name for themselves, making their way from one headline gig in the city to the next. Their most recent takes place on Sunday (24th) in our favourite venue of all time, King Tuts. When you take into account the band only have their debut single released, yet are still able put on gig after gig in increasingly larger venues, you realise they have something pretty special. There's something about them that just reminds us of Neon Waltz. We're not exactly sure why but we do. It's something you can decide for yourself at this year's festival. It' is your perfect chance to catch the band live before they are headlining the likes of TRNSMT in the next few years, judging by their rapid of local success in the city.
Last years XpoNorth taught us a few things. Mad Hatters is a great venue and Bloodlines really know how to close a festival. This year sees a combination of the two, where Bloodlines are back for another year and are playing the final set of the night in this prised venue. Maintaining Biffy Clyro levels of energy for their entire set, expect mosh pits and crowd surfers from start to end. Playing the first set of the night in the venue is another one of our returning favourites, Glaswegian four-piece Noah Noah. Sandwiched between the two returnees are SHHT from Belgium and Rome Is Not A Town from Sweden.
In association with Off Axis Scotland, Spanish, Ded Rabbit, Anchor Lane and Dancing On Tables are playing in the Mercure's bar. Even if you did manage to dodge last years XpoNorth posts, you probably still know who Dancing On Tables are. We've spoken about the indie five-piece from Dunfermline more than once. From festival sets to EP launches and even an interview in King Tuts, Dancing On Tables are just about everywhere on this blog - and so they should be. With catchy choruses and songs which easily get lodged in your sub-conscience, we guarantee you'll find yourself humming one of their tracks weeks after seeing them.
Another favourite venue of ours from last year is the Tooth and Claw. It's where we saw The Vegan Leather for the first time finally, placed right in between NIEVES and Pronto Mama's sets that night. This year the venue is opened by Static Union on Wednesday night. With last years Tenement Trail, XpoNorth and headling gig under their belts already, don't let the two tracks under their name on Spotify fool you. Big things are coming for this band (we're pretty sure of it).
Our plan for Thursday night is to catch Luna The Professor in Hootannays before heading to Market Bar to see SWAY's entire live set. We've never managed to see a full set from SWAY. (We're always running late or having to leave early.) Also, we're making sure we're seeing every moment of Luna The Professor's set because they are one of the fastest rising but elusive upcoming bands in Glasgow currently. We absolutely love them and are heading to King Tuts for the band's headline set, two days before heading north for this festival. (If you are in Glasgow on Sunday please please please get to this gig. (You will thank us for it later!))
After staying for the final seconds of the final song in SWAY's set, we're heading to The Phoniex to see Fauves, playing in association with our favourites over at the SAMA's (who are back for another year!).
We thought we had escaped the usual festival heartbreak, but no, the annoying problem we are all used to at festivals rears its ugly head. Clashing sets. More specifically Vistas and Emme Woods sets overlapping by 15 minutes. It isn't too long but it hurts all the same. Our boys in Vistas are playing the final set of the night in the Mercure bar. A set which will no doubt include our favourite track at the moment, their latest release (which we talk about A LOT), Tigerblood.
Then, to finish off the night, we are destined to end up in MacGregor's listening to Emme Woods. We've caught Emme live five times in the last year, from last years festival to Strange Behaviours festival in Stirling and a couple small gigs in between, where each time she has only gotten better and better. Bluesy, loud and usually featuring some form of glitter, we can't think of a better way to finish off this year's festival.
And that's it. Another year, another XpoNorth.
We've got links to the festival's tickets below which are free (so you can't use the 'I don't have any money so I can't go' excuse) and from our past experiences, it is completely worth it.