Taking place in the former Scottish Widows complex at 15 Dalkeith Road from Wednesday 31 May– Sunday 4 June, Hidden Door's 2023 programme will present a vast array of music, visual art and spoken word.

^{Hidden Door site 2023 / Picture: James Duncan}

Three performance spaces throughout the building will play host to a variety of musical acts, including indie rock band Porridge Radio, rapper (and regular List favourite) Bemz, New Orleans-based jazz-funk fusion collective Hot 8 Brass Band, Scottish jazz ensemble corto.alto and 2022's Sound Of Young Scotland recipient Berta Kennedy. 

^{corto.alto performing}

Every day of the festival will culminate in a party hosted by an act, with synth duo Free Love confirmed to lead one of the evenings. With a clear focus on emerging Scottish talent, audiences can also catch performances from hip hop artist Queen Of Harps, dark dream pop performer Goodnight Louisa and folk songstress Rhona MacFarlane. 

^{Installation by Kirsten Millar}

On the visual arts end of the programme, climate change-related instillations will be presented by Becky Hunter, Chell Young, Elvey Stedman, Evie Rose Thornton, Kirsten Millar, Scott Hunter, and Soorin Shin; while photography, textile, sculpture and painting exhibitions will also feature throughout the festival site. And in the spirit of supporting emerging artistic talent, a selection of recently graduated art students will have the opportunity to display work.

Finally, this year's expansive spoken word line-up features names from Scotland and beyond. Returning to the festival is queer writer and poet Gray Crosbie, alongside Edinburgh-based LatinX writer Andrés N Ordorica, British-Sudanese lyricist Zaki El-Salahi and Scottish-Canadian poet Patrick James Errington.

^{Artist Soorin Shin}

In a specially commissioned series running throughout the festival, Environments sees a group of Hidden Door alumni artists transform multiple spaces within the neglected building into an immersive exhibition. Using multi-disciplinary practices, from classical music, dance, film and set design, each 'Environment' is a unique meditation on the natural world.

Dance theatre maker Tess Letham, one of the artists behind the Environments series, says: 'This year’s full Hidden Door programme further explores the idea of Environment, inviting poets, spoken word artists, and visual artists to share their understanding of climate change, the world, and our impact on it. I hope audiences will take the opportunity to come and explore our wonderful, atmospheric venue and the programme of talent we’re filling it with.'

Discover the complete Hidden Door programme at hiddendoorarts.org, where tickets are also available.