The Institute for Electronic Artists: Edinburgh Launch, The Bongo Cafe, March 15

The East-side launch of the Institute for Electronic Artists firmly establishes this unique event in two major cities (Edinburgh and Glasgow). The Bongo Café setting provided an ambient backdrop: fresh flowers and dreamy lighting at an electronica event? How very art. The idea is simple: unsigned artists can bring in their tracks to be played, and then sit back to watch listener's reactions. It's an ideal way to judge how your music is being received while retaining a degree of anonymity. The tracks were polished and pleasing tunes of numerous natures, from artists like Cinephile, Espion, Plan 29, and Scart Thug: the glitchy, the ambient, the soulful and the minimal packed into three hours. You won't find a late night rave-up here, but you will find a listening arena and even opportunities to swap ideas with local artists. [Alex Burden]