Irvine Welsh to close the festival with a unique DJ Set

The iconic Scottish writer Irvine Welsh will be one of the headline names at BRIT UNDER FEST, closing the festival on Saturday 16 May with a very special performance that goes far beyond literature: a one-hour DJ Set inspired by his latest musical and narrative project, Men in Love.

World-famous for Trainspotting, Welsh returns to his most emblematic universe with Men in Love, a novel published in 2025 that acts as a direct sequel to his debut work, bringing back characters like Renton, Sick Boy, Begbie, and Spud in a new chapter.

Alongside the book, Welsh has also released a concept album of the same name with The Sci-Fi Soul Orchestra, a disco and soul-inspired work that explores the same emotional themes as the novel: romance, relationships, and the vulnerability of his characters. This hybrid universe of literature and music will be brought to the stage at BRIT UNDER FEST. He has been involved in dance music for most of his life, as a DJ and promoter, and is a partner, along with Carl Loben and Steve Mac, in the Brighton-based record label Jack Said What.

In addition to this musical finale, Irvine Welsh will participate in a talk focused on his work and this new project, giving audiences a complete insight into his creative process during one of the most prolific periods of his career.

With this dual format of talk and DJ Set, he not only reinforces his cultural relevance but also transforms his festival appearance into an experience where narrative, music, and contemporary culture converge.