Counterflows Festival

Counterflows on Paper 2026. Now available to read online! ✨ (link in bio) Counterflows On Paper 2026 features new writing by Lola Olufemi, Nisha Ramayya, dundee radio club, Masa Nazzal, Lewis Cook (GLOSS) and Eoin Anderson, alongside a special Beijing-Scotland underground music ‘Shortwave Q&A’, Fielding Hope interviewing Ryu Hankil, poetry from Music Space resident Gem Kinley, and a series of artworks by artists from Project Ability. This edition has been edited by our friends Helen Charman & Joel White, and designed by Oliver Pitt Printed by @good_press Made possible by support from @creativescots @helchar // @pitt.oliver // @headslice , @dundeeradio.club // @gloss_cic // @music_space_glasgow // @yanjunbeijing // @gem.kinley // @big_daftie // @projectability

Some pictures and film from a workshop led by artist @hankil.ryu as part of @counterflowsfest , presented in collaboration with the festival. Rubber Balloon Orchestra explored basic physical acoustic phenomena and interesting sound effects through simple crafting 🎈 Using objects including a rubber balloon, a cup and a rubber band, participants created a balloon percussion instrument and a balloon flute. The aim of the workshop was to form a balloon orchestra and perform together, experiencing how individual sounds transform into a musical effect when played together under Ryu Hankil’s direction. Ryu Hankil also led another workshop called Human Field Recorder and Player, and performed during the festival. Images and film courtesy of @matthewarthurwilliams 🔆

Open Call: SSW x Counterflows Caregivers Residency 2026 2026 is the 6th year of the SSW and Counterflows collaboration, offering vital residency opportunities to Scotland based artists who are also caregivers. We are delighted to offer 4 Fully Funded Residencies in 2026, thanks to generous support of the William Grant Foundation and Creative Scotland. The SSW x Counterflows Caregivers Residency offers: ✳ A 4 week fully-funded residency at SSW bespoke to the artists’ caregiving needs and schedule ✳ £3000 artist fee ✳ £300 travel budget ✳ £300 materials budget ✳ £1000 to support access and care costs to enable the artist to take part in the residency. ✳ Weekend pass and travel to Counterflows Festival in April 2027 This residency recognises that the care of others is central to the collective survival of our world yet is deeply undervalued within our society. This is often mirrored in the structures of support created for artists. The SSW x Counterflows Caregivers Residency is shaped to support artists who undertake this essential care work. It is set up to provide a nourishing, open and flexible residency structure to serve caregivers diverse needs. Link in bio 🔗 to find out more and apply SSW.ORG.UK/NEWS Image credits: 1 & 3-5. SSW 2. Brian Hartley Image Descriptions in Comments below

Tonight 10pm (BST) on BBC Radio 3 there will be a special Late Junction episode dedicated to Counterflows Festival 2026. Featuring exclusive live recordings of sets at the festival, plus studio releases by some of the artists. Thx to @late_junction , @jenniferlucyallan & Cat Gough for putting this together, Katy Walsh and her team for recording the sets, and to @creativescots & @britishcouncilscotland for supporting it. Tune in! 🎶

FEEDBACK ! ✍ If you have a spare few minutes, we'd love to hear your feedback on Counterflows Festival 2026 by filling out a short form. (link in bio) Any feedback is essential for our funding and our work on upcoming editions of the festival. We're honoured to have the audience we have and really respect your opinions and insights! Picture courtesy of @stillmotionarts .

Some more snaps from Counterflows Festival 2026 courtesy of @stillmotionarts ❤️💜💚 @skrsintl / Hexakaidecagon / @turbosonidero / @lessthan3____ / @gianttankagainsttedium / Garazi Navas / @hankil.ryu / @djma1col & @loretolihuenn / @remont.pomp / @xcrswx

A heart-felt THANK YOU to everyone who came and made the space with us at this years' Counterflows Festival 💞 This was our first year ever where we had the funding and resources to deliver the festival as full-timers. It took us 14 years to get here, and we're proud to have the best team, staff and volunteers, the most respectful, engaged and enthusiastic audience, and a selection of artists we think are making some of the most vital work in the world right now. We are feeling emotional, humbled, and completely energised. While we reflect upon the festival, here are some snaps courtesy of @stillmotionarts . In the coming weeks we'll be sharing more photos and memories, as well as feedback forms for audience members. In the meantime do share with us your memories. We look forward to seeing you next year! 1 - Annea Lockwood in her Piano Garden 2 - @agnes___pe 's doo, who, rrrr, brrrr. A Masquerade Symphony (for kazoo players) 3 - Hexakaidecagon at @theartskl 4 - @hannannannanananannnn 5 - @remont.pomp 6 - @rhodrijd & Áine O'Dwyer 7 - @projectability exhibition at @monoglasgow 8 - @michaelaturcerovie 9 - @al_karpenter 10 - Masa Nazzal at @apvenues

Just announced! As part of Counterflows Festival this Sunday at 4pm, Beijing based artist Zhao Ziyi is looking for participants for a recording piece. We'll be meeting outside Civic House at 4pm. The event is free and open to anyone but requires signing up (link in bio) Information on the piece below from Ziyi: "This is a recording piece that requires the participation of me and each audience member. I will prepare a digital recorder to pass around. We will meet under two adjacent overpasses (A and B), which are about a 30-second walk apart. The audience will form pairs, with one person as a unit. At the start, I will hand my recorder to one audience member, who becomes Unit 1. The two units will walk from Point A to Point B. During this walk, Unit 1 holds the recorder. Upon reaching Point B, Unit 1 stays there and hands the recorder to Unit 2. Unit 2 then returns to Point A alone with the recorder and hands it to the next pair. At this point, Unit 2 stays at Point A. This process repeats until everyone has completed the action. Please walk at your usual pace and rhythm. Fast is ok and slow is also ok. And that's it. This is what I've been interested in lately: walking, repetition, difference, meeting, and the times and people that are never the same again within the same time and space." // Zhao Ziyi was born in Beijing in 2007. He possesses a simple sound and a difficult-to-use body. In 2025, he released his debut solo CD album Sorry (Sub Jam). Also in the same year, his duo project "Nichijo" with Yang Kuku (from Ghostmass) released the double-cassette album One, Two (Sub Jam) and the full-length album The cheapest Japanese cuisine in the World (Zoomin’ Night). Beginning in 2023, he has organized the annual You and Me Festival in Beijing every summer. In 2024, he co-founded the venue xiaozu, an exceptionally small, multifaceted space located in central Beijing. These creations are solitary, simple, and self-harming.

Here we go! Counterflows Festival 2026 kicks off today. We can't wait to welcome you all for 4 days of brilliant music, dancing, hanging-out, films, discussions, a small publishers fair & more. Here's a list of key events taking place. Remember that if you want to come to the film screening you need to book in advance. We're now completely sold out and there won't be tickets on the door. If you want to join us there's still a few tickets left for the Saturday club night at @theartskl . See you all soon!

We are afraid to announce that due to health concerns Marlo De Lara has had to drop out of the festival this year. In their place Hannan Jones – a previous guest at Counterflows – has agreed to step in, presenting a first time solo set at the festival. She will perform on Friday at The Art School at 7pm. Hannan Jones is an artist of Algerian and Welsh origin raised on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja. Sonically, Jones’ approach is rooted in improvisation, electronics, noise, music concrète, and analogue recordings. She leans into archives and sampling; layering of audio material to create alternate possibilities, reclaim parallel histories, and reimagine connections between them. In 2023, she became a recipient of the @theoramawards , a platform to elevate the work and voices of women and gender non-conforming artists innovating in sound, music and related technology. She has released sound and music on Optimo Music, Weaponise Your Sound, @12th.isle , and in self-initiated pursuits, working across a range of collaborations and aliases.

FYI Counterflows attendees! Here are the answers to some FAQs below: 🍀 Where do i collect my pass or tickets? At the doors of the first event you attend. // 🍀 I have a festival pass. Do this get me into everything at the festival? Yes, it does! The only events you need to book onto in advance (for free) are the Ryu Hankil workshops and the Film Screening on Saturday. Everything else you can just walk in to. // 🍀 How should I get around? All venues (apart from Kelvin Hall cinema and Gathering Ground) are within 15 minutes walk of one another. If using public transport, details on found on each venue’s dedicated access page on our website. Make sure to bring warm/waterproof clothing. It looks like it might rain! // 🍀 What are the festival timings? Detailed timings can be found on the individual event page for each event. Just click on our homepage and scroll down. // 🍀 Will there be tickets on the door of shows? We are afraid there won't be, sorry. // 🍀 What is access for the festival like? Detailed access documents for each venue – including safeguarding information – is listed on our website on each corresponding event. All venues will have step free-access and disabled toilets. If you want specific details in advance, or would like to ask us any access related questions, please message us at [email protected] We have a dedicated safeguarding officers at the festival. They will be wearing bright orange t-shirts if you have any questions or concerns. All venues will be equipped with gender neutral toilets. If you struggle to stand for long periods and require a seat reservation let us know asap and we can reserve that for you. // 🍀 Is it card or cash at venues? All venues at the festival accept cash and card payments. Please note there won’t be any bar at Maryhill Community Central Halls, so feel free to bring in your own drinks/refreshments for that. // 🍀 Is the festival 18+? All events at the festival are all ages, as long as under 18s are accompanied by an adult at all times. The only 18s+ only events will be the late night hangs outs and clubs at The Art School.

Our Counterflows on Paper zines just arrived and are looking fab 😍 Everyone attending the festival this year will be given one for free. For everyone whose missing out, we'll be releasing it digitally later in the month. The zine, edited by our dear friends @helchar & Joel White, features new writing by Lola Olufemi, @headslice , @dundeeradio.club , Masa Nazzal, Lewis Cook @gloss_cic and Eoin Anderson, alongside a special Beijing-Scotland underground music ‘Shortwave Q&A’, @big_daftie interviewing @hankil.ryu , poetry from @music_space_glasgow resident @gem.kinley , and a series of artworks by artists from @projectability . Design for the zine is courtesy of @pitt.oliver . We celebrate the zine's launch with a special event on Friday at 12.30pm at Adelaide Place (sold out - but available to weekend pass holders) Featuring live readings from Nisha Ramayya and Sarah Lasoye, a special solo performance from Ali Robertson, and DJ sets from Masa Nazzal and DJ Lanyard.